Decent composite CGA games not available in VGA? \ VOGONS

Decent composite CGA games not available in VGA?

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First post, by ynari

Posted on 2016-10-19, 17:02

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I've never really played around with composite CGA, although I did use Amstrad 1512 systems at college (CGA, including special 16 colour mode), all my PC gaming started on an Amstrad 2286 (286, VGA).

Are there any games that are composite CGA, don't have a VGA version, and are actually worth playing? Pondering if it's worth creating a small retro PC next to my consoles, on a (PAL, UK) TV as output, or if it would be better to just create a MAME box. At the moment the TV is a TFT with composite, component, HDMI, and VGA inputs, but I might replace it with a CRT TV with the same inputs.

My main retro PCs are in my study connected to a CRT monitor, and I don't see that changing (downstairs is for a comfy chair and controllers, not mice and keyboards)

Reply 1 of 9, by Scali

Posted on 2016-10-19, 17:13

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Burger Time!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWPEi9vI_oA

http://scalibq.wordpress.com/just-keeping-it- … ro-programming/

Reply 2 of 9, by ripsaw8080

Posted on 2016-10-19, 17:56

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I don't think there's a lot of overlap between CGA composite and VGA games, unless you include remakes. For example, King's Quest was (unofficially) remade for VGA, but the games are distinctly different experiences, and you'll have to decide for yourself if it's worthwhile to play through both. Anyway, check out Bruce Lee and Tapper for CGA composite action gaming goodness.

P.S.: Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition! (props if you make the connection to the reference)

Reply 3 of 9, by Jo22

Posted on 2016-10-19, 19:45

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ynari wrote:
Are there any games that are composite CGA, don't have a VGA version, and are actually worth playing?

I've constituted a small selection of games that are worth playing I think (they're not that boring at least) :
StarFlight - IBM version (supports EGA), Fooblitzky, Tass Times in Tonetown, Ultima II, Archon, King's Quest, The Wizard and the Princess (Adventure in Serenia),
Ulysses and the Golden Fleece, Silicon Dreams, Jewels of Darkness, Below the Root, Solo Flight, The Black Cauldron, Night Mission Pinball, Mindshadow, Styx

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 4 of 9, by ynari

Posted on 2016-10-25, 11:06

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Thanks for the list!

I don't think I'll bother, I'm a bit of an Ultima fan but the best platform for a number of the pre VI Ultimas is probably not DOS, even if that's how I experienced it. Burger Time does look pretty good for CGA, though!

May go with a MAME box, also need to figure out how I'm going to stick my MSX next to my consoles. Home computers with integrated keyboards are so damned huge and inconvenient to add, and you need to be able to type on the keyboard to load tapes/MP3 equivalents.

Reply 5 of 9, by Jinxter

Posted on 2017-04-15, 13:38

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I made a short video comparing the different graphics mode in Night Mission Pinball 3.0. Earlier version does not support all the video modes. Version 1 runs to fast on faster CPU's.
Night Mission Pinball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zd6MYDoKz8g

Check out my YouTube channel: Retro Erik https://www.youtube.com/c/RetroErik
My collection: https://retro.hageseter.com

Reply 6 of 9, by Jo22

Posted on 2017-04-15, 21:25

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Cool! Thanks for the video! ^^
My favorite is CGA Mode 2, by the way.

"Time, it seems, doesn't flow. For some it's fast, for some it's slow.
In what to one race is no time at all, another race can rise and fall..." - The Minstrel

//My video channel//

Reply 7 of 9, by keropi

Posted on 2017-04-15, 23:29

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Is it sure that the composite mode in the video is correct?
It looks like what you see if you select composite mode in a game but instead of using a composite monitor/tv connected through the RCA jack you are still viewing the game from the digital rgb monitor...

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