DOSBox settings question

[audiodane]

I noticed that the SHP installers for Space Quest Collection (1997) setup DOSBox to run everything in 10000 cycles mode (with the exception of SQ6, running at "cycles=max"). I was just thinking though, wouldn't it make more sense to run those games with DOSBox settings of the intended processor speed for each game?

I'm guessing this has been discussed before as well, but didn't find any threads about it ...

Just curious..

thanks,
..dane

[Collector]

10000 is a good starting place for the SCI games. Anything over can trigger the infamous SCI timer bugs. Much lower can significantly increase load times. A few of the installers set even lower cycles because of timer bugs that are triggered at even 10000. A couple do use the max setting for games that don't have significant timer bugs and have much higher than average load times.

[MusicallyInspired]

10000 is fine if you don't have an MT-32. If you do it's way too fast. I sometimes have to lower the cycles to 2000 or less to get the SysEx data to the MT-32 without getting a buffer overflow. And then raise it back up again after it's been loaded.

[audiodane]

Good deal.. thanks for the catch-up information! I certainly don't mind load times, and would gladly wait for load times to have a better gaming experience. After all, I had to wait way back then, why not now?

As I play through the games I'll take note of any particularly funky scenes that might cause me to recommend the installer use a different setting. Though I'm sure you guys have already done that pretty extensively..

thanks again,
..dane

[Collector]

10000 is fine if you don't have an MT-32. If you do it's way too fast. I sometimes have to lower the cycles to 2000 or less to get the SysEx data to the MT-32 without getting a buffer overflow. And then raise it back up again after it's been loaded.

A couple of the Sierra SB drivers will not initialize at 10000, too, but most will without the GOSiERRA patch.