Compatibility: Support more games (such as The Lost Vikings)

[maximilien-noal]

https://github.com/xor2003/masm2c/tree/master/qemu_tests

Other possible sources of inspiration :
https://github.com/nepx/halfix
https://github.com/86Box/86Box
https://github.com/jeffpar/pcjs/tree/master/machines/pcx86
https://github.com/dosbox-staging/dosbox-staging
https://github.com/mboros1/XTulator
https://github.com/gregdivis/Aeon
https://superfury.itch.io/unipcemu
https://github.com/sarah-walker-pcem/pcem

[maximilien-noal]

This could fix games such as The Lost Vikings.

[xor2003]

For Vikings there is non standard VGA mode 320x240, VGA scrolling, VGA split screen (configured over ports)

[xor2003]

test-i386.zip
Qemu tests converted into C#.
You can check if flags emulation is same as for qemu/dosbox

[maximilien-noal]

test-i386.zip Qemu tests converted into C#. You can check if flags emulation is same as for qemu/dosbox

Thank you !
This is very valuable.
Once Dune is done (might take a while) this while help a lot in order to improve Spice86's compatibility with real mode DOS games.

[maximilien-noal]

Some issues to resolve in the far future (= when Dune is done) regarding compatibility:

• Fix broken games reported in COMPATIBILITY.md
• Support Floppy drive controller. Some games don't know what a hard disk is.
• Support PC boooters.
• Support for TANDY graphics mode (see DOSBox or JDOSBox)
• Support for IBM PS/2 (see DOSBox-X)
• Support for IBM PCjr (see DOSBox-X)
• Support for NEC PC-98 (see DOSBox-X)
• Support user defined VGA-retrace delay (see DOSBox-X)
• Support 16 bit DMA channels. Right now, we only support 8 bit DMA channels.
• Support for floppy image files. Some games had copy protection built into them. They won't work with a mounted directory as A:
• Support for MSCDEX
• Support for mounting ISO and CUE/BIN files
• Support for CD Music and mixed mode CDs.
• Command interpreter and command prompt
• DOS Utilities and commands required by games and installers (SBMIXER, XCOPY, ....) (see DOSBox Staging or JDOSBox)
• Support for 16 MB of RAM (maybe, the vast majority of DOS games run with the current 1 MB)
• Support for EMS, XMS, and all DOS memory stuff I can't think of right now
• Support for hardware detection by DOS games setup utilities and also hardware auto detection (partially already implemented)
• Support for cycle accurate emulation (InstructionsPerSecond command parameter might need to be reworked / extended)
• x86 FPU
• 186, 286, 386, 486 instruction sets
• Protected mode and DPMI (ie. DOS4GW, DOS32A) (maybe, might not work with functions overrides ?)
• V86 support (maybe, mght not work with functions overrides ?)
• TSR support
• Mouse callback support
• Serial Mouse support (I think we only support PS/2 Mouse ?)
• CGA and MCGA
• Hercules
• VESA
• EGA
• Text mode (80 columns, 40 columns, ...)
• Standard input / output and redirection support
• VGA Mode X, VGA scrolling, VGA split screen...
• Soundcard GamePort support (= Joystick support) (for games that are based on this method of input, ie. space simulations)
• Gravis Ultrasound support
• More Sound Blaster and OPL chips variants support (Sound Blaster Pro 1 & 2, 16, Game Blaster)
• Support Adlib PCM (that is PCM without DMA, the CPU has to work for it)
• Support for batch files, env vars
• Support for advanced PC Speaker usage, such as music and voice with the PC Speaker (see "RealSound" tech from the Tex Murphy Mean Streets game)
• Support Tandy 1000 sound card (pretty much optional, only Maniac Mansion requires it, it seems...)
• Null modem support
• IPX Support (with NE2000 card emulation)

[maximilien-noal]

Meta issue: #308