As I've been getting more and more of my old games set up on my new pc, I've found that for all the ones that can be run in both DOSBox and ScummVM, the better choice has been ScummVM (as far as video/audio quality, smoothness, overall gaming experience)..
So I ask, is ScummVM indeed always the better choice? Should I even bother testing games in DOSBox if they can run in ScummVM?
ScummVM > DOSBox ???
Re: ScummVM > DOSBox ???
No. ScummVM takes some liberties with the games for its defaults. Some may like the "undithering" that ScummVM adds to the SCI0 games, but this is akin to colorizing black and white movies. It is not what the artists intended. Even though they might have liked having had a larger pallet to work with, they would have done their artwork differently than what the "undithering" produces. To most Sierra fans, it does not look right. This "undithering" generates different colors than what your eye perceives from the dithered colors. It also washes out some detail that the dithering defines.
Audio is usually better in DOSBox if everything is configured properly. What sounds best is not just subjective. While you may have a preference for a certain setting, you cannot always get the best sound with this setting for every game. The earliest SCI games sound best, by far, with MT-32 music. Most later games will probably sound best with GM. A few games may have some digital samplings that you will only hear with SoundBlaster, but you have to put up with SB's rendering of AdLib music because these games do not support separate music and digital audio settings. Additionally, Sierra released a number of after market audio drivers that add support for more devices than what the game supported when it was first released. Some of these are dual drivers (that can deliver both music and digital audio to games that only shipped with support for music) or add support for GM to a game, which also requires a patch file. ScummVM may be able to simulate GM, but without the patch file it will never sound quite right.
The way to get the best sound from the Sierra games is to know what audio is supported for each game, both originally and after market and configure the games accordingly. Using the installers from here is the easiest way to do it. If you want to experiment with different settings, the installers also copy the original setup files and all of the game's drivers to allow you to try different hardware settings.
Audio is usually better in DOSBox if everything is configured properly. What sounds best is not just subjective. While you may have a preference for a certain setting, you cannot always get the best sound with this setting for every game. The earliest SCI games sound best, by far, with MT-32 music. Most later games will probably sound best with GM. A few games may have some digital samplings that you will only hear with SoundBlaster, but you have to put up with SB's rendering of AdLib music because these games do not support separate music and digital audio settings. Additionally, Sierra released a number of after market audio drivers that add support for more devices than what the game supported when it was first released. Some of these are dual drivers (that can deliver both music and digital audio to games that only shipped with support for music) or add support for GM to a game, which also requires a patch file. ScummVM may be able to simulate GM, but without the patch file it will never sound quite right.
The way to get the best sound from the Sierra games is to know what audio is supported for each game, both originally and after market and configure the games accordingly. Using the installers from here is the easiest way to do it. If you want to experiment with different settings, the installers also copy the original setup files and all of the game's drivers to allow you to try different hardware settings.
01000010 01111001 01110100 01100101 00100000 01101101 01100101 00100001
Re: ScummVM > DOSBox ???
I somewhat disagree with you collector.
regarding the music: I have installed the latest munt driver on my pc. It emulates a nearly perfect MT-32 device. I setup ScummVM to use must as an mt-32 device. This makes most sierra games sound great.
regarding the undithering: I don't know where you get your statistics about the majority of sierra fans, but I, for one, like it alot. I understand that this is subjective though. It might be worthwhile to run a poll here.
But ScummVM gives you much more: you can play sierra games ports for other machines, like mac, amiga, apple IIgs, pc-98, etc. Some has unique characteristics: Mac Hoyle I & II runs at a higher resolution with higher resolution sprites. Amiga SCI1 games runs with 32 or 64 colors instead of 256 (not an improvement, but unique and interesting). Apple IIgs AGI games have better music and sound fx. PC-98 police quest 2 has unique anime-style characters. To sum it up: ScummVM gives you more options and choice to experience sierra games in new ways.
regarding the music: I have installed the latest munt driver on my pc. It emulates a nearly perfect MT-32 device. I setup ScummVM to use must as an mt-32 device. This makes most sierra games sound great.
regarding the undithering: I don't know where you get your statistics about the majority of sierra fans, but I, for one, like it alot. I understand that this is subjective though. It might be worthwhile to run a poll here.
But ScummVM gives you much more: you can play sierra games ports for other machines, like mac, amiga, apple IIgs, pc-98, etc. Some has unique characteristics: Mac Hoyle I & II runs at a higher resolution with higher resolution sprites. Amiga SCI1 games runs with 32 or 64 colors instead of 256 (not an improvement, but unique and interesting). Apple IIgs AGI games have better music and sound fx. PC-98 police quest 2 has unique anime-style characters. To sum it up: ScummVM gives you more options and choice to experience sierra games in new ways.
Re: ScummVM > DOSBox ???
Munt does not factor into this. The built in Munt in ScummVM is badly outdated, so you have to use the Munt driver. It does not matter if you use the driver with ScummVM or DOSBox. It will give you the same sound.
The undithering is subjective, but that still does not change the fact that it does force a different color than what is suggested by the dithering. As to percentages, I will admit that the evidence is anecdotal, but most that I have talked to prefer the original dithered. Perhaps most that I have talked to are more than just casual fans. Also, part of my impression comes from feed back that I have received from my installers where users complained when I set any graphics filters or changes as default. I have only had one complaint the other way around.
If you have the other ports of the games, then yes, ScummVM is a logical choice, but, by far, most of the AGI/SCI games out there are DOS and it is expensive enough to get the DOS versions. And by the time you get to the VGA era, many of the other ports were poorly done. So the ability to run ports is not really that relevant. Besides, when comparing ScummVM to DOSBox you are automatically limiting it to the DOS games.
The undithering is subjective, but that still does not change the fact that it does force a different color than what is suggested by the dithering. As to percentages, I will admit that the evidence is anecdotal, but most that I have talked to prefer the original dithered. Perhaps most that I have talked to are more than just casual fans. Also, part of my impression comes from feed back that I have received from my installers where users complained when I set any graphics filters or changes as default. I have only had one complaint the other way around.
If you have the other ports of the games, then yes, ScummVM is a logical choice, but, by far, most of the AGI/SCI games out there are DOS and it is expensive enough to get the DOS versions. And by the time you get to the VGA era, many of the other ports were poorly done. So the ability to run ports is not really that relevant. Besides, when comparing ScummVM to DOSBox you are automatically limiting it to the DOS games.
01000010 01111001 01110100 01100101 00100000 01101101 01100101 00100001
Re: ScummVM > DOSBox ???
Well, any way - I'm glad we have the choice. Choice is (almost) always a good thing.
Re: ScummVM > DOSBox ???
Don't get me wrong, I am glad that ScummVM has added SCI. It is a good solution in some cases, Not just for the non-PC ports, but the Windows SCI games, too. Of the currently supported games this may only mean KQ6, but as support for the later SCI games is finished this will mean that games like Shivers can be played on x64.
01000010 01111001 01110100 01100101 00100000 01101101 01100101 00100001
Re: ScummVM > DOSBox ???
Since undithering is an option that can be turned off, I think that's a non-issue. If people like it, then obviously ScummVM is the way to go. I think DOSBox sounds better too. One thing I don't like about ScummVM is the special way it saves games. I think ScummVM is best for Windows games or non-DOS games.