tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post9070671922304810056..comments2024-03-28T13:31:55.554-04:00Comments on The CRPG Addict: Game 184: Wraith: The Devil's Demise (1990)CRPG Addicthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-29540240722704462742016-05-25T16:49:05.298-04:002016-05-25T16:49:05.298-04:00Also Peter I don't know if you noticed but tha...Also Peter I don't know if you noticed but that review was written by Jeff Hurlburt (author of Super Quest).It isn't mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797625314655594068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-19478586599855209502016-05-25T16:16:41.335-04:002016-05-25T16:16:41.335-04:00So I took a quick look at both images. Pulling a...So I took a quick look at both images. Pulling a few of the game code files and comparing them shows no differences between the 8-bit friendly version and the IIgs version. What isn't the same and what is causing the problem. Is that there's a boot screen on the IIgs version which uses the Super-Hi-Res mode. Oddly it's NOT a pirate screen but a brag screen from "Antic" who was part of the French IIgs demoscene. Since the II+/IIe/IIc can't display SHR the program bombs.<br /><br />It's clear from the screen shots you posted that this is a game that was really designed for the II not the IIgs. The purple/orange/blue colour palette are the tells of the standard Apple II Hi-Res mode. So evidence strongly suggests that you missed nothing by not running this on the IIgs.It isn't mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07797625314655594068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-17638710077300762232016-05-18T21:57:31.580-04:002016-05-18T21:57:31.580-04:00That works better when you write in a area that wo...That works better when you write in a area that word recognizes. I have to carefully train my spellcheck. Also: Make sure you don't mistrain it. I once added "keytone" (instead of ketone) to it's dictionary by mistake and didn't notice for a full semester.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-19643293540547478262016-05-07T21:13:03.293-04:002016-05-07T21:13:03.293-04:00I get access denied errors when I try and look at ...I get access denied errors when I try and look at them. <br /><br />Today most printers use Postscript or PCL I think, which are both well documented. That is a crazily impressive task though, well done.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-84115147931496928602016-05-07T21:11:22.242-04:002016-05-07T21:11:22.242-04:00This is why I always make my guesses horrendously ...This is why I always make my guesses horrendously absurd, so I don't hit it by accident. I'm still going with Chet being batman.Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-70837806719453504962016-05-07T20:20:17.318-04:002016-05-07T20:20:17.318-04:00I'd like to see more games where the game star...I'd like to see more games where the game starts with the evil lord having won, like in say, Ogre Battle or Final Fantasy VII (At least as far as I've gotten). Taking extra time isn't a bad thing: The bad guy is already at the peak of their power, taking a few days to go racing giant birds and boost your moral isn't a terrible thing. <br /><br />Rather then Mass Effect that 90% of the time encourages you to ignore the race against time and boost the loyalty of EVERY one of your crew members, except ONE TIME in Mass Effect 2 when it is suddenly urgent, but they've taught you to always be prepared. Canageekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03770924810559440307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-88324162325076302282016-02-16T14:49:10.221-05:002016-02-16T14:49:10.221-05:00The maps links to russ's page aren't showi...The maps links to russ's page aren't showing. Is the page gone?Keighnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729875531199535433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-53755535835420015292015-04-24T21:15:27.427-04:002015-04-24T21:15:27.427-04:00Great. More power to you. It's still not a fri...Great. More power to you. It's still not a frigging <i>philosophy</i> or something.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-76538862580909996142015-04-20T11:37:10.424-04:002015-04-20T11:37:10.424-04:00My comment was meant to be more tongue-in-cheek th...My comment was meant to be more tongue-in-cheek than I think you took it. I really need to learn how to effectively use emoticons.<br /><br />Nonetheless, while I completely understand the style of play, I still don't see the need to create an "ism" out of it.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-23452751071599165062015-04-20T10:07:51.692-04:002015-04-20T10:07:51.692-04:00I have two responses to this thread.
Firstly, som...I have two responses to this thread.<br /><br />Firstly, some games are built around this model of playing. In Pool of Radiance for example, I'm offered a set of quests or tasks to take part in, and by golly I'm not going skip out on them. I'm going to do all the stuff the game is offering for me to do, even if I am going to do it in the order of my choosing. It's a fun experience to sample all the stuff. Yes, I'm not thinking "in character", but a game like this hardly gives you a character to think in the context of. <br /><br />In a game like Choice of the Petal Throne or King of Dragon pass, there's a lot of chance to start getting in tune with the story you're taking part in. You can sort of role play in a weak sense, or at least have a sense of immersion. But in older CRPGs, it's an experience of character development and exploration with little role play possible.<br /><br />Secondly, I hardly see it as a flaw to be self-aware enough as a person or player to know what interests you in games. "Do all the things" is a very common drive, and admonishments to be quiet about it are kind of weird. <br /><br />There are game experiences which focus more in other areas, and choosing to play a game in a way that minimizes what you can take away from the experience can be silly, but many games can be played several ways all equally satisfying.jrodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06567198770927408479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-72826711961187325732015-04-16T20:48:37.210-04:002015-04-16T20:48:37.210-04:00There's a legitimate term for that? I always t...There's a legitimate term for that? I always thought most anthropologist do that to avoid causing the Hawthorne Effect.Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-22527699560804511232015-04-13T16:41:13.200-04:002015-04-13T16:41:13.200-04:00It seems grossly irresponsible for the administrat...It seems grossly irresponsible for the administration of the Temple to appoint someone as Protector who clearly has some kind of degenerative bone disease. I'm sure it's usually a political appointment, but when a Wraith comes around and spreads corruption, as is their wont, the Temple needs to be prepared.<br /><br />Or maybe I'm misinterpreting the title screen, and the healthy looking fellow in the corner is the Protector?Iffy Bonzooliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07519858732154180575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-55380781753736365832015-04-13T12:02:08.199-04:002015-04-13T12:02:08.199-04:00I dislike the term more than the activity. I work ...I dislike the term more than the activity. I work hard to adhere to my rules and err more towards role-playing than visiting every corner of the game and finding every potentially-advantageous item. It thus annoys me that a lot of players pin "completionist" to themselves as if it's some kind of badge of honor instead of a thin excuse to justify playing like a jackass. Yes, I occasionally engage in playing styles that the term would cover, but I don't walk around TELLING people about it. It's embarrassing.<br /><br />Look, if you use a pair of binoculars to peep through the window of your next-door neighbors, I understand why you do it, but don't announce "I'm a Covert Anthropologist" as if it's something to be proud of. Do that stuff if you must, but keep it to yourself.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-64143679347499664882015-04-13T03:12:26.410-04:002015-04-13T03:12:26.410-04:00It's the difference between role-playing (atte...It's the difference between role-playing (attempting to react to the game's narrative as your character would) and metagaming (playing directed by the knowledge that you're playing a video game).<br /><br />Everyone does a mix of the two, but not everyone is on the same point of the continuum.<br /><br />I often don't mind if I drag my feet in moving along the main quest arc, but I tend not to steal, kill non-hostiles, or act like a jerk unless it makes sense within the context its occurring.<br /><br />The bit that causes me the most agonising involves exploiting the game's mechanics. eg I really don't like dying in games, and the safest way to take out certain enemy stacks in BG2 (and other games) involves throwing a cloudkill like spell, legging it, then resting to re-memorise cloudkill. On a narrative level, it's much more satisfying to win a fight in a single sequence in which the AI executes as the devs intended. Unfortunately when that happens I sometimes die :)Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-65160346934634392942015-04-12T20:10:25.113-04:002015-04-12T20:10:25.113-04:00And that the original price of Maniac Mansion cost...And that the original price of Maniac Mansion costs easily twice that amount back in the pre-inflated year of 1987 (meaning that it would cost more than $100 in today's dollars).<br /><br />Amnesty at 1/4 the original price of the game AND get a new game as well? SOLD!Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-71811740374041724122015-04-12T20:03:48.348-04:002015-04-12T20:03:48.348-04:00Instead of "completionist", wouldn't...Instead of "completionist", wouldn't it be better to say that we're roleplaying as very conscientious characters who want to be fully prepared for the final battle?<br /><br />For one thing, completing a side-quest always nets you a reward. How would you know if that reward wasn't a Sword Of Killing The Final Boss Who Can Only Be Killed With Said Sword? Even though the last thousand side-quests didn't, how would you know this one wouldn't?Kenny McCormickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01553499727945099493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-39293660166914149162015-04-12T17:50:12.552-04:002015-04-12T17:50:12.552-04:00I played Wraith as a teenager on my Apple IIgs (st...I played Wraith as a teenager on my Apple IIgs (still my favorite computer). In the spirit of the times, I figured out the map file format. The user manual of my dot matrix printer included a full description of the printer protocol (try finding something like that today) so I generated a complete set of printed maps. Several years ago, I came across it again, and updated the code to generate image files. I still have them if anyone is interested:<br /><br />http://www.russross.com/WraithRuss Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14544587799332155584noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-1400028714747689972015-04-12T15:22:25.143-04:002015-04-12T15:22:25.143-04:00Your question didn't cross the line, but some ...Your question didn't cross the line, but some of the answers were getting a little too close to home. I probably shouldn't allude to my work if I don't want people to speculate, but I'd rather not turn my job into an enigma that a string of commenters feel like they need to solve.<br /><br />I work in the public sector. My work occasionally involves GIS (mapping), and I also have a couple of jobs teaching adjunct classes at universities that have programs in my field. Let's leave it at that.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-54135139606828553972015-04-12T08:32:18.775-04:002015-04-12T08:32:18.775-04:00From the screenshots (the map, the letters next to...From the screenshots (the map, the letters next to the map, and the green/magenta limbs of the characters), I'd guess that this is a game that is supposed to use something similar to CGA composite mode, which only works correctly on NTSC monitors/TVs and results in weirdly coloured/aliased screenshots when emulated.<br /><br />From reading Wikipedia the all the Apple II color modes seem to rely completely on NTSC color compositing, whereas the IIGS also has real color modes(?)Flashnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-26797137211491530002015-04-12T07:26:00.891-04:002015-04-12T07:26:00.891-04:00Yo Chester,I wasn't certain that my question a...Yo Chester,I wasn't certain that my question appeared to have crossed a line, so I thought it might be worth apologising. <br /><br />On the topic of the game itself, though, does the aliasing/colouring around the letters bother anyone else? "Well of Souls" is almost impossible to read properly for me and it's kind of painful on the eyes. The words on the interface and the dungeon look fine, though, strangely. The Questioner anonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-19820646883326108282015-04-12T02:54:37.864-04:002015-04-12T02:54:37.864-04:00Intriguing. Do you mean that you decide whether or...Intriguing. Do you mean that you decide whether or not to complete a side quest based on the amount of urgency the main quest instills in you?<br /><br />Using BG2 as an example, do you chase down Imoen after finishing one of the six or so major deviations (at which point you can comfortably give up 10k) or do you clear all the maps and arrive at Spellhold with a party of 6 minor gods?Tristan Gallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16769219573533545742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-59586092665157930812015-04-11T18:35:34.786-04:002015-04-11T18:35:34.786-04:00For what it's worth, this hints file lists the...For what it's worth, this hints file lists the system requirements as "64K IIe/c/gs 3.5" drive required". http://mirrors.apple2.org.za/apple.cabi.net/Games/Wraith/Wraith.review.hints.etc_txt<br /><br />But the common version online has an Apple IIgs intro added by some warez group. It has nothing to do with the game itself.<br /><br />The review mentioned in that file was published in Computist 87: https://archive.org/stream/computist-scan-87/issue87#page/n3/mode/1up<br />It doesn't say anything new about the game, but I was surprised that the author used the phrase "typical of games by John Carmack". It seems his name was known even back then :)Peternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-69538005978052714732015-04-11T16:43:23.488-04:002015-04-11T16:43:23.488-04:00One of these days, I'm going to alienate my re...One of these days, I'm going to alienate my readers with a long rant about how much I hate the term "completionist," which, to me, says "I don't really understand the 'R' part of 'RPG.'"<br /><br />There is a section of <i>Dragon Age: Inquisition</i> in which to get the best PLOT outcome, you can't finish some run-around-and-fetch-a-bunch-of-nonsense quest. I'm sure that the developers put it in there to separate the wheat (true role-players) from the chaff (so-called "completionists"). CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-53215280932751062532015-04-11T16:35:19.814-04:002015-04-11T16:35:19.814-04:00The few IIGS emulators I've been able to find ...The few IIGS emulators I've been able to find are horribly confusing. If a helpful Belgian commenter hadn't linked me to an "8-bit friendly" version of the game, I probably wouldn't have been able to play it.CRPG Addicthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01238237377918550322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6162314467762792782.post-33506650577611488382015-04-11T16:24:25.069-04:002015-04-11T16:24:25.069-04:00Ah, was that because it was the only version you c...Ah, was that because it was the only version you could find or because you have no way of playing IIGS games? (just curious)<br /><br />You're right about info on the game being scant. Googling the game turns up your page as the fist hit now.jeffnoreply@blogger.com