It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
I have noticed that there a handful of games on here that did have MS-DOS releases but those versions are not included here on GOG. This includes Another World, Abe's Odyssey, and the first Atlantis game to name a few. I know that the developers here are probably inundated with requests for Windows versions of DOS games, but I was wondering how many people also wanted the opposite. I'm not terribly concerned about it, I'm just curious.

Would you want the DOS version of games that had one but are not yet included on here? I would.
Post edited July 31, 2018 by stegosaur78
Yes, yes, YES!

Lord of the realm 2 for example.

And also original cd media images for games run in scummvm. I hate scummvm and the games are not runnable in DOS when gog packages them like that.
Post edited July 31, 2018 by Nightblair
It's licensing issues no doubt, but it's a good idea, DOSBox compatibility means the game is basically going to be playable forever, while being an Windows program means it's a broken game waiting to happen (when Microsoft release a new OS).
avatar
stegosaur78: Would you want the DOS version of games that had one but are not yet included on here? I would.
If it's possible then definitely yes purely for reasons of cross-platform portability. Eg, I'd also like to see the original DOS versions included for remastered Double Fine games like Day of the Tentacle & Full Throttle because you can do stuff like put them on a cheap Android tablet via ScummVM for the kids to play in the car. Can't do that with the newer Windows-only versions.
avatar
AB2012: Day of the Tentacle & Full Throttle because you can do stuff like put them on a cheap Android tablet via ScummVM for the kids to play in the car. Can't do that with the newer Windows-only versions.
Actually the original assets are included in those games. Not in plain sight, mind you,but there is a tool you can use to rip them out and do exactly what you say. Not the DOS executables, I think, but enough for ScummVM.
avatar
AB2012: If it's possible then definitely yes purely for reasons of cross-platform portability. Eg, I'd also like to see the original DOS versions included for remastered Double Fine games like Day of the Tentacle & Full Throttle because you can do stuff like put them on a cheap Android tablet via ScummVM for the kids to play in the car. Can't do that with the newer Windows-only versions.
https://www.gog.com/forum/general/rom_based_gog_games_compatible_with_third_party_emulators_thread
avatar
stegosaur78: I have noticed that there a handful of games on here that did have MS-DOS releases but those versions are not included here on GOG. This includes Another World, Abe's Odyssey, and the first Atlantis game to name a few.
I was under the impression it is usually the opposite, ie. with these dual DOS/Windows releases, GOG has normally favored the DOS version because it is much simpler to get to work (at least with DOSBox)? The early Windows versions may be very finicky about new computers, failing to work on certain configurations or graphics driver versions or whatnot; less such variation with the DOS versions.

However, isn't Another World on GOG a newer (2006) remake anyway? Originally (1991) there was only a MS-DOS version on PC, and frankly it was a bit crappy IIRC. I did play and finish the DOS version a long time ago, but IIRC it had a bit poor sound card support (or was it using only the PC beeper for low-quality digitized sounds?), but even worse, its controls were poorly programmed. Apparently the DOS version's programmers were not that familiar with PC/DOS programming, as I recall it had that glitchy keyboard routine where you had to keep pushing a key for awhile before it started registering it as a continuous push, or rather, a repeated push.

So like if you pushed the key a and kept it pressed down, it would be like: a......... a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a., and you might even start hearing that keyboard beep sound repeatedly if you kept the key pressed down.
Post edited August 02, 2018 by timppu
avatar
timppu: However, isn't Another World on GOG a newer (2006) remake anyway? Originally (1991) there was only a MS-DOS version on PC, and frankly it was a bit crappy IIRC. I did play and finish the DOS version a long time ago, but IIRC it had a bit poor sound card support (or was it using only the PC beeper for low-quality digitized sounds?), but even worse, its controls were poorly programmed. Apparently the DOS version's programmers were not that familiar with PC/DOS programming, as I recall it had that glitchy keyboard routine where you had to keep pushing a key for awhile before it started registering it as a continuous push, or rather, a repeated push.

So like if you pushed the key a and kept it pressed down, it would be like: a......... a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a.a., and you might even start hearing that keyboard beep sound repeatedly if you kept the key pressed down.
I think it is an BIOS-related problem.
I beat Another World DOS version when it was sold at my country.
I do not remember any similar bugs in the game.

Maybe I was just lucky.
avatar
Crosmando: It's licensing issues no doubt, but it's a good idea, DOSBox compatibility means the game is basically going to be playable forever, while being an Windows program means it's a broken game waiting to happen (when Microsoft release a new OS).
Not necessarily:
http://www.boxedwine.org/
https://github.com/otya128/winevdm
https://virtuallyfun.com/wordpress/2018/07/15/winevdm/
Fallout had the DOS version in GOG's Mac OS X release - then GOG managed to get the Windows version to run under Wine and replaced the DOSbox-based Mac release with a Wine-based one... and then Bethesda took control over the full franchise and GOG had to make a new release without Mac support.
Geez, I thought this thread died about as soon as I posted it!

avatar
Maighstir: Fallout. DOS.
I looked it up on Moby Games. Holy crap! I had no idea there even was a DOS version of Fallout! That just kind of blows my mind somehow! It's like when I found out that the first GTA game was on DOS all over again.
Post edited August 03, 2018 by stegosaur78
avatar
Crosmando: It's licensing issues no doubt, but it's a good idea, DOSBox compatibility means the game is basically going to be playable forever, while being an Windows program means it's a broken game waiting to happen (when Microsoft release a new OS).
That is one advantage these games have on DOSBox. Since its an emulator, you generally only need to worry about that one program working with Windows as opposed to potentially hundreds of individual games. In my experience I have had several games suddenly not work, or work but with problems since switching to Win10. I bought Moto Racer 2 and can't even get the thing to display anything and no fixes have worked.

What's funny is, some games that have problems with Win10 for me, like Quake 2, work flawlessly in a Win7 VM. Had no issues with Quake 2 in a virtual Windows 7 setup.