Is there any difference between the Steam version and the GOG one? Which one do you think it's best to have?
Thanks.

The Steam version doesn't automatically start in full screen mode, and the music emulation is much worse, with (to the best of my knowledge) no way to customize it. The GOG version is superior.

Would running the Steam version in ScummVM work and fix the problems?

Edit: From what I read on the web, I think it should run and sound better. (Here's The Last Crusade Steam vs. ScummVM.)

The original DOS game had really good FM music but also support for Roland. Using MUNT Roland emulator and DOSBox or ScummVM would be ideal.

It's a shame that they didn't include the original DOS version because it would work with DOSBox or ScummVM.

I don't understand the need to compress the audio file.

I've heard that some files in the Steam version are slightly altered which prevents them from running in ScummVM and applying localisation patches. I might be wrong, though... I've heard about it several years ago, when I only started playing LucasArts adventures.

Given that, and the fact that GOG version runs via ScummVM, where you can adjust various settings (and do not forget the lack of DRM protection!), I would say GOG version is superior, despite the compressed MONSTER.SOU file.

The interpreter in the Steam version has fewer customization options than ScummVM, but by far the biggest issue is that it uses Windows MIDI for the music which is just all kinds of horrible compared to AdLib, and essentially makes it unplayable in my opinion. I just can't stand that sound. They're not altered, they're identical to the original ones. The issue with the Steam release is that they've baked in the 12KB ATLANTIS.000 file into the executable which means you won't be able to load it up in ScummVM unless you use a hex-editor and extract the relevant bytes into a separate file.

So yeah, out of the box the GOG release is definitely better thanks to ScummVM. Technically however the Steam version is superior because it still has all the original uncompressed data, but you have to do some digging to get it.

Oh, now I remember! Sorry, details slipped off my mind after all those years... I did not encounter with it by myself, I just remember reading some localisation forums.

there is also smoothing option in the steam version which made no sense the original game looks much better. I guess lucasarts thought of providing their own solution to make the game run on modern systems instead of using scumm

some of the options steam version has baked in
F1 or F5 : open menu.
F8 : restart the game.
+ and - : control text speed.
[ and ] : control volume.
I : see your score.
F : turns on keyboard fighting. On means you fight with the numpad, off means you use the mouse
CTRL-T : switch between voice only, text only, and voice and text
ALT-ENTER : switches the game to fullscreen
ALT+S = smoothing on/off

In windowed mode, right-click on the blue bar above the game. there you can
-set the game to fullscreen
-turn on/off smooth graphics
-turn on/off the correct aspect ratio
-tell it to never switch resolution.

From here - steamcommunity .com/app/6010/discussions/0/613940477636045365/?tscn=1418984285

[PL] kamil950 (me):
'I found 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade intro (Steam vanilla vs. ScummVM MT-32 audio)' video comparison on that GoG forum (I know that it is not '(...)Fate of Atlantis' but it rather sounds similar) and Steam vanilla version sounds really awful - youtube .com/watch?v=VaslP60o3do

ScummVM MT-32 audio version has a lot of better music (and probably sound). So GoG version is probably better than Steam vanilla.

But I found also this:

'Something wrong with the music on a mac?' (and not only on the mac) -
steamcommunity .com/app/6010/discussions/0/41973820717794495/

'Way to switch to the original soundtrack?'
steamcommunity .com/app/6010/discussions/0/846963711059804171/

xlynx:
'My guess is the Steam version uses your cheap MIDI device, whereas ScummVM can emulate the Roland MT-32.

It may be possible to get the Steam version working under ScummVM, but from my quick web search it appears quite involved.

Method 1. koti.kapsi .fi/~jvaltane/SteamLucasToScummVM/indy4.txt
Method 2. scummvm.bencastricum .nl/ '

Mr. Beaker:
'Awesome, you're the best. I couldn't quite understand how to use the 1st method, but I downloaded the Steam compatible version of ScummVM and it works prefectly!

Thanks a bunch!'

You can find here - scummvm . bencastricum .nl/ :

'Support for Steam LucasArts Adventures

The Online Game Platform Steam has re-released a couple of the old LucasArts adventures. However the index file required for playing the games with ScummVM has been integrated in the executable file, making it impossible to play it with ScummVM. This patch add support for these game by adding Steam as a platform, and using the index file inside the executable file. This should make Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Loom and The Dig work with ScummVM. Choose the directory that contains the executable called "testapp.exe" (the file containing the index file). The official ScummVM has added support for these Steam games since v1.7.0 so you no longer need a patch.'

TL;DR - QUESTION etc.:

So I'm not sure but you can play in Steam versions with ScummVM. So I don't know what is better: GoG version (with integrated ScummVM) or Steam version with ScummVM (added manually by user/player becuase 'The official ScummVM has added support for these Steam games since v1.7.0 so you no longer need a patch(...)').'

Sorry but there are many inaccuracies in your posts concerning music.
1.- The video shows Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. That game had several versions for several systems but it never included any kind of MIDI music, only FM synthesis through Adlib or CD audio on the FMTowns version. The Youtube video compares running ScummVM with PC Speaker emulation vs ScummVM with Adlib emulation.
2.- Indiana Jones & the Fate of Atlantis had several versions too and it indeed includes General MIDI support along with MT-32 on the floppy version and spoken dialog on the CD version.
3.- ScummVM will only output MT-32 music if you either have copied/dumped the ROMS from an actual MT-32 device and put it in the Extras folder OR if you hookup an actual MT-32 device through midi-USB cables.
4.- ScummVM has been updated to recognize the Steam versions.

The official ScummVM has added support for these Steam games since v1.7.0 so you no longer need a patch.'

One question a bit off topic, but not totally, why STEAM is selling The Last Crusade and here is not available? Did GOG said something about this? They are maybe improving the DOSBOX emulation or some bugs? Or is some exclusivity with STEAM?

Is a bit weird considering GOG got the rights of the classic Lucasarts/Disney games first...

It's because GOG didn't get the rights of the classic Lucasarts/Disney games first.

Up until Lucas sold it, Lucasarts had a farcical management structure where the president would be fired almost on a yearly basis. One of those presidents, Darrell Rodriguez, was a big classic lucasarts fan, and it was him who licensed monkey island to telltale to produce the Tales games and commissioned the MI1, MI2 & DOTT special editions. He also allowed a limited number of lucasarts games onto steam, and indy was part of the initial batch:

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
LOOM
The Dig
Star Wars : Battlefront II
Star Wars : Republic Commando
Star Wars : Starfighter
Thrillville : Off the Rails
Lego Indiana Jones : The Original Adventure
Armed and Dangerous

I imagine eventually the entire catalogue would have made it to steam, but as was standard for lucasarts at the time, he was fired. When he was canned, the SE of DOTT was cancelled and the process of bringing the lucasarts catalogue to Steam was ended, but the games that were already there remained.

Thumbs up! great info! Now I understand it.