16 replies to this topic

[Elijahroberson]

Hey all,

I just rediscovered the wonderful racing game that is Indycar Racing II. I am currently running it on DOSBox-0.74, but have also been skipping around with other modules such as DOSBox Staging and DOSBox ECE. I am trying to get my game to look similar to the bottom left image, yet it is looking more like the bottom right. I did tinker with the settings in the config file, but as you can see with the right screenshot, it did not have the desired outcome. What setups do you all run graphics wise for this game?

It can be for any of the three DOSBox programs I mentioned.

Attached Files

•  Vroom.JPG   74.5K   51 downloads
•  vroom2.JPG   143.86K   56 downloads

[jgf]

Don't know how much of this is still pertinent, but it's a start - https://icr2.net/for...read.php?tid=37

Last time I had ICR2 was the windows version running on Vista, which worked well, but the DOS version seems problematic on anything newer than XP.

[Elijahroberson]

Well that is a problem. GPLaps I think ran a short series with this game not super long ago, and the graphics looked great. Not sure what he changed or if he was using XP...

[Saiph]

Remember to run the game with the command "indycar -h" to get SVGA (640x480) graphics instead of VGA (320x200).

(EDIT: I have attached my DOSBOX configuration file in case it's useful.)

Attached Files

•  dosbox-0.74.conf.zip   4.05K   3 downloads

Edited by Saiph, Apr 29 2020 - 11:42 AM.

[Elijahroberson]

Thank you Saiph, do I simply put this in the DOSBox directory?

[Saiph]

Elijahroberson, on Apr 29 2020 - 12:07 PM, said:

Thank you Saiph, do I simply put this in the DOSBox directory?

I think that might work, try it and see. But on my Windows 10 system, I have DOSBOX installed to:

C:\Program Files (x86)\DOSBox-0.74\

And after a search, I found my config file in:

C:\Users\keith\AppData\Local\DOSBox\

So if you have a similar directory I think you should put it there.

[twinpotter]

I run the game on DosBox with the client D-fend Reloaded. Which is not everybody's cup of tea, but which I find super easy and super friendly

In my list of games (in D-fend) there is an edit option and there you can put the -h in the profile/program parameters. I think this points to your config file and possibly your dos auto EXE, where the game is mounted? See attached picture.

Some of my settings in DosBox and D-fend for ICR2:

CPU- Emulation core= Dynamic
CPU Type= Auto
CPU Cycles= Max
Graphics- Render=Overlay
Video Card= SVGA _s3 compatible
Scaler= High quality with factor 2 (hq2x)

Full screen resolution- I have gone up to 640x480 and Window resolution set at my desktop resolution.

Joystick- Auto, with no timed intervals, or auto fire, just button wrap activated.

I also have Nascar 1 activated with the -h trick. I also have ICR1 and GP2 games on DosBox and D-fend, which work superbly.

But I also run the ICR2 Windows version, on my Win XP, which works flawlessly.

On jgf's link you can get numerous downloads, especially Pavel's wonderful Indianapolis track

Hope this helps

TP:

Attached Files

•  dfend Image.png   272.76K   8 downloads

Edited by twinpotter, Apr 29 2020 - 03:17 PM.

[gliebzeit]

D-fend is my gig.  Love it.  

[Elijahroberson]

Thank you all for your help! I am not skilled with DOSBox by any means, but I feel like I have D-fend on this computer somewhere... Also, Saiph, that -h and that config really did improve the game, I can actually see the track in Cleveland now! I will try D-Fend also.

Update: I am not well versed in D-Fend either. I put Indycar2 into D-Fend, copied TP's setup, and when I run the game the copyright info shows up, and then the dos window closes without running the game.

Edited by Elijahroberson, Apr 29 2020 - 05:27 PM.

[twinpotter]

Also if you look on the link from jgf.
There's lots of track updates for the base tracks by Pavel.

I found they helped especially on the Cleveland track, with specifically placed corner markers.
There's also as stated the Indianapolis track and the Miami road circuit too, to add into your track database.

TP:

[Elijahroberson]

twinpotter, on Apr 29 2020 - 05:27 PM, said:

Also if you look on the link from jgf.
There's lots of track updates for the base tracks by Pavel.

I found they helped especially on the Cleveland track, with specifically placed corner markers.
There's also as stated the Indianapolis track and the Miami road circuit too, to add into your track database.

TP:

Thank you TP. I cannot seem to find Miami in the track db. IMS is supposedly on the archive, but I cannot find it. Also, check my previous post, I made an edit.

[Pavel]

Elijahroberson, on Apr 29 2020 - 05:39 PM, said:

I cannot seem to find Miami in the track db. IMS is supposedly on the archive, but I cannot find it.

Archive section of the site hadn't updated in years. All new tracks are listed here https://icr2.net/for...ead.php?tid=805

[twinpotter]

I think the Miami track you want is Bicenntial Park 🤔 When you download just pop it in your track folder where your game directory is.

Thanks for linking Pavel 👍

The updates are really good and worth it 👌

Oh just seen your issue with D-fend and my settings. There may be some conflict with my settings and your PC spec.
Try change from overlay to surface. On the scaler from hqx2 to normal and cycles from max to auto.
Also check that your game points towards the correct exe in the game under the profile section. There is a tab that you click to direct to the game folder, so you can pick your exe.
What I usually do is open the D-fend window and drag the game folder into the window, let go and the game will auto install to D-fend. But sometimes this and even D-fend puts the wrong game exe into the profile section. So you have to manually find the correct exe. Without looking I can't remember what the exe is titled. But from memory Indycar?
Hope that helps and gets you up and running.

TP:

Edited by twinpotter, Apr 30 2020 - 04:29 AM.

[blackskull101]

I remember I had problems with ICR2 some years ago. No matter what I was doing I always had the same error - IndyCar.exe can not be found. It was the same with D-fend and with DOSbox standalone.
At the end I gave up and downloaded "portable" version  of the game from an abandonware site supplied with Dosbox and properly configured and I'm still using it.
That's how it looks:
 icr2.jpg   90.22K   20 downloads

Edit: Looks like the site where I downloaded it from had all their downloads hidden behind paywall since then

Edited by blackskull101, Apr 30 2020 - 06:39 AM.

[twinpotter]

I've seen the pre pack Dosbox games before. Can't remember what game I once downloaded, but that was combined with an auto Dosbox. Not sure but in your prepack installed Icr2 there should be a config file, similiar to Saiphs. Maybe you can copy some of those config settings, into d-fend, to get it running on the d-fend build 🤔

Beauty about the Dosbox builds, especially D-fend is you have an instant list of games.

As for trying to run the games on d-fend, it's all about experimenting with the settings. Such as whether to run surface, overlay, opengl or direct 3d. Including CPU cycles, different scaler and whether d-fend is pointing to the correct exe. It could possibly be a conflict with your pc too 🤔
Although having said that I have experienced some games that just won't install on d-fend or any Dosbox build. Luck of the draw unfortunately.

TP: 🏁

[blackskull101]

Yes, there is a config file in the game folder, but I don't have D-fend installed right now - I had a nasty HDD crash and lost it along with several GB of old 80's & 90's dos games.
With that said I think the problem with ICR2 was some kind of ancient protection system (maybe?).

Is it possible to run the windows version on os newer than XP without emulators or virtual machines?

Edited by blackskull101, Apr 30 2020 - 10:53 AM.

[twinpotter]

Not sure what that protection could be. I know that on ICR1 you had the protection where you had to look for a certain line and word in your manual. So then you had to alt enter or put your game screen back to small window, look in your downloaded manual, then input the word to unlock the game.

There are also some unlock nocd exes about and in your downloaded ICr1 game folder, are 2 jpeg/BMP pic files, that show you the lines and words, that the game asks for, to unlock your game.

I though managed to find a tutorial on how to hex edit the ICR1 exe to get past that. Sssh 🤫🤭
But overall I've had no issue with Icr2 on Dosbox and d-fend.

Sorry to hear about all your lost games too. I've just downloaded loads of old Dos games from here, with no issues:

https://www.myabando...e/platform/dos/

&

https://www.myabandonware.com/

Plus some Windows rareaties too, along with some Megadrive/genesis roms too.

In fact I've just started again running my kega Fusion emulator, for those old genesis games, as well as my ePSXE emulator, for some old classic playstation 1 ROMs. Lol 😂 the lockdown must be getting to me 🤭

But I'm really enjoying the nostalgia bit at the moment 😁👌

TP:

Edited by twinpotter, Apr 30 2020 - 11:05 AM.