It is impossible to overstate quite how much open source emulator DOSBox has done for PC gaming. Without the tireless efforts of its volunteer staff, vast tracts of PC gaming history would be all but lost to us and our fancy modern operating systems. Yeah, the likes of Steam and GoG may be keeping olden classics in print, but c’mon – they’re doing it for the money more than for the love. The guys, though – they’re bally heroes. Even those aforementioned download services occasionally hook their wares onto DOSBox to ensure maxi-compatibility. So, on behalf of the PC gaming community, I would like to award them the biggest invisible medal in the world for it. Perhaps more usefully, I can direct you to the DOSBox website, where a brand new version of this essential retro gaming tool has just become available.
There aren’t any really mammoth, sweeping changes (so you’re stuck with typing in command lines, unless you install one of the various GUI frontends doing the rounds), but there is a lot of under the hood tweakage to improve speed, stability and Vista support. Some of the games that previously proved beyond its miracle magic may now be supported, so it’s well worth checking in case you do have some old favourite you feared would be shelved forever. Also improved is the sometimes hit’n'miss CD-ROM detection, which should make life a little easier for some games. Oh, and there’s some new rendering modes if you’re into that sort of thing. Me, I’m a bit of a purist and don’t like graphics tweaks that noticeably alter the original look of a game, but some folk do love their smooth sprite edges.
It is, as it always has been and hopefully always shall be, available for free from DOSbox.com. Those handy frontends are also available from the download page, including the wonderfully-named (but sadly OSX-only) SirDOSalot – a title I’ve lately been adopting in various online games.
Thanks, DOSbox. ThOSbox. If you really want to show your thanks, you really should drop ‘em a donation – see the button top left of their front page. On an absolutely unrelated note, there’s also a very nice button underneath our own search box. Cough.
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I’m sure the Look Around You scientists have a box of DOS somewhere on that shelf of theirs.
…and of course, huge kudos to the DOSBox team! The dynamic core enhancement in 0.7 was just brilliant, and they just keep on trucking along making it even faster and better.
Dune2 via Dosbox… Woot. Perhaps even Dune too (see what I did there) and once again I can hear those lovely smugglers… “I have some ‘Crys’ for trade WHAT! at this price”
Ahh those were the days.
I got DOSBox purely to play Dune 2!
And MonkeyMonster, do you mean Krys? The fremen knives made out of sandworm teeth!? Hehe, I loved the original Dune – I’ll never forget the day I completed it.
Well Mr Butler… I was unsure (getting old, memory not so good) so used the mighty oracle of wikipedia who said… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crysknife
So shove that up your sandworm and make some spice :D
Yes, DOSBox is without a doubt the best thing since sliced bread. There are so many great DOS games out there worth discovering and playing for years to come. Even for those of us who think we’ve played ‘em all there’s always a new golden oldie waiting to be…*acquired*.
Yeah, the likes of Steam and GoG may be keeping olden classics in print, but c’mon – they’re doing it for the money more than for the love.
Actually, there does seem to be a fair amount lot of love involved in what GOG are doing, and if they are somehow managing to make money out of their frequently generous packages of retro treasures, so much the better…
Well that told me! My (probably not so old) memory was that it was with a K.
And wtf, http://wiki.dune2k.com/Krys_knife
But I think we’ll run with slightly more indepth ‘proper’ wiki.
I’ll join the DOSBox love-in!
Boxer (Mac only) + DOSBox for the win
@GibletHead2000, Settlers 2 got a spiffy re-release a few years ago. Updated graphics, identical gameplay.
It supports Master of Magic (and so do I!!!)
Hey now, little DOSBox, show them what to do….
It’s worth noting that the only reason these old games even show up on Steam is because of DOSBox. Even many recent commercial collections use DOSBox. Almost nothing else works anymore.