Transformers(TM): The Game PC Readme
Last Updated: 05/30/2007

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

INSTALLATION & SET UP

1. Minimum System Requirements
2. AutoPlay
3. Electronic Registration
4. DirectX® Detection and Installation
5. Game DVD

VIDEO ISSUES

1. Monitors
2. Windowed Mode
3. High and Low Resolution Assets
4. Anti-Aliasing
5. Switching Screen Resolutions

GENERAL ISSUES

1. Controllers
2. How to Close the XBoxStat.exe Program
3. Alt-Tab, Alt-Enter, Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and the Windows® Key
4. Uninstalling with Anti-Virus Software Enabled
5. Windows® Sticky Keys
6. Game-play Items
7. How to Delete the Save Game File
8. How to Delete the Configuration file
9. Windows Vista™ Game Explorer
10. TurboCache™ and HyperMemory™ Video Cards

CONTROLS

1. Accessing the Controls Menu

INTRODUCTION

Refer to this document if you encounter difficulties with one or more aspects of installation or running the Transformers(TM): The Game. Many of the most commonly encountered issues are covered here.

INSTALLATION & SET UP

1. Minimum System Requirements

- 3D hardware accelerator card required:
- 100% DirectX® 9.0c-100% DirectX® 9.0c-compliant 64MB video card and drivers*
- English version of Microsoft® Windows® XP/Vista
- Pentium® 4 2.0GHz or Athlon® 2.0GHz or higher processor
- 256MB of RAM (1GB for Windows® Vista)
- 4 GB of uncompressed hard disk space (plus 300 MB for the Windows® swap file and 1MB free for saved games)
- A 100% Windows XP/Vista-compatible computer system including:
- DirectX 9.0c (Included)
- 100% DirectX 9.0c-compliant true 16-bit sound card and drivers
- 100% Windows XP/Vista -compatible mouse, keyboard and drivers
- 100% Windows XP/Vista -compatible quad speed DVD-ROM drive (600 K/sec sustained transfer rate)

* Supported Chipsets for Windows XP/Vista:
- All NVIDIA® GeForce® 4 Ti 4200 64MB and better chipsets
- All ATI® Radeon® 8500 64MB and better chipsets
- 100% Windows XP/Vista-compatible gamepad (optional) (Game controller with 10 or more buttons and dual analog sticks required)

- Important Note: Some 3D accelerator cards with the chipsets listed here may not be compatible with the 3D acceleration features utilized by Transformers(TM): The Game. Please refer to your hardware manufacturer for 100% DirectX® 9.0c compatibility.

*This game uses the SSE instruction set to optimize performance. Please make sure your CPU supports it.

2. AutoPlay

If the Windows AutoPlay feature is enabled on your computer, the Transformers(TM): The Game Launch screen will automatically appear when you insert the Transformers(TM): The Game DVD into your DVD-ROM drive. Simply click on Install and follow the on-screen instructions to continue the installation.

If the AutoPlay feature is disabled, you can begin the installation by doing the following:
a) Double-click on My Computer.
b) Double-click your DVD-ROM drive icon.
c) Double-click Setup.exe.

-or-

a) Double-click on My Computer.
b) Right-click your DVD-ROM drive icon.
c) Select AutoPlay.

3. Electronic Registration

During the Transformers(TM): The Game setup, the install process will prompt you for electronic registration. Microsoft Internet Explorer® 5.0 or later is required for electronic registration.

4. DirectX® Detection and Installation

During the Transformers(TM): The Game setup, the install process will prompt you to install Microsoft DirectX on your computer. If you choose "Yes" the Microsoft DirectX setup program will install the appropriate files on your computer. DirectX 9.0c is a set of sound, video, input and network functions developed by Microsoft. The latest release of DirectX 9.0c is necessary to run Transformers(TM): The Game

If you already have other Windows games on your computer, you may already have a version of DirectX installed. In this case, the Microsoft installer will detect and overwrite any previous versions with DirectX 9.0c. At that point, you will need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect. Versions of DirectX newer than 9.0c will not be overwritten.

If you choose not to install DirectX 9.0c when you install the game, you can manually install it later. To do so, use the following instructions:
a) Place your Transformers(TM): The Game DVD in the DVD-ROM drive. The Launch screen should appear. See the AutoPlay section above if it does not appear.
b) Click on the Extras button.
c) Click on DirectX and follow the installation process. When the DirectX installation finishes, you will need to restart your computer for the new drivers to work.

5. Game DVD

After installing the game, you can run Transformers(TM): The Game at any time from the Start Menu or by clicking Play on the game DVD Launch screen. Windows Vista users may also launch the game from the Games Explorer. Please note that you must have Transformers(TM): The GAme DVD in your DVD-ROM drive at all times in order to play the game.

VIDEO ISSUES

1. Monitors

Please make sure your monitor supports the game resolution you are trying to play in. To check what resolutions your monitor supports, do the following:
a) Double-click on My Computer.
b) Double-click on Control Panel.
c) Double-click on Display.
d) Choose the Settings tab.
e) Locate the resolution slider in the Screen area box and drag it to the far right.

The resolution shown underneath the slider is the maximum resolution your monitor is capable of displaying. If you do not want to change to this resolution now, select Cancel. Your Desktop resolution should be set to be the same or higher than your game resolution. Please make sure your monitor type is properly specified to insure correct reporting of available video resolutions.

2. Windowed Mode

Windowed mode is not a supported feature of Transformers(TM): The Game

3. High and Low Resolution Assets

From the Video Options menu (located in Main Menu/Options/Video Settings) the user can change display settings that will increase the texture detail used on buildings and specific models. The user can choose Low or High Assets. Please note that users with older video cards may experience a decline in the game's performance when using High Resolution Assets..

4. Anti-Aliasing

For video cards that support Anti-Aliasing the user can enable 2X and 4X Anti-Aliasing from the Effects Options menu (Options/Effects Settings from the Main Menu). Please note that users with older video cards may experience a decline in the game's performance when using 2X or 4X Anti-Aliasing.

5. Switching Screen Resolutions

Switching to a different resolution can be done using the Resolution setting in the Video Options menu. From the Main Menu select Options then Video Settings. This menu will also allow you to modify your aspect ratio and refresh rate. After making changes you will need to confirm the new settings are working. If you encounter a black screen or graphic corruption, the game will automatically reload your previous options after 15 seconds. Please note that users with older video cards may experience a decline in the game's performance when setting the display size from the default resolution of 800x600 to a higher resolution.

GENERAL ISSUES

1. Controllers

Transformers(TM): The Game has been tested on a wide variety of supported controllers. If the user runs into button prompts that do not match the users controller, we recommend rebinding the controller buttons (located in Pause Menu/Controls). If this does not allow the user to progress we recommend using the keyboard to pass these areas.

2. How to Close the XBoxStat.exe Program

On some machines the Windows Xbox 360™ gamepad drivers will force a program called XBoxStat.exe to run. On most systems this will not cause a problem while playing Transformers(TM): The Game. However, on some systems this program will force Transformers(TM): The Game to minimize and prevent the user from re-entering the game. If this happens the user can turn XBoxStat.exe off by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del and selecting Task Manager. From the Processes tab select XBoxStat.exe to highlight it and select End Process. Once the program is turned off the user can re-enter the game. On some systems the machine will need to be restarted. If XBoxStat.exe launches again, and forces Transformers(TM): The Game to minimize, simply repeat the steps above.

3. Alt-Tab, Alt-Enter, Ctrl-Alt-Delete, and the Windows® Key Using Alt-Tab, Alt-Enter, the Windows Key or Ctrl-Alt-Delete to exit Transformers(TM): The Game and/or switch to another application is not recommended. While you may be able to Alt-Tab/Alt-Enter to exit Transformers(TM): The Game, and the game will remain running in the task bar, you may not be able to recover the game by Alt-Tabbing/Alt-Entering back to it. At this point, you may have to use the Windows Task Manager to close Transformers(TM): The Game. Hold Down the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys to bring up the Task Manager, then select Transformers(TM): The Game from the list of programs currently running and hit the End Task button. Please note that Alt-Tab, Alt-Enter, the Windows Key, and Ctrl-Alt-Delete are not supported features of Transformers(TM): The Game.

4. Uninstalling with Anti-Virus Software Enabled The uninstall process may take more time if anti-virus software is currently running, even if the anti-virus software is running in the background. Although Transformers(TM): The Game will still uninstall correctly with this software running, disabling any anti-virus program can make the uninstall process run faster.

5. Windows® Sticky Keys

If you press the Shift key 5 times consecutively in Windows XP/Vista the following message may appear:

"By pressing the Shift key five times you have turned on the Sticky Keys feature. With this feature, you can lock down the Ctrl, Alt, or Shift keys."

Click OK or Cancel to leave this feature on.

To avoid this message from appearing in the future, click the Settings button on the window referenced above. When the Accessibility Options screen appears, click the Settings button in the Sticky Keys portion of the window. On the next window (labeled "Settings for Sticky Keys"), uncheck the box that says, "Use shortcut", click on Apply, and close the windows. The Sticky Keys message should not appear once the Shift key shortcut has been disabled.

6. Game-play Items The first Arena (located in Pause Menu/Extras) is unlocked after completing the main storyline. The user must defeat each Arena to unlock the next Arena.

7. How to Delete the Save Game File

Transformers(TM): The Game creates one save game file per user account. If this file is removed all progression will be lost. Please note that there is no New Game or Delete Game functionality within Transformers(TM): The Game. During the uninstall process Transformers(TM): The Game will give the player the option to remove the save game file for the user that uninstalls the game. Any other user's save game will remain. If the user wants to manually move this file, the save game file is located here:

In Windows XP go to:
C:\Documents and Settings\\My Documents\Activision\Transformers: The Game

In Windows Vista™ go to:
C:\Users\\Documents\Activision\Transformers: The Game

8. How to Delete the Configuration File

Transformers(TM): The Game creates one configuration file per user account. During the uninstall process Transformers(TM): The Game will give the player the option to remove the configuration file for the user that uninstalls the game. If the user wants to manually remove this file, the configuration file is named pcconfig.txt and is located here:

In Windows XP go to:
C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Activision\Transformers: The Game

In Windows Vista™ go to:
C:\Users\\Apps\Roaming\Activision\Transformers: The Game

9. Windows Vista™ Game Explorer

Transformers(TM): The Game can be installed and played on Windows Vista. The Vista Game Explorer will give the user information about the game, and allow the user to launch Transformers(TM): The Game.

10. TurboCache™ and HyperMemory™ Video Cards

For NVIDIA TurboCache video cards and ATI HyperMemory video cards that meet the game's Minimum System Requirements found in the beginning of this document, Transformers(TM): The Game requires an additional 512 MB of system RAM. This is because the video card will use between 256 MB and 512 MB of system RAM. If Transformers(TM): The Game is run with a TurboCache or HyperMemory video card (or any video card that meets the MSR and shares system RAM) on a system that has less then 1.5 GB of system RAM, the game will experience stability issues.

CONTROLS

1. Accessing the Controls Menu

The default control device for playing Transformers(TM): The Game is the keyboard and mouse. Many of the game's controls can be rebound in the Controls Menu (located in Pause Menu). To access the Controls Menu from the Main Menu select Options then Control Setup.