DOSBox
Current Included DOSBox builds
This is a list of the current versions of DOSBox being used by the eXo projects.
- #DOSBox 0.63 (Special Build)
- #DOSBox 0.73
- #DOSBox 0.74
- #DOSBox DWD
- #DOSBox ECE r4230
- #DOSBox ECE r4460
- #DOSBox mpu
- #DOSBox-TC
- #DOSBox-X 0.82.18
- #GunStick DOSBox
- #PCjr Composite DOSBox
- #SVN Daum
DOSBox is an MS-DOS emulator that emulates both the hardware and software for for the system. It is capable of emulating several different machine types including PCjr, Tandy, and an IBM compatible. As an open source project, there are many variants of DOSBox, which is important as there is no single version of DOSBox that can run every game. The eXo projects use a variety of DOSBox builds in order to achieve maximum compatibility. The following is a list of DOSBox builds currently used by the project as well as a list of games that are assigned to the build.
Please note that games are not randomly assigned. If a game is not using one of the default builds (#DOSBox 0.74 or #DOSBox ECE r4230), then it has been specifically assigned to a different build. We will attempt to link each game to a relevant github ticket and/or reason for the assignment.
As the project evolves and new DOSBox builds are created, this list will change and games will be re-assigned as needed.
DOSBox 0.63 (Special Build)
Description
An patched build of DOSBox 0.63 designed to handle segment limits, which is not emulated by standard DOSBox due to performance reasons.
Games
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DOSBox 0.73
Description
An official build of DOSBox originally released on May 27th, 2009.
Games
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DOSBox 0.74
Description
The last official full release stable build (three revisions with minor fixes have since been released). This version of DOSBox was released May 12th, 2010. It is the most commonly seen version of DOSBox as it is packed in with most MS-DOS GOG and Steam games.
Games
A full list has not been provided as this and ECE 4230 are the default builds we test with.
DOSBox DWD
Description
A custom DOSBox build by David Walters. The primary addition to this build is Game Link, which allows external applications to communicate with the emulated game. This is most commonly used with real time mappers. It does however have some other features, such as custom window titles, fixes for audio popping in Wizardry 6 & 7, and a fix for reversed audio in Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri.
Games
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DOSBox ECE r4230
Description
ECE (Enhanced Community Edition) adds several patches to the vanilla DOSBox build that greatly enhance the potential of the emulator. One of the primary reasons it is used in eXoDOS is for it's Roland MT-32 (Munt) and fluidsynth sound font capabilities. It also has improved 3Dfx emulation, enhanced OPL3 & PC speaker emulation, a increased VRAM (which assist in reducing flicking in Build engine games).
Another primary enhancement that is included in this version is the pixel perfect patch. The Alternate Launcher gives users the option to try and launch any game with this patch.
Games
This is one of the default DOSBox builds for the projects, which means hundreds of games (just under 2,000 in eXoDOS alone) are set to this build. This includes nearly all games with MT-32, Sound Canvas 55, and 3Dfx support.
DOSBox ECE r4460
Description
The r4460 version includes several patches that improve game compatibility above and beyond the r4230 release. Unfortunately, the pixel perfect patch was dropped shortly after the r4230 release. As we do not shift games to a new version of DOSBox without extension testing, the r4460 version was added to the pack as an alternative option. It specificlaly includes kcroft's CD-audio patch, which solves several CD audio issues.
Games
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DOSBox mpu
Description
An patched build of DOSBox with mpu timing fixes related to ready the audio track length with disc image mounts.
Games
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DOSBox-TC
Description
TC stands for TransCopy. DOSBox-TC allows the emulator to directly mount and use TransCopy images. TransCopy was popular as a method of capturing a floppy disk image with all sectors present, including tricky ones which were often used as copy protection.
Games
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DOSBox-X 0.82.18
Description
DOSBox-X is a heavily patched enhanced build of the base DOSBox. Many enhancements and extra features exist, including enhanced support for Windows installations.
Games
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GunStick DOSBox
Description
An patched build of DOSBox that adds support for the Opera Soft Gun Stick, a light gun developed for the PC. This build of DOSBox maps the mouse cursor to the aiming target, allowing the user to use the cursor in place of the Gun Stick peripheral.
Games
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PCjr Composite DOSBox
Description
A special build of DOSBox with a patch to enable composite mode in certain PCjr titles
Games
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SVN Daum
Description
ykhwong's SVN Daum, last updated on January 25th, 2015, is an enhanced SVN build that incorporates several patches not found in other DOSBox builds. It is generally not considered super stable and it often experiences slowdown due to unoptimized emulation of several core systems. Despite all of this, there are several games which require the use of Daum for various reasons. A list of special patches from the SVN Builds wiki includes: The Windows build incorporates Direct3D with pixelshaders, OpenglHQ, Innovation, Glide, zip/7z mount, Beep, NE2000 Ethernet, Graphis user interface (menu), Save/Load states, Vertical sync, CPU flags optimization, Various DOS commands (PROMPT, VOL, LABEL, MOUSE, etc) and CONFIG.SYS commands (DEVICE, BUFFERS, FILES, etc), Continuous turbo key, Core-switch key, Show details (from menu bar), Nice DOSBox icon, Font patch (cp437), MAKEIMG command, INTRO, Ctrl-break patch, DBCS support patch, Automatic mount, Printer output, MT-32 emulation (MUNT), MP3CUE, Overscan border, Stereo-swap, SDL_Resize, MemSize128, Internal 3dfx voodoo chip emulation, etc.
The Daum build is also used by the Alternate Launcher when the No-Scan Lines filter is selected. This is primarily for FMV games with immoveable scan lines.
Games
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Unused DOSBox builds
DOSBox Pure
Pure is a basic version of DOSBox aimed at RetroArch. That is great for some specific use case scenarios.
Unfortunately, pure makes a lot of assumptions. For example, it forces aspect ratio on. We have lists of games that are broken and distorted by this setting. We have custom scripts in place to ensure games like this are run properly, no matter what settings outside conf files try to set.
Pure wants to treat dos games like rom files. Console games are preinstalled games with a very low amount of variation. They do not have setup utilities that are capable of thousands of combinations of sound, video, network, and game play options. It can't handle an eXoDOS zip file that has the games bin/cue in one folder and the installed game in another.
Arguably, DOSBox Pure hurts game preservation by preferring rips over original media.
Pure is also missing several features that the eXo projects rely on. Extended features like ipx/null modem, composite cga, mt-32, sound fonts, Tandy 3 voice, pixel perfect, scalers and shaders, 3Dfx, IDE pass through, etc... are not supported in Pure currently.
Pure is most suitable for someone who wants to play a copy of DOOM they aquired online on their retropie without any setup options. It is not the bets route, but it is possibly one of the easier ones.