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--- blog:pc98_launcher_b [2020/09/22 11:43] – john
+++ blog:pc98_launcher_b [2021/02/24 14:31] (current) – [PC-98 Game Launcher - Information & Downloads] john
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== PC-98 Game Launcher - Appendix B: Application & Game metadata files ======
+====== 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.
@@ Line 49: / Line 65: @@
 | [[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/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/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. |
@@ Line 60: / Line 78: @@
 | [[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. |