Layer Section for Windows 98 Runs Too Fast

[Structor125]

I tried to run Layer Section for Windows 95 on my Windows 7 PC and found a problem I never thought I'd run into. It runs at what seems to be twice the speed that the same game runs at in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=998sY727P80
I don't know if this is a common problem with running old pc games on new hardware, but I was wondering if anyone knew how to fix it.

[ZellSF]

On your CD there should be a folder named sapi_nd. Copy the contents to your game folder. Then use DXGL to play the game. Force V-Sync with driver settings.

Depending on your setup DXGL might not be necessary, but it gives you better scaling. DxWnd works nicely if you want it windowed.

[Structor125]

Thank you, it's puzzling why they didn't include a way to slow it down in the options if it's on the disc. After all I didn't notice it in the manual. Is this a common problem, and can it always be as easily fixed?

[bobrocks95]

It's a pretty common problem, lots of older games will run at a faster speed when the framerate is higher, rather than just producing smoother frames.

[beatsgo]

It's a pretty common problem, lots of older games will run at a faster speed when the framerate is higher, rather than just producing smoother frames.

Basically this is all due to the hardware limitations of older Window base machines, which cranked out enough CPU power to run the game properly. Now our new machines can obliterate these games with no sweat that we have to patch/tweak certain games to run at 60 fps or below.

[Einzelherz]

It's a pretty common problem, lots of older games will run at a faster speed when the framerate is higher, rather than just producing smoother frames.

Basically this is all due to the hardware limitations of older Window base machines, which cranked out enough CPU power to run the game properly. Now our new machines can obliterate these games with no sweat that we have to patch/tweak certain games to run at 60 fps or below.

Well that and at the time the concept of frame limitation was kind of foreign.

[Structor125]

Thanks for the information, but alas, I've come across another problem. It seems to freeze for a second whenever a boss comes in, and it doesn't happen in that video I mentioned earlier. Maybe I should have just gotten the Sega Saturn port.

[ZellSF]

Yeah, I noticed that, but it's not too bothersome. It's related to CDDA playback. Nothing to do about it as far as I know, there's two CDDA wrappers (_inmm and ogg-winmm) but both fail to play any music (they do fix the freezes, but I doubt you want that at the cost of music).

[Ed Oscuro]

I think that was a common problem; even Quake will pause for the CD to spin up the current track.

[ZellSF]

old topic resurrection for the benefit of people Googling this issue: _inmm 2.3.7 works and solves the audio pause issues. The latest version ( 2.3.8 ) does NOT work.

Also found another winmm wrapper:
http://www.old-games.ru/forum/showthread.php?t=51778
Like ogg-winmm, it's not nearly as compatible as _inmm, but it's worth a shot if you can't get a game to run with CD audio.

[mvsfan]

For older pc games I use windows 98SE running in vmware. vmware completely takes care of the speed issues on its own.

[ZellSF]

It doesn't for LayerSection as the video output will not be smooth under VMWare. Good thing it runs perfectly natively with some tweaking.

[ZellSF]

Oops, was wrong about the _inmm version, was using 2.32. Here's how well the game runs on Win8:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7Ix1O5t-N8

Probably still the worst version of the game though.

[BazookaBen]

So why is this version bad? The sound effects sound like they might be a higher sample rate than the saturn version.

[ZellSF]

No tate mode. yoko mode is accomplished by actually cutting out a lot of the screen rather than reducing resolution. Missing graphical effects.

[BazookaBen]

No tate mode. yoko mode is accomplished by actually cutting out a lot of the screen rather than reducing resolution. Missing graphical effects.

Thanks. Will avoid.

Taito should fix it and release it on GOG though. There is a dearth of the old mainstream shooters on PC.