VOGONS


DSS / Covox Speech Thing exclusive games

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Reply 20 of 83, by Jo22

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matze79 wrote:

Hm i can also make a recording:
i have various homemade lpt sound devices, these are 2 of my favorites. (DSS Plug not shown) 😀

Sounds good! The more comparisons, the better! 😁

"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 21 of 83, by digger

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Jo22 wrote:

It's getting better, even. 😀 The game supports a line printer (to draw an in-game map at some point) and the 8087 math-co (later VGA release).


That's interesting. What exactly does it use the 8087 for? It doesn't seem like the kind of game that would require intense math processing.

Reply 22 of 83, by Jo22

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It is. Anything. Indeed. 😀

Edit: The compiler that I believe was used for the game does normally use x87 on its own, if available.
It may assist at drawing the lines and boxes a little bit. On an 4,77 MHz XT, this may have a positive effect.

Last edited by Jo22 on 2023-05-06, 06:39. Edited 1 time in total.

"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 23 of 83, by digger

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Jo22 wrote:

It is. Anything. Indeed. 😀

Seriously though, how does that work? What kind of stuff does it calculate? The graphics? Aren't those mostly bitmaps? Or is there some vector graphics rendering going on?

Reply 24 of 83, by matze79

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688 Attack Sub also supports Covox Speech Thing ^^
ok Turbo XT is build up 😀 lets try.

Looks like Last Half of Darkness is written in QuickBasic 😳 (brun.exe)

https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board

Reply 25 of 83, by matze79

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688 Attack Sub on R2R Ladder - Simple LPTSND r0.

Where can i get the Speech Thing Driver ?

Attachments

  • Filename
    688_attack_sub.ogg
    File size
    427.22 KiB
    Downloads
    90 downloads
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception

https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board

Reply 26 of 83, by Jo22

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Why do you ask ?

Edit:

digger wrote:

Seriously though, how does that work?

The answers have been given. 😉

"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 27 of 83, by Jo22

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matze79 wrote:

Where can i get the Speech Thing Driver ?

Jo22 wrote:

Why do you ask ?

What I meant to say:
There's no need for a special Covox driver in order to use the Speech Thing option in TLHD.
It will work just fine, if your DAC is on, say, port 378h.

It *might* also work with your Covox clone beeing at 3BCh, if that's the first port.
I'm not sure, though, since I haven't tested this before.

Edit: For those reading this.
There are several versions of The Last Half of Darkness Part 1, it seems.
The version I used to play has the Speech Thing/Sound Master II driver included.
Another version may ask you to load the Covox driver bundled with the Speech Thing diskette.

Edit: I've attached my private backup of the shareware release, since it seems to be rather rare (I had no idea).
It's the version I've used for testing the Covox support; I've removed my save games, only files dated '94 are left.
I hope that's okay. It's for testing/preservation purposes. Please leave the "backup" part attached,
so that the original archive can still be made out if this backup copy gets into circulation.

Attachments

  • tlhod1_set.png
    Filename
    tlhod1_set.png
    File size
    3.02 KiB
    Views
    806 views
    File comment
    Game options
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception
  • Filename
    lasthalf1_covox_backup.zip
    File size
    637.25 KiB
    Downloads
    32 downloads
    File comment
    The Last Half of Darkness Part 1 w/ sound files and SAY helper program
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception
Last edited by Jo22 on 2023-05-06, 06:27. Edited 2 times in total.

"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 28 of 83, by digger

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Okay, so Last Half of Darkness is one such game, as pointed out by Jo22. 😀 How many more games are there out there that support the Covox Speech Thing and/or Disney Sound Source (DSS) without also supporting Sound Blaster?

My guess is that these would all be indie games programmed by bedroom game developers in the late 80s and early 90s who only supported whatever hardware they could afford themselves back in the day. But maybe I'm wrong?

To be clear, I'm not dismissive of such indie games at all. Those are at least as intriguing and impressive to me as commercial ones. 😀

Reply 30 of 83, by digger

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Cloudschatze wrote:

For what it's worth, the music that Maxis' SimAnt plays through a Covox or generic LPT DAC is unique to that device selection.

YouTube recording or it didn't happen! 😜

Reply 31 of 83, by matze79

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Ok, but Last Half of Darkness points me to load Driver and refuses to play audio.
I now got the driver.

First Test: Speech Output on Covox:

Filename
lpdemo_exe.ogg
File size
341.9 KiB
Downloads
86 downloads
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

what about simcity ? i always read about covox support, but its only covox soundmaster right ?
Is there a Version out supporting Covox Speech Thing ?

The Best Covox Sound ever comes from Pinball Fantasies.. i can't imagine any Game sounding better 😁

EDIT:
Yeah, SimAnt really supports Covox DAC 😳

https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board

Reply 32 of 83, by Jo22

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matze79 wrote:

EDIT:
Yeah, SimAnt really supports Covox DAC 😳

Fascinating. The DOS version seems to play MIDI music, according to vgmpf.com.
Makes me wonder if the game is using that for Covox, too, or if that's exlusively to AdLib/Roland.

"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 33 of 83, by Jo22

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A few more games that have Speech Thing/Speaker support :

Metal Mutants
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Spell It Plus!

Speech Thing only:
Ante-Up at The Friday Night Poker Club

"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 34 of 83, by Jo22

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digger wrote:
Cloudschatze wrote:

For what it's worth, the music that Maxis' SimAnt plays through a Covox or generic LPT DAC is unique to that device selection.

YouTube recording or it didn't happen! 😜

http://youtu.be/gBrYNfFUPz0

😀

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  • ants.png
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    ants.png
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    2025 views
    File license
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"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 35 of 83, by matze79

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Sounds weird, slow CPU ? 😀

https://www.retrokits.de - blog, retro projects, hdd clicker, diy soundcards etc
https://www.retroianer.de - german retro computer board

Reply 36 of 83, by Jo22

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matze79 wrote:

Sounds weird, slow CPU ? 😀

Sorry, what do you mean ? 😕

Edit: Just recorded the intro in DOSBox..

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  • Filename
    simant_pardac_dbox_3900.ogg
    File size
    495.11 KiB
    Downloads
    62 downloads
    File comment
    SimAnt v1.06G audio recording (intro), Speech Thing,
    DOSBox, 3900 cycles, Hercules emulation
    File license
    Fair use/fair dealing exception

"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 37 of 83, by Artigkar

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There is one thing I have discovered something related to the Covox a few weeks ago that I have not seen been mentioned in this thread.
Have any of you heard of the Intersound MDO? Apparently it was a parallel port soundcard similar to the covox. The CVX4 and other covox clones are compatible with games that supported this Intersound MDO card. They all come from the same developer, Coktel Vision.

Here is a incomplete list of games that support MDO:
http://www.mobygames.com/attribute/sheet/attributeId,1860/

Why do I say incomplete? Well I found out there are more games from the same developer that also support the soundcard.
For example the demo version of the first Gobliiins game supports it. Here is the demo:
https://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Gobliiins.html
Go.bat is the loader to change sound card settings

Also this game called A.G.E. supports the intersound MDO, but does not have any soundcard info on mobygames:
http://www.mobygames.com/game/age

There might be more Coktel Vision games from the same time period that support that specific card. Unfortunately the full version of Gobliiins does not seem to support the Intersound MDO and thus also will not work with Covox.
Some of the games in the mobygames list does not have any soundblaster or adlib support:
Skidoo, Oliver & Company, No Exit and Cougar Force.

Reply 38 of 83, by Jo22

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Whoa, thanks for sharing this information! 😁

This is the first time I heard about the Intersound MDO, I think.

I didn't find a picture, but a drawing of the unit.

intersnd2.gif
Filename
intersnd2.gif
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6.58 KiB
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1988 views
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Fair use/fair dealing exception

Source: http://jeanmarc.gossart.online.fr/eleq_intersound.php
English Translation

It also says -perhaps that's just an translation error-,
"the CoVox and Disney SoundSource modules later used this same principle" ...

Magazines inclunding the keyword "MDO" and "Intersound":
http://amigaland.com/dataz/press_magazine/til … 74_jan_1990.pdf (Page 65)
amigaland.com/dataz/press_magazine/Micr ... 2-1989).pdf (Page 25, 162)
http://fr.1001mags.com/parution/svm/numero-97 … -texte-integral

Some "wikis" mentioning the Intersound MDO
http://www.retrowiki.es/viewtopic.php?t=100036524&start=16
English Translation

https://www.old-games.ru/properties/tech-details.html
English Translation

Regarding Oliver and Company..
Did anyone notice that Oliver (the cat) is down-looking in EGA/VGA mode ?
In Hercules and CGA, he looks up to his friend. 😉

There might be more Coktel Vision games from the same time period that support that specific card.

I haven't checked, but some users on the web mentioned Fascination as another game supporting the Intersound MDO.
This makes me wonder if anyone of the French speaking users still has one of such a device in his collection.
It would be interesting to see -hear- how it compares to the Speech Thing or the modern day CVX models.

"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 39 of 83, by lolo799

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Jo22 wrote:
Whoa, thanks for sharing this information! :D […]
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Whoa, thanks for sharing this information! 😁

This is the first time I heard about the Intersound MDO, I think.

I didn't find a picture, but a drawing of the unit.

The attachment intersnd2.gif is no longer available

Source: http://jeanmarc.gossart.online.fr/eleq_intersound.php
English Translation

It also says -perhaps that's just an translation error-,
"the CoVox and Disney SoundSource modules later used this same principle" ...

It's not a translation error but it might be a mistake on the part of the person who wrote that.
The Covox was released earlier than 1989, right?

Found a picture:

Intersound MDO.jpg
Filename
Intersound MDO.jpg
File size
13.02 KiB
Views
1971 views
File license
Fair use/fair dealing exception

Source: http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Mic … 0Page%20018.jpg

I haven't checked, but some users on the web mentioned Fascination as another game supporting the Intersound MDO. This makes me […]
Show full quote

There might be more Coktel Vision games from the same time period that support that specific card.

I haven't checked, but some users on the web mentioned Fascination as another game supporting the Intersound MDO.
This makes me wonder if anyone of the French speaking users still has one of such a device in his collection.
It would be interesting to see -hear- how it compares to the Speech Thing or the modern day CVX models.

Yes, Fascination supports it, you can listen to the intro at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZSk6ynm6Tc
I've never heard of that device before, but I wasn't gaming on pc back then...
The device was sold most of the time as a bundle with a game so I tried looking for one of those on french classified ads website to no avail.

Last edited by lolo799 on 2018-04-15, 19:08. Edited 1 time in total.

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