Hi Vicman,
Thanks for your efforts, but there are some major problems with the way your DOS-GB works.
Most important is the use of hardcoded paths in the Conf file of every game.
This means that this gamebase will only work if you have the Gamebase frontend installed in F:\Gamebase. Most - if not all - of us have it installed in another folder.
I have made an imporoved version that will run on all Gamebase installations.
However, there are some disadvantages of using Gamebase to run DOS games:
- The current version (1.2) extracts all files from an archive into one folder. Many DOS games have a structure of subfolders. These games will not work in Gamebase, unless you take special actions for this (for example, you can rezip it with the original archive, pkunzip.exe and a batch file that extracts everything with the -d option and starts the game).
James is working on version 1.3. There is a good chance that this version will keep the folder structure when extracting archives, but it is sill in the beta phase.
- DOSBox has many options that are not directly accessible from the front end (machine type, sound card etc.). A workaround is to use a custom Conf file or using key=value pairs, but it can be done easier with other frontends.
Because of this, I think it is better to use
D-Fend Reloaded for example. It supports automatic modification of all DOSBox options and has a really great interface.
Also you can document everything you need (publisher, year, genre, screenshots, movies, sounds etc.)
If you still want to use Gamebase for organizing DOS games (it can be done, so why not):
you can download an improved version of Vicman's Test DOS-GB
right here.
These are the most important differences between Vicman's and my version:
- Supported native filetypes changed from .Conf to .bat;.com;.exe
Using a Conf file can be specified in a better way (see below).
- Created a GEMUS script that will start DOSBox with all settings that are correct for the currently selected game.
- Field True Drive Emulation (in Version tab) changed to Run Full Screen.
TDE is not needed for DOS games, so you can now easily specify per game if you want it to run Full Screen.
- Changed text.ini: renamed True Drive Emulation to Run Full Screen.
- Used relative pathing. Copying the package to a subfolder of Gamebase will run everyting without changing any setting.
- Created support for the machine type with the key=value pair Machine.
For every game you can specify if it must be run on a Hercules, CGA, EGA or VGA machine. DOSBox will start with the specified machine type.
- Created support for loading custom .Conf files by using the key=value pair config.
- Created support for additional commands for starting DOSBox (like mounting a virtual diskette or CD-Rom) by using the key=value pair command.
Last, but not least: here is the updated GEMUS script for DOSBox:
Code: Select all
;******************************
;* GEMUS SCRIPT FOR DOSBOX *
;* *
;* Created by K.C. 24-12-2009 *
;* *
;******************************
;--------------------------------------------
;Add the filename to launch and the standard
;options to the command line parameters
;--------------------------------------------
Add_CLP(%gamepathfile% -exit -noconsole)
;--------------------------------------------
;load optionally a custom .Conf file
;This can be specified by typing:
;config=<Filename.Conf>
;after selecting a game and pressing F2
;This Conf file must be included in the root
;of the game package.
;--------------------------------------------
If Key_Config CONTAINS(*)
Add_CLP( -conf %gamepath%\%config_value%)
End If
;--------------------------------------------
;Start the game in Full Screen mode if
;selected in the Version tab
;--------------------------------------------
If TrueDriveEmu = YES
Add_CLP( -fullscreen)
End If
;----------------------------------------------------
;Set the machine type to one of the following values:
;hercules, cga, tandy, vga
;by typing Machine=<machinetype> in the F2 screen
;vga is the default machine type
;----------------------------------------------------
If Key_Machine CONTAINS(*)
Add_CLP( -machine %machine_value%)
End If
;----------------------------------------------------
;You can specify one or more extra commands
;(for example mounting a disk or CD-Rom) by typing
;command=Command1 -c Command2 -c Command 3
;in the F2 screen of every game.
;----------------------------------------------------
If Key_command CONTAINS(*)
Add_CLP( %command_value%)
End If
;----------------------------------------------------
;Optionally edit the Command Line Parameters
;before launching the game
;----------------------------------------------------
;Edit_CLP(Game will be started with the following Command Line Parameters:)
;---------------------------
;Run the emulator
;---------------------------
Run_Emulator()
