Hi guys, I'd like to introduce a DOSBox emulator port for Windows Phone 8.1 & up.
I developed this app more than half an year ago but final release "polishing" was on hold because of many reasons. However, I think that the app "as is" (btw, it's works and works fine!) published in the store is much better than no app at all so I decided to publish it
What is the "DOSBox" and how to use it, you may read on the official website; shortly: you can run good old DOS games (or other apps!), built for x86 CPU, on your Windows Phone.
Screenshots:
Classic Sierra's quests are working fine; Wolf 3D (for DOS) also playable. He-he, you can run Windows 3.1 on your phone too
I recommend to use Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to work with emulator. Camera button toggles "turbo-mode" of emulator (sometime is very useful), you can change this binding in settings. WP standard "back" key bound to the keyboard "Esc".
BTW, app has virtual keyboard and joystick; mouse is emulated via touch screen. Now mouse emulation has two modes, absolute and relative.
- absolute mouse mode: moves mouse pointer on virtual screen and emulates left button click by phone screen tap. Very simple but still useful in some old DOS games and definitely in DOS programs working in the text mode.
- relative mouse mode: to move mouse pointer, touch & hold phone screen and move your finger; mouse should move relative to your finger movements. To emulate left mouse click - tap the screen, double-click - double-tap. To emulate right mouse click, hold & release finger. To move mouse with left mouse button pressed - hold for a little and start moving your finger on the screen. So, this mode simulates (at least, is trying too) a standard notebook touch-pad behavior
How to work with the app:
- install app
- connect phone to PC
- create folder dosbox (or whatever) on the phone or sd-card memory. On W10M you may create folder at the root; on WP8.1 create your folder inside any public folders (Pictures, Documents etc.)
- launch the app and choose folder; after synchronization it will be your virtual drive "c:". Later, you need to synchronize this folder manually after adding or deleting apps & data.
If you don't want to use PC, I strongly recommend you to use "Total Commander" app! You can easily open and unpack archives with old DOS games and programs to your virtual "drive c:" folder.
Currently, "DOSBox" don't support Continuum ('cause it's a WP8.1 UWP, not W10M app), but you are still able to see old DOS stuff on the large screen (thanks @dxdy for the instruction!)
- first connect to DD (Display Dock) or Miracast. now on TV show normal Continuum desktop.
- now in Continuum app on phone or from Continuum desktop or phone select display settings. select "Connected display" if not. on bottom of display settings select "Advanced settings"
- select "Mirror what's on my device" (but don't use back arrow for close!!! just select Mirror option and don't touch anything for now)
- now on TV screen display change from Continuum to phone screen
- if not change disconnect and reconnect USB cable
- if changed press windows key to back to start screen
If you want switch back repeat all and select "Use different apps on each screen"
If you experiencing problems with mouse movements (mouse movements in the game are limited to some part of the screen, you can't move mouse to the lower right corner), please try this workaround found by @rcmolina: download Microsoft's mouse driver for DOS (mouse.exe) and run it before game (or add to autoexec section of dosbox.conf).
App become paid now ($1.99) but still has a free trial version, with some functionality limitation.
URL for W10M: https://www.microsoft.com/store/apps/9nblggh4q6j8
URL for Windows Phone 8.1: http://windowsphone.com/s?appid=ab937773-d667-43df-984e-1237fc28e860
Enjoy, and "have a nice DOS"
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