Which Sierra games are enhanced on Windows?

[The cranky hermit]

Of all the Sierra adventure games that were released on both DOS and Windows, which are enhanced in Windows, and how?

I recall KQ6 on Windows had higher resolution dialog window portraits, which I never could get working on DOS, so I'm assuming it's not possible in DOS. I also *think* that Gabriel Knight 1 had some Windows enhancements, but I can't remember what.

Is this correct? And were there any other games which were enhanced in Windows?

[Collector]

You are right about KQ6. This is the main reason that I looking forward to the development of the ScummVM support of the SCI games. If you use the VESA driver for GK1 DOS, there is no real difference with the Windows version, except for none of the compatibility issues that you get with the Windows version. Other than that, most of the SCI games where the Windows version may have somewhat higher quality are probably the FMV games (Phant 1 and 2, GK2, RAMA) where the videos use high color depth, but again, they have compatibility issues on modern Windows and all but two are only 16-bit. This means that they can't be played on 64-bit Windows.

[The cranky hermit]

Thanks for the response! Of those four, the only one I've got is GK2.

So, aside from KQ6 and GK2, there's no reason whatsoever to not just use straight DOSBox for all of my Sierra CD-ROM games? The FMV quality will be just the same with all the other games?

The SCI-32 games I've got are:
GK1
GK2
KQ7
LSL6
LSL7
PQ4
QFG4
SQ6

And I've got pretty much every game older than these too.

In the meantime, I need to get GK2 working in Windows 3.11 via DOSBox. Oh, and what's GK2's color depth?

[MusicallyInspired]

The Windows version of KQ5 has some alternate musical motifs different from the DOS version counterparts. The entire score is also engineered for the General MIDI instrument standard rather than the MT-32 standard in the DOS version.

[Collector]

The Windows version of KQ5 has some alternate musical motifs different from the DOS version counterparts. The entire score is also engineered for the General MIDI instrument standard rather than the MT-32 standard in the DOS version.

Good point. I was only thinking of differences graphically.

[Collector]

Thanks for the response! Of those four, the only one I've got is GK2.

So, aside from KQ6 and GK2, there's no reason whatsoever to not just use straight DOSBox for all of my Sierra CD-ROM games? The FMV quality will be just the same with all the other games?

The SCI-32 games I've got are:
GK1
GK2
KQ7
LSL6
LSL7
PQ4
QFG4
SQ6

And I've got pretty much every game older than these too.

In the meantime, I need to get GK2 working in Windows 3.11 via DOSBox. Oh, and what's GK2's color depth?

Of the games that you listed, only LSL7 is SCI32. GK2 Win and I am not absolutely sure without checking, but possible also Phant 1 Win, will run in High Color, but the game will warn you that it should be run in 256 colors.

You may find that the earlier FMV games don't have that much differences between the DOS and Win versions. You can decide for your self if it is worth it to bother with the Win version of GK2. Here are some sample screenshots:

DOS version without the No Interlace patch


Win version without the No Interlace patch


DOS version with the No Interlace patch


Win version with the No Interlace patch


If you are going to run the Windows version, it is not worth it bother with Win3x in DOSBox. If you have 32-bit Windows just use Hendroz's installer. You may wish to simply use the SHP GK2 DOSBox installer for CD-less play.

[The cranky hermit]

Well, I'm running XP 32 at the moment, but I'm trying to "future proof" my collection. I guess the question is which will happen first - my move to Windows 7, or stable SCI support in ScummVM.

I'm *really* looking forward to SCI support in ScummVM, but who knows when that will happen.

Also, I'm pretty sure all of those games are at least informally referred to as SCI-32, even if LSL7 is the only full 32-bit one. Wikipedia says they use the SCI-2 engine, which supports 32-bit extended memory via DOS/4GW or Enhanced Mode.

[Collector]

SCI32 refers to a specific version of the interpreter, not just the bit depth. Anyway, don't look for SCI support in ScummVM for a long time, at least not the VGA and later versions. Look to DOSBox as the best solution for the SCI games for the foreseeable future. Shivers 1 (16-bit Win95 only) and KQ6 (for the Win version's high rez dialog images) may be the only SCI games that may need a virtualizer to work 64-bit Windows. The rest can be handled by DOSBox or the Squirt the Cat installers.