DOSBox for old school DOS emulation

Filed under: Fun, Games, Utilities, Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Freeware

DOSBox for old school DOS emulation

by Jason Clarke Apr 5th 2006

While everyone knows that DOS programs can be run in any version of Windows in the command prompt, if you've ever tried to play a classic DOS game on your modern system you may have been disappointed.

If you're really intent on getting that classic version of Out of this World (Another World for our European friends) from 1991 working on your Windows XP box (or Mac OS X, Linux or even BeOS machine), check out DOSBox.

DOSBox can emulate 286 & 386 processors in realmode and protected mode, handles extended memory managers like XMS and EMS, emulates a myriad of graphics subsystems including Tandy/Hercules/CGA/EGA/VGA/VESA graphics, and of course the obligatory SoundBlaster emulation.

Tags: cross platform, CrossPlatform, dos, DOS emulation, DOS Gaming, DOSBox, DosEmulation, DosGaming, emulation, emulator, tandy, tuaw

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Matt said 9:44AM on 4-05-2006

I think if they would just re-re-release (because they already did re-release it for Win95 but it was in very limited supply) the old Wing Commanders, I'd be enthralled.

PyroChemist said 12:12PM on 4-05-2006

Kudos for screen capping Another World! Best (and most frustrating) game EVAR!

Whosawhatsis said 5:50PM on 4-05-2006

Side note: There is also a mac version of Out of this World that can be played under classic.

Jason Clarke said 2:46AM on 4-06-2006

It's funny - I wondered if (hoped that) the Out of this World reference would gain more attention than the actual subject matter. I can't stress how much I loved that game. Pyro, you're right it was insanely frustrating, but in such a good way!

Featured Time Waster

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

View more Time Wasters