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Thexder

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
Revision as of 14:31, 17 March 2020 by -Rob- (talk | contribs)
Thexder
Thexder cover
Developers
Game Arts
Publishers
Sierra
Release dates
DOS October 1987
Thexder on MobyGames
Thexder on Wikipedia
Thexder
Thexder 1987
Fire Hawk: Thexder - The Second Contact 1989
Thexder for Windows 95 1995

Key points

Can be run under DOSBox if the disk copy protection is disabled.

General information

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Floppy disk check (requires the original floppy in the drive to play)
 The original disks use CPC Copy Protection DRM. It is necessary to disable it to be able to run it on DOSBox.
DOS

Essential improvements

Three-channel audio support

The game supports three-channel audio, which requires the hardware built into the PCjr or Tandy 1000 computer. Other systems are limited to one-channel audio played through the PC speaker.
Use DOSBox

Notes

if DOSBox is configured to emulate a PCjr or Tandy computer, the game detects and uses the emulated PCjr/Tandy sound hardware for three-channel audio. This will simultaneously also force the game to run in 16 colour PCjr/Tandy graphics mode.

MCGA mode

The games MCGA mode is normally reserved for the IBM PS/2 Model 25 and Model 30, and the game specifically checks for these machines. When started on a VGA system it will instead use EGA graphics, despite the fact that VGA can also do MCGA.
Use DOSBox-X

Notes

DOSBox-X has a special machine=mcga mode which is compatible with Thexder.
Rename trick

Notes With a little trick we can force it to use MCGA graphics on VGA graphics adapters.

To understand what is going on, first a little explanation about some of the game files. On the disk there is a THEXDER.COM which detects the hardware and then runs the actual game code. The following files contain the main game code:

  • MAIN - This is the CGA version
  • MAINEG - This is the EGA version
  • MAINJR - This is the PCjr/Tandy version
  • MAINPS - This is the PS/2 MCGA version

So on a VGA system it will run MAINEG while we want it to run MAINPS. As such simply rename MAINEG to MAINEG.BAK and copy MAINPS to MAINEG and start the game. You will now get MCGA graphics which looks slightly better than EGA.

Three-channel audio with MCGA

The three-channel PCjr/Tandy audio support in the game is normally mutually exclusive with the PS/2 MCGA graphics support.
A TSR[1] written by Vogons user ripsaw8080 allows the combination of three-channel PCjr/Tandy audio with MCGA graphics in DOSBox.
TSR solution with DOSBox-X

Notes Follow the following steps to make this work on DOSBox-X

  • Download and unpack the TSR in your Thexder game directory
  • Make sure DOSBox-X is set for MCGA (machine=mcga)
  • Make sure DOSBox-X is set to force Tandy audio (tandy=on)
  • Start DOSBox-X
  • In DOSBox-X, run the THEXVGA3.COM TSR that you downloaded previously
  • In DOSBox-X, start THEXDER.COM
TSR solution with vanilla DOSBox or DOSBox ECE

Notes Follow the following steps to make this work on DOSBox-X

  • Download and unpack the TSR in your Thexder game directory
  • Follow the above rename trick to force MCGA mode
  • Make sure DOSBox is set for VGA or SVGA (e.g. machine=vga)
  • Make sure DOSBox is set to force Tandy audio (tandy=on)
  • Start DOSBox
  • In DOSBox, run the THEXVGA3.COM TSR that you downloaded previously
  • In DOSBox, start THEXDER.COM

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

The game auto detects the hardware on each startup. There is no configuration file.

Save game data location

The game does not support saving progress

Video settings

Template:Video settings

Input settings

Template:Input settings

Audio settings

Template:Audio settings

Gallery

  • Title screen in MCGA

  • Game screen in MCGA

  • Title screen on PCjr/Tandy

  • Game screen on PCjr/Tandy

  • Title screen in CGA

  • Game screen in CGA

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
DOS video modes CGA, EGA, MCGA, PCjr, Tandy Runs in 320x200 native resolution regardless of video adapter. MCGA only works on the IBM PS/2 Model 25 and 30. PCjr/Tandy graphics only work on an IBM PCjr or Tandy 1000.

System requirements

DOS
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS)
Processor (CPU) Intel 8088 / 8086
System memory (RAM) 256 KB
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Video card (GPU) CGA EGA

References

  1. ↑ TSR for Thexder PCjr/Tandy sound with MCGA - last accessed on 2020-03-17