FreeSCI and ScummVM

[Collector]

Though there has been a great deal of resistance in the past, there seems like we are going to see a merger of FreeSCI and ScummVM. For those that are not familiar with it, FreeSCI is a third party SCI interpreter, mostly being done by Linux users. It is essentially to Sierra game what ScummVM is to LucasArts games, but not nearly as advanced. Its devs have a near chauvinistic disregard of other OSs. It is difficult to setup and only supports early (EGA) SCI games; the ones that are the easiest to run in DOSBox.

There is an an experimental, unstable branch called Gluten, that is in the early stages of support for the later (VGA) games. There is no prebuilt Windows version. Development of FreeSCI has been painfully slow, with Windows and Mac builds several version behind that of the Linux ones. Because of all this, I had mostly dismissed the project, especially since DOSBox works so well with most of the SCI game.

But then there are the Sierra Windows only games, like Shivers and some versions of King's Quest VII. And with a few games, the Windows version is preferable over the DOS version... King's Quest VI and the FMV games, with the higher rez graphics or greater color depths.

A merger with ScummVM could remedy many of these issues. As with DOSBox, ScummVM places a high priority on portability. Any new developments would available to all platforms. ScummVM is easy to use and is actively being developed. Such a merger might bring all of this to the SCI games.

Don't hold your breath, as it will take some time for this to happen, but it looks like it is in progress.

[Almirena]

It's promising news, anyway - slow though the project may be, and laughable though the prospect of completion might be. <nod>

Thanks for letting us know, Collector.