Skizomeuh on 10/6/2010 at 09:27
Yes it's possible with the extremely impressive (
http://dsx86.patrickaalto.com/) Pate's homebrew DSx86 : a PC 286 emulator which is able to run a quite heavy list of 286 DOS games ((
http://dsx86compatibility.pbworks.com/Compatibility-List) compatibility list here) including Ultima Underworld. With DSx86 0.14 it now works, a little slow and can't save but it's a very good start knowing the limitations of the hardware and the youth of the homebrew.
Shadowcat on 10/6/2010 at 11:25
Interesting. Is that slow with detail levels on minimum?
The DS is ARM-based, right? I wonder if this app could be the basis for a more-efficient-than-DOSBox emulator on other ARM-based hand-helds as well? (well, for games which can run on a 286).
When running Underworld in DOSBox at a number of cycles that a Pandora was stated to be able to handle, I had to switch off ceiling and floor textures to get it to run at all smoothly, so it would be rather awesome if a more efficient alternative was available.
Al_B on 10/6/2010 at 18:34
Nice find! I'll definitely have to check this out.
Yes, the DS is ARM based, From memory it has an ARM 7 for the touchpad, music and GBA compatibility. The main grunt work is done by an ARM 9 including sprites and the 3D engine.
Skizomeuh on 11/6/2010 at 08:42
I'll try to make a video of DSx86 running UW...
For the few I have tested, UW runs very choppy (like Midwinter games on Atari ST) at high details, but relatively smooth at low detail, but I didn't test while in combat, the game being quite unstable for now. Remember UW just started to be compatible with DSx86 since version 0.14.
Danielo on 14/6/2010 at 01:33
UW1 was advertised as requiring a 386. It ran ok on my 386-33 (slow with Daylight in large rooms), but I imagine that a 386-20 was pushing it, so maybe nobody tried it in a 286. Few of those had enough memory anyway. But I'm surprised that it doesn't actually require a 386. There must have been a lot of room for improving the engine.
I see in the compatibility list that UW2 does throw an opcode error.
