OS/2 Professional Developers Kit 1992 November

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This forum is supplied for demonstration purposes only and is accessible via the IBM OS/2 BBS system. What you see below is the forum as it existed on 10/30/92. The IBM OS/2 Bulletin Board System (BBS) is IBM's new electronic support offering for OS/2 Version 2.0. With OS/2 BBS you can electronically review OS/2 technical information, submit program defects to IBM, and receive information on how to solve problems. Users of the OS/2 BBS not only include OS/2 customers, but the OS/2 expertise of the entire internal IBM community worldwide. OS2BBS makes all this available via a local or toll free number in most major cities. To request a complete OS/2 BBS Information Package detailing the OS/2 BBS offering and including pricing and registration/access information, please call: 1-800-547-1283. ===== OS2GAMES CFORUM created at 01:50:35 on 92/04/08 GMT (by HOPKINS at AUSVM8) IBM UNCLASSIFIED ---------------- The information in this forum is considered by IBM to be external and may be shared by everyone who is given access. This forum is shared with the internal IBM employee conferences. Forum: OS2GAMES CFORUM Forum subject: Games available for OS/2 and playing strategies This forum is provided as a conferencing tool for the discussion of issues, questions, and problems associated with the use of games and game software for OS/2. Contributions must not contain confidential or proprietary information. Each contributor agrees, in placing material in this forum, that IBM and other users are free to prepare derivative works based upon it, and to use, reproduce, perform, display and distribute inside and outside their company such material and such derivative works, without obligation or charge. IBM is not responsible or liable for the use, copying, or distribution of materials placed on this forum, and has therefore no obligation to control such acts. All subscribers are required to abide at all times by the conference rules described in the Bulletin Board Rules under "News and Announcements". All IBM personnel are required to abide at all times by the IBMPC RULES and the IBM Business Conduct Guidelines. IBM personnel will read the CUSTOMER FORUM RULES in IBMPC RULES before contributing. Contributions violating these rules will be deleted by the CFORUM Owner or their delegate, and in some cases by an IBM conference Administrator. The OS2BBS CFORUM is where anyone may raise concerns regarding rules violations found in this and other CFORUMS. The IBM Owner of this forum is: Name: Kenneth M. Hopkins, OS/2 Support Services Mailing Address: IBM Manufacturing and Development 11400 Burnet Road Internal Zip 2900-042/1D003 Austin, Texas 78758 IBM Node/Userid: AUSVM8/HOPKINS ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:34:33 on 92/04/13 GMT (by ALEXR at PALISVM) Subject: Terminator The Terminator game does not seem to work in the DOS box of OS2V2. The game works correctly if the system is booted up in DOS5, but under OS2V2 the game does not work. Some symptoms are; no sound, the arrow keys move selection too fast (not one at a time), and when the system is loading it says it is using 64K of EMS (does not happen in DOS5). Any ideas. Alex Ruskewich ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:04:37 on 92/04/13 GMT (by SHERIDAN at TOROLAB6) Subject: Terminator Ref: Append at 13:34:33 on 92/04/13 GMT (by ALEXR at PALISVM) Well, the 'using 64K EMX' message is probably a GOOD thing. I suspect that the game uses this extra memory (supplied courtesy of OS/2) for more graphics or sound effects or faster speed. As far as the lack of sound problem, does the game support adlib/soundblaster?? Does it use the PC speaker? What soundcard (if any) do you own? James R. Sheridan SHERIDAN @ TOROLAB6 AD/Cycle CODE Development sheridan@torolab6.vnet.ibm.com IBM Canada - Toronto Lab 13 Apr 1992 ( at 10:02:00 AM EDT ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:26:39 on 92/04/13 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Display snow in games Haha! James, are you the OS/2 games support person? Anyway, OS/2's ability is run games is almost perfect. I can run games in a VDM that I could not under Win3. However, there is an annoying problem I have been reporting since the early days of the EEP, some games have a varying degree of snow when running. (the games run in MCGA 256 colour mode). Origin's Ultima series of games will show a tiny but noticeable amount of snow almost like a video retrace (and yes I have played with the retrace DOS setting to no effect). Eye of the Beholder II has a large amount of snow during the intro when it displays lightning flashes. Any ideas ? Michael Harper Mod70-121, Adlib Soundboard (works fine), Intel AboveboardMC ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:55:35 on 92/04/13 GMT (by SHERIDAN at TOROLAB6) Subject: Display snow in games Ref: Append at 17:26:39 on 92/04/13 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Nope, I'm just following the CFORUMS and adding my $0.02 as appropriate <g>. Have you tried playing with the following settings? VIDEO_ROM_EMULATION (set to off) VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION (set to off) HW_ROM_TO_RAM (set to off) Also, why kind of video card/monitor combination are you running? James R. Sheridan SHERIDAN @ TOROLAB6 AD/Cycle CODE Development sheridan@torolab6.vnet.ibm.com IBM Canada - Toronto Lab 13 Apr 1992 ( at 5:53:53 PM EDT ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 11:45:15 on 92/04/14 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Display snow in games Ref: Append at 21:55:35 on 92/04/13 GMT (by SHERIDAN at TOROLAB6) James: I believe I have tried those (I'll try again tonight to make sure). As to my video subsystem, its the standard Mod70 VGA and a 8513 monitor that I am about to trash (not a quality product). Michael Harper - Cdn Depository for Securities, Ltd ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:43:15 on 92/04/14 GMT (by HOPKINS at AUSVM8) Subject: Display snow in games I have also run with the 70-121, and also the P70 with an 8513, and I recall a bit of winter <g> until I changed to the MOUSE.COM supplied with the M$ mouse. Seemed to work OK after that. I also got great response from the system by creating a 7M VDISK, and Xcopying the ULT6 subdir over, and running from the virtual disk. Make sure you periodically backup the SAVEGAME subdirectory, or a power hit can wipe the session out. There is also an ECA for the 8570-121 in Hardware support on RETAIN; check to make sure your serial number is not in the list of ones that should have the EPROM upgrade. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:24:04 on 92/04/15 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Display snow in games Ref: Append at 13:43:15 on 92/04/14 GMT (by HOPKINS at AUSVM8) I checked RETAIN and could not find anything related to the Mod70, ECA, and EPROM (got 5 hits on ECA and EPROM). Do you know the ECA number? It is highly likely that I need the upgrade, I have one of the earliest Mod70-121, its s/n is 90000298! I bought it when they first came out. I already know that I have to replace the 386 (ECA071), and I was wondering what else. I did put in a request that IBM post all the ECAs on the OS2HW forum but they have not yet deemed to replay. Michael Harper. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:15:38 on 92/04/15 GMT (by HOPKINS at AUSVM8) Subject: Display snow in games Your serial number is one of the ones in the list for H091264. The reference on the ECA is an application lockup, but I suspect the CMOS, CAS/RAS changes to the system board should address the problem. I checked the serial num on the one we had, and it was a newer EC level. I can FAX 2 pages if you need. Ken Hopkins ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 11:56:30 on 92/04/16 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Display snow in games Ref: Append at 14:15:38 on 92/04/15 GMT (by HOPKINS at AUSVM8) Ken: Please fax me the documentation on H091264. The number is (416) 367-2755. When I did a search on H091264 I got Flash 9152 "Using MVS/ESA Data-in-Memory Functions with Checkpoint/Restart" ... Michael Harper - Cdn Depository for Securities, Ltd ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 23:11:14 on 92/04/16 GMT (by HOPKINS at AUSVM8) Subject: Display snow in games Ref: Append at 11:56:30 on 92/04/16 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) My aplogies; the item I referenced was from the Hardware support end of things thru another link. FAX is away; ley me know how it turns out. Ken Hopkins OS/2 Software Service/Support ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:04:12 on 92/04/20 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Display snow in games Ref: Append at 23:11:14 on 92/04/16 GMT (by HOPKINS at AUSVM8) Ken: Thanks for the ECA. The mail delivered it this morning. I knew about ECA 071 but thought it was just a CPU replacement. It looks like it is a full system board replacement. I wonder if I can persuade IBM Canada to give me a good upgrade price to a 57SLC ... (We don't have HelpWare up here). Michael Harper - Cdn Depository for Securities, Ltd. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:22:44 on 92/04/20 GMT (by COOPER at RALYDPD4) Subject: Terminator Ref: Append at 13:34:33 on 92/04/13 GMT (by ALEXR at PALISVM) Alex, Have you tried booting DOS 5.0 from a disk image. Use VMDISK to make the disk image. Then under DOS settings point to the image by selecting dos_startup_drive and giving the drive\path to the disk image. I have successfully played Monkey Island II using this method. It would not run in a VDM. Be sure to give command.com as the path and file name in the program page of the settings for the new program (DOS 5). Tony COOPER at RALYDPD4 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 23:17:20 on 92/04/20 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Display snow in games Ref: Append at 20:04:12 on 92/04/20 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Michael, since you have a copy of the list, I have a PS2/70-486, Type 8570-B21, SN 23-4501301. I have the unit about a year. The motherboard was changed early on, when I was having trouble with the CMOS holding a date. After two battery changes, IBM decided to change the motherboard. In any event, I don't have snow, or other processing problems - just some unexplained issues since using the various drops of 2.0. The issue is that sometimes an application like CorelDraw hangs the machine and requires a hard boot. I assumed times like these were a software error, but after reading your responses about mod 70s, I'm begining to wonder! Is my system unit on your list ? - Elliott Avedon ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 02:36:56 on 92/04/21 GMT (by BC at KGNVMZ) -- Subject: Terminator Ref: Append at 20:22:44 on 92/04/20 GMT (by COOPER at RALYDPD4) Hi. Whats VMDISK? Bob Cronin ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 08:58:12 on 92/04/21 GMT (by 78885671 at EHONE) Subject: Terminator Ref: Append at 02:36:56 on 92/04/21 GMT (by BC at KGNVMZ) Hi Bob, VMDISK is the mechanism that allows you to boot any DOS version from a disk or diskette within OS/2 2.0. You can access this program from the DOS Settings---Startup Drive parameter on the session page of the settings of a DOS Program (if you can still follow me :-) It works very simple. You just specify a Drive Letter (or drive & directory combination) and OS/2 will use that as the place to boot a DOS Session from. Very handy for games that require specific DOS versions. Erwin Uit De Bos ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 10:15:26 on 92/04/21 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Subject: Civilisation. Hi, anyone got MicroProses Civilivation running ?? I get a Divide by zero error. Funny thing is it is not always in the same place. I've tried some of the settings and using a DOS 5 MVDM.. The snow problem seems to be apparent in quite a few Hi-Res games, I've got a 8514 and 8514/A and you still get annoying flicker's. Still at least most of them work now..... David Morrison Appended by: , 86663155 at WARVM2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 11:40:32 on 92/04/21 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Display snow in games Ref: Append at 23:17:20 on 92/04/20 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Sorry Elliott, The models listed are the 16Mhz 386 (70-E61, 70-U61) and the 20Mhz 386 (70-121, 70-061). No 486 is on the list. Michael Harper -- Cdn Depository for Securities, Ltd ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:13:58 on 92/04/21 GMT (by BC at KGNVMZ) -- Subject: Terminator Ref: Append at 08:58:12 on 92/04/21 GMT (by 78885671 at EHONE) Oh. I see. I was familiar with the feature, just not what it was called. I have even used this to boot MS DOS 5 from a diskette. What I'd like to be able to figure out is how to do it from my hard disk. Do I really need to set up a separate partition for whatever version of DOS that I want to boot? I've heard talk of some sort of 'image file'. What is this? Is it an alternative to setting up a partition? Bob Cronin ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:32:20 on 92/04/21 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Civilisation. Ref: Append at 10:15:26 on 92/04/21 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) List in the README under MicroProse, needed DOS Settings, VIDEO_RETRACE_EMUL - ON HW_TIMER - ON Irv Spalten BPC Technical Interface Group, Boca Raton FL ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:26:32 on 92/04/21 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Civilisation. Ref: Append at 15:32:20 on 92/04/21 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Hi Irv! Fancy meeting you here. IBMOS2 not keeping you too busy? Michael Harper -- Cdn Depository for Securities, Ltd. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:47:33 on 92/04/21 GMT (by KEESEY at STLVM22) Subject: VMDISK Ref: Append at 15:13:58 on 92/04/21 GMT (by BC at KGNVMZ) Actually, VMDISK is what makes the hard disk image of a bootable diskette. What you mentioned is either Dual-Boot or MOST. Read the docs on VMDISK and when you have your diskette image, you go into the Dos Settings of some DOS Program object and set the DOS_STARTUP_DRIVE option to point to the diskette image. Voila! Starting this object actually boots the diskette image! James Keesey -- AD/Cycle Tools and Technologies (TIRS) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:01:39 on 92/04/21 GMT (by BC at KGNVMZ) -- Subject: VMDISK Ref: Append at 18:47:33 on 92/04/21 GMT (by KEESEY at STLVM22) Thanks. I presume the docs for VMDISK are online? Where? Bob Cronin ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 01:04:09 on 92/04/22 GMT (by KEESEY at STLVM22) Subject: VMDISK Ref: Append at 20:01:39 on 92/04/21 GMT (by BC at KGNVMZ) Its online if you installed the command reference. Get to an OS/2 command prompt and type HELP VMDISK. If you didn't install the command reference, send me a note and I will send you the relevant text. James Keesey -- AD/Cycle Tools and Technologies (TIRS) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 11:22:03 on 92/04/22 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Subject: Civilisation. Thanks Irv, what README file is this, and where can I find it ?? David Morrison Portsmouth Appended by: , 86663155 at WARVM2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:00:33 on 92/04/22 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Subject: Civilisation. Irv, or anyone. The settings now let Civ run but I get a colour change to bright pink after about three minutes, can I stop that from happening. Happens in a window & full screen as well. David Morrison Portsmouth UK. Appended by: , 86663155 at WARVM2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 22:07:47 on 92/04/22 GMT (by IVERSON at FSHVMX) Subject: Civilisation. Ref: Append at 11:22:03 on 92/04/22 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Look for it in your Information folder (the blue circle with a white "i"). The file is located in the root directory of the OS/2 partition, also. Dave Iverson ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:44:58 on 92/04/24 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Civilisation. Ref: Append at 11:22:03 on 92/04/22 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Open up Information, and there it is! In the ROOT of the boot drive too, as README. We have a major update fixing may errors and adding more info due next week. I'll get it on OS2TOOLS and external Information BBS's (CIS, IBMLINK, Atlanta BBS, and others) as soon as I can. Irv Spalten BPC Technical Interface Group, Boca Raton FL ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:10:40 on 92/04/24 GMT (by 86674229 at WARVM2) Subject: Lemmings under 2.0 Has anybody got this working well under 2.0. The only problem I have is that there is a horizantal band accross the screen that makes the game pretty unplayable. PS. I have come accross a strange performance situation under 2.0. If I play battle chess all is well and it performs similar to dos 5. If however I load up links golf first and then battle chess in a second VDM - it goes like a rocket. The pieces sprint accross the screen. I'm not complaining but is there any reason for this. Thanks (Hafiz) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:34:46 on 92/04/24 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Lemmings under 2.0 Ref: Append at 14:10:40 on 92/04/24 GMT (by 86674229 at WARVM2) Lemmings works very well EXCEPT for the first screen where they describe what you have to do. You must select the first Machine type, NOT what you have and this lessens the 'static' and the top 3rd is only hosed, but still readable. Don't know why the speed up, but if you run BC without sound and LINKS too, you may not see this. LINKS retimes timers, maybe something in OS/2 is not working well. Irv Spalten BPC Technical Interface Group, Boca Raton FL ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:00:31 on 92/04/25 GMT (by KENKAHN at PKSMRVM) Subject: Sound Source Has anyone been able to get the Disney Sound Source to work? When I start an application that uses it, the red power light comes on but then the game pretends like it's not there and uses the PC's speakers. Kenneth Kahn Staff of IBM Fellow/NetWork Computing Poughkeepsie, NY Internet: KENKAHN@PKSMRVM.VNET.IBM.COM IBMMAIL: USIB25P9 at IBMMAIL ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 09:34:18 on 92/04/27 GMT (by DKB at SDFVM1) - Subject: Civilisation. Ref: Append at 12:00:33 on 92/04/22 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Try tweaking the VIDEO settings. I had the same problem and finally managed to get it running. A good starting point are the default settings. I'll check at home tonight and will post my settings tomorrow. Jochen Diekenbrock ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:41:40 on 92/04/27 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Civilisation. Ref: Append at 09:34:18 on 92/04/27 GMT (by DKB at SDFVM1) The setting for Civilization is in the README, search for Civilization or Microprose. Irv Spalten BPC Technical Interface Group, Boca Raton FL ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:30:29 on 92/04/27 GMT (by BC at KGNVMZ) -- Subject: Sound Source Ref: Append at 12:00:31 on 92/04/25 GMT (by KENKAHN at PKSMRVM) As soon as I get my copy of OS/2, I will try it. Bob Cronin ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:41:42 on 92/04/29 GMT (by RPROBINS at RALVM25) Subject: Links on OS/2 Can anyone help me with the DOS settings for LINKS? I got it running last night, but it was VEEERRRRY slow! I toyed with the settings, but didn't do anything that helped. Bob Robinson RPROBINS at RALVM25 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:17:20 on 92/04/29 GMT (by MIKEK at DALHQIC2) Subject: Links on OS/2 Ref: Append at 15:41:42 on 92/04/29 GMT (by RPROBINS at RALVM25) Turn off the sound within the application to get maximum speed. You might also try turning HW_TIMER on in the DOS Settings. Turning this paramater on might cause problems, though, so be careful. Michael Kaply Team OS/2 Dallas PRODIGY MVMF10A ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 02:17:44 on 92/04/30 GMT (by GESHAH at ATLVMIC1) Subject: Lemmings under OS/2V2 Lemmings will work well in an MVDM if you set (in DOS Settings): Video Retrace Emulation = OFF As Irv notes, the intro screen for each level is fuzzy, BUT the rest of the game works extremely well. Enjoy. Greg Shah (8-330-7851) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:23:08 on 92/04/30 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: Links on OS/2 Ref: Append at 17:17:20 on 92/04/29 GMT (by MIKEK at DALHQIC2) Turn off sound and bypass the LINKS.BAT (SET the program name to GOLF.EXE). The primary reason things are slow is the way REALSOUND generates sounds to the system speaker. A person with a supported sound card should not have the same problem. You also should turn of the sounds within links. you should be able to do this from the window that lets you set system stuff under Links. Bill Trautman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:47:08 on 92/04/30 GMT (by RPROBINS at RALVM25) Subject: Links on OS/2 Ref: Append at 14:23:08 on 92/04/30 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Thanks, Bill...I'll try it tonight! I am anxious to tee up at Pinehurst #2 (bought it last night)! Bob Robinson ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:08:54 on 92/05/04 GMT (by BC at KGNVMZ) -- Subject: Sound Source Ref: Append at 12:00:31 on 92/04/25 GMT (by KENKAHN at PKSMRVM) Well, I have tried the Sounds Source now (using MICKEY's ABC's). It sort of works ... that is, when the game starts, I do get sound from it, but very shortly thereafter the sound starts to fade (as if I was turning the volume switch down, which I am not). In 5-10 seconds, all sound is gone. I've fiddled with HW_TIMER and IDLE_SENSITIVITY to no avail. Bob Cronin ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 08:43:55 on 92/05/06 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Subject: Falcon 3 Anyone managed to get this running ? I guess it uses quite a few tricks as it needs a 286, at least 600k and expanded memory. When I run it, it just stops dead. David Morrison Portsmouth UK. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:43:34 on 92/05/06 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: Falcon 3 Ref: Append at 08:43:55 on 92/05/06 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) I have run it in the DOS box of a 486 machine as part of an OS/2 Demo. Seems to run fine. Did not need to do anything special. Just about broke the speakers when I accidentally set the volume to full just before starting it. (Using a sound card and amplified sound system. Bill Trautman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:19:16 on 92/05/06 GMT (by SHERIDAN at TOROLAB6) Subject: Falcon 3 Ref: Append at 08:43:55 on 92/05/06 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) I've had it running, but the GA code seems to make it run slower than the last beta <shrug>. Key point is to NOT set HW_TIMER to ON and to set HW_SOUND to OFF. You will find that the DMA sound is EXTREMELY slow in the intro so just press space to skip it (DMA effects in general seem to be messed up). I've not gone beyond this stage yet with GA 2.0 (I was only trying to see if the DMA issue had been fixed) but game speed was fine in the last beta with the sound just a little slow. James R. Sheridan SHERIDAN @ TOROLAB6 AD/Cycle CODE Development sheridan@torolab6.vnet.ibm.com IBM Canada - Toronto Lab 6 May 1992 ( at 10:14:05 AM EDT ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 08:25:38 on 92/05/12 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Subject: Falcon 3 Ref: Append at 14:19:16 on 92/05/06 GMT (by SHERIDAN at TOROLAB6) Got it working fine now, although a little slow. I had various things checked from the default and once they were put back and the timer access turned on it worked OK. Not in a window though, I get multiple images appearing ?? David Morrison Portsmouth UK ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:41:45 on 92/05/12 GMT (by 86609813 at WARVM2) Subject: Jack Nicklaus - Signature Edition Cannot get this to run at all in a DOS session. Have tried all the usual DOS settings. Session locks before even getting to the title screen. Anyone had any other experiences with this program Ian Seager (SEAGERI@WARVM5) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:54:21 on 92/05/12 GMT (by 83823492 at SPAVM1) Subject: Jack Nicklaus - Signature Edition Ref: Append at 13:41:45 on 92/05/12 GMT (by 86609813 at WARVM2) Is the game using RealSound, instead of a sound board? If so, try to play with the sound disabled, and see if that makes any difference... Jose Pedro Moro ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:10:57 on 92/05/12 GMT (by XXUGAS67 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Display snow in games Ref: Append at 21:55:35 on 92/04/13 GMT (by SHERIDAN at TOROLAB6) Nancy Griff Union Gas Limited ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:04:01 on 92/05/12 GMT (by CASEANOR at HOUVMSCC) Subject: Jack Nicklaus - Signature Edition Ref: Append at 13:41:45 on 92/05/12 GMT (by 86609813 at WARVM2) I'm run JN-SE quite successfully on my Gateway 33/486 in a DOS VDM. The key is to turn HW_NOSOUND in the DOS settings ON (to prevent the program from generating the digitized sounds through the PC squeaker). You should also turn sound effects off within the program. Note, if you have a SoundBlaster or equivalent JNSE will find that and generate the effects through the SB with no problems. You still need the HW_NOSOUND enabled, though. Craig Seanor - FSC Houston - Team OS/2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:09:45 on 92/05/12 GMT (by GMINNIC at ATLVMIC1) Subject: Lemmings in os2 Ref: Append at 14:10:57 on 92/05/12 GMT (by XXUGAS67 at TORVMCOP) I keep getting an opcode #6 error when trying to run lemmigs under os2. I have set vidoe reatrace off. Any other suggestions. I have seen that some people have gotten it to work..Gary ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:35:18 on 92/05/12 GMT (by MIKEK at DALHQIC2) Subject: Lemmings in os2 Ref: Append at 16:09:45 on 92/05/12 GMT (by GMINNIC at ATLVMIC1) Make sure you select 1 whwn asked for type of machine (not PS/2) Michael Kaply Team OS/2 Dallas PRODIGY MVMF10A ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:38:32 on 92/05/13 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Subject: Falcon 3 Ref: Append at 08:25:38 on 92/05/12 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Anyone got this to work over a LAN ? David Morrison ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 23:22:11 on 92/05/13 GMT (by LMSC017 at OS2CUST) Subject: Commander Keen 4-6 Video is Jerky In the latest Commander Keen series of games, the video sometimes will have a jerky appearance. The README file for OS/2 2.0 suggests setting the VIDEO_RETRACE option to compensate. This works fine for the earlier versions (1-3) but has no affect on the latter versions. The option within the games to fix jerky motion also has no effect. Anyone have any ideas? ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 22:20:52 on 92/05/20 GMT (by ASTALVEY at ATLVMIC1) Subject: Commander Keen 4-6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 23:22:11 on 92/05/13 GMT (by LMSC017 at OS2CUST) Though I don't have an answer to your question, I thought I'd share with you that I just spoke with Microsoft regarding this same problem with KEEN3, etc. under Windows 3.1. When I told the technical support representative that the screen was very "jumpy" when KEEN programs were run under Windows he said he had never been able to even get any of the KEEN series to properly run under Windows - they usually "hung" the processor. Looks like they're extremely video driver intensive, and need all the cycles they can get to properly refresh the screen. Maybe someone can recommend a setting that will allow them to run smoothly under OS/2 2.0. There's no doubt that they're a definite challenge. Allen Stalvey * Advisory SE * IBM United States * Tampa Branch CMF 8/536-2317 -=-=-=-=-=- Append created on Wednesday - 05/20/92 at 6:14:03 PM EDT -=-=-=-=-=- ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 23:20:20 on 92/05/20 GMT (by LMSC017 at OS2CUST) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Thanks for answering back. I'm suprised you were able to get any of the Keens to run in Windows at all. Like the guy at Microsoft, I also tend to hang the processor when running in Windows Enhanced Mode. Some other interesting things I've found while running Keen in OS/2 2.0 is that when I use the option to Boot DOS from Drive A:, the video is still jerky. This doesn't happen running it from pure DOS. I suspect that OS/2 2.0 is either responding too fast or too slowly to the video requests from Keen. Tom Schworetzky ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:26:26 on 92/05/21 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 23:20:20 on 92/05/20 GMT (by LMSC017 at OS2CUST) Just a thought, Have you fiddled with the Video Retrace Emulation setting? I just wonder if the jerky-ness might be related to that. Bill Trautman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:44:52 on 92/05/21 GMT (by TBROCK at BTVMANVM) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 12:26:26 on 92/05/21 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) From the OS/2 2.0 README file: Commander Keen (DOS) Set the VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION DOS setting to OFF. Other settings that might make a difference: HW_TIMER ON IDLE_SENSITIVITY 100 VIDEO_ON_DEMAND_MEMORY OFF Tom Brock ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 09:12:17 on 92/05/26 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Subject: Ultima 7 I can't seem to get this to work at all. Just gives me an error message, program has executed an illegal instruction..... Dave Morrison. Portsmouth UK. Appended by: , 86663155 at WARVM2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:46:50 on 92/05/26 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Ultima 7 Ref: Append at 09:12:17 on 92/05/26 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Dave: U7 will NOT run under OS/2 as it uses its own '386 based memory system for memory management and performance (called VOODOO, see the U7 docs). This system even conflicts with DOS based EMS managers. So far I have not gotten U7 to run on my Mod70-121 under DOS either. It will constantly hang the system. However, this might be due to the 80386b1 chip which has been recently replaced by a D1 (for free by IBM, thanks). I have not yet had the time to reinstall it and run it under the new chip as I am still working on Ultima Underword. Michael Harper - Cdn Depository for Securities, Ltd ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:23:41 on 92/05/26 GMT (by ROUQUIE at PARIS) Subject: Ultima 7 Ref: Append at 12:46:50 on 92/05/26 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Ref: Append at 09:12:17 on 92/05/26 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Ultima 7 does not seem to hang on my M70-121 under DOS. At least for what I tested - solving Trinsic and then trip to Brittania. The 80386 chip was replaced by a step D1, the 80387 coprocessor is present, the mother board has 6 MB, and an Orchid Ramquest 16/32 provides another 8 MB. VGA is native but a 8514/A board is installed and my 8514 display is plugged to the 8514/A. Which is transparent to VGA. Ultima 7 cannot run under OS/2. It requires being able to switch the 80386 to protected mode and back, and do it itself. Though DPMI is a protocol for this kind of need and is available in OS/2 V2, Origin did not use it. Pity, for it would probably allow Ultima 7 to work under OS/2 V2, Windows 3.x, and possibly QEMM. -- Gilbert ROUQUIE - PARIS Scientific Center - (ROUQUIE at PARIS) -- ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:02:44 on 92/05/26 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Ultima 7 Ref: Append at 13:23:41 on 92/05/26 GMT (by ROUQUIE at PARIS) Gilbert: Over on Compuserve it was reported that Origin is thinking very hard about changing VOODOO. They have been getting a number of calls regarding this issue. We'll probably won't see it for U7, but maybe V8. By the way, how do you like the new interface. It seems that Origin is doing a lot of experimentation. Have you seen the 3D view in Underworld? Michael Harper - Cdn Depository for Securities, Ltd ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 03:27:06 on 92/05/27 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Sherlock Holmes, Consulting Detective Can someone explain why Sherlock Holmes - CDROM DOS version won't work without a soundboard in OS2. I use other CDROM's which produce sound. My IBM CDROM 3510-001 has stereo audio out which is plugged into a stereo amp - and the others send sound to the speakers. When I try to execute SH, I just get a DOS message back indicating that the "sound board can not be innitialized"! Elliott M. Avedon University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 (519) 885-1211 x2204 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:25:17 on 92/05/27 GMT (by IL51685 at OS2CUST) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 12:44:52 on 92/05/21 GMT (by TBROCK at BTVMANVM) I initially had a problem with jerky video in Commander Keen 4. I resolved it by changing the SVGA COMPATIBILITY setting in the KEEN configuration menu. Read this option carefully - it looks like you turn SVGA COMPATIBILITY (ON) when you DON'T have an SVGA adapter. It worked for me... I also modified the VIDEO RETRACE EMULATION setting as described in the other responses. When you get going with this game, let me know how to get to the last pyramid! Philip F. Ozan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:41:00 on 92/05/27 GMT (by LMSC017 at OS2CUST) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 17:25:17 on 92/05/27 GMT (by IL51685 at OS2CUST) Thanks for the input. I'll try the settings you all have suggested and let you know. To get to the last pyramid in Keen 4, you need to enter the Pyramid of the Moon. Go all the way down to the bottom of the pyramid where all of the inch worms are. Let the worms gather around you. When 5 or 6 are gathered, a giant foot will appear. Jump up onto the foot and it will take you to the hidden pyramid. The hidden pyramid is realatively easy to get through. The best thing about it is getting there! Tom Schworetzky ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 22:12:16 on 92/06/02 GMT (by PIENIAZE at FSHVMFK1) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 19:41:00 on 92/05/27 GMT (by LMSC017 at OS2CUST) It may not be the best thing to do to post game hints in clear text. It spoils the fun for the rest of us. Might I suggest encoding them somehow? I have a 47 line rexx xedit macro implementation of ROTD that shifts all the characters by 13. Run it twice in a row to get the original text again. I got it from a friend that got it from the internet. I'm not sure it is OK to post, I'll find out. I'm not the moderator of this group so what I say has no official standing, but it might be better not to post hints at all... Larry Pieniazek | TEAMOS2 - East Fishkill ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:08:38 on 92/06/03 GMT (by SC025203 at AUSVM8) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 22:12:16 on 92/06/02 GMT (by PIENIAZE at FSHVMFK1) Larry, First, it would probably be better to post your REXX program in the REXX forum. There are a few conditions to posting a program. These were listed in an append in OS2BBS in answer to someone requesting the same. If you can't find it let me know and I'll dig up a copy. Second, with regard to posting hints; I don't think it is necessary to go as far as encoding the text. May I suggest a warning at the top of the append explaining that a game hint follows and reading it may spoil the enjoyment for some. That way each person makes a choice if they want to see it or not. Stephen Poole OS/2 Service and Support - IBM Austin, TX ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:38:08 on 92/06/03 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: Apogee Games I have had relatively good luck to date with the Apogee games. however a relatively new one called #1WOLF3D (think the title is 'Wolfstein-3D' appears to hang/stop at the first graphics screen. This is running full screen dos session on a system with an XGA adapter with 1meg.). Has anyone tried this game and had it work in a dos box? Bill Trautman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:36:26 on 92/06/04 GMT (by WWYATT at DALVMIC5) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 19:41:00 on 92/05/27 GMT (by LMSC017 at OS2CUST) Can someone give me the phone number of the company that produces Commander Keen? Also, has anyone tried to run Wolfenstein or Cosmo? Bill Wyatt ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:56:30 on 92/06/04 GMT (by MIKEK at DALHQIC2) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 15:36:26 on 92/06/04 GMT (by WWYATT at DALVMIC5) The company is Apogee. They are based in Mesquite, Texas. Phone number: (214) 278-5655 For ordering: 1-800-GAME123 Cosmo and Castle Wolfenstein are excellent games. Castle Wolfenstein requires some special settings to run under OS/2 2.0 though. I will look for the settings and post the info. Michael Kaply Team OS/2 Dallas PRODIGY MVMF10A ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:29:16 on 92/06/05 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 15:36:26 on 92/06/04 GMT (by WWYATT at DALVMIC5) The Wolfstein game appears to require Video Retrace Emulation to be set to off. I also turned of Video Memory on Demand setting. Bill Trautman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:41:22 on 92/06/05 GMT (by STEIN at RHQVM10) Subject: Apogee Games Ref: Append at 16:38:08 on 92/06/03 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) have it running on a P75 with no problems... Regards... Steve 8/351-4620 (STEIN AT RHQVM10) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:19:19 on 92/06/05 GMT (by DBROTHER at SFOVMIC1) Subject: Apogee Games Ref: Append at 16:38:08 on 92/06/03 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) I've been able to get Wolf3D to run (sort of) by setting: DOS full screeen mode VIDEO ONDEMAND MEMORY = OFF VIDEO RETRACE EMULATION = OFF VIDEO SWITCH NOTIFICATEION = ON However,,when I switch (alt-esc) to the destop and then switch back to the game, I loose the boxes that show the score, health, etc. The game continues to play but in order to get the boxes back, you have to save the game, and reload. There is a new 1.1 verion out on Apogee's bbs, but it does not fix this problem. Dave Brotherton ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:46:40 on 92/06/05 GMT (by LMSC017 at OS2CUST) Subject: Commander Keen 4 - 6 Video is Jerky Ref: Append at 15:36:26 on 92/06/04 GMT (by WWYATT at DALVMIC5) I've been able to run COSMO with no trouble at all. I also set the VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION to off. Tom Schworetzky ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:50:34 on 92/06/08 GMT (by GEROW at MANVM1) Subject: Links on OS/2 Hi, At an unpredictable time while running LINKS in a DOS Full Screen the mouse becomes unfunctional. I reduce to a window (alt-home) and the mouse comes back. If I then go back to full screen it will work until I get to the next shot. Anyone know of this problem, with appropriate fix? Thanx, Chris Gerow ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:43:47 on 92/06/15 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM2) Subject: Command HQ under OS/2 Has anyone tried to play a 2-player game of Command HQ under OS/2? A 1-player games against the computer AI seems to work fine, but when I try to use the modem to connect to another player for a 2-player game, the I have problems. I tried various DOS_SETTINGS, including setting COM_HOLD=ON, HW_TIMER=ON, IDLE_SENSITIVITY=100, etc. Without IDLE_SENSITIVITY=100, I was not even able to connect to the modem. It would pick up the phone, I'd hear the modems squeal, and then the message 'Testing Connection' would appear, and then the line would drop. After upping the sensitivity to 100, I could connect, but the game would play RRREEEAAALLLL SSSSLLLLLOOOOWWW, as if it was at speed 2 or 3 even though we were at the fastest speed, speed 6. Then, after about 5 minutes of play, the line was dropped again. I can not seem to get a stable communications link under OS/2. I have contacted the vendor of the game, but they aren't all that familiar with OS/2, and would appreciate some direction on what to look for. Someone suggested they may be polling the com port, instead of using interrupts, to communicate. Would that make sense as being the cause of this type problem? Can anyone point me or the vendor in right direction for finding and fixing this problem? Any and all help would be appreciated, Cheers, Robert E. Lee Jr. ( GENERAL at BCRVM2 ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:45:23 on 92/06/15 GMT (by ESTEELE at SJEVM5) Subject: Command HQ under OS/2 Ref: Append at 17:43:47 on 92/06/15 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM2) Robert, the only thing that helped my Command HQ work well over the modem was upgrading my one of my comm ports to a 16550AFN UART chip. That is the newest buffered uart chip for serial communications. If your ISA bus Multi-I/O board has socketed UART chips you can usually replace them with 16550AFN chips from you local Computer Super-Store for about $10 each. This chip allows OS/2 to have it's attention to the serial port "Pre-empted" for OS overhead or other tasks, while buffering the serial I/O. PS/2 machines have buffered serial ports as standard. Clones generally do not. If your COMM ports do not have socketed UART chips, several clone serial I/O boards in the $30-$50 range are available that do. Making this change provides greater benefit to users of high speed communications applications (9600 baud +) and large block transfer protocols like ZMODEM. 2400 baud XMODEM transfers should work OK on most machines without buffering the COMM ports. Making this change to my home machine fixed Command HQ and enables my USR HST modem do 14.4 Kbaud transfers using ZMODEM, in the background, while doing heavy disk I/O and still maintain 1400-1650 characters per second throughput. GENE STEELE ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:26:24 on 92/06/16 GMT (by RLGINES at CHGVMIC1) Subject: Command HQ under OS/2 Ref: Append at 17:43:47 on 92/06/15 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM2) Robert, I have noticed that my DOS programs that do communications tend to hit the rest of the machine pretty hard. DOS comm programs seem to 'poll' the comm port at a very high rate and in a manner that seem to work very inefficiently under OS/2. I find this especially true when trying to run at 9600. I have heard of several people who have not had this problem but they all seem to have several things in common. First, they have one of the buffer UARTs. This seems to be key. Without this anything above 2400 seem difficult to manage. Second, they have usually been running some graphics beyond the standard VGA that was found in the original PS/2s. This may be a SuperVGA or XGA or even 8514. At any rate there is some hardware assist on the graphics. Otherwise the DOS graphics (especially on the desktop) really heats up the main CPU. Last, they were all running a full 386 or 486 at no less than 25Mhz. Unfortunalty, I only have one of the three above (the UART). I am able, consequently, to do 9600 bps connections with no trouble. However, if I try to do ANYTHING else while doing a file transfer I usually mess up the connection. I CAN do other things if I am only doing screen work in the comm session. File tranfers seem to be too demanding. I hope this helps. Fortunately, OS/2 Comm programs don't have this problem. Unfortunalty, the comm features I want aren't in an OS/2 package yet. Ronald L. Gines ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:26:20 on 92/06/16 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM2) Subject: Command HQ under OS/2 Ref: Append at 13:26:24 on 92/06/16 GMT (by RLGINES at CHGVMIC1) An update. First of all, Ronald, CHQ runs the modem at 1200bps (no option. Even if you both have 2400bps modems, they're always set to 1200bps mode.) Secondly its graphics are in EGA (not VGA) 16 color mode. So those are not a factor. As for the UART, I have a PS/1 which apparently doesn't have the fully buffered UART, and is only a 16MHz 386SX, so that seems to be the factor causing my problem. However, it appears there may be a solution in the offing. I got a CSD for OS/2 last night (COMMGA.ZIP) that replaces the OS/2 system files \OS2\COM.SYS and \OS2\MDOS\VCOM.SYS. After upgrading those two files, CHQ seems to run *much* better. I'm still not sure that it totally fixes all the problems I saw (more testing needed) but it certainly is a vast improvement. Note: This CSD was *just* released from the OS/2 group within the past week, so it may take some time to filter down through all of the normal online services and BBSs that carry these OS/2 CSDs. If you're using any DOS communications programs, look for that CSD. Robert E. Lee Jr. ( GENERAL at BCRVM2 ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:08:43 on 92/06/16 GMT (by ESTEELE at SJEVM5) Subject: Command HQ under OS/2 Ref: Append at 14:26:20 on 92/06/16 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM2) The COMMGA fix worked for me too. Last night we played two full games between two serially connected 386's; one 40mhz with 16550AFN UART and a 25 Mhz model with the much older, non-buffered 8250 UART. No communication problem whatsoever! Now that I think about it, the 16550AFN UART on the 40 Mhz machine is on COMM One. We were using COMM Two on both machines, so neither machine was using buffered UARTS. I even switched the focus away from CHQ on the 40 Mhz machine to do some light disk I/O several times during the games with no adverse effects. Happiness is... The COMMGA replacement COM.SYS and VCOM.SYS files create a NEW DOS Setting called HW_COM which is OFF by default and should be switched ON for Command HQ. I also set COMM_HOLD ON, DOS_FILES to 50, IDLE_SECONDS to 60, and IDLE_SENSITIVITY to 100%. All other DOS Settings were left at the default values. GENE STEELE ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:02:41 on 92/06/17 GMT (by RLGINES at CHGVMIC1) Subject: Command HQ under OS/2 Ref: Append at 14:26:20 on 92/06/16 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM2) Thanks for the info on the fixes for the COMM ports. I'm sure I will find them helpful (especially at 9600bps (wink)). Ronald L. Gines ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 07:28:50 on 92/06/19 GMT (by OPAUL at SYDVM1) Subject:Falcon 3 Has anyone managed to get Falcon 3 to run in a window without multiple images? Also, when I change from Falcon to workplace and back to Falcon I find that the controls don't redraw. Does anybody know I can correct this? Paul. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:24:32 on 92/06/25 GMT (by BIEBER at GDLVM2) ..... OS2GAMES CFORUM modified at 20:38:43 on 92/06/25 GMT (by BIEBER at GDLVM2) Subject: IBM OS/2 Chess Bug While it is easy to admit that OS/2 Chess Computer Opponent is not a good opponent against someone who hasn't played for a while, I ran across a bug. I am white. 1) P-Q4 N-QB3 2) P-K4 N-B3 3) P-K5 P-Q4 4) PxN What happened here is that the knight was removed and the pawn was placed where the knight used to be. The Red Pawn on the Q4 disappeared as if I performed PxP "en passant". I didn't know that I can take two pieces off the board in one move - that is neat! . Josh Bieber | Second bug/feature: | | When I make a move and it puts my opponent's king in check, I get | a pop-up saying "Check!". I discovered that if I move a pawn from | row 7 to row 8 and made it a queen, the queen put my opponent's | king in check. But I did not get a pop-up saying "Check!". This | is inconsistent and should be fixed. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:23:44 on 92/06/25 GMT (by BOSTON at YKTVMH) Subject: Sound Source Ref: Append at 16:08:54 on 92/05/04 GMT (by BC at KGNVMZ) Finally found others who have tried the sound source to no avail. Bob, you got farther than me. For me the light lights for a few seconds and then nothing, my almost 2 year old doesn't notice the missing sound. My almost 4 year old does so I have to boot DOS for it. My suspicion is Sound Source is looking for direct contact with the parallel port. In Volume 2: DOS and Windows Environment redbook it mentions that a VDM session can get direct I/O access. Look under VLPT.SYS. This may be an avenue. Outside of this small description I haven't seen any other descriptions on how to get it to work. Hope this helps If you ever do get it to work please send me the how to guide as I don't normally follow this forum. Jeff Boston ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:03:10 on 92/07/01 GMT (by STEIN at RHQVM10) Subject: Mixed up Mother goose I have had the above CD for quite some time and it has functioned quite nicely under DOS and then under 1.3. Under 2.0, it acts like a grade B movie - timing is terrible with no sync of graphics and voice. I thought that with the release of the MultiMedia extensions this was supposed to go away. Any suggestions? Thanks.... Steve 8/351-4620 (STEIN AT RHQVM10) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 11:42:21 on 92/07/02 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Mixed up Mother goose Ref: Append at 17:03:10 on 92/07/01 GMT (by STEIN at RHQVM10) Steve: Have you tried HW_TIMER=YES, IDLE_SENSITIVITY=100, IDLE_SECONDS=60 ? Michael Harper - Cdn Depository for Securities, Ltd ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:46:43 on 92/07/02 GMT (by STEIN at RHQVM10) Subject: Mixed up Mother goose Ref: Append at 11:42:21 on 92/07/02 GMT (by XXCDSX26 at TORVMCOP) had the hw-timer setting but not the other two - made no difference. the audio off of the cd plays followed by a second or so delay for the action. Thanks.... Steve 8/351-4620 (STEIN AT RHQVM10) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:27:40 on 92/07/06 GMT (by ZEKULIN at DFWVM04) Subject: Cat and Mouse colors (NEKO) Ref: Append at 16:46:43 on 92/07/02 GMT (by STEIN at RHQVM10) Can anyone tell me where the colors are pulled from in the cat and mouse (NEKO.EXE). I have changed my screen background color, which is where the background of the cat is taken from. However, the foreground is black, which results in a black square moving around on a black screen. Any clues? Zekulin, A.D. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 01:25:16 on 92/07/07 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) ..... OS2GAMES CFORUM modified at 03:37:21 on 92/07/09 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Deleted by Elliott M. Avedon ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:59:02 on 92/07/07 GMT (by JIMGS at CARVM3) Subject: 688 Attack Sub Anyone using 688 Attack Sub with 2.0? The only glitches I have noticed is the too-fast appearance of messages, the too-fast 'screen shaking' when you get hit and the rapid movement of the icons for speed and depth. Can this be corrected by adjusting the DOS setttings for the session? Thanks, Jim Stewart ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:15:41 on 92/07/08 GMT (by SSIA013 at OS2CUST) Subject: 688 Attack Sub Ref: Append at 18:59:02 on 92/07/07 GMT (by JIMGS at CARVM3) Try giving access to the HW_TIMER in the DOS SETTINGS. This has fixed this sort of problem for me with other games that show pictures and etc. Paul Kurr -- Stockholder Systems, Norcross GA ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:56:14 on 92/07/09 GMT (by V$I82330 at AUSVM1) Subject: Civilization Ref: Has anyone managed to get Civilization running under OS/2 2.0? I have changed the DOS settings as suggested in the README but I still get a divide by zero error. My configuration is a PS/2 model 95 and an 8515 display. Also, I notice that the readme says that the VIDEO_RETRACE_EMUL setting should be OFF but earlier in this CFORUM someone said that it should be ON. Which is right? Ken McKinney (contractor) IBM Austin OS/2 Lan Server Build ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:49:33 on 92/07/09 GMT (by V$I82330 at AUSVM1) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 18:56:14 on 92/07/09 GMT (by V$I82330 at AUSVM1) OK, I've figured out that OFF needs to be checked on VIDEO_RETRACE _EMULATION and I can get CIV to work. The problem I'm noticing is that CIV runs very slowly when I invoke it (i.e. slower than a 12 mhz 286 on my model 95). I got it to run at a normal speed once but I can't seem to duplicate this. I have nothing significant running in the background, so I'm confused at the varying response. Ken McKinney ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:15:35 on 92/07/09 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM1) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 20:49:33 on 92/07/09 GMT (by V$I82330 at AUSVM1) I believe to get Civ to run perfectly under OS/2, you need to set these 4 settings: HW_TIMER=ON IDLE_SENSITIVITY=100 % VIDEO_ONDEMAND_MEMORY=OFF VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION=OFF Try that, and let us know how it works. Robert E. Lee Jr. ( GENERAL at BCRVM1 ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:50:36 on 92/07/09 GMT (by V$I82330 at AUSVM1) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 21:15:35 on 92/07/09 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM1) I tried the 4 settings and it didn't help the speed problem. Someone told me offline that I may have an early version which had a problem with the sound driver (which exists even when sound isn't selected). I'm going to find the fix on the internet and try applying it. Ken McKinney ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:58:35 on 92/07/10 GMT (by GMINNIC at ATLVMIC1) Subject: Apogee Games Ref: Append at 16:38:08 on 92/06/03 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) I have had the same problem with Wolfenstien freezing after the screen where you select which game scenerio to play.Any hints? I have tried the settings that were given on the this forum and it doesn't help. Even tried a virtual machine boot and didn't work..Gary Minnick ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:58:27 on 92/07/12 GMT (by REXM at AUSVM1) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 21:50:36 on 92/07/09 GMT (by V$I82330 at AUSVM1) I'm having the same symptoms of slow performance with Civilization. I have tried the recommended settings and they don't seem to make any difference in what I see. I have noticed that after playing for a while (sometimes an hour, sometimes 45 minutes) that all of a sudden the speed at which Civilization runs increases dramatically. I don't know what triggers the sudden increase in speed, but after it happens the blinking piece that is to be moved next looks like it's blinking about 2-5 times faster. Also, the harp-like music when city improvements are displayed begins to play "correct" (instead of one-note-at-a-time plinking). So, what is happening that makes it suddenly start to run well? Here are some clues that may (or may not) help figure out what's going on. When the change happens there seems to be a sudden flurry of disk I/O. Almost like some memory is being swapped out or flushed or ?. Also, I think I noticed that it happens when an attack occurs and the corresponding sound is played (sounds like a mix of a crash and blast). Maybe that fix for the sound problem will help? Once the performance improves I can switch to OS/2 sessions, the desktop, and when I get back to Civilization it is still running better than when it first starts. If there's anything I can do to help figure out what's going on, I'm willing to try. Rex McCaskill ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 07:19:01 on 92/07/13 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 16:58:27 on 92/07/12 GMT (by REXM at AUSVM1) The update (version 3.0) has made a huge amount of differnece on my machine, 80-A31. I don't know what they have done, but it runs just as if it were under DOS. I do have an 8514/a card with the OS/2 settings turned on for it. David Morrison Portsmouth UK. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:41:24 on 92/07/13 GMT (by TJBARRO at CHGVMIC1) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 16:58:27 on 92/07/12 GMT (by REXM at AUSVM1) Do you have the new kernel fix applied, which fixes swapper problems? For instance, RAM and DASD not being released properly (i.e. you may have nothing running, a 12MB swap file, and sluggish performance). This may/may not be you problem.....just an idea. Timothy J. Barron TEAM IBM Workstation Systems Engineer TJBARRO at CHGVMIC1 OS/2 Chicago Insurance Branch 098 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 00:23:53 on 92/07/14 GMT (by REXM at AUSVM1) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 14:41:24 on 92/07/13 GMT (by TJBARRO at CHGVMIC1) Ok, I've got two things to look into! I'll get the updated kernel and try it out. I assume I need to write Microprose to get Civ 3.0 (hope it's not really a new version that I have to pay for!). I played with it some more last night and it doesn't seem related to the sound as I thought it might be. At least not directly related. I timed the difference in the rate that the game piece blinks when it's slow and fast. Counted 100 blinks. When things are running fast it takes 34 seconds; slow, it took 111 seconds. The other thing I noticed was when a discovery is made, the music plays at the right tempo until the graphic is faded in and then it slows down and chops up the music a bit (this is when it's running fast...when it's slow I think the music is a steady note-at-a-time that doesn't seem to vary in speed at all). Hopefully the kernel or new game version will clear it up. Rex McCaskill ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 10:55:23 on 92/07/14 GMT (by 86649149 at WARVM2) Subject: ACES OF THE PACIFIC My machine is a PS/2 Mod 90 with 33mhz 486. I can get ACES running in a full session with no problem but it's rather slow compared to DOS 5 Has any got this running well, or is the fact that OS/2 is slower because of the massive overhead the problem. Stuart Stebbings IBM UK. Appended by: , 86649149 at WARVM2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:21:13 on 92/07/14 GMT (by 64942161 at TOROHON1) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 00:23:53 on 92/07/14 GMT (by REXM at AUSVM1) Rex, You can get the fixes for Civilization in the Game Publisher's Forum on Compuserve. Richard Polisuk, IBM Canada Limited ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 11:06:56 on 92/07/15 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) ..... OS2GAMES CFORUM modified at 16:14:00 on 92/07/15 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Subject: Getting MAX Speed for WCII in OS2 2.0 I was wondering if anyone has achieved the ultimate speed for WCII? I have played around with the DOS SETTINGS and managed to speed it up a little. It is still lacking in speed compared to running it from plain ol DOS. I believe I have achieved the best settings I can from the CMOS(AMI BIOS). I've also incorporated the latest OS2 FIXES as well. I would imagine I could get comparable speed if I turned off the Sound Blaster. I'd rather not do that since it's so much fun listening to your Wingman chew you out for firing them up!!! I would appreciate someone posting the proper DOS SETTINGS. |I'm running a 386/25 Clone. Thanks, Dan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:43:20 on 92/07/15 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM1) Subject: DOS_SETTINGS for Global Conquest Has anybody gotten Global Conquest to work well under OS/2? With the latest CSDs, and some fiddling with DOS_SETTINGS, (HW_TIMER=ON, COM_HOLD=ON, HW_COM=ON, IDLE_SENSITIVITY=100), I've been able to at least get the program to run somewhat, but it still executes *very* slowly, less than 1/4 the speed under DOS, even when playing a solo game (no modem opponents). Windows that normally pop up almost instantly instead take a few seconds to be visibly redrawn. Does anyone know if this is an OS/2 problem or a GC problem? If it's an OS/2 problem, is there a fix for it? (None of the fixes I currently have seem to do the trick.) If it's a GC problem, anyone have a clue as to what they are doing that would cause such a performance difference? I'd be happy to talk to the GC vendor about it, if I just knew what to tell them they were doing wrong. Robert E. Lee Jr. ( GENERAL at BCRVM1 ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:52:02 on 92/07/16 GMT (by JHROMPA at CHGVMIC1) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Has anyone got Wolfenstein 3d to run in OS/2 2.0. I can not even get to the title screen. It comes up with graphics garbage. I even tried to boot Dos from drive a: (under 2.0) and it will not work. If anyone has it working please send me the settings. Thanx. Jeff JHROMPA at CHGVMIC1 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:40:29 on 92/07/16 GMT (by LIBRA at CAMBRIDG) ..... OS2GAMES CFORUM modified at 12:40:15 on 92/07/17 GMT (by LIBRA at CAMBRIDG) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Ref: Append at 17:52:02 on 92/07/16 GMT (by JHROMPA at CHGVMIC1) I got it to work by turning VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION OFF. | You should also give it > 1024k EMS, but then again the default | is already 2048k. Rith Peou ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:26:44 on 92/07/16 GMT (by SHABBY at RCHVMP) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Ref: Append at 17:52:02 on 92/07/16 GMT (by JHROMPA at CHGVMIC1) VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION needs to be off, I am pretty sure. Or on. Whichever is _not_ the default. It seems a lot like an Apogee game... is it? I forget... (it's been a while since I had it on my hd) -Chris ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:37:15 on 92/07/17 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Ref: Append at 20:26:44 on 92/07/16 GMT (by SHABBY at RCHVMP) It is an Apogee game, with the option of buying the 2 additional episodes that follow it. Bill Trautman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:40:53 on 92/07/17 GMT (by XXBCSC76 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Ref: Append at 17:52:02 on 92/07/16 GMT (by JHROMPA at CHGVMIC1) It works very well! Check your settings (below). Also, do not switch out of the game because when you come back, scores and some graphics will not show. If you do switch out, be very patient, it sometimes takes about 10 seconds to display the desktop (on my 486). Settings as mentioned by others here: REQUIRED: VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION -- OFF Optional: DOS_BACKGROUND_EXECUTION -- OFF (speeds up other DOS windows if you switch out) Hint: If you do switch, and find it unusable when you return, save it by pressing F2 and then exit and restart the program... Bye for now, GLen GLITTLE@BCSC02 Fax: 604 660-3170 Systems Analyst, BC Ministry of Finance, FICOM, Vancouver ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:31:18 on 92/07/20 GMT (by GDOBSN at OS2CUST) Subject: Wolfenstein 3D I saw the other messages about turning Video retrace off for OS/2. I did this and discovered that Castle Wolfenstein would load, but that it would fail to see either XMS or EMS memory despite both being configured for their default. Anyone else see this problem or have a solution? I wonder if any other applications can't see EMS and XMS memory under the DOS box of OS/2 2.0. Any other comments? Bryan Nahrwold ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:21:27 on 92/07/20 GMT (by BSEWARD at DALVMIC4) Subject: The Lost Admiral I am having problems with The Lost Admiral in a DOS Full Screen box. I am consistently hanging that session when the computer opponent is calculating his moves. It seems to happen when he has a lot of units and they are close to a lot of my units. Perhaps a lot of AI activity. I saw it first in the 3rd scenario of Sink the Bismark Campaign, and it happened EVERY time in that third scenario, until I saved after each of my movement turns, then went into OS/2 and saved all of the most recently accessed files, and then went back into the game, and restored my saved game. I still hung up this way, but I was at least able to re-restore my saved game, by copying back the files. I must not have copied back all the right files, because I have been promoted to Seaman Firstclass about ten times already. Almost every campaign has had this hang happen in one of it's scenarios. I have been forced to go back to running in my dos partition. :-{ Any suggestions? R M (Bob) Seward III ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 22:14:37 on 92/07/20 GMT (by USBC238 at OS2CUST) Subject: Wolfenstein 3D Ref: Append at 17:31:18 on 92/07/20 GMT (by GDOBSN at OS2CUST) This may be unrelated but to get EMSand XMS to work reliably I had the change the ROM Address on my IBM 16/4 Token ring adapter to DE000-DFFFF. There may be some similar conflict in your system setup. Just a thought... Charles Boyce - US Bank, Portland OR ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 23:49:54 on 92/07/20 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: The Lost Admiral Ref: Append at 19:21:27 on 92/07/20 GMT (by BSEWARD at DALVMIC4) You might want to try turning down your Idle sensitivity, it might be that OS/2 thinks that your code is actually polling something and after a while of that it lowers its dispatch priority. Bill Trautman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 10:44:54 on 92/07/24 GMT (by ZOLLER at HAIFASC3) Re: Games in a window? Ref: Append by (ZOLLER at HAIFASC3 ) on at Is it possible to run DOS mcga/vga/ega games in a window ? I managed to run a cga mode game in a window but when I try it with vga/ega/mcga the window is suspended? Enter Signature Here.Tal Zoller ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:18:47 on 92/07/24 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM1) Subject: Games in a window? Ref: Append at 10:44:54 on 92/07/24 GMT (by ZOLLER at HAIFASC3) Yes, I do it all the time! I don't even play CGA games anymore! All the games I play are at least EGA level, and they all run fine (although sometimes slowly) in a window. Depending on the resolution of the display mode used by the game and that used by the desktop, you will either get the complete game screen in a small (about 1/4 screen) window or you will have the normal sized display with scrollbars to allow you to scroll the screen within the window. Use Alt-Home to swap between windowed and fullscreen modes. Robert E. Lee Jr. ( GENERAL at BCRVM1 ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:20:05 on 92/07/24 GMT (by BSEWARD at DALVMIC4) Subject: The Lost Admiral Ref: Append at 23:49:54 on 92/07/20 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) How much should I turn Down the idle sensitivity? I think that it is at 60% now? R M (Bob) Seward III ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:55:28 on 92/07/24 GMT (by FUTRELL at KGNVMC) Subject: Games in a window? Ref: Append at 10:44:54 on 92/07/24 GMT (by ZOLLER at HAIFASC3) Do you have an XGA Adapter? I have XGA, and have never been able to get any DOS VGA program to run in a window. As you said, the program is suspended, and I am told that the programs video mode is not supported in a window, and that I must switch to full screen to resume it. I sure hope this gets fixed before too long. Larry Futrell - Workstation Technical Support (FDHK35A on PRODIGY) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:13:03 on 92/07/24 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: The Lost Admiral Ref: Append at 14:20:05 on 92/07/24 GMT (by BSEWARD at DALVMIC4) Not sure, you could try going all the way and see what happens... Bill Trautman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:19:18 on 92/07/24 GMT (by SUPKWILL at DETVMIC5) Subject: Games in a window? Ref: Append at 15:55:28 on 92/07/24 GMT (by FUTRELL at KGNVMC) As I understand it, you cannot run more the 16 colors on the desktop. Kevdog Kevin Williams 8/673-6516 IBM-33 West 1st St. Dayton, OH 45402 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:13:03 on 92/07/24 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: Games in a window? Ref: Append at 19:19:18 on 92/07/24 GMT (by SUPKWILL at DETVMIC5) 16 colors has nothing to do with it, Has to do with video resolution. I am really going out on a limb here, but this may be addressed in the 32 bit GRE. I think it needs that to handle the ammount of data needed to virtualize the window (16 bit puts 65k limit on things). Bill Trautman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 07:07:29 on 92/07/26 GMT (by ZOLLER at HAIFASC3) Re: games in a window? Robert--what video adapter do you have ? if vga - then how come modes aren't supported in XGA but work on VGA (I use a XGA adapter) Is there a fix to the problem? Tal Zoller. (ZOLLER at HAIFASC3) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 10:59:22 on 92/07/27 GMT (by ZOLLER at HAIFASC3) ..... OS2GAMES CFORUM modified at 14:45:24 on 92/08/16 GMT (by HOPKINS at AUSVM8) Subject: oops ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:11:48 on 92/07/27 GMT (by 64999905 at TOROHON1) Subject:A real beginner question Ref: None I just ran across some programs that mentioned they were designed for 4.77 MHZ machines. I am running on a 486/50. They said to use a program called SLOWDOWN but it did not seem to work. I guess I am asking in General whether Arcade style games that depend on certain speeds/actions will get messed up on my machine before I add another one, or do most have the smarts to throw away clock cycles on faster machines? The program I am having problems with is the IBM Solid Gold games package p. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:27:17 on 92/07/27 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM1) Subject: games in a window? Ref: Append at 07:07:29 on 92/07/26 GMT (by ZOLLER at HAIFASC3) Tal, I have VGA. I guess that's the difference. If you run your disktop in VGA mode, then apparently it works, but if you run in XGA mode, then it (apparently) doesn't yet work. Looks like you may have to wait for the 32bit GRE to come out. Robert E. Lee Jr. ( GENERAL at BCRVM1 ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:42:09 on 92/07/27 GMT (by GENERAL at BCRVM1) Subject: A real beginner question Ref: Append at 12:11:48 on 92/07/27 GMT (by 64999905 at TOROHON1) That depends entirely on how the game was written. If the game kept time by using delay loops instead of keying off of the timer interrupt, then they will suffer that problem. Many older games that were designed for old 4.77MHz 8086 systems didn't realize that in the future systems would be getting faster, so they kept time by using delay loops because it's much easier to code. If, however, they kept time using the timer mechanism, then the game should run identically no matter what the speed of the machine is. Most newer games do that nowadays. Robert E. Lee Jr. ( GENERAL at BCRVM1 ) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 00:03:22 on 92/07/28 GMT (by SHOULDIC at TUCVM1) Subject: Games in a window? Ref: Append at 15:55:28 on 92/07/24 GMT (by FUTRELL at KGNVMC) Let me really show my ingorance, but,.... If you have your hardware running in 1024x768 16 colour mode. That is the mode your hardware and memory addressing scheme is set up to. I don't think that it is possible to run it in 640x480 256 colour mode in another part of the screen, is it? I have always understood this to be a drawback of the windowing scheme. Ken ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:53:16 on 92/07/28 GMT (by BSEWARD at DALVMIC4) Subject: The Lost Admiral Ref: Append at 19:13:03 on 92/07/24 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Still no luck, I turned IDLE SENSITIVITY down to 1, and even tryed it at 100%, and it seemed to make no difference whatsoever. The session that I am in still hangs up completely during opposing forces movement, almost every game I play. R M (Bob) Seward III ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:38:29 on 92/07/29 GMT (by ZSAM1 at OS2CUST) Subject: Wolfenstein 3D Ref: Append at 17:31:18 on 92/07/20 GMT (by GDOBSN at OS2CUST) I have this running on my 486 compatible at home. Here are the following setting changes I made. Keep in mind I was setting these late at night and experimentally. Some may be refined, if you have time to adjust, but works for me. - Dos Full Screen - FCBS: 24 - FCBS Keep: 20 - Files: 30 - High: On - DPMI_MEM_limit: 12 - EMS_High_OS....: 80 - EMS_LOW_....: 512 - EMS_Mem_limit: 5456 - Video_retrace....: OFF - XMS_Handles: 52 - XMS_mem_limit: 10024 - XMS_minimum...: 64 S. Michalik, Kerr-McGee Corp. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 08:35:43 on 92/07/30 GMT (by SSYYED at GNKVM2) Subject: Wolfenstein 3D Ref: Append at 15:38:29 on 92/07/29 GMT (by ZSAM1 at OS2CUST) I found that with XMS enabled and with a Soundblaster the prog would hang at the end of the loading sequence. XMS disabled no problem. Without the SB enabled then XMS no effect, finally WOLF3D doesn't recognise XMS under OS2 (at least on my system) Sohail Syyed ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:28:49 on 92/07/30 GMT (by BSEWARD at DALVMIC4) Subject: The Lost Admiral Ref: Append at 13:53:16 on 92/07/28 GMT (by BSEWARD at DALVMIC4) I just called QQP, and as I figured they were absolutely NO help! They told me to run it in DOS, and with No TSRs. No Problem, I'll just re-partition my drive and install DOS, and OS/2 again, and leave a nice big chunk for DOS and DOS programs that won't seem to run right in OS/2's DOS box. Oh well if anyone out here has any other ideas other than for me to have a DOS partition on my drive they will be greatly appreciated. Thanks again for the idea on IDLE SENSITIVITY, I'm just sorry it didn't work for this game... R M (Bob) Seward III ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:55:24 on 92/07/30 GMT (by MIKCLRK at HVTVM2) Subject: The Lost Admiral Ref: Append at 14:28:49 on 92/07/30 GMT (by BSEWARD at DALVMIC4) If you've got DOS installed on your hard disk and it's on a FAT partition you should be able to format (from DOS) a bootable floppy. Point it's path to the copy of DOS on the hard disk (the one that came with OS/2). You might need to put COMMAND.COM and a few other things on it. Then boot from the floppy when you want to bring the machine up in pure DOS... Mik Clarke, ex-UKIIS Automation Grunt... <-)> ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:51:20 on 92/07/30 GMT (by TJBARRO at CHGVMIC1) Subject: The Lost Admiral Ref: Append at 14:28:49 on 92/07/30 GMT (by BSEWARD at DALVMIC4) Bob: I'm just joining this discussion, so if this has already been said I apologize for repitition. Have you tried the Virtual Machine Boot (VMB) feature, not to be confused with Dual Boot? VMB allows you to boot a specfic (and real) version of DOS (like 3.3, 4.0, 5.0, or DR DOS). If not, please give this a try as I have heard of some success stories using VMB. If this does not do the trick, I would definitely get in the Support Center channel (800-237-5511) to have them work with the game vendor. Timothy J. Barron TEAM IBM Workstation Systems Engineer TJBARRO at CHGVMIC1 OS/2 Chicago Insurance Branch 098 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:31:49 on 92/07/31 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Subject: Upgrade from 386 to 486 I'm thinking of upgrading from a 386-25DX to a 486-33DX. Is there a real noticeable improvement in game performance with OS/2 2.0? I'm sure performance improvement would be quite obvious with plain ol DOS but I'm most interested in OS/2 2.0 performance. Right now, a game like Wing Commander II is too slow to enjoy in OS/2 full screen even with the proper DOS SETTINGS changes recommended by the numerous appends in this Forum. Currently, I'm pretty sure I have configured my DOS SETTINGS for ultimate speed with WCII. Ultimately, I would like to stay with OS/2 2.0 and not have to boot DOS unless absolutely necessary. I only use OS/2 2.0 at work with no serious problems. OS/2 performance has always been so so, with my 386-25. I would think it would be greatly improved with a 486-33. By chance, has anyone up- graded recently from a 386-25(Clone)? I would appreciate any input. Thanks, Dan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 01:55:54 on 92/08/03 GMT (by PKELLEY at SYDVM1) Subject: Upgrade from 386 to 486 Ref: Append at 14:31:49 on 92/07/31 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Just out of interest, what settings are you using ? I find WCII a tad slow on my 486sx 20MHz machine - the main reason being is it seems to swap a bit whilst playing causing erratic screen updates. If I had more memory it might be acceptable. Peter Kelley Systems Integration IBM Australia/New Zealand, Team OS/2 Sydney Appended at 11:55:41 AM EST on 3 Aug 1992 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:25:57 on 92/08/03 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Subject: Upgrade from 386 to 486 Ref: Append at 01:55:54 on 92/08/03 GMT (by PKELLEY at SYDVM1) Peter: I don't remember all my settings since I'm not at home but I remember a few such as HW_NOSOUND (ON), HW_TIMER (YES), IDLE_SENSITIVITY(100) & COM_HOLD(ON). I believe that's currently what I have set. I can re- check tonight to verify. I've tried a host of different settings for experimentation reasons, but I can't get WCII to run to my satisfaction. The point being, it doesn't run as good in OS/2 as it does in DOS. I don't know how a 486SX/20 compares to a 386/25 when it comes to speed. You say it runs pretty good? What is your VIDEO_RETRACE_EMUL SETTING? According to earlier appends, this should be OFF. Dan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:06:17 on 92/08/03 GMT (by CAPPS at BCRVMPC2) Subject: Upgrade from 386 to 486 Ref: Append at 14:31:49 on 92/07/31 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) I recently upgraded from a 20 Mhz 386DX to a 33 Mhz 486DX and the game performance under DOS full-screen has improved dramatically. Wing Commander I as its always been is unplayeable on the 33 Mhz 486 because it's too fast. I haven't tried WC II under the DOS full-screen but based on the WC I difference in speed from 20 Mhz 386 to 33 Mhz 486 I would say II should be very good in the DOS full-screen under OS/2. Louis Capps PS/2 Server System Development ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:10:08 on 92/08/03 GMT (by V$I68J1 at CLTVMF) Subject: SSI Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Forgotten Realms Vol. 4 Ref: Append at 17:06:17 on 92/08/03 GMT (by CAPPS at BCRVMPC2) I am getting an OS/2 trap screen from the VDM stating that "An NPX instruction was attempted. No NPX is present." Is this the math emulator?? Can it be fixed by DOS settings. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:11:25 on 92/08/03 GMT (by V$I68J1 at CLTVMF) Subject: Dyanmix, Rise of the Dragon Ref: Append at 17:06:17 on 92/08/03 GMT (by CAPPS at BCRVMPC2) When I run this game, the sound seems very jerky, and the bitmaps that are movable with the mouse flicker. Any suggestions? Mitch Jareo ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:48:31 on 92/08/03 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Subject: Upgrade from 386 to 486 Ref: Append at 17:06:17 on 92/08/03 GMT (by CAPPS at BCRVMPC2) Thanks for the reply. I kind of figured performance would be significant. Out of curiosity, what DOS settings were you using for WC I in DOS Full Screen? How's OS/2 performance with the Processor upgrade? If you're ever inclined to try WC II, drop me a note on the results! Thanks, Dan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:47:50 on 92/08/03 GMT (by LEHNERTZ at BCRVM7) Subject: WC II under OS/2 2.0 Ref: Append at 18:48:31 on 92/08/03 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) I've installed and played WC II a lot on a 33MHz 386 and it has played just fine. I did have to decrease (increase ?) the frame rate (using the Ctrl-KeyPad +) (maybe - it's been quite a while). Adjusting that helped speed things up just fine. Gary K. Lehnertz, Boca Solutions Lab ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 02:44:52 on 92/08/04 GMT (by AWAITE at SYDVM1) Subject: WC II under OS/2 2.0 Ref: Append at 21:47:50 on 92/08/03 GMT (by LEHNERTZ at BCRVM7) I find WC II still too fast on my 486/33 in a VDM if I set HW_TIMER ON (OK, maybe my reflexes aren't what they used to be). If I leave it OFF it slows down a little. On a 386/25 with HW_TIMER ON it's still not too bad in VDM (I'd say 10-20% slower than pure DOS booted) Alan Waite * OS/2, LAN Support * Brisbane, Australia. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 10:06:25 on 92/08/04 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Subject: WC II under OS/2 2.0 Ref: Append at 21:47:50 on 92/08/03 GMT (by LEHNERTZ at BCRVM7) I'll try the "CTRL-Keypad +" thing. Do you remember what your DOS Settings are in VDM? Judging by the append following yours, it sounds like a 486-33 is actually a tad too fast for WC II. Oh well, I guess it makes games more challenging. The bright side of this is companies like ORIGIN will be coming out with games well suited for 486's. CAN'T WAIT FOR STRIKE COMMANDER! Thanks, Dan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:08:00 on 92/08/04 GMT (by NAAO3IY at OS2CUST) Subject: SSI Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Forgotten Realms Vol. 4 Ref: Append at 18:10:08 on 92/08/03 GMT (by V$I68J1 at CLTVMF) If you have DOS=HIGH,UMB, try changing to LOW,NOUMB. The feature seems to be wonky, and this message is one symptom. John Kennedy -- Hoechst Celanese, Bridgewater, NJ ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:13:12 on 92/08/04 GMT (by CAPPS at BCRVMPC2) Subject: Upgrade from 386 to 486 Ref: Append at 18:48:31 on 92/08/03 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) I used: HW_ROM_TO_RAM = ON HW_TIMER = OFF IDLE_SENSITIVITY = 100 VIDEO_RETRACE = OFF WPS was much faster with the upgrade, although booting didn't improve significantly. Mostly it seems that the upgrade allows you to run more things simultaneously (like downloads in the background). Multiple DOS programs which are known to hog the CPU also show a big difference with the upgrade. Will try WC II when I get the money...just another toy... Louis Capps PS/2 Server System Development ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:56:00 on 92/08/11 GMT (by TOMH at AUSVM6) Subject: A-Train will not run properly. There seems to be a problem running A-Train(Maxis) in an OS2 dos session. The program comes up alright but the colors are a universal light tan and black. This occurs in full screen or window mode. Note that the program is 640x480x16 if that helps. Works fine under a bootmanager dos 5.0 session. tom ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:41:43 on 92/08/12 GMT (by IL51685 at OS2CUST) Subject: IBM OS/2 Chess Bug Ref: Append at 14:24:32 on 92/06/25 GMT (by BIEBER at GDLVM2) I ran across a situation in which the OS/2 Chess program did not recognize that the computer player had been checkmated. It knew I was not allowed to take my opponent's king, though. Personally, I think I'll try Chessmaster or Sargon for a real game. Philip F. Ozan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:10:51 on 92/08/12 GMT (by MOLE at AUSVMV) Subject: Apogee Games Ref: Append at 17:19:19 on 92/06/05 GMT (by DBROTHER at SFOVMIC1) What is Apogee's BBS #? Thanks ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:21:29 on 92/08/12 GMT (by RICHTERR at FSHVM1) Subject: Sound in DOS VDM's Can someone append a short explanation of why sounds generated through the PC speaker seem to dramatically slow down games run in a DOS box? I've been running Falcon 3.0 and it seems to run better under OS/2 than under regular DOS except for the sound problem. I think that OS/2 does better disk buffering and that accounts for the improvement. Graphics run great, why is sound a problem and will it be remedied in the future? I tried HW_TIMER ON but then it wouldn't run at all. Thanks, RR ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:21:28 on 92/08/12 GMT (by LEHNERTZ at BCRVM7) Subject: Sound in DOS VDM's Ref: Append at 19:21:29 on 92/08/12 GMT (by RICHTERR at FSHVM1) A short explaination - OK - they use "very fast" interrupts to drive the speaker and OS/2 does not support that. The max # of interrupts supported by OS/2 is around 1000/sec. The solution is to buy a sound card!! :) Gary K. Lehnertz, Boca Solutions Lab ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:26:02 on 92/08/12 GMT (by BWILSON at AUSVM8) Subject: Sound in DOS VDM's Ref : Append at 21:21:28 on 92/08/12 GMT (by LEHNERTZ at BCRVM I have a sound card (Sound Blaster) and with Falcon 3.0, it just doesn't cut it - all the speech is so slow that it is difficult to make out. Other than that the game is fine, but that is too annoying to live with, so I don't play it under OS/2. The music is okay, it is just the speech - maybe a DMA problem? Brad Wilson AIxTOOLS ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:08:15 on 92/08/13 GMT (by TCSC121 at OS2CUST) Subject: F15 Doesn't work Has any one been able to get F15 to work under OS/2 2.0 I get an interrupt trap and I'm done. It seems to be a video problem. What I currently do is I created a DOS boot disk that allocates a RAM DISK. I then copy all of the games disks to the RAM DISK and play at hyperspeed. It is a bit of a drag to have to reboot to use OS/2 and the reboot and copy files to switch between. If any one has had any better luck I would appreciate an answer. Dave Lauta Time Customer Service Serious game player ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:38:59 on 92/08/14 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Subject: Wolf 3d. I know this has been discussed before and got working, BUT has anyone got it working with 8514/a card ?? I just get a hang where the loading bar is displayed. David Appended by: , 86663155 at WARVM2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 23:13:01 on 92/08/16 GMT (by BVERLIN at SYDVM1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? A customer is having ongoing problems running various games - especially the unusual musical sound games with speaking and music, such as; Golf: won't run at all - locks up at beginning when the birds start singing - you can't hear the singing in OS2, although in sounds fine in DOS. The name of the game is Golf by Sound Effects. Meanstreet and Crimewave: Both these games run ok, but are too slow to play at all - they work in DOS ok. Leisure Suit Larry: Works fine. We have searched thru settings - can anyone please suggest something to get these games running ok? Thanks, Bronwyn Verlinden (BVERLIN at sydvm1). ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:59:12 on 92/08/17 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 23:13:01 on 92/08/16 GMT (by BVERLIN at SYDVM1) MEANSTREET and CRIMEWAVE use REALSOUND, which will not work, it was documented somewhere, but I can't find it now. To run the games, you will need to disable the sound entirely. No experience with Golf, sorry. Irv Spalten BPC Technical Interface Group, Boca Raton FL ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:11:37 on 92/08/17 GMT (by SHABBY at RCHVMP) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 23:13:01 on 92/08/16 GMT (by BVERLIN at SYDVM1) These types of games that pump digitized music out of (I assume) the internal speaker port are doing all kinds of nasty things to the computer when you run them under DOS. OS/2 won't let it do these things, so the game does something unpredictable like lock up or play much more slowly. Is the customer using the internal speaker or some type of sound board like a SB? If it's a SB, then I'm not sure what to say, because I have no experience with them. -Chris ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:48:19 on 92/08/17 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 12:59:12 on 92/08/17 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Any plans to improve sound performance with OS/2 2.0 or is this an inherent coding problem with OS/2 we will have to live with? Since I enjoy games of this sort so much, this one problem with sound cards is preventing me from fully implementing OS/2 at home. I would imagine upgrades to fast 486 machines would help along those lines. Currently, I only have a 386-25. Dan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:27:50 on 92/08/17 GMT (by LEHNERTZ at BCRVM7) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 23:13:01 on 92/08/16 GMT (by BVERLIN at SYDVM1) While I'm not familiar with "Golf" - MeanStreets, CrimeWave (& a few others) use a technique called "Realsound" to create very realistic sounds from the (totally inadequate) PC speaker. This is done by issuing a MASSIVE number of interrupts (on a per second basis). The conflict with OS/2 comes in that it can only handle 1100 interrupts/sec (or thereabouts). Consequently, the system goes south. You'll find that anything utilizing a Sound Blaster or Adlib (as the 2 most popular examples of sound boards) works just fine. Hope that helps explain the why, even if it doesn't help in running these games. Gary K. Lehnertz, Boca Solutions Lab ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:53:35 on 92/08/17 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 13:48:19 on 92/08/17 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Dan, some games will do many times the interrupts to get the sound on the speaker right (RealSound), I think up to 5,000 interrupts per second or even more. We are investigating raising the current limit of about 1,100 int/sec., but I doubt if it can get as fast as some games need it. Some programs will always try to set the speed even with sound disabled or if an alternate sound method (cards) are used. In general, using a sound card is a viable alternative to the PC speaker. Note that some cards may require drivers or not work well on some programs anyway. Irv Spalten BPC Technical Interface Group, Boca Raton FL ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:29:32 on 92/08/17 GMT (by HALLERMA at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 13:48:19 on 92/08/17 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Applications that use the Realsound technique to create sound through the PC speaker are reprogramming the system timer to interrupt 16,000 times/second (equivalent to a 160,000 baud modem!!!). It is difficult to see how any multi-tasking operating system can handle motherboard interrupts continuously every 60 microseconds. Sound boards handle their own interrupts and work ok. Most apps that use the speaker don't use this "Realsound" technique, and they also work ok. But, use of the "Realsound" technique seems to preclude ANYTHING else running in the system. Mel Hallerman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:17:36 on 92/08/17 GMT (by HENRY at TUCVM5) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 14:27:50 on 92/08/17 GMT (by LEHNERTZ at BCRVM7) The comment that anything using a SoundBlaster works fine is not correct. 4D-Boxing which uses the SoundBlaster has all of the same problems that were described in the previous appends. It runs too slow. The sound is garbled, and it hangs the operating system. Regards, Jim Henry ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:35:33 on 92/08/17 GMT (by STEIN at RHQVM10) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Same with some of the cd's - Mixed up Mother Goose sounds fine, but the song finishes and then the action starts. I still have not found anyone who can answer the question about CD-ROM's and 2.0. What will fix the problems? Type II drives, Multimedia extentions? 2.0 Soundblaster support? Something coming? Thanks.... Steve 8/351-4620 (STEIN AT RHQVM10) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:47:20 on 92/08/17 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 17:17:36 on 92/08/17 GMT (by HENRY at TUCVM5) Some programs do not care what your sound source is. They will work as if one is selected, even if NO sound is used. This is so they don't have to recode the program to operate at different interrupt timings. Nothing we help these programs. Irv Spalten BPC Technical Interface Group, Boca Raton FL ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:32:36 on 92/08/17 GMT (by JHROMPA at CHGVMIC1) Subject: Links 386 VESA Links 386 Golf I purchased Links 386 golf and can not get it to run on My model 70. Seems I need a VESA Driver. One is supplied with the game for a model 25sx but it will not work with the 70. I think this is a Super VGA TSR that fakes out your machine so it runs higher resolutions. My question is does IBM make this driver for the model 70? Must I upgrade my hardware to run LINKS 386? If anyone knows please reply. Otherwise back to Egghead she goes. Thanks Jeff You can reply directly to my node CHGVMIC1(JHROMPA). P.S. The exact same thing happens under DOS 5 when I dual boot. Options: LOG OS2GAMES APPENDS SENDTO YKTVMV IBMPC IBMPC OS2GAMES CFORUM Subject: ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:44:29 on 92/08/19 GMT (by DCTHOMAS at RALVM29) Subject: Wolf 3d. Ref: Append at 12:38:59 on 92/08/14 GMT (by 86663155 at WARVM2) Sorry to note exactly answer your question, but... I've gotten it working on XGA. The funny thing is, I think wolf thinks it's an EGA. The graphics are somewhat blockier and the characters all look different. Strangely enough, the sound is even different. I think the game totally reconfigures itself on different graphics cards. Dave Thomas ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:29:57 on 92/08/19 GMT (by SHABBY at RCHVMP) Subject: Wolf 3d. Ref: Append at 12:44:29 on 92/08/19 GMT (by DCTHOMAS at RALVM29) I didn't think Wolf 3D went higher than EGA mode graphics, even when run under DOS... Of course, it's been a while... -Chris ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 22:51:05 on 92/08/19 GMT (by SUPDOAR at DFWVM04) Subject: Kampfgruppe under OS/2 Ref: Append at 15:36:26 on 92/06/04 GMT (by WWYATT at DALVMIC5) Does anyone have any experience with Kampfgruppe (from SSI, I think) under OS/2 2.0? Someone I know is buying a preload 57 and wants to be sure his current software runs. Thanks. Jeff Doar in surprisingly mild Dallas TX ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:51:03 on 92/08/21 GMT (by HASCHAFF at ATLVMIC1) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 00:23:53 on 92/07/14 GMT (by REXM at AUSVM1) Did anyone ever get the problem with Civ solved. It ran fine for me until I got an installed a sound card. Now if I try to use the card, I get the same symptoms that other folks have had; it runs real slow for some varying time and then suddenly it speeds up and runs real fast for the rest of the session. I can't figure out any pattern for why it runs faster all of a sudden. I have version 4 of CIV and the kernal fix installed. Anyone running with a sound card without this problem? Harrison Schaffhauser ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 09:00:32 on 92/08/24 GMT (by ZOLLER at HAIFASC3) Re: Guy Spy Ref: None. Does anyone have experience with GUYSPY ? It runs too fast and keyboard response is too slow. Do you know what the settings should be when running this game? Thanks, Tal Zoller. (ZOLLER at HAIFASC3) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:04:22 on 92/08/24 GMT (by JCPFLUEG at AUSVMR) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 20:51:03 on 92/08/21 GMT (by HASCHAFF at ATLVMIC1) This is a 'sporadic' problem with me. If I turn the machine on, then start Civilization up after everything in the start-up folder starts, then C. is okay. If I close Civilization and then decide to restart it I get the slow-fast response that makes the game unplayable. If I want to play it again, I reboot the machine. (Yes, I Have a soundboard - Thunderboard) I suspect this is some weird interaction between the swapper and C., and from your append I might add the soundboard driver. jcpflueg @ ausvmr ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 07:59:49 on 92/08/25 GMT (by SSYYED at GNKVM2) Subject: Wing Commander II - Speed For information, I found Wing Commander unplayable under OS2 with the soundblaster, and speech and music, and recommended settings. However when I changed SB-Pro IRQ from 7 to 5 (to allow printing at the same time) and tried wing commander II, the speed played almost as if under DOS. There are one or two slow points (relative), but not enough to spoil the game. Do not know why, anyone who did find it slow should maybe try it. (You will have to run install again, 1min job). ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:19:47 on 92/08/25 GMT (by SUPDOAR at DFWVM04) Subject: Wing Commander II - Speed Ref: Append at 07:59:49 on 92/08/25 GMT (by SSYYED at GNKVM2) How much memory were you able to allocate to WC2? (I'm trying to sell my friends on OS/2 and that won't work unless WC2 runs like a champ.) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 08:19:25 on 92/08/26 GMT (by SSYYED at GNKVM2) Subject: Wing Commander II - Speed Ref: Append at 19:19:47 on 92/08/25 GMT (by SUPDOAR at DFWVM04) To be honest I do not know - Does it matter ? I think I had expanded configured 2M ? maybe more. DOS ? Extended -I would have set to 0. It was running on a 486DX2-25/50 - 16M machine 0cache. With IRQ7 - Speech/music was slooooow. With IRQ5 - Running as if under DOS - on same machine. Settings as previously mentioned in this Forum. Hope this helps. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:18:44 on 92/08/26 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Subject: Wing Commander II - Speed Ref: Append at 07:59:49 on 92/08/25 GMT (by SSYYED at GNKVM2) When you say re-install, I assume you mean WCII? I don't recall how to change the IRQ. I think WCII install allows one to change that value right? I hope you're right about IRQ 5 allowing WCII to operate as fast (or almost as fast)in OS/2 as in DOS. Thanks, Dan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:58:44 on 92/08/26 GMT (by LEHNERTZ at BCRVM7) Subject: Wing Commander II - Speed Ref: Append at 19:19:47 on 92/08/25 GMT (by SUPDOAR at DFWVM04) >> How much memory were you able to allocate to WC2? (I'm trying to >> sell my friends on OS/2 and that won't work unless WC2 runs like >>a champ.) I've been running WC II (with a SB - on IRQ2 as the only change from the default SB configuration) and it runs fine. This is on a 33 MHz 386 with 8 Mb memory. Other than the "normal" DOS Settings changes (such as IDLE SENSITIVITY 100, etc.), I didn't make any changes to the memory settings values. I do need to change the frame rate or things happen too fast (just as I used to do under DOS 5.0). Gary K. Lehnertz, Boca Solutions Lab ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:04:49 on 92/08/26 GMT (by IL87812 at OS2CUST) Subject: Chess Requirements What type of environment is required to play the chess applet over a network. We currently use Novell requestor for the file server over Token ring. Many of us also have ES. But when we try to choose a network player we get the messag e "Network function not available." What must we do? Rimas Remeza ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:03:49 on 92/08/26 GMT (by SUPBWALL at DETVMIC5) Subject: Links 386 VESA Ref: Append at 21:32:36 on 92/08/17 GMT (by JHROMPA at CHGVMIC1) Someone was asking about running Links 386 Pro on a model 70... It is impossible..... the game requires at least 640x480 resolution at 256 colors. I don't think any PS/2's without XGA support that graphics mode. I don't think XGA would work either. Some model 25's have a 640x400 x256 mode that the game supports, I think. The game requires a VESA compatible 640x480x256 color card which is standard in most clone computers.. unfortunately, IBM just does not see fit to implement these better graphics modes into its computers........ I think some of the new IBM AT Bus machines are supposed to have support for these high resolution 256 color graphics modes.... but I don't think those machines are even available yet. Bryan Wall 8/773-7241 Lexington, KY ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 08:29:08 on 92/08/27 GMT (by SSYYED at GNKVM2) Subject: Wing Commander II - Speed Ref: Append at 14:18:44 on 92/08/26 GMT (by DPKING at BTVVMOFS) Yes, WCII, I think this lets WCii know the SB is on IRQ5. I didn't have time to extensively, play but all seemed in order. I put the original append in because some of use found WCII unplayable others had no problem. I was one who had problems, so now I think these were due to using IRQ7. Sohail Syyed ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:36:56 on 92/08/27 GMT (by ANDYW at BCRVMPC1) Subj: Game Conferences Does anyone have any information on when & where the next Comsumer Electronics Show and Computer Game Designers Conferences are, and how to sign up to attend and/or participate ? Are there any other conferences where there's a large game presence ? Thanks ! Andy Wierling OS/2 Software Developer Programs ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:03:07 on 92/08/27 GMT (by KUTZT at WMAVM1) Subject: SW to build Computer Games? I have a business need to create a computer game. Does anyone know of any easy to program or use software to do this. There must be a lot of it out there judging by the volume of games but I can find nothing on any IBM source about it. I would prefer a system that lets you do the design and builds code etc, itself. Any ideas of where to start would be appriciated HONE was a waste of time and they were not very cooperative. Tom Kutz WMAVM7(KUTZT) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:07:15 on 92/08/27 GMT (by 86684794 at WARVM2) Subject: CHUCK YEAGER'S COMBAT FLIGHT SIM When trying to run this in a DOS full-screen, I get a few flashing colours and then Dos closes itself... IF however I run it by START COMMAND in OS/2 Fullscreen and then invoking it in the resulting COMMAND.COM It runs Fine. Anyone know the settings I should use to make it run in normal DOS F.S. ? Appended by: , 86684794 at WARVM2 REICHEN at NHBVM7 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:49:24 on 92/08/27 GMT (by RSKM at RCHLAND) ..... OS2GAMES CFORUM modified at 13:26:20 on 92/09/01 GMT (by RSKM at RCHLAND) Subject: SW to build Computer Games? > ..need to create a computer game. > ..a system that lets you do the design and builds code etc, itself. | <removed reference to limited-availability forum> There's a program called "Virtual Reality Studio" that lets you create standalone simulator-type games without writing code. (I've seen less sophisticated game-creation packages, but only for the Commodore-64 system) || If you're more interested in 2-dimensional types of games: I saw an || ad in a game magazine for a PC program called "Game Maker". ($89) || It's by KD software, and their number is 1-800-533-6772 . || <standard disclaimer-- never used it, no affiliation> Robert Kemmetmueller rskm@rchland 3-4968 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 22:42:28 on 92/08/27 GMT (by NAAO3IY at OS2CUST) Subject: SW to build Computer Games? Ref: Append at 14:03:07 on 92/08/27 GMT (by KUTZT at WMAVM1) "A computer game" is rather vague. "Hunt the Wumpus" can easily be done in straightforward BASIC or REXX. "Zork" can be (fairly) easily cloned using AGT, a well-distributed shareware offering. "Space Invaders" can be done in Turbo Pascal without too much difficulty. (If you want to do it in PM, I'd recommend waiting until the C++ situation under OS/2 is more stable.) On the other hand, most professional-quality games these days ("King's Quest V", for example) are done in ad-hoc languages that are jealously-guarded trade secrets. Look to invest a million dollars or more (I'm quite serious) to reach this quality. It all depends on what you need. Natural-language parsing? Graphics? 3-D animation? Music? Synchronized voice? How complex a world do you want to create? Natural-language parsing means more than just handling English grammar, by the way; it also means you have to provide a sensible response in your world to everything the user tries. (If he can pick up objects, can he pick up a dead body? If he can pick up a dead body, can he carry it into a room where there is a policeman? What happens when the policeman sees him?) John Kennedy -- Hoechst Celanese, Bridgewater, NJ ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:39:44 on 92/08/28 GMT (by RAYDA at RCHVMP3) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Ref: Append at 17:40:53 on 92/07/17 GMT (by XXBCSC76 at TORVMCOP) I have looked all the way through this forum and have taken all the advice from everyone about DOS settings, but I still can't get my system to run this. I just loaded on the kernel and os2ldr fixes, VEMM.SYS fix. This game does not recognize my EMS/XMS memory and hangs on the screen with the progressive loading bar. My system is a 50Mhz 8590 with 16Mb, 3 Mb image w/6091 and 8515 on XGA for full screen. Should this be reported on the bug forum about EMS not being seen by programs such as Lotus? Any other advice? Thanks, Ray ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:47:35 on 92/08/28 GMT (by DCARLSON at CLTVM3) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Ref: Append at 13:39:44 on 92/08/28 GMT (by RAYDA at RCHVMP3) Funny - I am running GA OS/2 (only change is 32-bit GRE), and Wolf3d works for me. Also interesting - when I had a 386sx/16, it would not run. I recently got a 386/40, and it ran fine (without changing any settings except VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION). It recognizes all my EMS just fine. I think I also have XMS disabled for this game. Maybe that would help. Wish I could help more. -=Bill=- ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:53:03 on 92/08/28 GMT (by LEHNERTZ at BCRVM7) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Ref: Append at 13:39:44 on 92/08/28 GMT (by RAYDA at RCHVMP3) I've got a 33MHz 386 system that I had many problems with while trying to get Wolfenstein running. Just recently, I got a comprehensive list of DOS Settings - these fixed me up just fine. I don't have them here, but I will bring the list in next week and post it here. Regards, Gary K. Lehnertz, Boca Solutions Lab ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:47:26 on 92/08/28 GMT (by SUPBWALL at DETVMIC5) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Ref: Append at 13:47:35 on 92/08/28 GMT (by DCARLSON at CLTVM3) I don't know if this is the problem or not with Wolfenstein, but there is a beta version that has been floatin around BBS's since before the shareware version was released. The beta version looks just like the real version except it simply refuses to run on some computers with certain configurations. You may try to find out if this is the problem. Try to somehow get a copy of the program that you KNOW is the real shareware version. This beta version was not supposed to reach the public, but it was leaked. Bryan Wall ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:23:36 on 92/08/28 GMT (by JDELUCA at SYDVM1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 17:35:33 on 92/08/17 GMT (by STEIN at RHQVM10) VDMs are currently implmented as single thread. If multiple threaded VDMs were to made available this would solve the sound problems you and others have referred to. (note: this is not the same problem as the 1000 interrupts/sec problem). Jeff De Luca, Advisory SE, TEAMOS2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 09:05:29 on 92/08/31 GMT (by SSYYED at GNKVM2) Subject: Wolfenstein 3d Ref: Append at 13:39:44 on 92/08/28 GMT (by RAYDA at RCHVMP3) I was getting the same problem as yourself, ie hangs in loading bar. The problem was only there when XMS and SBLASTER were configured, (XMS in DOS/OS2 window - SBLASTER in WOLF), disable either and it works. (Disable XMS since wolf do not recognise it under OS2) Sohail Syyed ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 09:31:24 on 92/08/31 GMT (by STADLER at MUNIVM4) Subject: Links 386 VESA Ref: Append at 20:03:49 on 92/08/26 GMT (by SUPBWALL at DETVMIC5) Just for completion : My IBM PS/2 Model 40 (8540-045) works fine with the VESA driver for the M 25 and so does LINKS 386 Pro. Bernd P. Stadler ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:57:07 on 92/09/01 GMT (by HULKSTER at STLVM22) Subject: OS/2 Chess Is there a way to play OS/2 Chess across a LAN when users are on different domains using different servers? When listing users, there appears to be a list of servers. However, my list only contains one server. How do I specify another player who is on a different server? Michael S. Goldberg ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 05:31:23 on 92/09/02 GMT (by XXNOVA24 at TORVMCOP) Subject: OS/2 Chess Ref: Append at 21:57:07 on 92/09/01 GMT (by HULKSTER at STLVM22) Even connecting to the same domain, from different floors (backbone router) doesn't show the players on the other floor. They had to limit the Lan trafic and keep up the productivity <g>. Geza Szivos NOVACOR Chemicals (403)-290-6583 NHO-32 801-7th Ave Calgary, Alberta, CANADA T2P 2N6 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:33:31 on 92/09/02 GMT (by HAMMOND at RCHVMV) ..... OS2GAMES CFORUM modified at 14:00:16 on 92/09/02 GMT (by HAMMOND at RCHVMV) Subject: Lemmings under 2.0 Ref: Append at 14:10:40 on 92/04/24 GMT (by 86674229 at WARVM2) | After looking at some of the other appends on LEMMINGS I see that others | have already provided this information - guess I missed it. I was playing with LEMMINGS last night. I found that if I get over my ego problem (that is, don't select HIGH PERFORMANCE PCs, just select PC Compatible) I could get it to run. I did this after starting a DOS Full Screen command prompt, no special settings. What I got was a good entry screen, a bad level description screen (where they tell you what you have to do in that level) and a good (perfect?) playing screen. I then tried to create an object for my games folder so that I could start from the desktop. This wouldn't work - all kinds of problems including killing the desktop itself. I don't know why. Pat Hammond ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 04:48:13 on 92/09/07 GMT (by CSTEWARD at SYDVM1) Subject: Links 386 VESA Ref: Append at 09:31:24 on 92/08/31 GMT (by STADLER at MUNIVM4) I recently bought LINK386 PRO and I too cannot get it to work. Are there any DOS settings that must be invoked to get it to work .... Like a previous appendee, the session just freezes at unpredictable times .I have turned off the sound options both within the game options and the DOS settings....still no go. Cheers, Carolyn Steward ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:13:09 on 92/09/07 GMT (by JDELUCA at SYDVM1) Subject: Links 386 VESA Ref: Append at 04:48:13 on 92/09/07 GMT (by CSTEWARD at SYDVM1) Access has released 386105.ZIP on CompuServe. This is the latest version of LINKS.EXE (V1.05). Also look at VESALIB.EXE on CompuServe which contains the XGAVESA driver... Can't say if it will help you; simply posting a "pointer". Jeff De Luca, Advisory SE, TEAMOS2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:43:30 on 92/09/09 GMT (by THRUMD at SYDVM1) Subject: Links 386 VESA Ref: Append at 18:13:09 on 92/09/07 GMT (by JDELUCA at SYDVM1) It turns out that this problem is fixed by the GRE beta. So just a little more patience ... Dave Thrum ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 09:08:52 on 92/09/14 GMT (by 86661720 at WARVM2) Subject: Prices Hello. I was just wondering if anyone from across the pond in USA/Canada could let me know how prices of ent. software compares with UK prices. I visited one of the better-known stores here in London and was pretty amazed by the 35-45 pound asking price! I'd be interested to hear if the software is any cheaper over there. Joe Matthews Appended by: , 86661720 at WARVM2(Reply to: 8SB0017 at CROVM1) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:35:48 on 92/09/14 GMT (by SUPBWALL at DETVMIC5) Subject: Prices Ref: Append at 09:08:52 on 92/09/14 GMT (by 86661720 at WARVM2) Joe, The prices here vary greatly. There are many discount software store near where I live that sell software (& games) much below retail prices. I would assume that the retain prices for most software would be the same no matter what side of the world you are on. Here, retail prices range from $39 to $69 but the same software can usually be found at the discount stores for from $20 to $49 US. Another option here is mail order. Many mail order companies let you order software through the mail at a reduced cost. Bryan Wall ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:20:28 on 92/09/14 GMT (by CHET at BLDFE2) Subject: Jet Fighter II (JF2) I bought Jet Fighter II (JF2) last week and it will not run in the DOS box under OS2 2.0 (GA). The initial screen come up fine but when I select an option to actually start the game I get "SYS3176: A program in this session encountered a problem and cannot continue." Requesting the help screen yields "EXPLANATION: An illegal instruction exception was generated when an attempt was made to execute an instruction whose operation was not defined for the host machine architecture. On the Intel 80386** caused by an invalid instruction. ACTION: If you purchased this program, contact the supplier of the program. If you are the developer of this program, refer to the information in the register." Well, I called Velocity and they said that they are referring all OS/2 problems to IBM as IBM would not provide them with a copy of OS/2 to use to test their product. This doesn't help my problem. Any help from another user or from IBM would be most appreciated. Chester B. Volpe ISSC Boulder ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 22:58:00 on 92/09/14 GMT (by NAAO3IY at OS2CUST) Subject: Prices Ref: Append at 09:08:52 on 92/09/14 GMT (by 86661720 at WARVM2) For brand-new, first-class games sold without a discount, UKL35-45 is not particularly high. Most games, no matter how expensive at first, can usually be had for no more than $40-50 after about six months, though. John Kennedy -- Hoechst Celanese, Bridgewater, NJ ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 23:11:57 on 92/09/14 GMT (by ESTEELE at SJEVM5) Subject: Jet Fighter II (JF2) Ref: Append at 21:20:28 on 92/09/14 GMT (by CHET at BLDFE2) Jet Fighter II runs fine in an OS/2 2.0 DOS box on my machine. I think I turned VIDEO_RETRACE_EMULATION off in the DOS SETTINGS though. Your problem may be due to having purchased an old version of the software. The original version of JF2 would not work with QEMM (or OS/2) but they fixed that a few months ago. The JF2 QEMM fix can be obtained from Velocity, but the copies in the stores should be OK. Mine was... GENE STEELE ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 09:09:27 on 92/09/16 GMT (by SSYYED at GNKVM2) Subject: SoundBlaster IRQ settings Word of warning to any who change Soundblaster to a different IRQ. Remember to include a SET something = Ix etc in your OS2 - DOS autoexec.bat It does affect some games (like WOLFSTEIN) which cause strange sound effects to happen, when not set (or set wrong). Sorry cannot remember what the SET is (I think BLASTER) Sohail Syyed ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:33:15 on 92/09/16 GMT (by IL12431 at OS2CUST) Subject: Civilization Ref: Append at 20:51:03 on 92/08/21 GMT (by HASCHAFF at ATLVMIC1) Yes, I have the same slow-then-normal processing. It's definitely the sound card. Doesn't make any sense that the performance eventually picks up... makes me wonder about OS/2 2.0's MVDM priority management. Dave Scheffer, ARGO Data Resource Corp. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:39:52 on 92/09/16 GMT (by IL12431 at OS2CUST) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 17:47:20 on 92/08/17 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) The problem with sound card slow-then-normal processing has been reported at least anecdoctally since May. Does anyone know offhand if we'll see a fix for this in the OS/2 2.0 CSD or via selective fix? Since the processing time does eventually correct itself during the session it seems to point to MVDM priority management. Seems fixable... Dave Scheffer, ARGO Data Resource Corp. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:11:06 on 92/09/17 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 21:39:52 on 92/09/16 GMT (by IL12431 at OS2CUST) Dave, I do not have particulars, but some games do some odd things. Some will change the timers, to produce sound on the speaker, EVEN if you are not using the speaker. Internally the program knows that and compenstates for that. Since OS/2 will stop this action if it exceeds it's capability, it therefore gets the program into a bind. If the program thinks it is running twice as fast, it winds up operating at 1/2 speed. I know that LINKS does NOT work like that, I use it on a system that has DOS and OS/2. In DOS I use the speaker sound, and when I first bring up OS/2 and play it, it is PAINFULLY slow. Reconfigure to no sound, works fine. I do not think that type of problem is in the VDM, so would not expect to see any fix until we can handle timer ticks as the programs expects it, and that is a real design issue, not a bug per se. The system is operating as designed... Some programs continually alter the timer, and those will operate slowly, then change speed at different times. Others will set the timer once, and never change it again. Some will only change it if using the speaker, others change it no matter what you are using... Irv Spalten BPC Technical Interface Group, Boca Raton FL ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:00:49 on 92/09/17 GMT (by IL12431 at OS2CUST) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 12:11:06 on 92/09/17 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Thanks Irv - I've heard the explanation before and I'm doubtful it applies to this instance. I'm watching the discussion in ISTHERE to see if the SoundBlaster drivers included with the MMPM/2 beta fix will solve this. If nothing else perhaps the upcoming OS/2 2.0 CSD is an answer. Dave Scheffer, ARGO Data Resource Corp. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:12:22 on 92/09/18 GMT (by BRIDGET at AUSVM1) Subject: Dr. Quandry I know this isn't one of the most popular games out there, but has anyone been able to get Dr. Quandry to run under OS/2 2.0? If so, what DOS Settings did you use...? Thanks. Bridget ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:12:25 on 92/09/20 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 12:11:06 on 92/09/17 GMT (by IRV at BCRVMPC1) Irv - I'm running MMPM/2 and M$ BookShelf. I can run the BookShelf .wav or .mid files by using the respective MMPM/2 applications, but I can't figure out how to tell BookShelf that MMPM/2 is sitting there ready to work. My hardware is an mod 70-486 with an external IB3510-001 CDROM drive cabled as input to an M-Audio card which is output to a stereo amplifer and speakers. The BookShelf program runs find under WINOS2 but won't produce sound. It's as if the BookShelf program is one thing and the sound files are another. Any suggestions? Elliott M. Avedon University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 (519) 885-1211 x2204 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 22:06:39 on 92/09/22 GMT (by ESACK at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 21:12:25 on 92/09/20 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Elliot, The problem is that Bookshelf is a Windows multimedia product, and requires that the Windows Multimedia extensions be installed. In general, if you are running a multimedia product in WINOS2 you will need to install the Windows multimedia extensions. If you are running a OS/2 multimedia product in native OS/2 then you need to have MMPM/2 installed. Patti Esack ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 02:04:57 on 92/09/23 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 22:06:39 on 92/09/22 GMT (by ESACK at BCRVMPC1) Patti, thank Irv for passing on my question. I've asked you another one on the ISTHERE forum, in response to your comments about the SoundBlaster card. This response prompts the question: WILL MS MULTI-MEDIA EXTENTIONS WORK IN WINOS2? or do we have to wait until the upgrade for OS2 2.0 is available with WINOS2 3.1? I assume you are an IBMer, thus the other question - if you have been following all of these forums as long as I have (since they started) - you will note that a number of people have questions about CDROM, Sound, and multimedia. Why can't we have a forum on the subject? Thanks again for your response and explaination. Elliott M. Avedon University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 (519) 885-1211 x2204 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:10:41 on 92/09/23 GMT (by MIKEK at DALHQIC2) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 02:04:57 on 92/09/23 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Yes, Win 3.0 MM extensions work great in WIN-OS/2. There is one little thing that must be changed in an INI file. Check out the OS/2 2.0 README. Michael Kaply Team OS/2 Dallas PRODIGY MVMF10A ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 21:36:43 on 92/09/23 GMT (by ESACK at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 02:04:57 on 92/09/23 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Yes, Windows Multimedia Extensions (Part # 92F2740) will work in WINOS2. I agree that there should be a forum for Multimedia problems, issues, and questions on this BBS and I have been working on having it added. It should be on here very soon. Patti Esack ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 02:21:20 on 92/09/25 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 21:36:43 on 92/09/23 GMT (by ESACK at BCRVMPC1) Amen and thanks! Elliott M. Avedon University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 (519) 885-1211 x2204 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:43:02 on 92/09/25 GMT (by ANDYA at RCHLAND) Subject: Citadel I have a shareware version of Tetris called Citadel by Quatris Pro. This doesn't seem to run runder OS/2. After painting one of the initial intro windows it just hangs. Any idea what I can do to get this running? Andy Arhelger Design & Simulation Technology Rochester, MN Dept 266 andya@rchland 3-4326 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 02:22:38 on 92/09/27 GMT (by IL19543 at OS2CUST) ..... OS2GAMES CFORUM modified at 17:55:40 on 92/09/27 GMT (by IL19543 at OS2CUST) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 21:39:52 on 92/09/16 GMT (by IL12431 at OS2CUST) coming from the speaker, and WIN31OS2 would grind to a halt. This speaker driver, while playing sound, totally locks up real Windows 3.1, with a hourglass that won't even move around on the screen until it is done wit h the sound, great multi-media hugh? WIN31OS2 does this also, but at least I can task switch away from it and do other work.WIN31OS2 to output sounds properly out of the PC's speaker with the SPEAKER.DRV sound driver for WIN31 to play .WAV files. This SPEAKER.DRV is a pretty cheesy way to get sound, but at least it is better than no sound at all. This IO_ON_INT may allow other DOS games to play sound better also? The sy symptoms I saw before I turned this setting on were extremely slow sounds Mike Long - CARD Iowa State University - PC/LAN Analyst ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think my append got corrupted somehow? The first part that is missing said that 32 bit,WIN31OS2 beta has a setting called IO_ON_INT (or INT_ON_IO) that allowed the SPEAKER.DRV to work properly under WIN31OS2. This setting may help other DOS apps that play sound to work also, when the 32 bit service pack is released. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 02:39:52 on 92/09/27 GMT (by IL19543 at OS2CUST) Subject: CHUCK YEAGER'S COMBAT FLIGHT SIM Ref: Append at 14:07:15 on 92/08/27 GMT (by 86684794 at WARVM2) I use Chuck Yeager quite alotat home, while down loading from this BBS with PM HPO. Here are the settings I use: COM_DIRECT_ACCESS=OFF "_HOLD=OFF "_SELECT=COM2 (?) DOS_BACK...=OFF "_BREAK=OFF "_HIGH=OFF "_UMB=OFF DPMI_DOS_API=DISABLED "_MEMORY_LIMIT=0 EMS_FRAME_LOC.=NONE "_MEMORY_LIMIT=0 HW_NOSOUND=OFF "_ROM_TO_ROM=OFF "_TIMER=OFF IDLE_SECONDS=0 "_SENSITIVITY=35 MOUSE_EXCLUSIVE_ACCESS=OFF VIDEO_FASTPASTE=OFF "_MODE_RESTRITION=NONE "_ONDEMAND_MEMORY=ON "_RETRACE_EMUL.=OFF "_ROM_EMUL.=ON "SWITCH_NOTIFICATION=OFF "_WINDOW_REFRESH=1 XMS_HANDLES=0 "_MEMORY_LIMIT=0 all other settings are at default. I had problems getting it to work, and chan ged groups of settings until I got it to work. Once you get something to work DO NOT try changing things around again, if it isn't broke, don't even think of trying to fix it :-> Mike Long - CARD Iowa State University - PC/LAN Analyst ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:45:53 on 92/09/28 GMT (by XXXFCL01 at TORVMCOP) Subject: F15 Doesn't work Ref: Append at 13:08:15 on 92/08/13 GMT (by TCSC121 at OS2CUST) I have tried with no luck either. My DOS boot diskette just has DOS and the batch file to start F15. All the F15 files are on the hardrive anong with OS/2. The same diskette also has PCTOOLS startup batch files for BACKUP, DISKFIX, COMPRESS etc. Ron Mills Technical Support Director, Federated Co-operatives Ltd Saskatoon, SK (306)-244-3317 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 22:59:45 on 92/09/28 GMT (by DONHILLS at SYDVM1) Subject: Problem running sound games in OS2 V2? Ref: Append at 02:22:38 on 92/09/27 GMT (by IL19543 at OS2CUST) Driving the PC speaker with SPEAKER.DRV (or Realsound, or any of the other digitised audio/PC speaker players) is extremely CPU-intensive. Assuming a sample rate of 8000 samples/second, the CPU has to service 16,000 interrupts per second. In addition, the CPU *MUST* service each interrupt as soon as it occurs, in order to prevent interruptions to the sound. Most of these speaker drivers lock out all other interrupts while they are producing the sound to prevent it being interrupted. I've written several different versions of such drivers, and I can assure you that although you may have sufficient CPU speed to handle other work as well as the sound production, if it involves handling other interrupts (such as mouse movement) you will get "static" in your sound. Don Hills ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:35:14 on 92/09/29 GMT (by ANDYA at RCHLAND) Subject: Slowdown a game Is there a progam available that I can run with a DOS game in full screen mode to slow it down? I have a game that runs too fast on my fast machine. Andy Arhelger Design & Simulation Technology Rochester, MN Dept 266 andya@rchland 3-4326 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:09:29 on 92/10/07 GMT (by HASCHAFF at ATLVMIC1) Subject: An OS/2 aware game I just had a nice thing happen yesterday. I was installing a new game called V for Victory on my OS/2 2.0 machine. It is a DOS game that uses Super VGA display drivers. During the install of the display drivers, it suddenly announced that I was running under OS/2 and that it would build a bat file for executing the game that would load the drivers for that VDM. The readme file also had a write up on OS/2 considerations. It seems to run fine under 2.0 even with sound board support. All in all a very nice surprise. Thought I would put a good story here for something different. Harrison Schaffhauser ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:59:38 on 92/10/07 GMT (by SAMI7JR at OS2CUST) Subject: An OS/2 aware game Ref: Append at 13:09:29 on 92/10/07 GMT (by HASCHAFF at ATLVMIC1) Is this your PC at work, and if so, you can have GAMES???? Steve.. SteveV ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:31:57 on 92/10/07 GMT (by ESTEELE at SJEVM5) Subject: An OS/2 aware game Ref: Append at 16:59:38 on 92/10/07 GMT (by SAMI7JR at OS2CUST) Most of us who have installed OS/2 2.0 at work are likely to have Solitaire, Chess... Playing them at work is another matter. A half dozen tiled Solitaire games with different card backs all playing at once while formatting a floppy does make an interesting demo though. 8-) But to answer your question, a great many of us have installed OS/2 and the betas on our home machines and have no problem reporting our experiences here. Nothing stresses an OS like a good game or simulator, and you can be sure that we have made known to the developers our concerns about ALL of our favorite software (and hardware). GENE STEELE ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:33:29 on 92/10/07 GMT (by HASCHAFF at ATLVMIC1) Subject: An OS/2 aware game Ref: Append at 16:59:38 on 92/10/07 GMT (by SAMI7JR at OS2CUST) Of course not! This is home only for games. I do find out that I learn a lot about human interface design from games, however. Harrison Schaffhauser ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 00:34:41 on 92/10/09 GMT (by BRENT at DALVM41B) Subject: An OS/2 aware game Ref: Append at 13:09:29 on 92/10/07 GMT (by HASCHAFF at ATLVMIC1) The folks at Three-Sixty (who make V for Victory I believe) seem to be very OS/2 aware. I received the latest Harpoon upgrade from them (at home of course) and they included quite a bit of information on running the program under OS/2. They even stated that it should run smoother on OS/2 than on DOS. The writeup for Windows was very short and basically said "won't work". If only they had a true 32-bit OS/2 version then I'd REALLY be happy :-) Brent Allen - IBM LAN Systems Integration Services Southlake, TX ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:07:38 on 92/10/09 GMT (by DARKELF at BCRVM1) Subject: Slowdown a game Ref: Append at 18:35:14 on 92/09/29 GMT (by ANDYA at RCHLAND) If you don't find a program to slow down the game try loading something else at the same time (or several somethings) make sure the settings allow them to run in the background. This should eat up some of your processor. Ray LaTulippe ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:16:36 on 92/10/09 GMT (by DARKELF at BCRVM1) Subject: Citadel Ref: Append at 14:43:02 on 92/09/25 GMT (by ANDYA at RCHLAND) I don't know if this will work or not. Try going into the icon settings /dos session/ and changing the dos version. Add nameofgame.exe,3,30,255 save the settings. under program name change the call from path\nameofgame.exe to path\nameofgame.bat then make a nameofgame.bat file in that path that calls nameofgame.exe I know that this is how we have got around some programs that don't like the OS/2 dos box. Ray LaTulippe (darkelf). ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:21:32 on 92/10/09 GMT (by ARTIGUES at LSAVMIC1) Subject: An OS/2 aware game Ref: Append at 00:34:41 on 92/10/09 GMT (by BRENT at DALVM41B) That's because one of the Harpoon beta testers and "Designer Series" designers shares my home machine which has been running OS/2 2.0 since the first beta drop! If he didn't figure out how to run it under OS/2, he wasn't going to run it at all. Cathy Artigues Systems Engineer IBM San Diego Branch ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:26:46 on 92/10/09 GMT (by JPATRICK at RALVM29) Subject: An OS/2 aware game Ref: Append at 14:21:32 on 92/10/09 GMT (by ARTIGUES at LSAVMIC1) I just thought I would add the following note that I got off a local BBS last night to the Harpoon discussion. I have no details of the particular scenario that is described, but the author was planning on making it available. Jim Patrick ====================================================================== <WWIVnet> Harpoon Scenario Sub ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Re: running Harpoon under OS/2 Tue Oct 06 14:36:09 1992 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I tried a really big HDS-IOPG scenario under both DOS 5.0 and OS/2 2.0. I started with one that requires 601K - both operating systems locked. I gradualy worked it down to 577K. OS/2 crashes, DOS does not! So much for being a better Dos than Dos. Although OS/2 is able to give Harpoon more memory, something somewhere gets fouled. I tried to play each game the same, but there must have been diferrences. Anyway, the final outcome was that under DOS I was able to play to the end, under OS/2, the game crashed. The current PC Computing has an article on OS/2 compatibility - it seems that even WordPerfect for DOS has trouble running under OS/2, so it is not that outrageous to expect that when you add a buggy operating system to a buggy game that you're inviting disaster. I will be uploading the scenario soon - it was a fun one! The only problem under DOS is that if you save it, you can't load it back in. This seems odd that Harpoon needs more memory for a scenario you want to load, then for one that is actually running (even though they are the SAME!) It is a big scenario, and it requires playing for a couple of hours and seriously junking some heavy equipment before that game can be saved. I guess we'll just have to wait for OS/2 2.1 (with 32-bit graphics, Win3.1 compatibility, and fewer bugs. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 09:38:38 on 92/10/10 GMT (by 91457010 at EHONE) Subject: An OS/2 aware game Ref: Append at 14:21:32 on 92/10/09 GMT (by ARTIGUES at LSAVMIC1) Get him to pursuade them to do a 32-bit OS/2 Version 2.0 version of Harpoon II!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 04:27:06 on 92/10/11 GMT (by WZ00734 at OS2CUST) Subject: Sierra Quest for Glory I & SoundBlaster Pro Is anybody successfully or unsuccessfully using this combination? I Trap D regularly or lock the system requiring cold boot, which isn't good. This is a reported problem so am trying to find other systems with success or failure on this forum. BTW, SoundBlaster seems to work well with other games, including Sierras, and Quest ... I works okay with the internal speaker, so this is not a general problem. (I'm using the new version of Quest and, obviously, running it in a VDM.) Joe Hager ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 11:54:20 on 92/10/12 GMT (by 86649149 at WARVM2) Subject: LINKS 386 Pro I have LINKS 386 on a model 95 and I also have the XGAVESA.EXE from Compuserv with the links.exe v1.05. I can start the game, but after the first hole of play the games stops saying "NOT ENOUGH DISK SPACE FOR SWAP FILE". This must be related to a file the game creates, as it runs with no problem at all in Native DOS. Does any one know what I need to do to get this working? Is it a DOS setting or something more fundamental. Regards Stuart Stebbings Appended by: , 86649149 at WARVM2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 13:51:55 on 92/10/13 GMT (by 86670547 at NHBVM4) Subject: LINKS 386 Pro Ref: Append at 11:54:20 on 92/10/12 GMT (by 86649149 at WARVM2) Stuart, Check the disk/partition that your swapper.dat file is on. If possible try moving it to another partition (to do this update your SWAPPATH in the config.sys file) with more space. John Goodall, HelpInfo-CD, IBM(UK) ISL, North Harbour, Portsmouth. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:39:55 on 92/10/14 GMT (by CAR2011 at OS2CUST) Subject: LINKS 386 Pro After reading about the user who is running LINKS 386 pro on his machine, I am compelled to ask, HOW DID YOU GET IT TO RUN? I have an IBM PS/2 model P75 with XGA Graphics. The moniter I use is a 8515, which supercedes the internal moniter. To attempt to run this, I open a DOS full screen session, then start the XGAVESA driver provided by ACCESS SOFTWARE. After this, I then start the program. What happens then is the entire screen will "BLOW APART, " meaning all graphics on the screen turn in to unorganized, randomly-placed dots of color. I suspect that the XGAVESA driver is not coexisting with the XGA driver used by OS2. Any thoughts? ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:02:28 on 92/10/14 GMT (by 86649149 at WARVM2) Subject: LINKS 386 Pro Once the XGA driver is started have you started the game "GOLF /P" ??? You must use the /p parameter to stop writes to the XGA palette. REGARDS Stuart Stebbings Appended by: , 86649149 at WARVM2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 19:38:37 on 92/10/14 GMT (by PMS7508 at MARTLINK) Subject: Wizardry VII Wizardry VII runs slow in a DOS full screen under OS/2 V2. The problem appears to be that the program is attempting to use sound capabilities. Any ideas ??? John Baker, Policy Management Systems Corporation ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 04:24:42 on 92/10/15 GMT (by NAAG8T6 at OS2CUST) Subject: LINKS 386 Pro Ref: Append at 11:54:20 on 92/10/12 GMT (by 86649149 at WARVM2) I run LINKS386/pro at home on my gateway/2000, 16 megs, ati ultra (SVGA is VVESA.COM). I have seen the swap message after every shot myself, so worked on the DOS settings, and found the following of use: hw_timer = ON (ungarbles the sound) dpmi_memory_limit = 6 (gets rid of swap error messages) Does this help on your machine? BTW, the game is still almost unplayable because the clubhead moves too fast, I'd like to hear a fix for that. LINKS is my only reason for booting true DOS these days. Bruce Ferrero @ Aetna, Middletown, CT ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:10:30 on 92/10/15 GMT (by TRAUTMAN at PKEDVM8) Subject: Wizardry VII Ref: Append at 19:38:37 on 92/10/14 GMT (by PMS7508 at MARTLINK) Try turning NO_SOUND on. also, try puting idle sensitivity to 100 also consider fiddling with allowing access to the timer. Bill Trautman Internet: BTrautman@vnet.ibm.com ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:52:10 on 92/10/15 GMT (by XXTSEX07 at TORVMCOP) Subject: WCII DELUXE EDITION CDROM Has anyone been able to get the CDROM version running, I know I could copy it to my hard disk and run it but I would rather have the 30m of space. I talked to ORIGIN and got the OS2 not supported because only 12% of PC base uses OS2 but they did provide settings if I wanted to copy it to my hard disk. The problem is to do with MSCDEX and the ORIGIN F/X drivers not being loaded. Can anyone explain why Mammals using Linkway and MSCDEX will work, and what version of MSCDEX is loaded to get it to work ? One other question running a MPC package under WINOS230 requires M$ Multimedia Extentions to be added to WINOS2, can I copy them from M$ Windoze 3.1 or do I have to spend more money on obsolete software. If I can copy them does anyone have a filelist ? Roger Clarke - The Toronto Stock Exchange (416) 941-0807 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:47:24 on 92/10/15 GMT (by DRUTH at POKVMCR3) Subject: GS200 and PAS 16 I am having trouble getting this to work properly. First problem was no sound, with "new" driver (4/27/92) from Microprose I can get some sound. Now game moves VERY fast. On the mission briefing screen the briefing officer moves like a Charlie Chaplin movie. Is this a DOS settings problem or is it related to using IRQ other than the PAS default of IRQ 7 (had to move that to IRQ 10 to get printer to work)? Not sure why this should be IRQ problem as GS setup program only admits to Adlib and SoundBlaster. Any and all help is appreciated. David Ruth Poughkeepsie ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:22:31 on 92/10/15 GMT (by V$IGBERT at AUSVM1) Subject: GS200 and PAS 16 Ref: Append at 16:47:24 on 92/10/15 GMT (by DRUTH at POKVMCR3) Did you try setting HW_TIMER to ON in the DOS session settings? Giovanni Bertolini ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 04:01:20 on 92/10/16 GMT (by XXUWAT06 at TORVMCOP) Subject: WCII DELUXE EDITION CDROM Ref: Append at 15:52:10 on 92/10/15 GMT (by XXTSEX07 at TORVMCOP) Roger, there is a version of MS Multi-Media Extensions that will work with OS2WIN30. Believe it or not - it is available as an IBM product - not an MS product! However, the MM Extentions are "built" into OS2WIN31 which is part of the new beta version of OS2. I'm now using MS BOOKSHELF on CDROM (the 1991 edition), and for the first time hearing (and seeing the animation) that is on this disk that I never knew was there. This is all because of the beta version of OS2. Any questions? Elliott M. Avedon University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 (519) 885-1211 x2204 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:14:22 on 92/10/16 GMT (by DRUTH at POKVMCR3) Subject: GS200 and PAS 16 Ref: Append at 17:22:31 on 92/10/15 GMT (by V$IGBERT at AUSVM1) No, I have not. Really did not see any reason to, but will give it a try now and see. Guess I really do not understand what HW_TIMER does. David Ruth Poughkeepsie ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 00:12:03 on 92/10/19 GMT (by AWAITE at SYDVM1) Subject: Wizardry VII Ref: Append at 19:38:37 on 92/10/14 GMT (by PMS7508 at MARTLINK) I can't get it to run at all (hangs at the manual check right at the start). Did you set any particular DOS Settings?I get the opening graphics and menu running at what looks like normal speed though. Alan Waite * OS/2, LAN Support * Brisbane, Australia. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 12:28:17 on 92/10/19 GMT (by RPROBINS at RALVM25) Subject: HardBall III Ref: None Has anyone been able to get HardBall III (Accolade) running under 2.0? If so, what are the DOS settings? What I don't understand is that it will run under a DOS fullscreen session by opening the session and then starting the program from there, but not from a program object. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:22:24 on 92/10/19 GMT (by DRUTH at POKVMCR3) Subject: GS200 and PAS 16 Ref: Append at 15:14:22 on 92/10/16 GMT (by DRUTH at POKVMCR3) Well, I tried HW_TIMER ON, and no change. Still runs at Charlie Chapman speed! D. E. Ruth ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 23:41:26 on 92/10/20 GMT (by CAR2011 at HONE85) Subject: LINKS 386 Pro Ref: Append at 16:02:28 on 92/10/14 GMT (by 86649149 at WARVM2) Stuart - I just read your append. I failed to mention that, yes, I am using the /P parm to start the pgm. Are you running the game in a DOS box in OS/2? Is there any special way to invoke the XGAVESA driver? Or am I doing it right by opening a DOS box, then typing: XGAVESA <ENTER> LINKS386 /P <ENTER> The game is excellent, but booting to pure DOS is a problem when I want to squeeze a couple of holes in between running an OS2 app. Thanks !! Peter Ricciardiello - Carrier Corporation, in * * S N O W Y * * Syracuse NY ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 08:26:47 on 92/10/21 GMT (by 86649149 at WARVM2) Subject: LINKS 386 Pro Peter I start the XGA with a loadhigh command in the autoexec for the DOS session. Then start the PGM "golf /p" not links386 /p. I run it a 386slc machine which makes it playable as a game but slow screen re-draw. I have found that the faster the PC the less playable the game, as the SWINGOMETER moves too quickly. Regards Stuart Stebbings IBM UK. Appended by: , 86649149 at WARVM2 ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 18:43:42 on 92/10/21 GMT (by V$I82330 at AUSVM1) I'm having trouble with Wizardry VII under OS/2 2.0 as well. I can get through the character generation sequence but after I've walked around a bit the whole thing freezes up. I still retain control of the mouse pointer but clicking doesn't produce any response from the program. I'm using HW_TIMER = ON, HW_NOSOUND = ON, and IDLE_SENSITIVITY=100. Ken McKinney (contractor) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:27:33 on 92/10/22 GMT (by DASHEA at NYCVMIC1) Subject: OS/2 Chess and a Novell Network Does OS/2 chess require LAN server if you want to play over a network? We are running a Novell network with the OS/2 requestor and when I choose network no servers or users are displayed. Anyone have chess working over a novell network? Thanks, Dan ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 17:50:49 on 92/10/22 GMT (by BRIDGET at AUSVM1) Subject: Ultima Underworld I'm trying to run Ultima Underworld in a VDM session and am running into some problems. When starting the Intro - the Voice just stops - although the music continues. If I <ESC> and then go back into the intro, the voice talks again - a little longer this time - but eventually stops again. I can keep doing this and each time it seems to talk a little longer. When I finally gave up and went to create a character, when I got to the part of entering my name - it trapped - Illegal instruction executed. Has anyone had any success getting this to run under OS/2 2.0? ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 02:56:09 on 92/10/27 GMT (by SBMY80C at OS2CUST) Subject: IBM OS/2 Chess Bug I ran into another interesting feature... I was playing dark pieces vs the computer, and letting it run from the book opening for Catalan (sp?). About 10 moves into the game, I decided to put some pressure on its king. It moved its king from E1 to E2 (which is fine...), but, later, when I removed the pressure, it moved its king from E2 back to E1 (still fine). A few moves later, it castled. (not fine). I will admit, though, it made the game *much* more challenging. ;) David Richard ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 05:13:46 on 92/10/27 GMT (by WYATTDP at SYDVM1) Subject: Ultima Underworld Ref: Append at 17:50:49 on 92/10/22 GMT (by BRIDGET at AUSVM1) I get the same effect (voice stops during intro) but I do not get any problems when running the game. I have played it for quite a few hours and have had no problems. David Wyatt, Australian Programming Centre Melbourne, Australia *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:11:54 on 92/10/27 GMT (by SBMY80C at OS2CUST) Subject: Is OS/2 Chess cheating? Your understanding of the castling rules is chess is correct. However, in the OS/2 version (as well as most others on the market) it's important to grab the correct piece "first" to castle. In OS/2's case, it's the king. You'll need to "grab" the king and slide it to a square on the back row that's the same color as the one your king is on. In other words, if your king is on a dark square and you wish to castle, you'll need to move the king to the next dark sqaure on the back row. If you grab the rook instead, that's posted as a legal, but non-castling move. David Richard ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:16:43 on 92/10/27 GMT (by FEINBERG at KGNVMC) Subject: Is OS/2 Chess cheating? On several occasions I have tried to castle and been beeped at that the move was not allowed, when in fact it should have been. The rules governing this move (as I, a novice, understand them) are: Neither piece (the King and the involved rook) can have been moved. No pieces can be between the King and the rook. The King cannot be in check or more through a check. The invalid message results when the uninvolved rook has been moved or captured. It is quite easy to validate that is the case. Is the game's logic flawed or is it my understanding of the rules? Alex Feinberg P.S. Since I am trying to learn the strategy of the game, I sometimes use the 'take back move' capability. I tried this after being checkmated once and it didn't seem to work. Was I using it wrong, or is it not possible to take back moves once the game is over? ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:30:49 on 92/10/28 GMT (by METIANUN at BCRVMPC1) Subject: OS/2 Chess and a Novell Network Ref: Append at 15:27:33 on 92/10/22 GMT (by DASHEA at NYCVMIC1) >Does OS/2 chess require LAN server if you want to play over a network? >We are running a Novell network with the OS/2 requestor and when I >choose network no servers or users are displayed. Yes, OS/2 Chess requires the LAN Server to play across a network. OS/2 Chess uses the Mailslot API protocol for passing information over the network. If it can't resolve the mailslot DLL's, then the network function is "not available". Some folks in Austin were going to add the capability for OS/2 Chess to play across other networks. I do not know if they were successful, but I'll try to find out. Thanks, Nick Metianu (author of OS/2 Chess) ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 14:41:19 on 92/10/28 GMT (by METIANUN at BCRVMPC1) Subject: Is OS/2 Chess cheating? Ref: Append at 20:16:43 on 92/10/27 GMT (by FEINBERG at KGNVMC) I am new to this forum, so please excuse the delay in replying to bug reports in OS/2 Chess.... Yes, OS/2 Chess is cheating.-) Actually, this is a known bug in the game. (Same goes for the en passant problem mentioned earlier in the forum.) Unfortunately, the applets take very low priority in the scheme of things here in Boca. I am looking at several enhancements to OS/2 Chess, but it is very difficult to find the time to work on them. If you have suggestions for improvements or features you'd like to see in OS/2 Chess, please post them to this forum and I'll look into incorporating them. Thanks, Nick Metianu ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:30:44 on 92/10/28 GMT (by DBRAGG at KGNVMC) ..... OS2GAMES CFORUM modified at 15:57:15 on 92/10/28 GMT (by DBRAGG at KGNVMC) Subject: OS/2 Chess printing problem? Ref: Append at 14:41:19 on 92/10/28 GMT (by METIANUN at BCRVMPC1) When I try to print the score all I get is a tiny picture (~1" x 1") of the board at the instance of print request. However, the help says "Use PRINT to print the currently displayed game board and the current records for the game." Darold K. Bragg -+- Development Support Tools -+- | Modified subject line ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 15:56:28 on 92/10/28 GMT (by DBRAGG at KGNVMC) Subject: Chess suggestions Ref: None Suggestions: When printing the chessboard in graphics, have an option to be able to have it printed in two dimensions similar to what is done in chess books. The 3D printout is actually hard to make out occasionally due to the overlapping of the pieces. Make the printout of the chessboard scalable. One inch by one inch is okay, if in 2D perhaps. Have an option to print the record out in abbreviated algebraic notation. (Gee, maybe multiple columns, too!) (Hey, I'm not asking for much, right? :-) ) Darold K. Bragg -+- Development Support Tools -+- ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 16:25:23 on 92/10/28 GMT (by MCCAULEJ at WMAVM7) Subject: Is OS/2 Chess cheating? Ref: Append at 20:16:43 on 92/10/27 GMT (by FEINBERG at KGNVMC) I have not played OS/2 chess, but here's a bug I've encountered in at least one other chess program. It sounds like it may be occurring here, so perhaps the author could check for it. If you castle or move the king or rook, castling becomes illegal for the remainder of the game. However, if you use the take back move feature to go back to a point prior to the move which made it illegal for the player to castle, it still won't let you castle. It's as if there's a bit which indicates whether the player has the right to castle eventually (actually two bits, one for king side and one for queen side); the bit gets turned off when the player castles, moves the king, or moves the rook, but the bit doesn't get turned back on if the player takes back the move. Joe McCauley ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 11:03:05 on 92/10/29 GMT (by TRUEMANP at WINVMB) Subject: Chess suggestions Ref: Append at 16:25:23 on 92/10/28 GMT (by MCCAULEJ at WMAVM7) Here are a few more: 1) (Copied from the internal OS2BUGS FORUM) I was White against the computer and got into this position: 8/8/6R1/1pk5/p1B1R3/2P2P2/PP5P/2K5 I played b2-b4+ and the computer responded Checkmate!!!, but it isn't. Black is forced to play a4xb4 e.p.. 2) The program has a funny approach to detecting three-fold repetition. The rule is that if the same position occurs three times with the same player to move then either player may claim a draw. The program always claims the draw when the position occurs for the fourth time. This isn't a breach of the rules (there's no compulsion to claim the draw), but I don't think it is what was intended. 3) More seriously, the program allows three-fold repetition when it's way ahead. I once got into a position where I was a rook and several pawns down in a rooks and pawns endgame, and I got out of it by repeating positions. The standard solution to this is to detect that a position is a repeat and to evaluate it as a draw without any deeper searching. If you already have a list of all positions that have occurred in the game so far (to implement 'take-back-move') then add an extra bit to each one that changes value with every capture or pawn move, and search back through the list until the bit changes. The program will then only repeat positions if it thinks it's losing. There's a sophisticated version of this where the program also keeps track of repeats while it's walking the search tree; this is more complicated to program but it can be an effective way of pruning the search tree during the endgame. Philip Trueman ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 20:19:21 on 92/10/29 GMT (by BLAIR at CANVM2) Subject: Chess suggestions Ref: Append at 11:03:05 on 92/10/29 GMT (by TRUEMANP at WINVMB) a4xb4 e.p.??? I couldn't understand your notation of the position, but a4xb4 is an illegal move, with or without en passant. Did you maybe mean a4xb3? Blair Thompson BLAIR at CANVM2 IBM Canada Ltd. ----- OS2GAMES CFORUM appended at 09:25:25 on 92/10/30 GMT (by TRUEMANP at WINVMB) Subject: Chess suggestions Ref: Append at 20:19:21 on 92/10/29 GMT (by BLAIR at CANVM2) Er, um, yes <blush>. I write it like that because that's how I was first taught - name the square of the captured pawn rather than the square the capturing pawn moves to. It was years before I learned any different. Philip Trueman