VOGONS

SimCity Classic - corrupt font

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First post, by megatron-uk

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In my recently completed 486 single board computer, I have been checking all of the games I want to run on it.

Over 95% run great, but there are a few which have problems. This is Sim City Classic, the updated version with the Maxis config utility, mt32/GM music options etc.

If selecting either 640x350 EGA or 640x480 VGA then the main game interface is all corrupted. It looks to me as though a VGA bios font is being used and is corrupt.

The attachment IMG_20240412_181056_(1200_x_900_pixel).jpg is no longer available

This is using a C&T 65550 VLB chipset.

Has anyone seen a similar problem on any other VGA cards or bios images?

Of 213 other games, only one other shows similar symptoms, and that is Shadow of the Comet, specifically the installation utility which looks the same.

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Reply 1 of 7, by Tiido

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As far as I know, it is due to the VGA BIOS lacking 8x14 font in it, which a lot of later chipsets started to omit to make room for things like VESA stuff. I think there is a TSR somewhere that helps to fix this issue but I don't remember any details unfortunately.

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Reply 3 of 7, by megatron-uk

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Excellent work guys.

The diagnostic utility confirmed that the 8x14 font was indeed missing:

The attachment IMG_20240412_205751_(1200_x_900_pixel).jpg is no longer available

With the TSR loaded before starting SimCity it resolves the display issue:

The attachment IMG_20240412_205738_(1200_x_900_pixel).jpg is no longer available

I'll need to go back and check the other games that are installed, but I am pretty sure the only other instance I had was with the installer / setup for Shadow of the Comet.

My collection database and technical wiki:
https://www.target-earth.net

Reply 4 of 7, by megatron-uk

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Yep, the Shadow of the Comet installer has the same issue with 8x14 fonts:

The attachment IMG_20240412_210658_(1200_x_900_pixel).jpg is no longer available

This was one of the few games that I couldn't get running on the 486SBC system... No wonder when I had zero chance of reading the items in the configuration menu!

The tsr fixed this one, too:

The attachment IMG_20240412_210709_(1200_x_900_pixel).jpg is no longer available

My collection database and technical wiki:
https://www.target-earth.net

Reply 5 of 7, by marxveix

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ATi had atifont.com for this 8x14 font issue, i have used it with Rage2 and Rage3 cards where needed, works well.

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Reply 6 of 7, by TheMLGladiator

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For future reference, Vogons user Gona has a great list of DOS games tested on various video card chipsets: https://gona.mactar.hu/DOS_TESTS/. Just look for your card and scroll to the "8x14 font (SimCity)" column. There are various font fixer TSRs on the page if one doesn't work.

Reply 7 of 7, by bttr

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If one finds a problem with FIX8X14, feel free to contact me either here or via https://www.bttr-software.de/contact/ (Robert)

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