Verify King's Quest VI

[tomojira]

Verifying King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (1992) (Sierra On-Line)

This game is already in the verified dat, but double-checking it since it hasn't been done before.

Checklist

Have adequate installation instructions been provided to match any config files in the DOSZ?
No. I added installation instructions to reproduce the RESOURCE.CFG file, which is required to play the game; it can't be created later by INSTALL6.EXE because it will be missing a "minHunk" value which is apparently only added during installation, and the game will give an error if it isn't there.

This RESOURCE.CFG is slightly different than the current one, even though options are the same, so the copy in the DOSC and embedded data were both updated.

Have any official patches been applied, if necessary?
No patches are mentioned on PCGamingWiki. This is likely the latest version, from the King's Quest Collection CDs.

Have digital versions (Steam, GOG) been checked for matching?
Yes, the GOG variant works. However, I had to edit its RESOURCE.CFG to change its audio driver to Sound Blaster. Added a copy of it to the DOSC as well as embedded data, and instructions in the dat comment.

Can the game benefit from using embedded data or embedded patches in the datfile?
Yes, and it already does so with RESOURCE.CFG.

Can DoDAT build the game from the disc image?
Yes, but the Gabriel Knight Demo is required as well to provide its VGA320.DRV file, which fixes stuttering in the intro video. This is already explained in the dat comment, and a link is provided.
https://archive.org/details/GabrielKnightSinsoftheFathers_1020

If the game requires a yml in the DOSZ, has it been added to the yml folder in the repo?
Not applicable.

Are there .PIF or .ICO or Win32 .EXE files that could be excluded?
No.

Do the file timestamps match the installation media?
Yes.

Does the DOSZ run standalone?
Yes, with RESOURCE.CFG included.

For CD games, can the game be set up to run without a CD mounted?
No. The CD includes an audio track which plays during the game according to a quick search.

Can the game benefit from using CHDtoOGG?
Yes, and it already does so.

Is the game creating a swap file in the .pure.zip that could be avoided by increasing memory size? Or is it creating other bloated files that could be prevented by adding them in the DOSZ?
No.

Does the DOSC contain problematic data (i.e. copyright issue)?
No.

Does the DOSC have copy protection removed, if possible?
The game has copy protection according to PCGamingWiki, but unclear if that applies to this CD version. TDC's notes mention cracking a file that doesn't seem to exist here.

Is the game running at the correct speed? Is CPU year specified?
The speed seems fine, but there is no CPU year specified. I added cpu_year: 1992.

Is the DOSC auto-running and skipping past any obstructions? Is it updated to use WAITMODECHANGE if possible?
Yes.

Does the game have MT-32 support? If so, is it correctly using MT-32 (old) or CM-32L (new), going by the Vogons Wiki?
Yes, and it's correctly using Old. The GOG variant was missing this so I added it there.

Does the game have General MIDI support?
Yes, but it wasn't in the DOSC yet. I added it.

Is the game set up to run with the best quality graphics options by default?
Not applicable.

For certain old games only - are the graphics/audio improved by specifying video_card: pcjr, tandy, or generic_cga?
Not applicable.

Does the game have a mouse cursor that benefits from enabling input_directmouse?
Yes, I added it.

Does a game with separate episodes/executables have the options named and ordered properly in the DOSZ? Do they use the run_utility feature?
Not applicable.

Does the game share saves with a sequel, expansion, etc? If so, is it updated to use the .savename feature?
Not applicable.

Is the game data in the root of the ZIP (unless game does not work that way)?
Yes.

Is the entry in the right variant file (i.e. Freeware)?
Yes.

For games which include CD images, is there a smaller installation variant that offers the same features but needs less files?
There is a "Small" installation size, but it installs nothing at all besides RESOURCE.CFG. The "Large" option adds INSTALL6.EXE for changing settings.
EDIT: I realized this explanation makes no sense, since INSTALL6.EXE can also be used from the CD. However, after testing the Small version, it is significantly slower, taking several more seconds for the game to start after hitting Play, and also taking more time when walking to a different area. So Large seems better here.

Summary of changes

• Added installation instructions to dat comment. Edited comments in general
• Changed to a slightly different RESOURCE.CFG file which is closer to what you get after installation, so minimal editing is needed. Updated embedded data and the copy in DOSC
• Added cpu_year: 1992
• Fixed GOG variant to use Sound Blaster driver, and added MT-32 option
• Added General MIDI option
• Enabled direct mouse