---> A Brief History of DOS Computer Games <---


DOS games are incredibly innovative.  While not all types succeeded 
in winning over a large percentage of fans, the fact that the game 
designers were willing to experiment, and with hardware that couldn't 
fully deliver their vision (unlike the Commodore computers, the IBM PC 
was designed as an office machine, without consideration that the PC 
might be used for gaming), is a testament to both the game designers 
abilities and the respect that they had for the PC gaming community.

The years from 1990 to 1994 were the golden age for DOS Computer Games.
During this time the majority of the classic DOS games were released.  
Prior to 1990 high resolution graphics were rarely offered, and there 
was little consensus on sound support.  After 1994 DOS games became too 
bloated for floppies, and from then onward most releases came on CDROM 
(1996 was essentially the last year major companies released DOS games,
due to heavy pressure from Microsoft on vendors to support only Win95).

Here are some of the very best non-CDROM games from the DOS golden age 
(when graphics and sound stopped being so painfully unappealing), along 
with a few outstanding DOS games from the times before and after.  All 
are intended to be run under Pure DOS (or in a perfect DOS emulator).  

All games come with a "RUN.BAT" batchfile to launch the games.  This 
batchfile (which you can tailor to your computers unique capabilities, 
especially in regards to matching Slowdown Units to your hardware) sets
parameters necessary to make the game run properly.  Batch file assumes
you have the "MODE" command in your path, because it calls this command
at the end to reset your video.  All other commands used by the batch 
file have been placed in a "RUN" directory.  The batch file also calls 
internal DOS commands (such as "CD") which are standard commands in all
versions of DOS (when in doubt, run the "4DOS/4OS2" CL interperetor).  

For your convenience, all games come with a file "Blurb.txt" that gives
a quick summary of the game.  Also included is a file "Settings.txt" 
which describes what settings are being used to make the game run.  
Any external documentation files that I came across (including hints 
and box/game screenshots) have been placed in a "MANUALS" directory.  

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Games were optimized using the following hardware and OS:

MS-DOS 6.22 disk operating system with 4DOS command line interperetor. 
QEMM memory manager (frees up to 632kb of base memory).  
Hard drive.  
Pentium 166mhz processor.  -footnote1
32mb system memory.  -footnote2
ISA SVGA video card with 1mb video memory.  -footnote3
ISA SoundBlaster AWE64-gold sound card.  -footnote4
Mouse using DOS mouse driver.  
Joystick on joystick port A. 


Footnotes:
1) The P166 is the slowest of the MMX processors.
2) DOS supports up to 64mb, but most programs can use no more than 32mb.
3) Most classic DOS programs use exactly 1mb of VESA SVGA video memory.
4) Any SoundBlaster AWE32 compatible sound card can be substituted.  

-----

Tip: Don't even bother trying to make these games run under MS-Windows.
     Just get an old PC from the junk pile and place it beside your 
     normal Windows PC (A 486 DX2 or DX4 PC makes an ideal game machine).  
     Then get a "KVM" switch so you can share your regular Keyboard, 
     Mouse, and Monitor between both machines.  

Note: Although the games have had their sound balanced within the 
      context of the game itself, no attempt has been made to balance 
      the volume of the games between each other.  Use caution when 
      starting a game for the first time, so you don't damage your 
      speakers.  Once you have determined a master volume you like for 
      a game, modify the RUN.BAT file to automatically set this custom 
      volume level (using your sound cards volume setting software).  

Revelation: With the "runtime 200 error" patches now available, there 
            is no longer a need to keep the processor speed below 200mHz.  
            If high CPU speed affects game playability, use one of the 
            "slowdown" software utilities available to help compensate.  
            Testing has shown that -THE- most important factor affecting 
            old DOS game playability is actually the VIDEO CARD speed.  
            ALWAYS take steps to reduce the speed of your video to that 
            benchmarked by a typical early 1990's 1mb ISA video card!  


=====

  Haven't played any DOS games before?  Don't know what to choose first?
  Why not try one of these lesser known DOS games:  

Gals, how about playing in a romance novel? Check out "Plundered Hearts" 
by Infocom. Its a period romance adventure done as interactive fiction. 

Guys, why not play something other than just another shooter? In the game 
"Princess Maker 2" by Gianax, you provide opportunities as a hero-father.   

Of course if you just want to dip your toe with a simple but challenging 
gender neutral game, you may want to try "Laser Light" by Pixel Painters.