DOSBox Games

01_DOSBoxGames.md

DOSBox Games

A collection of DOSBox games, config files, and a launcher style bash script.

Unpacking

This collection of DOSBox games is distributed as a compressed zip archive.

To install, first locate or create a destination directory for the games collection. Then unzip the contents of the archive to the destination directory, and create a symlink to the launcher script in a common path directory.

sudo mkdir /usr/games/dosbox
sudo unzip dosbox-games.zip -d /usr/games/dosbox
sudo ln -s /usr/games/dosbox/games.sh /usr/games/games

Setting Permissions

Games running on DOSBox may require write access to game files and directories. This can be done by adding write permissions recursively. For security, these permissions should be granted through user and group permissions.

sudo chmod -R g+w /usr/games/dosbox/*/Data
sudo chmod -R g+w /usr/games/dosbox/Insanity/*/Data

When copied to the /usr/games directory, the owner is set to root:root (root user and group). This should be changed recursively to root:games (root user, and games group).

sudo chown -R root:games /usr/games/dosbox/*

Access can then be granted to each user by adding users to the games group.

sudo usermod -a -G games username

Installing DOSBox

DOSBox is an x86 emulator with Tandy/Hercules/CGA/EGA/VGA/SVGA graphics, sound, and DOS. It's been designed to run old DOS games on platforms that don't support it.

Using apt to install DOSBox:

# get updates for existing packages
sudo -- sh -c 'apt update; apt upgrade'
# install DOSBox
sudo apt install dosbox

Using nala to install DOSBox:

# get updates for existing packages
sudo -- sh -c 'nala fetch; nala update; nala upgrade'
# install DOSBox
sudo nala install dosbox

Installing MIDI Software

Games running on DOSBox will need some flavor of MIDI software to run properly. One common package for Ubuntu is TiMidity++, a high quality software-only MIDI sequencer and MOD player. It uses sound fonts (GUS-compatible or SF2-compatible) to render MIDI files.

Using apt to install TiMidity++:

# get updates for existing packages
sudo -- sh -c 'apt update; apt upgrade'
# install TiMidity++ and soundfonts
sudo apt install timidity fluid-soundfont-gm
# optionally install additional packages
sudo apt install fluid-soundfont-gs freepats pmidi timidity-daemon

Using nala to install TiMidity++:

# get updates for existing packages
sudo -- sh -c 'nala fetch; nala update; nala upgrade'
# install TiMidity++ and soundfonts
sudo nala install timidity fluid-soundfont-gm
# optionally install additional packages
sudo nala install fluid-soundfont-gs freepats pmidi timidity-daemon

Using the Launcher

The DOSBox games launcher can be run simply by opening a terminal window and entering games into the command line.

The launcher displays a numbered list of game titles with a prompt to enter a number. The option to Exit the launcher is the last item in the list. Simply input a number and press enter to continue.

02_games.sh

#!/bin/bash
CONFIG="dosbox-0.74-3.conf"
SOURCE=${BASH_SOURCE[0]}
while [ -L "$SOURCE" ]; do 
  # Resolve $SOURCE until the file is no longer a symlink.
  DIR=$( cd -P "$( dirname "$SOURCE" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )
  SOURCE=$(readlink "$SOURCE")
  # If $SOURCE was a relative symlink, we need to resolve it  
  # relative to the path where the symlink file was located.
  [[ $SOURCE != /* ]] && SOURCE=$DIR/$SOURCE
done
DIR=$( cd -P "$( dirname "$SOURCE" )" >/dev/null 2>&1 && pwd )

# Param 1: Game directory
# Param 2: Executible file
# Param 3: DOSBox command
function run(){
  dosbox "$DIR/$1/Data/$2" -conf "$DIR/$CONFIG" -conf "$DIR/$1/dosbox.conf" -c "$3" -exit
}

function insanity_menu(){
  clear
  echo "Insanity Version Select Menu"
  PS3="Please enter a number: "
  OPTIONS=(
    "Amaze (1989)"
    "Insanity (1989)"
    "Insanity (1990)"
    "Insanity (1990 a1)"
    "Main Menu"
  )
  select opt in "${OPTIONS[@]}"
  do
    case $opt in
      "Amaze (1989)") 
        run Insanity/Amaze89 Amaze.exe; break;;
      "Insanity (1989)") 
        run Insanity/Insanity89 RUN.EXE; break;;
      "Insanity (1990)")
        run Insanity/Insanity90 INSANITY.EXE; break;;
      "Insanity (1990 a1)") 
        run Insanity/Insanity90a1 INSANITY.EXE; break;;
      "Main Menu") break;;
      *) echo "Invalid option $REPLY";;
    esac
  done
}

clear
echo "Games Select Menu"
PS3="Please enter a number: "
OPTIONS=(
  "Bust-A-Move" 
  "Day of the Tentacle (Demo)" 
  "DinoPark Tycoon" 
  "Doom 2" 
  "ELITE" 
  "Insanity" 
  "Kings Quest V" 
  "Mavis Beacon" 
  "MechWarrior" 
  "Monkey Island" 
  "Monkey Island 2" 
  "Pharaoh's Tomb"
  "Reader Rabbit 2"
  "Reader Rabbit 3"
  "Sam & Max Hit the Road (Demo)"
  "Sid Meier's Colonization"
  "Sim City Classic"
  "Space Invaders"
  "Space Quest"
  "Super Solvers Treasure Cove"
  "Tomb Raider"
  "Typing Tutor 5"
  "Exit"
)
select opt in "${OPTIONS[@]}"
do
  case $opt in
    "Bust-A-Move") 
      run BustAMove BAM.EXE; break;;
    "Day of the Tentacle (Demo)")
      run DayOfTheTentacleDemo DOTTDEMO/DOTTDEMO.EXE; break;;
    "DinoPark Tycoon")
      run DinoParkTycoon DINOPARK.EXE; break;;
    "Doom 2") 
      run Doom2 DOOM2.EXE; break;;
    "ELITE") 
      run Elite ELITE.EXE; break;;
    "Insanity") 
      insanity_menu; break;;
    "Kings Quest V") 
      run KingsQuest5 SIERRA.EXE; break;;
    "Mavis Beacon") 
      run MavisBeacon MAVIS/MAVIS.EXE "mount A $DIR/MavisBeacon/Data/floppy -t floppy"; break;;
    "MechWarrior") 
      run MechWarrior MECHWAR/MW.EXE; break;;
    "Monkey Island") 
      run MonkeyIsland monkey.exe; break;;
    "Monkey Island 2") 
      run MonkeyIsland2 MONKEY2.EXE; break;;
    "Pharaoh's Tomb") 
      run PharaohsTomb pick.bat; break;;
    "Reader Rabbit 2") 
      run ReaderRabbit2 TLC/RR2/RR2.EXE; break;;
    "Reader Rabbit 3") 
      run ReaderRabbit3 READER3.EXE; break;;
    "Sam & Max Hit the Road (Demo)") 
      run SamMaxHTRDemo snmidemo.exe; break;;
    "Sid Meier's Colonization") 
      run SidMeiersColonization COLONIZE/COLONIZE; break;;
    "Sim City Classic") 
      run SimCityClassic SIMCITY.EXE; break;;
    "Space Invaders") 
      run SpaceInvaders INVADERS; break;;
    "Space Quest") 
      run SpaceQuest SCIHDUV.EXE; break;;
    "Super Solvers Treasure Cove") 
      run SuperSolversTreasureCove COVE.EXE; break;;
    "Tomb Raider") 
      run TombRaider TOMBRAID/TOMB.EXE "mount D $DIR/TombRaider/Data/TOMBENG -t cdrom"; break;;
    "Typing Tutor 5") 
      run TypingTutor5 tt.exe; break;;
    "Exit") clear; exit;;
    *) echo "Invalid option $REPLY";;
  esac
done
$0

03_dosbox-0.74-3.conf

# This is the configuration file for DOSBox 0.74-3. (Please use the latest version of DOSBox)
# Lines starting with a # are comment lines and are ignored by DOSBox.
# They are used to (briefly) document the effect of each option.

[sdl]
#       fullscreen: Start dosbox directly in fullscreen. (Press ALT-Enter to go back)
#       fulldouble: Use double buffering in fullscreen. It can reduce screen flickering, but it can also result in a slow DOSBox.
#   fullresolution: What resolution to use for fullscreen: original, desktop or fixed size (e.g. 1024x768).
#                     Using your monitor's native resolution (desktop) with aspect=true might give the best results.
#                     If you end up with small window on a large screen, try an output different from surface.
#                     On Windows 10 with display scaling (Scale and layout) set to a value above 100%, it is recommended
#                     to use a lower full/windowresolution, in order to avoid window size problems.
# windowresolution: Scale the window to this size IF the output device supports hardware scaling.
#                     (output=surface does not!)
#           output: What video system to use for output.
#                   Possible values: surface, overlay, opengl, openglnb.
#         autolock: Mouse will automatically lock, if you click on the screen. (Press CTRL-F10 to unlock)
#      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. Resetmapper only works with the default value.
#     usescancodes: Avoid usage of symkeys, might not work on all operating systems.

fullscreen=true
fulldouble=true
fullresolution=desktop
windowresolution=1024x768
output=openglnb
autolock=true
sensitivity=30
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=mapper-0.74-3.map
usescancodes=true

[dosbox]
# language: Select another language file.
#  machine: The type of machine DOSBox 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,
#              then the scaler will be used even if the result might not be desired.
#              To fit a scaler in the resolution used at full screen may require a border or side bars,
#              to fill the screen entirely, depending on your hardware, a different scaler/fullresolution might work.
#            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 decrease/increase with keycombos.(CTRL-F11/CTRL-F12)
# cycledown: Setting it lower than 100 will be a percentage.

core=auto
cputype=auto
cycles=auto
cycleup=10
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: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# blocksize: Mixer block size, larger blocks might help sound stuttering but sound will also be more lagged.
#            Possible values: 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 512, 256.
# prebuffer: How many milliseconds of data to keep on top of the blocksize.

nosound=false
rate=44100
blocksize=1024
prebuffer=25

[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
#               (find the id with mixer/listmidi).
#               Or in the case of coreaudio, you can specify a soundfont here.
#               See the README/Manual for more details.

mpu401=none
mididevice=none
midiconfig=

[sblaster]
#  sbtype: Type of Soundblaster to emulate. gb is Gameblaster.
#          Possible values: sb1, sb2, sbpro1, sbpro2, sb16, gb, 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 might provide better quality (see oplrate as well).
#          Possible values: default, compat, fast.
# oplrate: Sample rate of OPL music emulation. Use 49716 for highest quality (set the mixer rate accordingly).
#          Possible values: 44100, 49716, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000.

sbtype=sb16
sbbase=220
irq=7
dma=1
hdma=5
sbmixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplemu=default
oplrate=44100

[gus]
#      gus: Enable the Gravis Ultrasound emulation.
#  gusrate: Sample rate of Ultrasound emulation.
#           Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 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=44100
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: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 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: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
#    disney: Enable Disney Sound Source emulation. (Covox Voice Master and Speech Thing compatible).

pcspeaker=true
pcrate=44100
tandy=auto
tandyrate=44100
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).
#               (Remember to reset dosbox's mapperfile if you saved it earlier)
#               Possible values: auto, 2axis, 4axis, 4axis_2, fcs, ch, none.
#        timed: enable timed intervals for axis. Experiment with this option, if your joystick drifts (away).
#     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=false

[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 (optional).
#          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.
# You can put your MOUNT lines here.