Game wishlist

[Hallfiry]

Thanks (again!) to Hallfiry's CD Index I found (here) yet another version of Nebula Fighter, which identifies itself as "Nebula Fighter E3 Demo 1.2 (12-Jun-97)". For comparison, the shareware v1.1 executable is dated Aug 18, 1997. The demo only has the first two levels of the shareware game. I've uploaded it here.

The readme of that version is dated to Jun 10, 1997 and refers to a "NEBULA FIGHTER E3 DEMO 1.1". So maybe there is another version out there, that we can dig up.

[MrFlibble]

The readme of that version is dated to Jun 10, 1997 and refers to a "NEBULA FIGHTER E3 DEMO 1.1". So maybe there is another version out there, that we can dig up.

There appears to be an interesting pattern to this, as the v1.1 shareware readme also states it's version 1.0 (which got me confused a while ago). The version numbers that I have quoted (both for the E3 demo and the shareware version) come from the game executables - I find it very nice of the developers to make the game display the version number and date on exit.

I suppose that it's either that the developers introduced last-minute changes to the programme and did not bother/forgot to update the readme file, or this is some weird quirk on the developers' part.

[MrFlibble]

I would like to suggest two games (when you have the time to add them that is):

Dig It!
Genre: Platform
Type: Shareware
Known versions:

• v1.0 (Jul 1996): [link]
• v1.1 (Aug 1996): digit.zip

Gameplay video: YouTube

NOTE: Version numbers have been conjectured from the date stamps on the shareware game files.

Version 1.0 is found on this German shareware gaming magazine cover CD. On the title screen, it says to be licensed for distribution by CDV Software GmbH. However for some reason this game does not seem to be mentioned at the archived copies of CDV's site from mid-90s.

Version 1.1 is found at the archived copy of Springsoft's website (Springsoft was a UK shareware distributor). The files are packaged with a Win3.x installer, which isn't very useful on modern systems. So JIC, I have repackaged the files and uploaded them here. This version has an additional splash screen with Springsoft's contact information.

The shareware version of Dig It! seems to be quite rare, not sure why.

Flying Tigers
Genre: Shooter
Type: Shareware
Known versions:

• v1.00 (Sep 26, 1994): tiger10.zip
• v1.20 (Nov 15, 1994): tiger120.zip
• v2.00 (Jan 27, 1995): tiger200.exe
• v2.10 (Apr 18, 1995): tiger21.zip

Gameplay video: YouTube

NOTE: The Apr 1995 update of v2.10 does not seem to work in DOSBox.[Edit] Here's the official press release of the April 1995 revision.

[Edit 01.07.2015] Here's a fix for v2.10:
http://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?f=3 ... 61#p430332

All v2.x releases have different music compared to v1.x.

[MrFlibble]

Alien Cabal
Genre: First-Person Shooter
Type: Shareware
Known versions:

• Shareware v1.1 (DOS): acabal.zip
• Shareware v1.2 (Win32): acabalx.zip

Patches:

• v1.2 shareware update (DOS): updsw12.zip
• v1.2 full version update (DOS): updfv12.zip
• v2.00 full version update (Win32): Ver200.zip

Gameplay video: YouTube

NOTE: This version has apparently been released as freeware, more details here. Ideally, contacting one of the developers (perhaps Greg Taylor) and verifying this would be the best solution.

[MrFlibble]

Galactix
Genre: Shooter
Type: Shareware
Platforms: DOS, Win32
Known versions:

• v1.0B (03.02.1992): galactix.zip
• v1.3 (26.06.1992): GALACT13.ZIP
• v1.3a (18.08.1992): GALACTIX.ZIP
• v1.3a.01 (02.09.1992): galac13a.zip
• v1.4 (24.01.1993): galac14.zip
• v1.5 (26.10.1993): GALAC15.ZIP
• v1.00 (Windows) (07.08.2000): galactixshr.exe

Official website: Galactix - space shooter 1992 classic.
Ancient DOS Games review: link.

[Hallfiry]

Planet KKnD 2 (where I am Co-Admin) has all 17 known KKnD 1, X & 2 demo versions, some of which were only recently discovered:
http://planet.kknd2.com/demos/

I'd like to see them archived here, too.

[MrFlibble]

The Terminator: Future Shock [Added to the site]
Genre: FPS
Type: Playable Demo
Known versions:

• v0.144 (24.10.1995): shockdem.zip
• v1.00 (07.12.1995): fsdemo.zip

Official website: The Terminator Future Shock (Wayback Machine copy).

NOTE: Bethesda's SkyNET which is already on the site was originally planned as an expansion pack to Future Shock. Both games use the same engine (XnGine), and share a great deal of media assets.

Both demo versions of Future Shock contain the same mission which spans three levels. The earlier demo (called v0.142 in the readme and v0.144 in the executable) has some different textures and models. Also, entering and exiting buildings will reset all items and robots on the map.

[Hallfiry]

Known versions:

• v0.144 (24.10.1995): shockdem.zip
• v1.00 (07.12.1995): fsdemo.zip

You missed my list of bethesda demos, hu?
http://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewto ... 82#p387982

There's a Build 136 dated 18.10.1995 that is marked confidential, but still reasonably widespread back then:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 19521&o=da
(We have it on magazine CDs from France, Poland, Czech Republic and Italy)

[MrFlibble]

You missed my list of bethesda demos, hu?
http://www.betaarchive.com/forum/viewto ... 82#p387982

As a matter of fact, I totally did!

There's a Build 136 dated 18.10.1995 that is marked confidential, but still reasonably widespread back then:
http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 19521&o=da
(We have it on magazine CDs from France, Poland, Czech Republic and Italy)

Interesting! Is it known if it was released to some magazine previewers or beta testers?

(That build is unlikely to be added here on the site though if it was confidential, even though it got leaked.)

[Hallfiry]

Interesting! Is it known if it was released to some magazine previewers or beta testers?

(That build is unlikely to be added here on the site though if it was confidential, even though it got leaked.)

Actually the part about it being confidential was seemingly forgotten in the exe. The readme clearly says:

Code: Select all

ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ
   
            THE TERMINATOR: FUTURE SHOCK

                 DEMO VERSION (BETA)

                      10/20/95

ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ

Please Note: This is a beta version of our demo that we are making available
over the Bethesda Web Page. We really want your comments! Please send your
likes and/or dislikes to shock@bethsoft.com  We look forward to hearing from
you.

while the exe (which I was quoting, while forgetting to check the readme) says:

Code: Select all

Terminator: Future Shock v0.136.
Copyright 1995 Bethesda Softworks.

THIS IS AN INTERNAL DEMO-VERSION AND MAY NOT BE DISTRIBUTED UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF BETHESDA SOFTWORKS !

The readme of Build 142/144 says:

Code: Select all

ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ
   
            THE TERMINATOR: FUTURE SHOCK

		     DEMO VERSION 
			0.142
			
                      10/24/95

ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ

Please Note: This is a demo version that is available over the 
Bethesda Web Page. We really want your comments! Please send your
likes and/or dislikes to shock@bethsoft.com  We look forward to 
hearing from you.

[MrFlibble]

Well, I guess we shouldn't be surprised by any kind of mutually exclusive, double bind kind of messages here if the latest demo version manages to call itself both v1.00 and v1.1 upon exit to DOS

The safest way would be to pick those demo releases that have a license file and/or clearly defined distributions terms. But apparently Bethesda did not bother themselves that much with these matters.

[Edit] shockdem.zip (the v0.144 demo) is listed among the contents of Bethesda's website, but the file itself is not preserved. So this at least verifies the claim in the readme that the file was available from the official site.

[MrFlibble]

Actually the part about it being confidential was seemingly forgotten in the exe. The readme clearly says:

Code: Select all

ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ
   
            THE TERMINATOR: FUTURE SHOCK

                 DEMO VERSION (BETA)

                      10/20/95

ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ

Please Note: This is a beta version of our demo that we are making available
over the Bethesda Web Page. We really want your comments! Please send your
likes and/or dislikes to shock@bethsoft.com  We look forward to hearing from
you.

I've just re-read the message and it now seems to me that the present continuous tense in we are making available refers to the developers' plans to upload a demo (=we are going to make available, sometime soon). Would be nice if a native speaker of English could verify this.

If that is the case, this might imply that a closed beta test was carried out before the v0.144 demo was uploaded at Bethesda's website. That would explain the confidentiality message in the executable.

[MrFlibble]

May I suggest the demo versions of Seven Kingdoms and its expansion, Ancient Adversaries, for addition to the site?

There are two demo versions of Seven Kingdoms with a total of three unique single-player scenarios (plus a unique tutorial map in each version), and two more scenarios in the demo of Ancient Adversaries. All demo versions run in Windows 8.

The site with downloads that I have link to is offline, and also thanks to Hallfiry and MicroVirus fro the Seven Kingdoms Fans forums yet another version of the demo was found. So here are the updated links:

Seven Kingdoms

• Demo v1.0 (Oct 16, 1997): FilePlanet
• Demo v1.0 (Oct 20, 1997): 7kdemo.exe
• Demo v1.0 (Dec 11, 1997): 7KDEMO.EXE

Seven Kingdoms: Ancient Adversaries

• Demo v1.0: FilePlanet

[Hallfiry]

Seven Kingdoms

• Demo v1.0 (Oct 16, 1997): FilePlanet
• Demo v1.0 (Oct 20, 1997): 7kdemo.exe
• Demo v1.0 (Dec 11, 1997): 7KDEMO.EXE

Only two demos + the new one? I somehow remember that I was like "here are the two demos and as bonus a beta demo!" when we discussed them over at BA.
Actually.. let me find the quote...

Old version: http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 63058&o=da
PE timestamp 16/10/1997
Archive: NE EXE
Content: http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... s$2F7kdemo

New version: http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 67168&o=da
PE timestamp: 20/10/1997
Archive: PE EXE
Content: http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... os$2FSeven

And for the the lulz, an even older version: http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... 13611&o=da
PE timestamp: 27/09/1997
Archive: Self-extracting ZIP packed windows installer
Content: http://www.kultcds.com/Catalog/index.ph ... Demos$2F7k

I think the beta demo wasn't illegal, but only messy, right?
[EDIT]: So we should have 4 demos.

[MrFlibble]

I think the beta demo wasn't illegal, but only messy, right?
[EDIT]: So we should have 4 demos.

There is no evidence that the beta demo was distributed publicly. The message in the executable says that its unauthorized distribution is illegal. The installer does not include any readme which would indicate otherwise. This is why I did not propose to add the beta demo to the site.

Also, the beta demo does not run under Win64, and crashes frequently under Win32. All other demo versions run fine in Win64.