Dungeon Siege II Demo Released

Microsoft Game Studios and Gas Powered Games have released a (huge!) single player demo of their soon-to-be-released Dungeon Siege sequel. The 1.4GB demo can be downloaded from WorthPlaying or PC Gameworld.

While downloading, take a peek at the readme file:
Welcome to Dungeon Siege II Trial Version!

This file contains information to help you troubleshoot issues with the Dungeon Siege II Trial Version. You can find more information about Dungeon Siege II on the Dungeon Siege II web site at
http://www.microsoft.com/games/dungeonsiege2/.

Contents

A. System Requirements
B. Installing the Dungeon Siege II Trial Version
C. DirectX Troubleshooting
D. Differences Between the Trial and Retail Versions
E. 3-D Card Drivers and Manufacturers


A. System Requirements

To play the Dungeon Siege II Trial Version, you need the following minimum requirements:

* Windows XP SP1
* PC with 1.0 GHz equivalent or higher processor
* 256 MB RAM
* 1.6 GB of available hard disk space
* DVD drive
* For audio, sound card and speakers or headphones
* Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device
* Direct X 9.0c (included on game disc)
* Supported video card (listed below)

Supported Video Cards

ATI Radeonx series (7000 or better)
* Radeon 7000/VE series (requires 2.0 GHz equivalent or higher processor required)
* 7200, 7500
* 8500, All-In-Wonder 8500
* 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800
* X300, X600, X800

Nvidia® Quadro series
* Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4

Nvidia® Geforce series
* GeForce 256
* GeForce2
* GeForce3, 3 Ti
* GeForce4, 4Ti, MX 420, 440
* GeForce FX 5200, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
* GeForce 6600, 6800 S3
* Delta Chrome

Intel® Extreme Graphics (requires 2.0 GHz equivalent or higher processor required)
* 82845, 82865, 82915


B. Installing Dungeon Siege II Trial Version

To install the Dungeon Siege II Trial Version, insert the disc into your DVD drive and follow the instructions that appear on the screen.


C. DirectX Troubleshooting

To play the Dungeon Siege II Trial Version, DirectX 9.0c or later must be installed on your computer. If you do not have DirectX 9.0c, you can allow Dungeon Siege II to install it for you when you install the game, or you can download the latest version from http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/default.asp.


D. Differences Between the Trial and Retail Versions

The Trial Version of Dungeon Siege II contains only a limited portion of the single player version of the game (up to the Elven Shrine area). In the Retail Version, your adventure will continue well beyond this area.

In the Retail Version, you can also play the same adventure in multiplayer using a party you've created in the single player version of the game. For those who master the entire game in either single player or multiplayer mode, you can replay at the higher levels of Veteran and Elite. You can play multiplayer through Mercenary, Veteran, and Elite as many times as you want, and in any order, assuming you have gained access to the Veteran and Elite levels. You can reset the world state at any time in multiplayer, which gives you maximum flexibility in gaming choices with other players (for example,
replay your favorite areas).


E. 3-D Card Drivers and Manufacturers

You can resolve many video issues by installing the latest drivers, so make sure that you have the latest drivers from the manufacturer of your video card. Please note that Dungeon Siege II may not detect some older video cards properly because their video drivers are not DirectX 9.0c-compliant. Please contact your video card manufacturer for updated drivers or install the latest reference drivers for your video card. Note that many reference drivers are not supported by the chipset manufacturer. Below are some common video card manufacturers' web sites. Dungeon Siege II may not support some or all of the cards produced by a particular manufacturer.

* 3dfx Interactive http://www.3dfx.com/
* 3Dlabs http://www.3dlabs.com/
* Asus http://www.asus.com/
* ATI http://support.atitech.ca/
* Aztech Labs http://www.aztechlabs.com/
* Canopus http://www.canopuscorp.com/
* Creative Labs http://www.creativelabs.com/
* Elsa Technology http://www.elsa.com/
* Gateway 2000 http://www.gw2k.com/
* Guillemot http://www.guillemot.com/
* Hercules (see Guillemot) http://www.guillemot.com/
* I/O Magic http://www.iomagic.com/
* Intergraph (see 3Dlabs) http://www.3dlabs.com/
* Jaton http://www.jaton.com/
* Leadtek http://www.leadtek.com/
* Matrox http://www.matrox.com/
* Number Nine http://www.nine.com/
* NVIDIA http://www.nvidia.com/
* Orchid (see S3) http://www.s3.com/
* S3 Incorporated http://www.s3.com/
* SiS http://www.sis.com/
* STB (see 3dfx Interactive) http://www.3dfx.com/
* VIA Technologies http://www.viatech.com/
* VideoLogic http://www.videologic.com/