My game is playing slow and choppy. How can I improve performance?

[Steve]

PROBLEM:
My game is playing slow and choppy. How can I improve performance?

RESOLUTION:
The first step in increasing game performance is to adjust the video options. Click on the “Options” link in the main menu of the game to find these options. The options that will probably make the biggest difference in performance are “Object Detail” and “Texture Quality”. Try adjusting the options one at a time until you find the right balance of performance and visual quality. Make sure that no anti-virus software is running in Windows when you play the game (especially Norton Anti-Virus). These programs conflict with the normal processes of the game and may be the source of your system crashes. Also, close any other programs running in the system tray before starting the game. These programs use system resources that are needed for the game to function properly. If you are using Windows 98 or ME you can do this by holding the Ctrl and Alt keys on your keyboard and then tapping the delete key. This will open up a window labeled “close program”. From this window you’ll want to highlight the programs listed, one at a time, and then hit the “End Task” button. This will turn off the program until the next time you reboot the computer. The only two programs from this list that you’ll want to leave alone are “Explorer” and “Systray”, since these two programs are needed to run Windows closing them will cause your computer to reboot. If you are using Windows 2000 or XP the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keystroke open a window with a few options on it. You’ll want to select the option called “Task List”. Once the Task List opens, you’ll need to click on the tab at the top labeled “Applications” and then highlight the programs listed under applications one by one and click on the “End Task” button to close them. Also, make sure that your PC meets all requirements listed on the game’s box including processor speed, RAM memory and video card. Often times the CPU will be powerful enough to run the game, but the computer will not have enough memory or a powerful enough video card to keep the game running smoothly.