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updating with comment about RPG support and a link to the new bug tracker
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== Brief description == | == Brief description == | ||
ScummVM is a program which allows you to run certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure games, provided you already have their data files. The clever part about this: ScummVM just replaces the executables shipped with the games, allowing you to play them on systems for which they were never designed! | ScummVM is a program which allows you to run certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure and role-playing games, provided you already have their data files. The clever part about this: ScummVM just replaces the executables shipped with the games, allowing you to play them on systems for which they were never designed! | ||
For more information about the makers, you may read the [[ScummVM History]] or the [[Developers Bios]]. | |||
== A more thorough description == | == A more thorough description == | ||
=== The inner workings of adventure games === | === The inner workings of adventure and role-playing games === | ||
Almost all adventure games share some common features. The most basic ones are the resources used, which are in the game's data files: | Almost all adventure and role-playing games share some common features. The most basic ones are the resources used, which are in the game's data files: | ||
* Graphics | * Graphics | ||
** Actors (the sprites in the game) | ** Actors (the sprites in the game) | ||
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...and many more. | ...and many more. | ||
The approach that is taken when implementing a game under ScummVM has some disadvantages: | The approach that is taken when implementing a game under ScummVM has some disadvantages: | ||
* Because the | * Because the engine of each game in ScummVM has been rewritten from scratch, some bugs which were not present with the original game interpreter might exist in ScummVM. For this purpose, there is a [http://bugs.scummvm.org/ bug tracker] in ScummVM, where users report such findings to the ScummVM team, which are then usually fixed. Such issues surely exist, as it's impossible to check every single aspect of each game, and a full rewrite of the game engine means that there might be issues which the developer didn't find out originally. | ||
...and perhaps more. | ...and perhaps more. | ||
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You need the data files of the original game(s) you wish to play and a distribution of ScummVM for the operating system you are using, which can be found in our [http://www.scummvm.org/downloads.php downloads] page | You need the data files of the original game(s) you wish to play and a distribution of ScummVM for the operating system you are using, which can be found in our [http://www.scummvm.org/downloads.php downloads] page | ||
=== What are the "stable" and "unstable" | === What are the "stable" and "unstable" versions of ScummVM? === | ||
The stable version of ScummVM has been checked for bugs, and people have completed almost all of the games that ScummVM supports using it. | The stable version of ScummVM has been checked for bugs, and people have completed almost all of the games that ScummVM supports using it. | ||
The unstable | The unstable version of ScummVM includes improved functionality, however when new features are added or existing bugs are fixed, other bugs or crashes may appear, which were not present in the stable version. However, we do of course still try to make the unstable version as stable as possible. | ||
== Further reading == | == Further reading == | ||
That was a short introduction of ScummVM, we hope that we've answered most of your questions. You may now refer to the pages in this wiki for more information, our [http://www.scummvm.org/faq.php FAQ] and our [http://www.scummvm.org/documentation.php documentation page], especially the [http://scummvm.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/scummvm/scummvm/branches/branch-0-10-0/README?view=markup README] file. | That was a short introduction of ScummVM, we hope that we've answered most of your questions. You may now refer to the pages in this wiki for more information, our [http://www.scummvm.org/faq.php FAQ] and our [http://www.scummvm.org/documentation.php documentation page], especially the [http://scummvm.svn.sourceforge.net/viewvc/scummvm/scummvm/branches/branch-0-10-0/README?view=markup README] file. | ||