Help: eGuide FAQs

Getting Started

1) What is an eGuide? An eGuide is an electronic strategy guide; delivered via electronic means (web, CD). An eGuide is similar to a printed strategy guide in that it delivers easy to understand helpful strategy to the gamer/user, but different in substantial ways. For instance, an eGuide doesn't follow a linear timeline of a game's progression (ie; start at level 1 and move through to the last level). Rather, an eGuide captures the essence of the top half dozen or so strategic elements/objectives and provides an in depth training on how to master those top elements/objectives. The aim of the eGuide is to thoroughly teach a gamer, new to a particular game, how to master the hot points, crisis points, key elements and objectives, thus allowing them to take that teaching and apply it to the entire game.

2) How do I use an eGuide? Open the eGuide page into your browser window. Start with the first training (usually called an "Intro"), watch the training movie, interact with the multimedia window element (maps, panos, associated instructions), then practice what you've just learned in a real game. Once you're comfortable that you've mastered that element or objective, move on to training number two and so on.

3) What is an internet browser? An internet browser is a computer program enabling you to view web pages and web content. The most common ones are Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

4) Do I need the newest versions of Netscape or Internet Explorer? Yes, you do. Since eGuides are immersive interactive multimedia experiences, it is important to have the newest browser available. eGuides are based on cutting edge technology so it's important to have a browser capable of fully experiencing that technology.

5) How do I get the newest version of Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer? First, both versions are available online and can be downloaded for free. If you are on a MacIntosh computer, we recommend Netscape Navigator version 4.7 or newer. Download from Netscape's website http://www.netscape.com. If you are on a PC computer, we recommend Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 or newer. You can download this for free as well at the Microsoft website http://www.microsoft.com.

6) Which browser displays an eGuide best for PC? Both Netscape and Internet Explorer will work well for PC. However we recommend Internet Explorer version 5 or better, simply because the ease of adding plug-ins can be more fluid and user-friendly for you. Get IE5 at http://www.microsoft.com

7) Which browser displays an eGuide best for MacIntosh? Only Netscape Navigator version 4.7 or better will display an eGuide properly for a Mac computer. The display of the eGuide interface is much better plus the IE browser for Mac doesn't recognize plug-ins as effectively as Netscape for Mac. Trust us, it will make your experience much more enjoyable. Download Netscape Navigator 4.7 at http://www.netscape.com

8) What is a plug-in? A "plug-in" is a small computer program that enables your browser to handle certain multimedia content. Without the plug-in you wouldn't be able to view the content, thereby rendering your eGuide experience meaningless. Again, there is an enormous amount of helpful multimedia content in each eGuide and you will need the plug-ins. Plus, they are easy to download if you don't already have them. Currently we are utilizing technology from QuickTime and Flash

9) Does my computer already have the QuickTime or Flash plug-in? It might. Most new computers and new browsers come with QuickTime and Flash as extra installs. If not, they are easy to get.

10) What version of QuickTime do I need? You will need the absolute newest version of QuickTime to be able to fully experience all the interactivity of the eGuide. QuickTime version 4.1.2 has been posted on Apple's QuickTime site mid April 2000 and is available to download at http://www.apple.com/quicktime. Note: You must have this brand new plug-in to be able to hear the voiceover narrations in the virtual room panographs.

11) What version of Flash do I need? You will need the newest Flash plug-in which is version 4. This is available at Macromedia's website by going to http://www.macromedia.com. Without the Flash 4 plug-in you won't be able to have full interaction with the maps section or hear the MP3 soundtracks and voiceover narrations.

12) How do I install QuickTime or Flash? Download to your computer's "desktop", quit your browser, and double click the installer to begin the install process. Both of these plug-ins are small and quick to download and install.

About the eGuide Interface

13) How do I maneuver and navigate the eGuide interface? The eGuide screen should look like a silver chrome modular interface. Within the interface there are two multimedia windows, one for the video trainings (on top) and one for the multimedia trainings (on bottom). The bottom window is wider. On the very top of the chrome eGuide interface are 6 red pulsar looking buttons. When you roll-over one of these buttons, you'll notice that it turns blue and that the preview screen (just to the right of the video training window) will show a picture representing which training module that button would take you to. If you clicked on that red pulsar button you would in fact load that particular training module.

14) Why does each eGuide page look the same? They do have a consistent look across the board, however you'll notice that there is a different picture in the video training window and multimedia training window which reflects which training module you have loaded. Each training has different yet integrated multimedia training pieces.

15) What's the best way to watch an eGuide? First, click on the video training window. There should be a picture with the name of the particular training module you are in, along with some words that say "Click to Load Video". Click here to watch the video in its entirety (they average about 3-4 minutes long each) or stop it midway to watch the multimedia training down below. Usually we recommend watching the video in its entirety then interacting with the multimedia in that order.

About the Videos

16) How can I stop or replay the Video? At the bottom of the video is a controller, a QuickTime controller. This is like the buttons on your VCR. The play button will play the video, and while the video is playing will become a "pause" button. There are also forward and rewind buttons on the controller.

17) How can I adjust the volume in the eGuide Training Movies? Simple! On your QuickTime movie controller (at the bottom left area of the video viewing screen), you will see some gray controller buttons. If you click on the first button to the left, (Hold down the left mouse button), you'll see a sliding bar appear. Continue holding down the mouse button (Don't let go), move your mouse cursor over to the knob piece on the slider bar, and move your mouse up and down until you reach the desired volume.

18) How big are the Videos? They seem to take a while to load. Yes, they do. We've made the effort to keep our file sizes small, and yet we don't want to sacrifice quality or display or content. We would like you to see the game play and hear the narration, not just a blur of images and a sampling of garbled voices. The typical video is about 20megs which can take 3-4 minutes to fully download on a broadband connection (DSL, Cable, T1).

19) What if I have a slower modem connection? Never fear, we have an optimized version of the eGuide for slower connections. Smaller file sizes which are quicker to load. Go to your "Setup" tab on the bottom left of your chrome eGuide interface and let us know what your connection speed is. We'll take care of it from there.

20) When I click on the "Click to Begin Loading Movie", no movie plays. Why? You may not have Quick Time version 4.1.2 downloaded and installed. The easiest way to do this is to click on the "Setup" button in the navigation bar to the left, click on the QuickTime icon, and follow the instructions to download and install QuickTime.

About the Maps

21) I was listening to a Mission Briefing (in the lower multimedia training window) and missed some of the audio. How do I replay it? To the left are icons that perform certain functions. Locate the icon that looks like two overlapping triangles (Replay Briefing), place your mouse cursor over it, click on it, and the Mission Briefing will replay itself from the beginning.

22) When viewing the Mission Briefing map, everything looks far away. Can I get a closer view of the map? Yes, in fact, you can! The navigational bar (within the multimedia training window, on the left side) has a list of navigational Icons, locate Zoom. If you click on the + button, you'll get a closer view of the map. If you click on the - button, you'll get a more distant, overall view of the map. Additionally, the more detailed views of the maps are draggable, meaning you can click and hold your left mouse button on the map and drag it up and down to view the desired location.

23) I'm looking at a Map, but it doesn't look familiar. Why not? Maybe the perspective is different from how you've seen that location. We've included alternate views of the same map. You'll notice a button which, when clicked, will activate a slide drawer called "Pics". These are pictures which show alternate views of the same detailed location.

24) Whenever I am viewing the Tribes Maps, on certain areas of the map, I see bluish semi-transparent circles. What are they? These bluish circles are strategically placed on top of important items. If you click on one, text to the right will appear informing you of what that object is and what the best gameplay strategy would be in utilizing that item. Additionally you will hear voiceover narration describing the same object.

25) When viewing a Map Briefing, How do I turn the sound off? You'll see the control panel to the left of the map. Locate the icon that looks like a pair of headphones. Click on it and the toggle ON/OFF will appear. Set it OFF to have no sound, and back to On to have sound.

About the Virtual Room Pano

26) After I click on the red pulsar button to load Broadside Gen Room, I see the Gen Room below, but how do I navigate through and view it? At the bottom left area you'll see a row of gray buttons (This QuickTime controller is for VR media). Place your mouse cursor over each button. Text will appear to the right of the last button indicating each button's function. Click on the proper button to get the desired effect.

27) Are there any keyboard shortcuts to facilitate moving around the pano? Yes, there are. To pano left, click your keyboard's left arrow key. To pano right, use the right key. Same with the up and down arrow keys. Please note the keyboard commands for Zoom Out is the Ctrl key on your keyboard and Zoom In is the Shift key on your keyboard. You may tap this key or hold it down, dependent on how much you want the image zoomed in or out. This also applies to the - or + control buttons. (We would include a screen shot of controller with this).

28) I'm viewing the pano and seeing items (weapons, forcefields, etc). Should I do anything with these? Yes, in fact when your mouse is over a "hotspot" item (an item in a Virtual Room that has an event associated with it, your mouse cursor will change to a "link" cursor. If you were to click on any of these hotspot items, you would hear voiceover narration with important strategy on placement of these items.

29) Is there an easy way to see which items are "hotspotted" on the pano? Yes, click on the "Question-mark" looking icon/button on the pano's controller. It will show you which items in view have hotspots. Click on these and listen.

30) I'm clicking on the pano hotspots but I don't hear any voiceover narration. Why not? Most likely it's because you don't have the newest QuickTime version 4.1.2. Remember when we said you'd need it? This is why. If you are hearing other sounds in the eGuide, and not the pano voiceovers, you just don't have the newest QuickTime. Get version 4.1.2 (or later) at http://www.apple.com/quicktime

31) How do I change the view of the Broadside Gen Room? In the center portion of the image, you will see an object that looks like a window with pictures numbered 1 through 4. Click on each numbered picture to load a new browser pop-up window with that alternate view of the Gen Rm.

About the Xtra Stuff

32) What are the Xtras? With each eGuide training, we are providing numerous other associated training pieces and downloadables. This enables you to see and hear the strategy we're teaching from a couple different perspectives. Many of these are Original Video Footage (before we edited them and added voiceover narration).

33) Where do I find Tribes Xtras? Two places. First, look in the lower left of the chrome interface. See the button called "Xtras". Click to launch a pop-up window with all the Xtra demo recordings listed by video training module. Second, click on the last red pulsar button on the top of the interface. This training module is called "Heavy Offense (base takeover)". In the multimedia training window below, you will see the words "Click to begin loading Xtras for Tribes." Click on it and you will now see an interactive media piece describing the Tribes Xtras, as well as giving links to other sites with helpful mods, scripts, other downloadables.

34) I went to the eGuide XTRAS Page, downloaded a demo to my computer, and the demo is in Zip format? I am unable to extract the files. What do I need to do? If you don't have WinZip downloaded and installed on your computer, you'll need to do so. To download and install WinZip...

35) What is a HUD? HUD is an acronym for Heads-Up-Display. It is status information which are always visible like health or ammo information. The "Xtras" multimedia piece on the sixth (Heavy Offense) training module will describe them in detail as well as provide information on how to easily add these to your base Tribes configuration.

Additional Stuff

36) If I want to provide some suggestions or questions on eGuides, How do I do this?  There is a button on the Navigational Bar, which is located to the left, titled Feedback. If you click on it, a "feedback" window will appear in your browser. Type in your Name in the Name field, e-mail address in the E-mail field, and your suggestions in the Comment field. When finished, click on the Send Feedback button near the bottom of the page.

37) Will anyone really read these feedback comments? Yes, the eGuide crew at Primagames.com sincerely strives to provide the best electronic multimedia strategy experience to you, the gamer. Therefore we take every idea and critique seriously and will take those into account as we continue to develop other eGuides. In addition, if a comment is so helpful it warrants modifying our already produced eGuide, we will do so.

38) What is an IP Address and where is it found on a computer? An IP Address is an unique number assigned to every computer directly connected to the Internet (for example 192.35.222.222). To find your IP Address: Click on Start in the Start Menu, select Run, in the Open field, (Make sure it's blank), type in the following: winipcfg, hit the Enter Key or click on the OK Button. The next window that pops-up, you will see your IP Address listed there, it's usually the second one listed from the top. Make a note of it and write it down.

39) This eGuide is cool. Who can I thank? First thank Primagames.com for having the vision to produce this type of multimedia strategy. Next thank the eGuide crew who worked long and hard to make the eGuide as great as it is. Chris "MacSniper" MacDonald, Wade "Lousy Aim" Smith, Dusty "Dustybrown.com" Brown, Robert "Weotch" Reinhard, Tim "Spoonfed" Kerns, Monica "Mo" Kresse, Erika "I sorta sound like Lara Croft" Chun

© 2000 Primagames.com