First post, by clb
Heya,
I just realized, here is an interesting question I don't know the answer to:
What was the first ever DOS game, that
a) ran at a VGA 320x200 resolution, so 70Hz. (i.e. not Mode-X which was only 60hz), and
b) implemented hardware-based EGA/VGA scrolling (i.e. relied on the IBM graphics adapter's hardware feature instead of doing full screen repaints)
c) was programmed with the skill and sophistication needed that the game actually reached 70fps on hardware of the era, without dropping frames, missing vsyncs or needing to run with frame decimation?
Before jumping to answer, no, it was not Keen 4-6 or Jazz Jackrabbit.
Keen 4-6 was unable to do 70fps, and it was programmed to run limited at 35 fps, and was rendering totally decoupled from vertical retrace (and they botched implementing the vertical synchronization).
Jazz Jackrabbit is excluded, since it was "only" 60 Hz. (Yeah, in this case I am interested in who might have specifically done a 70 Hz smooth scroller first)
I realize that I can't actually name the answer. So, any thoughts who would have shipped the first 70 Hz running 320x200 VGA hardware scroller? (or if not first, what would the notable ones be?)