Thread View: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
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Started by Scott F. Earnest
Sat, 30 Apr 1994 04:21
Re: Is there a VGA version of doom?
Author: Scott F. Earnest
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 1994 04:21
Date: Sat, 30 Apr 1994 04:21
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Excerpts from netnews.comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action: 29-Apr-94 Re: Is
there a VGA version .. by jfl...@charlie.usd.edu
> >
> > Title says all, I wonder if there is or will be a VGA version of
> >doom. I don't know much about programming, but I figure it wouldn't be
> >that hard to do this, am I right?
> >
> >
> >Thanx
> >
>
> Excuse me, but DOOM is already VGA. It was from the beginning. Unless, you
> meant SVGA?
>
> [And other comments about this question.]
It's possible the original poster *did* mean SVGA resolutions. There
*is* a reason why most VGA games are 320x200x256--actually a couple I can
think of.
First, it's the only *standard* 256 color VGA resolution. Even
640x480x256 is not a standard VGA resolution (though 640x480x16 is).
SVGA resolutions started out non-standardized; registers on different cards
would be in different memory places, BIOS calls were different. So VESA
defined some standards for modes/card function. But not all cards directly
support VESA and need software drivers (= using up memory). But you'd have
to have VESA drivers for your card if you wanted to play. The other
option would be to include drivers for Video 7, TSENG3/4, Orchid, and all
the main chipsets. Either case would probably make for a lot of unsatisfied
customers.
The other problem is memory. DOOM is already pretty monstrous. To have
good detail, there would probably be up to 4 times more data for a
640x480x256 game. The registered version could have a 40 meg wad! Ouch.
Compression would be possible, but that would likely affect the speed greatly.
And video also takes memory. 320x200x256 required < 1 64K page, so no
major memory block-swapping is needed. At 640x480x256, the screen requires
> 64K, so to draw one screen, you'd have to swap memory banks at least once.
Doing that to get 20 frames per sec would really cripple the speed, and you
probably wouldn't be able to run on anything slower than a 486-66DX/2 with
VLB--which means a smaller pool of people playing the game.
Personally, I'm happy with the 320x200x256 mode.
Does this answer the questions people have? (Comments welcome, flames
only begrudgingly welcome.)
-Scott E.
ti...@cmu.edu
Re: Is there a VGA version of doom?
Author: dnic... Dylan Nicolle
Date: Wed, 04 May 1994 20:54
Date: Wed, 04 May 1994 20:54
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What about the 640*400*256 mode? or how bout the 320*400*256 mode? Actually, doom is a MCGA game, not vga. Yeah i know, big deal. But the oficial name for the 320*200*256 modem has always been MCGA. VGA usually meant 640*480*16. -- +-+-+-+-+ All opinions stated are those of my employer. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I put that wrong? +-+-+-+-+
Re: Is there a VGA version of doom?
Author: tyj... Joseph Chew
Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 05:33
Date: Thu, 12 May 1994 05:33
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Dylan Nicolle (dnic...@tcsgi.mhs.mendocino.k12.ca.us) wrote:
: What about the 640*400*256 mode? or how bout the 320*400*256 mode?
: Actually, doom is a MCGA game, not vga. Yeah i know, big deal. But the
: oficial name for the 320*200*256 modem has always been MCGA. VGA usually
: meant 640*480*16.
: --
: +-+-+-+-+
: All opinions stated are those of my employer.
: Oh, I'm sorry. Did I put that wrong?
: +-+-+-+-+
--
*=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=*
|Joseph Chew Tsang Yun E-mail : tyj_...@kurtz.eee.utas.edu.au |
|University of Tasmania tyj_...@sykes.eee.utas.edu.au |
|Computer Engineering Major Voice : (002)233-546 |
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|Christian Acronyms: |
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Re: MCGA really is ...
Author: shof... Scot A Hoffman
Date: Fri, 13 May 1994 03:20
Date: Fri, 13 May 1994 03:20
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In <2qsf34$7...@franklin.cc.utas.edu.au> tyj_...@kurtz.eee.utas.edu.au (Joseph Chew) writes: >Dylan Nicolle (dnic...@tcsgi.mhs.mendocino.k12.ca.us) wrote: >: What about the 640*400*256 mode? or how bout the 320*400*256 mode? >: Actually, doom is a MCGA game, not vga. Yeah i know, big deal. But the >: oficial name for the 320*200*256 modem has always been MCGA. VGA usually >: meant 640*480*16. >: -- ACTUALLY Mcga does support the 13h which is the 320x200x256. Mcga lacks any 16 color modes except text and any high resolution except 640x480x2. VGA stands for a GROUP of modes not just the one mentioned above, but including the 13h. -- Scot Hoffman shof...@iastate.edu
Re: Is there a VGA version of doom?
Author: jo... King Tutankhamun
Date: Sat, 14 May 1994 15:13
Date: Sat, 14 May 1994 15:13
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Joseph Chew (tyj_...@kurtz.eee.utas.edu.au) wrote: : : What about the 640*400*256 mode? or how bout the 320*400*256 mode? : : Actually, doom is a MCGA game, not vga. Yeah i know, big deal. But the : : oficial name for the 320*200*256 modem has always been MCGA. VGA usually : : meant 640*480*16. That is incorrect. MCGA is actually a IBM PCjr video mode that is compatible with the 320x200x256 VGA MODE. Most PCjr's only had 64k VGA which prevented them from utilizing most color VGA modes. The only 640x480 mode that the jr had was 1 bit-per-pixel. Dr. John A. Matzen Professor of Anthropology
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