Tuesday, December 22, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
More memory vs little memory
Some games, like Lunar Command, need 16 mb for the memory. If you put more, like 64, it doesn't know what to do and gives you an error.
DosBox turbo googleplay (program review)
A older review i made in the past :
Seems difficult at first, but if you ever played a dos game trough DosBox, you know what are you doing. The author explains very well in his site what you have to do. First time my sound wasn't working due to ... my volume being muted :) from the smarthphone buttons. Cleared a Doom game level without problems thus far. Gonna try multiplayer trough bluetooth connection between two smartphones. Don't know if trough wi-fi, a multiplayer connection can be made.
Seems difficult at first, but if you ever played a dos game trough DosBox, you know what are you doing. The author explains very well in his site what you have to do. First time my sound wasn't working due to ... my volume being muted :) from the smarthphone buttons. Cleared a Doom game level without problems thus far. Gonna try multiplayer trough bluetooth connection between two smartphones. Don't know if trough wi-fi, a multiplayer connection can be made.
How to map keys from within DosBox manager
Don't forget if you want to map keys from whitin DosBox manager, keys which belongs to GamePad, go to GamePad - GamePad Settings and uncheck DosBox turbo/Xbox 360 from GamePad program.
Monday, September 21, 2015
Abandonia - Smiling Spectre, translator and supermod interview
Hi, we are two twin brothers and we like to ask you a few questions. Feel free to say "No comment" 
1. You, russians, have always being good developers of pc games. You have been inspired by fairy tales ?
Actually, I can speculate that we was inspired by our reality. After World War II, USSR quickly become most dull and stale country in the modern world, where all "joyful" things was moderately supressed. So when, in 90s, lid was removed, we got instant explosion of everything - books, games, movies and pictures, all of sudden. And while movies requires a lot of money and cooperative efforts, and pictures requires at least established techniques, books and games was basically "free" and could be one-man-wonder.
Unfortunately, Russia had "specific" game market, highly connected with CD sales, that thrived in late 90s - early 2000s, and mostly dried up in late 2000s (and practically died after world crisis). So most of time we has perfect and interesting, but totally indie games, with all pros and cons of it.
2. What is your favorite game, games and genre of games ?
Game/games would be anything about good story, puzzles, mazes, rich lore, branching dialogs and hard strategic choices. Of course, best of them all could be the mix of all above. But hardly possible.
Planescape: Torment is one of the best "my" games. I am in awe of it's multitude of choices, clever "dialogue/observant" puzzles, lore and story. Unfortunately, it totally lacks real mazes and strategic choices, but we cannot have it all, right?
System Shock 2 is another my favorite. It lacks word interactions, but compensate it by mazes and skills.
Dominions series (Dominions 4 currently) is the third different choice: rich lore, amazingly vast range of possibilities, clever opponents, unique mechanics (it was adopted in several modern games already, so not so unique) - even if it is wargame with awful graphics - it's still amazing.
As you can see, RPGs are my preferrable genre, because it most often incorporates most of needed elements. 4X Strategies are second, and adventures are third.
3. Any plans for the future in Abandonia ?
Abandonia as site is stable. Too stable. I would be glad if it was more active, but it seems impossible - and I am not the needed man to change it.
Abandonia as community is quite stable too. That, again, not very good, as core user base is diminishing with time, without refilling. I hope, this state will be changed soon - with rise of Kickstarter most of games and whole genres got the second birth, and I see no reason for Abandonia, as home for all of them, must be, well, abandoned.
4. I myself consider that gameplay is above the a game graphics. What do you think ?
For me, graphics must be adequate. I can play chess with letters, but pseudo-graphics is better. And even CGA is quite abundant here. Lemmings cannot be played in text-mode, and benefits with higher resolution, so EGA is in place here. And Skyrim requires the best of videocards, because it's lacking of vital characteristics without it.
So I am all for graphics when it needed - but totally opposite of idea of sacrificing gameplay for graphics. If I have enough graphics for required gameplay - I am happy with it, regardless of how old it can be.
5. Do you prefer to get in touch with the gamers/developers in a comunity or rather work by yourself ?
I am introverted person. And still I like to be in good company. It only happens that most companies are totally alien for me, and good ones - like Abandonia, Kingdom of Loathing and several others - are too rare and far between, so I am lonely in such cases.
6. Any chance for improvement on your behalf if it is needed in Abandonia ?
I doubt it. I am all for improvements, but I lack most of needed qualities for that. At least, I cannot imagine anything.
7. Why do you think developers don't make old games recreations more often ?
Did you look out of the window last five years? We have rebirth of Warhammer, Shadowrun, Wasteland, Fallout, Planescape: Torment, Divinity, and heck know what. We have remakes of Pirates, Thief, Magic: The Gathering, Tomb Raider and forth to infinity. Steam have re-releases of most famous 90s' games, from the Myst and SimCity to the Pirates! and Freddi the Fish. And it is without touching new fashion of making game of _visually_ close to 80s-90s. So your question for me sounds like "why is there not enough water in the Pacific Ocean?"
8. Any advice for a new member in Abandonia ?
Talk often, talk everything you think remotely relevant, and don't be afraid to ask for advice. Only think, and do not go into useless hater mood.
9. Do you prefer lan or online gaming or none ? Maybe only single player.
I am very slow. So only area where I can be useful in multiplayer is turn-based game. I.e. in 99% of time I am in the single-player.
10. And one final question, can you tell me something about your involvement in Abandonia ?
Oh, I am humble translator mostly... and even not translator most of time, because, well, it's hard with my current schedule and three kids at home. Also I am trying to help with any question in Abandonia forums that arisen, and got moderatorial powers almost accidentally in the process. Still I am not "real" moderator after all.
Oh, and I made some cleans and reorganizations in the Abandonia game database - as far as it can be done without any insider tools, only thru web interface for translators. But it was quite ago already, and as no one can fix this stupid database for real from inside - I will hardly will do something useful here in the future.
Thank you for your answers and i hope many people learn from your experience about pc games.
You are welcome. I hope you will found at least something interesting in this heaps of my ramblings.
See you! Oleg.
------------------------------------------
The following words below the line where not in the interview. The words cannot grasp in how many words Oleg have spoken. Words with good meaning. He could be a writer, if it is not already one.
Thanks Oleg !
1. You, russians, have always being good developers of pc games. You have been inspired by fairy tales ?
Actually, I can speculate that we was inspired by our reality. After World War II, USSR quickly become most dull and stale country in the modern world, where all "joyful" things was moderately supressed. So when, in 90s, lid was removed, we got instant explosion of everything - books, games, movies and pictures, all of sudden. And while movies requires a lot of money and cooperative efforts, and pictures requires at least established techniques, books and games was basically "free" and could be one-man-wonder.
Unfortunately, Russia had "specific" game market, highly connected with CD sales, that thrived in late 90s - early 2000s, and mostly dried up in late 2000s (and practically died after world crisis). So most of time we has perfect and interesting, but totally indie games, with all pros and cons of it.
2. What is your favorite game, games and genre of games ?
Game/games would be anything about good story, puzzles, mazes, rich lore, branching dialogs and hard strategic choices. Of course, best of them all could be the mix of all above. But hardly possible.
Planescape: Torment is one of the best "my" games. I am in awe of it's multitude of choices, clever "dialogue/observant" puzzles, lore and story. Unfortunately, it totally lacks real mazes and strategic choices, but we cannot have it all, right?
System Shock 2 is another my favorite. It lacks word interactions, but compensate it by mazes and skills.
Dominions series (Dominions 4 currently) is the third different choice: rich lore, amazingly vast range of possibilities, clever opponents, unique mechanics (it was adopted in several modern games already, so not so unique) - even if it is wargame with awful graphics - it's still amazing.
As you can see, RPGs are my preferrable genre, because it most often incorporates most of needed elements. 4X Strategies are second, and adventures are third.
3. Any plans for the future in Abandonia ?
Abandonia as site is stable. Too stable. I would be glad if it was more active, but it seems impossible - and I am not the needed man to change it.
Abandonia as community is quite stable too. That, again, not very good, as core user base is diminishing with time, without refilling. I hope, this state will be changed soon - with rise of Kickstarter most of games and whole genres got the second birth, and I see no reason for Abandonia, as home for all of them, must be, well, abandoned.
4. I myself consider that gameplay is above the a game graphics. What do you think ?
For me, graphics must be adequate. I can play chess with letters, but pseudo-graphics is better. And even CGA is quite abundant here. Lemmings cannot be played in text-mode, and benefits with higher resolution, so EGA is in place here. And Skyrim requires the best of videocards, because it's lacking of vital characteristics without it.
So I am all for graphics when it needed - but totally opposite of idea of sacrificing gameplay for graphics. If I have enough graphics for required gameplay - I am happy with it, regardless of how old it can be.
5. Do you prefer to get in touch with the gamers/developers in a comunity or rather work by yourself ?
I am introverted person. And still I like to be in good company. It only happens that most companies are totally alien for me, and good ones - like Abandonia, Kingdom of Loathing and several others - are too rare and far between, so I am lonely in such cases.
6. Any chance for improvement on your behalf if it is needed in Abandonia ?
I doubt it. I am all for improvements, but I lack most of needed qualities for that. At least, I cannot imagine anything.
7. Why do you think developers don't make old games recreations more often ?
Did you look out of the window last five years? We have rebirth of Warhammer, Shadowrun, Wasteland, Fallout, Planescape: Torment, Divinity, and heck know what. We have remakes of Pirates, Thief, Magic: The Gathering, Tomb Raider and forth to infinity. Steam have re-releases of most famous 90s' games, from the Myst and SimCity to the Pirates! and Freddi the Fish. And it is without touching new fashion of making game of _visually_ close to 80s-90s. So your question for me sounds like "why is there not enough water in the Pacific Ocean?"
8. Any advice for a new member in Abandonia ?
Talk often, talk everything you think remotely relevant, and don't be afraid to ask for advice. Only think, and do not go into useless hater mood.
9. Do you prefer lan or online gaming or none ? Maybe only single player.
I am very slow. So only area where I can be useful in multiplayer is turn-based game. I.e. in 99% of time I am in the single-player.
10. And one final question, can you tell me something about your involvement in Abandonia ?
Oh, I am humble translator mostly... and even not translator most of time, because, well, it's hard with my current schedule and three kids at home. Also I am trying to help with any question in Abandonia forums that arisen, and got moderatorial powers almost accidentally in the process. Still I am not "real" moderator after all.
Oh, and I made some cleans and reorganizations in the Abandonia game database - as far as it can be done without any insider tools, only thru web interface for translators. But it was quite ago already, and as no one can fix this stupid database for real from inside - I will hardly will do something useful here in the future.
Thank you for your answers and i hope many people learn from your experience about pc games.
You are welcome. I hope you will found at least something interesting in this heaps of my ramblings.
See you!
Oleg.------------------------------------------
The following words below the line where not in the interview. The words cannot grasp in how many words Oleg have spoken. Words with good meaning. He could be a writer, if it is not already one.
Thanks Oleg !
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Copy and modify or make a DosBox manager profile for your game
The good :
If copying a default profile and than renaming to
what you want, how the executable
is named, it will be simpler, thus a ipotetical named cfg name is
made, but not the real cfg file. Thus, you must than exit and copy a already cfg
file, rename the cfg/modify the cfg lines, so that your game will run. Copy your game cfg in Android - data folder - com.fishstix.dosbox folder and com.fishstix.dosboxlauncher folder. This folders are made by installing the program, not by you.
But if you copy a already made game profile, which is diffent than to copy a default profile, a bad thing will happen.
The bad :
Now, when you copy and run a profile, it will revert
to the original profile, because it is remembering and keeps his original cfg lines.
Just exist and modify your game cfg from android DosBox launcher from android internal folder, so it will launch the game and not other one. Is a bit of a hassle, but that is the way DosBox manager works. Either this or use DosBox turbo and type away
only in the console. Booth programs are made by the same developer
either way.
The best :
No, not the ugly :)
If you make a new profile :
Click in DosBox manager the right upper "+" sign (don't touch the default profile or copy a existing one, like i did talk about it).
A new profile is made. Give it a name (Example : Carnage is easy to write and remember, as carnage. exe is in the game folder). Click "DosBox Settings" and click "Autoexec" if you want the to put the mount commands (mount lines).
Click in DosBox manager the right upper "+" sign (don't touch the default profile or copy a existing one, like i did talk about it).
A new profile is made. Give it a name (Example : Carnage is easy to write and remember, as carnage. exe is in the game folder). Click "DosBox Settings" and click "Autoexec" if you want the to put the mount commands (mount lines).
Or after clicking + and "Edit Config" and "DosBox Settings" in DosBox turbo manager, click "Manual Mode", to use, if you want, from within DosBox turbo manager, "Edit Config File". The cfg file goes in your Android - data - com.fishstix.dosbox folder and in Android - data - com.fishstix.dosboxlauncher folder
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Interview with Smiling Spectre, translator and supermod in Abandonia
Interview with Smiling Spectre, translator and supermod in Abandonia is coming.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
General ms-dos games issues and workarounds
Check online, if the game really works in dos.
It is great if the game has letters to be pushed by the keyboard. Even better if they have a mouse pointer to. Might and magic Xeen has booth.
Setup the game for sounds trough DosBox turbo and than run it trough DosBox turbo or DosBox manager.
Making some winrar files on my android phone and using the winrar from the android device, doesen't copy the .tmp file (temporary file) from the game eye of the beholder or the "DAY" folder from jagged alliance deadly games. I wait for the winrar developer answer. Either way, check the number of files from the archive and compare them with you game folder. Don't bother counting the ones in subfolders. The above files mentioned have not been in subfolders.
If you want, enter the winrar archive of your game, check all files and unrar, to know what files and how many do you have in the archive.
Server hosting and joining in ipx and netbios topic update
192.168.0.100 is your host phone IP address, which you can find it, at least in my phone, in "About phone" - "Status".
Atention !
My internet connection changes sometimes the phone IP whenever i turn on the router (the internet IP is a different matter). If the router is closed and you go in "About phone" - "Status", it will show "IP address unavailable". When you start the router and connect to the internet, go to "About phone" - "Status". The quest will put the IP of the host. Put "netbios" below "ipxnet connect".
Bold letters show what i update.
Atention !
My internet connection changes sometimes the phone IP whenever i turn on the router (the internet IP is a different matter). If the router is closed and you go in "About phone" - "Status", it will show "IP address unavailable". When you start the router and connect to the internet, go to "About phone" - "Status". The quest will put the IP of the host. Put "netbios" below "ipxnet connect".
Bold letters show what i update.
Friday, September 4, 2015
Tommorow, i will update the info in the buttons
Tommorow, i will update the info in the buttons, DosBox turbo issue and such. More button will be added. And, i got a idea for the blog backround image.
quake2android running Quake 2
I have sent a email to the quake2android developer :
Hi. The quake2android has the keyboard too big on my android Serioux RM X401 and how to install mods ? I have a android 4.2.2 version.
My version installed is quake2-android-1.91.apk
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Interview ready !
Click the button above for "Interview with the developer of DosBox Turbo".
Many thanks !
Many thanks !
Sunday, August 23, 2015
The reviews will be called "Short reviews"
The reviews from the above buttons will be called "Short reviews". Short, because they are short in writing.
A interview with the DosBox turbo developer is coming today
A interview with the DosBox turbo developer is coming today.
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Where to find netbios.exe
Ok, you may ask me. Where is netbios ? You can find it on your company hardware site, if they have it, or look below and get it:
classicgamingarena
classicgamingarena
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
A button or a text info so you don't click empty A - Z
A button or a text info will be added so you don't have to click an empty letter from A - Z buttons.
D - 1 means that the letter has one game info in it and ! means is updated :
D - 1 !
D - 1 means that the letter has one game info in it and ! means is updated :
D - 1 !
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Server hosting and joining in ipx and netbios
Fascination for dos commands occurs by using them ! :)
It is a different matter to use in some lines used for DosBox turbo than the plain DosBox. sdcard1 line may be different to you. Use a program to explore your phone and find out. I figured out, by myself, how to change the lines corectly. Dos users and comunity lead me to a better understanding off dos commands.
I will now explain using a server/joining and netbios file.
First, in DosBox.conf file find :
[ipx]
ipx=true/false
default "false"
In both machines, host and server put :
ipx=true
-------------------------
As i mentioned before, every game will have a cfg file. Do the above ipx=true for the game to.
Lets take doom.cfg for example.
You can use DosBox turbo manager to control better visually. Or DosBox turbo, just to write in what you want. Or modify your cfg file.
Example in a cfg file, whic is a text file in your phone :
mount d: /storage/sdcard1/dos/
d:
cd dooms
doom
ipxnet startserver 1025
-------------------------You could write than for example ipxnet startserver 1025 in autoexec line in dosbox.cfg or within DosBox turbo program.
--------------------------
Next remember the following (i know simlife doesen't have multiplayer, but the line remained in the cfg file) :
ipxnet startserver 1025
For the machine ping :
ipxnet ping
See "ping" with ipxnet ping. A "Sending broadcast ping :" message will apear. Without any info below it. With info on speed/ping if someone connects to you only.
ipxnet stopserver
----------------------------
For the guest machine connect :
ipxnet connect 192.168.0.100 1025
For the machine status :
ipxnet status
------------------------------------
For guest machine disconnect :
ipxnet disconnect
------------------------------
192.168.0.100 is your phone IP address, which you can find it, at least in my phone, in "About phone" - "Status".
1025 is your port (put any above 1024, if 1024 doesen't work).
IPX Tunneling Server started
ipxnet status will show the below message :
Server status: ACTIVE
Client status: CONNECTED -- Server at 127.0.0.1 port 1025
List of active connections:
127.0.0.1 from port 41059
The above client connection message shows even if a client is not connected and it is only you. Maybe is a bug, but this doesen't matter.
ipxnet disconnect will show the following message, even if no one was connected to you in the first place :
IPX Tunneling utility for DosBox
----------------------------------
Net bios :
Net bios.exe is a protocol, like IPX, but older.
Heroes of might and magic is detecting it and using it. But either you use another netbios or dos game version, it is possible that will not work. Because they are games which were problematic in dos and are problematic in DosBox/DosBox turbo too.
Example for hosting :
mount d: /storage/sdcard1/dos/
mount e /storage/sdcard1/dos/heroes2 -t cdrom
d:
cd heroes2
netbios
ipxnet startserver 1025
heroes2
---------------------------
Example for joining :
mount d: /storage/sdcard1/dos/
mount e /storage/sdcard1/dos/heroes2 -t cdrom
d:
cd heroes2
netbios
ipxnet connect 192.168.0.100 1025
heroes2
---------------------------
Thank you for reading the above ! Any questions just ask. Thanks ADG for the MS-Dos disease :)
Mounting a cd
Write this for Heroes of might and magic 2, in your cfg, where
heroes2 -t cdrom command is the way to your virtual cd and cd heroes2
command is switching to your folder and heroes2 is your executable file.
.bat for example. Some game may have a setsound executable. You can run
that first.
mount e /storage/sdcard1/dos/heroes2 -t cdrom
d:
cd heroes2
heroes2
Mount e because d is already used. So, you will have in the end :
mount d: /storage/sdcard1/dos/
mount e /storage/sdcard1/dos/heroes2 -t cdrom
d:
cd heroes2
heroes2
mount e /storage/sdcard1/dos/heroes2 -t cdrom
d:
cd heroes2
heroes2
Mount e because d is already used. So, you will have in the end :
mount d: /storage/sdcard1/dos/
mount e /storage/sdcard1/dos/heroes2 -t cdrom
d:
cd heroes2
heroes2
DosBox turbo server hosting, guest, modem and mounting a cd explainations are coming
DosBox turbo server hosting, guest, modem and mounting a cd explainations are coming. This days i finnished configuring and explaining in a text file DosBox turbo server hosting, guest, modem and mounting a cd for your android phone. Or, of course any other android machine works.
Questions to DosBox turbo developer
Questions to DosBox turbo developer
Hi. I have this site where a talk about DosBox turbo program. Can i help in translating in my language, romanian, the keyboard layout and such ?
The developer, by this time a few days has passed, didn't answered my email yet.
Hi. I have this site where a talk about DosBox turbo program. Can i help in translating in my language, romanian, the keyboard layout and such ?
The developer, by this time a few days has passed, didn't answered my email yet.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Buttons -+-+ In construction +-+- message added
"-+-+ In construction +-+-" message added to the blog buttons.
No way to film
Long time no see. Because i cannot find a tripod to buy, i will give you some links about DosBox turbo. I will look for a android program to screen capture from within.
Friday, January 30, 2015
A way to filming ...
I 'm gonna have to find a way to film the reviews by making a sort of a fixed device.
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