Does Privateer actually use XMS memory?

[Farfolomew]

First off, let me say I have no real problems running Privateer 1 in DOS at the moment. I can run it with or without EMM386, using various sound cards depending on the configuration. However, I would like to be able to have on unified config to run all my DOS games, and i'd prefer it if I didn't have to have EMS memory.

So the deal is I can run Privateer 1 with just Himem.sys loaded, (and thus no Upper Memory Blocks available) load all my drivers, and still have around 600K of conventional memory left to start the game. And it seems to run fine, but i'm not sure if it's actually using XMS memory, or if it's just somehow using the 600K of convential memory. If it's just using the convential memory, won't the performance be real bad? (although it doesn't seem any different than running with EMS)

I know in the readme.txt file on the P1 CD-rom it gives examples of config.sys and autoexec.bat under the headings "XMS Memory:" and "EMS Memory:". The XMS Memory method just has himem.sys, but doesn't actually say whether P1 will use XMS..

Any insight on this would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[cff]

You are almost certainly out of luck. Most DOS games absolutely need to have EMM386 installed. Some are very much allergic to it however. Similar, Privateer doesn't run proberly if you give it too much EMM memory, again, something that lots of other programs need. Heck - I'v seen progs to not like any memory managers and I've seen ones that need a CD driver, an IPX driver AND want > 610K free memory. Ah - the times...

It shouldn't actually have any inpact on performance however. Usually games either work or they don't. Exception is actually most WC games. The early ones for example needed EMS memory in order to display the animated had on the stick in the cockpit. Not sure if that is still the case in Privateer.

I'd recommend to do a short boot menu for DOS that allows to choose which memory managers to load.

 

[Madman]

While I'm a big fan of dos and have a 386 with a GUS in it for any need that arises. I have to say that the hassle of making boot disks for the range of necessities, combined with the fact that networking a 386 is so hard means i tend to use dosbox for pretty much anything i need - ranging from the insanely difficult to get working (syndicate network play) to the beautifully easy (zone66) both of which were a real hassle in dos (though zone66 does need ems turning off in both).