[feature-request] Voodoo 3DFX emulation

[Zombiedeth]

Add Voodoo 3DFX emulation for legacy gaming and other uses in DOS and Windows 9x. The emulation already exits in MAME and is being ported to DOSBox. I feel this would be a good addition to VirtualBox and probably simpler than some other ideas proposed for legacy gaming.

​http://mamedev.org/

[Technologov]

Interesting, but not easy to do.

-Technologov

[Technologov]

Also it may be easier to develop decent Video drivers for "VirtualBox Graphics Adapter" for Windows 98 guest, than to provide 3DFX emulation.

-Technologov

[Sander van Leeuwen]

Sorry, but there is no business case for such a major undertaking. This is best done by the open-source community. I'll leave it open only for that.

[Zombiedeth]

Replying to Technologov:

Also it may be easier to develop decent Video drivers for "VirtualBox Graphics Adapter" for Windows 98 guest, than to provide 3DFX emulation.

-Technologov

I can't say for sure which one is easier but AFAIK VirtualBox has to use wined3d and that doesn't support Direct3D v6 or v7. That would limit a fair number of classic 3d games.

I honestly think 3DFX emulation would provide better compatibility you get D3D v6, v7 and glide.

[Technologov]

VirtualBox has to use wined3d

Nope. VirtualBox doesn't "has to use". It just uses now, but development of good drivers is theoretically possible, instead of WineD3D.

-Technologov

[Zombiedeth]

Theoretical techniques could take years to get something usable. The 3DFX emulator in MAME has been in stable use for years. And the port to DOSBox took about a month at most to get something usable.

While a "VirtualBox Graphics Adapter" for win9x would be ideal lets be realistic it's not going to happen any time soon if ever.