Well, I assumed we were talking about games with graphics, but yeah, there were highly restrictive situations where more than 4 colors were available in CGA. Those are interesting tech demos that you posted, but it's certainly not representative of what was actually being done with CGA back when it was in use.

As for Starflight, yeah, well, back then almost *everything* that came in EGA had an alternate CGA mode. I do think I accurately interpreted the statement "they were only CGA games, not even EGA yet" as saying that CGA was the only graphics mode available, which isn't true.

Nice find of those CGA graphics for Starflight on Mobygames. Compare those to the EGA and yeah, you'll probably never confuse them again. I will never miss those ugly purple and blue CGA graphics colors. What's the story with those screenshots of "CGA on a composite monitor" though?
Technically, I don't think that can count as DRM as it was not "digital" at all. :)

It doesn't sound like gazzilionaire but your post reminded me of it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myv-Lx1TRsY

I know. Well, this is from 1986, but also not common. Most in 16-color mode were obviously just text, like Rogue.

Sorry. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.

Oh, I definitely won't miss it either. I wondered the same about the CGA on a composite monitor shots, too. I'm going to guess it's some sort of artifact trick. The TRS-80 Color Computer had one to change its "hi-res" two color mode into a 4 color mode (which they "fixed" in the CoCo 3, ruining it).

And a Google search later and it does seem to be an artifact trick.
I guess Ultima 2 and 3 used it I didn't know about this before. Very interesting.

Interesting, I'm guessing that gameplay smoothness (as if there was a lot in regular CGA) was hurt in the attempt?
Nah, that's on me. I've encountered a few confrontational people on these boards here recently, so I responded way too defensively. My bad...
Ah, that explains it. I had thought about that possibility but dismissed it. How common were composite monitors on IBM PCs back then? I know I used composite monitors on my C64 and Amiga, but none of the IBM compatibles I saw back then used them.

is it
Frontier: First Encounters
http://www.mobygames.com/game/frontier-first-encounters


which is also part of the Elite series
http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/elite-series

I've never played Round 42, but it doesn't seem *too* bad actually, in this video. But whether this is how it played back then, I don't know.

Rogue was pretty smooth, for what that's worth. The Kroz series also comes to mind.

No clue. I used a small TV on the Color Computer, but never on an IBM compatible either.

I know it's not it, but your description reminded me of Millennia: Altered Destinies - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-Jc0_C8bA

Maybe Lightspeed or Hyperspeed?

http://www.mobygames.com/game-group/microprose-lightspeed-series

Except for the first-person part, it sounds like Ascension, which is a great game.

True but that's the term they use today.. 80's are passed, :P

OP, you gonna respond? ;)

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Maybe Spaceward, Ho? or Spaceward Ho IV?

At random : Pax Imperia Eminent Domain ?

THAT IS IT!!

Lightspeed.

Cool!

Thanks

looks interesting... but according to wikipedia not a highly regarded game...