| Should a speed run be done on Dark Forces? |
| Yes, there should be |
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100% |
[ 11 ] |
| No, dont waste my time! |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
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| Total Votes : 11 |
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| Author |
Message |
ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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 Posted: Dec 02, 2007 06:44 Post subject: Speed Running Dark forces! |
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Hey ACE here,Does anyone know if there is a speed run record for Dark Forces? I KEED to know because Right now I'm practicing my speed running skills so I can Speed Run Dark Forces!
Last edited by ACE on Aug 21, 2009 05:36; edited 2 times in total |
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Fenwar
Admiral Ackbar
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 02, 2007 17:25 Post subject: |
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Interesting idea....
I don't know of any times but you might want to have a look on youtube if you haven't already. May be some there.
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 02, 2007 23:55 Post subject: |
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I looked already and found nothing.I think it's because theres no on screen recording tool to record the run.  But then again I dont know that there is one. Does any one know if there is a way to record the speed run (other than a digital camera) from an on screen tool?
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The MAZZTer
Death Star
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 03, 2007 02:49 Post subject: |
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DOSBox allows you to record movies.
Read DOSBox\zmbv\readme.txt
You should then install the ZMBV codec included and use it to decode and reencode the movie to XviD or something.
_________________
http://www.mzzt.net/ | I am a respectable admin with a respectable sig. |
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 03, 2007 23:33 Post subject: |
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ok im back, i tried dos-box and made a video but its too slow.DOS-box runs slower than the game itself so i cant go as fast or do those cool tricks to help me because it runs so slow. so i need to find another alternative to record whats on screen. Anyone care to help?
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 04, 2007 03:59 Post subject: Re: Speed Running Dark forces! |
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ACE wrote:
Hey ACE here,Does anyone know if there is a speed run record for Dark Forces? I KEED to know because Right now i'm practicing my speed running skills so I can SPEED RUN DARK FORCES!
Ah, curses: I actually have speed-run most levels in Dark Forces (on a variety of difficulty settings) though I never managed to work out a way to record it... I did record my times, though. The quickest was SECBASE on easy, which was about 55 seconds or so. (the only enemy I killed was the officer for the red key, who fell to a punch; that flung them back so I could keep running and collect the key) The longest was Prelude to Harkov's Defection on hard, which, as I recall, took me roughly 14-15 minutes. (and several attempts to avoid dying due to falls)
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 04, 2007 04:48 Post subject: |
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Bravo, my time on The Secret Base was 56 seconds but i too have no way of recording it. Currently I'm working on it because Guiness World Records Gamers addition comes out in February and I want in (although i probably wont make it)  But if someone accomplished a speed run and uploaded the video (If granted permission) on df-21 it would(i think) boost the rivial rate of dark forces.
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Fenwar
Admiral Ackbar
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 04, 2007 09:25 Post subject: |
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So long as they were a sensible size I would be happy to host a few video files here. A 55-second video shouldn't be more than a few MB should it?
You could try something like FRAPS for recording maybe? Let me know if you get anywhere, I might be persuaded to have a crack at it myself 
Generally it would be better to distribute videos on Youtube or Google video but maybe the "best" could be hosted in a slightly less-compressed format here. (Older ones would be deleted as the times were defeated.)
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 04, 2007 21:55 Post subject: |
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Well Fenwar, the speedrun was suposed to be a video recording of the whole game not one level.But can you still host it? 
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 05, 2007 18:18 Post subject: |
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OK, does anyone know if there is an on screen recording program, one that can record the whole speed run of Dark Forces? I have alreday tried DOS-box, and fraps and they either slow down the frame rate making it impossible to speed run,or they dont suport Dark Forces. Any one
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The MAZZTer
Death Star
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 05, 2007 18:32 Post subject: |
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You need to find a faster computer to record it on, then.
My computer is 5 years old and it was able to record a Dark Forces movie fine. Only minimal slowdown. Granted, DOSBox doesn't run Dark Forces the fastest to begin with, but I'd need to run it under DOS (or a DOS virtual machine) to get any faster than emulation and I can safely say there's no way to video capture from there (unless your video card has TV out and you are seriously considering using a VCR).
http://junk.mzzt.net/dark_000.avi
I tried to capture video of Condition Zero once with some sourceforge tool. I had a far worse framerate than this. I'm guessing DOSBox's built in video recorder is pretty much the best you're going to get.
_________________
http://www.mzzt.net/ | I am a respectable admin with a respectable sig. |
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 06, 2007 22:26 Post subject: |
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Ok, tried one more thing to make DOS-box run dark forces faster and it worked.what I did was I right clicked DARK.exe and clicked properties. Then I clicked the memory tab. Then I set all the memory settings to none or its lowest. And finally I ran DF in DOS-box and it ran at normal or slightly slower speed. NOW I HAVE FOUND THE RECORDING SOFTWARE THAT WORKS!  (with Dark Forces) But one question how do you make a link for your recording and post in your reply like The_Mega_ZZTer did?
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Fenwar
Admiral Ackbar
Joined: 15 Sep 2003
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The MAZZTer
Death Star
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 07, 2007 19:54 Post subject: |
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Yeah. MPlayer (and probably VLC) have the codec built-in.
QuickTime's browser plugin seems to hang when you try to play it though. :X
_________________
http://www.mzzt.net/ | I am a respectable admin with a respectable sig. |
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The MAZZTer
Death Star
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 07, 2007 20:04 Post subject: |
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ACE wrote:
what I did was I right clicked DARK.exe and clicked properties. Then I clicked the memory tab. Then I set all the memory settings to none or its lowest. And finally I ran DF in DOS-box and it ran at normal or slightly slower speed.
That's only a placebo effect. DOSBox ignores Windows settings on programs. It was probably something else that you did without realizing it that caused it to be faster (such as not running as many other programs), or you just think it's faster when it's not (it's hard to tell when you're not running both sessions on separate computers side-by-side).
One thing you can try is tweaking DOSBox's dosbox.conf file to get better performance. Here's the file I use:
| Code: | # This is the configurationfile for DOSBox 0.72.
# Lines starting with a # are commentlines.
# They are used to (briefly) document the effect of each option.
[sdl]
# fullscreen -- Start dosbox directly in fullscreen.
# fulldouble -- Use double buffering in fullscreen.
# fullresolution -- What resolution to use for fullscreen: original or fixed size (e.g. 1024x768).
# windowresolution -- Scale the window to this size IF the output device supports hardware scaling.
# output -- What to use for output: surface,overlay,opengl,openglnb,ddraw.
# autolock -- Mouse will automatically lock, if you click on the screen.
# sensitiviy -- Mouse sensitivity.
# waitonerror -- Wait before closing the console if dosbox has an error.
# priority -- Priority levels for dosbox: lowest,lower,normal,higher,highest,pause (when not focussed).
# Second entry behind the comma is for when dosbox is not focused/minimized.
# mapperfile -- File used to load/save the key/event mappings from.
# usescancodes -- Avoid usage of symkeys, might not work on all operating systems.
fullscreen=false
fulldouble=false
fullresolution=original
windowresolution=original
output=ddraw
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,lower
mapperfile=mapper.txt
usescancodes=true
[dosbox]
# language -- Select another language file.
# memsize -- Amount of memory DOSBox has in megabytes.
# machine -- The type of machine tries to emulate:hercules,cga,tandy,pcjr,vga.
# captures -- Directory where things like wave,midi,screenshot get captured.
language=
machine=vga
captures=capture
memsize=63
[render]
# frameskip -- How many frames DOSBox skips before drawing one.
# aspect -- Do aspect correction, if your output method doesn't support scaling this can slow things down!.
# scaler -- Scaler used to enlarge/enhance low resolution modes.
# Supported are none,normal2x,normal3x,advmame2x,advmame3x,hq2x,hq3x,
# 2xsai,super2xsai,supereagle,advinterp2x,advinterp3x,
# tv2x,tv3x,rgb2x,rgb3x,scan2x,scan3x.
# If forced is appended (like scaler=hq2x forced), the scaler will be used
# even if the result might not be desired.
frameskip=0
aspect=true
scaler=normal3x
[cpu]
# core -- CPU Core used in emulation: normal,simple,dynamic,auto.
# auto switches from normal to dynamic if appropriate.
# cycles -- Amount of instructions DOSBox tries to emulate each millisecond.
# Setting this value too high results in sound dropouts and lags.
# You can also let DOSBox guess the correct value by setting it to max.
# The default setting (auto) switches to max if appropriate.
# cycleup -- Amount of cycles to increase/decrease with keycombo.
# cycledown Setting it lower than 100 will be a percentage.
core=dynamic
cycles=max
cycleup=500
cycledown=500
[mixer]
# nosound -- Enable silent mode, sound is still emulated though.
# rate -- Mixer sample rate, setting any devices higher than this will
# probably lower their sound quality.
# blocksize -- Mixer block size, larger blocks might help sound stuttering
# but sound will also be more lagged.
# prebuffer -- How many milliseconds of data to keep on top of the blocksize.
nosound=false
rate=22050
blocksize=2048
prebuffer=10
[midi]
# mpu401 -- Type of MPU-401 to emulate: none, uart or intelligent.
# device -- Device that will receive the MIDI data from MPU-401.
# This can be default,alsa,oss,win32,coreaudio,none.
# config -- Special configuration options for the device. In Windows put
# the id of the device you want to use. See README for details.
mpu401=intelligent
device=default
config=
[sblaster]
# sbtype -- Type of sblaster to emulate:none,sb1,sb2,sbpro1,sbpro2,sb16.
# sbbase,irq,dma,hdma -- The IO/IRQ/DMA/High DMA address of the soundblaster.
# mixer -- Allow the soundblaster mixer to modify the DOSBox mixer.
# oplmode -- Type of OPL emulation: auto,cms,opl2,dualopl2,opl3.
# On auto the mode is determined by sblaster type.
# All OPL modes are 'Adlib', except for CMS.
# oplrate -- Sample rate of OPL music emulation.
sbtype=sb16
sbbase=220
irq=7
dma=1
hdma=5
mixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplrate=22050
[gus]
# gus -- Enable the Gravis Ultrasound emulation.
# gusbase,irq1,irq2,dma1,dma2 -- The IO/IRQ/DMA addresses of the
# Gravis Ultrasound. (Same IRQ's and DMA's are OK.)
# gusrate -- Sample rate of Ultrasound emulation.
# ultradir -- Path to Ultrasound directory. In this directory
# there should be a MIDI directory that contains
# the patch files for GUS playback. Patch sets used
# with Timidity should work fine.
gus=true
gusrate=22050
gusbase=240
irq1=5
irq2=5
dma1=3
dma2=3
ultradir=C:\ULTRASND
[speaker]
# pcspeaker -- Enable PC-Speaker emulation.
# pcrate -- Sample rate of the PC-Speaker sound generation.
# tandy -- Enable Tandy Sound System emulation (off,on,auto).
# For auto Tandysound emulation is present only if machine is set to tandy.
# tandyrate -- Sample rate of the Tandy 3-Voice generation.
# disney -- Enable Disney Sound Source emulation. Covox Voice Master and Speech Thing compatible.
pcspeaker=true
pcrate=22050
tandy=auto
tandyrate=22050
disney=true
[joystick]
# joysticktype -- Type of joystick to emulate: auto (default), none,
# 2axis (supports two joysticks,
# 4axis (supports one joystick, first joystick used),
# 4axis_2 (supports one joystick, second joystick used),
# fcs (Thrustmaster), ch (CH Flightstick).
# none disables joystick emulation.
# auto chooses emulation depending on real joystick(s).
# timed -- enable timed intervals for axis. (false is old style behaviour).
# autofire -- continuously fires as long as you keep the button pressed.
# swap34 -- swap the 3rd and the 4th axis. can be useful for certain joysticks.
# buttonwrap -- enable button wrapping at the number of emulated buttons.
joysticktype=auto
timed=true
autofire=false
swap34=false
buttonwrap=true
[serial]
# serial1-4 -- set type of device connected to com port.
# Can be disabled, dummy, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# Additional parameters must be in the same line in the form of
# parameter:value. Parameter for all types is irq.
# for directserial: realport (required), rxdelay (optional).
# for modem: listenport (optional).
# for nullmodem: server, rxdelay, txdelay, telnet, usedtr,
# transparent, port, inhsocket (all optional).
# Example: serial1=modem listenport:5000
serial1=dummy
serial2=dummy
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled
[dos]
# xms -- Enable XMS support.
# ems -- Enable EMS support.
# umb -- Enable UMB support.
# keyboardlayout -- Language code of the keyboard layout (or none).
xms=true
ems=true
umb=true
keyboardlayout=none
[ipx]
# ipx -- Enable ipx over UDP/IP emulation.
ipx=true
[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup |
Noteworthy lines:
| Code: | | priority=higher,lower |
This sets DOSBox to use "above normal" priority when you have it as the active window (IE you are using it) and sets it to "below normal" when you task switch away to use something else. This might give you a good boost.
This is the highest possible value for memsize and indicates how much memory DOS programs have available.
| Code: | core=dynamic
cycles=max
cycleup=500
cycledown=500 |
core and cycles can be "auto", but some games do not properly trigger them to change to "dynamic" and "max" automatically, such as Wolfenstein 3D. So I just set them here. If your core wasn't "dynamic" or "auto" or cycles wasn't "max" or "auto" this should give you a huge speed boost.
Most the rest of my tweaks are just to enable settings.
ACE wrote:
But one question how do you make a link for your recording and post in your reply like The_Mega_ZZTer did?
I uploaded the file to my webserver and then just typed the link into my post. If you don't have a webserver there are plenty of sites that will host files for you like www.savefile.com.
If you are serious about video capture you should do research on video encoding and programs to use for it... I doubt many people will be able to play the videos DOSBox makes, and no one will want to install a codec just to play your movie. If you do reencode it you can choose a more common codec like XviD or DivX that people already have... and it'll probably also make the movie's file size smaller.
Also I think video upload sites like YouTube and Google Video will automatically convert and encode your movie for you for the site but they reduce the quality so there is a tradeoff by not doing it yourself.
_________________
http://www.mzzt.net/ | I am a respectable admin with a respectable sig. |
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CoinCollector
Dianoga
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 07, 2007 22:18 Post subject: |
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Here's my speedrun of the Secret Base on easy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3m25V5dHdg
I got 53 seconds, but there's LOTS of ways I can improve.
I'll try using your DOSBox configuration file, The_Mega_ZZTer; Dark Forces runs a little slow for me too.[/url]http://df-21.net/phpbb/posting.php Link[url][/url]
EDIT: I tried it, and it runs slower than with the configuration I was using before. Optimal configuration probably depends on your computer.
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 07, 2007 23:48 Post subject: |
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Thats pretty good CoinColletor. Heres My Speed run of dark forces on easy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEZfvmxiaLc
I too have a you tube account (just got it today,got the idea from coincollector)My time is around 49 seconds but i could do better.
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 13, 2007 02:27 Post subject: |
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Ok, now i got my best time Secret Base (the fastest i can complete it is 49 sec.) i am currently working on my Talay Tak base speed run!
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 13, 2007 02:32 Post subject: SPEED RUNNING DARK FORCES! |
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Since Im doing a speed run of dark forces . does anyone else what to do a speed run of DF as well? If you do just post your reply.
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 14, 2007 02:58 Post subject: |
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Well, my PC is still in storage ATM, else I'd break out the Dark Forces and see about recording some of those speed-runs... It'll take me a while to get the rhythm down to get SECBASE done so fast... I think I could probably break 40 seconds. I know that I could beat the whole thing on hard in about 1:15.
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 14, 2007 05:10 Post subject: |
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So Nottheking are you in?
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 16, 2007 03:57 Post subject: |
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Once I get things sorted out, yes. But that could take a couple of weeks. Of course, at the rate that things move around here... 
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 16, 2007 09:01 Post subject: |
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Ok Then. Any one else whant to speed run Dark Forces?
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 20, 2007 04:15 Post subject: |
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This is my last offer. Does anyone else want to speed run Dark Forces?
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Dec 22, 2007 03:35 Post subject: |
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It's not like there'd be any real time requiement: people just post videos when they can, and it can be determined then whether the old record was upheld or broken. *shrug*
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Dec 22, 2007 06:52 Post subject: |
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i know that, I just want to see if anyone wants to do the run with me.
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Jan 11, 2008 04:34 Post subject: |
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Ok,Im back with a new computer a windows vista 32 bit. Im now running dark forces on dos-box. And also working on Talay Tak base video run so expect a new link for the video soon.
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Nottheking
Kell Dragon
Joined: 29 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Jan 22, 2008 08:10 Post subject: |
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Well, now I'm getting moved into my new house... And typing from my own PC, for once. That means that I can play Dark Forces... Except I brought the wrong box, and don't have my game discs. *slaps forehead*
_________________
Wake up, George Lucas... The Matrix has you.. |
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ACE
Ree-Yees
Joined: 10 Nov 2007
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| Posted: Jan 23, 2008 00:54 Post subject: |
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Well i finally fixed my dos box problem once and for all! I went to there game support page and found the dark forces archive. This told what versions of Dos-Box supported dark forces! Apparently the newer version on Dos version 0.72 does not fully support dark forces. But version 0.70 100% does! But i hit a snag. when i go to install the zmbv codec the installation window pops up super fast for a split second and then goes away. When i record a video it is not saved at all whats going on, how can i fix this? I am using Windows Vista 32-bit.
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The MAZZTer
Death Star
Joined: 25 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Jan 30, 2008 03:42 Post subject: |
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I run Dark Forces on the latest version of DOSBox just fine, FYI.
The codec installation probably isn't working because of UAC. Open an Administrative Command Prompt (right click on a Command Prompt shortcut and Run as Administrator)
Then type*: rundll32 setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 "<FULL DOSBOX PATH>\zmbv\zmbv.inf"
For example, my DOSBox is in E:\Programs\Emulation\DOSBox, so the full path to zmbv.inf as I'd type it would be "E:\Programs\Emulation\DOSBox\zmbv\zmbv.inf".
* - At least, that's the command XP does when you right click an INF file and click Install. I assume it'll work in Vista.
Note that installing the codec will only affect the ability of programs such as Winamp and Windows Media Player to PLAY ALREADY RECORDED VIDEOS made in DOSBox. It will not affect your ability to record them. That is a separate problem.
Remember movies will end up in the DOSBox\capture directory, so make sure you're checking there.
If nothing, it is likely DOSBox key settings aren't set up properly to record. In DOSBox press CTRL+ALT+F1 for the key map screen. Click "video" to see the key combination setting for recording/stopping video. By default, mod1, 2, and 3 are left control, left alt, and right shift, respectivlely. If no key combination appears, click F5, and then the lower left mod1 and mod2, then save which will set CTRL+ALT+F5 to the record video key.
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