cross-posted from: sh.itjust.works/post/46616009
cross-posted from: sh.itjust.works/post/46615955
I saw a post about someone in my neighborhood looking for a windows 98 machine to play some old games and DOS games.
I messaged them (because I’m always up for helping people enjoy old games) and said I have a spare PC, that can run emulation and will likely be better for them to play their old games on (and a lot cheaper than the scalper prices on old machines now).
I planned to use either Mint/PopOS, and set it up so the computer will start DOSbox-x right away, to make it easy as possible for this person (I think they are not super computer literate but probably know how to navigate DOS and basic point and click instructions)
My question is, should I set it up with dosbox, or a virtual machine running Win98?
Any other tips welcome :)
Also, most of the games they want to play are FPS, like Doom, Duke Nukem, Redneck rampage, blood, and also some games like NFL challenge (DOS)
Auster@thebrainbin.org 2 days ago
Personally, I think VMs would be more portable, but by a very small distance. At most how the machine is started and some compatibilities change.
And about the games listed, some of those have source ports for newer systems, so I ask, does your friend want to run through an old system, or simply play those older games? If the latter, then maybe a VM or emulator wouldn't be needed.
bridgeenjoyer@sh.itjust.works 2 days ago
Im not totally sure. I think they may have some disks they want to play on as well, thats why I was looking at dos box. I realize almost every game from then is on the archive now so there’s not much point in a disk.
I think maybe they were just trying to put a disk in a newer machine, it didn’t work, so they were looking for an older machine.
Auster@thebrainbin.org 2 days ago
I see. If using either options then, emulator or VM, also maybe look at ways of auto-mounting optical media's ISO images. Saves some of the trouble, as games from that time often require the media to be mounted while playing.
And if the disks you talk about are diskettes, you'll probably need an adapter to back up the files or disk image. Else, if it's an optical media, have yet to see a reader not capable of dumping the disc.