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Microsoft Age of Empires III - page 1
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S af e ty Warning About Photosensitive Seizures A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certain visual images, including flashing lights or patterns that may appear in video games. Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can cause these "photosensitive e ...
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3 Tab l e o f Cont ent s Getting Started What’ s N ew ? 9 Inst alling the G ame 9 Sta rting a New G ame 10 Ge tting Help 11 Le arning to Pla y 12 Se tting Op tions & Using Ho tkeys 13 Using the In -G ame Menu 14 Saving, Loading, & Quitting a Ga me 15 Winning a Ga me 16 Impro ving Ga me P erformance 17 Key Concepts Choosing a Civ iliz atio ...
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4 5 Single-Player Campaign Morgan Black 53 Elis abe t Ram s ey 54 John Black 55 Kan yenke 56 Amelia Bl ack 57 Pierre Beaumont 58 Sta rting & S aving Campaign S cena rios 59 Multiplayer Making the Multiplay e r Conne ction 62 M ultipl ay er G am e T ypes 64 The Home City & Multipla yer 65 Economy Finding & Gathering Res ources 68 Village ...
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8 9 Wha t ’ s New? Age of Empires III includes several new gameplay features, such as: The Home City Specific to each civilization, your Home City gives you more control over how your civilization’s technology advances. Single-Player An intricate storyline transports Campaign you back in time to an age of conquest and intrigue. Graphical A new ...
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10 11 Multiplayer Start a multiplayer game with your friends using Ensemble Studios ® Online (ESO) or a local area network (LAN). Help and Tools Download game updates, get information about specific units and technologies, create custom scenarios, adjust display and other game options, or view a list of those who worked tirelessly to create this ...
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12 13 Set t ing O p t ion s & Using H o t k ey s You can configure Age of Empires III in many different ways. By using the Options screen you can fine-tune such elements as in-game graphics, audio, and multiplayer settings. For example, to improve the frame-rate performance, adjust the settings under Graphics Options . By selecting Use Low Po ...
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14 15 S av ing, Lo ad ing , & Qu it t i ng a Ga me Saving On the In-Game menu, click Save . In the Save File dialog box, type a name in the Filename box, and then click Save . Loading On the In-Game menu, click Saved Game . In the Open File dialog box, select the filename of the game you want to play, and then click Open . Quitting To leave a ...
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16 17 Im p rov ing Ga me P er f o rm ance Here are some suggestions for improving the quality and performance of Age of Empire III . Insta ll th e Lates t Device Dri ver s Your computer’s graphics adapter (also known as a video or display adapter) is critical to a great Age of Empires III visual experience. For the game to run properly, you must ...
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18 Insta ll th e Lates t V er sion o f Dir ect X Installing the latest version of DirectX ® can prevent performance problems with Age of Empires III and may also enhance the quality and performance of games on your computer. To download the latest version of DirectX, go to: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/directx/ downloads/default.asp. Addi ti o ...
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20 21 Choo sing a Civ iliz at ion You can choose from eight different civilizations (shown below in order of easiest to hardest to play): Spanish British French Portuguese Dutch Russian German Ottoman Each civilization has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, the British have a strong economy and can get Settlers quickly. You’ll find t ...
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22 23 Th e Home C ity Adding a persistent Home City is a significant difference in gameplay between Age of Empires III and other games in the Age of Empires franchise. Your Home City provides your colony with resources, establishes the improvements and units you can leverage, and gives you a level of control over your own destiny. You grow your Ho ...
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24 25 Command tab Command panel Displays available: • Units • Buildings • Commands • Improvements In-Game menu Stats tab Colony Sc r een Home City icon Mini Map Displays the entire game map. • Chat • Send Alert Flare • Find Explorer • Filters Resource panel Displays stockpiled resources and population. • Current Population & U ...
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26 27 Resour ce Pan el Shows current stockpiled resources, number of villagers, and population limit. This helps you ensure that you’re not too low in one resource while spending too much effort gathering another. Unless you are stockpiling for a specific reason, such as advancing your Age, keeping your resources in relative balance is a good st ...
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28 29 Nav iga t ing t he H ome C i ty S cr e en To view the Home City screen, click the Home City icon on the Main menu. Home C ity M in i Map Provides a high-level view of your settlement. The Mini Map works the same on the Home City screen as it does on the Colony screen; simply click anywhere on the Mini Map to go to that location. Home C ity I ...
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30 31 Ways to P lay Age of Em pir es III Age of Empires III gives you several different ways to play: Single-Player Campaign Single-Player Skirmish Multiplayer Skirmish Sin g le - Pl a yer Cam p aig n By accepting the challenge of the single-player Campaign, you enter into a historical storyline that spans multiple continents and generations. Follo ...
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32 33 Expl o ring t he N ew W o r l d The first thing you should do is search for sources of Food, Wood, and Coin. You can explore the map by moving your Settlers and Explorers into the black area. Gathering Food is important, as you need Food to train (create) more Settlers. Gathering Wood is important, as you need Wood to construct buildings (su ...
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34 35 Balan cin g St r engths an d W eakness es One key to success in Age of Empires III is learning the different strengths and weaknesses for each civilization and then choosing the appropriate strategies and countermeasures during gameplay. All military units relate to one another using a built-in hierarchy based on hitpoints, range, and speed. ...
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36 37 To quit a game and view the postgame screens 1. Click Resign on the In-Game menu, and then click Yes . 2. Click the View Postgame button in the upper-right of the screen. U nderstand in g the P o stgame Scre ens After you finish your game session, you can view a series of postgame screens that compare your performance with that of your compe ...
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40 41 Wha t Is a H o me City? Every civilization has its own Home City, which acts as a unique symbol for that civilization—it looks different from other Home Cities and it offers different improvements. As such, the Home City doesn’t represent an actual real-world city. In fact, you can choose any name you want for your Home City. As each game ...
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42 43 Managing Y ou r H ome C it y Use the Home City Options menu to create, upgrade, and customize your Home City and Card Deck. You can create and use many different Home Cities and Decks. When starting a new game session, you choose which Home City and Deck to use. (In the single-player Campaign, you are assigned a specific Home City in each Ac ...
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44 45 Us in g the Dec k Bui lder The Build a Deck window shows the improvements and resources that you can use in creating Decks for your civilization. From this window, you can add or delete Cards in your Deck. You can also create multiple Decks. This allows you to design Decks that support specific styles of play, such as economic or military. H ...
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46 47 W o r king wi t h Y ou r H ome C ity The Shipment panel, located in the lower-right of the Home City screen, displays the resources and units available to your colony from your Home City. The units and resources available for shipment correspond to the Cards in the Deck that you are using in the current game session. Whenever you acquire suf? ...
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48 49 Shi p pin g Mil itary U nits You can choose from a large number of military units, including ships, cavalry, infantry, and even foreign mercenaries. The specific military units available to your colony is determined by your choice of civilization and by the Cards you chose for your Deck. To select a military unit for Shipment 1. On the Colon ...
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50 Mu lti pla yer an d Y our Home C ity As your Home City level advances, it becomes a resource that you can use in multiplayer games. The improvements, units, and even the customizations that you’ve unlocked carry over to multiplayer mode. Multiplayer mode allows you to have multiple Decks and Home Cities tied to your ESO account, providing the ...
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52 53 Mo rgan Blac k Morgan Black is a Scotsman and a mid-level commander in the Knights of St. John. The son of a village smith, he was driven at an early age by a burning religious fervor and joined the Knights of St. John. Morgan quickly gained favor as a brutal warrior who carried out his duties swiftly and silently. Unmarried and with no famil ...
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54 55 J ohn Bl ack John Black, grandson of Morgan, is a fierce frontiersman and mercenary with a reputation as a cold-blooded fighter. Renowned for his chilling calm in battle, you never want to face John Black’s musket and blade in combat. Even in the worst of circumstances, nothing seems to faze him— except a desire for vengeance that can e ...
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56 57 A meli a Black Amelia Black, granddaughter of John, is the last living member of the Black family. A successful industrialist and owner of the Falcon Company, Amelia is an intense competitor. She embodies the forceful, fiery spirit of her ancestors. A gifted sharpshooter in combat, Amelia’s gun delivers a deadly sting. Even the bravest foe ...
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58 59 Sta r t ing & Sav ing Ca m paign Scena rio s To start the single-player Campaign 1. On the Main menu, click Single Player and then click Campaign . 2. In the Campaign window, select an available scenario, select a Difficulty Level , and then click Play . Completing a scenario unlocks the next scenario. You can also go back and play any p ...
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62 63 ES O To play using ESO, you must first create an ESO account by completing the ESO registration. Next, type your nickname and associated password at the ESO logon screen to open the ESO Home. On your first visit to ESO, you’re assigned a default player level. This level adjusts over time based on how well you play the game—as your skill ...
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64 65 T he H ome City & Mu l t ip lay e r Central to the multiplayer experience in Age of Empires III is the new Home City, which puts a player’s economic and military strategy skills to the test. Before the inclusion of the Home City, a player with a weaker economy could win simply by building a massive military and overwhelming other player ...
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66 A player with a higher-level Home City does have some advantages over players with lower-level Home Cities. Mainly, Home Cities with a high level offer more options and greater choices. Nevertheless, players who do not take advantage of these strengths, develop solid strategies, and execute on those strategies will quickly lose their edge. A pla ...
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68 69 Us in g Y our Explor er An Explorer is a unique unit with specialized capabilities: Sharpshooter Your Explorer can pick off Treasure guardians with a single shot. Trading Posts An Explorer can construct Trading Posts on Trade Routes to boost your economy. Immortal Your Explorer can be hit and wounded but never dies. Click the Find Explorer ic ...
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70 71 A Covered Wagon will travel to your site, build your Town Center, unload your villagers and resources, and then disappear. The villagers will immediately stockpile your Food, Wood, and Coin resources. Exploring a Map When you land in a new territory, most of the map is hidden. Your civilian units (villagers, soldiers, and Explorers) must vent ...
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72 73 To gather unguarded Treasure Click your Explorer, and then right-click the Treasure. Your Explorer gathers the Treasure and adds it to your stockpiles. To gather guarded Treasure 1. Select an Explorer and soldiers to create an Explorer party. (How big you make your Explorer party depends on how heavily the Treasure is guarded.) 2. Right-click ...
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74 75 K eeping Y our V il lag ers Busy Villagers add to your experience points and enhance your economy only when they’re working—gathering Food, chopping Wood, mining Coin, constructing buildings, and so on. When idle, villagers contribute nothing to your civilization. It’s best to keep them adding to your stockpiles by checking in on them o ...
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76 77 To construct a building 1. Select a unit to construct the building you want. (For example, select a villager if you want to build a House.) 2. In the Command panel, click the building type that you want to construct. 3. Place your pointer where you want your building on the map and click. (Note that if the building turns red when you try to p ...
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78 79 U pg rading Y our Civ iliz at i on ’ s U n it s You can use upgrades to gather Food faster, add hitpoints, increase the rate of trade, and so forth. Each upgrade, however, has its price—typically, Food, Wood, Coin, or a combination of resources. The Command panel displays the upgrades available to you at any given time. While most units h ...
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80 81 F o rming Allianc es wi t h Na t i v e A me ri cans You form alliances with Native Americans by building Trading Posts, which helps you earn experience points and provides other useful benefits. Explorers and villagers can build Trading Posts on Trading Post sites near Native American settlements and along Trade Routes. To build a Trading Po ...
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82 Creating Native American Warriors for Battle Trading Posts built next to a Native American settlement are able to train Native American warriors for battle. (Your population limit does not apply to Native American warriors.) The Native American warriors available to you depends on a variety of factors, including the map and the Age that you’re ...
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84 85 C r eat ing Mi li tar y U nits There are three basic types of military units in Age of Empires III: Infantry Cavalry Artillery Although some military units can only come from your Home City, most are created from buildings that are located in your colony. You cannot build any military units until you’ve built the necessary buildings: The Ba ...
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86 87 To set a Gather Point 1. Click the building you want to create units for. 2. On the lower-right of the screen, click the appropriate Set Gather Point icon (economy unit or military unit). 3. Move the pointer to the location where you want the units to gather, and then click that location to set the Gather Point Flag. Units generated from that ...
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88 89 Grou pin g Mi litary U nits Grouping units lets you command several military units at the same time. To select multiple units Drag your pointer around the military units you want to group. -or- Hold down the CTRL key, and then click the individual units you want to group. To group all visible units of the same type Double-click a unit. (For e ...
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90 91 T r anspor tin g Un its Across W ater When you need to cross deep bodies of water, you can transport your units by loading them onto a ship, such as a Caravel. You can load any unit onto a ship. If you’re in a multiplayer game, allies can transport each other’s units. Each ship carries a limited number of units. To load a ship Select the ...
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92 93 Bu ild in g Y our Mil itary When choosing the specific units that define your military, it’s important to understand and weigh several factors: Your civilization’s strengths and weaknesses relative to other civilizations. Your preferred strategy against each civilization. For example, the British are economically quite strong in the ear ...
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94 95 Orderi ng an Attac k After building up your forces and deciding on a strategy, it’s time to make a move. Your opponent stands before you. Charge! Your military units, warships, and towers automatically attack enemy units within their line of sight, unless you order them to attack a different unit. To order an attack 1. Select the unit (or u ...
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96 T ur tl in g Turtling is a strategy that involves immediately taking strong defensive measures. From the start, you begin walling off your Town Centers and protecting your economic resources from a potential Rush. To use Turtling successfully, you build your defensive and economic resources first, while your attacks come later in the game. ...
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98 99 While most of the civilizations share several key units— such as the Musketeer and the Hussar—each civilization comes with its own unique units as well. You’ll find that the units and their upgrade paths are carefully crafted to achieve an overall balance of powers, while offering a range of strategic choices. For example, when conside ...
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100 101 Bri t is h Civilization Bonus Extra Manor Houses that spawn villagers Unique Units Longbowman, Rocket Royal Guard Units Musketeer, Hussar Home City Ruler Queen Elizabeth The speed at which the British spawn villagers gives them one of the strongest economies in the game. The British can focus early on gathering Wood for Manor Houses that cr ...
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102 103 P o r tugues e Civilization Bonus Extra Covered Wagon whenever you advance an Age Unique Units Cassador, Organ Gun Royal Guard Units Musketeer, Dragoon Home City Ruler Prince Henry the Navigator The Portuguese gain an extra Covered Wagon whenever they advance an Age, enabling them to establish a new Town Center. The Portuguese Explorer has ...
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104 105 R uss ian Civilization Bonus Vil lage rs a nd infa ntry ar e tr aine d in grou ps, low -cos t mi lit ary Unique Units Strelet, Cossack, Oprichnik Royal Guard Units Grenadier, Cavalry Archer Home City Ruler Ivan the Terrible The Russians begin the game with extra resources but fewer villagers. This lets them immediately turn their resources ...
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106 107 Ot to ma n Civilization Bonus Town Centers that spawn villagers at no cost Unique Units Abus Gun, Janissary, Spahi, Galley, Great Bombard Royal Guard Units Grenadier, Hussar Home City Ruler Suleiman the Magnificent Like the German economy, the Ottoman economy tends to start somewhat slowly. They make up for this by being able to create vil ...
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110 111 B uil dings Buildings form an essential part of your colony and civilization. You’ll use your buildings to manage resources, create and upgrade your military and its arsenal, and establish the daily operations and economic vitality of your colony. Despite minor differences, the following buildings are common to all civilizations. Town Cen ...
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112 113 Arsenal Provides military improvements that can change the speed, range, hitpoints, and damage of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Barracks Trains and upgrades infantry units, which are a core component of every civilization’s military. (The Russians have the Blockhouse, which is a combination Barracks and Outpost.) Dock P r odu ces boat ...
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114 115 Expl o r er s Every colony in Age of Empires III gets established through the support and leadership of its Explorer. As the leader of your New World colony, your Explorer will scout new territory, build Trading Posts, battle outlaws and Treasure guardians, establish new colonies, and recover Treasures. Your Explorer has a special Sharpshoo ...
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116 117 Janissary A highly trained, though slow marching, infantry unit that fulfills the role of the Musketeer from other civilizations. Janissaries are strong against cavalry but weak against such artillery and light infantry, such as Crossbowmen or Skirmishers. Musketeer The standard infantry unit. Armed with a smoothbore musket, they’re rela ...
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118 119 Cav al r y Placing a warrior on a horse was the early equivalent of today’s tank. Fast and mobile, cavalry units revolutionized warfare by providing the means to quickly overwhelm less capable foot soldiers. You’ll use your cavalry for both scouting and combat. You create and upgrade cavalry units at the Stable. Hussar A fast-moving lig ...
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120 121 Ar t il l e ry The addition of artillery enabled units to pack a lot more punch at longer distances than previously possible with earlier ranged weapons such as bows and arrows. You create and upgrade your artillery units at the Artillery Foundry. Grenadier An expensive artillery unit with a lot of hitpoints. They are resilient to artillery ...
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122 123 Civ ili an U ni ts Along with your military units, you’ll have a variety of other units that offer services such as gathering resources, creating buildings, exploring territory, and healing the wounded. Settler The primary economic resource of your colony. Settlers and other villagers do the work that provides the basis for your colony’ ...
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124 125 Ships Use ships to fish, transport units, and engage in combat. You build and upgrade ships at the Dock. Fishing Boat A boat used for gathering fish as Food resources. Place your Fishing Boats to gather fish and add to your Food stockpile. Caravel An early warship that’s good at exploring, fishing, or transporting units and goods. Gal ...
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126 127 Comanche Horse Archer A Native cavalry unit armed with an accurate bow, good speed, and a good ranged attack. They are particularly effective against hand cavalry. Cree Tracker A rifleman with decent hitpoints, a good line of sight, and long range. Incan Bolas Warrior A missile unit who’s very effective at immobilizing enemies. Incan Hua ...
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128 129 Me r c enar ies Mercenaries are elite troops who can be sent from the Home City in exchange for Coin. Hiring mercenaries costs more than purchasing other military units, but they are more powerful. Barbary Corsair A pirate mercenary infantry unit from the Barbary Coast of North Africa. Black Rider A heavy German cavalry unit armed with pist ...
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130 Mameluke A bold cavalry mercenary who controlled Egypt from the 1200s to 1800s. Manchu A fierce mounted archer from China. The Manchurians formed the Qing dynasty, which replaced the Ming dynasty in the 1600s. Ronin A masterless samurai who has no lord and often wanders or works for the highest bidder. Stradiot An aggressive light cavalry unit ...
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132 133 USER EXPERIENCE Ala n Theu rer - Use r Exp eri enc e Mana ger Brent M etc alfe - E ditor Jack T u rk - Writer Jon S eal - E di tor Heid i Wartel le - E dito r Laur a Hami lto n - Edi tor LOCALIZATION Virgini a Sp enc er USER RESEARCH John Ho ps on Ran dy Pagul ayan Marco s Nun es-Ue no Jun Kim ADMINISTRATION Sa man tha D ougher ty-Si nd ell ...
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134 Technical Support In the U.S., visit http://support.microsoft.com/games . In Canada, visit http://www.microsoft.ca/support . Outside the U.S. and Canada, visit http://support.microsoft.com/international. aspx . On these Web sites, you can: • Download the latest updates. • Find Microsoft Knowledge Base articles that target specific issues. ...
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GAME PRECISION SERIES Di sco ver G ame P recis io n THIN, FLEXIBLE CABLE The responsiveness o f wired, the feel of wir eless. SCROLL WHEEL WITH DETENTS For enhanced gaming control. PRECISION BOOSTER Switch between preferr ed speed and precision mode for targeting. GAMING T OGGLE Quickly select and switch weapons or actions in real time. Adv anced L ...
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