ULTIMA: THE DARK CORE
System Optimization


ULtima: The Dark Core will not function with versions of Netscape greater than 4.3. If you do not have Netscape 4.0-4.3, then the author recommends playing the game with Internet Explorer 4.0 or 5.0.
In general, if you have the full version of Netscape Communicator 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0 and haven't reconfigured any of their settings, you can play the game. This page merely provides tips for getting Ultima: The Dark Core to run as smoothly as possible and provides some simple solutions if you are encountering difficulties. If you are fairly secure with handling your browser and machine, feel free to skip these tips.

Notes on Playing with Sound (Netscape Only): When starting the game, you are given the option to play with or without sound. Playing without sound removes the LiveAudio and Crescendo requirements. Furthermore, it decreases loading time while playing over the WWW. To play with sound, you must have the LiveAudio plug-in. To play with music, it is highly recommended to use the Crescendo plug-in.

To optimize your system to work with The Dark Core, follow these four basic steps:

Step 1: Download and install Netscape Communicator 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0.

Step 2 (Netscape Only) Enable Javascript and LiveAudio.

Step 3 (Netscape Only): Download and install the Crescendo plug-in.

Step 4: Configure your monitor settings.

Step 1: Download and install Netscape Communicator 4.0 or Internet Explorer 4.0

Netscape Communicator (or Navigator):
Fully functional, 90-day evaluation copies of Netscape Communicator 4.0 are available for free at Netscape's download site. If you've already installed Communicator on your system, proceed to step 2. If you haven't downloaded Communicator, do it now, and make certain to check the "Add components to Communicator now" box at Netscape's site. This option ensures that the LiveAudio plug-in required for running Dark Core will automatically be installed and you can skip step 2.
Note: Netscape now offers Netscape Navigator 4.0 as a stand-alone product. This includes automatic installation of the LiveAudio plug-in.

Internet Explorer:
Free copies of Microsoft Internet Explorer are available at Microsoft's download site. Choose the "recommended" install when following Microsoft's instructions for downloading.

System Requirements
Unfortunately, I cannot give you specific system requirements for running The Dark Core because I don't know them. Ideally, the system requirements should match those for Netscape and Internet Explorer. In fact, The Dark Core runs perfectly well on my 486DX-133 with 16 MB of RAM. It should also run fairly well on Power Macs with 16MB of RAM, though I would guess you better have your virtual memory turned on.

Step 2: Enable Javascript and LiveAudio (Netscape Only)
Today's Tips:
Type "about:plugins" in your location window to see what plug-ins you have and if they are activated
And just what the heck is a cookie, you ask? Or have you heard that cookies are evil and should be destroyed? Consult Dark Cookies for more information!
If you already own a copy of Navigator 4.0, type "about:bridge" in your location window to examine what Netscape employess do after a long day of programming...
Can you tell I'm just trying to fill up this space? 		If you downloaded and installed Communicator 4.0 using the instructions in step 1, then both LiveAudio and Javascript should have automatically been enabled. To check your LiveAudio plug-in, type "about:plugins" in your location window. Scroll down the page until you see "LiveAudio" and a table listing the files that it can handle. If you do not see "LiveAudio", then download and install it by following the instructions below. To check to see if Javascript is enabled, simply click here, and you should see an alert message. If nothing happens (or if your cursor turns into an hourglass), then see below.

Downloading and Installing LiveAudio:

  • Go to Netscape's Communicator Update Site and select "Multimedia Support." For information about what is included in this update, check the additional components section in Netscape's download site.
  • Click "Begin SmartUpdate" at the bottom of Netscape's page and follow the instructions.
To enable Javascript and cookies:

Step 3: Download and Install Crescendo (Netscape Only)
LiveUpdate's Crescendo is a versatile MIDI player available for free at LiveUpdate's web site. For The Dark Core to implement MIDI music properly, you must have Crescendo in order for the MIDIs to play correctly.

Downloading and installing Crescendo is as simple as visiting Crescendo's web site, uncompressing your downloaded files, and then following the installation instructions.

Configuring your Monitor Settings
Macintosh Users!!
In addition to setting your monitor, set Netscape's default font size to 14 points to enhance readability. 		At the minimum, set your monitor resolution for 640x480 at thousands of colors. For best results, set your monitor with a resolution of at least 800x600 with thousands of colors. A 800x600 setting with millions of colors looks fantastic. Note to the Wary: Exit Netscape before changing your monitor resolution.

As noted to the left, Macintosh users may want to set their browser's default font size to 14 points instead of 12 points.

That's it! You're done and ready to start playing Ultima: The Dark Core.


[Return to Main Help Page]