FAQ.txt for Circus Linux! by Bill Kendrick bill@newbreedsoftware.com http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/circus-linux/ Version 1.0.3 April 28, 2001 GENERAL PROBLEMS: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: I want the mouse pointer to stay within the window. SOLUTION: During the game, press the [G] key to turn mouse-grabbing on. (You can press it again to turn it off.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: My mouse is gone! CAUSE: "Mouse-grabbing" is on. The mouse pointer (which, by the way, is invisible) cannot be removed from the window. SOLUTION: Press the [G] key to turn mouse-grabbing back off. (You can press it again to turn it back on, if you like). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: When using a joystick, the teeter-totter jumps between the left, middle and right positions, instead of moving smoothly. CAUSE: This is because your joystick is digital. It only has a left, right and middle position. SOLUTION: Use the "--digital" option when you start the program. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: When using real Atari paddles, the teeter-totter moves the opposite direction and doesn't go all the way to the edges. CAUSE: Atari 2600 paddles are calibrated differently. SOLUTION: Use the "--paddle" option when you start th eprogram. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: The game is very slow on my computer. CAUSE: Your computer is probably not very fast, or you have a slow video card. SOLUTION: Use the "--low" option when you start the program. SOLUTION: Try using a different color depth. 16bpp is better (faster) than 24bpp, for example. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: There's no sound or music. CAUSE: Your computer doesn't have a sound card, or it's misconfigured. SOLUTION: Get a sound card and make sure it's configured. CAUSE: Another program is using your sound device. SOLUTION: Quit that program. CAUSE: You ran the program with the "--disable-sound" or "--nosound" or "-q" option. SOLUTION: Quit Circus Linux! and start it again without any sound-disabling option. CAUSE: The volume settings are set to "off". SOLUTION: Click the "SFX" and "MUSIC" options on Circus Linux!'s title screen until the volume of the sound effects and music are at suitable volumes. CAUSE: The game is paused. SOLUTION: Press the [SPACE] key. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: The clowns bounce back down when they hit balloons. CAUSE: The "Bouncy Balloons" game option is set. SOLUTION: Click the "Bouncy Balloons" option on the title screen so that the option is no longer set. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- WINDOWS PROBLEMS: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: My joystick doesn't work! CAUSE: The current version of Circus Linux! uses a stable version of the Simple DirectMedia Layer library. That version does not include joystick support. SOLUTION: Wait for a newer release of Circus Linux!, after SDL jumps to 1.2.x. (See: http://www.devolution.com/~slouken/SDL/ ) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- LINUX PROBLEMS: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: My joystick doesn't work! CAUSE: Is your joystick plugged-in and configured to work right? SOLUTION: Make sure your joystick is plugged in and configured (see your Linux distribution's manual). CAUSE: Circus Linux! wasn't compiled to play with a joystick. SOLUTION: Run "make distclean" and then make sure you use the "--enable-joystick" option when you run "./configure" (see INSTALL.txt) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- PROBLEM: When compiling, there's an error about SDL_JOYAXISMOTION not being defined. CAUSE: The version of SDL you have does not support joysticks. SOLUTION: Run "make distclean" and then make sure you _don't_ use the "--enable-joystick" option when you run "./configure" (see INSTALL.txt) SOLUTION: Get SDL version 1.1.2 or higher, which supports joystick. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have a question you think would be suitable for this FAQ, please e-mail me: bill@newbreedsoftware.com Thank you!