Readme File for Microsoft SideWinder Game Voice


This document provides late-breaking or other information that supplements the Microsoft SideWinder Game Voice software User's Guide.

To learn more:




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Known Issues

Compatibility Information


Known Issues

MSN Messenger and Hotmail related issues

Game Voice users will appear as "On the phone" in MSN Messenger

The Game Voice software changes your MSN Messenger status to On the phone to indicate to your contacts that you are using Game Voice. This status option will appear even if you have selected another option within MSN Messenger, such as Away or Appear offline.

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MSN Messenger should log on automatically when Game Voice is activated

When using Game Voice, you need to be logged on to MSN Messenger in order to view your contact list. If you have the "Automatically log on to Messenger" option selected in Game Voice Settings, Game Voice will automatically log on to MSN Messenger when you start the software.

In the Game Voice Settings help topics, it incorrectly states that Game Voice will not automatically log on to MSN Messenger when you reopen the application after closing it with the Command tab selected. In this case, the help topics state incorrectly that you need to manually log on to MSN Messenger, or to click "Log on to Messenger" from the Game Voice software, in order to populate Game Voice with your contact list.

Instead, Game Voice will automatically log on to MSN Messenger whenever you start it, unless you turn off this feature in the Game Voice Settings.

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If you change your display name in Messenger, your new name will not be visible until you reboot Game Voice

When you change your display name in MSN Messenger, you need to leave the application and restart it in order to see your new name. If you choose to change your Game Voice display name within MSN Messenger, you must leave and then restart Game Voice in order to see the change.

To avoid this, you may also change your display name within Game Voice, by clicking the Game Voice Settings button. When you change it this way, your new display name will automatically show.

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Game Voice Help related issues

Game Voice Help incorrectly states that it is possible to invite a player to a chat session using drag and drop

The Game Voice Help topic, "Invite a player to chat" indicates that you can drag player names from your Contact list into a chat session. It is not possible to do so. Instead, click on the player's name and then select Invite to chat.

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Game Voice Help provides incorrect information in the "Where are the profiles stored?" Help topic

In this topic, Game Voice Help states that profiles are saved in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Game Controllers\Game Voice\profiles (where C: is the name of your hard drive). The correct location for the profiles is C:\Program Files\Microsoft Hardware\Game Voice\Profiles.

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Game Voice Help provides insufficient information regarding the Host Network Address

The main purpose of this dialog is to select which IP address is sent to remote Messenger contacts who are invited to chat with Game Voice.

The topic doesn't specify that the Network address chosen will determine which IP address is sent to other Messenger contacts who have been invited to chat. If the host is connected to multiple networks, he or she may need to select the appropriate network adapter so that the invitations sent will contain the correct IP address.

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Game Voice Setup related issues

During Game Voice Setup, you get the message Error: Cannot find MSVCIRT.DLL

Some early versions of Windows 98 do not include the common run-time libraries MSVCRT40.DLL or MSVCIRT.DLL. If you are getting an error that Game Voice can not find these files, please run Windows Setup and install the Imaging Components. To install the Imaging components:

  1. From the Start menu, click Settings, and then click Control Panel.
  2. Select Add/Remove Programs.
  3. Select Windows Setup.
  4. Select Accessories and then click Details.
  5. Check Imaging choice.
  6. Click OK twice and insert you Windows 98 CD when prompted.

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Game Voice Setup incorrectly states that you will be linked to the Passport web site

During Setup, Game Voice incorrectly states that you are going to the Passport Web site. Instead, the link directs you to the Hotmail Web site.

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The Replay button during Game Voice Setup doesn't work within Windows 98 First Edition

Introducing SideWinder Game Voice includes a short animation that shows how the microphone should be positioned. If you are running Windows 98 First Edition, the Replay button for this animation does not work.

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Operating System related issues

With Game Voice, you must use the language your Operating System uses by default

Game Voice will automatically install in the language your operating system uses by default. This language is determined at the time you purchase your operating system. Although Windows 2000 offers a Multi-language pack that allows you to load multiple languages onto your machine, Game Voice will not work with these languages.

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Hardware related issues

During hardware installation, you should turn off the desktop speakers before connecting them to the control pad

If desktop speakers are left on while plugging them into the control pad, the speakers may make loud popping or buzzing sounds upon attachment that can damage them. To avoid this, always turn the speakers off before connecting them to your Game Voice control pad.

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To ensure adequate microphone volume, you may need to enable the Mic Boost property within the sound card

Some sound cards have a +20dB gain (called Mic Boost) that can be enabled. If your microphone volume is low, you should check this setting to maximize your volume while using Game Voice. You will need to consult with your sound card manual to determine how to modify this, since it varies by card.

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Sony VAIO Lap Top users can't disable their internal microphones

The Sony VAIO Lap Top system does not allow you to disable the internal microphone. When you attach the external Game Voice headset microphone to your system, both the Game Voice microphone and the internal microphone will be active.

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Other issues

In order to install and use the Game Voice software, you must be running at 256 color resolution or higher.

If you set your display to 16 colors and run Setup, you will see a dialog stating that Game Voice will work best in 256 colors. In addition, you will see the error message, Would you like to continue with Setup anyway? If you click OK, Setup will exit, because Game Voice Setup cannot run in 16 color mode.

To run Game Voice Setup and use the Game Voice software, set your monitor's display to 256 colors or higher, and then run Setup. See the Windows help file or your monitor's help manual for more information on setting your display properties.

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Certain games may consume the available CPU resources on your computer

Certain games may consume most or all of the CPU resources on your computer. As a result, Game Voice will have little CPU resources to work with, degrading the quality of its performance. When this occurs, you may notice high latency or decreased accuracy with voice commands, or broken, garbled sounding voice chat.

Known scenarios for this include Unreal Tournament on Windows 2000, and any 3D game on a computer without 3D hardware acceleration.

To avoid this problem, Game Voice should be started in High Priority mode.

To start Game Voice in High Priority mode:

  1. From a command prompt, change the current working directory to your Game Voice installation directory.
  2. Type GameVoice.exe-hp to increase the CPU availability for Game Voice.

Do not run Game Voice in this mode unless you are experiencing the problem described above, or the performance of the game may be impacted.

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You may have trouble joining large chats if your Game Voice hardware isn't connected

When the control pad is not plugged in, the application will behave like Game Voice Share, the free downloadable version of Game Voice. Because of this, you may not be able to connect to large sessions. When initially starting a chat session, only four Game Voice Share users can form a chat. After these initial four players, you must have at least one Game Voice user for every three Game Voice Share users who later join in the chat. For more information about Game Voice Share features, please see the Game Voice Share Web site.

When using Game Voice, it is recommended that you always have your control pad plugged in, to avoid encountering the connection limitations as described above.

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It's easiest to find active chat sessions when both the host and the joiner are in each other's Contact lists.

Game Voice works best for contact management when both the host and the joiner of the chat have each other in their Contact's list. In some cases, it may be possible to see a chat session that one of your contact's contacts is hosting (but who is not on your list), but this association can not be guaranteed.

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Other available chat sessions cannot be seen once you are in a chat

Once you enter a chat session, the other chat sessions in your list will no longer be displayed. If you want to see a list of other chats available, you must exit your current chat session.

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Game Voice Settings incorrectly states that your Display name will appear in other players' Contact lists

The Game Voice display name edit box incorrectly states that you can, "Type the name you would like others to see in their Contact lists." It should read, "Type the name you would like others to see while in a chat." If you wish to change how your name displays in other players' Contact lists, you need to change that option within MSN Messenger, as this is the name that populates in the Contact list.

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Compatibility Information

Compatible operating systems

SideWinder Game Voice is designed to run on Windows 98 and later. It is not compatible with earlier operating systems or DOS systems.

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Sound Card Issues

Game Voice requires a full-duplex sound card in order to be able to hear others and speak simultaneously. Certain sound cards may have compatibility issues with Game Voice. For a listing of the most recent information about sound card software updates, please see the SideWinder Game Voice Update Web site.

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Minimum system requirements

To use the Microsoft Sidewinder Game Voice and the enclosed software, make sure that your system meets or exceeds the following minimum system requirements:

To chat with your friends, they need to have:

Notes

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Games that are incompatible with the SideWinder Game Voice

If you lose your chat session when you enter a game, you may need update your DirectX version. For more information about DirectX8, including the free download, please see the SideWinder Game Voice Update Web site.

If you are having other game compatibility issues while using Game Voice, please see the SideWinder Game Voice Update Web site for the most up-to-date listing of game compatibility issues and updates.



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