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Q273739: Midtown Madness 2: How to Improve Game Performance

Article: Q273739
Product(s): Microsoft Home Games
Version(s): 2.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbdisplay kbsound kbimu msgame
Last Modified: 29-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Midtown Madness 2, version 2.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

This article describes how to improve game performance in Microsoft Midtown
Madness 2.

MORE INFORMATION
================

To improve game performance, use the following methods in the order in which
they are presented:

Check System Requirements
-------------------------

Make sure that your computer meets the minimum system requirements that are
needed to play.

For additional information about the minimum system requirements for Midtown
Madness 2, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q273786 Midtown Madness 2: Minimum System Requirements

Quit Unnecessary Programs
-------------------------

Quit all unnecessary programs that are running on your computer before you start
the game.

To quit all unnecessary programs, use the appropriate method for your version of
Microsoft Windows.

Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft Windows 98:

1. Press CTRL+ALT+DELETE.

2. In the Close Program dialog box, click any program except Explorer or Systray
  (which are components of Microsoft Windows), and then click End Task.

  If you receive a message stating that the program is busy or not responding,
  click End Task again.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to quit all unnecessary programs that are running on
  your computer.

Microsoft Windows 2000:

1. Press CTRL+SHIFT+ESC.

2. On the Applications tab, click any program, and then click End Task.

  Repeat this step to quit all unnecessary programs that are running on your
  computer.

3. Close Windows Task Manager.

NOTE: Some programs start automatically every time you restart your computer. For
information about how to disable these programs, see the printed or online
documentation for the program.

Install the Latest Version of Microsoft DirectX
-----------------------------------------------

Download and install the latest version of DirectX from the following Microsoft
Web site:

  http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads/default.asp

For additional information about how to download and install the latest version
of DirectX, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q179113 How to Download and Install DirectX

Reduce Graphics Quality Settings in the Game
--------------------------------------------

To reduce the graphics quality settings in the game:

1. Start the game.

2. On the startup screen, click Options.

3. Click Graphics.

4. In the Resolution box, click "640x480, 16 bit color".

5. In the Texture Quality box, click Low - Recommended.

6. In the Object Detail box, click Low..

7. Click Done.

8. Click Back.

To further reduce graphic settings in the game, return to the Graphic Options
window, click to clear the following check boxes:

- Show Pedestrians
- Textured Sky
- Vehicle Reflections

and then click None in the Cloud Shadows box.

Configure the Game to Use Software Rendering
--------------------------------------------

To configure the game to use software rendering:

1. Start the game.

2. On the startup screen, click Options.

3. Click Graphics.

4. In the Renderer box, click "Software only (no 3D video card)".

  NOTE: If this setting is already selected, click any other setting that is
  available.

5. Click Done.

6. Click Back.

Reduce Sound Quality Settings in the Game
-----------------------------------------

To reduce the sound quality settings in the game:

1. Start the game.

2. On the startup screen, click Options.

3. Click Audio.

4. In the Stereo FX box, click Mono.

5. In the Sound Quality box, click Low.

6. Click Done.

7. Click Back.

Obtain and Install an Updated Video Driver
------------------------------------------

Contact your hardware manufacturer to inquire about how to obtain and install the
latest version of the video driver for your video adapter.

For information about how to contact your hardware manufacturer, click the
appropriate article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:

  Q65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

  Q60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

  Q60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

To identify the manufacturer and the model of your video adapter:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.

2. Double-click System.

3. If you are using a Windows 95 or a Windows 98-based computer, click the
  Device Manager tab.

  If you are using a Windows 2000-based computer, click the Hardware tab, and
  then click Device Manager.

4. Click the plus sign (+) next to "Display adapters" to expand the branch.

5. Under the "Display adapters" branch, note the manufacturer and the model of
  your video adapter, and then click OK.

6. Close all open windows on the desktop.

REFERENCES
==========

For additional information about how to troubleshoot issues with Midtown Madness
2, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

  Q273625 Midtown Madness 2: How to Troubleshoot Video Problems

  Q273828 Midtown Madness 2: Game Sounds Are Not Played Correctly

Additional query words: 2.00 msgame mm2 midmad choppy slow frame rate skip

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbdisplay kbsound kbimu msgame 
Technology        : kbHomeProdSearch kbGamesSearch kbMidtownMadSearch kbMidtownMadness2
Version           : :2.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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