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DARK SOULS™: PREPARE TO DIE™ EDITION PC README 1.0
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"Latest update: May 31, 2012"
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"Thank you very much for purchasing ""Dark Souls""."
Please read this file before playing this game.
*This Readme is accurate as of May 2012 unless otherwise indicated.
" Therefore, there may be some specifications or URLs that have been updated within the text. Please keep this in mind."
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Table of Contents
1) Hardware Requirements
1.1 Minimum system requirements
1.2 Recommended system requirements
2) Installation
2.1 DirectX detection and installation
2.2 Copy protection
2.3 Troubleshooting
3) Graphics
3.1 Recommended drivers
3.2 Playing in windowed mode
3.3 Video cards below the minimum system requirements
4) Sound
4.1 Recommended drivers
4.2 If the sound is choppy while playing
4.3 If there is no sound
5) OS
5.1 Administrator privileges
5.2 Changing applications using Alt + Tab
6) Controller
6.1 Xbox 360 controller
6.2 Keyboard controls
6.3 Mouse controls
7) Improving Performance
Support Information
9) Copyright Information
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1) Hardware Requirements
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"Note: Dark Souls does not support the beta editions or release candidate editions of Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 95/98/NT/2000 and Windows 7, as well as 64-bit Windows XP."
1.1 Minimum system requirements
" OS: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista SP2 or Windows 7"
" CPU: AMD(R) Phenom II X2 545 3,0 Ghz"
" Intel(R) Pentium Core(TM) 2 Duo E6850 3,0 Ghz"
Memory: 2 GB
Graphics: NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) 9800 GTX+
ATI Radeon(TM) HD 4870
DirectX: DirectX(R) 9.0c
Hard Disk: At least 8.0GB of free space
Sound: Any sound card that supports at least DirectX 9.0c
Network: Internet connection required for the initial license activation and online play
1.2 Recommended system requirements
OS: Windows 7
CPU: Intel(R) i5 750 2.66 Ghz / AMD Phenom II X4 940 3.0 Ghz
Memory: 4GB
Graphics: NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) GTX series or higher video card
ATI Radeon(TM) HD Series 6X or higher video card
Hard Disk: At least 8.0GB of free space
Sound: Any sound card that supports at least DirectX 9.0c
Network: Internet connection required for the initial license activation and online play
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2) Installation
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2.1 DirectX detection and installation
Dark Souls setup checks the version of DirectX that is installed on your computer.
The latest DirectX installs automatically if an older version of DirectX is detected.
2.2 Copy protection
Dark Souls uses Steam and Games for Windows - LIVE protection against unauthorized software duplication.
This application may install additional necessary components so that the copy protection works properly.
Problems loading or playing the game may occur if the copy protection is modified or if the executable file is changed.
2.3 Troubleshooting
A. Antivirus programs
Some types of antivirus programs may cause errors when installing the software.
Disabling antivirus programs is recommended when installing Dark Souls.
B. Modification
Playing and updating the game may not execute properly if Dark Souls is modified.
"Modifying the program in any form is not recommended, unless supported or released publicly."
The game may need to be reinstalled if modified.
C. License activation
An Internet connection is required for license activation after installation is complete.
"The game is playable at anytime, even without an Internet connection, after completing the license activation."
This procedure must be run again when reinstalling the game.
"Because the game is linked to a specific user's Steam and Games for Windows - LIVE accounts, only one user may use the license activation. Once the license has been activated, the code will be valid for that user only."
D. Dealing with errors at initial startup
Run DirectX\DXSetup.exe on the disk with Dark Souls if error messages related to the following files are displayed:
xinput1_3.dll
d3dx9_42.dll
x3daudio1_7.dll
xaudio2_6.dll
E. Online play
Logging in to the Games for Windows - LIVE account used during license activation is required for online play.
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3) Graphics
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3.1 Recommended drivers
Update the video card drivers to maximize the performance and graphics of the game.
Download the drivers at the following sites for ATI or NVIDIA video cards:
http://www.amd.com/
Driver: Catalyst 11.1 or later
http://www.nvidia.com/
Driver: ForceWare Graphics Driver Version 270.22 WHQL or later
3.2 Playing in windowed mode
The frame rate may be decreased when playing in windowed mode depending on your system.
Your video card's specs might cause this.
Playing in full-screen mode is recommended for an enjoyable gaming experience.
3.3 Video cards below the minimum system requirements
Prior tests using video cards that do not meet the minimum system requirements have shown slow performance
and the occurrence of other serious problems.
"Problems will not always occur and performance improvements may be seen by using newly released drivers and so forth, "
but video cards that do not meet the minimum requirements are not supported.
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4) Sound
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4.1 Recommended drivers
Regularly update your sound card drivers. Here are some typical sound card manufacturers:
http://www.realtek.com/Default.aspx
http://www.creative.com/
http://www.asus.com/
http://www.turtlebeach.com
http://www.cmedia.com.tw/EN/index.aspx
4.2 If the sound is choppy while playing
"First, check whether your sound card drivers are up-to-date."
Set the hardware acceleration to low if that does not resolve the problem.
"Click on the start button on the Windows desktop, and click on ""Search programs and files"" in Windows 7, ""Start search"" in Windows Vista, or ""Run..."" in Windows XP."
"Type ""dxdiag"" and press the Enter key to launch the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. "
"Click on the sound tab, then lower the ""Hardware Sound Acceleration Level"" by moving the slider left."
4.3 If there is no sound
The default device is used if there are two or more sound devices.
Check the sound devices from the control panel and modify the default device.
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5) OS
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5.1 Administrator privileges
"Administrator privileges are required for installing Dark Souls on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7."
"Administrator privileges are required only when installing the game, and they are not required during gameplay after that."
"Refer to the Windows manual or ""Help and Support"" in the Start Menu to configure user administrator privileges."
5.2 Changing applications using Alt + Tab
Pressing the Alt + Tab keys to change to another application while playing Dark Souls may cause problems in game performance.
"Changing screens using Alt + Tab is possible, but not recommended."
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6) Controller
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6.1 Xbox 360 controller
Dark Souls was created to play using the Xbox 360(r) controller.
See the manual or game options for how to play using the controller.
Note: The Windows Xbox 360 Wireless Controller adapter/receiver is required to use the wireless controller
6.2 Keyboard controls
Dark Souls can be played using the keyboard.
Each key's function can be modified in the game options.
6.3 Mouse controls
Mouse behavior in the game cannot be customized in Dark Souls.
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7) Improving Performance
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Check whether the latest drivers are installed.
Close unnecessary opened software other than Dark Souls.
"Set the resolution to the lowest possible setting, and turn off the anti-aliasing or blurring options."
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Support Information
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Information for tech support and customer support can be found in the game manual.
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9) Copyright Information
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"(C)2012 NBGI (C)2011-2012 FromSoftware, Inc."
"Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Windows, Windows Live, Windows NT, Windows Vista, and the Windows Vista Start button logo "
are all trademarks of Microsoft Corporation of America and/or its associated companies.
All other company names and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.
