AAA - Now Playing: Dark Forces

I think it was earlier this year when I decided I wanted to go ahead and get Star Wars: Dark Forces working.

So I got the game out of my collection and tried to run it with DosBox, but failed. So it laid there dormant for several months. I was kind of bummed that I couldn’t get it to work.

Then the other day I downloaded DarkXL – a source port for Dark Forces. With a bit of tinkering around, I was able to get it running. It was only the demo level though, and I was a little disappointed at this, seeing as I have the full version of the game. You see, the DarkXL source port is only in its Alpha stages of development, and it has been for years now.

So I went online and found out that there was in fact a later version of the program. I downloaded that ASAP and tried it again. The result was much better. The UI was vastly improved and I was able to at least play three levels this time before getting stuck.

Needless to say, much more work has to be done on the source port. But I eagerly anticipate the next build which should be out hopefully in the next few months. There’s been a pickup in activity as regards the project recently.

Still, it’s amazing that I’ve even been able run it, seeing as it’s been probably about 14 years or so since I’ve seen let alone played this classic. I usually have a habit of taking out a game every few years and playing it. So this one marks the longest amount of time that has elapsed since I last played it.

And this game was released in 1995, meaning it’s fifteen years old. But I’m still quite amazed at its technological advancements for that time.

AAA - Now Playing: Dark Forces

Yes! I’ve Finally got Blood Running Nicely!

No, I haven’t slit my wrists, and I’m not bleeding all over the carpet. I’m talking about the game, Blood.

I started playing it last year about this time, but the framerate was horrible, and the sound was rubbish. But a return visit to the famous Build XP page and forums at Deathmask, and a bit of the old RTFS method has allowed me to get the thing running almost perfectly. I had all ready downloaded all the programs and files like NOLFB, CLI2NOP, and VDMSound etc, long ago, but just a bit of messing around with the soundcard settings and a bit of black magic, and things work all of a sudden.

The framerate is a lot faster, and the sound and MIDI music nearly flawless, although there’s that squeaking that happens while running it in DOSbox every now and again. I haven't tried running it through Windows or the command prompt yet.

Before that, I was running the game through the command prompt, and getting some horrible slow-paced gameplay, and practically no sound.

I guess soon I’ll have to update my Classis Games Resurrected: Blood article, seeing as I couldn’t get the sound working back then.

Yes! I’ve Finally got Blood Running Nicely!

3D Realms Store to get Overhaul, and Remastered Games

According to former employee and webmaster Joe Siegler, the 3D Realms store is going set to get a major overhaul. More importantly, Siegler says that he spent his last days at 3D Realms remastering all the games available.

This includes packaging all the games with DOSbox (a DOS emulation program for older titles) and making formerly CD-only games available as downloadable titles.

Some think that 3D Realms might be using this overhaul to attract buyers so they can raise money for the looming Take-Two lawsuit. Ouch.

List of 3D Realms games and merchandise
Free Downloads

Sources:

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/28/3d-realms-store-to-get-overhaul-remastered-games/

3D Realms Store to get Overhaul, and Remastered Games