Dr. Sulfur Product Tips

Pony Express Rider

Technical Tips for the Best Game Experience

Technical Support
System Requirements
Installation and Startup
Saving and Resuming a Game
Optimizing RAM
Video Display / Sound Card Tips
Trouble Shooting

Playing Tips for the Best Game Experience

Overall
Ride Simulation

Technical Tips for the Best Game Experience

Technical Support

If you develop technical problems while using Pony Express Rider, you are welcome to call our technical support line. However, you will certainly be happier if you can solve the problem on your own, there- by eliminating a potential wait on the phone line. We suggest you study this as well as the User's Guide in the CD jewel case, before giving us a call. Our technical support line can be reached at (541) 884-7405 during these hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30am-7:30pm, and Saturday, 8:30am- 4:30pm, Pacific time.

System Requirements
* Microsoft(r) Windows(r)95
* 486/66 or faster; Pentium processor recommended
* 8 MB RAM; 16 MB recommended
* 15 MB free hard drive space
* 256-color monitor
* Double-speed CD-ROM drive, or faster
* 8-bit sound card and speakers, or better
* Mouse

Installation and Startup
To install on computer systems running Windows 95:
1. Put Disc 1 for Pony Express Rider into your CD-ROM drive.
2. When the prompt appears that says "Would you like to install Pony Express Rider?", click on the Yes button.
3. The Setup screen for Pony Express Rider will appear.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the product on your computer.

If no prompt appears when you insert Disc 1, double click on the My Computer icon, then on the CD1 icon for Pony Express Rider. This will force the prompt to appear.

To run the product later on:
1. Put Disc 1 for Pony Express Rider into your CD-ROM drive.
2. When the prompt appears that says "Would you like to play Pony Express Rider?", click the Yes button.
3. The game will begin. Simply follow the on-screen instructions.
If Disc 1 is already in the computer and you don't see a prompt, then press the Start button on the Windows desktop. Choose Programs, then McGraw-Hill Home Interactive, then Pony Express Rider. This will start the game.

Saving and Resuming a Game
To save a game in progress: Pony Express Rider automatically saves your game at key points. To ensure that your game is saved when you quit, click on the orange or brown menu bar at the bottom of the screen. Click on the Quit icon, and then on one of the Exit buttons. Your game will be saved automatically when you exit.
Note 1: You can store up to 40 saved (unfinished) games, but each saved game must have a different player name. In other words, if you have a game saved under the name of "Mike Smith", and then start a new game with the name of "Mike Smith", the old game file will be overwritten by the new one.
Note 2: Your game is saved when you first arrive at each of the 15 Pony Express offices. The game is also saved when you re-enter an "end station" Pony Express office after foiling a KGC plot. If you solve a KGC plot, be sure to return to the Pony Express office before quitting the game. To resume an unfinished game: From the main menu of Pony Express Rider, choose "Resume a Ride". Find your name in the list of unfinished games, and click on it. Your game will resume at the last Pony Express office you visited.

Optimizing RAM
If you want to run Pony Express Rider on a computer with less than 16 MB of RAM, then you should make sure that none of the RAM is being used by other applications or tasks. Close other applications: Although Windows allows you to run multiple applications simultaneously, it is highly recommended that you close everything else to release all available memory when you run Pony Express Rider. Turn off screen savers and background tasks: For optimum performance, Pony Express Rider should be played without any additional drivers or background tasks competing for use of your system's resources. Please turn off all background activities such as screen savers, fax programs, network drivers, or shared system resources, before starting Pony Express Rider.

Video Display / Sound Card Tips
Pony Express Rider has been tested with most video and sound cards. If you experience problems running the program, please call Technical Support at (541) 884-7405 PST. We will try to provide you with information on the most recent compatible drivers for your video and sound cards.

Trouble Shooting
1. Pony Express Rider is compatible with most screen saver programs. However, if you encounter any technical difficulties, we recommend that you go to the control panel, turn off your screen saver, and restart your computer. Then try Pony Express Rider again.
2. If you encounter a READ ERROR while playing Pony Express Rider, this means that the program was not able to get the correct information from the CD. This error may be caused by dirt, scratches, or fingerprints on the bottom of the CD. Please use a soft cloth and gently wipe the lower surface of the disc, brushing any material outward towards the outer edge.
3. The load time for each activity in the game has been optimized for best performance, but may vary with different systems. If your screen goes black for a few moments between activities, please be patient -- the activity is simply loading and initializing. Follow the suggestions in section V: Optimizing RAM to speed up load time.

Playing Tips for the Best Game Experience

Overall
Goals of the Game: Your goal is to become a hero of the Pony Express -- a Legendary Rider! You do this by building up Hero Points.

You collect Hero Points in several different ways:
1. On each of the five assignments, ride as fast as you can, delivering the mail to the "end station" before the sun sets. The earlier you arrive, the more points you get.
2. Solve puzzles that uncover Confederate plots against the United States. Each plot that you foil earns you more points.
3. Perform additional heroic acts while on the trail, such as scaring off dangerous animals, out-shooting bandits, and decoding secret messages. But don't take too much time doing it, or you might not arrive on time!
4. Enhance your reputation as a hero by helping other people who are traveling westward and need a hand. At any time, you can look in your journal to see how many Hero Points you have collected so far.

Getting Help: Click on the orange or brown menu bar at the bottom of screen to bring up the icons for Help, the Journal, and Quit.
1. Click on the Help icon (Cody & Jane) if you get stuck and need help.
2. Click on the Journal icon to get:
* your current game score
* a glossary of important terms
* a map of the territory you are riding through
* portraits of the historic characters you encounter
* a key to the Morse and Semaphore codes and for Native American sign language

The Ride Simulation
You control the horse with these keys:
1. Up-arrow: moves your horse forward
2. Left-arrow: turns your horse to the left
3. Right-arrow: turns the horse to the right
4. Down-arrow: slows down or halts the horse
5. Space-bar: makes your horse jump over objects
6. F2: turns your head so you can look behind you
7. Escape: pauses the ride and accesses the menu bar

If you prefer, you can control the horse with your mouse:
1. Mouse forward: to move your horse forward
2. Mouse right: to turn your horse right
3. Mouse left: to turn your horse left
4. Mouse back: to slow down or halt the horse
5. Left click: to accelerate horse
6. Right click: to jump over objects or steep terrain
7. F2: to turn your head so you can look behind you
8. Escape: to pause the ride or access the menu bar

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