Verify Stronghold: Kingdom Simulator

[tomojira]

Verifying Stronghold - Kingdom Simulator (1993) (Stormfront Studios)

Checklist

Have adequate installation instructions been provided to match any config files in the DOSZ?
The config file isn't needed in the DOSZ. It will be created when starting the game.

Have any official patches been applied, if necessary?
No official patches mentioned by PCGamingWiki.

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

For games which include CD images, is there a smaller installation variant that offers the same features but needs less files?
Not applicable.

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

Have digital versions (Steam, GOG) been checked for matching?
I eliminated the GOG variant with a small embedded patch for STRONG.EXE.

Can the game benefit from using embedded data or embedded patches in the datfile?
Other than making GOG match, no.

Can DoDAT build the game from the install media?
No, the files are in archives.

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?
No, I added them.

Does the DOSZ run standalone?
Yes.

For CD games, can the game be set up to run without a CD mounted?
Not applicable.

Can the game benefit from using CHDtoOGG?
Not applicable.

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?
Yes.

Is the game running at the correct speed? Is CPU year specified?
cpu_year: 1993 was set, but I changed to 1990 to slow down the game (higher than GOG's 10,000 cycles).

Is the DOSC auto-running and skipping past any obstructions? Is it updated to use WAITMODECHANGE if possible?
Yes, but WAITMODECHANGE isn't needed - it will skip too far into the game.

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, it's using "old". I updated the extension to .dosx.

Does the game have General MIDI support?
No.

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 enabled 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.

Summary of changes

• Eliminated GOG variant with an embedded patch
• Added file timestamps
• Changed to cpu_year: 1990
• Updated MT-32 extension to .dosx
• Enabled direct mouse
• Edited comments and links

Unmentioned in the checklist:

• The CD used matches with a TDC#23 entry, so I changed the names and references to that