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Welcome!

Download a demo of two levels of Grolier Interactive's new flight adventure game, Banzai Bug. The game brings a whole new dimension to flight simulation: a bug's eye view. Buzz through an exterminator's house on dangerous missions, with powers of flight like an F16 jet or an Apache helicopter. Meet new bugs. Make new enemies. Blow up robots. Annoy humans.

The full version has hot music for all levels, plus a whole series of movies to tell you the real story, how a young city bug going for a vacation in the suburbs instead finds himself trapped in a ... well, we don't want to give the whole thing away, do we?


Table of Contents:

System Requirements

Download and Install the Banzai Bug! Demo

Download and Install DirectX

Troubleshooting the Banzai Bug! Demo

 


System Requirements for Banzai Bug! Demo

  • Pentium 90 or better
  • Windows 95
  • 8 MB of RAM
  • Keyboard or 2-button, 2-axis joystick
  • DirectX version 3 installed.

 

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To install the Banzai Bug! Demo:

  • Download the self-extracting demo file and choose a directory to download it (e.g., C:\TEMP).
  • Double-click on the BUGDEMO.EXE file in the directory you downloaded it to. When the self-extractor window appears verify the correct directory path is present and click on Unzip.
  • To run the demo, make sure DirectX version 3 is installed (see below). Go to the Start menu and select Run. Enter C:\TEMP\BANZAI\EXE\Demo2.exe (where TEMP is the directory you downloaded to).
  • To review game help and hints open and print the extracted README.TXT file.

     

NOTE: Grolier Interactive demos sometimes are released before the final version. Therefore, they may contain problems that will be addressed in the final version. We provide technical support for the full versions only.

Click on one of the links below to download the demo.

DOWNLOAD.COM
Download it now!

Grolier Server
BUGDEMO.EXE (4.1 MB)

 

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Installing DirectX version 3

Banzai Bug requires you to have Microsoft's DirectX version 3 installed in order to run. If you do not have DirectX installed, or just want to be sure, we recommend you download this version anyhow. It is the latest version to date and is backwards compatible with prior version of DirectX. For more information visit the Microsoft home page.

To Install Direct X:

  • Click on the self-extracting demo file and choose a directory to download it to (e.g. C:\TEMP).
  • Double-click on the DIRECTX.EXE file in the directory you downloaded it to.
  • Follow the Microsoft installation procedure.

DIRECTX.EXE (6.3 MB)

 

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Banzai Bug! Demo Troubleshooting and Technical Questions

Q: What is DirectX?

A: DirectX is a program from Microsoft which allows games to run better on Windows 95 systems. DirectX version 3 is installed directly on your computer when you install Banzai Bug and may give you the option to upgrade your video drivers, if necessary. For further information on DirectX you can contact Microsoft at (800)426-9400 or through the World Wide Web at http://www.microsoft.com.

Q: When trying to install Banzai Bug I get the error message "The display adapter you are using is not compatible with DirectX. Do you want DirectX to update your drivers?"

A: This means you are using a video driver that is not currently compatible with DirectX in Banzai Bug and DirectX wants to install a generic driver for your card. We do not recommend installing the generic driver. Instead, we advise that you call the manufacturer of your video card to obtain the latest version of the driver that is specific to your card. Please consult section VIDEO CARD MANUFACTURER CONTACT LIST of this document for information on ways to contact your video card manufacturer.

To find out what kind of video driver you have:

  1. Go to the Start menu. Choose Settings, then Control Panels.
  2. Click Display.
  3. Click Settings and then the button for Change Display Type.

This will list your Adapter Type, which represents the video card manufacturer.

Q: I keep getting an error message when trying to launch the program and I can't get into the game. The message is one of the following:

"Could not create surface . . ."
"Unable to enumerate DD modes"
"Unable to enumerate D3D modes"
"Can't set fullscreen cooperative level."
"Can't set windowed cooperative level."
"Construct screen couldn't set fullscreen display mode."
"Failed to create D3D device . . ."
"Direct 3D retained mode device creation failed."

A: Banzai Bug is designed using Microsoft's DirectX technology and DirectX only works with certain brands of video and audio cards which have been tested to be DirectX-compatible. If you are receiving the error messages above, we recommend that you contact your video card manufacturer for information on compatible cards and drivers. Please consult section VIDEO CARD MANUFACTURER CONTACT LIST in this document for phone numbers and other contact information.

Q: When I go into the Screen Settings options I cannot turn anything in the Windowed mode on. Why not?

A: Your system's video setting needs to be set to High Color (16 bit) to be able to set Banzai in any of the Windowed Modes. If your system is set to 256 color mode you will only be able to run Banzai in Full Screen modes.

Q: My joystick has several buttons on it. How do I know which ones to use? Can I customize it to work with Banzai Bug?

A: Banzai Bug is made to work with all 2-axis, 2-button or better joysticks. Check your joystick documentation to find out which type you have. Then, consult the flight controls card included in the documentation for which buttons do what. If you want to customize your joystick buttons, go into the game and select the Options menu. Open the Controls menu and select the Change Buttons option. Put the cursor in the appropriate field and then hold down the button on the joystick that you want to perform that action. The button will then show up in the corresponding field.

Q: When using my Microsoft Sidewinder Pro joystick I start the game and Banzai is going around in circles. What should I do?

A: You need to make sure you installed the Sidewinder software first. Then, go into the Start menu and select Settings/Control Panel/ Joysticks. Choose the Sidewinder Pro joystick and make sure the Rudder box is checked. Don't forget to calibrate it.

 

GUIDE TO DirectX IN BANZAI BUG

VIDEO COMPATIBILITY AND ERROR MESSAGES

DirectX has been known to have conflicts with some accelerated video cards. If you receive errors when running Banzai Bug which say that an Illegal Operation has occurred, click the DETAILS button to see if any additional errors occur. If you receive General Protection Faults in modules that refer to a .drv file or file name which refers to a video driver, then you are most likely experiencing a conflict between your video driver and DirectX. Other error messages that indicate video driver incompatibility are:

"Could not create surface . . ."
"Unable to enumerate DD modes"
"Unable to enumerate D3D modes"
"Can't set fullscreen cooperative level."
"Can't set windowed cooperative level."
"Construct screen couldn't set fullscreen display mode."
"Failed to create D3D device . . ."
"Direct 3D retained mode device creation failed."

Many video driver related errors that occur with Banzai Bug can be resolved by obtaining updated video drivers through the manufacturer of your video card. Please see section VIDEO CARD MANUFACTURER CONTACT LIST of this document which includes phone numbers, BBS numbers, and World Wide Web addresses.

 

IDENTIFYING YOUR VIDEO ADAPTER TYPE

To check the type of video adapter card and driver you are using in Windows 95, please do the following:

  1. Go to the Start menu. Choose Settings, then Control Panels.
  2. Click Display.
  3. Click Settings and then the button for Change Display Type.

This will list your Adapter Type and video card manufacturer.

 

AUDIO CARDS AND DirectX

If you have a 16-bit sound card which is supported and functions properly in Windows 95, your sound setup should work with DirectX. SoundBlaster or 100% SoundBlaster-supported sound cards generally work best with Windows 95 applications.

 

IDENTIFYING WHAT AUDIO CARD YOU HAVE

You can determine what kind of Audio card you are using in Windows 95 by doing the following:

a) Go to the Start Menu. Select Settings, then Control Panel.

b) Select Multimedia. Click the Audio tab at the top of the Multimedia Properties window to see what the Preferred Device is for playback, if this is not already selected. The Preferred Device will list the type of Audio card you are using.

 

AUDIO CARD MANUFACURERS LIST

Creative Labs, Inc. - SoundBlaster products
phone: 405-742-6622
fax: 405-742-6633
bbs: 405-742-6660
internet: http://www.creaf.com

MediaVision - ProAudio Spectrum manufacturer
phone: (900)555-1133 or 541-882-1177
internet: http://www.mediavis.com
ftp://ftp.mediavis.com

 

REINSTALLING DirectX

DirectX can be reinstalled from the Banzai Bug CD-ROM by doing the following:

  1. Go to the Start button in Windows 95. Choose Run.
  2. In the Run window, type D:\INSTALL\REDIST\DIRECTX\DXSETUP.EXE.
  3. Click OK or click Enter to start reinstalling DirectX.
  4. Click the option to Reinstall DirectX.

DirectX does replace some Windows 95 drivers. If you wish to restore your original Windows 95 drivers do the following:

  1. Go to the Control Panels\Add Remove Programs in Windows
  2. In the window select WINDOWS95 DRIVERS
  3. Click on Restore Display Drivers

 

VIDEO DISPLAY AND 3D VIDEO CARD ISSUES

CHANGING YOUR VIDEO DISPLAY RESOLUTION

In Windows 95, you can change the resolution (screen size) by doing the following:

  1. Go to the Start menu. Choose Settings, then Control Panels.
  2. Click Display.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Using the slide bar, adjust your desktop area to the resolution of your choice. Choosing a higher resolution (1024 X 768) will decrease the size of your viewing window but should improve clarity.

 

RUNNING IN 256 COLOR MODE AND HIGH COLOR

If your system is set to run using 256 color video mode you will not have the option to run Banzai in any Windowed mode in the Screen Settings section. If you want Banzai to run in Windowed mode you must change your video system settings to High Color (16 bit) in the Display section of Control Panels. For directions consult the section directly above this one. If your system is set to run in High Color (16 bit) mode all the screen setting options will be available.

 

3D VIDEO CARD ISSUES

Banzai has been optimized to run on both 2D and 3D video cards using drivers that are compatible with DirectX. However because there is no industry standard for 3D video card and chip architecture not every DirectX program will run on all 3D video cards. Banzai may not recognize the specific needs of your 3D card and therefore may not run on it. In some cases Banzai will run but you may be unable to click the Yes button for 3D accelerator cards in the Advanced Options section in Banzai.

 

CONTACT LIST FOR VIDEO ADAPTER MANUFACTURERS (Updated 09/30/96)

 ATI Technologies
voice: 905-882-2626

Avance Logic (U.S. Corporate Office)
voice: 510-226-9555
bbs: 510-226-7220
internet: http://www.avance.com

Boca Research
voice: 407-997-6227
bbs: 407-241-1601
internet: http://www.boca.org
ftp://ftp.boca.org

Cirrus Logic
voice: 510-623-8300
bbs: 510-440-9080
internet: http://http.cirrus.com
ftp://ftp.cirrus.com

Compaq Computer Corp.
voice: 800-652-6672
bbs: 713-378-1418
internet: http://www.compaq.com

Diamond Multimedia
voice: 408-325-7100
bbs: 408-325-7175
internet: http://www.diamondmm.com
ftp://ftp.diamondmm.com

Genoa Systems
voice: 408-362-2900
bbs: 408-943-1431
internet: http://www.genoasys.com

Hercules Computer Technology
voice: 510-623-6030
bbs: 510-623-7449
internet: http://www.hercules.com
ftp://ftp.hercules.com

Orchid Technology
voice: 800-7ORCHID
bbs: 510-683-0327
internet: http://www.orchid.com

Number Nine Corp.
voice: 617-674-8595
bbs: 617-862-7502
internet: http://www.nine.com

STB Systems Inc.
voice: 214-234-8750
bbs: 214-437-9615
internet: http://www.stb.com

Trident
voice: 415-691-9211
bbs: 415-691-1016

TSeng Labs
voice: 215-968-0502
bbs: 215-579-7536

VideoLogic, Inc.
voice: 800-578-5644
bbs: 415-875-7748
internet: http://www.videologic.com

Western Digital
voice: 714-932-5000
bbs: 714-753-1234
internet: http://www.wdc.com
ftp://ftp.wdc.com

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