All
I see is a grey rectangle. Why doesn't the game start?
How
do I play Carpet Golf 3-D through America Online?
Netscape
Navigator locks up when I try to play.
The
game runs very slowly. What can I do to speed it up?
What
is the difference between practice mode and tournament mode?
Can
I download this applet?
How
do I aim my shot?
The
ball doesn't go in the direction of the aiming arrow.
How
can I keep the ball from rolling back down the slopes?
All I see is a grey rectangle. Why doesn't the game start?
Carpet
Golf 3-D requires a Web browser capable of running Java applets. Such browsers
include Microsoft Internet Explorer
version 3 or higher, and Netscape
Navigator version 3 or higher. This game will not run on the WebTV
browser device, nor on certain versions of the America Online built-in
browser.
How do I play Carpet Golf 3-D through America Online?
Some versions of the America Online built-in browser will not run Carpet Golf 3-D. To play the game, you may need to use an external Web browser. Here's how:
Click on one of the icons below to go to the Web site of Microsoft or Netscape. From either of these Web sites, you can download a free version of a Java-capable browser. Follow the instructions to install the browser on your computer.
Once you have installed the external browser, use it instead of AOL's built-in browser. Just launch the external browser any time you are connected to AOL.
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Netscape Navigator locks up when I try to play.
Under
Windows 95, certain releases of Netscape Navigator version 4 will randomly
lock up the first time you try to run a Java applet. Don't worry, though;
Navigator will run Java just fine on the second try. Just terminate the
locked-up program (by pressing CTRL + ALT + DELETE), then launch Netscape
again. When you try playing Carpet Golf this time around, it ought
to work.
The game runs very slowly. What can I do to speed it up?
Carpet Golf 3-D runs best on computers with a Pentium 100 MHz processor or faster. The Web browser also has a major impact on the speed of the game. Of the browsers I have tested, I find that Microsoft Internet Explorer version 4 gives the fastest performance with Java applets.
Of course, the game will run faster if you shut down all other CPU-intensive tasks that may be running.
If
you have a slower computer or an older browser, you can play a 2-D
version of Carpet Golf which is less demanding on your computer.
What is the difference between practice mode and tournament mode?
In tournament mode, you are limited to seven strokes per hole; in practice mode, there is no limit.
In practice mode, you can use cheat keys to repeatedly play holes that are giving you trouble. Cheat keys include:
R
-- Replay the hole from the beginning
P
-- Go to the previous hole
N
-- Go to the next hole
Note:
The cheat keys won't work until after you have clicked the mouse for the
first time in the applet window. This is Java default behavior.
Can I download this applet?
This applet is hosted by the America Online Web server, which allows you to download the component files. You do this by using a method called "anonymous FTP". To initiate an FTP session, you start by modifying the information in the "address" window of your browser. Right now, the address says something like:
http://members.aol.com/edhobbs2/applets/cgolf3d/help.html#download
Change the "http" to "ftp". Also make sure that the address specifies a directory, and not a file. If the address ends in the name of a file and/or a label (such as "/help.html#download"), you must remove the file name, the label, and the associated slash. The address will now look like:
ftp://members.aol.com/edhobbs2/applets/cgolf3d
After you have changed the address line, press the ENTER key. The AOL Web server will respond with a list of files in the directory. Right-click on the names of the files to download them.
If you put this applet on your Web page, please include a link to my Web site.
Depending
on your browser, you may be able to execute the applet offline, by pointing
the browser to the directory where you downloaded the files. Please note
that not all browsers will allow you to execute Java applets from your
local drive.
How do I aim my shot?
When
you click on the image of the golf course, an aiming arrow will appear.
The direction of the arrow indicates the direction of the shot, and the
size of the arrow indicates the force. Press the SWING button to initiate
the shot.
The ball doesn't go in the direction of the aiming arrow.
Try
to release the SWING button when the red Aim indicator is at the center
of its range.
How can I keep the ball from rolling back down the slopes?
Try hitting the ball at an angle to the slope; this gives it a longer distance to slow down.