===========================================================



                 MASTER OF ORION II:

                  Battle at Antares

                Update to Version 1.2



                     Readme File

                      11/25/96

===========================================================



How to Update to Version 1.2

============================

1) Download the updater file named "MOO2V12.EXE." Please be 

   sure to note which directory you download the file to.



2) Copy MOO2V12.EXE to the Master of Orion II directory on

   your hard drive. This directory is usually \MPS\ORION2

   (for the DOS version) or \PROGRA~1S\MICROP~1\ORION2

   (for the Windows 95 version). For example, you would

   type "COPY MOO2V12.EXE C:\MPS\ORION2" at the DOS prompt

   if you installed the DOS version.



3) To update your copy of Master of Orion II to version

   1.2, type "MOO2V12" at the DOS prompt and the updater

   will self-extract.



4) Type "Y" for "Yes" when the updater asks, "OK to

   continue (Y/N)?"



5) After updating the necessary files, the updater will

   inform you that your copy of Master of Orion II has

   been sucessfully updated to version 1.2.



6) You can read about the changes in version 1.2 either 

   in this Readme file or the text file named "README.TXT" 

   in the Master of Orion II directory.





Version 1.2 Changes

===================

The game no longer crashes in space combat if the Antarans 

capture ships.



The game no longer crashes if you cycle through the 

opening menus.



The game no longer crashes if the name of the home system

has too many letters.



The game no longer crashes if the player wins by being voted 

leader of the galaxy and the name of the player's emperor

has more than 10 characters in it.



The game can now play head-to-head over a null-modem serial

connection more reliably.



The Hall of Fame now records players' high scores.



Long emperor names can now fit in the Hall of Fame.



Evolutionary Mutation will now correctly give the player 4

points to distribute instead of a random amount.



Offering gifts to other races will no longer hurt the

player's diplomatic relationship.



When a system is demanded in the diplomacy screen, the

proper message is sent to the other player.



Music no longer gets cut off when exchanging technologies

during hot-seat play.



Clicking Alt+spacebar no longer displays a drop-down menu.



Planetary shield graphics have been improved.



The hand icon no longer turns black before combat.



The bombing explosions no longer turn black if bombing

is resumed.





Changes and Additions to the Game

=================================

The following items were changed or added after the manual 

had already gone to print.



Custom Race Screen

------------------

-1 food was changed to -0.5 food and its cost changed 

to -3.



A new special has been added. "Poor home world" costs -1

and makes your home world mineral poor.



Ship defense bonuses have been increased from +20 to +25

and from +40 to +50 at the same cost.



Tactical Combat

---------------

When playing tactical combat vs. a computer-controlled

empire, there is a super-fast resolution mode. Press the 

"Z" key to turn on the super-fast mode. Click anywhere to 

turn off the super-fast mode. Combat graphics displays are 

minimal in super-fast mode, greatly speeding play.



Hall of Fame

------------

To reset the Hall of Fame high scores, press Alt+C.



Star Name

---------

After you colonize a planet for the first time, you will be

allowed to enter a new star name. The length of the new name

will be limited by the amount of horizontal space available

on the main galaxy map. Bear in mind that each letter takes

up a different amount of space. (For example, a "W" is wider 

and takes up more space than an "I."). In any case, you will

be limited to 15 characters.





Network

=======

The Windows 95 network mode requires both Microsoft Client 

and IPX protocol.



Unfortunately, the DOS and Windows 95 versions of the game 

are not compatible across the network. Therefore, you cannot

play head-to-head if you are playing the DOS version and 

another player is using the Windows 95 version. All players 

wishing to play in a network game must use the same version 

(DOS or Windows 95).



Once you have selected "JOIN" in a network game, you will 

not be able to cancel.



TEN is only supported in the Windows 95 version of the game.



We suggest that the player with the fastest computer be the

one to start the multiplayer game.





8MB RAM Version

===============

If you have only 8MB RAM, do not load any extended memory 

manager (such as EMM386 or QEMM) or else the game will not 

have enough free memory to run.



Games created on a computer with 8MB RAM or network games 

involving a computer with only 8MB RAM will not have nebulae.



If you are playing the Windows 95 version, you must set 

Virtual Memory to be at least 16MB. To do this, select

"System" from your Control Panels. Click the "Performance"

tab and then the "Virtual Memory" button. Set "Minimum"

to "16."





Video

=====

If you have an older video card that is not supported by

Microsoft's DirectX, we recommend that you play the DOS

version of Master of Orion II. Otherwise, if you install 

the DirectX drivers while installing the Windows 95 version 

of the game, the DirectX drivers may overwrite your 

existing Windows 95 video drivers.

 



Customer Support

================

If you having problems with Master of Orion II, we can best

help you if (1) you are at your computer when you call and

(2) you have the following information handy:



* Version number of Master of Orion II

* Your computer's brand and model

* Your computer's BIOS brand and version number

* Total RAM installed in your computer

* Name and version number of your operating system (such 

  as MS-DOS, Windows 3.1 or Windows 95)

* Name and version number of your memory manager (such as 

  QEMM, 386Max or EMM386)

* CD-ROM brand and model name

* Sound card brand and model name

* Mouse brand and version number of mouse driver

* The size of your Windows swap file

* The exact error message displayed (if any)

* Contents of AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files

* At the DOS prompt, type "mem/c" and write down the 

  information onscreen



MSD Report

----------

Occasionally, Customer Support may request an MSD report 

from you. MSD is a diagnostic program that can help 

establish the cause of most compatibility problems on your 

computer while attempting to run our games. This program 

is supplied with all versions of DOS and Windows. However,

Windows 95 users will first need to copy the program from

the Windows 95 CD-ROM to the hard drive by typing the 

following command at the DOS prompt:



   copy d:\other\msd\msd.exe c:\windows\command



To generate your MSD report, first exit Windows 3.1 or 

Windows 95. Place a formatted floppy disk in drive A and 

type the following at the DOS prompt:



   msd /f a:report.txt



You can then print this report or send the file on the 

floppy disk to MicroProse (should this be required).



How to Contact Customer Support

-------------------------------

Have a pen and paper handy when you call. You can also write

to Customer Support at the address shown below.



Due to the many different hardware and software configurations

available for modern computers, you may still have to talk to 

your computer dealer or hardware supplier in order to get our

game to run with their product.



USA:

----

MicroProse Customer Support

2490 Mariner Square Loop

Alameda, CA 94501

Telephone: (510)522-1164 (9:OO am-5:00 pm Pacific Time) 

Fax: (510)522-9357



United Kingdom:

---------------

MicroProse

The Ridge

Chipping Sodbury, South Glos BS17 6BN

Telephone: +44 (0) 1454 893900 (0900-1730 GMT/BST)

Fax: +44 (0) 1454 894296



Germany:

--------

MicroProse

Bartholomausweg 31

33334 Gutersloh

Telephone: +49 (0) 5241 946480 (Monday to Wednesday 1400-1900)

Fax: +49 (0) 5241 946494



France:

-------

Electronic Arts

Centre d'Affaires Telebase

3 rue Claude Chappe

69771 St. Didier au Mont d'Or Cedex

Telephone: +33 (04) 72 53 25 00



Bulletin Boards:

----------------

United Kingdom	+44 (0)1454 327083  (14,400 baud)

Germany	    	+49 (0)5241 946484  (28,800 baud)

USA             (510)522-8909      (14,400 baud)



America Online:

---------------

Send e-mail to MicroProse Customer Support at "MPS1." Press 

Ctrl-K for "Go to Keyword" and enter "MicroProse" to reach 

MicroProse's forum and library areas.



CompuServe:

-----------

MicroProse-Europe       71333,314

MicroProse-Germany	74777,3326

MicroProse-USA    	76004,2223



Type "GO GAMBPUB" and select "Section 2" to reach MicroProse's 

forum and library areas. 



Internet:

---------

Send e-mail to MicroProse Customer Support at support@microprose.com

(or if you're in Germany to service@microprose.de).



FTP:

----

The MicroProse FTP site features a complete library of the latest 

updates, demos and product information. The address is:

   ftp.microprose.com



World Wide Web:

---------------

Tp access our Web site, use your Web browser software to point to:

   http://www.microprose.com





Software Fault

==============

In the unlikely event of a software fault, please return the

complete package, with your receipt, to the place of purchase.





=============

This documentation, accompanying manual and CD are copyrighted.

The owner of this product is entitled to use this product for

his or her personal use. Except for the quoting of brief

passages for the purposes of reviews, no one may transfer, copy,

back-up, give or sell any part of the manual or the information

on the CD, or transmit in any form or by any means, electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the

prior permission of the publisher. Any person or persons

reproducing any part of this program, in any media, for any

reason, shall be guilty of copyright violation and shall be

subject to civil liability at the discretion of the copyright

holder. Not for rent or hire.



Made in the USA/UK

