Re: [SWCollect] Some questions

2001-07-12 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> I was actually talking about Champions of Krynn, not Pool (never heard of

Oh, Krynn!  Yes, my friend had this given to him as a gift, and I distinctly
remember a poster being included.  (IBM PC version)

> > I have seen M&M1 for the PC with a spiral-bound manual, although my
> > memory says it's a 5x7" manual, not "large".  My memory could be
> > wrong... but it was definitely spiral-bound.
> 
> Son of a gun ... I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for that one, too.  You
> sure about this?  Hugh seems to disagree ...

It was a large box, that much I remember.  But this was a long time ago.  If
there is a dispute, I'll defer to Hugh, as he probably owns it.
 
> > Buy now if the price is $9 or less.  You can always sell later.  That's what I
> > do, but I'm not everyone.
> 
> Yeah, but these sorts of games typically go on eBay for $25+.  I pick

But don't get them off of ebay -- you need to learn the fine art of
"oldwarezing" (visiting all sorts of thrift shops, used software stores (a
surprising amount of them exist in Illinois), goodwill, and other nooks and
crannies.  Or, just be patient and always bid low for something that comes up a
lot, and you might get it.  Chris is fond of sharing stories of things like
someone putting up a complete Infocom with a Buy This Now price of $5 (doh!)
:-)

Chris and Tom, both on this list, are experts in oldwarezing.  I have tagged
along with them on one of their runs and learned a lot; Chris, in particular,
has a knack for finding the neat obscure stuff, like Michael Berlyn novels. 
Chris, care to spare any advice on finding stuff?  Or have you written about
that subject already in the YOIS newsletter?

> these off at a slow pace -- sometimes the going price on eBay skyrockets
> alarmingly, as happened notably with the Sierra collections.  I'm just
> wondering whether The Neverhood will always be $60-70, or whether it will
> be profitable to wait for the price to dip to $25, or whether I should buy
> ten copies now and make a mint in a few years.  :)

I wouldn't use software as a profit device -- some people do, but tastes change
(and people's IQ goes up and down ;-) and I've never tried to make money off of
it.  However, I *know* other people on this list do it, and some do it well --
maybe they should offer up some advice?
 
> > The price of Kilrathi Saga just blows my mind.  People who are paying
> > those prices (I've seen as high as $500) are incredibly stupid.  It's
> > just not worth that much.
> 
> Yeah, well, nothing much you can do about the desperate game-players ... I
> still want my Wing Commander calendar, though.  :)

I guess they don't realize that they can purchase Wing Commanders 1, 2, and 3,
buy a 486 and a Roland MT-32, and play them all for much less than $500.  (The
"remastered soundtrack" for the Kilrathi Saga is just the MT-32 soundtrack
saved to .WAV files that play during the game.)
 
> > The "film can" release of Wing Commander 3
> > is a hell of a lot more rare and worth a thousand dollars at least
> > (came in an actual film can, with extra materials including a
> > t-shirt).
> 
> Ah, I don't think it's worth quite so much, otherwise I wouldn't have
> gotten a complete copy on eBay for $125.  (Absolutely complete; this
> almost always shows up missing a part or five.)  Huge bugger of a package
> (it doesn't all come in the can; the can itself comes in a larger box),
> too; not sure how I'll put it on my shelves in the place I'm moving to.

Kick ass!  I envy you.  It's definitely worth more for the simple reason that
much less were produced, only about 1500 if memory serves.  There were 22,000
Kilrathi Sagas on shelves and probably more in warehouses.
 
> This *was* obtaininable direct from EA until relatively recently,
> actually.  (Same for the Martian Dreams clue book, sigh.)

I wish I had known that!  :-(
 
> > > (6) Truly ancient IBM games
> > >
> > > There are four IBM games I know of that come in a small flat gray
> > > plastic folder (this is how the very first IBM games came packaged):
> [snip]
> > Wow, you're definitely hard-core IBM.  :-)  Warms my heart to see
> > that.  Yes, these were the first four entertainment titles for the IBM
> > PC Model 5150.  I don't see any more in my catalogs until the later
> > "plastic clam-shell" packaging.
> 
> Dude, you've got the catalogs too.  Lucky bastard.  :)

But I don't have the games!  Lucky bastard.  ;)
 
> > You might be interested to know that there were third-party games for
> > the IBM available very closely after the 5150's release (ie. the above
> > 4 you list weren't the only "first games available").  Check
> > www.mobygames.com for "funtastic" games, for example.
> 
> How hard are the other extremely old IBM games to find?  Occasionally I
> try to look for a copy of, say, J-Bird, or Czorian Siege, but I have
> absolutely no recollection what the packaging looks like for one thing,
> and I have no idea how rare it is.

I think you just answered your ow

Re: [SWCollect] LGoP2 mention

2001-07-12 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> My point is, your view on Megatraveller I is very much a minority one.
> Scorpia isn't the only person I've seen hate it; so do a large majority of
> old RPGer's I've heard who've played it.  If I liked I game that I knew
> many other people hated, I'd recommend it only with serious reservations
> at best, especially since here we're running the risk of turning off some
> people to old games (this is why you are upsetting me here).

Guys, guys, hold off:  The only reason my coworker wanted to see Megatraveller
was because he wanted to see the character generation system.  I warned him a
lot of people didn't like the game; he just wanted to see firsthand what Pedro
was talking about.
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Re: [SWCollect] Some questions

2001-07-12 Thread Jim Leonard

Hugh Falk wrote:
> 
> I do have the original Might and Magic for the Apple.  It is a 9" x 12"
> spiral bound book and did not come in a box.  The "Apple II 64K required"
> sticker that would normally be on the outside of a box is placed on the
> jacket of the book.

I think that answers the question, then:  My memory is faulty.  Might and Magic
1 for the IBM PC definitely came in a box.  Whether or not it was spiral-bound
remains to be determined, but it is not identical to the Apple large
spiral-bound manual.

Thanks for the note, Hugh!
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Re: [SWCollect] Some questions

2001-07-12 Thread Jim Leonard

"C.E. Forman" wrote:
> 
> I've given suggestions, but it never hurts to restate them.

..

Excellent, excellent advice.  Warms my heart to see stuff like that on this
list.
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Re: [SWCollect] [OT] Roland LAPC-1

2001-07-12 Thread Jim Leonard

Jim Leonard wrote:
> 
> To appease you, I'll "fix" Monty Python.  Let me check around for the game
> online...  Found it.  Checking .exe...  Geez, what an incompetent rip, not
> cracked, it's the EGA/VGA version only and the game itself is included *twice*
> in the archive!!  This is why the current state of Abandonware websites is
> pathetic.  Checking for modern box compatibility... works!  Under NT no less,
> on a PII 233.  I'll work at this on the trainride home tonight.

It's finicky.  I'll have to debug it on a box with an actual working
*real* Adlib to be safe, so this could take a while as I need to drag
out the 386.  Just a status update.

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Re: [SWCollect] Old games and gaming rigs

2001-07-13 Thread Jim Leonard

"C.E. Forman" wrote:
> 
> Jim's oldskool.org is a good resource for suggestions on getting old games
> to run on modern PCs, but wouldn't it be great if there were also a database
> somewhere with solutions for problems with specific games (for people who
> don't have the room for a retrorig and need to run their games on their
> 500mHz+ machines)?

It would, wouldn't it?  Many Abandonware sites have sections like these, but
they are sparse and/or incorrect.
 
> Say a user was having trouble getting, say, Day of the Tentacle to run, he
> got music but no voices.  He could do a search on DOTT and find solutions
> other gamers have found, possibly patches coded by hardcore enthusiasts,
> etc.  In the long run, this would save everyone the trouble of trying all
> the solutions that DON'T work, by giving them the ones that do.  The
> database could include relevant specs of the problem machines and
> step-by-step answers.
> 
> Underdogs is like this, to some extent, with their "fixed" versions of older

These "fixed" versions are nice, but always keep an original copy around!  As
my recent demonstration with Month Python shows, many of the AB copies floating
around are incomplete.  ALso, "fixed" versions rarely run on their original
hardware platforms after they have been "fixed".  Just FYI.

> games.  I'm thinking primarily early CD-ROMs here, which are too large and
> expensive bandwidth-wise to download, and no fun to play as rips.  (I'm not
> suggesting the entire game be available for download, merely patches if any
> exist, and some troubleshooting info based on other players' experience.)
> 
> True, you do miss the time-trip of playing on an older machine, but the
> majority of players aren't bothered by this, and like Stephen says there
> probably aren't enough of those old machines to go around anymore.
> 
> Is there enough demand out there for something like this, would you think?

Yes, I think there's very much a demand for it.  I think it would be cool.  I
also think that I could expand a bit on my Old On New Guide, as about 40% of it
is more rambling and ranting than directly-helpful info.  The two combined
would make a nice website dedicated to getting older games running on newer
machines.

Would anyone like me to build it?  

I couldn't guarantee getting to it quickly, but I could get a framework running
very quickly after the DemoDVD project (www.demodvd.org) is done.  I would link
the back-end to an SQL database, and use a RAD tool like Zope to develop the
front-end.  I'm envisioning something like a submission screen with things
like:

title:
platform:
procedure:
comments:

The whole thing doesn't need to be elegant; just a simple form on the web where
people can contribute the above four things, and then look them up.  Multiple
entries under the same title would be returned all at once for convenience. 
This is simple.
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Re: [SWCollect] Old games and gaming rigs

2001-07-13 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> The idea sounds fine, if someone has the time to "test" all the specific
> configurations for specific games...

Not any one person, but multiple people could contribute to it.
 
> I assume the games that most people have more problems getting to run are
> the recent Ultimas (7 and 8).  I did "my share" of work towards the
> community by writing an How-To on how to get Ultima 7 to work on modern
> machines... and I did this way before U7win and exult were out and
> working!

I'd like to read that How-to -- where can I find it?
 
> Personally, I believe I still have to find any other RPG that doesn't work
> correctly on my machine, most even on DOS boxes in Win98...

RPGs aren't very hardware-intensive.
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Re: [SWCollect] Old games and gaming rigs

2001-07-13 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 12 Jul 2001, Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> > Personally, I believe I still have to find any other RPG that doesn't work
> > correctly on my machine, most even on DOS boxes in Win98...
> 
> If you can figure out what causes The Two Towers to glitch out in VGA mode
> (this happened on all three of the modern machines I tried), let me know
> (it would make me happier, heh).  I actually spent a LOT (several hours,
> easily) of time trying to figure this one out, as I had managed to figure
> out how to get nearly everything else to play properly (that means at the
> best graphics mode, with both music and digitized sound, and at a playable
> speed).  This was one of the very few I could not figure out (and it's the
> only adventure or RPG).

No problem.  I don't have it, though, so tell me where I can get a copy.
 
> Slowing down the computer (either by hardware, or software) did not work;
> booting to DOS 6.2 did not work;
> stripping device drivers in DOS 6.2 did not work;
> you cannot select MCGA as a graphics mode (this will fix Future Wars,
>   which has a similar problem in "VGA" mode, though it's the same as
>   "MCGA" mode as far as I can see except for the graphical glitches);

VGA and MCGA are both capable of producing 320x200x256 graphics, but VGA can be
tweaked for faster speed.  MCGA is programmed in only one way; VGA can be set
up to do almost anything.  So it makes sense that MCGA works when VGA doesn't,
and it also explains why the end result looks exactly the same.

However, don't assume all games will work fine/better/prettier in MCGA than
other choices.  For example, all of the Sierra/Game Arts games (Thexder,
Silpheed, Firehawk, Sorcerian, and Zeliard) look much better in their
recommended EGA/VGA mode than a chosen MCGA mode.  This is because they run in
640x200 (and all of their graphics were mastered this way), whereas MCGA runs
at 320x200.

> Think of it as a challenge.  :)

No problem.  Just steer me to a copy (or original).
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Re: [SWCollect] [OT] Roland LAPC-1

2001-07-13 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> I know one is internal and the other external, but about the sound itself,
> any big differences between both?

LAPC-1 is internal, MT-32 is external and requires a MIDI card set to port
330.  Sound out of both is identical (LAPC-1 is specifically a PC product, it
has a MIDI card and MT-32 embedded on it).
 
> And a bit more off topic, how easy would it be to get my hands on one of
> them? How much would I have to expect to pay for one and sorse still, what
> could I do with it on a modern rig? :)

LAPC-1 is my recommendation since it's hard to find an old 8-bit or 16-bit MIDI
card (or a modern PCI MIDI card that has perfect legacy support under DOS). 
Checking ebay...

Ebay sucks!  Can't find anything, although I just now verified that their
search facility is not working because I went to an auction that was ongoing,
then I searched for a unique word in the title and the search engine couldn't
find it.  I hate ebay sometimes.  Anyway, LAPC-1 is usually around $100 and
Roland MT-32 is usually around $60.

As for a modern rig, when not playing games it (both the MT-32 and LAPC-1) can
function as a MIDI device under windows.  It's not as good as some modern
wavetable cards, but it's better than the Adlib/FM synth found on common cheap
cards.  In fact, if you wanted to use the MT-32 instead of the FM synthesis on
your SB16 card, you could download the general MIDI patch set off of Roland's
tech support site and just download it to the MT-32 to make it a General MIDI
device.  The GMIDI patch set stays in the instrument until you either power
off, or change it yourself.
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Re: [SWCollect] Some questions

2001-07-13 Thread Jim Leonard

Hugh Falk wrote:
> 
> Yes, they repackaged it a couple of times.  The original spiral book version
> was in 1986.  In 1987 they came out with the "small box" version, which is
> about 9" tall.  I have this for both the Apple II and C-64.  There is also a
> slightly larger boxed version.  It is the same width as the "small box"
> version, but for some reason it is 10" tall.  I have this for the C-64, but
> I don't know the year because it is still in the wrap.  Both versions are
> shorter than the 12" original.

The 10" box was a later run; that must be what I remember from my friend's
house.  So until we can verify, I think we can assume that the 10" box was used
for the PC version, with no spiral-bound manual.
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[SWCollect] [Fwd: Echelon]

2001-07-17 Thread Jim Leonard

Remember "Will D."?  The die-hard fanatic software collector?  I tried to send
him a game I owed him that I was lax on sending, and this is the astonishing
reply I got:

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> Jim,
> 
> Don't worry about it. I'm clearing out ALL my computer games as I now collect
> Pinball machines. Go ahead and give it to someone that would want it.
> 
> I DO have some games you CAN HAVE if you'd like them. Let me know.
> 
> Will

This raises a question:  He was a die-hard software collector.  Die-hards are
stubborn and cantankerous and never deviate.  But he is now no longer a
die-hard software collector, just a collector.

So, to everyone here who is a die-hard:  Do you ever think you'll stray?

On a sociological note: for those who knew him, he was a bit... extreme.  But
he had a great collection with a lot of justifiable rarities.  So I wonder if
we're better or worse off without him.
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[SWCollect] [Fwd: Re: Echelon]

2001-07-17 Thread Jim Leonard

Whoops -- He was still on the mailing list.  I've removed him.  Good
grief, this person had issues.

 Original Message 
Subject: Re: Echelon
Date: Tue, 17 Jul 2001 22:30:21 EDT
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Trixter (or whomever you are)

I have just gotten the emails from Chris Forman via that oldskool site.
This 
is not funny. I have told him NEVER to email me again. EVER. I for one
do not 
talk behind other's back. I WILL HOWEVER WILL tell them off in front of
their 
face. That is different.

PLEASE DO NOT email these losers. I for one am not too thrilled of this
crap. 
Thanks alot.

Will

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Re: [SWCollect] [Fwd: Re: Echelon]

2001-07-18 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> Hehehehe, I apologize, specially to you Chris, but I'm imagining the guy's
> face as he was reading the mail about his "EXTREME!!" comments! :D

Same.  Actually, I was laughing out loud when I figured out what happened.  Oh
well, to each his own.
 
> (Mm... makes me wonder what you'd all say on my back! ;))
> 
> Anyway, can someone give me his e-mail address? I'd surely like to know
> what PC games he's selling.

[EMAIL PROTECTED]  I've got dibs on the Stargliders.  He's got a blue Jewels of
Darkness that he won't let go of (understandably).
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Re: [SWCollect] Anyone know anything about Cholo?

2001-07-20 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> By Firebird "A 3D Moving Graphics Adventure in a Post Holocaust World"? :)
> Someone told me they only released 50 of them. Mine is for 64, maybe they
> meant only 50 for the C64? Still that seems like not very many. Anyone else
> have it?

No idea, but I'd love to get a screenshot and/or copy of it for preservation
purposes.  I've never heard of it!

BTW:  Dude, you need a better digital camera!  :-)  They sell 640x480 digicams
for $60 nowadays.
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Re: [SWCollect] Anyone know anything about Cholo?

2001-07-20 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> By Firebird "A 3D Moving Graphics Adventure in a Post Holocaust World"? :)

Never mind about the copy, I found a dumped disk image...
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Re: [SWCollect] [Fwd: Re: Echelon]

2001-07-20 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> Sorry I am no longer selling games. People are causing too many problems
> for
> me right now. Who told you this? I would like to know. Thank you.

You can tell him I sent you (Jim Leonard, [EMAIL PROTECTED]).  That may
help.

I don't think he has much left, though.
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Re: [SWCollect] Anyone know anything about Cholo?

2001-07-20 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 07/20/2001 10:12:43 AM Central Daylight Time,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> 
> << Never mind about the copy, I found a dumped disk image... >>
> 
> Where did you find this Jim? Is it for C64? You going to Pockets with Chris,
> Manuel and I on the 28th?

Yes, the dump I found was for C64 on www.c64.com.  Yes, I'm going to Pockets
with you.  You should probably email me privately instead of boring the entire
list with when and where I'm going to meet you and Chris.  :-)

Ah, what the hell:  Chris Forman, Tom, and myself (and possibly others) are
going to go treasure huntin' on Sunday the 29th all day.  I don't know about
them, but I'll report back here any cool finds I get my hands on.  :)  More
importantly, I'll list where we went, so that you guys can have an idea of
where to go to find old software.
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Re: [SWCollect] [Fwd: Re: Echelon]

2001-07-20 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> "All the other [games] are being sold in a garage sale tomorrow. Chris has
> made this happen so no one can get the ones I'm selling at the garage
> sale."

Did he tell you where the garage sale was?  I live within an hour of his
location...  ;-D
 
> I sure wonder what's going on...?

He has issues, remember?
 
> >I don't think he has much left, though.
> 
> Just two games, none is a RPG... I wonder what will happen on that garage
> sale though

2 games?  never mind the garage sale location...
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Re: [SWCollect] Yipe.

2001-07-20 Thread Jim Leonard

"C.E. Forman" wrote:
> 
> Well, I just screwed up big-time.  *Sigh*... I feel horrible about this.
> Anybody got any reassuring words?

Yes:  Don't sweat it for even one second.  Will has some pretty deep issues
that he won't correct any time soon because, frankly, he isn't aware of them
*and* he's stubborn.  I swear, the dude has a neurological disorder.  You are
quite accurate in his misuse of terminology -- did you know one of the reasons
I wanted to create the MobyScale is because I wanted *him* to use it?  I got
tired of seeing him write MINT!!! for opened packages, or RARE!!! on games that
I have seen in triplicate at all used software stores.

If he never comes back to the world of software collecting, I wouldn't shed a
tear.

*AND*, since this mailing list is archived at a publicly-accessible URL, he may
see this message someday, and will probably "accuse" me of "talking behind his
back".  Well, I don't consider this talking behind his back because, quite
frankly, this message isn't addressed to him.

I never thought I would meet a child in the world of software collecting. 
Guess I was wrong.
 
> - Original Message -
> From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 9:20 PM
> Subject: Funny.
> 
> > Yeah, he's always struck me as quirky, even for a collector.  He always
> had
> > a tendency to get very EXCITED!!! when talking about his RARE! and
> > MINT! games.  (Everything in better-than-average condition was MINT!!!
> > to him, even if the package had been opened.)  He did have some rare
> stuff,
> > but I'm sorry, his PC "Forbidden Quest" just is not worth $450, or
> whatever
> > he paid for it.
> >
> > >>> It is worth it. Only 100 of these were made. I also got an email from
> the
> > AUTHOR who said it's worth more than that. Know the facts first Chris.
> >
> > Now I feel bad.  I shouldn't be talking behind his back like this.
> >
> > >>> You SHOULD feel bad. I for one DO NOT talk about others like this. I'm
> > not happy or laughing about this. I get all these GOD DAMN emails send to
> my
> > F* email thanks to these putz's and I got this one. Thanks very much
> my
> > EX FRIEND.
> >
> > He mentioned medical bills awhile back, I wonder if he's going through a
> > tough time now?
> >
> > >>> I have recently purchased a pinball machine. Something MORE WORTHWHILE
> > than those stupid games since I am 30 years of age and not a kid any
> longer.
> > I have better things to look forward to in my life. How about you?
> >
> > Anyway, go ahead and post this to that stupid oldskool site. Have fun and
> > MAYBE in a couple of decades from now you'll hear from me again. Until
> then
> > bugger off.
> >
> > Will
> 
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Re: [SWCollect] [Fwd: Echelon]

2001-07-20 Thread Jim Leonard

"C.E. Forman" wrote:
> 
> He mentioned medical bills awhile back, I wonder if he's going through a
> tough time now?

A recent email from him seems to suggest that he had an epiphany.  He's moving
to a new place and dumping most of his non-value games (he said he's keeping
his 30 infocoms, blue Jewels of Darkness, and Forbidden Quest), and collecting
old pinball games (the small stand-up kind, not full tableglass pinballs).  He
just turned 30.

I turn 30 this August, but you won't find me selling my games ;-)
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[SWCollect] Ludicrous prices

2001-07-22 Thread Jim Leonard

Caught this website:

http://www.badben.com/

It's bad enough that it's viewable under Internet Explorer only, but
$200 for a Black Cauldron?  The CD version of Willy Beamish for $149? 
Wing Commander hintbook for $80?? (sealed, but still...)  

Here's the kicker:

"Wizard and the Princess by Sierra. Untested, for unknown computer
system. $199.99"

It's the diskette only!  For "unknown computer system"!!

Am I overreacting, or do people (other than Will D. ;-) actually pay
these prices?  I would *never* pay $249 for an original KQ1, unless it
was personally signed by Robert Williams or Jeff Stephenson.

PS:  Never mind, I think I figured it out:  He's uneducated; he listed
Fountain of Dreams as "very rare Wasteland sequel".  It's not rare at
all, nor is it the true sequel.

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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-23 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> >(P.S. I think I just visited the website where you saw them. B-)
> 
> I had mentioned that site to you, hadn't I? It was (before I bought all the
> nice titles) a nice site, I picked up those three Infocoms, plus Moebius
> Windwalker and Vixen (it had the poster, hurrah! ;)) all for £20 including
> shipping.
> 

Okay, cough it up:  What's the URL of the site?
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Re: [SWCollect] Ludicrous prices

2001-07-23 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> Wasteland and Fountain of Dreams, IIRC, were for many years the only two
> post-nuke RPGs in the market

I would LOVE to know of more; I created the Post-Apocolyptic genre on MobyGames
specifically for games like this.  For example, wasn't Twilight 2000 sort-of a
PA RPG?  (can't remember the game well).

I have a Mindscape managerial strategy game from 1988 (can't remember the
title) that was a PA game as well... who can remember more of historical and/or
gameplay significance?
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Re: [SWCollect] Yipe.

2001-07-23 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> >*and* he's stubborn.  I swear, the dude has a neurological disorder.
> 
> Weren't you the one that said that we _all_ have a neurological disorder or
> we wouldn't be collectors, etcetc? ;)

His isn't along the same lines as ours.  :-)  We're anal-retentive and
compulsive, but he has some sort of sociological pathology thing going on.
 
> Just a correction here, Jim: you are talking about someone, and he doesn't
> know about it. So yes, it can be considered "talking behind his back"

Okay, I'll rephrase:  I don't give a crap if he sees this.
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-23 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> I would never reveal my secret sources! ;)
> 
> Oh, alright, it's at www.1632systems.com :)

Let's put it this way:  I have no problem sharing my sources with you guys
*after* I've picked them clean.  ;-)  Which is what I was expecting Pedro to
do.  Which is what I expect we all do.  For example, I can tell you guys that
there are several Cyber Exchanges and Software ReRuns around where I live
(Naperville, IL, USA).  I tell you this because I've already picked them clean
for my own purposes.  I'm helping by sharing, and I'm not worried about missing
a deal because I've already been there.
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-23 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> >For example, I can tell you guys that
> >there are several Cyber Exchanges and Software ReRuns around where I live
> >(Naperville, IL, USA).  I tell you this because I've already picked them
> clean
> >for my own purposes.
> 
> You didn't pick the RPGs, did you? :)

Nope.  I don't collect RPGs.  In fact, I think I collect everything that you
guys *don't* collect.
 
> >I'm helping by sharing, and I'm not worried about missing
> >a deal because I've already been there.
> 
> I'm rarely worried about missing a deal even if I haven't been there yet...
> unless there's an Akalabeth or Ultima CPC listed or something... 0:)

I'll drop a bomb, here:  I don't know what you're talking about when you say
"Ultima CPC".  Could you explain?

Here's another bomb:  I have never, ever liked any Ultimas.  I find them
contrived and scatterbrain; I feel the storylines are manufactured and trite. 
And most of all, the name "Lord British" really rubs me the wrong way -- it
rubbed me the wrong way when I first saw it on the bootup screen of Ultima 2
and it still rubs me the wrong way today.  It's a dorky,
grammatically-incorrect handle.  When I hear the name "Lord British", I picture
a pimply 14-yr-old trying to think of a "cool" handle to choose when signing
onto a BBS door.

I am the only software collector in the world who doesn't like Ultima.  I love
Origin, just not Ultima.  If there is any one thing that any one Ultima game
does better than *all* other RPGs, I'd sure like to know.  (If you want to
reply :-) please do so privately as I don't think everyone on the list wants to
hear a flamewar over Ultima.)
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Re: [SWCollect] Latest eBay craze

2001-07-23 Thread Jim Leonard

You can download most common oldies from www.freeoldies.com, actually.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> Hi Stephen, how's it going? Hey could you upload the IBM software of Gold
> Rush to me, mine is Apple ][ but I want to try the IBM version.
> 
> Thanks,
> Tom
> 
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-24 Thread Jim Leonard

On Tue, Jul 24, 2001 at 08:55:11AM +0100, Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> I'm now in conversations with a new "gold mine" that has several rare games
> (at least as far as RPGs go)... at $1 each! I'll post a list in case you're
> interested to know (14 of them are already ordered by the way :)

..

Most of these I would really like a crack at.  When you're done, could you
pretty pretty please post this guy's contact info?  I'm not interested
in the RPGs as much as I am the action games (4D Sports Boxing, I500,
Budokan are all A+ quality games that I'd like a 2nd copy of).
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Re: [SWCollect] Ludicrous prices

2001-07-24 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> I just remembered a whole new category... "Terror games", or do you have it
> already, Jim?

What the heck is a "terror game"?
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-24 Thread Jim Leonard

"C.E. Forman" wrote:
> 
> > Let's put it this way:  I have no problem sharing my sources with you guys
> > *after* I've picked them clean.  ;-)  Which is what I was expecting Pedro
> to
> > do.  Which is what I expect we all do.  For example, I can tell you guys
> that
> > there are several Cyber Exchanges and Software ReRuns around where I live
> > (Naperville, IL, USA).  I tell you this because I've already picked them
> clean
> > for my own purposes.  I'm helping by sharing, and I'm not worried about
> missing
> > a deal because I've already been there.
> 
> But what about sources that get new stuff in regularly?  Do you really want
> to share your best hunting grounds with a bunch of other collectors?  B-)

Well, that's a personal decision.  But if you ever mention it in public, then
you will be hounded until the rest of your days for the location :-)
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> >I'm not interested
> >in the RPGs as much as I am the action games (4D Sports Boxing, I500,
> >Budokan are all A+ quality games that I'd like a 2nd copy of).
> 
> I have been considering Indy 500 too... Indy was one of my first PC games,
> I just loved to run with the Indestructible car anti-clockwise, so I could
> put everyone out and then win comfortably :)

But most importantly, that game is a programming masterpiece.  I used to think
Stunt Track Racer (fastest), Starglider (fast) and Flight Simulator (pretty)
were the pinnacle of 1980s 3D until I saw Indy 500.  Indy 500 is so incredibly
well engineered that it puts every single 3D game made before 1990 to shame.  I
was getting between 10-15 fps on a 7.16MHz 8086 (my machine at the time) in
CGA, and remember we're talking 2/3rds full-screen graphics with filled
vectors!  Yes, they cut a lot of corners mathematically -- you can see the
coarse granularity of the integer math if you study how the cars are drawn;
also, some of the polygons are filled on nybble boundaries instead of pixel
boundaries -- but for the most part this is hidden from the user and it just
plain looks great.

And Rob Hubbard, who is a god to all C64 freaks :-), did the music and sound,
which are just excellent.  If you can get the game working on an Adlib (there's
a later patched version floating around somewhere), you will be amazed at how
realistic it sounds.
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Re: [SWCollect] Old games and gaming rigs

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> The problem with The Two Towers and Future Wars (both Interplay games, I
> don't think that's a coincidence) isn't any of these; the graphics get
> screwed up (stripes running across pictures, blocks of random junk in
> place of "sprites", etc.).  I hadn't heard of this sort of problem with
> VGA compatibility before (though I have heard that you could get the
> symptoms you list, or a few others like the screen going black
> completely).

You're right, that's not VGA compatibility at all -- that's just a
poorly-programmed game.  The sprite routine was fed a bad pointer to the
graphics data, etc.  It's interesting that older machines can play it okay...
I'd really like to try this one out on my modern boxen.
 
> > Some CGA control ports are re-used *for different purposes* on EGA and
> > VGA.  Ever play Leisure Suit Larry 2 on a true CGA card?  It (and a
> > handful of other programs) tweaks a neat "third" CGA palette:  White,
> > Red, Cyan, and the background color.  The register used to do this is
> > used for something else on a VGA, so it doesn't do the same thing;
> > running Leisure Suit Larry 2 in CGA on a VGA card results in the
> > standard White, Magenta, Cyan, and background color palette.  (LSL2 is
> > a bad example because it also supports EGA and this situation would
> > never come up in practice, but you get the idea.)
> 
> Wow ... hmm.  Do you know of other games are like this?  I thought that
> EGA would be the best way to go (then again, most games that use EGA
> should work on a 486).

EGA *is* the best selection on those games; I was just mentioning LSL2 as an
example of the tweaked palette on a true CGA card.  Double Dragon used that
tweaked palette; many others did as well but I can't remember them offhand. 
The best example of palette wackyness is California Games.  Go to MobyGames and
look at the California Games entry's trivia, then look at the screenshots. 
It's a really cool hack for CGA.
 
> I'm also surprised that more than a handful of people would even bother
> trying to run a later game like LSL2 on an original PC with a CGA card.
> (When I tried Ultima VI on my original PC, I wondered how many people
> could put up with it.  Apparently not many, as Origin did not catch the
> bug which made the game unplayable on a floppy-drive-only system until
> later.)

:-)  I had my 8086 until 1990; most games were still quite playable.  The nice
tradeoff with graphics vs. speed is that CGA is only 16K of memory to sling
around, while MCGA is 64K.  For example, Return of Defender was slow in VGA on
an 8086, but the CGA version flew.
 
> > - Any listing that refers to the model number (5150 for PC, 5160
> > through 5163 for XT) is probably from a seller with a head on his
> > shoulders.  Prefer those guys over people who list "IBMPC RARE
> > ORIGINAL L@@K!!!" as those people probably don't have kloo.
> 
> For the purposes of playing old games, is there any difference between a
> PC and an XT (other than that the latter is more likely to come armed with
> 640K and a hard drive)?  I vaguely remember that there are a few, but my
> memory is really rusty on this one.

There is no difference between a model 5150 (PC) and 5160 (PC/XT) in terms of
gameplaying.  You are correct in that an XT is more likely to come with 512K or
640K of ram and a hard disk.

If you want a bit of a compromise, look for an IBM XT/286 or an AT.  6MHz
80286.  But for me, some of the oldest games can only be appreciated best on an
original 5150/5160.  For example, I didn't realize just how much the official
Atarisoft conversions were works of art until I played them on an XT -- except
for colors, they play *EXACTLY* like the arcade games with no slowdown
whatsoever.  (Remember, this is a 4.77MHz 16-bit processor with no hardware
sprite capabilities.)  Robotron, Battlezone, Galaxian, Joust, Defender, and
Stargate are the closest to the arcade, with Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Donkey
Kong being pretty terrible.
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Re: [SWCollect] Ludicrous prices

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

Karl Kuras wrote:
> 
> > What the heck is a "terror game"?
> 
> What I think he means are survival horror and similar games, designed to
> spook you.  Granted, there havent' been too many successes here, especially
> in the the olden days (can really only think of two games that really scared
> me, Project Firestart and Aliens).  But it has to be looked at as a genre in
> and of itself, since trying to evoke an emotion like fear in someone is a
> laudible goal in the effort to make games a true art form.

I agree about the artform part.  But wasn't Alone in the Dark considered the
true start of this?  I played Aliens on the C64 and I wouldn't consider it
survival horror.
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Re: [SWCollect] Ultimas (was: Infocom games' boxes)

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> >Nope.  I don't collect RPGs.  In fact, I think I collect everything that
> you
> >guys *don't* collect.
> 
> That's great, you wouldn't happen to have one of those shop's lists handy,
> would you? :)

They don't keep lists (at least, they don't export their databases for public
consumption).
 
> The two things that Ultimas did better than *all* other RPGs were:
> -> World interaction (this includes NPC interaction)
> -> Storyline and plot
> 
> The first one is self-explanatory. The interactions with the NPCs are far
> more interesting and detailed than in any other RPG. NPCs have a life and
> personality of their own, a face (extremely important), habits, and good
> conversations, starting mainly with U6.
> Also, the interaction with the world was great. In U6, you can pick up
> almost everything. In U7, you can even reap corn, make wheat, bake bread on
> the oven...

That's only U6-7.
 
> About storyline, well, I assume you have never played Ultima 4, probably
> considered by most the best RPG in history (not my favorite, so I'm not
> biased here... not even Tom's favorite, and IIRC not Stephen's favorite,
> but it was indeed a masterpiece)

That's only U4.  

I'm really more concerned why people think the series is the best ever when
there are really only 3 standouts.  U1 is okay; U2-U3 and U5 are pretty much
throwaways; U8 was rife with platform stuff ("Super Avatar Bros."), and U9 was
an utter train wreck from a technology standpoint.  So I feel like I'm missing
something.  U4, U6, and U7 are indeed excellent games, but the best RPG series
*ever*?  I don't think you can apply that label to *any* RPG series.
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

Hugh Falk wrote:
> 
> Actually, the Ultima series (including Akalabeth) was responsible for many
> innovations, but I'll respect your wishes and not respond here.

But please respond privately!  :-)  I wish to be educated.  I may not like
them, but at least I want to know why others do.
 
> I'm writing here to make a correction.  If I remember my Ultima history
> correctly (I didn't look it up to verify) Richard Garriott was given the
> name Lord British by his schoolmates.  It was a sarcastic jibe at the way he
> spoke (very proper English).

I thought it was his college mates, actually.
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> Now if anyone says the best RPG saga is Final Fantasy, I _will_ go postal!
> ;)

We're not that stupid.  :-)  But Wasteland and Fallout (haven't played Fallout
2 yet) are definitely tied for my #1 favorite RPGs of all time.  I haven't
played many, but I can't believe that there are more than 10 better RPGs than
those.

Kwick Kwestion for those very familiar with RPGs:  I really enjoyed the skill
systems in Wasteland and Fallout, and how using a skill over time increased
that skill's effectiveness.  Any other RPGs exist like that?
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Re: [SWCollect] Ludicrous prices

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> I didn't mean games that scared you for one reason or other (so I think
> Aliens can't quite be included, it's more sci-fi than horror), I mean games
> that are really horror-oriented.
> 
> There are two great examples within the RPG genre: The Legacy (in which the
> hero inherits a haunted hause) and Don't Go Alone (in which four kids pay a
> visit to a haunted house).
> 
> Maybe Escape from Hell too, a story of a young man that goes to rescue his
> girlfriend in Hell... not too scary with its top-down, 16 color gfx, but an
> horror game nevertheless :)
> 
> Of course, then we have Elvira 1, Elvira 2 and Waxworks.

We created a genre keyword called "Horror" a while ago in MobyGames.  So unless
I'm mistaken, you're just describing any game with a horror element.  Waxworks
is 1st-person adventure horror; Aliens I wouldn't classify as horror at all;
The Legacy (which I thought was a horrible game, BTW) is 1st-person adventure
RPG horror; Alone in the Dark is 3rd-person adventure action horror; etc.
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> What a coincidence, both are Tim Cain games :) Or you just simply love
> post-nuke :)

Actually, http://www.mobygames.com/game/credits/gameId,287/ disagrees with
you.  I don't see Tim Cain associated with Wasteland at all.  Why do you think
Tim Cain was associated with Wasteland?

I like good games and I like post-apocolyptic nuclear aftermath games.  Those
happen to be both, so of course I love them.
 
> But there are 10 better RPGs than those, at least in my opinion. I really
> disliked Wasteland's save system, and Fallout is finisheable in less than a

Wasteland's save system was a limitation of the technology of the time.  They
saved state by "patching" the map on disk in realtime when moving between
areas.  Besides, I think it gave the game a sense of seriousness and urgency --
there's no restoring when an NPC dies, for example.

Fallout in a day?  If a day means 14 hours to you, then yes I'd agree.  But I
work for a living and don't have 14 hours in a single day, so it took me 2
hours a day for 2 weeks.

> day... besides the fact that it is easy to exterminate all monsters to find
> yourself in a "I can't level anymore because I've finished all quests and
> have no more monsters to kill except for random wilderness encounters"
> situation.

So ask yourself this:  When you get to that point, do you *need* to level up?

I wouldn't consider the above flaws at all.
 
> 10 great RPGs better than those two... Ultima 4, 6 and 7, Betrayal in
> Krondor, Darklands, Magic Candle 1, Wizardry 6, Starflight h...
> Ultima Underworld 1 and 2! ;)

Krondor had bad voice acting, but I'll give it another shot.  The endless
wandering in a sparse landscape was a neat idea but got tedious...  I'll give
it another try.

All others are good suggestions, and I've played most of them but I didn't lop
them into the "traditional" RPG category so that's why I wasn't comparing them
to Ultima.  Starflight was of course fantastic, and I hear good things about
Darklands so I'll buy it.  (There's an updated patched version for sale legally
on a website; check MobyGames.)
 
> >Any other RPGs exist like that?
> 
> Ohhh, yes :) I'll just mention Darklands and Daggerfall.
> 
> In the first, there are no character levels, all skills increase with use,
> learning and knowledge, ranging from theology, to weapon use, streetwise,
> alchemy, etc. There are a few games like this. Betrayal in Krondor, for
> example.
> 
> In the second, you can create your own character class, and choose the 3
> main skills it uses (you can use all skills, but these 3 determine your
> levels). You do not raise levels by getting xp from monsters, but from
> getting better in those skills... this was a brilliant idea by Bethesda, it
> isn't logical that a class named "Merchant" gains levels for killing
> monsters, or "Mages" for pounding peasants to death with their club.
> 
> (this is one of the two things that makes Daggerfall an excellent game,
> IMHO)

Good justifications, thank you!  I will buy them today (although finding a
complete Daggerfall might be tough).
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Re: [SWCollect] Ludicrous prices

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

Karl Kuras wrote:
> 
> And as a side note... was anyone ever scared of Alone in the Dark?

At first, yes.  The creaking of the wood in the first room you start in, plus
the monster that breaks through the window, set the mood.  I then got used to
it and didn't get scared...

..until I read the incantations in the book.  Remember that, in the library? 
What happens after you read the incantations was just *creepy* and really
weirded me out for a couple of minutes.
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Re: [SWCollect] Ultimas (was: Infocom games' boxes)

2001-07-25 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> >I'm really more concerned why people think the series is the best ever
> when
> >there are really only 3 standouts.
> 
> Not standouts. Masterpieces.

If it were a masterpiece then it would've sucked me into it's world and not let
me go.  It didn't do that.  :-)  Maybe I just don't like quasi-fantasy-british
worlds.
 
> You don't understand. U1 was made in 1978, there was _nothing_ like that in

1979.

> And none of them had spacetravelling! ;)

See, this is my main beef with U1.  Garriot took a gazillion things and mashed
them all into the game.  What business does aliens and space travel have in a
fantasy RPG?  This isn't Journeyman Project we're playing, here.  It just seems
really amateurish.  I've never been able to get past it.
 
> Seriously now, do you know any other saga with at least 3 masterpieces,
> that has lasted for 23 years?  

22 years, actually.  And since U8 and U9 were crap, that's really where the
saga ended.  And the length isn't fair; Wizardry 8 is coming out soon, and that
will make 21 years for it; does that make the series a masterpiece?  Of course
not.

> (And with such fantastic market value?  $1+ for an Akalabeth, $1250 for a CPC 
>advertisement, $1000 for an
> Akalabeth CPC floppy only...)

Well, the market value of them isn't something I'd label as "best of all
time".  Nazi paraphernalia routinely sells for thousands of dollars but I
wouldn't call it "best collectable of its genre of all time", quite the
opposite, it's despicable.  

My final point is that I don't think you can assign a label to it as strong as
"best RPG series of all time."  There are millions more console people than PC
people who would argue against you because FF appeals to them more than
Ultima.  Would they be right, when console RPGs like Grandia have a better
combat system?  Of course not.  But since they're the majority, technically
they're right.  I agree it's a great series, and a few of them are fantastic. 
But not best of all time -- because NOTHING can be best of all time.

Wait, someone paid $1250 for an ADVERTISEMENT?  Are they deranged?  Stuff like
that shouldn't be auctioned, it should be properly scanned and preserved and
shared with everyone.  Good grief.
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Re: [SWCollect] Recent IBM games

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> I went to the local used video game store this evening just to look
> around.*  They also sell old overstock computer games.  I discovered a
> couple published by IBM back in 1995.  I was aware they published
> several games in the early days, but nothing so recent.  Looking at
> MobyGames, I see one game from 1993, but all the rest are from the
> early-to-mid 1980s.  I was particularly intrigued by one called
> "Power:  The Game."  Anyone know if it's much fun?

I know the 1995 ones you speak of; they still linger around most Babbage's
budget shelves.  But I've never heard of Power: The Game.  What year is that
from?

You could always grab them to stick into MobyGames :-)
 
> * Boring details:  Well, actually, I was reading the copy of "Halcyon
> Days" (www.dadgum.com/giantlist) I recently bought. (*Highly*
> recommended to all subscribers of this list.)  This revealed to me

Bought it in 1997.  Loved it; praying for a sequel.
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Re: [SWCollect] Ultimas (was: Infocom games' boxes)

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> And $1+ for a single Akalabeth handsigned pre-CPC non-numbered floppy,
> don't forget it (it is the only one in existance outside of Richard
> Garriot's house)

Correction:  It is the only one *known* to be in existence outside of his
house.  :)  If another is found, it would be very interesting to see how much
more -- or less -- money it fetches.
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> >Actually, http://www.mobygames.com/game/credits/gameId,287/ disagrees with
> >you.  I don't see Tim Cain associated with Wasteland at all.  Why do you
> think
> >Tim Cain was associated with Wasteland?
> 
> Err... I was pretty sure he was the one responsible for Wasteland. I'll
> have to do some research (yes, I know his name isn't mentioned on the game
> box/flat)

He's not mentioned in the manual either, or in the program executable.  I think
you're wrong, dude.  :-)
 
> >areas.  Besides, I think it gave the game a sense of seriousness and
> urgency --
> >there's no restoring when an NPC dies, for example.
> 
> I don't necessarily think that's a good idea. You may call it challenging,
> but I call it annoying... reminds me of the strange Blade of Destiny save
> system: if you saved outside of a temple, each char'd lose 50 xp

I don't have a problem with a "soft penalty" for "soft cheating".  How many
times did I restore the same game to get past a very difficult enemy because I
was hoping for a critical hit?  I was *supposed* to go back and get more
experience (or play better) before attacking the monster.
 
> Doing all the main quests and side quests, I think 12 hours is enough (for
> the second time, of course)

I *did* do most of the side quests (I got very little enjoyment out of playing
it a second time, much to my dismay -- but it's still a great game).
 
> > yourself in a "I can't level anymore because I've finished all quests and
> > have no more monsters to kill except for random wilderness encounters"
> > situation.
> 
> >So ask yourself this:  When you get to that point, do you *need* to level
> up?
> 
> Oh yes. You see, it's very important to reach level 24 so you can get
> either the Sniper or the Slayer perk, which makes the game much more
> interesting.

Level 18, actually.  But why is it *much* more interesting to get those perks
if there's nothing left to kill?  Isn't the game over at that point?
 
> Magic Candle is very Ultima-like. Ali Atabek had great ideas there, with
> the player being able to split the party so the mage could stay at the inn
> studying spells, the carpenter working for money, the ranger hunting for
> food, the main hero gathering information, etc...

Really?  I own it, shrinked.  Maybe I'll crack the wrap on it ;-)

Didn't Wasteland have this before Magic Candle?  MC was 1989; Wasteland was
1987 (IBM PC, anyway).  Then again, in WS it was mostly a gimmick whereas in MC
it seems utilized effectively.
 
> (It's Tom's favorite game ever, IIRC.)
> 
> >Starflight was of course fantastic, and I hear good things about
> >Darklands so I'll buy it.  (There's an updated patched version for sale
> legally
> >on a website; check MobyGames.)
> 
> The "Win-optimized" CD is on sale everywhere on eBay too, but I'll take a
> peek.

The one I'm talking about should be for sale here: 
http://www.ultimatedarklands.com/order.php3
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> * Wing Commander III Premiere Edition.  Easily the largest game box I own.
> There's no way this is going to fit on a bookshelf (it's way too large in
> two dimensions).

Is that the film can?  Anyone know where I can get something like this?  It's
eluded me ever since I learned about it.  I *am* willing to pay fairly for it.
 
> * Escape From Monkey Island Signature Edition.  Oh, it fits the shelves
> okay, but there are props inside.  Guess what one of props inside is?  A
> *magnet*.  It's one of the flat types, so I don't think it's much of a
> threat, but just as a precaution it's going to be isolated from my whole
> main collection-library.

A magnet!  LOL!  Good thing you caught that.
 
> Any other awkward games of interest out there?

A few I can remember and/or own:  (and view this in a Courier or monospace font
to see diagrams correctly)

X-Car: Was an x-shaped box.  Later boxes were framed in a clear
normal-dimension plastic box.

Zepher: Back was flat, but front was shaped like three sides of an octagon:

  Top view:
_
\   /
 \ /
  -

Day of the Tentacle: Original box was a triangular box with three sides (cover
scans on MobyGames)

Jetfighter II: Multi-part box was shaped oddly; hard to describe

Spectre: Shaped like the Star Trek insignia, very hard to stand on end (I'm not
kidding, look:)

  Front view:


   /|
  /  | 
 /___ |
/___--\|

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers: Original box was shaped like fractured
glass (see MobyGames for cover scans)

I can't remember more offhand, but I'm sure others can.
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> I'm not sure what you guys are talking about -- if someone dies, just quit
> right away.  Only if you switch maps is the game actually saved.
> Wasteland is therefore effectively no different from lots of other old
> games, where you just quickly powered down, reset, or backed up
> disks/files if something went seriously awry.

Yes, but you weren't *supposed* to do this.  It was a hack that worked.
 
> This is discussed a bit in the manual, too.

Only on the IBM version, where savegames were traditionally expected to work. 
And it's discussed in the IBM-specific release notes, not the docs.
 
> Feist didn't write the plot of BaK.  I think this is a good thing;
> professional authors who get too involved in a game have a strong tendency
> to screw it up, IMO.  I think Bureaucracy is a good example of this:
> strong writing, but weak gameplay.  Oh, and Feist had a strong hand in the
> making of Return to Krondor.

Is Return to Krondor a bad game?
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Re: [SWCollect] Ultima and RPGs

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> No one is going to change my mind that Ultima V is one of, if not the best
> RPG of all time (IV and VI are close). Anyone who liked those games should
> also try Magic Candle 1, in a few ways even better than UV!!! I recommend
> playing on a C64/128 to get nice music, IBM version has no sound card

Ah, but it *DOES* support Tandy graphics, which means it probably has Tandy
sound support as well.  I'll check my box for you.

> support. This game is SO underrated/unknown!!! MC1 is actually better than
> MC2 or MC3. My other favorite RPGs would have to be the early Might and
> Magics, Wiz 6+7 (the last battle in Wiz 6 was so interesting, the weaps you
> had to use), and the Bard's Tale games (Dragon Wars is another good one for
> BT fans, Legend of Faerghail is also similar although buggy)

All good examples, thanks!
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> There is a Joe and Mac in an octagon box, also some strange fish game I have
> that has to be the MOST awkward package, I think the box is shaped like a 3D
> fish.

Yes, forgot about Joe and Mac -- it's an octagon box decorated like a crude
stone wheel (Joe and Mac is a "stone-age" platformer).

The fish game I've never seen, but it's not El-Fish because El-Fish comes in a
normal box.
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Re: [SWCollect] Ultimas (was: Infocom games' boxes)

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

Alexander Zöller wrote:
> 
> it's me, the mysterious stranger that corrected Pedro on some details
> of his scary $$$ tales about Akalabeth. I'm from Germany, male, 21
> years old, and I'm a real newbie as far as games collecting is concerned.
> I subscribed to SWCollect a while ago, but kept quiet so far as I didn't
> want to bother you with my questions.

That doesn't seem to stop Pedro ;-)   Welcome aboard.
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Re: [SWCollect] Recent IBM games

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> It's from 1995.  There was one for sale on eBay lately
> (http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1253787915).
> If you want it, I can pick it up (complete in shrinkwrapped box) for
> $8 + shipping.  Heck, I can even get you two.  (One to leave SW, one
> to play.)  It says you can play it over the Internet (plus LANs,
> etc.).  IIRC, there weren't a lot (compared to today) of
> Internet-ready games in 1995.

I appreciate the offer, but I'm not (directly) interested.
 
> If it was only $2 from a thrift store, I might.  Eight bucks make me
> pause long enough to consider where the @#!! I'm going to put it.
> Wife & kids are out of town.  My task is to clean up my room (read:
> storage area) so that it's safe for our son (and anyone else, for that
> matter) to go in and use the computer.  I've already made a stack of
> about a dozen games I have yet to actually install and play!

My situation is exactly the same!  I need to clean up the computer room because
I can't find anything in it.
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> Centauri Alliance, a sci-fi RPG for the Apple II (and maybe others)
> came in a hexagonal box.  Not hard to stand up, but it's wider than a
> standard rectangular box, so it sticks out farther from the shelf.  I
> bought it way back when in part because you could import characters
> from Might & Magic.  Their magical items would become hi-tech items.
> I was disappointed with it and never got very far.

Why disappointed?  It sounds fascinating, especially the party
import/conversion.
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> Someone said that only 1,500 of these were made, but given how often this
> shows up and given that EA sold it directly until 2-3 years ago, I think
> there were more than that.  It's still easily worth $100+ if everything's
> there.

I'm willing to pay $150 if it's complete, less if it's not.  If you could find
me the exact title (ie what to search for on ebay without getting 2134 hits on
"wing commander") I'd really appreciate it.
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Re: [SWCollect] Unknown game

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"C.E. Forman" wrote:
> 
> Pedro,
> 
> The game you're thinking of is definitely "Mindfighter" by Abstract
> Concepts.  Check out

Yep, here's more info and a downloadable (non-PC, argh!) copy:

http://www.theunderdogs.org/game.php?name=Mindfighter
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> You know, for that matter, I don't seem to manage to finish many
> RPG/adventure/IF games.  I finished HHGTTG (after I finally got the
> !@#$ babel fish) and Bureacracy, but not Maniac Mansion or Nord &
> Bert.  For that matter, I bought the collector's edition of X-Wing and
> never started the supplemental missions (after destroying the Death
> Star).  (I bet that game would scream on my P700.  Especially compared
> to the 286-20 I first played it on.)  Maybe I've got ADD.  And maybe
> now I understand better why I'm a classic video game collector and not
> so much a computer game collector.
> 
> I may not be able to finish a game, but I sure can blather on, can't
> I?

Evidently, you've never known me.  Oh wait, yes you do.  :-)

I am the same way.  I only finish RPGs when I have the drive to start them. 
When I start an RPG  or Adventure game (and I consider Deus Ex more an
Adventure than anything else, which was the last game to grab me), I *know* I
won't do anything else computer-wise until it's finished.  I hate leaving games
unfinished.  Because I want to do other things computer-wise, I don't start
RPGs more than once a year.

Although, if what I read about Darklands is right, I'd play Darklands forever
(it doesn't end?)
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 26 Jul 2001, Jim Leonard wrote:
> > "Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> > >
> > > Someone said that only 1,500 of these were made, but given how often this
> > > shows up and given that EA sold it directly until 2-3 years ago, I think
> > > there were more than that.  It's still easily worth $100+ if everything's
> > > there.
> >
> > I'm willing to pay $150 if it's complete, less if it's not.  If you
> > could find me the exact title (ie what to search for on ebay without
> > getting 2134 hits on "wing commander") I'd really appreciate it.
> 
> "Wing Commander Premiere" will generally bring it up, without any false
> positives.  None are currently up, but one auction for a set that was
> missing lots of stuff concluded on July 13.  "Wing Commander III" will get
> most of the rest that aren't well-advertised, though you'll have to sift
> through 30-40 bogus finds.
> 
> This seems to show up about once every 3-4 weeks on average (not
> necessarily complete).

Thanks for the tip!

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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 26 Jul 2001, Jim Leonard wrote:
> > "Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> > >
> > > Someone said that only 1,500 of these were made, but given how often this
> > > shows up and given that EA sold it directly until 2-3 years ago, I think
> > > there were more than that.  It's still easily worth $100+ if everything's
> > > there.
> >
> > I'm willing to pay $150 if it's complete, less if it's not.  If you
> > could find me the exact title (ie what to search for on ebay without
> > getting 2134 hits on "wing commander") I'd really appreciate it.
> 
> "Wing Commander Premiere" will generally bring it up, without any false
> positives.  None are currently up, but one auction for a set that was
> missing lots of stuff concluded on July 13.  "Wing Commander III" will get
> most of the rest that aren't well-advertised, though you'll have to sift
> through 30-40 bogus finds.

I found this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1258292041

How complete is it?  You mentioned a video, but it contains an
"interactive CD" -- is this not the video?  Also, where can I find a
list of the complete items?  I went to a couple of WC fansites but they
kept referring to an out-of-date FAQ.

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Re: [SWCollect] Ultima and RPGs

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

Jim Leonard wrote:
> 
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> >
> > No one is going to change my mind that Ultima V is one of, if not the best
> > RPG of all time (IV and VI are close). Anyone who liked those games should
> > also try Magic Candle 1, in a few ways even better than UV!!! I recommend
> > playing on a C64/128 to get nice music, IBM version has no sound card
> 
> Ah, but it *DOES* support Tandy graphics, which means it probably has Tandy
> sound support as well.  I'll check my box for you.

Well, this turned out to be disappointing.  Not only did I realize that
my shrinkwrapped Magic Candle was a Slash re-release, but when I cracked
the wrap to get at the disks I found no reference to Tandy/PCjr 3-voice
sound support.  (It does support Tandy 16-color graphics, though.)  So
until one of my Tandys is set back up, I can't verify the sound support.

FYI, really.

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Re: [SWCollect] Ultima and RPGs

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 07/26/2001 11:30:14 PM Central Daylight Time,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> 
> << Well, this turned out to be disappointing.  Not only did I realize that
>  my shrinkwrapped Magic Candle was a Slash re-release, but when I cracked
>  the wrap to get at the disks I found no reference to Tandy/PCjr 3-voice
>  sound support.  (It does support Tandy 16-color graphics, though.)  So
>  until one of my Tandys is set back up, I can't verify the sound support.
>   >>
> 
> Yah MC is one of the many games Slash rereleased. Comes with no map and
> cheapo manual. I'll try to remember to bring an original version for you to
> look at. I have IBM and C64, played it on my C128 actually. Thanks for the
> info!!!

No need to bring it, but my Slash release *does* come with a map, a
full-color one (albeit printed a bit cheaply).  And I cracked the wrap
to find out, so you should assume that Slash releases of MC come with a
color map.

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Re: [SWCollect] Original Akalabeth

2001-07-26 Thread Jim Leonard

Cool, this was educational.  Thanks!

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> Just to clear up what seems to be a misunderstanding about this disk, it was
> NOT signed, but 12 of them were hand numbered. I know of 3 others not
> numbered, two are complete games, one is my disk. Here are pics of one of the
> unnumbered disks, my label which I have not put on the disk yet (label came
> from RG himself though so is legit, it looks to be a different color than
> this disk) and screenshots of the title screen of the original and CPC
> versions. Hope this helps!!
> 
> Tom
> 
>   
>  Name: Aklabel.ZIP
>Aklabel.ZIP   Type: Download File (application/x-zip-compressed)
>  Encoding: base64
>   Download Status: Not downloaded with message

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Re: [SWCollect] Daggerfall

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> Apparently, there never was a deluxe edition of Daggerfall. There are two
> different editions though, and can probably be considered collectors items.
> I'll quote the mail I received from the guys at Bethesda's tech support.
> 
> "There never was a deluxe version like we had with Arena. There
> was a special version for CompUSA, which had some extra quests
> and objects or stuff like that. There was also another version, which
> contained an Arena CD/Manual along with Daggerfall."
> 
> I'm guessing at least the CompUSA version must be really hard to find.

..unless you live near one!  I'll have to take a look this Sunday.

I'm going to get Darklands in an auction, but I am having the damnest time
finding Daggerfall (sealed).  I guess I'll just camp on ebay for a while.
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> All the Eidos boxes have that shape? Then I don't know if it's an European
> "feature" or if the following just happened in Portugal, but both Final
> Fantasy 7 and Tomb Raider 3 sold in these parts have ye olde regulare
> rectangulare boxe.

One of the many joys of cross-continental packaging.  I've noticed this general
trend throughout the years on my side of the pond:

In the 1980s, the Euro version of a game almost always came in a much smaller
box than for the US.

In the 1990s, the Euro version of a game came in roughly the same size box but
with completely different cover art.

Here onward, the Euro version of a game will come in the new DVD
clamshell-style packaging, with the US to follow :-(
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[SWCollect] Labels and value (was: Ultimas)

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 07/27/2001 2:49:39 AM Central Daylight Time,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> 
> << Tom, I think Jason's was handsigned too...
> 
>  But you probably know better, and as I've been stating so many wrong facts
>  lately... :)
>   >>
> 
> Jason put his together from the same sticker/label I have, he actually had
> two stickers he got from RG and traded one to me. So his was/is the exact
> same one as mine. The one bought at the UO faire was donated by Origin, RG
> must have left one (or more?) at the company some time ago. Unnumbered though.

Here's a moral/ethical question I'd like to pose to the group:  If you have the
original label but no disk, is it "valid" if you copy the original disk from
somewhere and just slap the label on?  I know that you can only get the label
from RG in this case, but since the disk itself isn't the original, all of the
value is in the label.  In fact, why apply the label at all?  I'd frame it or
something.  Anyone have thoughts on this?
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> That box description reminded me of another two games with unusual box
> shapes: Prince of Persia 2 (I think it was 2), the box was shaped like an
> hourglass.

You're right; scans of that are also on MobyGames.
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Re: [SWCollect] Infocom games' boxes

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> >He's not mentioned in the manual either, or in the program executable.  I
> think
> >you're wrong, dude.  :-)
> 
> It wouldn't be the first time. I simply don't believe that Tim Cain's
> incursion in the RPG world started with... Fallout?

Believe it.  According to MobyGames:

Best known as the producer, lead programmer and designer of Fallout (the 1997
RPG of the Year), Tim Cain has worked in the game industry since 1982. He
started as a programmer on Grand Slam Bridge, published by Electronic Arts in
1985. After attending college and receiving a B.S. and M.S. in Computer
Science, he worked at Interplay Productions from 1992 to 1998. In addition to
Fallout, he was lead programmer on Bard's Tale Construction Set and Rags to
Riches, and he also designed and programmed GNW, a user interface and
OS-abstraction library, which supports Fallout, Star Fleet Academy, M.A.X.,
Atomic Bomberman, and several other Interplay titles. He also wrote critical
error handling code for Stonekeep and digital sound mixing code for Star Trek
25th Anniversary CD-ROM edition. After helping to complete the initial design
for Fallout 2, he left Interplay along with Leonard Boyarsky and Jason Anderson
to form Troika Games. 

Additional Programming - gameography
Fallout 2 (1998), Interplay
Stonekeep (1995), Interplay

Programming - gameography

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (1997), Interplay
The Bard's Tale Construction Set (1991), Interplay

Design - gameography

Fallout 2 (1998), Interplay

Documentation - gameography

The Bard's Tale Construction Set (1991), Interplay

Level / Scenario Design - gameography

The Bard's Tale Construction Set (1991), Interplay

Original Concept - gameography

Fallout 2 (1998), Interplay

Producer - gameography

Fallout (1997), Interplay

-

You *really* need to get access to MobyGames.  :-)  Why do you think I created
it?  To solve issues like this, for one.
 
> >I don't have a problem with a "soft penalty" for "soft cheating".  How
> many
> >times did I restore the same game to get past a very difficult enemy
> because I
> >was hoping for a critical hit?  I was *supposed* to go back and get more
> >experience (or play better) before attacking the monster.
> 
> I do have a problem with those things. I'm a bit of a "cheesemonger" :)

Well, you're just a wuss then.  ;-D
 
> >Level 18, actually.  But why is it *much* more interesting to get those
> perks
> >if there's nothing left to kill?  Isn't the game over at that point?
> 
> There's always the "last dungeon". Having Sniper/Slayer helps a lot there,
> specially Sniper if you're playing a melee character

Huh?  Where in Fallout is the "last dungeon"?
 
> > (It's Tom's favorite game ever, IIRC.)
> >
> > >Starflight was of course fantastic, and I hear good things about
> > >Darklands so I'll buy it.  (There's an updated patched version for sale
> > legally
> > >on a website; check MobyGames.)
> >
> > The "Win-optimized" CD is on sale everywhere on eBay too, but I'll take a
> > peek.
> 
> >The one I'm talking about should be for sale here:
> >http://www.ultimatedarklands.com/order.php3
> 
> a) It's too expensive (an OEM CD for $19?!?!), you can get that same CD for
> less on eBay

Yes, but the advantage of this particular distribution is:

- it's legal
- it has all patches applied (which I hear was a big problem with Darklands --
buggy program)
- it has the manual included online
- it is reliably available whereas you have to wait for Darklands to show up on
ebay all the time.
 
> b) The original hintbook isn't like that, it's much smaller (A5 size) and
> black. That's a copy.

See, THAT'S the disgrace -- $24.99 for a hintbook??

My plan is to buy the CD to play and buy the unopened Darklands to collect.
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> It seems they're released in that unusual box in the USA, and in a normal
> box in Europe (or, as I mentioned, at least in Portugal).
> 
> I'm starting to hate these "European packages"... now the latest (?) craze
> seems to be selling PC games in those small DVD boxes. :/

Check the archives of this mailing list (URL is convienently located below) to
see a long discussion we had about that before you joined.  I find it very
depressing from a collector's standpoint, but I understand the rationale (from
the point of The Suits, anyway).
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Re: [SWCollect] Labels and value (was: Ultimas)

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

"C.E. Forman" wrote:
> 
> > Here's a moral/ethical question I'd like to pose to the group:  If you
> have the
> > original label but no disk, is it "valid" if you copy the original disk
> from
> > somewhere and just slap the label on?  I know that you can only get the
> label
> > from RG in this case, but since the disk itself isn't the original, all of
> the
> > value is in the label.  In fact, why apply the label at all?  I'd frame it
> or
> > something.  Anyone have thoughts on this?
> 
> This is a fascinating "grey area", Jim.

I seem to be a "grey area" magnet. 
 
> I suppose the situation you present is only truly unethical if you sell it
> to someone else and pass the disk off as a genuine original.  But if it's
> something you're keeping for yourself, there's no harm in stretching it a
> little.  As long as you make note of it somewhere in your personal records,
> so it's not treated as an original disk after you die and someone else
> inherits your collection.  Personally, I'm with you, I'd just frame the
> label.

I agree on both counts.
 
> On a relevant tangent: Suppose you HAD a genuine original disk (with label
> intact) and it went bad.  So you recopied the code back onto the original
> disk.  At this point, can you honestly claim it's the true original anymore?
> Is it worth more with the original (deteriorated) data, or with the good but
> not original data?

If the disk went bad and you copied the code back, I would consider that
"restoration", much like restoring a classic 300-yr-old painting.  If the
materials are the same and the code is the same as it was when you first opened
the box, it *is* the same disk and I would indeed claim it as the original. 
But I'm very anal about this:  It would have to be an IDENTICAL copy, bit for
bit, even with copy-protection intact -- NOT a cracked copy!!  A cracked copy
is NOT the same, and I would consider it damaging.  My viewpoint on this is
mostly because I've seen very many bad cracks in my life (added cracker
messages, unfinished cracking, incomplete ripping, viruses in the executable,
etc.).  If it weren't bit-for-bit exact, I wouldn't consider it the same.  But
since I *am* capable of restoring disks in this fashion, disk-based copy
protection and all, I would consider an exact copy of the data back to the disk
it came from identical to the original.

As for worth, I wouldn't claim that either of them were "worth" more, but of
course I'd lean toward bidding on the disk that was fixed (with *IDENTICAL*
code, can't stress this enough) verses the disk that had gone bad.
 
> Does this even matter to other collectors?  It really doesn't to me, as game
> data can be downloaded anytime, so there's no need to play off your original
> disks except maybe for complete authenticity of the time-trip.

Ah, but it *isn't* the same, and the data *can't* be downloaded at any time, as
we've mentioned before (Apple archive not guaranteed to stick around, the IBM
version is different than the Apple version, etc.).  A few games released in
the 1980s were simply better for the IBM than any other ported platform, and an
Apple/C64/Atari/Amiga/whatever version simply wouldn't be the same.

I do understand why you wrote the above, though -- you're mostly used to IF,
and most IF is the same experience on all platforms.
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Re: [SWCollect] Labels and value (was: Ultimas)

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> I may ask a third question: what determines if you have an original game or
> not? I think we all agree that I have the original game if I have the
> original floppies, but the question is (are?), do I have an original if
> a) I have manual, box, everything complete, etc but no original floppies?

If you have the label(s) off of the floppies, that's good enough, because
that's the unique part of the package (relating to floppies).

> b) only one/some of the original floppies?

If you don't have all of the labels, it's incomplete.

> c) Just one of the goodies (reference card, manual, etc)?

Definitely incomplete.

Have you looked at the MobyScale recently?  We put modifiers for things like
incomplete packages into the spec.  I can resend to this list if you like.
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Re: [SWCollect] Labels and value (was: Ultimas)

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> Me, too.  Although, as I keep telling you guys but I'll repeat for the
> new subscribers, I'm not really a software collector.  I just got
> interested in it after seeing so much of it at the thrifts stores
> while I'm out looking for Atari 2600 cartridges, etc.  Odds are if I'm
> bidding on a game at all, it's because I want to *play* it.  I'm just
> anal in that I like to have boxes and manuals for my games.

Hey, you don't have to be hard-core to be on this list.  Everyone contributes.
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Re: [SWCollect] Anyone want me to pick these up?

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> Test Drive
> Test Drive 2: The Duel (5.25")

If the boxes are in good condition (G or higher), I'd like these to scan for
MobyGames.  Just let me know how much, etc.  Paypal okay?

> Most of these items are probably F to G on the MobyScale.  Some may be
> sealed with clear packing tape that may be difficult to remove without
> damaging the box.  (These games are probably Secret of MI, Task Force
> 1942, the two Test Drives, and Ultima III.)

Crud.  Before you buy these, let's start another topic of discussion:  What's
the best way to remove stickers/tape from boxes without damaging them?
 
>Apple Logo (Apple II; I'm not sure why other than it was in good
>shape and I never had Logo back in the day.  Works!)

My first serious programming langange!  Hey, don't laugh:  It taught me the
basics of procedural programming and modular design.
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Re: [SWCollect] Labels and value (was: Ultimas)

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> Anyway, one thing was an Apple II copy of Ulitma IV.  (Only seems to
> be missing the Ankh.)  I tried the first disk out (the program disk)
> and it doesn't work.  Even worse, the disks came write protected from
> the factory, so to re-write the data, I'd have to cut notches on them.

Ah, no you don't!  Just take your disk drive out and modify it to close the
circuit on the write-protect mechanism.  I have one drive modified this way
specifically for this purpose.  Don't cut a hole in your original disk.
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> On Thu, 26 Jul 2001, Jim Leonard wrote:
> > "Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> [snip]
> > > "Wing Commander Premiere" will generally bring it up, without any false
> > > positives.  None are currently up, but one auction for a set that was
> > > missing lots of stuff concluded on July 13.  "Wing Commander III" will get
> > > most of the rest that aren't well-advertised, though you'll have to sift
> > > through 30-40 bogus finds.
> >
> > I found this:
> >
> > http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1258292041
> >
> > How complete is it?
> 
> It's missing a few parts, but the T-shirt is there (it's the part most
> likely to be missing).  Mine has never been worn.
> 
> > You mentioned a video, but it contains an
> > "interactive CD" -- is this not the video?  Also, where can I find a
> > list of the complete items?  I went to a couple of WC fansites but they
> > kept referring to an out-of-date FAQ.
> 
> Hmm, I remember finding a Web-based one out there a few months ago, but it
> didn't list everything.  Here's my copy:
> 
> 1. Flat corrugated cardboard box.  Mine doesn't have anything to indicate
>that it's the WC3 Premiere Edition; it's unadorned, which makes me a bit
>worried.  I do know that the film can definitely comes in a box of
>about this size, though.
> 2. Terran Confederation T-shirt (mine is XL and black).
> 3. "Fleet Action" Wing Commander paperback novel (same one as you can find
>in a bookstore, used being more likely).  Apparently the series is
>popular among non-gameplayers, as the novels just keep coming.
> 4. "Making of Wing Commander III" VHS tape in a slipcase (the copy on
>eBay seems to be missing this).
> 5. Gray film can.  Has a "Wing Commander III Premiere Edition" sticker
>on it.
> 6. 1995 Wing Commander calendar.
> 7. "Behind the Scenes of Wing Commander III" CD in a jewel case.
> 8. 4 game CD's in separate jewel cases.
> 9. Wing Commander III poster (resembles a movie poster).
> 10. Playguide (I think this is the same as the standard version).
> 11. Install guide (ditto).
> 12. Victory Streak magazine-let (ditto).
> 13. Reference card (ditto).
> 14. Ship fold-out poster (ditto).
> 15. Registration card.
> 16. Ad for the book "Inside Wing Commander III".

Crap; my bid is way too high then.  Thanks very much for the complete list;
this is a clip'n'save.

And I would really like a copy of that video somehow... when the demodvd
project is on autopilot, I promised several people that I would remaster the
Sierra promotional videos of the late 80's onto a DVD.  Since they would hardly
take up all the space, I was also going to stick the Making of the 7th Guest
video on there, as well as a few others that came with games, and this would be
a great addition.  Willing to lend it to me when the time comes?  (Hey, if I
can get Tom of Quest Studios willing to lend me his, I figure I can get anyone
to lend them out ;-)
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Re: [SWCollect] Awkward game packages

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> On Fri, 27 Jul 2001, Stephen S. Lee wrote:
> > On Thu, 26 Jul 2001, Jim Leonard wrote:
> > > "Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> > [snip]
> > > > "Wing Commander Premiere" will generally bring it up, without any false
> > > > positives.  None are currently up, but one auction for a set that was
> > > > missing lots of stuff concluded on July 13.  "Wing Commander III" will get
> > > > most of the rest that aren't well-advertised, though you'll have to sift
> > > > through 30-40 bogus finds.
> > >
> > > I found this:
> > >
> > > http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1258292041
> > >
> > > How complete is it?
> >
> > It's missing a few parts, but the T-shirt is there (it's the part most
> > likely to be missing).  Mine has never been worn.
> 
> Now that I've taken another look, I don't have the audio CD in my copy.
> Damn.

I'd be happy to make a copy for you if you'd be willing to make a
(decent) copy of the video.  :)  Interested?

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Re: [SWCollect] Wing Commander LE

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 07/27/2001 8:17:07 PM Central Daylight Time,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> 
> << The contents might vary from package to package, but I was told that mine
>  was largely untouched and left mostly as-is; in particular, I was assured
>  that nothing got *added* to the package.  I do realize that the audio CD
>  should be there; I know it should be in the can (there's room for one more
>  jewel case in there), and in fact mobygames.com says so anyway.
> 
>  Interesting, though, I didn't realize that there might be variations on
>  this.
> 
> Yah, also notice the two LE auctions at ebay, one current and one over are by
> the same person. Maybe the first person did not pay and they found or added
> some more stuff to the box? Is your box dif from mine? Mine is about 4 inches
> deep.

I'll take pictures of mine so that we can all compare notes.

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Re: [SWCollect] Comments

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> I'll probably have 50-60 duplicates (about 60% of them complete, about 80%
> IBM) ready in a few weeks.  I know this isn't a trading list, but I'll
> give readers of this mailing list dibs.  :)

I would advertise that you have these available and people can email you
individually.
 
> Speaking of Privateer, is there a CD version that comes in a
> standard-sized box?  'cause if there is, I haven't seen one, and would
> like it.  Even the budget box, which is all I've ever seen or heard of, is
> worth $20 or so these days.

I've never seen it.  I consider my two versions ("Classics" CDROM
release with both addons and speech, and original package with floppies)
the only ones produced.  I am not an authority, but I would probably
have seen this (I *did* have the Shadow Master CD version, and it had a
special CD logo on it).

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Re: [SWCollect] Comments

2001-07-27 Thread Jim Leonard

"Stephen S. Lee" wrote:
> 
> Incidentally, how many of you guys played the text adventure game that
> came with the original Privateer?  Another one came with the Righteous
> Fire expansion pack.  The text games themselves are small and nothing
> special; what's amazing is how they were implemented.  (It blew me away,
> anyway.)  These text games also weren't documented anywhere; one of the
> puzzles was finding them and getting them to run.

I laughed my ass off when I figured out what it was and how it was
implemented.  I mean, I was laughing the entire time.  Either someone at
Origin was very clever, or very bored (or both).
 
> > On a totally unrelated note, a "Mockingboard Rev D" fell into my lap
> > last week.  After 18 years, I'll finally know what the music to "Ultima III"
> > sounds like.  Did the C64 version (or any other version) have the music?
> 
> MIDI conversions of the Ultima III music have been out on the Web for a
> long time.  I don't know if the NES version has different music (it almost
> certainly does), but that's also out there too.

A curious example for a future exercise would be a comparison of all of
them.  I know that the Mac (or IIGS?  Can't remember) versions of the
King's Quest 1 music put all other versions to shame, for example.

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Re: [SWCollect] Anyone want me to pick these up?

2001-07-28 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> >If the boxes are in good condition (G or higher), I'd like these to scan for
> >MobyGames.  Just let me know how much, etc.  Paypal okay?
> 
> Didn't you already buy one copy of TD from me a year or so ago?

Whoops!  Yes, I did.  Well, another wouldn't hurt; I could put it on the
MobyGames giveaway.  Anyway, the price is right.
 
> The trick with classic video game collectors has been to heat the
> adhesive up with a hair dryer as you pull it off.  However, I do not
> have extensive experience with this.

I can see this working, but I tried it with trying to remove stickers
from floppy disks and ruined the disks.  Non-originals, of course -- I
was practicing to see if it was viable.  It wasn't ;-)
 
> there's a message titled "Goo Gone -- N!" in my inbox, but I
> haven't read it yet.  I decided to be brave and say this anyway.)

:-D
 
> >>Apple Logo
> >
> >My first serious programming langange!  Hey, don't laugh:  It taught me the
> >basics of procedural programming and modular design.
> 
> Hahmm.   Mm-bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!  Sorry, I tried not to laugh! 8)

Smarmy paints!  :-D

> But feel free to laugh at me.  I never made it beyond AppleSoft until
> I got to college, where the language of the curiculum was Pascal.
> (That was a while ago.)

Pascal + ASM is my weapon of choice nowadays, so I *still* get laughed
at.  Fine, laugh away:  I can write programs that take up 1/100th the
size of most Windows developers *and* are faster.

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[SWCollect] Software Trip

2001-07-29 Thread Jim Leonard

Earlier today, C. E. Forman, Tom Hlavaty, and Manuel Schulz (flown in
from Germany to visit for 2 weeks) went on a mini-trip to known haunts
of old software.  We didn't get to go to many places, and some places
were a bust, but we still had fun and we all found at least a couple of
things worth having.

This is not important news; what is is that I've put up all the pictures
taken today on one of my servers.  You can download and/or view them at:

http://informant.oldskool.org/SoftwareCollecting/Trips/20010729

They're a bit big, so I gave them decent descriptions so that you can
only download the ones you want to see.

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Re: [SWCollect] Software Trip

2001-07-30 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> Well, now Chris has no excuse not to put one of his (and Tom's and
> Manuel's, of course) photos on the YOIS site >:)

..which is a lesson in getting permission -- while I thought it was implied, I
have learned that some people don't want their pictures on the web for various
reasons.  That was my bad; I shouldn't have assumed it was okay.  I may take
some of them down as an apology.  

All three of them are pretty decent-looking guys, so you'd think they'd want
their pix up :-)  Heck, *I'm* the one who's overweight.
 
> BTW, where are _you_ in the photos, Jim? >:) "I was the one that took the
> camera" doesn't work, think of something better.

I was the one holding the camera.  ;-)  Manuel took a picture of me with his
camera, so he'll send that one to me when he gets back to Germany, and I'll put
it up.
 
> That pic of the RPG shelves (07290017.jpg) has left my mouth watering a
> bit. "The Summoning", "Dragons of Flame", "The Two Towers" still sw, and
> for the adventure fans, that "Shadow of the Comet", an adventure I
> personally liked a lot.

Yes, but as I noted before, Software ReRuns' main flaw is the price.  He has
them priced nearly the same price as when they came out.  The average price of
stuff in that store is $18-$24 in all sorts of condition (although I did get
him to knock down two things from $11 to $9 when I pointed out how damaged the
boxes were on stuff I was buying -- not great, but better).  And it really
killed Manuel because the dollar is really strong right now, and a $20 game
really is more like $45 in DM.
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Re: [SWCollect] Software Trip

2001-07-30 Thread Jim Leonard

Jim Leonard wrote:
> 
> > bit. "The Summoning", "Dragons of Flame", "The Two Towers" still sw, and

All software-store sw.  *Not* original shrinkwrap.  Very few are original sw.
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Collecting vs. Nostalgia (was: Re: [SWCollect] Anyone want me to pick these up?)

2001-07-31 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> Question:  Are there really that many software collectors on eBay or
> is it mainly people hit with a wave of nostalgia that decide they want
> to play an old game again?

A mixture of both.  People bidding on unopened items are collectors; most
others are probably not.
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Re: [SWCollect] Anyone want me to pick these up?

2001-07-31 Thread Jim Leonard

Chris Newman wrote:
> 
> :) "I need to write a program that will do a 4 byte patch of a save game file.
> Should I compile a 5K assembly routine that will do the job is 3 picoseconds, or
> should I use Visual C++ with 45 megs of inline compiled DLLs, and requires a Wise
> installation routine, and updates the registry, and permanently damages my
> browser's ability to process secure website documents?"

5K?  You should be shot at dawn.  50 bytes, yes, but not 5000.  :-)
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Re: [SWCollect] Goo-Gone, NOOOOOOOOO!!

2001-07-31 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> The hairdryer is the best to
> get off tape/stickers etc.

I've done this, but been left with some gunky, sticky residue.  How should I
get rid of that?  De-Solv-It?
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Re: [SWCollect] Labels and value (was: Ultimas)

2001-07-31 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> In a message dated 07/28/2001 12:53:11 AM Central Daylight Time,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> 
> << Ah, no you don't!  Just take your disk drive out and modify it to close the
>  circuit on the write-protect mechanism.  I have one drive modified this way
>  specifically for this purpose.  Don't cut a hole in your original disk. >>
> 
> HOW exactly do you do this, can it be done with Apple ][ and C64/128 drives?
> That would be invaluable info :)

It's easy -- you don't even need to be good with electronics.  There is a small
lever on a spring that determines write-protect capability; if it "falls down"
into the notch in a 5.25" disk, it responds to write commands.  Just take the
drive out and open it (opening it always involves screws but could be easy or
hard depending on manufacturer); then put a notched disk in and watch the lever
to see what it does (usually brings two pieces of metal together.  Then take
the lever out and permanently stick the two metal pieces together.  It's not
rocket science :-)  Works on every drive.
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Re: [SWCollect] Labels and value (was: Ultimas)

2001-07-31 Thread Jim Leonard

Dan Chisarick wrote:
> 
> Older drives use a mechanical switch (push-button), newer drives use a
> beam of light.  While I've never done it, I can't imagine it being harder
> than connecting the wires that went to the mechanism to a toggle-switch...

Since the only drives that I use to do this kind of work are 360K drives, every
single one I've seen has been the mechanical switch.

BTW:  Don't ever, *EVER* write to a 360K disk you care about in a 1.2M drive! 
The heads in a 1.2M drive are narrower than the heads in a 360K drive (this is
so the 1.2M drive has space to write 80 tracks instead of 40).  If you do,
you'll be able to read that disk in the 1.2M drive but never again in the 360K
drive.
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Re: [SWCollect] Nice grab on eBay

2001-08-01 Thread Jim Leonard

Hugh Falk wrote:
> 
> I don't normally send out e-mails like this, but I wanted point out that you
> can still find good deals on eBay...when you get lucky once in a while.
> Here's my latest.  The total price was $33 (including shipping).  The Ultima
> II stuff is from the big box version...all in near mint condition.  Map
> looks like it's never been unfolded.


..

Either that, or you're gloating.  ;-)  *Very* nice find, BTW, congrats.

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[SWCollect] Planned network outage

2001-08-01 Thread Jim Leonard

(well, planned for me but unplanned for you ;-)

I am taking two days off from work to both celebrate my 30th birthday --
let the mocking commence -- and also to build out the oldskool network
Mark II.  I am going to migrate a shitload of stuff from all of my
various machines over to the new fileserver that I assembled, bring
ftp.oldskool.org back online, decommission some old boxes, and other
stuff.  Most importantly, I'm going to install a regular backup
procedure with monthly fulls and daily incrementals.  At some point, I
will move www.oldskool.org into my house and transfer all of my DNS and
MX stuff off of berkhirt.com.  

Needless to say, there will be downtime of some things during this
migration.  (*EXCEPT* the mailing lists -- those will continue to work
fine.)

And the fileserver?  Technology is a beautiful thing.  I never thought
I'd own something like this:

[root@vault /root]# df -k
Filesystem   1k-blocks  Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/sda1  1007880815308141376  86% /
/dev/sda5  7408392 32880   7375512   1% /usr/local
/dev/sdb5 67109416 32840  67076576   1% /big
/dev/sdb6108724564 32840 108691724   1% /bigger

No, you are not misplacing a zero; that's about 200 gigabytes of
storage.  Welcome to the wonderful world of 3ware's IDE RAID card and
cheap drives.  Finally the "I" in "RAID" is a reality.

Anyway, if you don't hear from me in a couple of days, this is why. 
Sorry for the lengthy message.  I'll still be here, you can email me and
everything, but I won't have a chance to reply until maybe Monday or
Tuesday of next week.

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Re: [SWCollect] Minor rant

2001-08-07 Thread Jim Leonard

"C.E. Forman" wrote:
> 
> I have an original Softporn disk (On-Line Systems) that doesn't work because
> (1) the imbecile shipper shipped it in a padded envelope which (2) the
> imbecile mail carrier jammed into my tiny apartment mailbox, bending it.
> Fortunately I only paid $3 for it, but still.

See my prior note on repairing damaged floppy disk media.  If you have another
original Softporn that does work and an x-acto knife, you're all set.
 
> The thing I HATE more than anything?  Is when they say they'll ship it in a
> Priority Mail box and then do... except with no packing material whatsoever,
> so the game box gets all jostled around and the corners get dented.  Morons.
> Almost as bad are the ones who simply wrap the game box with brown parcel
> paper, "Oh, I thought you cared about the *game*, not the *box*."  Nimrods.

Or, you can combine the above two into "the seller who doesn't give a shit".  I
recently bought SiN by Activision because I wanted the box to scan, and the
game to play.  The seller only offered two shipping options, with the cheaper
of them *omitting the box* (he opens the package and sends you just the
media).  Nice "handling" cost, eh?  Anyway, I chose the option *with* box, of
course, and it came in a Priority Mail box with some styrofoam peanuts; while
the corners weren't dented, it was pretty badly crushed.  His excuse was "well,
PO isn't always the best shipping option."  He didn't HAVE any other shipping
options!  Geezus.
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Re: [SWCollect] Minor rant

2001-08-07 Thread Jim Leonard

Pedro Quaresma wrote:
> 
> I've also had this other great trade in which the person whom I traded with
> carefully hid one important item in the most incredible place. I was really

Where?  Come on, don't leave us hanging...

> Oh, and by the way: in the local post office, everyone looks at me weirdly
> when I arrive with those big bags on my shoulder, and suddenly ask for a
> cardboard box and start taking small styrofoam peanuts from the bags and
> putting them in the box along with a game. I guess nobody else in the
> neighborhood trades games, heh? ;)

No, they just package their games at home like everybody else ;-)
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Re: [SWCollect] Minor rant

2001-08-07 Thread Jim Leonard

Dan Chisarick wrote:
> 
> into bits instead of peanuts, packing tape *on the original box*, etc.)  But

I can do this one better:  I won an auction for a very hard-to-come-by sound
card (I say "hard to come by" because "rare" implies value and this thing has
little value to anyone) and saw in the picture that it came with box and
instructions.  Great, I thought, this is perfect for my upcoming Sound Card
Museum project -- I'll finally have a box to photograph to put in the museum. 
I told him to pack it carefully because I didn't want it to get damaged.

When I got it, it was mailed not only *in* the *original box* -- no brown
paper, nothing, just a mailing label stuck on the *original box* and dropped in
the mail -- but there was packing tape wrapped 2 layers thick OVER EVERY SQUARE
INCH OF THE BOX.  I took one look at it and literally went "AAH!" loud enough
for Melissa in the other room to ask me what was wrong.

Unlike other stories, though, this one has a happy ending.  I was able to
remove the first layer fairly easily as packing tape comes off of packing tape
without a fight; the next few nights were spent slowly, millimeter by
millimeter, peeling the tape off.  The box was cool and the environment was dry
(not humid), so I felt it was the best way to do it instead of a hair dryer
which, in my experience, has always left a gooey residue behind (and I didn't
know about de-solv-it and similar products).

> was in my shoebox-sized apartment mailbox like a tube of pringles (and of
> course I got a lot of mail today to keep it company).  Jacket is bent, disk
> does not spin freely, but the media seems free of creases... sigh.

Here's another log on the fire of the "restoration" argument:  What if the
*jacket* was okay, but the *media* was physically damaged?  And the jacket were
unique, like a Euro disk with printing directly on the jacket?  I have solved
this problem by carefully cutting away one flap of the 5.25" disk with an
x-acto ("exact-o"?) knife, taking the media out, and replacing it with an exact
copy from a backup disk and sealing it with Krazy Glue.  If done carefully, it
is virtually identical to an unmangled disk.

Both of these topics are good for the FAQ.  :-)  I'll start work on it.
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Re: [SWCollect] Game

2001-08-07 Thread Jim Leonard

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> 
> Hi Jim would you happen to have software for Terminator 2 the arcade game, I
> have a bad disk?

Do you still need this?
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Re: [SWCollect] What game was it?

2001-08-09 Thread Jim Leonard

Hugh Falk wrote:
> 
> Somebody just sent me an e-mail with this question.  I don't know the
> answer, but thought I'd pose it to the group:
> 
> Just a quick game question from the mid-80's.  I remember a multi-user space
> game for DOS, rudimentary graphics but supported two players via model or
> null modem.  The game play consisted of each player controlling a base and a
> few spaceships.  The object was to find the other player's base and destroy
> it.  I believe the game was an early "shareware" game.  Any chance you would
> remember the name?

I already replied to him asking him to clarify if it was character
graphics (text mode) or graphics mode (CGA/EGA/whatever).  However, I
can't say that I actually remember it.

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Re: [SWCollect] What was the first IBM game to have mouse support?

2001-08-10 Thread Jim Leonard

Chris Newman wrote:
> 
> As far as I know the titleholder is Ogre, an Origin release from 1986.
> (See attached screenshot).

Ogre's IBM release was actually in 1987, even though the copyright says
1986.

See http://www.mobygames.com/game/sheet/gameId,4248/ for an earlier
example.  But while this example was over 2 years earlier, it was
neither commercial nor the Microsoft protocol, which of course became
the standard.  So if you're asking "which commercial IBM game was the
first to support Microsoft mice", then the answer is probably Ogre.
 
> Aside from Windows 1.0a, which arrived in November 1985, were there any
> commercial products for the PC line with mouse support? GEM perhaps? I

All tons of paint programs, sure.  You could get a color paint program
to work with the PCjr mouse in 1984.  I remember the Mouse Systems
optical mouse coming with an OEM version of Z-Soft Paint (later to
become PC Paintbrush) in 1985.  Microsoft Word for DOS 1.0 (1984?  1985?
can't remember for sure) was the first commercial application to support
the Microsoft mouse (of course).

> know some folks wrote their own public domain programs which included
> homebrewed mouse drivers, but what about business-land?

My example wasn't commercial, but it definitely didn't use a
"homebrewed" mouse/driver.

What an interesting question.  Why do you ask?  If you're looking for
something specific, I could pick my brain better if I knew what to pick
for.  ;-)

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Re: [SWCollect] What was the first IBM game to have mouse support?

2001-08-12 Thread Jim Leonard

Hugh Falk wrote:
> 
> But if you're going to make comparisons in 1986, the best systems out at the
> time are the Atari ST and the Amiga.  Nothing could touch them in
> 86...actually not until 91, some would argue later for the Amiga.

I agree, although I'd have to extend to the Amiga by a fairly large
margin.  Nothing could touch the Amiga until about 1991.

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Re: [SWCollect] Toolworks trivia

2001-08-12 Thread Jim Leonard

I've added this company trivia to the Software Toolworks entry at
MobyGames; thanks for the info!

"C.E. Forman" wrote:
> 
> Yeah, I have two versions of "Golden Oldies Volume 1" (Adventure, Eliza,
> Life, Pong), one from each company.  Couldn't find a date on the earlier
> Country package, though.
> 
> - Original Message -
> From: Hugh Falk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2001 3:00 PM
> Subject: [SWCollect] Toolworks trivia
> 
> > I just shared this with a group member and thought other might be
> > interested:
> >
> > Here's a bit of trivia I only learned recently.  I picked up the original
> > Atari 8-bit version of Chessmaster 2000, and it was published by "Software
> > Country."  It's the same logo as Software Toolworks with a different name.
> > It seems that Software Country changed their name to Toolworks sometime
> > after the original Chessmaster was published...likely in late 1986, early
> > 1987.

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Re: [SWCollect] Shrink think

2001-08-12 Thread Jim Leonard

(Dan, what email program do you use?  It mangles/rejects the Reply-To:
header, such that I have to rewrite the "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" email
address every time.)

Dan Chisarick wrote:
> 
> I was thinking about what C.E. said regarding holes, and thought the
> same thing Hugh said about a single hole.  Chris, can you elaborate a little
> on a single hole, as I know I've seen them on original wrap.

Chris may have seen others, but from what I've seen, it's a single hole
the diameter of a pencil and is usually *not* distorted (ie it's a
circle, not an oval).
 
> - If there are several holes, are they consistently spaced

Now that's a new one.  I don't think I've seen that ever.  But if
they're uniform in size and spacing, I'd agree it's original wrap.

> - Uniform tension on the wrap.  If its stretched in someplace, its probably
> uneven use of a heat gun

Not so sure about this one; usually uneven stretching *is* the result of
someone who just didn't use the gun long enough.
 
> I remember I bought M1 Tank Platoon when it was originally released.
> Got it home, and the keyboard overlay was all cut up.  I took it back and
> the (@(#*@#) manager just opened a new box, took the overlay and exchanged
> overlays.  Like it would have KILLED him to just give me a new game!  G.
> Why I remember this sorta stuff I have no idea...

You remember it probably for the same reason you collect games ;-)

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Re: [SWCollect] Double posts?

2001-08-12 Thread Jim Leonard

Dan Chisarick wrote:
> 
> Am I the only one getting 2 copies of the same message?  I get one copy
> w/the boilerplate at the bottom, and one without.  Its intermittent, and
> only this list...

See previous message.  I have to re-address stuff to you, so it's me
sending them to you twice (I must have missed some, sorry)

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Re: [SWCollect] What was the first IBM game to have mouse support?

2001-08-12 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> I think double hi-res really came along too late for the Apple IIe/c.
> Companies had moved on to the IIgs/ST/Amiga/PC/Mac.  Or maybe I just
> didn't become aware of it soon enough.

No, I think you're right.  I actually heard of double-hi-res as early as
1983, but nobody was willing to use it back then because not every Apple
had 128K of RAM (if memory serves, was a requirement for double-hi-res.)

Holy crap, I just learned there were TONS of high-res games!  I just
found this nugget at
http://www.cs.ruu.nl/wais/html/na-dir/apple2/faq/part11.html :

Below is a listing of Apple II games which are entirely or mainly in
double-hires.

Air Heart
Aliens
Arthur
Bad Dudes
Batman
Battle Chess
Black Cauldron
California Games
Card Sharks
Columns
Corruption (Text/Dhgr)
Crossbow
Death Sword
Destroyer
Dragon Wars
Empire
Global Commander
Gold Rush
Heavy Barrel
Hunt for Red October
Impossible Mission II
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Ikari Warriors II
Into the Eagle's Nest
Journey
King's Bounty
King's Quest (I, II, III, IV)
Labyrinth
Last Ninja
Legend of Blacksilver
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the lounge Lizards
Los Angeles Crackdown
Manhunter
Maniac Mansion
Might & Magic II
Mixed-up Mother Goose
Neuromancer
Pipe Dream
Platoon
Police Quest
Press your Luck
Qix
Rad Warrior
Rampage
Robocop
Shogun
Space Quest
Space Quest II
Spiderbot
Spy vs Spy III
Star Trek: First Contact
Strategic Conquest
Street Sports Baseball
Street Sports Basketball
Street Sports Football
Street Sports Soccer
Temple of Apshai Trilogy (optional hires or double-hires)
Tetris (Hgr/Dhgr)
The Games : Summer & Winter Edition
Thexder
Transylvania (Dhgr version)
Victory Road
Universe II
World Games
Zork Zero

Wow, shows what we know!  :-)  I'm going to have to try some of these
out now.

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Re: [SWCollect] What was the first IBM game to have mouse support?

2001-08-13 Thread Jim Leonard

Hugh Falk wrote:
> 
> Another bit of trivia related to this
> 
> Airheart was renamed "Typhoon Thompson: Search for the Sea Child" for other
> platforms.  I'm not sure why they renamed it.  I'm most familiar with the ST
> version, which is an EXCELLENT game.

I booted up Airheart for the first time on a real Apple II and HOLY CRAP that
is an awesome programming effort!  Did Dan Gorlin do the graphics himself as
well?  God, I love one-man wonders.  Woz must've grown an extra smile when he
saw what people were pushing his machine to do.

As impressed as I am with the remarkable Apple II version, what did the ST
version add to it?

Side note:  Does anyone have any pointers on getting Apple II graphics
programming info?  I am dying to learn how double-hires was accomplished and
why you needed 128K bankswitching to do it.
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Re: [SWCollect] What was the first IBM game to have mouse support?

2001-08-13 Thread Jim Leonard

Chris Newman wrote:
> 
> That leads to an interesting, but infrequent, phenomenon. Why ARE some games
> renamed when ported to another platform? My guess is they were unpopular on the
> initial platform; a rename might give the game a fresh start.

Many reasons, all of them marketing.  It has nothing to do if the game itself
was popular on its target platform; rather, it has to do with how well the game
sold.  Note that units sold != "popular" (which I am assuming for the sake of
argument is "how much the game was played by people") because we all know that
a game that sold terribly can be one of the most popular thanks to pirating --
Bilestoad, for example.

Many times a euro game is given a name native to the developer's language for
release in that country, and the English translation of it may be known to not
market well in the US, so it's changed by the US publisher.  "Dragon's Breath",
which you mention below, doesn't actually describe the game premise, only the
setting.  This is a known "no-no" in marketing in the US, so the name change to
"Dragon Lord" is completely understandable, since it does describe the game's
premise (you play a controller of dragons, hatching and breeding them to
conquer your rivals' in an effort to take over the kingdom).

It's also harder to please American audiences.  E-Motion was the name for a
"bounce similar balls into each other to eliminate them from the playfield
using a ship controlled ala Asteroids" game that wouldn't appeal to most US
consumers, so the name (and theme) of the game had to be retooled to "The Game
of Harmony".

Some marketing changes are done without any sort of premise that I can put a
finger on.  Battle Sword was marketed in the US as Deathsword for no reason
other than "Deathsword" probably sounded cooler.

It's really quite fascinating, if you think about it.  I almost got into
Marketing and Advertising instead of computers, but when I learned about how
over the the line between psychological profiling and outright manipulation is
crossed, it soured the entire thing for me.
 
> This would make a good list -- game renames. I have an addition: Dragon Lord for
> the PC (dist by CinemaWare in 1990) was released under the name Dragon's Breath on
> the Amiga.

I agree:  Sarinee has already done this with scans of graphical box covers on
the excellent www.theunderdogs.org archive.  The box covers rotate very fast,
though, so it's hard to catch the names exactly (they're thumbnails).
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Re: [SWCollect] What was the first IBM game to have mouse support?

2001-08-13 Thread Jim Leonard

"Lee K. Seitz" wrote:
> 
> >Battle Chess
> 
> Didn't know this made it to the Apple.

..and I can't find it, so I'm wondering where a copy exists...
 
> >Qix
> 
> Qix?  Except for the Qix itself, the arcade game only used about four
> colors.  Why use double hi-res?

Double-hires lines, maybe?  ;-)
 
> >Spy vs Spy III
> 
> I didn't know there was a III.  I bought the first two.

Trivia:  III was the only version released for the IBM PC as Spy vs. Spy: Artic
Adventure, if memory serves.
 
> >Star Trek: First Contact
> 
> They were still making Apple II games then?!?

They (and other publishers) were making Apple II games as late as 1990.
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Re: [SWCollect] Data archiving

2001-08-15 Thread Jim Leonard

Dan Chisarick wrote:
> 
> Much appreciated.  So far I haven't run into anything that I gave up on
> or am stuck on (yet.  Certain Broderbund titles on the Apple perhaps).  For

Ah yes, the infamous "spiral" tracks.  I believe that most of those were
cracked at some point, and I think that CopyII+ 7 and later can copy them, if
you want to avoid going through the hassle of sending them to me.

> the Apple ][ I have the Ultimate crutch (tm): All 93 issues of
> Core/Hardcore/Computist.  And Beneath Apple Dos (and ProDOS).  And a IIgs
> networked to a Mac networked to my Linux box networked to my PC :)

Screw the boxes; you've got all 93 issues of Core/Hardcore/Computist??  That is
awesome.

> The PC stuff I figured out on my own.  I have Soft-Ice, pretty much the
> last word in debugging (IMO).  The only thing I'm wondering about is a small
> pile of auto-booting PC disks (mostly older MicroProse titles, including
> Pirates!)

If you'd like to learn how to crack bootable games, I can put you in contact
with someone who eats them for breakfast.  Soft-Ice is still the tool you use
because it can debug bootables as well (set it to "config.sys driver" mode or
something -- I've never used it since I'm a die-hard debug.com person myself).

> It blows my mind that certain titles (EA's Strike Fleet for instance)
> are hideously protected for the Apple, but you can file copy the PC version!
> Grrr.  Anyway, I'll talk anyone's ear off about getting normal disk images
> out of PC or Apple stuff (ask Pedro).

I'm all ears, if you've got questions.  If I can't answer something, I have
contacts who can.
 
> PS - It'd be interesting to hear how you got started.  I honestly never
> talked to another person who archived stuff.

See the archives for a previous post where I go over the Reader's Digest
version of my sordid past.  Let's just say it involved working with computers
at an early age (11) and being a software pirate.  I would imagine that all
such "data preservationists" are really "reformed software pirates".  How
ironic is it that we spent all that time cracking games, only later in life
make it our mission to find original copies, sometimes at twice the original
retail price?  Irony indeed.
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