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Dimitris1980's picture
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Joined: 2009 Apr 21
Macintosh games vs Dos Games

I have downloaded lots of mac games from macintoshgarden site and my opinion is that several of these are better on Mac format. Ok, there is not a big difference like Police Quest 3 on Amiga format (dos version much much better) but i think Mac uses better resolution and has better sound than a soundblaster. Of course lots of dos games support Roland MT32 for music. What is your opinion? (I have compared games especially from the 90s).

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Joined: 2012 Aug 9

An (incomplete) list of Games with enhancements/changes in the Macintosh version over the original DOS version:

* Leisure Suit Larry 1 - The Land of the Lounge Lizards (Sierra, 1987)
- 2 graphic sets for 2-bit (bw) and 4-bit (16 color) screens
- uses an icon-based interface menu
- uses text windows with enhanced font instead of pure text

* Gold Rush! (Sierra, 1989)
- 2 graphic sets for 2-bit (bw) and 4-bit (16 color) screens
- uses an icon-based interface menu
- uses text windows with enhanced font instead of pure text

* Space Quest 3: The Pirates of Pestulon (Sierra, 1989)
- 2 graphic sets for 2-bit (bw) and 4-bit (16 color) screens
- Finder interface

* Leisure Suit Larry 5 (Sierra, 1991)
- additional sounds (sound samples: toilet flush, airport announcement, …)
(is explicitly mentioned in the credits, with the possibility to replay the sound samples using a soundboard-like interface)

* Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (LucasFilm Games, 1990)
- 2 graphic sets for 2-bit (bw) and 4-bit (16 color) screens
- uses an icon-based interface instead of a text-based interface

* Loom (LucasFilm Games, 1990)
- 2 graphic sets for 2-bit (bw) and 4-bit (16 color) screens
- uses same engine as "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" but without the icon-based interface

* The Secret of Monkey Island (LucasFilm Games, 1990)
- VGA graphics only
- higher screen solution (640x480) possible (3 sizes possible in total: low, medium, high)
- graphics smoothed by filter
- uses an advanced, MI2-like graphical interface instead of a text-based interface

* Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (LucasArts, 1991)
- higher screen solution (640x480) possible (3 sizes possible in total: low, medium, high)
- graphics smoothed by filter (can be disabled as an easter egg by entering the word "rough")

* Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (LucasArts, 1992)
- higher screen solution (640x480) possible (3 sizes possible in total: low, medium, high)
- graphics smoothed by filter (can be disabled as an easter egg by entering the word "rough")

* Civilization (Microprose, 1993)
- 2 graphic sets for 2-bit (bw) and 8-bit (256 color) screens
- Finder-based Interface with resizable window for the playfield
- enhanced sounds (sound samples)
- is identical with the Windows 3.x version

* Railroad Tycoon (Microprose, 1991)
- 2 graphic sets for 2-bit (bw) and 8-bit (256 color) screens
- Finder-based Interface with resizable window for the playfield
- enhanced sounds (sound samples)
- some screens (title, credits, main screen, broker screen, train screen) are redrawn in a vintage-looking brown style
- 2 animated screens (bridge building, train crash) missing

* Wolfenstein 3D (id Software, 1994)
- higher screen solution (640x480) possible
- enhanced graphics (redrawn textures and sprites)
- also playable by mouse
- two more weapons (flamethrower, rocket launcher)
- automap feature
- gameplay differences as of the Atari Jaguar version

* Command & Conquer (Westwood, 1995)
- higher screen solution (640x480) possible
- is identical with the Windows 95 version (Command & Conquer Gold)

Please feel comfortable to complete the list.

Dimitris1980's picture
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Joined: 2009 Apr 21

Nice job kitchen2010!

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Joined: 2009 Nov 14

SimCity 2000 by Maxis offers near-unlimited resolution (the screen size is the limit--DOS users are stuck with their original resolution). Tons of other games have much higher resolution.

In short, when compared to their DOS counterparts, the Mac versions are usually better in graphics and sound--QuickTime is often used in Mac games, which uses MT-32 SFX (licensed by Roland). The SoundBlaster, on contrast, is a lousy, wheezy POS.

But DOS games are way easier to run on modern systems (ironically) including modern Macs. Basilisk or SheepShaver won't run them quite right...if at all (plus, they're very clunky to work with)

Dimitris1980's picture
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Joined: 2009 Apr 21

I agree with Temporary Joe. Dosbox is a great emulator and you can play most dos games without problems. I use it for my asus laptop with windows 7. For the Mac games i prefer the real machines than the emulators. They play better with their original graphics, sound, speed. I use permorma 6116, powerbook 540c and Imac G3.

ndtronerud's picture
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Joined: 2010 Jul 29

One game that didn't improve? King's Quest VI. Unfortunately, although Macs got the floppy disk version, they never got the CD-ROM enhanced version that came afterwards with improved graphics and sound.

Dimitris1980's picture
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Joined: 2009 Apr 21

And unfortunately King's Quest VI on Mac doesn't support roland mt-32 like king's quest 5. Also, i haven't found mac cd versions of Gabriel Knight, Space Quest 4 and Police Quest 4.