VOGONS


First post, by reble1

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

The original DOS SimCity runs fine in DosBox except the the sound. The sound effects are just a bunch of garbled noize. Nothing like what it is spose to be. Also DosBox works just fine the way it is (sound is ok) on all the other DOS games I have. My os is Win7 home 32bit. I figured it mite be helpfull to past in the configuration file.

# This is the configurationfile for DOSBox 0.73.
# Lines starting with a # are commentlines.
# They are used to (briefly) document the effect of each option.

[sdl]
# fullscreen: Start dosbox directly in fullscreen.
# fulldouble: Use double buffering in fullscreen.
# fullresolution: What resolution to use for fullscreen: original or fixed size (e.g. 1024x768).
# windowresolution: Scale the window to this size IF the output device supports hardware scaling.
# output: What video system to use for output.
# Possible values: surface, overlay, opengl, openglnb, ddraw.
# autolock: Mouse will automatically lock, if you click on the screen.
# sensitivity: Mouse sensitivity.
# waitonerror: Wait before closing the console if dosbox has an error.
# priority: Priority levels for dosbox. Second entry behind the comma is for when dosbox is not focused/minimized. (pause is only valid for the second entry)
# Possible values: lowest, lower, normal, higher, highest, pause.
# mapperfile: File used to load/save the key/event mappings from.
# usescancodes: Avoid usage of symkeys, might not work on all operating systems.

fullscreen=false
fulldouble=false
fullresolution=original
windowresolution=original
output=surface
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=mapper.txt
usescancodes=true

[dosbox]
# language: Select another language file.
# machine: The type of machine tries to emulate.
# Possible values: hercules, cga, tandy, pcjr, ega, vgaonly, svga_s3, svga_et3000, svga_et4000, svga_paradise, vesa_nolfb, vesa_oldvbe.
# captures: Directory where things like wave, midi, screenshot get captured.
# memsize: Amount of memory DOSBox has in megabytes.
# This value is best left at its default to avoid problems with some games,
# though few games might require a higher value.
# There is generally no speed advantage when raising this value.

language=
machine=svga_s3
captures=capture
memsize=16

[render]
# frameskip: How many frames DOSBox skips before drawing one.
# aspect: Do aspect correction, if your output method doesn't support scaling this can slow things down!.
# scaler: Scaler used to enlarge/enhance low resolution modes. If 'forced' is appended,the scaler will be used even if the result might not be desired.
# Possible values: none, normal2x, normal3x, advmame2x, advmame3x, advinterp2x, advinterp3x, hq2x, hq3x, 2xsai, super2xsai, supereagle, tv2x, tv3x, rgb2x, rgb3x, scan2x, scan3x.

frameskip=0
aspect=false
scaler=normal2x

[cpu]
# core: CPU Core used in emulation. auto will switch to dynamic if available and appropriate.
# Possible values: auto, dynamic, normal, simple.
# cputype: CPU Type used in emulation. auto is the fastest choice.
# Possible values: auto, 386, 386_slow, 486_slow, pentium_slow, 386_prefetch.
# cycles: Amount of instructions DOSBox tries to emulate each millisecond. Setting this value too high results in sound dropouts and lags. Cycles can be set in 3 ways:
# 'auto' tries to guess what a game needs.
# It usually works, but can fail for certain games.
# 'fixed #number' will set a fixed amount of cycles. This is what you usually need if 'auto' fails.
# (Example: fixed 4000)
# 'max' will allocate as much cycles as your computer is able to handle
#
# Possible values: auto, fixed, max.
# cycleup: Amount of cycles to increase/decrease with keycombo.
# cycledown: Setting it lower than 100 will be a percentage.

core=auto
cputype=auto
cycles=auto
cycleup=500
cycledown=20

[mixer]
# nosound: Enable silent mode, sound is still emulated though.
# rate: Mixer sample rate, setting any device's rate higher than this will probably lower their sound quality.
# Possible values: 22050, 44100, 48000, 32000, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# blocksize: Mixer block size, larger blocks might help sound stuttering but sound will also be more lagged.
# Possible values: 2048, 4096, 8192, 1024, 512, 256.
# prebuffer: How many milliseconds of data to keep on top of the blocksize.

nosound=false
rate=22050
blocksize=2048
prebuffer=10

[midi]
# mpu401: Type of MPU-401 to emulate.
# Possible values: intelligent, uart, none.
# mididevice: Device that will receive the MIDI data from MPU-401.
# Possible values: default, win32, alsa, oss, coreaudio, coremidi, none.
# midiconfig: Special configuration options for the device driver. This is usually the id of the device you want to use. See README for details.

mpu401=intelligent
mididevice=default
midiconfig=

[sblaster]
# sbtype: Type of sblaster to emulate.
# Possible values: sb1, sb2, sbpro1, sbpro2, sb16, none.
# sbbase: The IO address of the soundblaster.
# Possible values: 220, 240, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
# irq: The IRQ number of the soundblaster.
# Possible values: 7, 5, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12.
# dma: The DMA number of the soundblaster.
# Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
# hdma: The High DMA number of the soundblaster.
# Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
# sbmixer: Allow the soundblaster mixer to modify the DOSBox mixer.
# oplmode: Type of OPL emulation. On 'auto' the mode is determined by sblaster type. All OPL modes are Adlib-compatible, except for 'cms'.
# Possible values: auto, cms, opl2, dualopl2, opl3, none.
# oplemu: Provider for the OPL emulation. compat or old might provide better quality (see oplrate as well).
# Possible values: default, compat, fast, old.
# oplrate: Sample rate of OPL music emulation. Use 49716 for highest quality (set the mixer rate accordingly).
# Possible values: 22050, 49716, 44100, 48000, 32000, 16000, 11025, 8000.

sbtype=sb16
sbbase=220
irq=7
dma=1
hdma=5
sbmixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplemu=default
oplrate=22050

[gus]
# gus: Enable the Gravis Ultrasound emulation.
# gusrate: Sample rate of Ultrasound emulation.
# Possible values: 22050, 44100, 48000, 32000, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# gusbase: The IO base address of the Gravis Ultrasound.
# Possible values: 240, 220, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
# gusirq: The IRQ number of the Gravis Ultrasound.
# Possible values: 5, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12.
# gusdma: The DMA channel of the Gravis Ultrasound.
# Possible values: 3, 0, 1, 5, 6, 7.
# ultradir: Path to Ultrasound directory. In this directory
# there should be a MIDI directory that contains
# the patch files for GUS playback. Patch sets used
# with Timidity should work fine.

gus=false
gusrate=22050
gusbase=240
gusirq=5
gusdma=3
ultradir=C:\ULTRASND

[speaker]
# pcspeaker: Enable PC-Speaker emulation.
# pcrate: Sample rate of the PC-Speaker sound generation.
# Possible values: 22050, 44100, 48000, 32000, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# tandy: Enable Tandy Sound System emulation. For 'auto', emulation is present only if machine is set to 'tandy'.
# Possible values: auto, on, off.
# tandyrate: Sample rate of the Tandy 3-Voice generation.
# Possible values: 22050, 44100, 48000, 32000, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# disney: Enable Disney Sound Source emulation. (Covox Voice Master and Speech Thing compatible).

pcspeaker=true
pcrate=22050
tandy=auto
tandyrate=22050
disney=true

[joystick]
# joysticktype: Type of joystick to emulate: auto (default), none,
# 2axis (supports two joysticks),
# 4axis (supports one joystick, first joystick used),
# 4axis_2 (supports one joystick, second joystick used),
# fcs (Thrustmaster), ch (CH Flightstick).
# none disables joystick emulation.
# auto chooses emulation depending on real joystick(s).
# Possible values: auto, 2axis, 4axis, 4axis_2, fcs, ch, none.
# timed: enable timed intervals for axis. (false is old style behaviour).
# autofire: continuously fires as long as you keep the button pressed.
# swap34: swap the 3rd and the 4th axis. can be useful for certain joysticks.
# buttonwrap: enable button wrapping at the number of emulated buttons.

joysticktype=auto
timed=true
autofire=false
swap34=false
buttonwrap=true

[serial]
# serial1: set type of device connected to com port.
# Can be disabled, dummy, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# Additional parameters must be in the same line in the form of
# parameter:value. Parameter for all types is irq.
# for directserial: realport (required), rxdelay (optional).
# (realport:COM1 realport:ttyS0).
# for modem: listenport (optional).
# for nullmodem: server, rxdelay, txdelay, telnet, usedtr,
# transparent, port, inhsocket (all optional).
# Example: serial1=modem listenport:5000
# Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial2: see serial1
# Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial3: see serial1
# Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial4: see serial1
# Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.

serial1=dummy
serial2=dummy
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled

[dos]
# xms: Enable XMS support.
# ems: Enable EMS support.
# umb: Enable UMB support.
# keyboardlayout: Language code of the keyboard layout (or none).

xms=true
ems=true
umb=true
keyboardlayout=auto

[ipx]
# ipx: Enable ipx over UDP/IP emulation.

ipx=false

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.

Reply 1 of 16, by leileilol

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
reble1 wrote:

# This is the configurationfile for DOSBox 0.73.

0.73 is old.

apsosig.png
long live PCem

Reply 2 of 16, by reble1

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

This is the DosBox version that I have been using for a long time with no problems. In the radio repair work that I used to do. There is a saying "if it isn't broke don't fix it". So why upgrade?

leileilol wrote:
reble1 wrote:

# This is the configurationfile for DOSBox 0.73.

0.73 is old.

Reply 3 of 16, by Qbix

User metadata
Rank DOSBox Author
Rank
DOSBox Author

because you report a problem, so maybe something is broken ?
In case you weren't aware... you can have both 0.73 and 0.74 installed at the same time!

Water flows down the stream
How to ask questions the smart way!

Reply 4 of 16, by reble1

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

I downloaded v0.74 and I still have the same problem with the sound. I also don't have any sound problems in any of my other dos games. I don't know if this has any refrence to the problem. But I start all My DOS games with the same type of bat file below

c:\dosbox\dosbox.exe -c "cycles auto" -c "mount c c:\games" -c "c:" -c "cd dgames" -c "cd monsterb" -c "bash1.exe"

The 1st part (c:\dosbox\dosbox.exe -c "cycles auto" -c "mount c c:\games" -c "c:" -c "cd dgames") up to the last directory change is the same in all the bat files. Only the last directory change and the exe file it self are unique to each bat file. This way of fast starting the DOS games with the bat files has served me well over the years.

Qbix wrote:

because you report a problem, so maybe something is broken ?
In case you weren't aware... you can have both 0.73 and 0.74 installed at the same time!

Reply 5 of 16, by Jorpho

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
reble1 wrote:

This way of fast starting the DOS games with the bat files has served me well over the years.

Well, whatever floats your boat, as they say, but really there are much more elegant ways (namely using the "autoexec" section of your dosbox.conf). If nothing else, please note that "cycles auto" is already set in your configuration file and is completely redundant. Also note that -c "cd dgames" -c "cd monsterb" can be combined as -c "cd dgames\monsterb".

Anyway, did you install SimCity from original disks, or did you download it from somewhere?

Reply 6 of 16, by reble1

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

Thank you for the stream lining notes on my bat files. I never new about the "autoexec" part of the dosbox.conf. How does it work? Do I make a separate dosbox.config file for each game? As for SimCity it is a download. The original floppy disks have long since goten lost

Jorpho wrote:
reble1 wrote:

This way of fast starting the DOS games with the bat files has served me well over the years.

Well, whatever floats your boat, as they say, but really there are much more elegant ways (namely using the "autoexec" section of your dosbox.conf). If nothing else, please note that "cycles auto" is already set in your configuration file and is completely redundant. Also note that -c "cd dgames" -c "cd monsterb" can be combined as -c "cd dgames\monsterb".

Anyway, did you install SimCity from original disks, or did you download it from somewhere?

Reply 7 of 16, by Jorpho

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
reble1 wrote:

Thank you for the stream lining notes on my bat files. I never new about the "autoexec" part of the dosbox.conf. How does it work? Do I make a separate dosbox.config file for each game?

Much like it says at the bottom of dosbox.conf, lines in the "autoexec" section are run at startup. You can make a separate dosbox.conf for each game, but in your case it may be useful to use the autoexec section for commands that are common for each of your games (such as the "mount" and "c:" commands) and use "-c" parameters for unique commands. (I'm pretty sure that works.)

As for SimCity it is a download. The original floppy disks have long since goten lost

Supprt for illegally downloaded games is limited in this forum. If nothing else, since your copy did not originate from the original disks, there is no way of knowing whether the copy you downloaded is inherently corrupted and accordingly it is pointless trying to troubleshoot the problem. You could perhaps ask whoever runs the site where you downloaded the files.

And yes, downloading copyrighted software is illegal, this game was never released as freeware, and the fact that it is 20+ years old at this point has no impact on the legality of its distribution. You may however enjoy Micropolis which should easily run under Windows and is based on the original source code.

If the sound effects are PC speaker effects I will suggest that you try the SVN version of DOSBox, as I seem to recall some further improvements to the PC speaker emulation have been made since 0.74 came out. (0.74 is already kind of old.)

Reply 8 of 16, by reble1

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

I looked at all those web sites that had "SVN version of DOSBox" they were all sites that I don't trust because they mix malware and spyware in with the download.

Steve

Reply 9 of 16, by NewRisingSun

User metadata
Rank Oldbie
Rank
Oldbie

If you install the game from original disks, you get to choose the output device. While Sound Blaster is not supported, if you select Tandy DAC and set tandy=on in the [speaker] section, sound should be better.

Reply 10 of 16, by Jorpho

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
reble1 wrote:

I looked at all those web sites that had "SVN version of DOSBox" they were all sites that I don't trust because they mix malware and spyware in with the download.

Are you referring to the links from http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/SVN_Builds ? Because none of those mix "malware and spyware" in with the downloads. I do not understand what led you to that conclusion. The version from http://ykhwong.x-y.net/ is particularly recommended.

Reply 11 of 16, by reble1

User metadata
Rank Newbie
Rank
Newbie

I typed into Google search "SVN version of DOSBox download" and I found meny sites. 1 site http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/SVN_Builds has many diffrent builds. 1 site http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/SVN_Builds#SVN_changelog then directs me to http://www.emucr.com/search/label/DOSBox. I end up with only the Ilivid download manager and a bunch of malware and spyware. I didn't see http://ykhwong.x-y.net/ in the search.

Jorpho wrote:
reble1 wrote:

I looked at all those web sites that had "SVN version of DOSBox" they were all sites that I don't trust because they mix malware and spyware in with the download.

Are you referring to the links from http://www.dosbox.com/wiki/SVN_Builds ? Because none of those mix "malware and spyware" in with the downloads. I do not understand what led you to that conclusion. The version from http://ykhwong.x-y.net/ is particularly recommended.

Reply 12 of 16, by Jorpho

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++
reble1 wrote:

I end up with only the Ilivid download manager and a bunch of malware and spyware.

Then you clicked on the wrong download button. Fake download buttons are an unfortunate problem plaguing a great deal of legitimate sites. See for instance http://www.ghacks.net/2012/06/17/how-deceivin … download-sites/ . I assure you that the correct download link for the EmuCR build does not contain malware or spyware.

I didn't see http://ykhwong.x-y.net/ in the search.

It is one of the links on the aforementioned DOSBox wiki page.

Reply 13 of 16, by h-a-l-9000

User metadata
Rank DOSBox Author
Rank
DOSBox Author

> crummy sound on dos verson of simcity

That's what I'd call the PC-speaker sound effects of this game. What do you expect?

1+1=10

Reply 14 of 16, by Jorpho

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Actually, I remember the PC speaker sound effects for the DOS version of SimCity as being surprisingly good, as PC speaker sound effects go.

Reply 15 of 16, by Great Hierophant

User metadata
Rank l33t
Rank
l33t
NewRisingSun wrote:

If you install the game from original disks, you get to choose the output device. While Sound Blaster is not supported, if you select Tandy DAC and set tandy=on in the [speaker] section, sound should be better.

The original disk release of the game supports every graphics adapter then in wide use at the time except VGA, CGA (640x200x2), HGC (720x348x2), EGA (320x200x16, 640x200x2 or 640x350x16), TGA (320x200x16), MCGA (640x480x2). The DOS release of SimCity Classic in 1993 added support for 320x200x256 or 640x480x16 VGA modes.
It also supports PC Speaker and Tandy DAC and the Covox Sound Master, while the Classic version adds support for Adlib, Sound Blasters and PAS and MT-32 and General MIDI for music and the Sound Blasters and PAS and Adlib Gold for sound effects. So the whole "game" supports virtually every graphics and sound standard from 1981-1993.

While the Classic version (and it does exist, even if Mobygames will not approve my submission) allows you to change the graphics and sound settings with a program, the original requires a reinstall from the original disks. The install does not work correctly in the official 0.74 but should work in the SVN.

http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/ - Nerdly Pleasures - My Retro Gaming, Computing & Tech Blog

Reply 16 of 16, by leileilol

User metadata
Rank l33t++
Rank
l33t++

Sort of related, but the Simcity CDROM version in 1993 adds 640x480x256, cheesy voice overs.........and a crapload of intentionally bad overacting - because in the 90s, if you had a CD with loads of space leftover you'd better fill it with multimedia content.. If you want the "best looking/best sounding" DOS version of Simcity, this is the way to go 😜

apsosig.png
long live PCem