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ScummVM 0.5.0 Out, With Some Official Game Support
Ndr_Amigo writes "ScummVM (an interpreter for several different adventure game engines, like Simon the Sorcerer 1 and 2, the LucasArts' SCUMM adventures and Beneath a Steel Sky, earlier Slashdot story) just released version 0.5.0. Among the usual bugfixes, new game support, etc, the interesting thing about this version is that the developers of one of our target games (Beneath a Steel Sky, by Revolution Software) actually supported us. To the extent of not only supplying us with the original assembly source code, but later deciding to release the game as Freeware to coincide with our reimplementation of their engine. This is a complete turnaround from our prior experiences, and shows that there are still a few smaller active game developers out there that are willing to help keep the classics alive for their fans... And of course you can download ScummVM and the freeware release of Beneath a Steel Sky from the ScummVM homepage :)"
If you have the UAE Amiga Emulator, you can find hundreds of legitimately-released games at Back 2 The Roots, enough to keep you entertained for years!
Previously I tried to play them under Win98s DOS, but audio and especially speech support was flaky because I have SB Live 1024. Now with ScummVM, no problems at all. Props to the development team!
I used a previous version of ScummVM to play one of my favorite childhood games: Sam and Max (talkie version). ScummVM worked perfectly. I highly recommend it to anyone trying to enjoy an oldie but goodie. I haven't tried this latest version yet, but I am sure it is at least as good as the version I used for Sam and Max.
Not only has beneath a steel sky been released but Revolution are also helping the scummvm team to add support for broken sword 1 & 2.
IMO this is a great move as it makes some of the coasters sitting on the shelves of linux converts into much more useful items again.
Go Revolution
XP is basicly 98 with a lot more extra features to hunt down and disable. --Dram
I use the pocketpc version to play Sam and Max on the train :)
I only have a 256mb CF card tho, but I just use the MP3 compression.
- Ender
Lead Monkey Wrangler,
ScummVM
The ScummLinux project allows you to play your favorite ScummVM-supported games anywhere; just boot the CD, choose a game, and enjoy. It supports all the soundcards supported by the Linux kernel and TV-Out for some graphics cards, so you can even play on a television set.
But, they did re-release those games, playable on your Playstation or Playstation 2. Look for Final Fantasy Origins, Final Fantasy Chronicles and Final Fantasy Anthology. With those 3 collections, you get Final Fantasy 1-6 (except 3), all in english plus Chrono Trigger! And better yet, Final Fantasy 1 and 2 have received much needed graphical overhauls.
Links : Origins, Chronicles, Anthology
"Not to mention all the idiots who use words like boxen."
Anonymous Coward on Monday August 04, @06:49PM
Indeed. Companies could make humungous profits by re-releasing old games. Many games are often pulled from shelves before they become popular.
:-/
Yes, Blizzard has done this:
http://www.blizzard.com/blizzclassic/
However, for some strange reason, they're releasing it only to GameBoy.
Anyway, perhaps this is why they're protecting their IP's just in case they would think about re-releasing the games. But I doubt any game company will go through the work of re-releasing the games in enhanced versions with improved graphics/sound since they'd have to put so much effort into it. And if they aren't going to do that, they should just release it as freeware. The only persons caring about those games are mostly just going to pay $0 for them anyway.
Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
I think if you want to play the original game you're gonna have to download a pc emulator like plex86 or bochs, install MSDOS and play from there.
A fair set of DOS games work well with dosbox which emulate in one set the hardware (x86, vga, sound) and software (DOS) for those DOS time games.
VMWare will still cost you a pretty penny and it's not open source like ScummVM.
And it's probably faster to use ScummVM too because once you set up your shortcut or whatever the equivalent is on your platform then you just click it and it starts instantly instead of having to wait for the whole VM to boot up.
"UAE" is free and legal as is the software at "Back 2 The Roots" but what you still need is a legal version of the Amiga Kickstart.
Fortunatly, the people behind Amiga Forever have you covered. They sell a licensed copy of the Amiga's Kickstart and it's OS. Actually, their package has several versions of the Kickstart/OS so you can pick and choose which Amiga flavor to emulate including the A500 (which most games were designed for), CDTV and CD32. The disc even contains an interview with Jay Miner!
Support legal emulation.
Run out to your nearest UK games shop. Lucasarts have released a whole bunch of packs, including the Monkey Island Bounty Pack (Monkey Island 1, 2 and 3). 20 quid to you, guvnor.
Then there's the Sam 'n' Max / Day of the Tentacle pack.
Then there's the Grim Fandango / Sam 'n' Max / The Dig / Full Throttle pack.
If you don't see them on the shelves, just ask. They're available all over the country, in every high street.
Does my bum look big in this?
I don't know if I should mention is here, but how about the Windows SCUMM engine in the LucasArts Archives(R): Adventure Collection? It is written bij Aaron Giles.
Jac
Thanks for your wisdom which enlightens us. I knew this ScummVM stuff must be a sham. Oh, BTW, can you please point me again at those instructions to get WINE running on PalmOS, MorphOS, DreamCast, WinCE or Mac OS X? I just can't seem to find them right now.
Hmmm, and how again do I activate the aspect ratio correction and Scale2x for Maniac Mansion?
Oh and while you are at it, please tell me which program I need to use my Amiga version of Mi2 with Wine?
I am looking forward to your helpful answers, oh grand master and bringer of light :-)