| 23rd | Top portable software |
 |
|
|---|---|
 DOSBox 0.73 running on Windows Vista |
|
| Developer(s) | DOSBox Team |
| Initial release | July 22, 2002[1] |
| Stable release | 0.73 / May 27, 2009 |
| Written in | C, C++ |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | Emulator |
| License | GNU General Public License |
| Website | www.dosbox.com |
DOSBox is an emulator which emulates an IBM PC compatible computer running MS-DOS. It is intended especially for use with old PC games. DOSBox is free software.
Contents |
DOSBox is a command-line program, configured either by a set of command-line arguments or by editing a plain text configuration file. For ease of use, several graphical front-ends have been developed by the user community.[2]
DOSBox is a full CPU emulator, capable of running DOS programs that require the CPU to be in either real mode or protected mode.[3] Other similar programs, such as dosemu or VDMs for Windows and OS/2, provide compatibility layers and rely on virtualization capabilities of the 386 family processors. Since DOSBox can emulate its CPU by interpretation, it is independent of its host CPU.[3] However, on systems which provide the i386 instruction set, the option to use dynamic instruction translation is available in DOSBox. Though this setting is less accurate and reliable, it is faster than interpretive CPU emulation.
It is capable of emulating many types of graphics and sound hardware. Graphics emulation includes text mode, Hercules, CGA (including composite and 160x100x16 tweaked modes), Tandy, EGA, VGA (including Mode X and other tweaks), VESA, and full S3 Trio 64 emulation.[3] Sound hardware that can be emulated includes the PC speaker, AdLib, Gravis Ultrasound, Tandy, Creative Music System/GameBlaster, Sound Blaster 1.x/2.0/Pro/16, MPU-401, and Disney Sound Source. (MT-32/CM-32L emulation is included in unofficial builds, but not in the official source code repository due to need for copyrighted ROM images.)
A popular feature of DOSBox is its ability to capture screenshots and record gameplay footage. The video is compressed using the Zip Motion Block Video codec.[4] In its uncompressed state the footage is almost an exact replica of the actual program. The video recording feature was added in version 0.65. In earlier versions, one had to rely on custom modifications and a third-party screen recorder to record video, but the quality and emulator performance was generally very poor.[5]
A component that differentiates DOSBox from other emulators is its ability to simulate peer-to-peer or Internet/Intranet networking. This includes modem simulation over TCP/IP, allowing for DOS modem games to be played over modern LANs or the Internet, and IPX network tunneling, which allows for old IPX DOS multiplayer games to be played as UDP/IP over modern LANs or the Internet. Win32 and Linux specific builds support direct serial port access.
DOSBox contains its own internal DOS-like shell, rather than being a fully virtual PC emulator like Bochs. This means that it can be used without owning a license to any real DOS operating system. Most commands that are typically used in installer batch files are supported, but many of the more advanced commands of later MS-DOS versions (e.g. post-Windows 98 DOS shells) are not. In addition to its internal shell, it also supports running image files of games and software originally intended to start without any operating system.
DOSBox is capable of timing-compatible implementation of the serial ports, and can run older hardware and software dependent on such; however, some USB devices that are supported by the host OS can act as a replacement for older serial port devices when using the emulator.
It can also be used to run many non-game DOS programs, including Windows 3.1. However, the project has a policy of not adding features that are of no use for DOS games though Windows 3.1 assists emulation of classic Win16 games such as the ones bundled with Windows Entertainment Pack. Also, there is no support for the emulation of post-80486 CPU features, although some games that require a Pentium or higher run smoothly. Some unofficial CVS versions contain experimental patches that add support for these elements.
DOSBox uses the Simple DirectMedia Layer and has been ported to many operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X v10.3 or later, and Linux. Using the HX DOS Extender, it can even run in DOS.[6] The source code has also been forked to provide compatibility on a number of non-x86 PC computer platforms, including the Palm OS, PlayStation Portable, Symbian, Internet Tablet OS 2008, Wii, and the GP2X, on various computing architectures including PowerPC, SPARC, MIPS and ARM. DOSBox is included in the software repositories for many Linux distributions such as Fedora, Debian, and Ubuntu.
id Software has used DOSBox to re-release vintage games such as Wolfenstein 3D and Commander Keen on Valve's Steam. In the process, it was reported they violated the program's license, the GNU GPL; the issue, which was reported as an oversight, was promptly resolved.[7][8] Activision Blizzard has also used it to re-release Sierra Entertainment's DOS games. LucasArts used it to re-release Star Wars: Dark Forces for modern machines on Steam. 2K Games producer Jason Bergman stated the company used DOSBox for Steam re-releases of certain parts of the X-Com series.[9] GOG.com uses DOSBox for some of their releases.[10] Bethesda Softworks recommends DOSBox and provides a link to the DOSBox website on the downloads page for The Elder Scrolls: Arena and The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall.[11] 3D Realms also recommends DOSBox and like Bethesda Softworks, provides a link to the DOSBox website on their downloads page.[12]
| This article's introduction section may not adequately summarize its contents. To comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines, please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of the article's key points. (May 2010) |
| File:DOSBox | |
|---|---|
|
File:DOSBox DOSBox 0.73 running on Windows Vista | |
| Original author(s) | Peter Veenstra |
| Developer(s) | DOSBox Team |
| Initial release | 22 July 2002[1] |
| Stable release | 0.74 / 12 May 2010 |
| Written in | C, C++ |
| Operating system | Cross-platform |
| Type | Emulator |
| License | GNU General Public License |
| Website | www.dosbox.com |
DOSBox is emulator software that emulates an IBM PC compatible computer running MS-DOS. It is intended especially for use with old PC games. DOSBox is free software.
Contents |
DOSBox is a command-line program, configured either by a set of command-line arguments or by editing a plain text configuration file. For ease of use, several graphical front-ends have been developed by the user community.[2]
DOSBox is a full CPU emulator, capable of running DOS programs that require the CPU to be in either real mode or protected mode.[3] Other similar programs, such as dosemu or VDMs for Windows and OS/2, provide compatibility layers and rely on virtualization capabilities of the 386 family processors. Since DOSBox can emulate its CPU by interpretation, it is independent of its host CPU.[3] However, on systems which provide the i386 instruction set, the option to use dynamic instruction translation is available in DOSBox. Though this setting is less accurate and reliable, it is faster than interpretive CPU emulation.
It is capable of emulating many types of graphics and sound hardware. Graphics emulation includes text mode, Hercules, CGA (including composite and 160x100x16 tweaked modes), Tandy, EGA, VGA (including Mode X and other tweaks), VESA, and full S3 Trio 64 emulation.[3] Sound hardware that can be emulated includes the PC speaker, AdLib, Gravis Ultrasound, Tandy, Creative Music System/GameBlaster, Sound Blaster 1.x/2.0/Pro/16, MPU-401, and Disney Sound Source. (MT-32/CM-32L emulation is included in unofficial builds, but not in the official source code repository due to need for copyrighted ROM images.)
A popular feature of DOSBox is its ability to capture screenshots and record gameplay footage. The video is compressed using the Zip Motion Block Video codec.[4] In its uncompressed state the footage is almost an exact replica of the actual program. The video recording feature was added in version 0.65. In earlier versions, one had to rely on custom modifications and a third-party screen recorder to record video, but the quality and emulator performance was generally very poor.[5]
A component that differentiates DOSBox from other emulators is its ability to simulate peer-to-peer or Internet/Intranet networking. This includes modem simulation over TCP/IP, allowing for DOS modem games to be played over modern LANs or the Internet, and IPX network tunneling, which allows for old IPX DOS multiplayer games to be played as UDP/IP over modern LANs or the Internet. Win32 and Linux specific builds support direct serial port access.
DOSBox contains its own internal DOS-like shell, rather than being a fully virtual PC emulator like Bochs. This means that it can be used without owning a license to any real DOS operating system. Most commands that are typically used in installer batch files are supported, but many of the more advanced commands of later MS-DOS versions (e.g. post-Windows 98 DOS shells) are not. In addition to its internal shell, it also supports running image files of games and software originally intended to start without any operating system.
DOSBox is capable of timing-compatible implementation of the serial ports, and can run older hardware and software dependent on such; however, some USB devices that are supported by the host OS can act as a replacement for older serial port devices when using the emulator.
It can also be used to run many non-game DOS programs, including Windows 3.1. However, the project has a policy of not adding features that are of no use for DOS games though Windows 3.1 assists emulation of classic Win16 games such as the ones bundled with Windows Entertainment Pack. Also, there is no support for the emulation of post-80486 CPU features, although some games require a Pentium or higher to run smoothly. Some unofficial CVS versions contain experimental patches that add support for these elements.
DOSBox uses the Simple DirectMedia Layer and has been ported to many operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X v10.3 or later, Linux, KolibriOS, and eComStation. Using the HX DOS Extender, it can even run in DOS.[6] The source code has also been forked to provide compatibility on a number of non-x86 PC computer platforms, including the Palm OS, PlayStation Portable, Symbian, Internet Tablet OS 2008, Wii, and the GP2X, on various computing architectures including PowerPC, SPARC, MIPS and ARM. DOSBox is included in the software repositories for many Linux distributions such as Fedora, Debian, and Ubuntu.
id Software has used DOSBox to re-release vintage games such as Wolfenstein 3D and Commander Keen on Valve's Steam. In the process, it was reported they violated the program's license, the GNU GPL; the issue, which was reported as an oversight, was promptly resolved.[7][8] Activision Blizzard has also used it to re-release Sierra Entertainment's DOS games. LucasArts used it to re-release Star Wars: Dark Forces for modern machines on Steam. 2K Games producer Jason Bergman stated the company used DOSBox for Steam re-releases of certain parts of the X-Com series.[9] GOG.com uses DOSBox for some of their releases.[10] Bethesda Softworks recommends DOSBox and provides a link to the DOSBox website on the downloads page for The Elder Scrolls: Arena and The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall.[11] 3D Realms also recommends DOSBox and like Bethesda Softworks, provides a link to the DOSBox website on their downloads page.[12]
|
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: DOSBox |
DOSBox | Table of Contents | Walkthrough
| DOSBox | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | DOSBox Crew |
| Publisher(s) | n/a |
| Latest version | 0.70 |
| Release date(s) | |
| Genre(s) | Emulation |
| System(s) | Windows, Linux, Mac OS |
DOSBox is an open-source emulator for accurately running MS-DOS games under modern operating systems. It supports many games, and its results are often more accurate than the legacy support provided by more recent versions of Windows. It also has the added bonus of being able to run on various non-Windows platforms.
Emulators use quite a lot of processing power and memory, since they have to translate all requests, event notifications, etc. from the sending software's "language" into the receiving software's "language". But this seldom causes difficulties, since emulators are mostly used with old games and modern platforms are vastly more powerful than those for which the games were designed.
   | Official website - DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS |
| | archive.gp2x.de - OpenHandhelds gp2x File Archive - File Info - Home:gp2x - Applications:Misc Apps |
| | wiki.gp2x.org - DOSBox demo project - wiki.gp2x.org |
| | archive.gp2x.de - OpenHandhelds gp2x File Archive - File Info - Home:gp2x - Games:Games - Freeware:Strategy |
| | DOS32a - DOS/32 Advanced DOS Extender Home Page |
| | D.O.G - D.O.G. a new frontend for DOSBox |
| | DBGL - Official homepage for DBGL: DOSBox Game Launcher, a multi-platform frontend for DOSBox |
| | steampowered.com - Commander Keen on Steam |
| | Official website - DOSBox, an x86 emulator with DOS |
| | ZMBV (Zip Motion Block Video) Codec - DosBox Capture Codec - MultimediaWiki |
| | D-Fend Reloaded - D-Fend Reloaded: Overview |
| | D.O.G. - D.O.G. a new frontend for DOSBox |
|
|
Wikis
Quiz
Map
Search
