You know the ritual: to run a classic MS-DOS game on a modern system, you need to virtualize that operating system or adopt some kind of wrapper/emulator to create the right environment. DOSBox tops the list for obvious reasons, but its operation isn't perfect, and in fact there are environments it doesn't get along with well, like RetroArch. The answer is DOSBox Pure, a fork that aims to modernize the emulator with a new interface, running zip files, support for save states, and a wide number of secondary functions.
DOSBox is the quintessential environment for running those unforgettable classics for MS-DOS. At the same time, DOSBox presents some technical challenges that not all users can resolve, and even with a huge amount of tweaking, there's always a game that refuses to cooperate. Without a doubt, there are titles that deserve the effort from start to finish. The Bullfrog catalog, the adventures of Sierra and LucasFilm/Arts, the origins of id Software, the magic of Delphine Software, darker names like Silmarils… are true gems, but we can't deny that the process could be a little simpler. That's where DOSBox Pure comes in.
The Modernization Project
DOSBox Pure is a project by programmer Bernhard Schelling, who seeks to develop a fork of DOSBox (its last update goes back to June 2019) with multiple improvements. The first is that it will be able to load games directly from a zip file, eliminating the need to install each game. This behavior is very similar to what we see in other emulators, and if it works well in DOSBox Pure, we'll welcome it with open arms.
Another positive aspect of DOSBox Pure will be the ability to mount ISO images more easily, without removing them from the zip. The video shows the inexhaustible Command & Conquer as an example, but there are more titles that split their content across multiple discs, and they will benefit from this. Thirdly, there's full gamepad support. DOSBox Pure aims to maintain a very close relationship with RetroArch, so having a good “translation” of gamepads to games will be essential (many of them didn't even offer the option to play with gamepads in DOS).
https://old.neoteo.com/juegos-de-ms-dos-para-jugar-desde-tu-navegador/More Features on the Way
Features like auto-boot, on-screen keyboard, speed control with presets (say, “Pentium II” or “486DX”), and MIDI support with SoundFonts also set the pace in DOSBox Pure, but there's more: a menu for cheats (which will allow the use of documented tricks and the discovery of new ones) and the inclusion of save states, an essential tool for repeating and overcoming certain obstacles, or continuing the game later without losing progress. Schelling hopes to have the first build of DOSBox Pure ready before the end of 2020, but we must be patient.
Bernhard Schelling on Twitter: Click here
