angband for dos?

[Nick]

Here are links to Angband 3.4.1 and Angband 4.2.0 for DOS built using DJGPP and the "IBM" display code adapted from version 3.0.6.

Version 3.4.1 is significantly faster on older machines.

https://archive.org/details/ang341

https://archive.org/details/ang420

Nicely done

[BenCollver]

Here are links to Angband 3.4.1 and Angband 4.2.0 for DOS built using DJGPP and the "IBM" display code adapted from version 3.0.6.

Version 3.4.1 is significantly faster on older machines.

https://archive.org/details/ang341

https://archive.org/details/ang420

[hyperactive]

Yes, it was 3.0.6.
Cheers.

[eMeM]

Windows XP has NTVDM (Virtual DOS Machine). It's very fast just like seperate DOS installation. It runs automatically when DOS program is executed. I remember 3.0.6 Borg was faster in NTVDM than in Windows version. DosBox is much slower.

As much as I would like to see another console version I think there might be other and better ways to help blind players enjoy Angband in Windows graphic enviroment.

[takkaria]

Hi.
I'm using windows xp sp3.
The speech hardware I use for dos programs is a special device that plugs into a serial port.
How much work is it to convert angband to a dos program using djgpp?
I was thinking of downloading the source and trying to do it myself but from the sounds of it, it isn't easy.

I reckon it would take an experienced programmer at least a few days, maybe more. You'd have to either write a new set of display routines or import the old DOS port from 3.0.6, updating it to account for all the changes in the code.

Can I just check, what was the last version you played? Was it 3.0.6?

[Timo Pietilä]

Hi.
I'm using windows xp sp3.

If you use XP how do you access DOS? Dosbox? Separate boot partition (not sure if modern hardware could be even recognized by DOS? Different machine altogether?

[hyperactive]

Hi.
I'm using windows xp sp3.
The speech hardware I use for dos programs is a special device that plugs into a serial port.
How much work is it to convert angband to a dos program using djgpp?
I was thinking of downloading the source and trying to do it myself but from the sounds of it, it isn't easy.

[eMeM]

3.0.6 last version with DOS exec
3.0.9 last version with W32 console edition exec (so it is possible)

Another question is would it work with Win7 or Win8. I use old XP.

[PowerWyrm]

It would be nice to see proper native W32 full screen ASCII or Dos ASCII coming back. I don't understand why it was scratched in first place (maybe because all developers are linux guys). I dig every thread about this and I was searching for it on other forums as well. I remember that I wasn't impressed with pdcurses version. It was like playing in emulator, very very slow.

The GCU version has a major bug. See this thread:

http://angband.oook.cz/forum/showthread.php?t=5481

I've tried using ncurses and it has the same bug. After a discussion with the ncurses maintainer, it appears that the bug isn't in ncurses (or pdcurses), but in the Win console api. Good luck fixing that...

[Nick]

What is the most recent version you have been playing with dos?

[Timo Pietilä]

In the past we had another blind user who used the Windows console mode for this, which is why that's what I offered to do again, but if it's not useful then I won't. The last DOS port release for Vanilla was 8 years ago and the code has changed a lot since then. I'm afraid my priority is to get the 3.5 release out in the next couple of months and that will be using up all my Angband coding time - but if anyone else is interested in resurrecting it and can get it working, then I'll include it.

I could try console for nostalgia reasons. I think only real extra term window I would miss is info on visible monsters (no off-screen surprises). I don't play with large main screen anyway, it feels like cheating to see that much dungeon at once.

[takkaria]

Please if you can, I would be really grateful if someone could get the source code and compile a dos version using djgpp, there are no real limits when you use djgpp and cwsdpmi etc.

In the past we had another blind user who used the Windows console mode for this, which is why that's what I offered to do again, but if it's not useful then I won't. The last DOS port release for Vanilla was 8 years ago and the code has changed a lot since then. I'm afraid my priority is to get the 3.5 release out in the next couple of months and that will be using up all my Angband coding time - but if anyone else is interested in resurrecting it and can get it working, then I'll include it.

[hyperactive]

Actually, I am interested in dos ascii but would love the ability to turn sound effects on too.

[hyperactive]

Yes I find the current 3.4.1 version slows things down a lot, it seems a bit resource intensive.
As to how I am able to play an ascii game, it's simple if you know how.
The automatic screen access program has a separate cursor which you can use to examine your surroundings. When I use the arrow keys to move around, the hardware cursor is also moved, and when I examine my surroundings with the extra cursor, I can hear the various letters and punctuation marks being spoken, so for example, if I am in the middle of town and there are several t's on either side of my character, I then use the second cursor to examine and see how many paces away they are so I can act accordingly.
Please if you can, I would be really grateful if someone could get the source code and compile a dos version using djgpp, there are no real limits when you use djgpp and cwsdpmi etc.

[Timo Pietilä]

But we don't have a *full screen* ASCII version which is a favorite way to play for many old time players and major obstacle when trying recent versions of Angband.

Takkaria said that it would be easy to do Windows console, so I think it will appear soon. Not DOS, just windows console.