

 BRR_225 PatchFile


This archive contains all the bits'n'bobs needed to convert
Big Red Racing (full "R" version) from V2-16 to V2-25.

Note that the US master was already V2-17"a", so you've already got
most of the "improvements", but not the two important "bug fixes".

Also note that the downloadable demo (the "M" version) has been
upgraded with the changes "as they happened". This patch file is *NOT*
intended for use with the demo version.

 ,--.
/_  _\
\ re\/

R - Fred - Williams
Big Red Software
14-5-96

Jon Cartwright
Big Red Software
4-9-96


 Changed files, & why:


  RACING.EXE    -assorted bugs & tweaks in the DOS version
 WINRACE.EXE    -similar bugs & tweaks in the WIN95 version

   TOURN.WAP    -changes to the text, all over the place.

STICKSCN.SCN    -pedals2 option.
<others>.SCN    -multilingual keyboard shortcuts, & a few bits of text layout

VIDSTALL.EXE    -needed to get the rendered video working under W95
                -only required for European version
   VIDIT.BAT    -needed to get the rendered video working under W95

SETSOUND.EXE    -didn't display selected config of the sound card correctly
                -Also includes support to change lanuages


 Those improvements in detail:


2-16 "Release version"
        (This is the version on the UK master CD)


2-17 (Win & DOS)
   -Joysticks 'n'Pedals:
     The joystick-select has an extra "PEDALS2" option.
     This is to handle those pedals that have the accel & brake both
     alter the X axis of stick 2, rather than the Y axis of stick 1.

     In summary:-
     "Keys/Custom" is customisable for just about any stick/keys combo.
     "JS 1/2" are for sticks, or pedals with the pedals as the stick Y axis
     "Pedals" is for sticks where the pedals are stick 2's X & Y axes
      (eg - ch products pedals in "car mode")
     "Pedals2" is for sticks where the pedals are stick 2's X axis only.
      (eg - thrustmaster pedals)

   -Drone cars (specifically choppers):
     The drones (& net-remotes) now do "above" checks when driving over
     splattable objects.

   -DOS & W95 Netgame:
     Hitting escape in a netgame puts a "wait for others" rather than
     being totally unresponsive.

   -DOS Netgame:
     The way the players (first) connect to each other & figure their
     player number in the netgame has changed so you don't get multiple
     players which think they're each other any more.

   -DOS Netgame:
     Improved net-transmission smoothness, & put an editable speed into
     the user's .CFG file. Also the "readme.txt" changed. Here's the extra bit:

       "If you have problems with the network version of racing there are
       a few parameters that you can play around with. These parameters
       are stored in the config file that is loaded in when you choose
       your name at the start of the game. To look at your config file
       use a text editor such as edit to load in the file "YOURNAME".CFG.
       Look thru the file and find the refernce to netspeed followed by
       three numbers separated by spaces.

       "The first parameter is the number of 70ths of a second that have
       to have passed between the computer sending out packets during
       the game. If your computer is particularly fast say a p120, you
       may find that it is flooding the network with game packets. Slower
       computers have no choice but to listen to what the fast computer
       is saying and therfore not redraw the screen smoothly. In instances
       like this slow down the fast PC by increasing this number and speed
       up slower computers by reducing this number.

       "The second parameter is a similar value, but it is for the original
       signing up the particular player to the net game. As the net game
       starts, the game BROADCASTS to the entire net that it is about to
       start playing racing. A broadcast is recieved by all PC's on the net
       and so you should try to reduce the amout of these particular writes.
       Do this by inreasing the second parameter.

       "The third parameter was added to help the computer that could not
       keep up with the rest of the game. Simply put, if the game recieved
       a message updating the position of the other players at reletively
       long pauses in time, the car would appear to jerk from it current
       place to the next. The third value adds what is called interpolation.
       What this does is to make a guess at where the car is going and
       let it contiue in that direction until it is told next time where it is.
       By its very nature, the computer is guessing where your opponent is
       going and so sometimes depending on how regularly its getting messages
       from the other player, it gets it wrong. The result is a warping effect.
       A car will warp from one location to another. If you find this effect
       irritating to remove it, make the third parameter a zero."

    -Video Installer added to get the video playing properly under W95.


2-17"a" (Win95):
      (aka 2-18 - Unfortunately the version number only changes when we
      recompile the DOS version!)
   -Improved CD player loop-detection.

   -Mars level:
      One of the spires near the starting grid wasn't flashing properly.
      This fix IS NOT part of this patch collection: It has no effect
      whatsoever on the game, & I couldn't really justify putting a
      289k ".LEV" file in, just for one flashing light!

        (This is the version on the US master CD)

2-19 (DOS):
   -Joystick-detect bug:
     Fixed problem where some joystick cards (specifically those with
     configurable/automatic CPU speed compensators) caused the game to
     suffer from "play-by-mail" frame rates when trying to detect
     non-connected joysticks.

2-20 (Win & DOS):
   -Tournament mode Globe-screen bug:
     Fixed problem when...
     (a) You'd lost a few races & were on the qualify-or-die last race
     on the round...
     and (b) You'd left the "first" race of a round till last...
     and (c) You'd tried to select it with the left/right cursors rather
      then the "OK" button.
     ...and it wouldn't let you choose it.
     (Nicely obscure bug, that one...)

2-21 (DOS)
   -A miniature patch to the network initialisation, made when one of Domark's
     Domark's test machines bombed out on us!

2-22 (DOS)
   -Spanish & Italian text changes.

2-23 (DOS)
   -Checksumming added to IPX net packets

2-24
   -Stick calibration fix when using the same .CFG on Win95 & DOS
   -Japanese changes to racing.exe, tourn.wap, globescn.scn
   -"Serial link" changed to read "Serial link / Modem" for those users
     who hadn't realised they're the same thing.
   -"TEN" network connection stuff added to the multiplayer screen. (Windoze)

2-25
   -Various minor bug-fixes.

FORIEGN VERSIONS

Big Red Racing has been written with language support for the English, American,
French, German, Spanish, Japanese. If there are any spelling mistakes in
these languages please excuse we don't speak any of these languages correctly
and have to rely on translation agencies. If there are any howling mistakes
give Domark a call!

DOS version

The game is installed English as standard. To ammend the language run SETSOUND.
This configures not only the sound card, but now also the languagess.
To change


WIN95 version

The title bar has pull down menus, which can be clicked real time to change the
language.


THE VIDEO

I think most GAME players consider FMV sequences a tad boring but generally
they are considered to be an essential tool by those in marketing. At Big Red
we decided to add the FMV video as a separate program (No matter how good the
darn thing is you dont want to watch it 100's of times). Now it would appear
that a lot of people have simply not realized that such a thing exists partly
due to an oversight by ourselves.

Racing was programmed primarily in DOS with WIN 95 support added in the final
months. As we did not have a version of the WIN95 video playback software, we
had to add an install program to make the VIDEO work.

If you installed using DOS simply type VIDEO on the command line to watch
the FMV. It features Hangnail our resident rock band with a neat number
recorded especially for you!

Now if you didn't buy the game in the USA, (we sorted this bug by for the
American release), you will need to install the files to make the VIDEO
playback work. You can do this one of two ways....

Way 1

Re-install the entire game again using the DOS install program. This will
set up the VIDEO prog as part of its installation.

Way 2

For those that installed the game using WIN95 ONLY.

Open a MSDOS window and change directory to where you have put Big Red Racing.
ie cd c:\BIGRED.

Now insert your CD. Log to your CD drive ie D:

Now type C:VIDSTALL. Follow the onscreen promts and you will then be able to
play the VIDEO.




