Gliding just above the clouds faster than the speed of sound.
What are The Supernatural Olympics?
Last updated: Jun 17, 2006
Minor update on Aug 18, 2006 - section 1 almost entirely rewritten.
1 Getting support
For obtaining support, make sure you meet the system requirements, have DirectX 9.0c installed and have a video card that supports it. If these are not the problem, then use the support forms provided in their subsections within section 2 below to contact me.
These forms*, at the moment, don't work yet as they are missing a script. However, my new forum offers the best (and fastest) method with a response time usually within an hour to up to 12 hours (versus 24 to 36 hours by E-mail), depending on the times I'm awake and what I'm doing. Plus, other users may have already encountered this issue and resolved it and may help further reducing the time.
For getting the version, there are many ways to do so:
- If the game starts up just fine and have agreed to the EULA, go to the "about this game" menu and the version and edition is the first thing you see.
- If the game doesn't start up at all, but you can see the "loading SOlympicsXXX.wdl" part, the XXX part denotes the version. "SOlympicsV24.wdl" means version 2.4.
- The other method is to look at the file size of the EXE. Right-click on the EXE and select "properties" from the menu. You'll see two files sizes. The one "size on disk" is NOT the one I need. Go here to see this dialog as a reference - the arrow points to the number referenced to. Here is a list of the file sizes for each released version to help:
- Version 2.4 - 4,085,043 bytes
- Version 2.5 - unreleased
- If you cannot see this for some unknown reason, the file name of the EXE is the last resort which is why I strongly suggest leaving the file name as is when saving. Do not use the information on the EXE's version tab (showing 6.20.1 (even though I'm actually using 6.31.4)) - because I cannot change this and it applies to Gamestudio, it is completely irrelevent to the game. Only use this method as a last resort.
In all cases except the first method in the list above, to determine the edition, you'll have a key file in the same directory as your EXE file and you'll have ordered it.
2 Types of support
There are five different types of support.
Tech support - A technical support question is getting assistance with something due to it not working. Some examples are where you are having difficulties with something such as the game not running or an error message is occurring. Before asking for tech support, make sure you meet the minimum system requirements and have DirectX 9.0c installed with a video card that supports it.
Suggestion - A suggestion is a feature request. Suggestions are new feature ideas that can enhance the game in a future release. Of greatest importance are new challenge ideas. Before submitting suggestions, be sure to download the latest version to see if it's not already present and check the future features list (in the links at the bottom).
Bug reports - A bug is a strange behavior not normally expected. An example would be falling through the ground or the mountains being placed higher than they should be. If you found a bug, please report it, even if it's a minor bug like misspelled text. Also, check to make sure the bug isn't listed in the known bugs section of the manual or in the forum. Be sure that you have DirectX 9.0c installed with a video card that supports it and that you meet the system requirements as well as having the latest version before submitting bug reports.
General questions - A general question is a nontechnical question such as asking how high a particular mountain is or what the floor spacing is for the city's buildings. It is a question that doesn't fit any of the other categories.
Comments/reviews - Comments are just that, comments. They are not support questions nor suggestions. A comment is basically how good or bad the game is or what you like and dislike about the game.
3 Updates and upgrades
3.1 Updates
Updates contain new features and bug fixes from an older version. An update is where the first part of the version remains unchanged with the last part after the first dot changing. That is, the update to 2.4 would be 2.4.1 or 2.5 or some variant like that. Updates are always free.
3.2 Upgrades
An upgrade contains a major set of new features (like a new world) or otherwise a near-complete rewrite of the entire game's code structure. An upgrade is where the number before the first dot changes. That is, going from version 2.7 or 2.8 to 3.0 or 3.2 would be an upgrade. Upgrades are always free for the free edition, but the price taken off for the full edition is reduced by half for each upgrade level to up to 3 levels. This is how the pricing system works for upgrades (prices based on US dollars), of which the system has yet to be finalized:
| Version* | New license price | Free edition price | Full edition price** | Full edition savings |
| 2.x | $12.95 | $0.00 | - - - | - - - |
| 3.x | $19.95*** | $0.00 | $9.95 | 50% |
| 4.x | $27.95*** | $0.00 | $20.96 | 25% |
| 5.x† | $39.95*** | $0.00 | $34.96 | 12.5% |
6.x (and
later)‡ | $49.95 | $0.00 | $49.95 | 0% |
Table footnotes:
* If you upgrade to this version from 2.x....
** Price here is based on the price of the new license, of which hasn't been established (except for version 2.x).
*** Price not established and will be when the version is released.
† I have not yet decided on whether or not to use this.
‡ The system is the same here with 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, and so on.
3.3 Beta versions
Beta versions are special prerelease versions. They contain a sneak peak into new features and contain bug fixes. However, beta versions tend to have more bugs than an official release. Any one could test the current public release to help find bugs and file a bug report. If you'd like to help, you can use my technique that I've used for a long time, of which applies not only to just games, but any software program.
- Play around normally until you encounter something weird or unusual (such as falling through the ground).
- Recall what you were doing before you encountered the weird behavior.
- Try replicating it doing what you recall doing. Take notes as well.
- If you can replicate the same behavior, try a few variants to see if it can further be replicated in other ways.
- If you can't replicate it, continue on and when it happens again, note the circumstances and retry replicating it.
- Submit the bug report telling what you did to replicate it so I can look into it.
At the moment, I don't accept beta testers on the prerelease versions, but as my game grows in complexity, the need increases. You can, indirectly, beta test on the public releases.
9.1.3 The Supernatural Olympics - a high-speed action game
9.1.3-1 What is the game? - an introduction to the game
9.1.3-2 Feature comparison chart - a quick overview of the features
9.1.3-3 Scenery features - features related to the game's scenery
9.1.3-4 Special features - features rarely seen in games
9.1.3-5 On-screen information - features related to the data shown around the display
9.1.3-6 Special abilities - explains the various special abilities
9.1.3-7 Special effects - explains what the various special effects are
9.1.3-8 Challenges - details about the challenges
9.1.3-9 General features - other features
9.1.3-10 System requirements - what system requirements there are
9.1.3-11 Support, returns, updates, and upgrades - how to obtain support
9.1.3-12 Ten reasons to upgrade - the top ten reasons to upgrade to the full edition
9.1.3-13 Future plans and features - features planned for the future and the game's general future
9.1.3-14 Update checklist - an in-depth checklist for things I need to do before the next release becomes available
9.1.3-15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - some common questions that may be asked
9.1.3-16 How to purchase - how to buy the game and complete the upgrade.
9.1.3-17 End-user license agreement - Read this first before using the software or it's components.
9.1.3-18 Download - Download the game and game manual (and any updates).
9.1.3-19 Version 3.0 overview - An overview of the upcoming version, 3.0.
Footnotes:
* If you'd like to write the script for it, the form is here. For a required field to be answered, the first option of drop down menus cannot be selected and text inputs cannot be left blank. The required fields are marked with an asterisk as stated on the page.
