====== PC-98 Game Launcher - Information & Downloads ======

My //PC98Launcher// application is written in C, using the custom DJGPP implementation for PC-98 hardware, [[blog:pc98_devtools|as detailed on my site]].

//What is it, and what does it do?//

//PC98Launcher// is graphical game browser and launcher for the PC-98 range of personal computers from NEC.

It runs on the PC-98 hardware itself, either emulated or real physical system; it is __not__ a Window/Mac/Linux application like [launchbox](https://www.launchbox-app.com/) or [RetroArch](https://github.com/libretro/RetroArch).

Specifically, it is written to use the 256 colour graphics hardware found on late PC-9801 and early to late PC-9821 machines.

   * It creates a browseable list of all the game directories on your drive(s)
   * It can load and display additional metadata per game (i.e developer, genre, release date etc)
   * It can load and display screenshots or artwork per game (i.e box art, screenshots, etc)
   * It can export an audit file of all the found games
   * It can launch any game for which a start file is either found (e.g. start.bat), or which has been defined in metadata (e.g. run.com, go.exe, etc)

You can find versions of the PC98Launcher application ready to download on this page, as well as packaged up versions of games and their metadata ready to go.

{{:blog:pc98_launcher.png?640|}}

As a reminder, you'll need the following:

   * A PC-9801 or PC-9821 with PEGC (256 colour) graphics hardware
   * A hard drive
   * A memory manager with VCPI support (EMM386 or VEM486, for example) - the application itself runs in as little as 3.6MB of RAM, but you may need more than that for some games.

All the files necessary to run the application (the DPMI server and DOS extender) are included in the application zip file.
===== Application Binaries =====

Pre-compiled versions of the PC98Launcher application are listed here. There are several versions:

   * **386** 
        * Compiled for 32bit x86 architecture, no specific optimisations (just //-mcpu=i386 -march=i386//)
   * **486** 
       * Compiled for 32bit x86 architecture with optimisations for 486 and above (//-mcpu=i486 -march=i486//). Faster than the above when loading images or filesystem metadata. Runs on 386 systems but may show some graphical corruption.
   * **debug** 
       * Compiled for 32bit x86 architecture, no optimisations, debug symbols enabled and verbose logging in all functions (//-g//)

^ Date ^ Notes ^ Download Links ^
| 2020-09-07     | First version which can launch games! Run //l.bat// and it will start up everything you need, as well as run the selected game on exit. Still need to implement game filtering, as well as re-launch the application after you exit the game. | {{ :blog:pc98launcher_2020_09_07.zip |486}}|
| 2020-09-04     | Fixed some memory leaks when loading/unloading metadata file and image lists. Enabled pageup/pagedown navigation. Initial implementation of //Confirm you want to start this game// popup dialogue. | {{ :blog:pc98launcher_2020_09_04.zip|486}} |
| 2020-09-02     | Added ability to preload full game name from metadata at scrape time. Can be enabled/disabled by //preload_names// in launcher.ini | {{ :blog:pc98launcher_2020_09_02.zip|486}} |
| 2020-09-01     | Fixed a bug in the line numbering/selection code. If you reach the end of the list, it now scrolls back around to the beginning, or goes to the next page. | {{ :blog:pc98launcher_2020_09_01.zip|486}} |
| 2020-08-29     | Initial binary version uploaded. This is only capable of scraping game data and browsing games and their metadata - no launch capability yet.      | {{ :blog:pc98launcher_2020_08_29.zip |486}}               |
===== Application Source Code =====

Source code for the PC98Launcher application can always be found at Github:

   * https://github.com/megatron-uk/pc98launcher
===== Game Metadata =====

These packages include a pre-written __launch.dat__ metadata file, screenshots, box artwork and custom start files (in most cases following the Sharp X68000 convention of being named __!start.bat__). In cases where a game has a configuration tool to set music/sound options, this is set as the alt_start executable.

The packages should unzip directly to a directory such as __A:\Games__ on your PC-98 hard drive and //be ready to go//. //You don't need to find anything else//.

^ Info ^ Name                    ^ Developer      ^ Metadata ^ Screenshots ^ Box Artwork ^ Audio ^ Notes ^
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/advanced-power-dolls-2/|*]] | {{ :blog:advanced_power_dolls_2.zip |Advanced Power Dolls 2}}  | Kogado Studio  | Yes      | Yes         | No          | FM, MIDI (MPU+Serial) | Metadata includes alt_start set to the configuration/music settings tool. |
| [[https://www.pc98.org/alphada.html|*]] | {{ :blog:alpha_dain.zip|Alpha Dain}} | Great | Yes | Yes | Front | FM | |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/amaranth|*]] | {{ :blog:amaranth.zip |Amaranth}} | Fuga System | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM | Custom start file includes //gdc.exe// to force graphics clock to 2.5MHz |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/amaranth-ii|*]] | {{ :blog:amaranth_ii.zip|Amaranth II}} | Fuga System | Yes | Yes | No | FM | Custom start file includes //gdc.exe// to force graphics clock to 2.5MHz |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/amaranth-iii|*]] | {{ :blog:amaranth_iii.zip|Amaranth III}} | Fuga System | Yes | Yes | No | FM, MIDI (MPU) | |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/amaranth-iv|*]] | {{ :blog:amaranth_iv.zip|Amaranth IV}} | Fuga System | Yes | Yes | No | FM, MIDI (MPU) | Start file assumes game is unpacked to \Games. Edit //start.bat// if this is not the case. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/amaranth-kh-stellar-koku-kenkokutan|*]] | {{ :blog:amaranth_kh.zip |Amaranth KH}} | Fuga System | Yes | Yes | No | FM, MIDI (MPU) | |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/bible-master-2-the-chaos-of-aglia|*]] | {{ :blog:bible_master_2.zip|Bible Master 2}} | Glodia | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM, MIDI (MPU+Serial) | |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/branmarker-2|*]] | {{ :blog:branmarker_2.zip|Branmarker 2}} | D.O. Corp. | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU) | Can be started in PC-98 notebook-compatible mode by adding 'note' after //BR2_98.EXE// in !START.BAT; this sets a high-contrast palette mode. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/briganty-the-roots-of-darkness|*]] | {{ :blog:briganty.zip |Briganty}} | GIGA | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI | Action, Beat-em-up, RPG, Platform hybrid. Really needs a joypad to be enjoyed fully. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/case-of-dungeons|*]] | {{ :blog:case_of_dungeons.zip|Case of Dungeons}} | Studio K2 | Yes | Yes | No | FM | Single screen dungeon crawler. A sort of strategy/tactics "beat the boss" type of game. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/crw-metal-jacket|*]] | {{ :blog:crw_metal_jacket_english_.zip|CRW: Metal Jacket}} | WiZ | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM | This is a pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/3105/|English]] version. |
| [[https://refuge.tokyo/pc9801/pc98/01027.html|*]] | {{ :blog:crw2.zip|CRW 2}} | WiZ | Yes | Yes | No | FM, MIDI | Untranslated sequel to CRW. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/cyber-illusion|*]] | {{ :blog:cyber_illusion.zip|Cyber Illusion}} | Pearl Soft | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU+Serial) | MIDI mode seem to be tailored for a GM compatible module. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/nightmare-collection-dead-of-the-brain-shiry-no-sakebi|*]] | {{ :blog:dead_of_the_brain_english_.zip |Dead of the Brain}} | FairyTale | Yes | Yes | Front | FM | This is a pre-patched English version (all links to original patch are broken as of 2020). Although DOTB doesn't have a hard-drive install, it seems to work fine if you copy all four floppy disks to the same directory. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/farland-story|*]] | {{ :blog:farland_saga_1_english_.zip|Farland Story 1}} | Technical Group Laboratory, Inc. | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU) | This is the pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/646/|English]] version. Music supports the NEC -26k and -86k FM cards, LA MIDI synths (e.g Roland MT32/CM32) and GS MIDI synths (e.g Roland Sound Canvas). Opening cinematic can be viewed seperately via the secondary start file in the metadata. GDC clock slowed to 2.5MHz via the included //gdc.exe//. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/farland-story-denki-arc-no-ensei|*]] | {{ :blog:farland_saga_2_english_.zip|Farland Story 2}} | Technical Group Laboratory, Inc. | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU) | This is the pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/655/|English]] version. Music supports -26k and -86k FM cards and and GS MIDI synths (e.g Roland Sound Canvas). Opening cinematic can be viewed seperately via the secondary start file in the metadata. GDC clock slowed to 2.5MHz via the included //gdc.exe//. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/farland-story-tenshi-no-namida|*]] | {{ :blog:farland_saga_3_english_.zip|Farland Story 3}} | Technical Group Laboratory, Inc. | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU) | This is the pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/665/|English]] version. Music supports -26k and -86k FM cards and and GS MIDI synths (e.g Roland Sound Canvas). GDC clock slowed to 2.5MHz via the included //gdc.exe//. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/farland-story-shirogane-no-tsubasa|*]] | {{ :blog:farland_story_4_english_.zip|Farland Story 4}} | Technical Group Laboratory, Inc. | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM, MIDI (MPU) | This is the pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/681/|English]] version. Music supports -26k and -86k FM cards and and GS MIDI synths (e.g Roland Sound Canvas). GDC clock slowed to 2.5MHz via the included //gdc.exe//. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/farland-story-daichi-no-kizuna|*]] | {{ :blog:farland_story_5_english_.zip|Farland Story 5}} | Technical Group Laboratory, Inc. | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU) | This is the pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/743/|English]] version. Music supports -26k and -86k FM cards and and GS MIDI synths (e.g Roland Sound Canvas). GDC clock slowed to 2.5MHz via the included //gdc.exe//. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/farland-story-kamigami-no-isen|*]] | {{ :blog:farland_story_6_english_.zip |Farland Story 6}} | Technical Group Laboratory, Inc. | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU) | This is the pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/745/|English]] version. Music supports -26k and -86k FM cards and and GS MIDI synths (e.g Roland Sound Canvas). |
| [[https://refuge.tokyo/pc9801/pc98/00933.html|*]] | {{ :blog:graystone_saga.zip|Graystone Saga}} | Pegasus Japan | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU+Serial) | MIDI output supports both LA and GM type modules. |
| [[https://refuge.tokyo/pc9801/pc98/02170.html|*]] | {{ :blog:graystone_saga_gaiden.zip|Graystone Saga Gaiden}} | Pegasus Japan | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU+Serial) | MIDI output supports both LA and GM type modules. | 
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/kuro-no-ken|*]] | {{ :blog:kuro_no_ken_blade_of_darkness_.zip |Kuro no Ken (aka Blade of Darkness}} | Forest | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM | Game is sourced from the Neo Kobe collection and runs from a single __.com__ file and 5 disk images. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/romance-wa-tsurugi-no-kagayaki-last-crusader|*]] | {{ :blog:last_crusader.zip|Last Crusader}} | FairyTale | Yes | Yes | No | FM | Note that this archive contains a LZH archive which must be uncompressed on the PC-98 itself using //lha.exe// - there are long Kanji filenames that do not transfer well on Windows/Linux systems. |
| [[https://refuge.tokyo/pc9801/pc98/00573.html|*]] | {{ :blog:legam.zip |Legam}} | U-Office | Yes | Yes | Front | FM, MIDI (MPU) | |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-heroes-iv-akai-shizuku|*]] | Legend of Heroes IV | Falcom | Yes | Yes | No | FM, MIDI (MPU+Serial), Soundblaster 16 | FM mode supports 3-operator and 6-operator FM hardware. |
| [[https://macross.fandom.com/wiki/The_Super_Dimension_Fortress_Macross:_Skull_Leader_Complete_Pack|*]] | {{ :blog:macross_skull_leader_complete_english_.zip|Macross: Skull Leader Complete}} | Family Soft | Yes | Yes | Front | FM | This is a pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/3159/|English]] version. Translated PDF manual available [[https://nebulous.group/index.php/projects/translations/macross-skull-leader-complete-pack/#cmtoc_anchor_id_8|here]]. |
| [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/3622/|*]] | {{ :blog:melpool_land_english_.zip |Melpool Land}} | Compile | Yes | Yes | No | FM | This is a pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/3622/|English]] translation. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/metajo-furitsu-metatopology-daigaku-fuzoku-joshi-kk-sp|*]] | {{ :blog:metajo.zip|Metajo}} | R-Force Software | Yes | Yes | No | FM | Supports 3-operator and 6-operator FM (-26 and -86 sound devices). |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/zai-metajo|*]] | {{ :blog:metajo_2_zai_metajo_.zip|Metajo 2 (Zai Metajo)}} | R-Force Software | Yes | Yes | Front | FM | Supports 3-operator and 6-operator FM (-26 and -86 sound devices). |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/metal-eye|*]] | {{ :blog:metal_eye.zip |Metal Eye}} | Elf Co., Ltd. | Yes | Yes | Front | FM | |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/metal-eye-2|*]] | {{ :blog:metal_eye_2.zip |Metal Eye 2}} | Elf Co., Ltd. | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM | |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/mobile-suit-gundam-0083-stardust-operation/|*]]| {{ :blog:mobile_suit_gundam_-_0083_stardust_operation.zip |Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Operation}} | Family Soft | Yes | Yes | No | FM | Custom start file which replicates the commands found in the bootable system disk of the original floppy installation. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/mobile-suit-gundam-a-year-of-war/|*]]| {{ :blog:mobile_suit_gundam_-_a_year_of_war.zip |Mobile Suit Gundam: A Year of War}} | Family Soft | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM | |
| | {{ :blog:mobile_suit_gundam_-_multiple_operation.zip |Mobile Suit Gundam: Multiple Operation}} | Family Soft | Yes | Yes | Front | FM | | 
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/mobile-suit-gundam-return-of-zion/|*]] | {{ :blog:mobile_suit_gundam_-_return_of_zeon.zip |Mobile Suit Gundam: Return of Zeon}} | Family Soft | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM | Originally floppy only. Custom start file uses //subst// to map named directories to floppy drive letters. |
| [[http://www.memoriesoffear.com/games_peretemherufortheprisoners/|*]] | {{ :blog:peret_em_heru_english_.zip |Peret em Heru: For the Prisoners}} | N/A | Yes | Yes | No | FM | This is a pre-patched [[http://www.memoriesoffear.com/games_peretemherufortheprisoners/|English]] version. The game was made in what-was to become RPG Maker. Egyptian-themed Horror RPG. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/possessioner|*]] | {{ :blog:possessioner.zip|Possessioner}} | Queen Soft | Yes | Yes | Front | FM | |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/power-dolls/|*]] | {{ :blog:power_dolls.zip |Power Dolls}} | Kogado Studio  | Yes      | Yes         | Front/Rear          | FM, MIDI (MPU) | Metadata includes alt_start set to the configuration/music settings tool. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/power-dolls-2/|*]] | {{ :blog:power_dolls_2.zip |Power Dolls 2}}  | Kogado Studio  | Yes      | Yes         | No          | FM, MIDI (MPU+Serial) | Metadata includes alt_start set to the configuration/music settings tool. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/power-dolls-2-dash/|*]] | {{ :blog:power_dolls_2_dash.zip |Power Dolls 2 Dash}}  | Kogado Studio  | Yes      | Yes         | No          | FM, MIDI (MPU+Serial) | Metadata includes alt_start set to the configuration/music settings tool. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/power-slave|*]] | {{ :blog:power_slave.zip|Power Slave}} | Umitsuki Productions | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM | Note that the launcher shows options to configure video and audio, but those buttons don't appear to do anything. ALl the setup seems to be in the __PSLAVE.BAT__ file. |
| [[https://refuge.tokyo/pc9801/pc98/02284.html|*]] | {{ :blog:solfleet.zip|Solfleet}} | Matrix | Yes | Yes | No | FM, MIDI (MPU) | You must hold shift as the game start in order to enable MIDI mode. You get a different opening animation (screen fades in white with the 'Matrix' logo). The custom start file will prompt you to do this. An LA-type module (MT-32, CM32) is preferable. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/rusty|*]] | {{ :blog:rusty_english_.zip|Rusty}} | C-Lab | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM | Pre-patched in [[http://www.romhacking.net/translations/2997/|English]]. This needs the GDC speed to be at 2.5MHz to run, //gdc.exe// is called in the start file to do this. No MIDI support. Also the {{ :blog:rusty_manual.pdf |English manual}}. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/star-cruiser-ii-the-odysseus-project|*]] | {{ :blog:star_cruiser_ii_english_.zip|Star Cruiser II}} | Arsys | Yes | Yes | No | FM, MIDI (MPU) | This is a pre-patched [[https://www.romhacking.net/translations/3223|English]] version. |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/tuned-heart/|*]] | {{ :blog:tuned_heart_english_patched_.zip|Tuned Heart}} | System Soft | Yes | Yes | Front/Rear | FM | This is a pre-patched [[https://nebulous.group/index.php/projects/translations/tuned-heart/|English]] version. {{ :blog:tuned_heart_manual_en.pdf |English PDF manual}} |
| [[https://www.mobygames.com/game/pc98/virgin-angel|*]] | {{ :blog:virgin_angel.zip|Virgin Angel}} | Crystal Soft | Yes | Yes | No | FM | The developers start file prompts you to select the appropriate sound device before the game starts. |
^ Info ^ Name                    ^ Developer      ^ Metadata ^ Screenshots ^ Box Artwork ^ Audio ^ Notes ^