arcarese@andromeda.rutgers.edu.rutgers.edu (John C Arcarese) (08/23/88)
Problem with DPaint_II, using TecMar graphics board. For some reason, when I set it for VGA, the display craps out. I've called both TecMar, and EA, but got the runaround from both companies. When I talked to EA, they said that the reason I had the problem when running the program in VGA mode, (the screen goes blank and stays that way), is because DPaint_II bypasses the bios, which is copied to the vga board, and directly accesses the registers on the VGA board. Tecmar said that EA was 'sleezy' for doing that, because when they bypass the system bios on the board, they are assuming a certain type of monitor frequency, namely ibm ps/2 analog. If, according to the tecmar guy, they simply accessed the bios on the board, this would not only select the right frequency, but would be less work than directly accessing the registers on the board. Can anyone out there offer an easy (or not so easy) way to correct this, so that I can run DPaint_II on the TecMar VGA board. Please respond via email. Thanks in advance, John A.
mvolo@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Michael R. Volow) (08/23/88)
In article <756@galaxy>, arcarese@andromeda.rutgers.edu.rutgers.edu (John C Arcarese) writes: > Problem with DPaint_II, using TecMar graphics board. For some reason, when I > set it for VGA, the display craps out. I've called both TecMar, and > EA, but got the runaround from both companies. When I talked to EA, they said > that the reason I had the problem when running the program in VGA mode, > (the screen goes blank and stays that way), is because DPaint_II bypasses the > bios, which is copied to the vga board, and directly accesses the registers on > the VGA board. > Tecmar said that EA was 'sleezy' for doing that, because when they Have not used this Electronic Arts Program, but others I have used with CGA are frequently incompatible with my Tall Tree Systems memory card. I have heard other reports of similar loose ends in EA programs, sometimes related to their massive efforts to main- tain copy protection. Michael R. Volow 919 286 0411, page beeper #550 Dept. of Psychiatry mvolo@ecsvax.UUCP Durham Vet Admin Medical Center Durham, N.C. 27705
markd@proxftl.UUCP (Mark Davidson) (08/26/88)
I've also encountered problems similar to that with both DPaint II and the new EGA version of Starflight. I have a Mouse Systems Mouse and a Video 7 VEGA (EGA card). DPaint II would run, but cursor movement using the mouse was erratic. EA said it had something to do with my EGA card and my mouse together. Their solution: put my old CGA card back in. My solution: I returned DPaint II to the dealer and got a refund, since EA wouldn't take the program back. "Not their problem" was their response. Personally, I can understand that it is difficult for a company to test every possible configuration of hardware, but I was a little miffed. After all, Video 7 and Mouse Systems are not small, insignificant companies. To make things worse, I received the upgrade of my copy of Starflight so that it would run in 16-color mode on my EGA. Well, it locks up when you try to save the game. After returning the disks to EA once, and trying a brand new copy from a store (with results still the same), I wonder what they've done to Starflight that makes it hate my Video 7 card. I own a ton of games for my PC, 80-90% of which support EGA graphics and run on my EGA card just fine. Besides Starflight, I've only found one other game that wouldn't run on my EGA card. Even Bard's Tale runs on it! Makes me wonder what they're doing to some of these programs to make them so dependent on some particular pieces of hardware, since a LOT of other programs have no problem. -- --- In real life: Mark E. Davidson uflorida!novavax!proxftl!markd Proximity Technologies, 3511 NE 22nd Ave, Ft. Lauderdale FL, 33308 #define STANDARD_DISCLAIMER <Quote construction site>
mvolo@ecsvax.uncecs.edu (Michael R. Volow) (08/27/88)
In article <628@proxftl.UUCP>, markd@proxftl.UUCP (Mark Davidson) writes:
I believe that Electronic Arts is famous for using hardware-dependent
copy protection, so that non-standard hardware causes their programs
to bomb. I had problems with EA games in conjunction with my
JRAM3 (Tall Tree Systems) memory board. If you can remove the
copy protection (with one of 'those' programs) or with the CopyIIPC
option board, you can probably run EA software better (don't know if it's
worth it or not).
Michael R. Volow 919 286 0411, page beeper #550
Dept. of Psychiatry mvolo@ecsvax.UUCP
Durham Vet Admin Medical Center
Durham, N.C. 27705