Académique Documents
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Culture Documents
CONTENTS
A. Installing Age of Mythology
B. Starting Age of Mythology
C. Getting Help
D. What's on the CD
E. Multiplayer Guide
F. Shortcut Keys
G. DirectX Troubleshooting
H. Gameplay Troubleshooting
I. Video Troubleshooting
J. CD-ROM Drive Troubleshooting
K. Audio Troubleshooting
L. Performance Troubleshooting
M. Multiplayer Troubleshooting
N. Age of Mythology Information
C. Getting Help
You can find information about Age of Mythology in the game manual, the in-game Help, and in
the PDF files in the Docs folder on the Age of Mythology: Gold Edition, Install Disc (Disc 1) CD.
To view the PDF files, you must have Adobe Reader installed (see below).
To display in-game Help
Pause your pointer over any button or interface item in the game to view rollover Help text.
You can also right-click on any unit portrait or improvement icon in the game to view detailed
Help.
The game manual and civilization charts for all nine major gods are available in PDF format in the
Docs folder on the CD. You can view and print the files using Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or later.
To install Adobe Reader
1. Insert the Age of Mythology: Gold Edition, Install Disc (Disc 1) CD into the CD-ROM drive
2. On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Games, point to Age of
Mythology Gold, point to Age of Mythology Gold Docs, and then click Install Adobe Acrobat
Reader.
Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat, and Reader are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
Adobe Systems in the United States and/or other countries.
D. What's on the CD
The Age of Mythology: Gold Edition, Install Disc (Disc 1) CD contains some additional information
that you may find interesting or useful.
On the Start menu, click My Computer. In the My Computer window, double-click the CDROM drive icon, find and click the Files folder, and then double-click the Docs folder.
Docs folder
AoM Random Map Help File.rtfFor advanced players who want to learn how to write
scripts to customize the terrain of random maps.
AoM Scenario Editor FAQ.rtfFor advanced players who want to create their own singleplayer and multiplayer scenarios.
AoM AI Script Help File.rtfList of AI script files and locations for advanced users that
would like to add these to original scenarios.
Ar60enu.exe (Adobe Reader) Lets you view or print the PDF files in the Docs folder. For
installation instructions, see Getting Help.
E. Multiplayer Guide
You can play a specific or random map, with a specified or random civilization, with up to
eleven other players. The other players can be human connections from the Internet or LAN,
computer players, or a combination of both.
ONLINESelecting this option connects you to Ensemble Studios Online (ESO) through
the games built-in browser. An Internet connection is required prior to game launch to
connect to ESO. ESO is a quick and easy way to find other Age of Mythology players.
LAN / DIRECT IPTCP/IP Connection for Direct IP or LANConnect using your broadband
Internet connection or a network that uses the TCP/IP protocol. If you do not know which
protocol your network uses, check with your network administrator.
Modem Connection for Direct IPModem connection is supported to the Internet or a private
network. Age of Mythology requires a modem speed of 56 Kbps or faster. Players behind a
NAT, router or ICS may encounter problems with Direct IP and should play instead on ESO.
To join or host an ESO game
1. From the Main menu, click Multiplayer.
2. From the next menu, click Online. If this is your first time logging on to ESO you will be
presented with the Passport Terms of Use. You must accept these terms to play on ESO.
3. After accepting the above terms, you will be presented with the Online Login menu. If you
already have an ESO account, enter your username and password correctly, click OK
and then skip to step 6. If you do not have an ESO account, go to step 4.
NOTE: You can only be logged on ESO once at any given time per CD Key.
4. From the Online Login menu, click New Account.
5. On the Create a New Account menu, fill out all fields. *All the fields are required. Then
click OK. This information will only be used for the purposes of your online account with
Age of Mythology. You must also accept the Passport Terms of Use in order to play
online. Once registration is successful you will be automatically logged on to ESO.
NOTE: A forgotten password can only be reset; it cannot be emailed to you. You must
remember the state, zip code, secret question, and answer to reset it.
6. Once you are logged on to Ensemble Studios Online, there are two different methods
available to find opponents. They are Quick Setup and Advanced Setup and are
located at the top right of the screen.
a. Quick Setup games (rated) This default ESO screen allows you to quickly get
into a multiplayer game. You select the amount of players you would like to play
with, the game type, the major god your civilization will worship, the map that you
would like to play on, and then click the Start button. ESO will then search for
other people that are looking for the same criteria and will automatically launch
the game when enough players are found. Quick Teams allows you to create a
team by clicking the Create Team and Invite Friends buttons. Once youve
populated your team and all members click Ready, ESO will begin searching for
an opposing team with similar criteria.
b. Advanced Setup games (not rated) This alternate method allows users
greater control over settings and selecting opponents.
i. To Join a Game: The left window is the Games List of public games.
Selecting one will show its game settings in the right window. Click the
Join button when you find a game you like or accept invitations from
other players and you will be added to the Hosts game lobby. Here you
can select your team, major god, and handicap (when enabled).
ii. To Host a Game: Clicking the Host button will display a dialog box where
you enter the Game Name. Private game is the default, and it will be up
to you to manually populate your game using the Friends List or Chat
tab. Or you can host a public game that will be published to the Games
List that will allow any ESO player to view your settings and join. Once
you have enough players and all players, click Ready and the game will
launch.
7. See Multiplayer Settings and Online (Ensemble Studios Online) Features below for more
detailed information.
To join or host a LAN/Direct IP multiplayer game
1. At the Main menu, click Multiplayer and then LAN/Direct IP.
2. In the LAN/Direct IP Login, create a username and then click OK. The Game menu will
display and you have the choice to join or host a game.
a. To Join a Game: There are two ways to connect to a game hosted by another
player:
i. Select a game from the LAN Games list and click the Join button, OR
ii. Type the IP address of the Host in the Type a Direct IP text box and
then click the Connect button. You must get the IP address of the Host
directly (it does not appear on a list).
iii.
Once in the game lobby, select your team, the major god your
civilization will worship and your handicap (when available).
b. To Host a Game: Input a game name that will display in the LAN Game list, and
click the Host button. For IP games, your IP address must be communicated to
players (it does not appear on a list) and is located in the upper-left section of the
game lobby.
i. Select the number of players for the game by clicking the scroll bar next
to Players in the upper-left corner of the screen. This can be a
combination of human and computer players (click on the Player scroll
bar to select computer players).
ii. Set Map, Game Type, Handicap and other game settings. For more
information about these and other game settings, see the Multiplayer
Settings section below.
3. Select the checkbox in the ready column corresponding with your player name. Once all
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Mediterranean: The pastoral countryside surrounding the middle sea supports many
herd animals.
Midgard: This frozen land is short on Food, but the waters surrounding the continent
are abundant with life.
Nomad: Your Villagers start scattered with no Town Center. Youll need to find a
Settlement to occupy during the time that combat is prevented.
Oasis: Most of the Wood lies in one to four oases in the center. Build a wall to the
center to stop enemy incursions.
River Nile: A broad river separates the desert lands of different teams.
Savannah: The grasslands of Africa provide plenty of Food to hunt, but little water.
Sea of Worms: A mysterious ocean covers half the map with the player fortresses
huddled to one side.
Sudden Death: Everyone starts with a Citadel and no free Settlements exist. If your
Citadel is lost, you will lose the game.
Team Migration: How long can you stay on the island shared by your team before you
need to move to the central island that protects extra resources?
The Unknown: Only the gods know what this unpredictable map will be. Land or
water? Ice or desert? You must explore to find out.
Valley of Kings: Players on the same team share a city while all the Gold is protected
by bandit Migdols.
Vinlandsaga: When the resources on your small island start to run out, the only
choice is to set sail for the New World. But watch out for Skraelings.
Watering Hole: The migratory herds stop at these rivers and ponds to drink, but there
is not other Food available.
Hosting: Create a game with your preferences for others to join. If you create a public
game, it will be displayed in the Games List, and other players can view your settings
and join at will. If you create a private game, you must invite players through the chat
channel or your Friends List to populate your game.
All games:
o
Vote Dialog: If a player begins having connectivity problems during a game, Age
of Mythology will automatically display a Vote dialog with the following options:
Save Game, Drop Player, or Quit. If everyone votes to Save the game, it can be
restored later provided the same players are available. If Drop Player is the vote,
the game will continue without that player. Quit will place everyone back in
F. Shortcut Keys
In addition to the shortcut keys on the back cover of the manual, the following keys can be very
helpful during gameplay.
Building
Construction
Quick Select
A
R
B
D
F
V
G
E
L
N
X
M
U
O
C
S
T
CTRL+A
CTRL+R
CTRL+B
CTRL+D
CTRL+F
CTRL+V
CTRL+G
CTRL+E
CTRL+L
CTRL+N
CTRL+X
CTRL+M
CTRL+U
CTRL+O
CTRL+C
CTRL+S
CTRL+T
Tower
Town Center
Wall
Wonder
P
Z
W
J
CTRL+P
CTRL+Z
CTRL+W
CTRL+J
Use the following shortcuts to create new units when the appropriate buildings are selected. For
example, to create a Villager, select your Town Center and then press V.
Create Unit(s)
Dock
Market
Temple
Building - Greek
Archery Range
Academy
Fortress
Dock
Stable
T - Toxote, P - Peltast
P - Hoplite, Y - Hypaspist
C - Petrobolos, R - Helepolis, A - Age 1 Hero, S - Age 2 Hero, D Age 3 Hero, F - Age 4 Hero, U - Unique Unit
O - Argo (Poseidon), C - Carcinos (Zeus), Y - Scylla (Poseidon &
Zeus)
C - Hippokon, P - Prodromos
Building - Egyptian
Barracks
Dock (Isis & Set)
Siege Camp
Migdol Fortress
Temple (Ra Only)
Building - Norse
Dock
Hill Fort
Longhouse
Key
B
U
N
Idles
Key
PERIOD (.)
COMMA (,)
FORWARD SLASH (/)
H
Key
Game clock
Pause/Un-Pause
General:
F4
F11
PAUSE
G. DirectX Troubleshooting
DirectX 9.0b or later must be installed on your computer before you can play Age of Mythology.
If you do not have DirectX 9.0b installed on your computer and you chose not to install DirectX
9.0b when you installed Age of Mythology, you will not be able to play Age of Mythology. You will
receive the error message "A required .dll file, Dplayx.dll, was not found." If this occurs, install
DirectX 9.0b by re-installing Age of Mythology, or download the software from Microsoft Windows
Update (<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>).
If Age of Mythology installed DirectX 9.0b but could not update your video drivers to be
compatible with DirectX 9.0b, when you restart your computer you will receive the message "Age
of Mythology could not initialize DirectX. Make sure that DirectX 9.0b or higher is installed and
contact your hardware manufacturer for a video driver update." To fix this problem, either get
updated video drivers from Windows Update (<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>), your video
adapter manufacturer, or install DirectX in safe mode, which will replace the video drivers.
If you experience sound or video problems using DirectX, go to
<http://support.microsoft.com/support/directx/> for the latest troubleshooting information.
You should also check with your video or soundcard manufacturer for the latest DirectXcompatible drivers.
H. Gameplay Troubleshooting
Random MapA corrupted map or accidentally deleting all the maps may cause the game
to crash. Uninstall and then reinstall the game to correct this problem.
Detailed HelpIn the contents section, when perusing units/buildings of civilizations other
than your own, your upgrades and bonuses will be appear to be applied to that unit. This is
not the case in the game, but rather a generic application of these upgrades to those types of
units or buildings.
Key ScrollingUsers that use the arrow keys to scroll/move the main game screen may
periodically experience the screen scrolling in one direction when the keys are no longer
pressed. Simply tap the key that corresponds to the direction it is moving to stop the screen.
Console CommandsThis developer feature is not supported and may cause crashes, user
interface issues, and other problems. Closing the application and restarting it will resolve
these problems.
Record Game PlaybackClicking on the resource panel while a record game is playing will
cause it to pause. To continue playing the record game, you must either click the Previous
Bookmark button or use the in-game menu to load the record game again.
"Unable to open string table xml file"If you receive this error when trying to run another
product or game after installing Age of Mythology, there is a problem with the version of
MSXML you have installed on your computer. You will have to uninstall this Beta version
before reinstalling Age of Mythology. You will find detailed instructions at
<http://msdn.microsoft.com/downloads/default.asp?url=/downloads/sample.asp?url=/msdnfiles/027/001/766/msdncompositedoc.xml>.
I. Video Troubleshooting
Latest DriversEnsure that you have the latest drivers from your video card manufacturer
or check Windows Update (<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>) for the latest drivers.
Users of motherboards with non-Intel chipsets should upgrade to the latest miniport drivers
available from their motherboard manufacturer.
S3 Virge_DX/GX
S3 Trio64V2_DX/GX
S3 Trio64UV+
S3 Aurora64V+
S3 Aurora128
S3 Savage 2000
Intel i740
Renditionall versions
Number9all versions
Oak Technologiesall versions
Chromatic Researchall versions
Tseng Labsall versions
Neo-magicall versions
ATI Radeon 7000Age of Mythology may lock up after a few seconds of starting a game. If
this occurs, ensure that you have the latest drivers from your video card manufacturer or
check Windows Update (<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>) for the latest drivers.
ATI Rage Fury MaxxFor users running Windows Millennium Edition, pressing
ALT+ENTER may cause the mouse pointer to disappear or flash. There are no known
solutions for this problem.
Menu Sorting IssuesSome lower-end video cards experience z-sorting problems with a
few of the pre-game menu screens. Changing your in-game resolution to 32 bit may fix the
problem. Also, ensure that you have the latest drivers from your video card manufacturer or
check Windows Update (<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>) for the latest drivers.
Screen CorruptionIncludes problems such as a black screen after starting the game,
black areas on the game screen, screen corruption when you press ALT+TAB to enter/leave
the game, or other screen problems while playing the game. Ensure that you have the latest
drivers from your video card manufacturer or check Windows Update
(<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>) for the latest drivers.
Screen FlickeringOther applications may cause a brief flickering of the Age of Mythology
display. Disabling all non-vital applications before running Age of Mythology will increase
stability, performance, and visual quality. This problem may occur on some systems with the
Creative SBLive! soundcard with the Creative LiveWire 2.0 and 2.1 driver sets for this
soundcard.
Mouse PointerSome video adapters may cause the mouse pointer to disappear if you
change the in-game screen resolution or re-enter the game by pressing ALT+TAB. If this
occurs, ensure that you have the latest drivers from your video card manufacturer or check
Windows Update (<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>) for the latest drivers.
Monitors and Lower-End Video CardsYou may see brief screen corruption or flashing
when switching screens in the game. This is a limitation of some older video cards and will
not affect game performance or stability. If you notice screen corruption when switching to a
high in-game resolution, this may be due to the limitation of certain monitors or some older,
lower-end video cards that do not support higher resolutions. Press ALT+F4 to exit the game,
restart the game using the Age of Mythology Safe Video shortcut under Diagnostics, and then
use the Options screen to switch to a lower in-game resolution. Ensure that you have the
latest drivers from your video card manufacturer or check Windows Update
(<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>) for the latest drivers.
DirectXIf you experience video problems using DirectX, connect to the DirectX Web site for
the latest troubleshooting information at <http://support.microsoft.com/support/directx>.
Matshita UJDA710 DVD/CD-RWThis drive (common in many new laptops) sets a flag
whenever a gold disc is used but does not reset, causing SafeDisc to reject a valid CD. Cold
booting the computer will reset this flag.
Sanyo CRD-256P, Firmware 1.01The drive enters a not ready state after several
executions of a protected game. Ejecting the CD restores it. This is unlikely to be seen,
unless the game is reloaded several times in one session.
Sony CDU77E 2X, Firmware 1.0eThe early 1.0 firmware versions of this drive fail with
SafeDisc if configured as a slave on the IDE bus. The drive will work if reconfigured as a
master.
Acer CD-624aThis drive fails when used with read mode drivers. Installing protected mode
drivers resolves the problem.
Memorex CD-RW2224 24X, Firmware 2.27You may experience problems with these
drives. There are no known solutions.
Yamaha 2216E, 4416SX, CDR641S-VKIf you experience problems with these drives,
check the firmware upgrade available from the Yamaha Web site
<http://www.yamaha.com/service.htm>.
Cybermedia 204 Pan International 204You may experience problems with these drives.
There are no known solutions.
Liteon 4265You may experience problems with this drive appearing to hang and not
authenticate. There are no known solutions.
K. Audio Troubleshooting
DirectXIf you experience audio problems using DirectX, connect to the DirectX Web site
for the latest troubleshooting information, as explained in DirectX Troubleshooting. If this
occurs, ensure that you have the latest drivers from your soundcard manufacturer or check
Windows Update (<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>) for the latest drivers.
Sound Skipping or StutteringOften this problem can be fixed by installing the latest
sound drivers for your soundcard and/or adjusting the hardware acceleration settings in the
control panel. Setting hardware acceleration to a lower setting usually resolves these issues
(and a few others), but sacrifices some performance.
L. Performance Troubleshooting
There are several ways to improve the game's performance. For example, the game will run
faster if you use the least demanding game settings. These include:
Setting the screen resolution to 800 x 600 or 640 x 480
Setting the detail of graphics to Low
Turning music off
Most of these improvements can be made from within the game (on the Main menu, click
Options; or, if you are playing a game, click the Menu button, and then click Options).
We also recommend:
Close as many other applications running on your system as possible in order to free memory
and processing
De-fragment your hard disk (for instructions, see Troubleshooting Crashing Issues.rtf located
in the Docs subfolder of your installed AoM folder)
Activate DMA (on appropriate hard disks)
Reboot your system before starting Age of Mytholgoy
Turn your virus scanner settings down while playing Age of Mythology
Lastly, ensure that you have the latest drivers from your video card and soundcard manufacturer
or check Windows Update (<http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>) for the latest drivers. Users of
motherboards with non-Intel chipsets should upgrade to the latest miniport drivers available from
their motherboard manufacturer.
M. Multiplayer Troubleshooting
Internet Explorer 5.0 or LaterTo play Age of Mythology multiplayer online, you must first
install Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5 or later. Internet Explorer may be downloaded for
free at <http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com>. Installing Internet Explorer will not displace
your primary browser.
Home Networks and Dial-Up ConnectionsIf you have a network card and you dial in to
the Internet via modem, you may have trouble launching multiplayer games. If this occurs,
disable the device that is not your Internet connection and try again.
Multiplayer ScenariosAge of Mythology does not support the use of triggers for usercreated scenarios in multiplayer. Triggers may cause out-of-syncs errors or other unknown
problems. Exiting the game and restarting Age of Mythology will fix any instability caused by
this situation.
ESO LoginIf you receive the error message Unknown error occurred while trying to
connect to ESO server: 20, check Internet Explorer (5.0 or later) to ensure that a default
language is selected. Point to Tools, point to Internet Options, and click Languages.
Direct IPIn order to play a DirectIP game, you must have a direct connection to the
Internet. In other words, your machine must have a REAL IP address assigned to it. We have
found problems where a DMZ may assign a fake NAT address that hinders or blocks
connectivity for Direct IP. This is not usually required if you are playing on ESO. If you are
uncertain about making these changes, check with your network administrator.
Multiple IP AddressesIf other players are not able to connect to a game you have created
by typing the IP address that appears when you click the IP button on the Multiplayer Game
screen, you may have multiple IP addresses. You can display all of your IP addresses by
running Winipcfg (Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition) or Ipconfig (Windows 2000,
Windows XP). If you are uncertain about making these changes, check with your network
administrator.
To run Winipcfg
1. From the Start menu, click Run.
2. Type Winipcfg and then click OK.
3. Select PPP Adapter. The correct IP address is displayed in the IP Address box.
To run Ipconfig
1. From the Start menu, click Run.
2. Type cmd and then click OK.
3. At the command prompt, type ipconfig and then press ENTER. The correct IP address
will be displayed.
Disconnection from ISPIf you are disconnected from your ISP and quickly reconnect, you
and the host may be dropped from the game if your ISP assigns a new IP address because
the game will not recognize you. If this occurs, restart the game.
Hard Disk SpaceIf you join a multiplayer game but do not have enough hard disk space to
download the scenario, you will receive a message that you must quit the game, clear space
on your hard disk, and then rejoin the game.
External ApplicationsSome applications like virus scanners, Zone Alarm, and some
firewalls may have conflicts or warnings when running or updating Age of Mythology. Often
times these warnings or dialog boxes pop up behind Age of Mythology and appear to be
locked-up. You may ALT+TAB out of Age of Mythology to close the warning and continue, or
disable these programs before running Age of Mythology. You may also select Play in
Window in the Options menu if you have problems using ALT+TAB.
Two TCP/IP DevicesIf you are experiencing issues with dropping network connections or a
lack of ability to connect to other games, please attempt the following:
o Exit Age of Mythology and ensure that you have a network/Internet connection.
o Disable the device that is not your Internet connection and try again.
ICS or NAT are not officially supported. For information on setting up your ICS or how to
disable your second TCP/IP device, see <http://support.microsoft.com/> and search the
knowledgebase for instructions specific to your operating system. If you are uncertain about
making these changes, check with your network administrator.
For more information about Age of Mythology, visit our Web site at
<http://www.ensemblestudios.com/>.
Microsoft, Age of Mythology, DirectX, Ensemble Studios, the Microsoft Game Studios logo, Windows, and
Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States
and/or other countries.