General Frequently Asked Questions
Improving performance
Graphics issues
Sound issues
Online scores/multiplayer connection problems
Registering/entering serial numbers
Improving Performance
Several factors can effect general game performance. Here are some tips to increase frame rates and game responsiveness:
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Close other programs
Any software that is open and running while playing the game could potentially be taking a share of the CPU or memory and degrading the game experience. Try closing all other programs before launching the game.
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Upgrade Drivers
Video hardware manufacturers often release new versions of their software drivers which can fix bugs, enable new features and improve performance. Check for new drivers at the manufacturer's website. This might be nVidia, ATI, Intel or another company. Refer to your computer's manual if you are unsure what you have or how to go about finding or installing new drivers.
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Use lower video resolutions
Some games offer the option to select the game display resolution. Using a higher resolution requires more video and CPU power that can degrade performance on slower machines. Try various resolutions to find a happy mix of size and performance. See the specific game's FAQ for more information on how to change game resolution.
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Adjust in-game settings
Some games have options for adjusting detail level or graphic intensity within the game. It is called various different things, but should be fairly obvious. These will control how much computer power is used for enhancing the visual aspects of the game; they'll never detract from anything gameplay-centric. Adjust these, where applicable, to optimize performance.
Graphics issues
If there are problems with the visuals within the game there might be several factors involved. First, it may be an issue of outdated or buggy video drivers. Video hardware manufacturers often release updates to fix bugs and improve performance. It is highly recommended that the latest certified release be used when playing any game to ensure the best possible experience. See 'Upgrade Drivers' above under Improving Performance for some references to different video manufacturers' websites.
If the latest drivers do not solve the problem you can try changing to the full-screen or windowed mode of the game which might help. This can be done by pressing Alt-Enter or F4 within the game, or in some games running it with the command-line options -fullscreen or -windowed. To add a command-line option in WindowsXP, right-click the game icon and select 'Properties'. Then add the command-line option in the 'Target' box after 'SweetDreams.exe' so that it reads something like: "C:\Program Files\SweetDreams\SweetDreams.exe -fullscreen" and click 'Ok' to close the Properties window. Check with the help system on other operating systems to determine how to add command-line options such as this.
Finally, it just may be that the video card in question is too old or not equipped to provide the feature set the game requires. Older cards or budget cards that are shipped on the motherboard of some computers are especially likely to under-perform or not work at all with some games. Modern add-in cards with full feature sets are fairly inexpensive and often easy to install; refer to your computer's documentation regarding this.
Sound issues
In the event that audio is soft or non-existant, check the following:
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The operating system's volume is sufficiently high, and not muted
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The game's own volume (typically found in 'options') is sufficiently high
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You haven't lost your hearing
If none of these are the case, it may be the drivers for the audio hardware are out of date and in need of updating. The manufacturer's website for your computer (or of the audio hardware specifically) will be able to provide the latest drivers available.
Online scores/multiplayer connection problems
Submitting scores to the worldwide ranking list or playing multiplayer games require a connection to the internet. If a connection exists and there are still problems, here are some possible causes (and in some cases, solutions):
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The game server may be down for scheduled maintenence. Check the news and forums areas for word of any scheduled downtime.
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There may be some network problem between your computer and the game servers. In these cases, it is best to try again at a later time.
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You may be using VPN or other connection-tunnelling that interferes with game traffic. Make sure there are no VPN connections running when trying to connect to game servers.
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A firewall, either in the OS or a hardware router, is blocking traffic to or from the game server. In this event, it will be necessary to tell the firewall to allow traffic on a certain port. Check with each individual game for the required port(s), and refer to the OS's or router's manual for allowing traffic on specific ports.
Registering/entering serial numbers
There are a few things to keep in mind when entering the serial number of a purchased game:
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Serial numbers must be entered in precisely. It is recommended that you cut-and-paste the number from the receipt into the registration dialog.
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The Serial number is directly tied to the name the game was purchased with. This name must be entered into the registration dialog exactly as it appears on the receipt.
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Registered copies of games are tied to the computer on which they were registered. If copied to other machines, the game will behave as a trial version and the serial number provided will not work. If you intended to run the game on another machine or are migrating the game to a new computer, please contact us and we will help you resolve the issue swiftly.
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For any other problems with or questions about game registration or serial numbers, please contact us immedately so we may assist you.
Game Stats
Recent Scores
Single Player (main)
