sp_Arena "WHITE OUT" Bug Patch

*************************************************************
  		                          
 		          : SP ARENA "WHITE OUT" BUG PATCH  :  										     
*************************************************************
 
 Game:  FarCry 
                
 Date:  1/20/07        
               
 Patch: SP ARENA "WHITE OUT" BUG PATCH

 File Name: "sp_arena_whiteout_patch_v1.zip"

 Version: v.1

 Developer: Murph

 For Map: "SP_ARENA" by Michael Chimella        
                            
 Patch By: William Murphy 

 Beta Tester: Michael Chimella 


*************************************************************
 
 Description:

*************************************************************

               ** This is the "WHITE OUT" BUG PATCH for SP Map SP_ARENA **

              Some NVIDIA based video cards have a serious issue rendering
              different enviormental settings in the FarCry map "SP_ARENA".
              This in turn leads to the "White Out" affect and makes this
              fun single-player map unplayable! This repair patch fixes the
              problem for NVIDIA card owners and gets 'em back in the game!  

              I made this bug patch for Michael Chimella back in Jan. 2007
              and even though it can be downloaded at his own web site, I 
              thought it should be made available here as well. =Murph=         


*************************************************************

 Readme:

*************************************************************

NVIDIA Video cards have a serious issue rendering different enviormental settings 
in the map "SP_ARENA". This leads to the "White Out" affect as seen in the included
before and after screenshots. The map will load up great and not crash, but all the
background scenery is a white out and it makes the game virtually unplayable! While
in first person you can see perfectly fine for like a 10 ft. circle around yourself.
Moving forward makes the whiteness ahead lift like a fog to reveal more of the map
as you go, but never really well enough to play the game! This "level pak." repair
patch fixes this unsightly problem!  

I tested NVIDIA game play on this repaired file all the way through, with-out the
slighest problem! Smooth game play and beautiful scenery, nothing looking odd or 
out of place. Michael Chimella tested ATI video game play on this repaired file 
with the same results! However, if you have an ATI card you will likely not need
this patch and should be able to enjoy the enviorment the way it was meant to be  
seen! Please do realize that your enviormental game play on this NVIDIA patch will
be slightly different, but very enjoyable just the same! Why ATI cards can render
such an enviorment while NVIDIA cards can't has to do with NVIDIA cards limitations
while in FarCrys Sandbox! There has always been a certain amount of speculation
that FarCry was heavily optimized to play better on ATI video cards and this could
be accepted as proof positive by some!

In a way this FarCry based map owes a lil thanks to "Doom3"! After much frustration
I was pretty much going to give up on fixing this map, but decided to take one more 
crack at it using the tool "PK4Scape. Version: BETA 1B." by Nivelxe. This free tool
is really designed for "Doom3" and I was not expecting much help from it. Opening the
"FarCry" map "SP_Arena" with it allowed me to see the files in a different light and 
lead me down a path I would not have ventured before! To my own surprise I actually
fixed the "White-Out" Bug on this map when using an NVIDIA video card and Im glad I
did, because now the map looks great!
  
I made this bug patch back in January 2007 for Michael Chimellas sp map "Arena" and
even though it can be downloaded at his own web site, I thought it should be made 
available else where as well. I get a kick out of tearing files apart sometimes and
fixing problems that can ruin a game! Finding the answers to problems like this can 
be just as challenging as taking on a bunch of mercs or mutants!. Except in the end
if I win, everybody wins! I hope you are happy with the repair file! 

                                             ..Enjoy!..=Murph=
                                           

**Thoughts and feedback always welcomed!..Thanks!

**=Murph=/Murphys_Law at [email protected]


*************************************************************

 Installation:

*************************************************************


.. 1. Replace the level.pak inside the sp_arena folder with this one.

.. 2. Start the game as explained in the instructions that come with sp_arena.


*************************************************************

 Credits:

*************************************************************

.. 1. William Murphy at [email protected] 
   ============================================
    
    Author of FarCry SP Map "Splash Harbor"
                   
    Developer of "WHITE OUT" BUG PATCH V1 for SP Map "SP_ARENA" by Michael Chimella 
  
    Beta Tester and Contributor to FarCry SP Map "Horus9" by Michael Chimella 


.. 2. Michael Chimella at [email protected]
   ============================================

    Author of FarCry SP Map "SP_ARENA"

    http://farcry.filefront.com/file/spArena;61977

    Author of FarCry SP Map "Horus9"

    http://farcry.filefront.com/file/Horus_9;76035


    *Other "Mods by Murph" inlcude mods for "Quake4" and "Doom3" 

    *Other "Mods by Chimella" inlude many maps for "FarCry"                    
       
    *This mod originally hosted at http://www.8winds.co.uk/
    ..which was Michael Chimella's own game based web site! 

 
*************************************************************

 Permissions:

*************************************************************

** Copyright / Permissions/ Legal Stuff **

By downloading and using this patch you agree to the following:

That the authors, William Murphy and Michael Chimella, are in no way responsible for loss or damage arising from the use or abuse of this game patch.
  
WE assume no responsibility for any problems that may arise due to the use of this mod in any shape or form. The user takes full responsiblity for his/her actions in the use of this mod.   
 
 
 *Distribution*

You MAY distribute this Add-on as long as its free of any charge.
if you wish to distribute this in a game magazine, please notify/contact us.
That Any modifications of the game level and/or any charge levied for distributing the game patch level should not be done without the authors permission including any style electronic format such as (BBS, Diskette, CD, etc) .