tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post3498272317083533609..comments2024-03-28T14:33:17.723-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Game 86: Dungeon of Death (1979)CRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-77116264902096963732021-09-03T15:24:31.801-04:002021-09-03T15:24:31.801-04:00I have played the game and discovered the way to l...I have played the game and discovered the way to level up: you have to exit the dungeon (going up at stairs in level 1) with enough gold+experience to go up a level.<br /><br />You only level up when you exit the dungeon and if you don't get enough gold+experience in one trip, you lose them.<br /><br />Sadly, I don't know the numbers necessary to level up, but I reached level 2 with +1000 and level 3 with +2000.Exploradorrpghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491422055928443184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-63853965676648876642020-01-23T17:04:52.037-05:002020-01-23T17:04:52.037-05:00At least in my neck of the woods, the Commodore PE...At least in my neck of the woods, the Commodore PET was, also, used in elementary and middle schools, but for limited purposes, not usually related to the kids. I had special permission from my math teacher to type in and run BASIC programs for my own "learning experience". I had a book of BASIC computer programs/games (this book, in fact: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BASIC_Computer_Games) that I typed in and played over a four month period before attending a BASIC programming camp the following summer (that was taught on an Apple I) to learn how to do it on my own.<br /><br />The one game that I remember playing the most was http://www.vintage-basic.net/bcg/ftball.bas. solringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06744447737261193350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-91802040624662008752017-08-16T03:19:47.831-04:002017-08-16T03:19:47.831-04:00I don't remember the game that well, but readi...I don't remember the game that well, but reading over my entry, it looks like my problem was that I couldn't level up and, thus, advance to the lower levels. I'm guessing you didn't have that problem.<br /><br />In any event, congratulations on winning this old, obscure game, and thanks for telling us what the endgame was like. It's nice to be able to fully document these things!CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-73955856310927985232017-08-15T20:57:44.409-04:002017-08-15T20:57:44.409-04:00Hi, new reader here. I've recently started a s...Hi, new reader here. I've recently started a similar project (although I'm not blogging about it, so I'm in the less legitimate "retro-game-player" grouping rather than the more legitimate "archeogamer/historian blogger" group). I just wanted to let any interested parties know that I'm pretty sure I got my copy from the same site as you and that it works great on my VICE emulator.<br /><br />The reverse caps sort of confused me too, so I searched around online about the differences between the different PET models and discovered that the UPPER/lower character set was inverted in the original 2001-series PETS, but with the updated ROMs were changed to the opposite. Basically, if your boot-screen says "*** COMMODORE BASIC ***", you have the original ROM, but if it says "### COMMODORE BASIC ###" then you have the updated ROM. All the CBM models emulated in VICE use the updated ROM. And for most programs it's better because the original ROM apparently had a fairly buggy BASIC.<br /><br />Also, I discovered the original tape came with the .PRG file as well as a DND HELP file which had all the levels mapped out and supposedly offered more information than was available in the hard-copy manual.<br /><br />The game was working for me pretty well, and I found it to be fairly fun (as I haven't gotten to any other games in the dnd/Telengard style yet). I admit the game runs fairly slow using the PET, and the little map wasn't very flashy, but it worked well enough.<br /><br />So basically, I took a few days and figured out the ins and outs of playing, and mapped out all 12 levels and stole the Grail from Smaug and made it out alive.<br /><br />Now I did run into Smaug once on floor 12 before I found the Grail, so it took 100 power from my total but he didn't attack me. I tried to hang around after I found it to see if I could beat Smaug but couldn't find him, and I was worried he might kill me before I made it out and I'd have to start all over again (which would suck because I basically beat the game but was tempting fate). So I stole back up to the surface and beat the game.<br /><br />Basically, when you exit it gives you the same screen "Made It Out!"/"Try Again?" but then it switches character sets (which garbles the above text) and prints something like "You found the Hole Grail!" or something. Then it exits the program and you get a READY prompt.<br /><br />Not terribly thrilling, I know, but actually making it back to the surface with the GRAIL was pretty thrilling in itself, as was seeing Smaug and getting 100 power wiped out (I had 250 total at the time).<br /><br />Incidentally, if you fall through a hole down to floor 13, it's completely blank and moving in any direction will put you somewhere on floor 11.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07537590267607414379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-67792698042127892722016-09-30T21:51:25.454-04:002016-09-30T21:51:25.454-04:00Between first gen PET and second gen PET, Commodor...Between first gen PET and second gen PET, Commodore changed the character ROM mapping and switched upper and lower case. When old rom games ran on new rom PETs, the cases were backwards. I was on of those early programmers. Joe S.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-16625717431352200342016-01-28T23:32:57.774-05:002016-01-28T23:32:57.774-05:00That's a good question. A lot of early games s...That's a good question. A lot of early games seem weird with their capitalization, so I just assumed the reversal of the norm was for arcane 1970s geek reasons, but it's possible it was some strange emulator glitch.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-29119307799321460292016-01-24T18:35:17.477-05:002016-01-24T18:35:17.477-05:00Was wondering if it was a bug that in your screen ...Was wondering if it was a bug that in your screen shots most words start lower case and go all caps like this, cHESTER, or if it would normally run the way the picture on the manuel's cover shows, Chester?<br /><br />I know its not a big deal, just seems curious to me.Bakuielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06708554023018591850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-84389689437856520982014-04-01T10:56:46.296-04:002014-04-01T10:56:46.296-04:00You have to download a PET emulator first. I recom...You have to download a PET emulator first. I recommend the VICE emulator, which has separate applications for the PET and C64 (among others). Then you have to get the DOD files, which I can e-mail to you if you send me a message at crpgaddict@gmail.com.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-86591410378993950212014-03-31T18:27:09.173-04:002014-03-31T18:27:09.173-04:00I remember playing this on my PET computer as a ch...I remember playing this on my PET computer as a child. I also remember my dad using some sort of hack to get his character high enough to fight Smaug. After that, I was never able to get very far with the game without it freezing up with some syntax error. It was rather frustrating, since I have often mused at the idea of trying to play it through without cheating, but never being able to find a copy. Is there still a way to play this game on a modern PC? I couldn't find any links in your blog, but would love to be pointed in a direction to try it out, in spite of what you wrote about. hehe Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-14507097901518386462013-03-04T11:45:35.986-05:002013-03-04T11:45:35.986-05:00I'm saving those for the book so people will h...I'm saving those for the book so people will have a reason to by it.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-81254474408445626212013-03-04T11:14:48.640-05:002013-03-04T11:14:48.640-05:00Also, it mentions some CRPGS that you haven't ...Also, it mentions some CRPGS that you haven't hit on yet: Orthank and Avatar. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-66851833769322865402013-03-04T11:12:09.265-05:002013-03-04T11:12:09.265-05:00Hey, for those interested in PLATO, Matt Barton di...Hey, for those interested in PLATO, Matt Barton did a Matt Chat on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k_QQV9sj4ICanageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-32633881306155347922013-02-18T21:13:24.981-05:002013-02-18T21:13:24.981-05:00I loved Spamalot (a play production of the Monty P...I loved Spamalot (a play production of the Monty Python movie) during a college trip to London. It was perfectly silly and the jokes were well delivered... but I am afraid that not breaking out in fits of hysterical laughter over my shrubbery and holy hand-grenade may make you unsalvageable... just kidding, we're cool.Giauzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10546859151525161696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-49407277168913172802013-02-16T23:26:49.650-05:002013-02-16T23:26:49.650-05:00Archon is available for the iPhone. Archon is available for the iPhone. Joe s.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-45719942219971373822013-02-09T02:04:10.425-05:002013-02-09T02:04:10.425-05:00That's too bad that I couldn't get the exp...That's too bad that I couldn't get the experience of the original game. I delved around for another copy, but unfortunately didn't turn up anything. I also tried it with different emulated verisons of the PET, but unfortunately it didn't play any differently.<br /><br />If you check back, do tell us what happened when the player recovered the Holy Grail.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-30481757272101486022013-02-08T18:00:50.322-05:002013-02-08T18:00:50.322-05:00Personally one of the things I enjoy about Monty P...Personally one of the things I enjoy about Monty Python and the Holy Grail is the fun it has with the traditional romance material. Terry Jones knows his stuff pretty well in this area - see his book on Chaucer's Knight, for instance - and the film contains a lot of sly references to Chretien, von Eschenbach and the other sources for the Arthurian romance tradition. I know I'm not going to convince you to like it, though!Tomsknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-69375108053894666812013-02-08T13:08:08.232-05:002013-02-08T13:08:08.232-05:00No problem, some day i will find one that i can bu...No problem, some day i will find one that i can buy.<br /><br />This is Howard Feldman website, he is a great collector and his website is a invaluable source of information for any RPG and adventure collector.<br /><br />I think i even bought a few item from him.Thoriumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-11293137196096613262013-02-08T11:52:02.649-05:002013-02-08T11:52:02.649-05:00No worries, it's tough to get the time when yo...No worries, it's tough to get the time when you're busy :-)<br /><br />I suspect that it should run on any CP/M system that MBASIC can run on, and that should run on them all if it uses CP/M calls rather than relying on any specific system hardware, which seems unlikely for this game.sykobeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-35635672299902983402013-02-08T11:23:34.820-05:002013-02-08T11:23:34.820-05:00The experience thing is definitely a bug too, whic...The experience thing is definitely a bug too, which may be related to the randomization seed issue.Gordon Waltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560758745386069358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-72632046123083022322013-02-08T11:21:33.504-05:002013-02-08T11:21:33.504-05:00No I don't sorry! Don't even have one! I...No I don't sorry! Don't even have one! I did find this online btw: http://www.mocagh.org/firstera/dungeonofdeath.pdf Gordon Waltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560758745386069358noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-48370553116175215602013-02-08T09:55:15.482-05:002013-02-08T09:55:15.482-05:00A good solution to limit your exposure to malware,...A good solution to limit your exposure to malware, that anyone with ads on their website will hate, is to install an ad-blocker, since a large portion of malware on the Internet is disguised in the form of ads.Giuseppenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-74332901296712586222013-02-08T09:45:33.599-05:002013-02-08T09:45:33.599-05:00@Gordon Walton:
Do you still have some original co...@Gordon Walton:<br />Do you still have some original copies of the game? Ans if yes, you are willing to sell one to me?<br /><br />I am a early CRPG collector and this is one of the few i am still missing in my collection.<br /><br />Even if the tape is not functional any more, i would still buy it. Finding this early CRPG from 1978 to 1982 is extremly hard, so you would make me very happy. :-)Thoriumnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-17290401925692615782013-02-08T09:08:03.976-05:002013-02-08T09:08:03.976-05:00It was meant to be a joke related to a comment by ...It was meant to be a joke related to a comment by Andy_Panthro, who suggested you'll encounter plenty of Monty Python references in the future. Nothing more. I understand you hate Monty Python and the Holy Grail, but you came across as being pedantic, though I don't think that was your intention.<br /><br />Regardless of that, considering this game was made just a few years after the successful Monty Python film, I don't think it's a stretch to assume the idea of an outrageous quest for the Holy Grail came from or was included because of that film.Giuseppenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-67942805013602259172013-02-08T02:34:14.220-05:002013-02-08T02:34:14.220-05:00The Commodore PET was made primarily to be a busin...The Commodore PET was made primarily to be a business machine, and was a very early system, perhaps predating even the Apple I (I've seen places claim either one was first). It's BASIC is almost certainly made by Microsoft.<br /><br />Checking into a PET BASIC manual I found on Google, RND(0) seeds the pseudorandom number generator based on a system clock, but that function isn't available on the earliest, 8K PET. Even if it was, it should be remembered that most computers at the time didn't have a battery-backed clock function, and so the seed of the random number generator is more the time since the machine was turned on, and not based on real-world date and time.<br /><br />If you're starting the game from an autostart function (like autoloading and running the game), then it's likely that the internal clock's state isn't varied enough between plays to give you different event sequences. Can you load the game and then manually enter a RUN command to start it?Rodneyliveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476187929555342435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-44500172294347163532013-02-08T02:25:58.916-05:002013-02-08T02:25:58.916-05:00Well I'd say that's going too far, Monty P...Well I'd say that's going too far, Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a hilarious and well-made response to King Arthur legends.Rodneyliveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03476187929555342435noreply@blogger.com