Home of Retro PC Gaming
Currently hosting 10 Arcanum Computing games!
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Home of Retro PC Gaming
Currently hosting 10 Arcanum Computing games! |
| Cipher 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | Compatibility guide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cipher is a cryptogram game. A quotation is encrypted by switching all instances of each letter to another letter. These look hard, but I have learned to really enjoy them. The most frequent letter in any phrase is often the letter E, and single letter words must be A or I. Two letter words often end with T, and by looking for three letter words that start with the same letter that could be "the", and four letter words that begin and end with the same letter that could be "that", you slowly fill the other words with letters until you can guess what the words might be. Cipher fills in every instance of a letter when you guess what it is, can show you every other instance of that letter in the phrase, and can offer hints like giving a list of letter frequency, remove your incorrect guesses, or tell you the correct answer for whatever letter you want to know. Scoring is based on things like completion time and incorrect guesses. There are 200 quotes in this game, with only the first 32 playable in the shareware version. DownloadsComplete version history:
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $15 on floppy disk.
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| Cipher for Windows 1991 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Puzzle | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Screenshot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Cipher for Windows is a cryptogram game. A quotation is encrypted by switching all instances of each letter to another letter. These look hard, but I have learned to really enjoy them. The most frequent letter in any phrase is often the letter E, and single letter words must be A or I. Two letter words often end with T, and by looking for three letter words that start with the same letter that could be "the", and four letter words that begin and end with the same letter that could be "that", you slowly fill the other words with letters until you can guess what the words might be. Cipher fills in every instance of a letter when you guess what it is, can show you every other instance of that letter in the phrase, and can offer hints like giving a list of letter frequency, remove your incorrect guesses, or tell you the correct answer for whatever letter you want to know. Scoring is based on things like completion time and incorrect guesses. There are 200 quotes in this game, with only the first 32 playable in the shareware version. DownloadsComplete version history:
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $15 on floppy disk.
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| Dragons Bane: Mah Jongg II 1995 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Traditional | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | Compatibility guide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 640×480×16c SVGA 640×480×256c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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An enhanced version of Arcanum's original Mahjong solitaire game. The game calls itself as "Dragons Bane" everywhere except for one instance of "Dragon's Bane" on the title screen. Mah Jongg II upgrades Mah Jongg's EGA graphics to VGA and SVGA, and adds animation and sound effects when pairs of tiles are removed. You can also choose from a number of backgrounds, board layouts and tile sets. The bells and whistles can be turned off if you prefer a more meditative experience. The game also tells you when you run out of moves by default and includes a timer. The registered version includes additional tile sets and layouts. Downloads
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $16 on floppy disk only
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| EGA Trek 1988 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Simulation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | Compatibility guide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A PC adaptation of one of the first computer games ever written. I first played a game like this on a Kaypro 4 running CP/M. The concept is simple, but enjoyable. You command a starship in a galaxy divided into 8×8 quadrants which are divided into 8×8 sectors. Use warp drive to move between quadrants and impulse engines to move within them. EGA Trek takes advantage of EGA graphics to display most of the important statistics and maps without having to request them a command at a time. The enemies are called Mongols and you command the U.S.S. Lexington, a Union starship. Attack with lasers and torpedoes, defend with shields, map the galaxy with scanners, and repair and reload at starbases. An unusual feature is that there are also planets, some of which have energium which you can use to power the ship in an emergency, as long as shuttle craft or transporters are working. 5 difficulty levels ensure a good challenge for newcomers and veterans. DownloadsComplete version history:
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $15 on floppy disk.
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| Mah Jongg 1987 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Traditional | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A decent version of Mahjong solitaire. The EGA graphics and gameplay aren't quite as nice as Mah Jongg -V-G-A-. The option to have the game report when you're out of moves isn't on by default, but it should be. Nothing is more frustrating than looking for a move that isn't there. The timer is also off by default. Keeping track of the passage of time is important during addictive games. Make sure you go into the settings before beginning play. The full version allows game settings to be saved permanently, and includes additional tile sets and layouts. DownloadsComplete version history:
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $15 on floppy disk.
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| Second Guess 1994 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (full version) | Traditional | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 640×480×16c SVGA 640×480×256c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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An enhanced version of Tile Match, a memory concentration game. Second Guess upgrades Tile Match's EGA graphics to VGA and SVGA, and adds animation and sound effects when pairs of tiles are removed. All of the other options for number of tiles, pairs, players, and computer difficulty level remain.
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $16 on floppy disk.
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| Shih Dao 1993 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | Win16 Shareware (partial game) | Traditional | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Digital Empires | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing, Computers & Dreams Inc., Impulse Software, Software Creations (Impulse Software) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Shih Dao is a clone of Ishido: The Way of Stones. Ishido included a story that claimed that the game was a recently rediscovered ancient Oriental game known by many names (including Shih Tao in Chinese), but it was actually designed by Michael Feinberg and first published in 1990. There are 72 tiles – composed of 36 pairs of tiles with six characters in six colors – and a 12×8 board. At the beginning of the game, six random tiles are placed on the board: one in each of the four corners and two in the center. Each turn, a random tile is removed from the bag and must be played somewhere on the board. A tile must be placed next to another tile that matches in color or pattern. A tile can only be placed next to two tiles if one matches in color and the other matches in pattern. A tile can only be placed next to three tiles if one matches in color and the other two match in pattern, or if two match in color and the other matches in pattern. A tile can only be placed next to four tiles if two match in color and two match in pattern. That's all there is to it, but it takes great skill to get a very high score. Shih Dao was originally published by Computers & Dreams, then Impulse Software as of v3.5, Software Creations as of v3.6, and Arcanum Computing as of v3.7. The installer from v3.6 will complain that it can't find a necessary bitmap, which is present but misnamed. Simply rename install.bmp to install2.bmp.
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game, but their order form is down at the moment.
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| Shooting Gallery 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Simulation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | Compatibility guide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: VGA 320×200×256c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A surprisingly well-rounded shooting simulation. There are seven rounds of shooting, two each of a traditional carnival "duck shoot" game, skeet shooting, and target practice, and it concludes with a western-style shootout mode. The graphics are quite nice, and there are SoundBlaster sound effects. The registered version includes a much larger sound effects library.
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $16 on floppy disk.
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| SuperFly 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: 4 | DOS Shareware (full version) | Arcade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | Compatibility guide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Flies have invaded your house, and you must fight them off with only a fly swatter. Move the swatter around the screen with your mouse or joystick to hit the flies, which leave corpses which are impassable. If you get surrounded so that you can't move, you lose a swatter. The SuperFly appears when you have killed enough flies. Kill the SuperFly to advance to the next round.
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $15 on floppy disk.
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| Tile Match 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| User rating: No rating | DOS Shareware (partial game) | Traditional | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Developed by Arcanum Computing | Compatibility guide | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Published by Arcanum Computing | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Graphics: EGA 640×350×16c | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The traditional memory game with many customizable options. Tiles can be arranged in three sizes, with one or two pairs of each tile, played by one to four humans or against a computer of three different difficulty levels. Tiles can be imported from Mahjong games. The registered version includes more tile sets and more background pictures.
AvailabilityArcanum Computing still sells the registered version of this game for $15 on floppy disk.
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