Verify Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance

[tomojira]

Verifying Birthright - The Gorgon's Alliance (1997) (Synergistic Software)

Checklist

Have adequate installation instructions been provided to match any config files in the DOSZ?
Yes, I added them. Though the game can start without RESOURCE.CFG, it contains some parameters from installation that won't be created by INSTALL.EXE later, so I kept it in the DOSZ to be safe. BRSETUP.CFG is also needed, it points to the CD drive.
I removed an unnecessary BAT file that could vary, BIRTHRT.BAT.

Have any official patches been applied, if necessary?
I applied patch v1.0.0.3 (BRDOS13): https://web.archive.org/web/20220713051601/https://sierrahelp.com/Patches-Updates/Patches-Updates-Games/BirthrightUpdates.html
v1.0.0.2 is not necessary, v1.0.0.3 overwrites all of its files.

Is the game data in the root of the ZIP (unless game does not work that way)?
I moved it to the root.

For games which include CD images, is there a smaller installation variant that offers the same features but needs less files?
Yes, I changed to the Tiny option. I didn't notice any difference at the beginning.

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

Have digital versions (Steam, GOG) been checked for matching?
The game isn't on GOG/Steam.

Can the game benefit from using embedded data or embedded patches in the datfile?
Yes, I added embedded data to BRSETUP.CFG and RESOURCE.CFG.

Can DoDAT build the game from the install media?
Yes.

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?
No. You can try to edit the drive letter in BRSETUP.CFG, but it still tries to detect a CD drive.

Can the game benefit from using CHDtoOGG?
There are no audio tracks.

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?
There doesn't seem to be copy protection (besides CD check).

Is the game running at the correct speed? Is CPU year specified?
cpu_year: 1997 was set, but I changed to cpu_max_year: 1997 since it's dynamic. Increasing it further did not seem to help with the framerate in the 3D parts.

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?
No.

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?
It doesn't seem to work with this game.

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

• Moved RESOURCE.CFG into DOSZ and removed BIRTHRT.BAT
• Added patch v1.0.0.3
• Moved files to root
• Changed to Tiny installation size
• Added embedded data
• Added file timestamps
• Changed to cpu_max_year: 1997
• Edited comments and links