Author Topic: ArcaOS as a RetroGaming Platform  (Read 345 times)

Martin Iturbide

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ArcaOS as a RetroGaming Platform
« on: June 23, 2025, 04:30:44 pm »
Hello,

I've been updating my OHFOWG project, and the idea of ArcaOS as a retro platform often comes up in discussions. I personally think it's a great concept, and here's my brainstorm of the key points needed to achieve that:

DOS VDM
DTAudio:
- Enhance DTAudio to finally enable sound within DOS VDM using Uniaud.
- Improve the DTAudio Win-OS/2 Driver for more stable performance in Win-OS/2 sessions.
- I would even prefer DTAudio to be open source. If not, perhaps it could be developed as a closed-source collaborative project under the Netlabs umbrella.

Win16 - Win-OS/2
I think it would also be beneficial to revisit Win16 games and identify which ones work well under Win-OS/2.
- Document any required extra runtimes or libraries (e.g., QuickTime, Windows Media) needed for games to function.
- Document and update information on running Win-OS/2 games, specifically with ArcaOS in mind.

Casual Gaming
SDL:
SDL is crucial for porting smaller casual games.
- Invest in making SDL, SDL2, and potentially SDL3 more stable under ArcaOS.

Win32 Gaming
ODIN:
I know it's a long shot to get all Win32 games playable under ODIN, but it would be good to improve ODIN incrementally. We could aim to bring it closer to the latest Wine version and document which Win32 games are runnable on ArcaOS with it.

Joystick Support
Wim Brul's USB joystick drivers are excellent. He managed to modify the old game port driver to allow games that use it to work with USB joysticks. I would suggest:
- Completing a General Availability (GA) version of the drivers.
- Creating a graphical user interface (GUI) to help users configure different USB gamepads and joysticks (currently done via REXX scripts).

What do you think? What are your comments, and what am I missing from this brainstorm?

Regards,
« Last Edit: June 23, 2025, 04:32:28 pm by Martin Iturbide »
Martin Iturbide
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Eugene Gorbunoff

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Re: ArcaOS as a RetroGaming Platform
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2025, 03:31:34 pm »
DTAudio..

this project continues since 2002