Microsoft Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial
Readme File
September 2007

Welcome to Microsoft® Age of Empires® III: The Asian Dynasties Trial version!

This file contains information to help you install the Age of Empires III: The
Asian Dynasties Trial. It includes late-breaking information not included in
the in-game Help.

CONTENTS
A. Installing Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial
B. Starting Age of Empires III Trial
C. Getting Help
D. Shortcut Keys
E. DirectX Troubleshooting
F. Video Troubleshooting
G. Audio Troubleshooting
H. Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Information

A. Installing Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial

To install Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial you must have
administrator rights on your computer and your computer must be running
Microsoft Windows® XP.

To install Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial

• Double click the Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial self
extracting Setup executable. Click Install, and then follow the on-screen
prompts.

B. Starting Age of Empires III Trial

To start Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial

On the Start menu, point to Programs, point to Microsoft Games, point to Age of
Empires III, and then click Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial.


C. Getting Help

You can find information about Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial in
the in-game Help.

To display in-game Help

Pause your pointer over any button or interface item in the game to view
rollover help text. You can also right-click on any unit portrait or
improvement icon in the game to view detailed Help.


D. Shortcut Keys

The following keys can be very helpful during gameplay.

Building Build Quick Select
Barracks B CTRL+B
Monastery C CTRL+C
Dock D CTRL+D
House or Shrine E CTRL+E
Fort or Consulate F CTRL+F
Mill or Rice Paddy I CTRL+I
Market M CTRL+M
Trading Post P CTRL+P
Castle O CTRL+O
Stable S CTRL+S
Wall -

SPACE BAR—Centers camera on unit or building
Z+Right Click—Attack Move

E. DirectX Troubleshooting

DirectX® 9c or later must be installed on your computer before you can play Age
of Empires III : The Asian Dynasties Trial. If you do not have DirectX 9c
installed on your computer and you chose not to install DirectX 9c when you
installed Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial, you will not be able
to play Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial. Install DirectX 9c by
re-installing Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial, or download the
software from Microsoft Windows Update ().

If Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Trial installed DirectX 9c but could
not update your video drivers to be compatible with DirectX 9c, when you restart
your computer you will receive the message "Age of Empires III could not
initialize DirectX. Make sure that DirectX 9c or higher is installed and
contact your hardware manufacturer for a video driver update." To fix this
problem, either get updated video drivers from Microsoft Windows Update
(), your video adapter manufacturer, or
install DirectX in safe mode, which will replace the video drivers.

If you experience sound or video problems using DirectX, go to
for the latest troubleshooting
information.

You should also check with your video or sound card manufacturer for the latest
DirectX-compatible drivers.


F. Video Troubleshooting

Latest Drivers – Make sure that you have the latest drivers from your video
card manufacturer or check Windows Update
() for the latest drivers. Users of
motherboards with non-Intel chipsets should upgrade to the latest miniport
drivers available from their motherboard manufacturer.

DirectX – If you experience video problems using DirectX, connect to the
DirectX Web site for the latest troubleshooting information at
.


G. Audio Troubleshooting

DirectX – If you experience audio problems using DirectX, connect to the
DirectX Web site for the latest troubleshooting information, as explained in
DirectX Troubleshooting. If this occurs, make sure that you have the latest
drivers from your sound card manufacturer or check Windows Update
() for the latest drivers.


H. Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Information

• For more information about Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties, visit our
Web site at: http://www.ageofempires3.com/.


© & p 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft, Age of Empires, DirectX, Ensemble Studios, the Microsoft Game
Studios logo, and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of
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Other product and company names mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their
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