Madden

Welcome to Madden NFL 2004.

This README.txt file contains information on issues not covered by the manual and install guide.

- Supported 3D Accelerator Hardware

Madden NFL 2004 requires a 32mb 3D Direct3D chipset including:

Cards with these chipsets are officially supported

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- nVidia GeForce2 GTS, GeForce3, GeForce4 MX series, GeForce4 Ti series, GeForce FX series

Win98 driver ver: Detonator 44.30

WinME driver ver: Detonator 44.30

WinXP driver ver: Detonator 44.30

Win2k driver ver: Detonator 44.30

http://www.nvidia.com

**NOTE**: Madden NFL 2004 does not officially support the GeForce 2 MX series.

- ATI Radeon 8500, Radeon 9200, Radeon 9600, Radeon 9700, and Radeon 9800

Win98 driver ver: Catalyst 3.5

WinME driver ver: Catalyst 3.5

WinXP driver ver: Catalyst 3.5

Win2k driver ver: Catalyst 3.5

http://www.ati.com

- Matrox Parhelia

WinXP driver ver: 1.04.02.007

Win2k driver ver: 1.04.02.007

http://www.matrox.com

**NOTE**: This game does not support workstation 3D cards or dual monitors.***

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Minimum System Requirements

CPU: PIII or AMD Athlon 700MHz

RAM: 128MB (256MB for Windows XP)

Video: 32MB supported Direct3D capable video card with DirectX 9.0 or higher compatible driver (DirectX 9.0a is recommended) - Go to the "Windows and DirectX" section of this Readme.

Recommended:

10 button dual analog gamepad

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Unreadable text with WindowsXP

If you are having trouble reading the text in game and you are using the WindowsXP operating system, then you will need to download a patch from Microsoft to correct this. The patch can be downloaded from here:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/whistler/Patch/Q306676/WXP/EN-US/Q306676_WXP_SP1_x86_ENU.exe

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Running in Windowed Mode

If you experience graphical issues while running in windowed mode at 640x480, turn the "Hardware Acceleration" setting for your video card to FULL.

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Antialiasing and Anisotropic Filtering

You may experience player model graphic corruption in the training and mini-camp drills with Antialiasing and Anisotropic Filtering set at 4 times or higher. Turn these settings OFF to resolve the issue.

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Windows and DirectX

Users with Windows (WinXP, Win2000, WinME, Win98 First or Second Edition) and a version of DirectX older than 9.0a may experience performance problems. These problems can be resolved by installing DirectX 9.0a BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE GAME, which is available on your Madden NFL 2004 game disc. Simply use windows explorer and go to X:DirectX (where X is your CD Rom drive). From there run the DXSetup.exe file. YOU MAY NEED TO UNINSTALL MADDEN NFL 2004, INSTALL DIRECTX 9.0a, AND THEN RE-INSTALL THE GAME.

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AOL and MSN - Minimizing Madden NFL 2004

If you are running AOL or MSN on Windows XP or 2000, sometimes pop-ups will minimize the game. To prevent this, press the START button in Windows then go to Settings - Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Services. Select Messenger then right click and select "Properties". Change service status to STOP then change "Startup Type" to DISABLED, then click APPLY.

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"Play Online" Connection Problems Behind a Firewall

If you're having problems connecting two computers located behind the same firewall, change the following option in the "Madden.ini" file to "LAN". The ini file is located in the Madden NFL 2004 "My Documents" folder.

// Option Group: Network Settings

Online Connection Method [Internet/LAN] = LAN

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Sound - Error with Initialization

If you experience an error message that reads "Madden 2004 Error - Error intializing sound. Please make sure the correct sound drivers are installed. Continue without sound?" Lower the sound acceleration to none in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool (DXDIAG).

This problem was found with the following hardware in Windows 98:

Altec Lansing ADA70 USB Speakers

Creative Labs SB Extigy

Microsoft Digital Sound System 80 USB

Sound - Incompatibility with some Gamepads

When using a gamepad a small number of users may experience