just curious...why such bad graphics on Steam?

[Kitty]

I watched playthroughs on the PC disc version and the graphics are much clearer. No option to set graphics on steam. Still a great game. I like it more than the first one.

[ShunAndromede]

as far as I know, this version of the game uses dosbox. The version with the prettier graphics was the Windows 95 version, that, so far, nobody can run on a new pc without using a complete windows 95/98 emulation.

Hopefully, ScummVM will support the Win95 version of Phantasmagoria II someday.

[Seamus]

It's a difference in video compression. There MAY be some way to convert the windows version's videos to play in the dos version, but I'd need access to a windows copy of the game to find out.

[Kitty]

bummer. thanks for the replies!

[General Plastro]

Originally posted by ShunAndromede:

as far as I know, this version of the game uses dosbox. The version with the prettier graphics was the Windows 95 version, that, so far, nobody can run on a new pc without using a complete windows 95/98 emulation.

Hopefully, ScummVM will support the Win95 version of Phantasmagoria II someday.

Not true, one can easily run the Win95 version with this installer:

http://www.squirtthecat.com/

[Blackdeath]

hmm my issue with that software is there there is no details on other than a small change list. Is it opensource? I never like to install software unless I can know more about what its installing etc....It does look kinda shady.

[General Plastro]

Originally posted by Blackdeath:

hmm my issue with that software is there there is no details on other than a small change list. Is it opensource? I never like to install software unless I can know more about what its installing etc....It does look kinda shady.

Look mate, its a 10 year old patch for a 20 year old game, was made for XP/Vista but works on Win7 & Win8 (didnt tested on win10). Made by one guy with a small site/forum dedicated to preserve old games (the same ones that GoG sometimes steals and uncredits content from).

Its take it or leave it, GoG botched this game's release (as they do with many other DOS games that have superior Windows versions).

If you wanna know more, maybe ask the guy that made the patch on his forums? (there is a forum link on that site).

[HD]

Originally posted by Kitty:

I watched playthroughs on the PC disc version and the graphics are much clearer. No option to set graphics on steam. Still a great game. I like it more than the first one.

You can change the graphics to look better with the dosbox config file.
I have full resolution set to 1280x960
You can change the output to openglnb or ddraw to make it look sharper.
Opengl looks ok with scaler set to normal3x.

Also using the latest devolpment build of scummvm helps with this:
http://buildbot.scummvm.org/builds.html

But only for getting rid of the lines in the videos.
You can choose windows as platform and under engine you can enable high quality video scaling. Under graphics settings I use opengl with no filter. Render mode is PC-9821 (256 colors)

[PoPol]

HD, can you use saves from steam, it all works fine but cannot load my game in scummvm, quality is waaaaaaaaay better!!!

[HD]

Originally posted by PoPol:

HD, can you use saves from steam, it all works fine but cannot load my game in scummvm, quality is waaaaaaaaay better!!!

I think if you use edit game you can point to a folder with saves from previous playthrough.
But I can't remeber if scummvm can use the saves from dosbox play. I think only some of game engines that scummvm supports allow conversion of save games. In the readme their is a list somewhere.
Also better to use the main release instead of daily build now that it supports the Phantasmagoria games

https://www.scummvm.org/downloads/

[DrewMan70]

1) Backup the DOSBOX folder (this is v0.74) that is found in the PHANT2 folder.
2) Google/download DOSBOX SVN DAUM. Install to PHANT2 folder with folder name DOSBOX.
3) Download this shader (fixvideo.fx) and copy it to the SHADERS folder.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xoseqh1w8vs2bt3/fixvideo.fx?dl=0
4) Copy the "dosboxPHANT2.conf" file from the backed up v0.74 folder to the new DOSBOX folder.
5) Edit the "dosboxPHAN2.conf" file and update the [SDL] section with "output=Direct3D" and add "pixelshader=fixvideo.fx". Save.

This is what mine looks like:

fullscreen=false
fulldouble=false
fullresolution=original
windowresolution=1680x1050
output=Direct3D
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=mapper.txt
usescancodes=true
pixelshader=fixvideo.fx

Here's what it looks like before and after:
Phantasmagoria 2 resolution comparison[drive.google.com]