Games and the AWE32

A picture of the Soundblaster AWE32 (CT 3990).

This is a list of DOS games that support the AdvancedWavEffects of the AWE32 family of Soundblaster cards (AWE32, SB32, AWE64, AWE64 Gold) for playing MIDI music. Most SVGA games did, as did most 3D games from 1996 on. Note that some games declared support for the AWE-32, but used the DAC only. These are not included.

The AWE32 was Creative Labs' answer to the Gravis Ultrasound. Like this card, it had the ability to load custom patches (called soundbanks) into RAM (which could be upgraded to up to 28MB), but additionally, it had 4MB ROM with the standard Genral MIDI set. Unfortunately, it was not truly MPU-401 compatible, so General MIDI was supported only via as usual not very reliable TSRs.

Support by Patch

Just like Gravis, Creative Labs issued some patches to provide compatibility with already existing games, and a Miles driver replacement. Additionally there was the SBAWE32.DRV driver for Sierra protected mode games that is found in an archive of the name AWESOL.

Support by Patch
Gabriel Knight	Adventure	93	AWESOL
Return to Zork	Adventure		Miles
SimCity 2000	strat		Miles
Ultima Underworld	RPG		Miles
Arena	RPG	94	Miles
Ultima VIII	RPG	94	Patch

Native Support

Native support for the AWE32 came faster and was more widespread than for the GUS, since Creative Labs had good connection to the gaming industry. Most of these games are either 3D or run in SVGA only, they usually require a Pentium to perform well.

Native Support
Doom v.1.4/1.666	FPS	94	FAQ
Heretic	FPS		Creative List
Rise of the Triad	FPS		Creative List
SimCity Enhanced	strat		Creative List
System Shock	FPS		SBAWE32.MDI
Transport Tycoon	strat		Creative List
Warcraft	RTS		SBAWE32.MDI
Caesar II	strat	95	SBAWE32.MDI
Transport Tycoon Deluxe	strat		Creative List
Descent	FPS		SETUP
Space Quest 6	Adventure		Creative List
Warcraft II	RTS		SBAWE32.MDI
William Shatner's TekWar	FPS
Witchaven	RPG		MobyGames
Daggerfall	RPG	96	SETUP
Duke Nukem 3D	FPS		Help file
Dungeon Keeper	strat		for SFX only
The Settlers II	strat		SBAWE32.MDI
ACiD Tetris	Tetris	97	MobyGames
Shadow Warrior	FPS	97	Creative List

The rightmost column lists my source of information:

SBAWE32.MDI: I found this driver in the game directory.
SETUP: The setup program of the game gives the option to choose the AWE32 for MIDI.
Help file, FAQ: Compatibility was stated or implied by a game-related resource.
Creative List: I have found the game in a list of compatible games issued by Creative Labs. This list is not very reliable, it seems they included some games that only used the card for digital samples.
MobyGames: The game is included in that site's list of games supporting the AWE32.

This lists should enclose only those games that do not require the AWEUTIL TSR to make use of the Advanced WavEffects. This TSR does not work well (or at all) with DOS extensions like DOS4GW, on which most later DOS games rely. Besides, it is rather large and might use up too much basic memory. It may however be true that some game labeled "Creative List" require this TSR. I may add games supporting the AWE32 through the AWEUTIL TSR at a later time, but only when I can actually test this. I have several cards of the AWE32 family, but none is currently installed in a working system.

Few games took advantage of the most interesting feature of this card family, the ability to upload your own soundfonts. Dungeon Keeper, for one, did, though only for sound effects and for performance reasons.

Emulating an MT-32

There is an interesting passage in Michael Fleming's Ultima and the AWE FAQ:

Yes Ultima VI can have wavetable sounds if played in a Windows 95 DOS Box (Not native DOS). This requires a recent set of Win95 AWE Drivers and the AWE Control Panel - check your driver / setup disks or Creative's FTP / WWW site. Have a copy of the MT32 Soundbank (synthmt.sbk) handy also, as you'll need it.

What you need to do is:

Fire up the AWE Control Panel and turn on MPU401 emulation. (Found under 'Device')
Select the MT32 Soundbank as necessary (Synth tab)
Select MT32 / LAPC-1 in the Ultima VI install / sound setup
Fire up U6 in a DOS box and enjoy!

Ultima VI, like Bad Blood, is one of the games that support Roland MT-32, but will not accept a generic wavetable device under this setting. It is highly probable that this method works with all the games that support Roland and can be played under Windows. Note that to load the soundbank you need to have RAM on your AWE 32.