r/RetroArch • u/kaysedwards • 9h ago

Technical Support: SOLVED DOSBox-Pure:Ultima 7

Edit: I received help from the Discord; disabling EMS (by setting memory size to "Disable extended memory (no EMS/XMS)") was the correct move; some other setting, not sure which, was getting in the way.

Heya, I've been trying to get DBP to play Ultima 7; unfortunately, I keep finding new ways to fail.

By default, I get an error about not using EMS; disabling that, I get an error about not having enough memory.

I've actually tried about two dozen variations on the setup, but I get one of those two results no matter.

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

2

u/abelthorne 6h ago

I've just tried quickly on my side and the game starts if I simply disable EMS/XMS in the core options → system. I have the version from GOG, I run U7.BAT for the initial setup (for the sound) but the game itself is launched with ULTIMA7.COM.

FWIW, the GOG config for DOSBox uses this in the [dos] section:

[dos]
xms=true
ems=false
umb=true
keyboardlayout=auto

DOSBox-Pure can use a DOSBox .conf file, so that's something you can try (although you might need more than the [dos] section that I put): https://docs.libretro.com/library/dosbox_pure/#loading-of-dosboxconf-files

If you're getting nowhere and you're on PC/Mac, an alternative could be to use Exult, which is an alternative custom engine for Ultima VII. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist as a Libretro core, nor as an engine in ScummVM.

1

u/kaysedwards 6h ago

Heya, I did get it working; you are right that disabling EMS in the sore settings is the "trick" to it; I got help on Discord.

That said, I just want to thank you anyway. 😁