eXoDos Collection Volume 1: DOS Adventure Game Collection v2.0 ======================================================= ------------------------------------------------------- Contents ------------------------------------------------------- Description.......................................Sec01 Additions to 2.0..................................Sec02 Nostalgia Mode....................................Sec03 Front-End.........................................Sec04 Setup.............................................Sec05 Emulators.........................................Sec06 Playing the Games.................................Sec07 Directory Structure & Usage.......................Sec08 Missing Games?....................................Sec09 Current & Future Volumes..........................Sec10 Troubleshooting...................................Sec11 Contact & Thanks..................................Sec12 ------------------------------------------------------- Description Sec01 ------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to eXoDOS Version 2.0! Version 2.0 adds a ton of new features to the collection. Several utilities, converters, and even a compressor have been added. Check the section on new features for the complete documentation of them. MEAGRE now also features a unique GUI dubbed 'Nostalgia Mode.' Check the drop down menu to enable it. Full documentation can be found in Sec03. This pack includes 1,030 DOS adventure games which combines the previously released 757 and 273 new additions! I have defined "adventure" as games which primarily rely on non action based puzzle-solving and story based games. This includes interactive fiction, traditional point & click, and interactive stories. All games have been pre-setup and are immediately playable, no configuration required. A one time setup is required by the front end. The games included were identified by scanning several adventure game archives, dos collections, and auditing well known game databases such as MobyGames. The following changes\additions to the games have been made: Additions: Due to the number of additions, they have been included at the end of this file. Fixed: C.I.A. Adventure - replace z-code version with original BASIC version Call of Cthulu - Shadow of the Comet (1993) - naming & launch issues Deja VU - fixed "speak" icon Journey to the Center of the Earth - packed wrong game Lords of Doom - added sound Oo-Topos - cracked copy protection Psycho Killer (1993) - fixed launcher ShadowGate - fixed 'Speak" icon Ulysses and the Golden Fleece (1982) Uninvited - fixed "speak" icon Twilight Zone - replaced hack w/ original version. Scott Adams games (14 total) replaced zcode with ScottFree Suspended (1982) - was wrong game Updated: All ScummVM games updated with dos version in addition to ScummVM data files. Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension - Upgraded to graphical version Alter Ego (1986) - merged Female & Male versions and added menu to choose Eagle Eye Mysteries (1993) to CD Version Eagle Eye Mysteries in London (1994) to CD Version Fish (1988) added DOS version in addition to interpreter Isle of the Dead - Upgraded to CD version Wizard of Oz (1985) - Upgraded to graphical version Removed: Putt-Putt Enters the Race (1998) - was win 3.x game Putt-Putt Saves the Zoo (1995) - was win 3.x game Putt-Putt Travels Through Time (1997) - was win 3.x game The Bizarre Adventures of Woodruff and the Schnibble - Was win3.x game All games have been pre-setup and are immediately playable, no configuration required. A one time setup is required by the front end. To play a game from the front end, simply browse to the game you are interested in and click the install link. Once the game is finished decompressing you will have the option to choose fullscreen or window. You will also be given the chance to set pixel scalers. Now you can play the game by hitting enter on the entry. Running the install link a second time will give you the chance to remove the installed files (loosing save games, but retaining the original zip). Or, if you choose to keep the game installed, you will get the chance to change your screen and pixel scaler options. By manually decompressing a game you can skip the install file options (handy if you want them all set up). It will default to windowed mode however. ------------------------------------------------------- Additions to 2.0 Sec02 ------------------------------------------------------- Apart from new games and fixes, version 2.0 adds several new features. Within MEAGRE, one can now browse via "Nostalgia Mode", which allows one to browse the games from a graphical perspective (See Sec03 for documentation). Prior to versions 2.0, any game supported by ScummVM was automatically launched by ScummVM. Version 2.0 allows the user to select which emulator they would like to run for games that are supported by both programs. Another addition is the ability to install a game from the launch file. Previously when attempting to launch a game that had not been installed, the program would simply remind you the game had not been installed yet. Now it goes on to ask if you would like to install the game, negating the need to run the install file seperately. In the Bonus directory you can find the following apps: eXoCrunch DBGL 077b + Converter eXoDOS Hyperspin Module * eXoCrunch is a utility written by CirithUngol that is capable of compressing the entire collection into the smallest possible size. It is capable of using several different compression algorithms and keeping the most compressed version. The documentation claims a space savings of 15% to 20%, however it will slow the collection down, as any compression has to be undone before a game is playable. Decompression is automatic though, and overall the software is quite useful for a patient user who is interested in saving a few hundred gigabytes. * DBGL 077b Converter will take the collection and create a DBGL gamepack for use with the DosBox Game Launcher software. This allows the user to browse and tweak games in DBGL, while still retaining a majority of the assets inherent to the MEAGRE front end. A specific instruction file is included in the archive. * The eXoDOS Hyperspin Module allows you to launch the entire collection within HyperSpin, or *any* other frontend. Art assets do not exist for HyperSpin yet, however making the collection compatible with the HS should hopefully lead to some work on that front. ------------------------------------------------------- Nostalgia Mode Sec03 ------------------------------------------------------- To browse in Nostalgia Mode click the Nostalgia Mode selection under MEAGRE's file menu. Use the up & down arrows to browse the game list. Click the box art to see the back of the box, click the manual (which only appears if a manual is present) to view the games documentation, and click the monitor to install/uninstall the game (make sure a game is actually highlighted on the menu when doing this). Clicking the keyboard brings up the games details. This includes release year, developer, publisher, genre, subgenre, designer, and series. Clicking any of these fields will filter the entire game list. For example, if the publisher field is "Sierra Online" and you clcik on this, it will filter the games list down to only games published by Sierra Online. To return to the complete list, click Category -> View All. Filters can still be set in the drop down menu as before. To begin playing a game in Nostalgia mode, simply hit the ENTER key on an install game. ------------------------------------------------------- Front-End Sec04 ------------------------------------------------------- The front end used is MEAGRE, created by Donarumo. The front ends website can be found at: https://sites.google.com/site/meagrefrontend/home Donarumo has graciously made several improvements to the frontend for the benefit of this collection. Current version in this collection is: 2.5.1.2, October 28th, 2011 ------------------------------------------------------- Setup Sec05 ------------------------------------------------------- The eXoDos collection can be run from any directory, as all launch files are designed to use relative paths to eachother. The front-end however does require knowledge of what directory it is sitting in. Simply running the "Setup eXoDOS.bat" file will automatically setup MEAGRE to run from your current directory. If you have a previous volume, it is recommended you place this collection in the same directory. Allow it overwrite any older files, as the new ones have been updated. Upon setup, games from all volumes will be visible in the front end. It is very easy to sort by Genre if you prefer to just see the Adventure games. This file also decompresses the GamesADV.zip file, which contains all of the manuals, art, and game information for each title. This will take some time to decompress. ------------------------------------------------------- Emulators Sec06 ------------------------------------------------------- This collection uses DosBOX, ScummVM, and Frotz to play the games. DosBOX and ScummVM reside in ...
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