Posted August 31, 2015

PhilsComputerLab
Retro Gamer
Registered: Jul 2010
From Australia

Gede
GNU/Linux user
Registered: Nov 2014
From Portugal
Posted August 31, 2015

To answer the question about the cycles, it basically changes the speed of the computer it's emulating. A cycle speed of 6000 for example gives you ~ a 386DX. 12000 ~ a 486DX and so on. But it does depend on the game and the machine you are running, but I ALWAYS prefer fixed cycle speeds over auto or max, because that can often cause glitches.
I run Linux, and DOSBox allows me to play some of my favourite games without too much trouble. Thus, personally, I would appreciate something with knowledge that is transferable.
I know DOSBox is quite flexible, but since I only need to setup a game in a while, I often feel like I am starting everything from scratch. Maybe I should start taking notes and keeping them.
If you could share the config file you make for each game, it would allow me to explore DOSBox options from a more advanced position. Or maybe showing how to setup a configuration for each game --- I never pursued that possibility but I would consider it now.
I should also remind you that you don't have to explain everything. Just share some helpful links that we can follow to learn more on the subject should we want to.

PhilsComputerLab
Retro Gamer
Registered: Jul 2010
From Australia
Posted August 31, 2015
Sorry, I should have mentioned, these videos don't exist anymore. Long story, but they are gone :(
If you want to configure your own games, I can't recommend using a frontend highly enough.
Are most of your games from GOG, or do you also play other DOS games that you want to tweak?
If you want to configure your own games, I can't recommend using a frontend highly enough.
Are most of your games from GOG, or do you also play other DOS games that you want to tweak?

PhilsComputerLab
Retro Gamer
Registered: Jul 2010
From Australia
Posted September 26, 2015
high rated
Video Tweak Guide: System Shock Classic and Enhanced Edition
In this video I am tweaking the GOG release of System Shock. It covers the Classic Edition as well as the Enhanced Edition.
The video covers:
- Comparison FM vs. General MIDI vs Proteus SoundFont
- Using VirtualMIDISynth and Proteus SoundFonts
- Configuring the game to use General MIDI rather than FM
- Tweaking the graphics
- Boosting the Sound Blaster sample rate
- Tweaking the CPU cycle speed to avoid a game-braking bug
- Burning a full DOS installation CD
- Forum support for the Enhanced Edition
- Patch so text matches speech
♦Relevant links to this video♦
Coolsoft VirtualMIDISynth: http://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth
Deemster's Proteus SoundFont: http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=44943
In this video I am tweaking the GOG release of System Shock. It covers the Classic Edition as well as the Enhanced Edition.
The video covers:
- Comparison FM vs. General MIDI vs Proteus SoundFont
- Using VirtualMIDISynth and Proteus SoundFonts
- Configuring the game to use General MIDI rather than FM
- Tweaking the graphics
- Boosting the Sound Blaster sample rate
- Tweaking the CPU cycle speed to avoid a game-braking bug
- Burning a full DOS installation CD
- Forum support for the Enhanced Edition
- Patch so text matches speech
♦Relevant links to this video♦
Coolsoft VirtualMIDISynth: http://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth
Deemster's Proteus SoundFont: http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=44943

Lucian_Galca
UPDATE YOUR GAMES GOG!
Registered: Feb 2009
From United States
Posted September 26, 2015

In this video I am tweaking the GOG release of System Shock. It covers the Classic Edition as well as the Enhanced Edition.
The video covers:
- Comparison FM vs. General MIDI vs Proteus SoundFont
- Using VirtualMIDISynth and Proteus SoundFonts
- Configuring the game to use General MIDI rather than FM
- Tweaking the graphics
- Boosting the Sound Blaster sample rate
- Tweaking the CPU cycle speed to avoid a game-braking bug
- Burning a full DOS installation CD
- Forum support for the Enhanced Edition
- Patch so text matches speech
♦Relevant links to this video♦
Coolsoft VirtualMIDISynth: http://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth
Deemster's Proteus SoundFont: http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=44943
Post edited September 26, 2015 by haydenaurion

PhilsComputerLab
Retro Gamer
Registered: Jul 2010
From Australia
Posted September 26, 2015
That is very odd. There should not be a difference in performance between window and full-screen mode, and I've done lots of tweaks :)
You can see me play the game in full-screen towards the end. It's just as smooth as in window mode.
You can see me play the game in full-screen towards the end. It's just as smooth as in window mode.

Lucian_Galca
UPDATE YOUR GAMES GOG!
Registered: Feb 2009
From United States
Posted September 26, 2015
No, i'm talking about the icon on the left side of the game screen (one of the squares on that side) that you click to get in-game fullscreen that removes some of the menu graphics and allows a greater game viewing area, not DOSBox window/fullscreen.

PhilsComputerLab
Retro Gamer
Registered: Jul 2010
From Australia
Posted September 26, 2015
Oh, now I know what you mean! Like in Doom. Then it makes sense that you need to boost your cycles a little bit. Thanks for pointing this out :)

Lucian_Galca
UPDATE YOUR GAMES GOG!
Registered: Feb 2009
From United States
Posted September 26, 2015

F0x84
Semper Virginis Mariae
Registered: Jul 2014
From Brazil
Posted September 26, 2015
I find myself very often watching your videos. They are genneraly very nice and clear. Nice work. Thank you for the help you have been offering!

PhilsComputerLab
Retro Gamer
Registered: Jul 2010
From Australia
Posted September 27, 2015
No problem :D I love doing them.

PhilsComputerLab
Retro Gamer
Registered: Jul 2010
From Australia
Posted October 16, 2015
Wing Commander III Tweak Guide
In this video I am tweaking the GOG release of Wing Commander III Heart of the Tiger.
I will cover:
- Configuring the game for General MIDI
- Using VirtualMIDISynth and SoundFonts
- How to toggle subtitles
- How to change the language to German or French (Text only)
- How make the graphics smoother when moving around the ship
- Setting the perfect cycle speed to avoid some bugs
- Boost the sample rate for digital speech and sound effects
- Configure joystick as input device
- Configure joystick hat and rudder with the game
At the end you can watch me play the game a little bit (first mission).
In this video I am tweaking the GOG release of Wing Commander III Heart of the Tiger.
I will cover:
- Configuring the game for General MIDI
- Using VirtualMIDISynth and SoundFonts
- How to toggle subtitles
- How to change the language to German or French (Text only)
- How make the graphics smoother when moving around the ship
- Setting the perfect cycle speed to avoid some bugs
- Boost the sample rate for digital speech and sound effects
- Configure joystick as input device
- Configure joystick hat and rudder with the game
At the end you can watch me play the game a little bit (first mission).

Princezoltan
New User
Registered: Apr 2015
From United States
Posted March 06, 2016
I love your videos, and they've helped me out considerably. Amazing how a few tweaks can make the games much more enjoyable!
I'v used your tweaks for Star Trek 25th anniversary and they work like a charm. Have you tried tweaking Star Trek Judgment Rites? That game's always been such a pain, even back when it came out (I still have the Collector's Edition CD-Rom version of it) You'd think it would be as easy as 25th, but GOG didn't include the launch settings with this release :/
Can you take a crack at it when you have a chance? Thanks!
I'v used your tweaks for Star Trek 25th anniversary and they work like a charm. Have you tried tweaking Star Trek Judgment Rites? That game's always been such a pain, even back when it came out (I still have the Collector's Edition CD-Rom version of it) You'd think it would be as easy as 25th, but GOG didn't include the launch settings with this release :/
Can you take a crack at it when you have a chance? Thanks!
Post edited March 06, 2016 by Princezoltan

PhilsComputerLab
Retro Gamer
Registered: Jul 2010
From Australia

HG1995
New User
Registered: Jul 2010
From Australia
Posted March 09, 2016

Blood: One Unit Whole Blood
Duke Nukem 3D Atomic Edition
Redneck Rampage Collection
Rise of the Triad: Dark War
?

I've got Duke Nukem and I think that game is easy to tweak. Not sure if there are source ports, it won't surprise me.
http://hrp.duke4.net/download.php