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From: "makjade" <makjade404@gmail.com>
Newsgroups: alt.binaries.emulators.misc
Subject: (eXoDOS 3.11) - DOS RPG Game Collection - [Volume 2] - "eXoDOSRPG.nfo" - 20.92 GB - yEnc (1/1)
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eXoDOSRPG.nfo
eXoDos Collection
Volume 2: DOS RPG Game Collection
v3.11
retroexo@gmail.com
=======================================================
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Contents
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Description.......................................Sec01
Changes to 3.11...................................Sec02
Front-End.........................................Sec03
Setup.............................................Sec04
Emulators.........................................Sec05
Playing the Games.................................Sec06
Missing Games?....................................Sec07
Current & Future Volumes..........................Sec08
Troubleshooting...................................Sec09
Contact & Thanks..................................Sec10
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Description Sec01
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Welcome to eXoDOS Version 3.11!
Apart from adding lots of games, the biggest change in Version 3 is the frontend. eXoDOS now features complete LaunchBox integration.
This pack includes 350 DOS games which are in some form or another part of the RPG Genre. I have defined "RPG" as games which primarily rely on leveling up one or many characters through a combination of experience, items, or abilities. This includes both action and turn-based RPG's.
The games have already been configured to run in DosBOX. Games which are supported by ScummVM will give you the option at launch as to which emulator you would like to use.
The games included were identified by scanning several adventure game archives, dos collections, auditing game databases (such as MobyGames), and submissions/suggestions.
3.11 Adds
Dungeons of Noudar 3D (2018)
Escape from Ragor (1994)
EXP: The Excellent Potato (1996)
Karkoth's Keep (1983)
Kingdom of Syree II, The - Black Magic (1994)
Kingdom of Syree III, The - The Depths of Hell (1998)
Lords of Doom: Part One - The Black God (1996)
Super Samtong (1994)
WarWizard (1994)
Ys II Special (1997)
Zakato: Maan (1995)
Fixes and Upgrades:
Amberstar (1992) - Can not create character before launching
Lands of Lore: Guardians of Destiny (1997) - Add 3DFX version
Realms of Arkania 2: Star Trail - Upgraded to CD version
The following changes have been made since v2.0
Fixed:
Ancients 1 - Deathwatch (1991) - Naming
Ancients 2 - Approaching Evil (1994) - Naming
Fates of Twinion (1993) - Naming
Ruins of Cawdor (1995) - Naming
Added:
AllegroHack (2000)
Amulet, The (1983)
Bandor - The Search for the Storm Giant King (1992)
Enigma of Ashrella, The (1995)
Mazzembly 3D (1997)
NetHack Plus (1994)
Princess Maker 2 (1993)
Princess Red Keyboard Warrior (2016)
Ranadin 2.0 (1989)
Ranadinn (1988)
Romance of the Forgotten Kingdom (1995)
SLASH (1996)
SRogue (2010)
Zangband (1994)
Updated:
J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Vol 1 - Added floppy version
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Changes to 3.1 Sec02
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3.11 was created for a handful of reasons. First, shortly after releasing 3.1 I found a way to minimize the windows console that opens anytime a batch file is launched. This cleans up the pack for those running in windowed mode. To enable this however, every single games launch file had to be modified and a utility had to be added to the pack. Second, I was finally able to synchronize my local database with mobygames, which allowed me to identify several missing games. Third, I had a short list of fixes in the patch that I was eager to roll into the main release.
With help and suggestions from FirstRun70, I have also changed the install files for each game to now include options tochange the aspect ratio and change the scaler. Scaler options existed before, but only worked the first time you changed them, so it was fairly broken. Options to set the aspect ratio have also been restored to the main setup file, so that every game in the pack can be modifed at the same time.
3.1 was created due to several issues in the migration to launchbox, which cropped up over time as I tested the 3.0 release. Apart from these fixes, I added dozens of manuals and other scanned extras, removed/replaced all image assets with mobygames watermarks, fixed 2 corrupt game files, and made several file name changes to bring consistency to the file structure. I plan on this being the final release for the forseeable future and wanted to make sure things were as clean as possible.
The biggest change from 2.0 to 3.0 is the front end. Rather than try and explain all the features and details of LaunchBox here, I encourage you to check out their forums, watch their tutorial videos on youtube, and simply play around with the software. It is very intuitive and offers a ton of features.
For those who have a soft spot for MEAGRE however, fear not. It is still included and during the initial setup it still gets everything it needs to run. I have done this both for folks who may prefer MEAGRE and to retain support for the many export options and utilities that various community members have created over the years.
Apart from the front end you will find several dozen new games, but more importantly, hundreds of bug fixes.
Thanks to an amazing effort by Firstrun70 to identify issues, many games have been tweaked and fixed to play better.
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Front-End Sec03
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The front end used is LaunchBox from Unbroken Software.
The front ends website can be found at:
https://www.launchbox-app.com/
LaunchBox goes way beyond a standard frontend by supporting direct steam library imports, a cloud games database for scraping metadata, and support for every emulator I have thrown at it. I highly recommend supporting their project and upgrading to the premium edition.
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Setup Sec04
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Run setup.bat. Done.
The eXoDOS collection can be run from any directory, as all launch files are designed to use relative paths to eachother.
Running the setup.bat file will extract all of the LaunchBox assets and the games front end assets/configs.
Once it is complete, simply run LaunchBox.exe to dive right in.
The GamesRPG.zip file is *required* for this collection to run, as it has all of the files dosbox needs in order to launch the game. If you are getting a game not found error from launchbox, make sure you downloaded this file.
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Emulators Sec05
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This collection uses DosBOX, ScummVM, and Frotz to play the games. DosBOX and ScummVM reside in their respective folders at:
\eXoDOS\Scummvm
\eXoDOS\Dosbox
These are *different* from the ScummVM and DOSBox folders in the root folder, which are used by LaunchBox.
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Playing the Games Sec06
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After downloading the collection and running "Setup.bat", simply run the LaunchBox.exe file. You will be presented with a list of all included games.
The first time you attempt to run a game it will ask if you want to install it. Subsequent runs will directly launch the game.
Initial install may take some time depending on the size (a few of these games are upwards of 8 cds!).
During install you will be prompted to choose fullscreen or windowed mode, and if you would like to apply a scaler. Scalers can smooth pixels, making older pixelated games look a bit more modern. The default setting is normal2x.
If you run the install file a second time, it will ask if you would like to uninstall the game. Choosing "yes" will erase the installed files from your disk, but keep the original ZIP file. You will loose any saved games, high scores, or other settings you have defined since the game was installed.
If you choose not to uninstall the game you will get the chance to choose fullscreen or windowed again and another opportunity to change the scaler. If the scaler refuses to change, you will have to rerun the Setup file in order to extract clean copies of each games conf file.
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Missing Games? Sec07
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Yes, there are still games missing. Some may have never been released for DOS, while others may have never had an English release.
I am currently seeking the following RPG game:
Dunjonquest: Morloc's Tower (1983)
Nethack-- (1992)
If you are able to locate one of these game or are aware of a missing game that is not in the collection or on this list, then please let me know. Before suggesting a game please make sure it is actually a DOS game and that it is not already in the pack - some games have multiple names, so you may be looking for it under a different name then it is known in the collection.
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Current & Future Volumes Sec08
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Current:
eXoDOS Volume 1: The Adventure Collection
eXoDOS Volume 2: The RPG Collection
eXoDOS Volume 3: The Strategy Collection
eXoDOS Volume 4: The Simulation\Sports\Educational Collection
eXoDOS Volume 5: The Action Collection
Win3xO: The Win 3.x Collection
After the release of all individual 3.11 collections, a complete, merged, version will be released.
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Trouble Shooting Sec09
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Q: When I run a game it says it is missing.
A: Make sure you downloaded the GamesRPG.zip file. If you decided to only download a handful of games, then you probably missed this file.
Q: You're missing a game!
A: See the section on missing games.
Q: You're missing a manual/cover/extra/etc....
A: Yes, I am missing many. If you know of a place to obtain any missing assets, please let me know.
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Contact & Thanks Sec10
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If you have questions, media, games to add, or other concerns, you can email me at retroexo@gmail.com
Special thanks to the following people:
Brolly - Designed the Hyperlaunch Module, assisted with Mobygames integration, and lots of other great suggestions.
Unbroken Software - For all the great support in getting eXoDOS into LaunchBox
Donarumo - For constantly assisting with tweaks and upgrades to MEAGRE for the benefit of this collection
Hargle & his team at Total DOS Collection - These guys have located countless rare games and are invaluable.
Firstrun70 - An amazing job of scanning the collection for bugs and inconsistencies.
CirothUngol - Designed eXoCrunch, so our hard drives thank him.
Jason Scott - For making eXoDOS available at the Internet Archive.
And thank you to those who have helped by reporting bugs and simply enjoying the collection. All the positive comments and posts have kept me at this for the past 10 years.
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