688 Attack Sub: Not running silent

A guide to running the classic Electronic Arts sub sim, 688 Attack Sub in DOSBox Staging. Released for DOS in 1989, the Amiga version would follow in 1990. The Sega Genesis and PC-98 platforms would have versions released in 1991.

This guide will concentrate on the single player game, covering the optimal graphics and sound setup for 688, which are not as obvious as they may first appear.

Releases

688 Attack Sub was distributed on a variety of media, including 2 x 5.25" 360K Double Density (DD) floppy disks or 1 x 3.5" 720K DD floppy disk. Later compilation releases, (e.g. Combat Classics in 1992) were distributed on a single CD-ROM.

The 688 releases are difficult to identify as no versions numbers are present or displayed in-game. However, file sizes are different between releases. For single player gaming all releases can be considered equivalent.

Multiplayer

688 supports multiplayer gaming between 2 players, one game acting as the server and the other, the client. Multiplayer is supported in modern versions of DOSBox (DOSBox Staging, DOSBox-X) when using a virtual modem.

Not all versions of 688 support multiplayer on DOSBox, so particular attention must be paid in obtaining a suitable release. Thanks to the work of VOGONS forum member EmanuelePulciDoria in the post, 688 Attack Sub multiplayer mode problems a suitable version was identified and made available.

Although not explicitly covered in this guide, the DOSBox Staging configuration should support multiplayer.

Maxell promotional edition

A limited promotional edition was developed for Maxell and distributed with packs of floppy disks.

This version is limited to two missions (one being a training mission) and a demo.

Patches

There are no patches for 688 Attack Sub.

Retail media

This guide assumes any physical floppy disks or cds will be ripped to an image file, to reduce wear and tear on media and the disk/cd drives. The floppy disks can be ripped to an img or ima image format. Compilation cds can be ripped to an iso (data only) image format as there are no cd audio tracks used by 688.

At present there is no release of the game on digital platforms.

Game Management

I recommend using my DOSBox game management strategy. Due to the different releases some folders are optional, depending on release, as noted below:

• conf - to store the DOSBox Staging configuration file.

• docs - to store any useful documents, manuals, etc.

  
  

• cd - to store any cd images (for cd releases).

• fdd - to store any floppy disk images (for floppy disk releases).

• hdd - the DOSBox Staging hard disk folder.

Controls

The controls for 688 are keyboard and/or mouse only. There is no need for any HOTAS configuration.

DOSBox Staging config

This configuration assumes the latest version of DOSBox Staging will be used, v0.82.2 (at time of writing).

[sdl]
host_rate           = sdi
presentation_mode   = cfr

[cpu]
core                = normal
cpu_cycles          = 1500
cycleup             = 100
cycledown           = 100

[voodoo]
voodoo              = false

[mixer]
reverb              = tiny
chorus              = light

[sblaster]
sbtype              = sbpro2

[speaker]
tandy               = psg

[joystick]
joysticktype        = disabled

[autoexec]
imgmount a "D:\Games\Dos\688 Attack Sub\fdd\*.img" -t floppy
mount c "D:\Games\Dos\688 Attack Sub\hdd"

# loadfix
# c:
# cd 688
# call 688.bat

The [sdl] settings are an attempt to reduce any time sensitivity issues as far as possible.

[cpu] settings use the normal core, as this core is less susceptible to timing issues affecting older games. It is also the recommended core when setting up 688 multiplayer.

Tandy sound pitch is affected by the cycles settings with higher cycles producing higher pitch sounds and lower cycles, lower pitch sound. 1500 cycles seems to be an appropriate balance between performance and sound (or at least a good starting point) and is equivalent to a 286 @ 12Mhz.

cycleup and cycledown settings provide suitably small increments for adjusting performance.

[voodoo] emulation isn't required and is disabled.

[mixer] reverb and chorus settings are normally left as a personal preference, however the tiny reverb setting is suitable for small speaker audio systems like Tandy and a light chorus is suitable for white noise sound effects like those found with sonar analysis within 688.

The optimum sound environment for 688 is described in the manual as:

This configuration is available and described in the DOSBox Staging wiki, Tandy Configuration. In [sblaster] a Sound Blaster Pro 2, sbpro2, is used to provide Adlib emulation, and in [speaker] the tandy setting uses psg to enable the Tandy three-voice programmable sound generator.

Note: the difference between standard speaker and Tandy sound effects may seem quite subtle to some.

Due to the controls supported, the [joystick] is disabled.

The [autoexec] section has imgmount and mount examples using the suggested game management folders. They should remain commented out until installation is complete.

The imgmount command can mount one or more 688 floppy disk images using a *.img wildcard. When multiple images are mounted <Ctrl> + F4 will switch to the next floppy image.

The loadfix command is unnecessary for single player but is recommended for multiplayer. The remaining commands assume the default installation folder was used.

Installation

The installation from disk images requires running the installer app (install.exe) from the first (or only) floppy disk image. The following screenshots show the process:

Manual installation

Manual distribution is required if 688 is distributed as a zip archive. The steps are:

• Create a 688 folder similar to the default installation folder, this can be done in Windows. For example, using the suggested game management folders, this would be:

D:\Games\DOS\688 Attack Sub\hdd\688  

• Extract the contents of the zip archive to this folder.

Running

When running from within DOSBox, graphics and sound options are shown each time the game is run. The optimal graphics and sound for this configuration are:

• Select graphics mode: 4. VGA - MCGA

• Select external sound board: 1. AD LIB SOUND BOARD

As shown in the screenshot.

The graphics and sound options can be preselected by appending them to the call 688.bat command. For VGA graphics (option 4) and Adlib sound (option 1), the command becomes:

call 688.bat 41

In-game configuration

When running the game a title page is shown, followed by the mission selection menu. Once a mission is selected the CONFIGURATION PANEL is shown.

• DEFAULT SOUND should be selected.

• NO MODEM should be selected for single player games.

• SET PLAY LEVEL is left to personal preference.

• Select BEGIN GAME to start.

Covox sound

As an alternative to Adlib music and Tandy sound, the 688 manual states the Covox sound option is available to those with Covox Speech Thingy hardware and that both music and sound are both reproduced reasonably well. As the Covox Speech Thingy can be emulated in DOSBox Staging, Covox sound is supported.

DOSBox Staging config

The following changes should be made to the existing config:

[sblaster]
sbtype              = none

[speaker]
tandy               = off
lpt_dac             = covox

{sblaster} settings are disabled as an Adlib (or Sound Blaster compatible) card is not required when using Covox sound.

Tandy sound is disabled with tandy set to off. Alternatively it can be set to the default value auto as Tandy sound is not used by this machine type by default. This setting can also be omitted to use auto as a default.

The lpt_dac setting specifies type of DAC (covox) plugged into the parallel port.

Running

When starting the game the following change is made:

• Select external sound board: 2. COVOX SOUND

The graphics and sound options can be preselected by appending them to the call 688.bat command. For VGA graphics (option 4) and Covox sound (option 2), the command becomes:

call 688.bat 42

In-game configuration

In the CONFIGURATION PANEL the following should be selected:

• COVOX SOUND ON LPT1:

Documentation

The following documentation is available for 688:

• Instruction Manual, pdf download.

  •  [Internet Archive, 688 Attack Sub (English)].

• 688 Attack Sub - Sonar Identification (txt document, distributed as zip archive). Included below for convenience.

  • [Internet Archive, Score 54 CD-ROM (1998-06), 688sub.zip].

Example video

Finally...

Credit and thanks for information within this guide goes to:

• John W. Ratcliff for 688 Attack Sub.

• EmanuelePulciDoria for the DOSBox multiplayer solution and compatible multiplayer version of 688.

• The DOSBox Staging wiki contributors and maintainers for sound card information.

• The Internet Archive for hosting documentation.

Good Hunting!