path: root/backends/wince/README-WinCE

ScummVM Windows CE FAQ
Last updated:    2004-12-21
Release version: 0.7.0
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This document is intended to give common answers to specific ScummVM
issues on Windows CE, in 3 sections
  * "General questions"       : browse this section to get started and see
    general issues
  * "Game specific questions" : lists some common game specific issues
  * "Support and links"       : how to get support if you're still puzzled

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General questions
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Which devices are supported ?
-----------------------------

Full support
------------

* ARM based Windows Mobile handhelds with QVGA resolution (240x320) slower
  than 200 MHz (PocketPC platform)

All AdLib first generation games should work properly on these devices.
Sam'n'Max will be a bit too slow to be played with music.
More recent games (The Dig, Curse of Monkey Island, Broken Sword series)
and all VGA games will probably be too slow to be enjoyable.

* ARM based Windows Mobile handhelds with QVGA resolution (240x320) faster
  than 200 MHz

All games should work properly on these devices.
VGA games will be resized and the font gets hard to read in this case (be sure
to install the talkie version the game :p)

* ARM based Windows Mobile handhelds with VGA resolution (640x480) 

All non VGA games should work properly on these devices. They can be resized
with different scalers (not all desktop scalers are supported due to Embedded
Visual C++ very personal interpretation of the C++ standard).
VGA games will be displayed in true VGA mode, which can takes a lot of memory
and slow down the game (especially during scrollings). It will get better in
the next releases or with faster devices.

* Windows Mobile Smartphones (176x220)

Early support is provided for all 320x200 games.
The font can get hard to read (you should prefer talkie games, or wear glasses)

Partial / Discontinued support
------------------------------

Support for the following devices is not complete, not working properly or
discontinued because the device is now obsolete. Feel free to contribute and
improve the port for your favorite device, or use the last release built with
the previous port architecture (0.5.1) which was less resource hungry and
supported more exotic devices.

* "Paletted" devices (non "true color")

These devices will be supported through the GDI layer which will slow down the
games a lot. You can try to disable the music/sound effects to get a better
game experience.

* "Mono" devices

I don't even think anything will be displayed on these devices :) you can try
and report your success ...

* MIPS/SH3 devices with QVGA resolution (240x320), "true color"

Some devices may be a bit too slow, especially if direct screen access (GAPI)
is not supported on these devices.  

* ARM/MIPS/SH3 devices with VGA resolution (640x480) (Palm Size PC / Handheld 
  PC platform)

True VGA games will probably be too slow to run properly on these devices even
if they can support them ...

* ARM/MIPS/SH3 devices with desktop resolution (800x600) (Handheld PC platform)

No, there will never be ANY scaler supporting 800x600 resolution, because
320x200 games CANNOT be resized to a 800x600 by a simple operation.

And the device will probably be too slow to perform any kind of graphic
transform anyway :)

How do I install ScummVM for Windows CE ?
-----------------------------------------

If the current release includes a .EXE installer, ScummVM for Windows CE
will be installed without hassle.
Otherwise, you'll unzip the release on your desktop computer, and copy 
the EXE file on your device.

If you're using a Pocket PC 2000 operating system, be sure to have GAPI
installed - it's available on Microsoft website http://www.microsoft.com

How do I install a game ?
-------------------------

You'll at least need to copy all the data files from your game, in a 
sub-directory of your game directory. 

You'll need to put the data files in a directory named after ScummVM game
name (see "Supported Game" section in ScummVM readme) for the games having
"generic" data files (.LFL files). Recent games can be put in any directory.

You can compress the multimedia files (sound/video) as described in the
ScummVM readme.

You can compress the audio tracks of Loom or Monkey Island 1 as described in
the ScummVM readme. If you are running these games on a slow device with Ogg
Vorbis compression, it's recommended to sample the files to 11 kHz (this sample
rate is not supported by other versions of ScummVM).

If you need more details, you can check SirDaved mini-manual online available 
at http://www.pocketmatrix.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8606

How do I run a game ?
---------------------

If it's the first time you're running ScummVM for Windows CE, have installed or
removed games, you need to rescan your game directory. 
 * Select Scan, tap the root directory of your games, and tap "Yes" to begin
   an automatic scan of the installed games. 

Usually all games are detected and you can start playing right away. If your 
game is not detected check its directory name and your data files.

To play a game, tap on its name then tap the "Play" button or double tap its 
name.

How do I play a game on a Pocket PC or Handheld PC device ?
-----------------------------------------------------------

The stylus is your mouse cursor, and a tap is a left mouse button click.

As the Pocket PC lacks some keys, a toolbar is displayed at the bottom of the
screen to make the most common functions just a tap away
  * The disk icon opens ScummVM options menu to save your game, or change your
    current game settings.
  * The movie icon skips a non interactive sequence, the current dialog or 
    behaves like the ESC key on a regular keyboard
  * The sound icon turns all sound effects and music off and on
  * The monkey icon switches between portrait and landscape mode

You can map additional actions on your device hardware buttons using the 
"Options" / "Key" menu in the ScummVM options menu. To associate an action to
a key, tap the action, then the "Map" button and press the hardware key.
The following actions are available 
  * Pause       : pause the game
  * Save        : open ScummVM option menu
  * Quit        : quit ScummVM (without saving, be careful when using it)
  * Skip        : skip a non interactive sequence, the current dialog or 
    behaves like the ESC key on a regular keyboard
  * Hide        : hide or display the toolbar
    - YOU MUST HIDE THE TOOLBAR TO SCROLL THROUGH THE INVENTORY IN ZAK -
  * Keyboard    : hide or display the virtual keyboard
    - YOU MUST DISPLAY THE KEYBOARD TO FIGHT IN INDIANA JONES 3 -
  * Sound       : turns all sound effects and music off and on
  * Right click : acts as a right mouse button click
    - YOU MUST MAP THIS ACTION TO PLAY THE FOLLOWING GAMES -
    - SAM & MAX, BENEATH A STEEL SKY, CURSE OF MONKEY ISLAND -
  * Cursor      : hide or display the mouse cursor
  * Free look   : go in or out of free-look mode. In this mode, you can tap 
    the screen to look for interesting locations without walking.
  * Zoom up     : magnify the upper part of the screen for 640x480 games 
    rendered on a 320x240 device.
  * Zoom down   : magnify the lower part of the screen for 640x480 games
    rendered on a 320x240 device.

If you start a game when a Right click mapping is necessary, ScummVM will ask
you to map one of your hardware key to this action before playing. Just press
the key you want to map if you see this message.

How do I play a game on a Microsoft Smartphone device ?
-------------------------------------------------------

When playing on a Smartphone, the cursor and mouse buttons are emulated by
a set of default keys :
      4            Move up
      6            Move down
      8		   Move left
      2 	   Move right
      Hotkey 1     Left mouse button click
      Hotkey 2     Right mouse button click

A few options are also emulated by a set of default keys :

      0		   Options menu
      Back	   Skip
      #		   Zone option

The cursor will move faster if you keep the key down. You can tweak this
behaviour in the configuration file described below.

The "Zone" key is a *very* valuable addition allowing you to jump quickly 
between three screen zones : the game zone, the verbs zone and the inventory 
zone. When you switch to a zone the cursor will be reset to its former location
in this zone. 

You can change the keys mapping during the game in the "Options" menu.

How can I apply a ScummVM command line option (f.e. to change the language) 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

See the section regarding the configuration file (scummvm.ini) in ScummVM
README file - the same keywords apply.

Some parameters are specific to this port :

game specific section (f.e. [monkey2]) - performance options

high_sample_rate       bool      Desktop quality (22 kHz) sound output if set. 
				11 kHz otherwise.
                                The default is 11 kHz. 
				If you have a fast device, you can set this to
                                true to enjoy better sound effects and music.
FM_high_quality        bool      Desktop quality FM synthesis if set. Lower 
				quality otherwise. The default is low quality.
			        You can change this if you have a fast device.
sound_thread_priority  int       Set the priority of the sound thread 
                                (given to SetThreadPriority API)

game specific section (f.e. [monkey2]) - game options

landscape	       bool      Run the game in landscape mode if set.

[pocketpc] section - keys definition for Pocket PCs

You usually do not wish to modify these values directly, as they are set 
by the option dialog, and are only given here for reference.

action_mapping_version int       Mapping version linked to ScummVM version.
action_mapping         string    Hex codes describing the key associated to
                                 each different action.

[smartphone] section - keys definition for Smartphones.

You usually do not wish to modify these values directly, as they are set 
by the option dialog, and are only given here for reference.

action_mapping_version int       Mapping version linked to ScummVM version.
action_mapping         string    Hex codes describing the key associated to
                                 each different action.

[smartphone] section - mouse emulation tuning

You can tweak these parameters to customize how the cursor is handled.

repeatTrigger         int       Number of milliseconds a key must be held to
                                consider being repeated.

repeatX               int       Number of key repeat events before changing
                                horizontal cursor behaviour.
stepX1                int       Horizontal cursor offset value when the key is
                                not repeated.
stepX2                int       Horizontal cursor offset value when the key is
                                repeated less than repeatX.
stepX3                int       Horizontal cursor offset value when the key is
                                repeated more than repeatX.


repeatY               int       Number of key repeat events before changing
                                vertical cursor behaviour.
stepY1                int       Vertical cursor offset value when the key is
                                not repeated.
stepY2                int       Horizontal cursor offset value when the key is
                                repeated less than repeatY.
stepY3                int       Vertical cursor offset value when the key is
                                repeated more than repeatY.

Game xxx is too slow on my device
---------------------------------

Even if it shouldn't happen (this port is running almost correctly on a 
80 / 120 MHz first generation SPV phone), you can try some things :

  * Disable sound in the engine (see the global README)
  * Play with the priority of the sound thread (change the 
    sound_thread_priority value - the higher the lower priority)

And don't forget to report your progress in PocketMatrix ScummVM forum !

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Game specific questions 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------
-- Beneath a Steel Sky --
--------------------------

Introduction movie is too slow or never ends ...
-------------------------------------------------

Skip it :)

How can I open the inventory in Beneath a Steel Sky ?
---------------------------------------------------

Tap the top of the screen. Check your stylus calibration if you still cannot
open it.

How can I use an item in Beneath a Steel Sky ?
----------------------------------------------

You need to map the right click button (see the General Questions section).

----------------------------
-- Curse of Monkey Island --
----------------------------

How can I open the inventory in Curse of Monkey Island ?
------------------------------------------------------

You need to map the right click button (see the General Questions section).

I'm experiencing random crashes ...
------------------------------------

This game has high memory requirements, and may crash sometimes on low 
memory devices. Continue your game with the latest automatically saved
game and everything should be fine. 
You can consider removing the music and voice files (VOXDISK.BUN, MUSDISK.BUN)
to lower these requirements.

Sound synchronization is lost in Curse of Monkey Island videos
--------------------------------------------------------------

This is a port bug which is very noticeable in VGA mode. It can probably be
fixed with a faster blitting routine or a faster device.

--------------------
-- Full Throttle --
--------------------

I'm experiencing random crashes ...
------------------------------------

This game has high memory requirements, and may crash sometimes on low 
memory devices. Continue your game with the latest automatically saved
game and everything should be fine. 
You can consider removing the voice file (MONSTER.SOU) and disable the 
music to lower these requirements.

----------------------------------------
-- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade --
----------------------------------------

How can I fight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade ?
-----------------------------------------------------

You need to map the keyboard button (see the General Questions section).

---------------
-- Sam & Max --
---------------

How can I change the current action ?
-------------------------------------

You need to map the right click button (see the General Questions section).

How can I exit a mini game ?
----------------------------

Use the skip toolbar icon (see the General Questions section).

-------------------
-- Simon 1 and 2 --
--------------------

How can I save or quit in Simon ?
--------------------------------

"Use" (use the use verb :p) the postcard. The ScummVM option dialog is disabled
in Simon games.

-------------
-- The Dig --
-------------

I'm experiencing random crashes ...
------------------------------------

This game has high memory requirements, and may crash sometimes on low 
memory devices. Continue your game with the latest automatically saved
game and everything should be fine. 
You can consider removing the music and voice files (VOXDISK.BUN, MUSDISK.BUN)
to lower these requirements.

--------------------
-- Zak Mc Kracken --
--------------------

How can I scroll through my inventory items in Zak Mc Kracken ?
-------------------------------------------------------------

You need to map the hide toolbar button (see the General Questions section).

--------------------
-- Broken Sword 2 --
--------------------

I've installed the movies pack but they are not playing
-------------------------------------------------------

MPEG 2 playback takes too much memory in the current release, and may prevent
movies from playing in VGA mode. This will get better in the next releases.

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Support
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Help, I've read everything and ...
-----------------------------------

Luckily, as there is a huge variety of Windows Mobile devices, a specific forum 
is dedicated to this ScummVM port. You can ask your question on PocketMatrix
ScummVM forum, available at http://www.pocketmatrix.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=20
and will most probably get an answer quickly, as the community is always glad 
to help and have dealt with all my bugs for more than one year :)

I think I found a bug, ScummVM crashes in ...
---------------------------------------------

See the "Reporting Bugs" section in ScummVM readme. 

If you have a Pocket PC or Handheld PC, be sure to tap the "PocketScumm" logo
in the loader screen and include the information displayed on the first line
in your bug report.

If you cannot reproduce this bug on another ScummVM version, you can cross
post your bug report on PocketMatrix ScummVM forum.

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Good Luck and Happy Adventuring!
The ScummVM team.
http://www.scummvm.org/
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