fireworks help was = I'm not going to be able to get the new room

[MiakodaWDW]

Hi Cat.

I remember not being able to pass the first level, lol. I think that what really helped me was knowing how to type, that seemed to increase my accuracy on hitting the fireworks. I wish that I could somehow play the game for you.

Brain (who can always get 240K )

I forgot to mention...when I play (I'm right handed), I turn my keyboard diagonally to the left so my left hand on the arrows is close to where my left hand naturally falls when I am typing. I didn't really think about that before, but if your desk has the room, try this out.

to get a perspective, the "esc" key is at the top of the diagonal and the arrows are at the bottom, near the center of my body. This makes game play so much easier for me, bc both of my hands are in a more natural position like when I type normally.

And on another note: Brain...I have not seen you in FOREVER! Where have you been hiding!?

 

[Pixie Dusted]

I forgot to mention...when I play (I'm right handed), I turn my keyboard diagonally to the left so my left hand on the arrows is close to where my left hand naturally falls when I am typing. I didn't really think about that before, but if your desk has the room, try this out.

to get a perspective, the "esc" key is at the top of the diagonal and the arrows are at the bottom, near the center of my body. This makes game play so much easier for me, bc both of my hands are in a more natural position like when I type normally.

I do this also, it definately helps!

 

[pixiewytch]

Ugh, count me in as another frustrated fireworks person. Luckily I went to MK yesterday as a little break from it all

Anyway, someone else once pointed out that all of these fireworks problems may have to do with individual computers. I am really starting to wonder about this. I know how to play the game. I have the order memorized. I know when the fireworks are going to explode from the star. Nevertheless I just can't seem to click them on time or I click on them too late. It aggravates me because the strategy of the game is very simple and I can do it but it is almost as though my computer does not cooperate. Now I'm the first one to admit if I just plain suck at a game, but I swear, I like fireworks, and I'm sure I've played it just as many times as the folks who are really good at it...yet for some reason I just can't get past like 200 on a really good day....and if there is a quest going on...forget it, I can't even get past 100 most of the time. I've tried different things...getting all of them regardless or waiting until the last minute to get flawless. I still can't beat an average score so seriously, I wonder if it is my computer. I have high speed dsl but I just don't get it since so many others have no problems. I've tried all of the advice and mastered it (so I think) to no avail.

The biggest cincher was the one and only time the other day I finished with 155 and I got dc right after. I know I'm not the only one. Like I said, it wouldn't be so freaking hard to get those quest scores if the game wasn't overloaded with players. I know that so many times the score difference between 10th place and 20th place could be a mere 500-1000 difference because so many are playing. Then it seems as if getting the score is more luck of the draw than anything else.

 

[MiakodaWDW]

pixiewytch, it's possible. Sometimes my computer is slow and I have trouble...the icons won't change as fast as I click the arrows, and the mouse moves slower. Try closing all your programs besides vmk, and maybe doing regular stuff that people that don't have any idea about computers do, like me: like clearing cookies, history, browser cache, whatever. It may make it faster!

hope it helps.

I know if I have DIS and 4 other pages open while I'm playing, it WILL slow fireworks down. I have DSL also. Also sometimes I think it's vmk and not me that's slow. If a million people are on (ok, 4000) it runs slower. Getting on when a lot of people are not on is good. I play fireworks near closing b/c I am on EST and know that kids in eastern and central may be in bed by that time (midnight to one a.m.). Also maybe when summer is over and school is back in, we can play without a crowded kingdom during the weekdays again! LOL (sorry kids, I can't wait for school to start! hehe j/k...maybe... )

 

[pixiewytch]

Yeah, I've tried all of that. I never leave but maybe one other window open if I'm trying to do a quest or refer to some info I need. Otherwise I can't open other windows because it bogs down the system too much. For what it's worth though I did finally get the score the other day. I'm glad they seem to be extending these quests throughout the month instead of just a weekend.

Oh, I hear you about school starting, lol. I didn't want to say anything and upset anyone but I've been thinking about it and counting the days. I'm a SAHM so I am typically on during the day (when kids are in school). I usually spend the evenings with family and off the computer.

Only one more week, right?

 

[Coasterguy]

Anyway, someone else once pointed out that all of these fireworks problems may have to do with individual computers. I am really starting to wonder about this. I know how to play the game. I have the order memorized. I know when the fireworks are going to explode from the star. Nevertheless I just can't seem to click them on time or I click on them too late. It aggravates me because the strategy of the game is very simple and I can do it but it is almost as though my computer does not cooperate. Now I'm the first one to admit if I just plain suck at a game, but I swear, I like fireworks, and I'm sure I've played it just as many times as the folks who are really good at it...yet for some reason I just can't get past like 200 on a really good day....and if there is a quest going on...forget it, I can't even get past 100 most of the time. I've tried different things...getting all of them regardless or waiting until the last minute to get flawless. I still can't beat an average score so seriously, I wonder if it is my computer. I have high speed dsl but I just don't get it since so many others have no problems. I've tried all of the advice and mastered it (so I think) to no avail.

The biggest cincher was the one and only time the other day I finished with 155 and I got dc right after. I know I'm not the only one. Like I said, it wouldn't be so freaking hard to get those quest scores if the game wasn't overloaded with players. I know that so many times the score difference between 10th place and 20th place could be a mere 500-1000 difference because so many are playing. Then it seems as if getting the score is more luck of the draw than anything else.

Your computer definitely affects the game. When I first started there were a couple of machines I would use. I could barely make 220K on the slower machine. I was able to hit 240K on the faster machine. Add a wired optical mouse and LOTS and LOTS of practice I can usually get 250-260K. With the current DC times I only play 2 games and them logout and login again.

 

[cat_herder]

Ugh, count me in as another frustrated fireworks person. Luckily I went to MK yesterday as a little break from it all

Anyway, someone else once pointed out that all of these fireworks problems may have to do with individual computers. I am really starting to wonder about this. I know how to play the game. I have the order memorized. I know when the fireworks are going to explode from the star. Nevertheless I just can't seem to click them on time or I click on them too late. I.

Yes, this is the same for me. I appreciate all the tips but I'm already doing all the ones that have suggested so far.

As for the computer, on Tuesday Paul went out to buy a new dvd burner and came home with a new computer with more memory, faster CPU, more ram, bigger harddrive, ect. I'll see what happens now. Today is the first time I've been in the game since Monday, just got shockwave installed 10 minutes ago.

 

[MiakodaWDW]

Oh, I hear you about school starting, lol. I didn't want to say anything and upset anyone but I've been thinking about it and counting the days. I'm a SAHM so I am typically on during the day (when kids are in school). I usually spend the evenings with family and off the computer.

Only one more week, right?

Is it REALLY just one more week???
The summer has dragged on forever to me!

 

[MiakodaWDW]

Your computer definitely affects the game. When I first started there were a couple of machines I would use. I could barely make 220K on the slower machine. I was able to hit 240K on the faster machine. Add a wired optical mouse and LOTS and LOTS of practice I can usually get 250-260K. With the current DC times I only play 2 games and them logout and login again.

I have an optical mouse too. Never tried fireworks with a roller mouse (I guess that's what you call it, lol) but I imagine it would be harder than with an optical.

Oh, and Cat...if you have gotten the room, you should change this thread's title to "Fireworks help for people that stink at fireworks" or something! LOL just a suggestion since that's what it has turned into!

 

[qruthie]

I just noticed something that may be messing up your mouse control during fireworks or any of the other games. Check your mouse pad if you are using an optical mouse.

I played haunted mansion using one of those new, slim, gray Dell mouse pads. My character wandered in all sorts of random directions. I switched back to my colorful (lots of contrast) South Park mouse pad for the next game and saw an amazing improvement.

My fireworks scores have been lower ever since I started using the Dell mouse pad. I suspect they'll be back to normal now that I switched back.

Supposedly a mouse pad with lots of contrast makes it easier for an optical mouse to work. This seems to be true for me.

 

[pixiewytch]

Is it REALLY just one more week???
The summer has dragged on forever to me!

Honey, I'm home with a four year old all day so believe me, I understand.


That is an interesting point about the mouse pad. We have an optical mouse so that can't be the problem but I should experiment with the mouse pad. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[cat_herder]

I just noticed something that may be messing up your mouse control during fireworks or any of the other games. Check your mouse pad if you are using an optical mouse.

I played haunted mansion using one of those new, slim, gray Dell mouse pads. My character wandered in all sorts of random directions. I switched back to my colorful (lots of contrast) South Park mouse pad for the next game and saw an amazing improvement.

My fireworks scores have been lower ever since I started using the Dell mouse pad. I suspect they'll be back to normal now that I switched back.

Supposedly a mouse pad with lots of contrast makes it easier for an optical mouse to work. This seems to be true for me.

This is getting spooky, we do have one of the slim gray mouse pads (I forget what they are called-for optical mouse), the guy at the computer store told us you needed one for optical mouse, (which we got at the suggestion of someone on the DIS boards months ago). We went to the computer store and explained to the guy there about VMK and how we needed a "faster" mouse and he showed us the mouse we have on the old computer and the new mouse pad. It didn't do anything for Haunted Mansion or Fireworks. That was when I started Champaigning for a faster CPU.

 

[qruthie]

This is getting spooky, we do have one of the slim gray mouse pads (I forget what they are called-for optical mouse), the guy at the computer store told us you needed one for optical mouse, (which we got at the suggestion of someone on the DIS boards months ago). We went to the computer store and explained to the guy there about VMK and how we needed a "faster" mouse and he showed us the mouse we have on the old computer and the new mouse pad. It didn't do anything for Haunted Mansion or Fireworks. That was when I started Champaigning for a faster CPU.

Wow, that is spooky! I'd love to hear that your game playing got better from a simple change like the mouse pad. My ghost game was horrible with the dell pad. Either my character didn't move at all or it didn't follow the mouse movement properly if it did move. I switched pads part way through the game and the movement was normal again.

FYI, I have my mouse cursor speed set to fast and the "Enhance pointer precision" box is checked. You might want to check your mouse pointer speed even if you don't try a different mouse pad. The fast pointer takes a day or two to get used to but after that, it just feels normal. It definitely improved my game playing.

 

[AllisonY2K]

I use the keyboard for Mansion (with Stickey Keys turned off). I tried the mouse and it just did not work for me. Keyboard all the way!!

 

[mannyd]

hmm, stickey keys turned off you say, i might have to try that, i have been having more success leading with the mouse pointer, they need tighter controls on the games, but haunted i think needs it the most

 

[MiakodaWDW]

how do you turn off "sticky keys"? I'm guessing that is why I get some box popping up if I hit the keys too much or hold them down....I would like to get rid of that. Thanks!

 

[puckstopper55]

There are 2 things i have read that concern me.

1) if you are using an optical moune, wired or wireless, you should be using a plain WHITE mouspad. The optical sensor has a hard time detecting movement on a darker surface. White offers the best results in addition to saving battery life. I have had an optical mouse for well over 5 years and i have tried it with every kind of mouse pad there is. For a game that precision isnt too impt i wouldnt worry, but for a first person shooter or fireworks where it is critical, use a plain white mouse pad. You can get them at a local computer show for around $1. They usually are the starting point for those "get your picture on a mouse pad" things. Just ask to buy a plain mouse pad.

2) This is the most important thing. People think because they go out and get a new computer that it should be able to do everything from Doom3 and Half Life 2 to Sims 2 .. ect. The truth is this .. You may have a 3.0ghz CPU with 1gig of dual channel ram, but its useless for gaming if you dont have a "good" video card. Sure VMK doesnt need the same video card as the games mentioned above, but with a trie video card the firework game will run as smooth as anything else and your score will jump by 20K. Most of the off the shelf comuters, unless its specifically made for gaming, have what they call "all on board". Which means that the motherboard has a built in video, sound, and ethernet cards. This is much better then the old way when you had to buy a seperate card for EVERYTHING, but they usually skimp on the video card portion. Sure its plenty good to surf the web, watch movies, and play yahoo games, but fireworks will not run as good as it can/should. My DGF had a store bought computer and fireworks worked eh. I bought her a seperate video card, disabled the onboard video card, and fireworks worked like a dream, not to mention she can play Sims 2 without the choppyness. If you are this upset about a lower firework score, try my 2 tips. I bet it will help

 

[~!~CaptainJack~!~]

new room?!?!?! what is it?! i am AWESOME at fireworks i want it! LOL what is the room that you get??

~Captain

 

[qruthie]

There are 2 things i have read that concern me.

1) if you are using an optical moune, wired or wireless, you should be using a plain WHITE mouspad. The optical sensor has a hard time detecting movement on a darker surface. White offers the best results in addition to saving battery life. I have had an optical mouse for well over 5 years and i have tried it with every kind of mouse pad there is. For a game that precision isnt too impt i wouldnt worry, but for a first person shooter or fireworks where it is critical, use a plain white mouse pad. You can get them at a local computer show for around $1. They usually are the starting point for those "get your picture on a mouse pad" things. Just ask to buy a plain mouse pad.

2) This is the most important thing. People think because they go out and get a new computer that it should be able to do everything from Doom3 and Half Life 2 to Sims 2 .. ect. The truth is this .. You may have a 3.0ghz CPU with 1gig of dual channel ram, but its useless for gaming if you dont have a "good" video card. Sure VMK doesnt need the same video card as the games mentioned above, but with a trie video card the firework game will run as smooth as anything else and your score will jump by 20K. Most of the off the shelf comuters, unless its specifically made for gaming, have what they call "all on board". Which means that the motherboard has a built in video, sound, and ethernet cards. This is much better then the old way when you had to buy a seperate card for EVERYTHING, but they usually skimp on the video card portion. Sure its plenty good to surf the web, watch movies, and play yahoo games, but fireworks will not run as good as it can/should. My DGF had a store bought computer and fireworks worked eh. I bought her a seperate video card, disabled the onboard video card, and fireworks worked like a dream, not to mention she can play Sims 2 without the choppyness. If you are this upset about a lower firework score, try my 2 tips. I bet it will help

I 100% agree about the graphics card. A good graphics card makes all the difference in the world when playing games. I'm confused about the mouse pad information.

I've seen stuff that says optical mice work best with mouse pads that have a low amount of contrast because contrast confuses the motion sensing process. I have believed this to be true up until I had to change the mouse pad after spilling soda on the one I was using.

I've seen stuff that says optical mice work best with mouse pads that have a lot of contrast because contrast improves the motion sensing process. Now I wonder if this may be true. I saw a marked increase in mouse performance after I switched to a mouse pad with extreme contrast.

I'm using a small, wired optical mouse (an hp) on an hp notebook. I've used a sheet of white paper; the grayish, smooth top dell mouse pad; a black traditional mouse pad; a mostly gray colored labyrinth traditional mouse pad; a very colorful South Park traditional mouse pad and no mouse pad at all on a dark brown table. I'm getting the best performance out of the South Park mouse pad. It makes no sense to me because I always believed the statement about using a low contrast mouse pad. I have not tried an official optical mouse pad and see no need to as my VMK performance is fine without one.

So, based on that, I still suggest trying different mouse pad options. What works for me may not work for someone else. The South Park mouse pad that works so well with my notebook did not work well at all with my Mac. I had retired the pad based on that.

 

[puckstopper55]

The quote below is taken directly off of logitech's website:

"The surface on which you use the mouse can significantly affect battery life and performance. Lighter surfaces extend battery life and increase performance, while darker ones shorten and worsen it. Bright, matt surfaces (not glossy ones) are recommended. A simple white mouse pad is an ideal choice"

I think they know a little more about it then we "pretend" to.