I'm new to this website. If I buy and install Phantasmagoria 1 on a Windows 10 laptop, can I be sure it is playable, or will I run into all kinds of technical issues? Do I need to install anything else, like Dosbox? Is it plug and play, or will I have to tweak all kinds of settings?

Thanks.

Hi greatkingrat01,

It's been an month since you post so hopefully you have figured it out for yourself. If not, I'm on Windows 10 - 64 bit on a desktop and bought Phant 1 and 2 the other day (for nostalgic reasons as many of us). Although I haven't start Phant 2 yet, I can tell you I experience no problems playing Phant 1 SO FAR (almost at chapter 4). Although the game is nowhere near the same quality as nowadays games (which I didn't expect since the game is more than 20 years old), I find it doable.

The only problem I find was the cursor every now and then gets stuck (there is a topic about this somewhere): so SAVE OFTEN since the solution is to quite and restart the game. Also, when I minimize the screen, it won't open in maximum screen when clicking the icon on the task bar. But using [ALT] + [ENTER] solves that (just make sure the Phant screen is active when doing that).

At the moment I'm reading up a bit about improving the game graphics just a bit but I'm hesitant to change anything (if it ain't broke, why fix it). Still some knowledge about the subject won't hurt. After reading some topics, I did change two in-game settings (after loading the game/save, click the P in the middle): I selected full screen instead of half screen and put movie detail to on. I haven't yet seen if this makes the pixels better (haven't played yet after changing this) but even without those changes it is doable for me.

More advanced settings can be changed in this file: dosboxPHANT.conf in the install location (back-up the file first before doing that) by right clicking the file and select "Open with" Notepad (I always uncheck the option to open similar files with the same application). In the start menu there is this shortcut under 'Phantasmagoria": Graphic Mode Setup which allows you to change settings as well. There are some topics around here about the subject. There are also topics about audio and graphic problems, full screen/windowed screen, etc. Browse a bit around this sub forum to get a sense what's out here regarding this game. If using Google to find help, make sure it's about this series because many search results are about other games available at GOG.com (look at the forum breadcrumb bar).

I've read about some problems with chapter seven but since I'm not there yet, I will look up that information again when needed, IF needed. *Fingers crossed*

With Phant 1, it's my understanding the save is located in these files: PHANTSG.0 and PHANTSG.DIR in the install location just in case you wan't to back-up those files. Also, when installing Phant 1 and 2, at one of the first screens there is this button where you can change the install location. In my case the default location was not handy since I don't have lots of space on my C/SSD so I installed on D.

I just downloaded the setup files (for example phant 1 has one .setup and two .bin files) and double clicked the setup file and let it install in the specified location. I didn't use the GOG downloader or client (one of the reasons I decided to buy it here was because there is no client needed to play). No. It's pre-packed in Dosbox.

From GOG support center:
[i]Do I need some launcher application to play my GOG.com games?
No. You don't need any additional apps or launchers. All games downloaded from GOG.com are wrapped in a nice self-executable (.exe) setup files, some of the larger ones are accompanied by a .bin file or two. So after you've completed the download, just double-click on the .exe file to install the game on your hard drive. After the installation is complete, shortcuts will be added to your Start Menu, desktop and Games Explorer, so you can launch your game just like any other.As for movies, you can either stream them directly from the site, or download them as .mp4 files, which you can them play with your favorite video player. Couldn't be simpler.[/i]

Source: https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/categories/201553005
I can advice to read all the Q&A's mentioned there. The way I see it, you can take a change since GOG has a money back guarantee. If, within 30 days after the purchase of your game, you experience technical problems or game-breaking bugs that prevent you from finishing your game, you can contact the customer support. See: https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/115000487189-Money-Back-Guarantee-Policy

Hope this helps. Take care and happy playing if you decide to buy it.

EDIT:
I'm entering chapter 7 now and decided to read up on those topics before playing it. PDOCO.TXT in the install location says: "From this point on, your "old" saved game will not exist in the same form anymore. Instead, it will resemble a "saved" movie sequence instead." Use [CTRL] + [F] to search that document for 6. Watch Movie (review chapter 7) and you will find it quickly (+ explanation and detailed information). Or search this sub forum for "Chapter 7" to find some helpful information.