tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post2290845363748276501..comments2024-03-28T15:25:30.216-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Closing the Books on CrystalwareCRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-14211438890802057262022-09-06T11:38:14.742-04:002022-09-06T11:38:14.742-04:00Thank you. Even though I requested notification to...Thank you. Even though I requested notification to replies on this post, I never got them and just now saw them (due to one of my random searches on "Crystalware"). Let's hope that John's legacy, such as it is, soars to new and better hights through his progeny.Seby Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798793997640507433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-89974577381291507542022-09-03T13:00:09.828-04:002022-09-03T13:00:09.828-04:00To complement Chet's coverage, there are also ...To complement Chet's coverage, there are also playthroughs / reviews / blog entries on several of the Crystalware games on retrogamestrove. So far 'professor6153' (who also links to this blog and others linked here, so I assume (s)he is a reader) has covered 'Forgotten Island', 'Quest for Power', 'Fantasyland 2041' and 'Crypt of the Undead', all links can be found here: https://www.retrogamestrove.com/game-160-crypt-of-the-undead/.Buscanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-17909281224036258222022-09-03T12:43:34.757-04:002022-09-03T12:43:34.757-04:00You can find contemporary 'reviews' (most ...You can find contemporary 'reviews' (most written by Brian Dunn, then 12 year old son of editor Mike Dunn) of many games mentioned in this entry and other bits of information about the context in the 1981-1982 issues of the newsletters of ACE (Atari Computer Enthusiasts) of Eugene, Oregon, all in one document here:<br />https://archive.org/details/AtariComputerEnthusiastsNewslettersVolume1/mode/1up?view=theater<br />e.g. searching for "Crystal", "Bell" or "Marc" (Benioff) or names of games.<br /><br />The reviews for 'The Sands of Mars' and 'Fantasyland 2041' were written by Benioff (before and probably as a step towards his own games starting to get sold through Crystalware).Buscanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-34359914382738375992022-07-21T18:54:41.176-04:002022-07-21T18:54:41.176-04:00You did well not playing The Sands of Mars, it'...You did well not playing The Sands of Mars, it's not an rpg at all (you don't even have attributes), but when I confirmed that, the most annoying part of the game was done, so I finished it and solved the mystery:<br /><br />https://exploradorrpg.wordpress.com/juegos/the-sands-of-mars/<br /><br />The game combines Galactic Quest with Beneath the Pyramids, and it's much more exploration oriented than combat oriented (the combat is trivial anyway). And paddle or joystick emulation is a real pain, but I think it can be done just by tweaking the x-trim and y-trim settings even with keyboard and mouse only.Exploradorrpghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491422055928443184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-25171974803153946332022-01-12T11:06:52.230-05:002022-01-12T11:06:52.230-05:00There's no place like the Fertile Crescent/Whe...There's no place like the Fertile Crescent/When you're learning how to grow your own food/Gonna write a lengthy epic/Starring Gilgamesh and Enkidu...100FloorsOfFrightshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07625564667909827929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-6695705734495369172021-09-13T12:48:05.192-04:002021-09-13T12:48:05.192-04:00Seby, thank you so much for posting this comment a...Seby, thank you so much for posting this comment and telling us a bit more about John. I'm glad that the accounts I was able to piece together from less direct sources still painted an accurate picture. I read a bit of your blog and I extend the same sympathies that Tristan did for your experience. CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-87762402642494062302021-09-12T21:31:01.874-04:002021-09-12T21:31:01.874-04:00@JarlFrankApril
"Or sometimes they genuinely ...@JarlFrankApril<br />"Or sometimes they genuinely believe they're the first, but someone else did the exact same thing 10 years ago and everyone forgot."<br />I had a brilliant, original idea that solved a major problem in alternate energy (just ask me, I'll tell you how brilliant it was), but when I did a patent search, it turned out that Edison had patented my idea in the late 1800s. Well, That's That, I thought. But then, several years later, another company was issued a patent on it! Go figure!Rangeroushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05384980667033682190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-57156360710636785802021-09-10T14:38:02.038-04:002021-09-10T14:38:02.038-04:00Thanks for sharing this information Seby, but more...Thanks for sharing this information Seby, but more than that, I’m sorry for what you went through.Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-86499218066393207102021-09-10T13:45:55.335-04:002021-09-10T13:45:55.335-04:00I'm John Bell's most recent ex wife. The s...I'm John Bell's most recent ex wife. The summary here seemed pretty accurate based on the knowledge I have of those years. Lived with John for over a decade and was married to him for most those years. We have a son together (who I will not name here - he's still a minor).<br /><br />It was interesting to find this piece. I do search on this stuff every so often. I probably still have some historic pieces, including a newspaper article from back in the day. I will say that John was both brilliant in his own way, and mentally ill. He was very abusive, delusional and a classic NPD with delusions of grandeur, but yes he did work at Lockheed Martin when he was a teenager (he had a summer job as a filing clerk). He was also a very accomplished musician with an ability to randomly sit down and create a full musical piece on the fly, lyrics and all, which never ceased to amaze me. He was also a decent writer, which is probably where most of the game ideas came from.<br /><br />If you wonder why I speak of him in the past tense, he died last October (2020) so probably not long after this was written. Frankly, I'm glad to be rid of him (we divorced in 2010) but it's also fair to remember his many albeit bizarre accomplishments.Seby Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00798793997640507433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-74128316422934528032020-04-25T12:36:40.773-04:002020-04-25T12:36:40.773-04:00Good grief. Pointless arguments like the above hav...Good grief. Pointless arguments like the above have ruined almost every corner of the Internet. It's great to see them on crpg addict as well..King Tutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-82022266369545036282020-04-19T15:05:40.989-04:002020-04-19T15:05:40.989-04:00Are you guys starting a fight about starting fight...Are you guys starting a fight about starting fights?<br /><br />That’s SO meta!Halligan39https://www.blogger.com/profile/06660360026558547112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-63965543975658992242020-04-16T13:53:02.865-04:002020-04-16T13:53:02.865-04:00@Mesron's Lackey: Isn't that the setting f...@Mesron's Lackey: Isn't that the setting for Infinite Jest?Zenic Reveriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16441583549326102945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-24245672947535792222020-04-14T01:03:32.929-04:002020-04-14T01:03:32.929-04:00"Nowadays I won't spend more than $40 and..."Nowadays I won't spend more than $40 and that's if the game is a known quality. Why spend more? That $60 game will probably be at least 33% off next month and 50% at Steam's next seasonal sale event."<br /><br />I, too, love to find a good deal on old games. It almost always works out if you're patient enough. But I can remember a moment, probably around 2000, when I looked at the Warcraft I and II battle chest for $20, and thought to myself, "Ah, that'll be cheaper in a year or two."<br /><br />Boy, I could not have been more wrong about that particular game. Having set my price point, I refused to buy it until I found it for less ... about four months ago. Blizzard knows they've got the world in a firm grasp, and won't undersell themselves.<br /><br />But usually, yes, great deals come to those who wait. Even big ones like Skyrim or Dragon Age will hit $5 if you wait long enough.Quirkzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16409671254311123117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-89753750099548460422020-04-13T21:09:44.846-04:002020-04-13T21:09:44.846-04:00Mesron's Lackey? Guess you haven't heard.
...Mesron's Lackey? Guess you haven't heard.<br /><br />We're Chet's lackeys. His flaming lackeys in fact. Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-45506926105291061982020-04-13T13:45:01.905-04:002020-04-13T13:45:01.905-04:00Imagine a dystopian future where the entertainment...Imagine a dystopian future where the entertainment industry creates entertainment that people love. Oh, the humanity! <br />Harland, no offense, actually much offense, uber much offense but you are easily the most annoying commenter I have ever come across in any comment section ever. You constantly tell us what other people’s motivations are. Why people like and dislike things when you should stick to your own motivations and reasons for liking or disliking things. Maybe I’m way off base and the masses love your comments. My taste in comments is just more refined I guess.Mesron's Lackeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16388277228822857633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49407989426502237332020-04-13T11:12:42.226-04:002020-04-13T11:12:42.226-04:00The digital antiquarian had a nice duo of articles...The digital antiquarian had a nice duo of articles about these kinds of things:<br />https://www.filfre.net/2016/05/kit-williamss-golden-hare-part-1-the-contest/<br />https://www.filfre.net/2016/05/kit-williamss-golden-hare-part-2-the-aftermath/Mayhaymnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-24669273583981753612020-04-13T11:04:12.395-04:002020-04-13T11:04:12.395-04:00As much as I'd like to see that considering it...As much as I'd like to see that considering it's one of my favorite games in general, the Addict already said that Zelda 1 didn't fall under the rules and was basically a one off. As is, if Zelda 1 isn't an RPG, none of the others besides Zelda 2 would count as one for the blog. Besides, if he ever made another exception for a Zelda game, I'd rather it be Breath of the Wild as that's the one that feels the most like an RPGTwibathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11872080022551062309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-24172836411597710342020-04-12T17:57:12.921-04:002020-04-12T17:57:12.921-04:00Most top-quality PC games were about $50 back in t...Most top-quality PC games were about $50 back in the early 80s. Yeah, that's like $150 today. 1st rate new PC games have remained at about that level for 40 years despite inflation. Your gaming dollar goes a LOT further than it used to 40 years ago. Dungyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12199751859534712567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49313197151160752042020-04-12T17:49:35.260-04:002020-04-12T17:49:35.260-04:00Yes, always defend the trolls. No one has a right ...Yes, always defend the trolls. No one has a right to get upset when people attack them or post stupid crap. They just need to put up with everything anyone else does. LOL!Judd9noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-65754033334018623262020-04-12T15:59:05.348-04:002020-04-12T15:59:05.348-04:00I'm fascinated by these computer games with de...I'm fascinated by these computer games with deeper mysteries that lead to real life prizes. It seems there were a lot of them back in the day; I'd really like to see a breakdown of how exactly you were meant to solve them, and who ended up winning.Showsninoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-39869398465107646192020-04-12T13:08:50.402-04:002020-04-12T13:08:50.402-04:00Gnoman, I think you need to get off your high hors...Gnoman, I think you need to get off your high horse, re-read Harland's originl post and calm down. Talk about getting way too upset. The way you're ranting, one would think you'd personally been attacked by him.Red_Cardinalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12119321537913665046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-35246933015289389462020-04-12T07:16:34.040-04:002020-04-12T07:16:34.040-04:00I remember games in Germany in the early 90s costi...I remember games in Germany in the early 90s costing 70-80 German Marks. When the Euro was introduced, it became 50-60 euros, which AAA titles are still at.<br /><br />Back in the 90s and 00s I used to pirate, cause that's what all the kids did (sharing floppies and CDs with each other and making copies, then in the late 00s torrenting). Nowadays I buy my games, but usually wait for sales. The last games I bought at release were Disco Elysium and Mount and Blade 2, and those had indie game prices of 40 instead of 60 bucks at release. Haven't felt the desire to buy an AAA title on release in over a decade. JarlFrankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08139422412722665286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-29523396049277751872020-04-11T20:35:22.007-04:002020-04-11T20:35:22.007-04:00Hell, Galactic Expedition's price tag of $149....Hell, Galactic Expedition's price tag of $149.95, plus S&H I assume, is the equivalent of dropping $470 in 2020.<br /><br />I won't even spend $60 on games <i>today</i>, but I'm spoiled by the constant stream of sales spewing out of Steam and GoG's storefronts.<br /><br />From what I remember "AAA" games were always $55 - $60, at least where I've lived. I had a $59.95 receipt for <i>World of Xeen</i> and another $54.95 for <i>Lords of the Realm</i> and <i>Master of Magic</i>. <br /><br />Nowadays I won't spend more than $40 and that's if the game is a known quality. Why spend more? That $60 game will probably be at least 33% off next month and 50% at Steam's next seasonal sale event.Raifieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08478524519453417677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-54399496332037477242020-04-11T20:29:22.393-04:002020-04-11T20:29:22.393-04:00Even as a kid I felt that the Imperials were the &...Even as a kid I felt that the Imperials were the "good guys" or at least victims of a story not fully told. I doubt I was a fascist at the age of 8, so it's a curious thing as to how my mind got there.Raifieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08478524519453417677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-90516190211342951462020-04-11T17:10:43.369-04:002020-04-11T17:10:43.369-04:00Nobody was bashing science. Just bashing your atte...Nobody was bashing science. Just bashing your attempt to use dubious science to justify your holier-than-thou "I am the God-Emperor of entertainment and there must be something wrong with anyone who does not agree with my objectively correct opinion" attitude. Gnomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920812227941556716noreply@blogger.com