# K $Main Launcher Window

Welcome to the main menu of the Descent 3 Launcher!  From here, you can play Descent 3, configure your game settings, view related information, and even automatically update your version of Descent 3 to the newest available version.

The following buttons allow you to access these different features:

Play
Pressing the Play button will launch Descent 3.  Make sure you have configured your game from Setup before pressing the Play button!

Setup
The Setup button takes you to the Setup Window where you can configure your options for Descent 3.

Auto-Update
The Auto-Update button takes you to the Auto-Update Window where you can update your copy of Descent 3 to the newest available version.

View ReadMe
Pressing the ReadMe button will cause the ReadMe Viewer to be displayed.  The ReadMe files contain important game-related information, so it is a good idea to check them out.

Install Drivers
The Install Drivers button will display the Driver Installation Menu where you can install DirectX and other drivers.

Visit Us!
This button will take you to the Outrage Entertainment Web Page where you can learn more about the people who brought you Descent 3.

Play D3 Online!
The PXO button will take you to the Parallax Online Web page.  Parallax Online allows you to play multi-player Descent 3 for free over the internet.

# K $Auto-Update Window

The Auto-Update window allows you to automatically update your copy of Descent 3 to the latest version by downloading an update patch from the Internet.

The Message of the Day
At the top of the window is the Message of the Day, which displays information regarding new versions or other items of interest.

Version Number Display
This display allows you to easily compare your version of Descent 3 with the newest version currently available.

Status Window and Messages
The status window and messages are initially used to inform you when there is a new version of Descent 3 available for download.

If a new version is available, you can download the patch and apply it by pressing OK.

Once you press OK, the Site Selection Window will appear.  Choose the site you wish to download the patch from and the download will begin.  Once the patch has finished downloading, it will automatically start apply the patch to your copy of Descent 3.

After the patch has completed, you will receive a message stating that the patch was successful.  Most of the time, the launcher will need to be updated as well.  After you click OK on the Auto-Update window, you will be notified if this is the case.  The launcher will then shut down, update itself, and restart.

# K $DirectX Setup

The DirectX Setup displays the current version of DirectX installed on your system.

The status box will let you know if your version of DirectX is sufficient to play Descent 3. Descent 3 generally requires DirectX 6.1, though under some circumstances you may be able to play with versions as old as DirectX 3.0.  If you are playing under Windows 95/98, it is recommended that you install DirectX 6.1 on your system.  DirectX 6.1 is not supported under Windows NT.

The button at the bottom of the DirectX Window will take you directly to the Microsoft DirectX download page.

# K $Video Setup

The Video setup window displays the currently-selected rendering device.

Descent 3 supports three types of renderers (known as APIs): 3Dfx Glide, Direct3D, and OpenGL.  A hardware accelerated 3D card is required to play Descent 3.

The button at the bottom of the window will allow you to redetect certain devices and select a new renderer.

IMPORTANT:
You must make sure that you have installed all the latest drivers for your video card(s).  

Also, some systems may experience problems when attempting to detect more than one type of device from the Video Selection Dialog at the same time.  If this occurs, try selecting only the renderer you wish to use (i.e. Glide, Direct3D, or OpenGL).  Finally, if you do not have a Voodoo Graphics card, it is recommended that you disable the option to detect Glide since this has been known to cause problems on a few systems.

# K $Audio Setup

The Audio Setup allows you to select both an audio playback device and a mixer.

Current Sound Device and Mixers
To enable sound in Descent 3, select a sound device from the pull-down menu.  Choose a device that supports at least one sound mixer.

Once you have chosen an appropriate sound device, choose one of the available mixers for that device.  The possible choices are:

•	Software – Uses the CPU to mix all sounds.  This is recommended for high end machines with an ample supply of RAM.

•	DirectSound – Uses DirectSound for all sound mixing.  This may provide better performance on low-end machines with minimal amounts of RAM.

•	DirectSound 3D – Uses DirectSound 3D to take advantage of the 3D-positional capabilities of your sound card.

•	Aureal 3D – Uses Aureal Vortex Technology (if your card supports it) to implement advanced 3D audio effects.

•	Creative EAX – Uses Creative EAX Technology (if your cards supports it) to take advantage of advanced 3D audio effects.

# K $Controls Setup

This window displays your currently selected game controller.

The Enable Force Feedback button allows you to disable force feedback for controllers that support it.

The Enable CH Flightstick Pro Mode button allows you to enable special handling of a CH Flightstick Pro within Descent 3.  Only check this button if you are using a CH Flightstick Pro! 

The Enable Logitech Mouseman Mode button allows you to enable special handling of a Logitech Mouseman within Descent 3.  Only check this button if you are using a Logitech Mouseman!

If you want to check or calibrate your controller, click on the Joystick Calibration / Setting button to invoke the Windows Game Controllers dialog.

If you change your current controller, click on the Redetect Current Joystick button to read the new settings from Windows.

# K $Speed Setup

The Speed Setup window allows you to specify a default detail level for your system.

You can manually choose a setting from the pull-down list box, or you can press the button at the bottom of the window to have Setup choose one for you, based upon your system properties.

Once inside the game, you can custom tailor each of the various detail level settings as you see fit.

# K $Network Setup

The Network Setup window allows you to specify your network connection type and speed.  This information is used only in multiplayer.

IMPORTANT:
Inaccurate network settings will hinder performance.  Choose the settings that most accurately describe your connection.

# K $Miscellaneous Setup

Language
This window allows you to select the language for the game.

Keyboard Type
This window allows you to specify the type of keyboard you are using.

Performance Options
Use this checkbox to disable FindFast before playing Descent 3.  FindFast is a program that can have a negative effect on the performance of Descent 3 and we STRONGLY recommend that you not run FindFast while playing Descent 3.

Option D3 Command Line
Use this box to enter Descent 3 command-line parameters.  You will most likely want to leave this field empty.  See the Readme file for a list of command-line options.

# K $Site Selection Window

The site selection window allows you to choose an Internet site from which to download the Descent 3 patch.  Any site listed should work, though you should try to choose one close to your location.  If one site does not work, try another.

Select a site and click OK.

# K $Setup Window

The Setup Window allows you to configure your Descent 3 options.

It contains the following sections:

•	DirectX
•	Video
•	Audio
•	Controls
•	Network
•	Misc

# K $Driver Installation Menu

The Driver Installation Menu allows you to install various drivers onto your machine.

Install Microsoft DirectX 6.1
Installs Microsoft DirectX 6.1.

Install OpenGL with GLSetup
Installs the latest OpenGL drivers onto your machine.