Streck

That's probably because Apple IIs almost always come with drives in sets. Atari 8bits and C64 may not come with 2 drives. I have seen Atari 130xe with 2 drives go over $100 too. Yeah, it's definitely more common to find an Apple II with drives and a monitor than just by itself. And you'll almost always have interface cards. The common ones like the Language Card, Super Serial Card, or the various floppy drive cards won't add much value, but a rarer card like a TransWarp, ThunderClock Plus, or Novation Apple-CAT (or any internal modem, really) can drive up the price very quickly. And even an Apple //e, despite being common as dirt, can get expensive if it's in great condition. Its ubiquity works against it here - it was the workhorse of the line, and the one that was everywhere in schools, so it can be surprisingly difficult to find one that hasn't had the crap pounded out of it. Plus, the Platinum model's case was very susceptible to yellowing, so a pristine one of those can also fetch a high price.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be an analogue to AtariAge for the Apple II world. For presentation (easy navigation, screenshots, etc.) the closest he'll get to something like Atarimania is the Virtual Apple site. Apple II sites are generally pretty discrete - for example, you've got different sites for the Call-A.P.P.L.E. periodical, and for Beagle Bros. software. There's no single massive site where all that material is consolidated. But at least it's not tremendously difficult to find.

By far, the most thorough archive of Apple II software (including a ton of games) is the Asimov FTP archive: ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net It's gigantic and reasonably well-organized. There are even different versions and cracks of the same titles. It's as exhaustive a resource as you'll get when you're working entirely off user contributions. The Virtual Apple website serves a slightly different purpose: http://www.virtualapple.org/ The library is smaller, because it isn't intended as a comprehensive archive - it's an easy way to play Apple II games in your web browser. If it's screenshots you're after, this site has plenty of them. As far as discussion goes, I think the Usenet comp.sys.apple2 newsgroup is the best you will find. There are a lot of wizards there that have been experimenting with and programming the Apple II for decades. They're quite friendly, and they've helped me out on several occasions. You won't find a better concentration of Apple II expertise.

Good luck finding an older version - according to Wikipedia, Wizardry was released December 31, 1981. And back then it was pretty common for the first released version of something to have a version number higher than 1.0.

Aren't you using an emulator (applewin)? Then can't you just take the disc images and make a copy of them (ctrl-c/ctrl-v) and there you go? Instant backup? uh yeah but as I said I want to be sure that I'm not cheating - i.e., doing something that couldn't easily be done back in the early 80s on an apple 2. It was pretty common, back in the day, to back up character disks. There wasn't any copy protection on those, so you could easily use Copy II Plus (or any other copying program) to do it. If you'd invested enough time into the game then this was something that you'd definitely do. Trust me, you wouldn't be cheating!

It's important to keep in mind, however, that this is not necessarily reflective of the industry at large, just a sub-section specific to the magazine's readership. The best selling computer into the early 1980's was not the Apple II, but the TRS-80, though the Apple II's library still beat out the TRS-80's. In regards to the Atari 400/800, true, when released in 1979, they had audio-visual superiority (though the early software didn't necessarily reflect this), but they were not priced nearly as low as they would come to be by the mid-80's, which didn't help their momentum. Beyond the C-64 having the relative total package (64K RAM, excellent sound and graphics), it's quickly dropping price (due to Commodore's supply chain advantages back then) was a major factor in its success and in ushering other popular computers (like the TI-99/4a) out of the market (not the mention the also-rans). Yeah, I have to keep reminding myself about that when interpreting all this data. All we're really seeing here are the people that (1) cared enough about computer gaming to subscribe to CGW and (2) the subset of #1 that cared enough to mail back CGW's Reader Input Device. Plus there are more subtle demographics, like the probability that the people buying Commodore 64 systems and their games had a lower average income than Apple II buyers (a decently-outfitted Apple II was, what, $1200 in early '80s dollars?), and would therefore be less likely to spend the extra money for a CGW subscription. I'm well aware, though, of the TRS-80's huge non-gaming popularity; heck, even the PET sold more units than the Apple II, in the early years. But it's remarkable that the Apple II managed to have the largest software library - gaming and non-gaming - despite its initial sales deficit.

I was surprised to see that it took so long for the Commodore 64 to establish itself in the computer gaming market, until I remembered that the Apple II came out in '77 and didn't really start to dominate until '81 or so, as programmers figured out how to exploit the hardware. And since the Atari 800 didn't come out until '79 (and didn't have nearly the level of documentation that the Apple had), I suppose it makes sense that it would have lagged behind for quite a while despite having superior graphics and sound. It's also cool to see how quickly the various computer-gaming genres appeared, once designers/programmers (often the same people, I guess!) realized what the platforms were capable of. So many highly inventive games that weren't just adaptations of board games, and beyond what was possible on the consoles of the time.

I'm sure some of you are aware of the excellent Computer Gaming World archive, but for those of you that aren't, there it is. It has many amazing snapshots of computer gaming history, some of which challenge popular notions of what gaming was like, which games were the most popular, and which companies ruled the roost. For many years, CGW published a little poll of its readers called "Reader Input Device," hidden away at the very end of the magazine. I thought I'd share a few excerpts. July-August 1982 Apple II users easily dominate the readership, with Atari a healthy second. The TRS-80, despite having basically no graphical capability, is decently represented. Wizardry is the big hit, and Strategic Simulations has more titles in the list than any other publisher: July-August 1983 A year later, Atari has caught up fast, now just 10 percentage points behind Apple. Note that the Commodore 64 has been out since January of 1982, but has yet to catch on with CGW's readership. I've also included CGW's explanation of their rating system: Despite Atari's increased presence among readers, Apple is still the platform for most of the titles that they like. The winner is still Wizardry, and second place is a text adventure! Reflecting the reader demographic, chess is in a respectable sixth place. In addition to SSI and Avalon Hill, you see other well-known companies like Epyx and Broderbund asserting themselves: May-June 1984 Seven years after its introduction, the Apple II has finally fallen, as Atari edges it out. The Commodore 64 is beginning to show a presence. CGW has also included information on the age and spending habits of its readers: The list of hit games is showing increased diversity in platforms, though Apple still has an extremely strong presence. You see a few C-64s and IBMs, and the TRS-80 has vanished (except possibly where it is covered by "Many"). Ultima has displaced Wizardry, and the second and third-place games have nothing at all to do with the Apple II, though Archon would be ported later. Note how SSI has been pushed further down the list compared to 1982 - traditional wargames are very slowly being supplanted by other genres: January 1988 We finish at 1988. The heterogenization of gaming platforms is complete; Apple, while still around, is now little more than an additional platform to which a game can be ported, if its publisher feels like it. "Many", IBM, and Commodore are everywhere. You also see the Amiga and the Mac. This is an exciting point indeed - it is impossible to have one computer and expect to play all the hits. PCs running MS-DOS are years away from winning out as the computer gaming platform of choice. CGW apparently decided that gaming could be split up into only two genres: strategy and action-adventure. Though SSI still has a formidable presence in strategy, other companies nip at its heels. The top three "action-adventure" games are all RPGs, the big three: Ultima, Wizardry, and Might & Magic. In fact, only three of the top ten action-adventure titles aren't RPGs. Also note: for the top ten strategy titles, there were 458 respondents total. For the top ten action-adventure titles, there were 544 respondents. As we know, non-strategy titles will continue to become more and more popular in later years, and today, many of them have left the PC for consoles, while strategy games stay snugly in their original home. Questions? Comments? Angry rebuttals? I'd be very interested to hear opinions on the causes of all these trends - or on whether I've even identified trends correctly.

Oh man, and I had a super-long post typed up. Glad you got it working! Incidentally, my preferred way to format new DOS 3.3 disks is with Copy II Plus. AppleWin has to be set to use "Authentic" disk speed when doing this, though, otherwise it errors out. You way may actually be faster though.

I see a lot of familiar titles in this thread. But what about the lesser-known games, the weird ones, splurted out by some eccentric bedroom programmer and then forgotten? Here are some of the ones I knew and loved. I've yet to find a single person besides myself that remembers them. I haven't seen them mentioned here - even in that long list that akator posted. And I'd bet that a lot of them were exclusive to the Apple II. Ankh You're an abstract geometric entity navigating through an abstract geometric world, avoiding abstract geometric enemies and solving logic puzzles. I never finished this game, but the environment is unforgettable. Flip Out My sister and I spent many spiteful hours on this game where all you do is mess with your opponent. The object is to get all your balls to the bottom first - and if you fail to do so before running out, you get to use your opponent's! Pieman Get filling. Bring filling to pie tray. Get cherry. Bring cherry to pie tray. Bring finished pie to pie-depository. Don't let pies fall off the conveyor. Simple, right? This was a game in the old arcade style, getting faster and faster until you died. Frenzy A simple game of evasion, but the terrifying voice samples and gameplay forever wedged it in my mind. Chrono Warrior This was a pretty ambitious game, combining different types of gameplay with a fun time-travel story. In the first level, you scrambled around a prehistoric mountain collecting pieces of your time-gate. In the second, you raced chariots at a Roman circus. In the third... well, I can't spoil the whole thing, can I? Paipec Catch the stuff that falls from the sky, using your four stacked platforms - but if you miss, you lose a platform and have less vertical surface area with which to catch something on the side. Just like Kaboom! for the Atari 2600, if you ever played that. Straightforward, nerve-wracking, and utterly addictive.

You should be able to temporarily mark the file as writeable, just for as long as it takes to delete the character. Heck, you can leave it that way for the whole time you're playing, and then just remember to mark the file read-only again before your next boot. As I recall, a separate character disk was the preferred way to go, though. I have a thing about playing games on the platforms for which they were originally designed. Sometimes they offer the best experience, sometimes not. But man, if you're playing the very first Wizardry game it only seems appropriate to play it on its original system, the Apple II.

... bringing along no fancy modern technology, just your knowledge. How well would you cope with learning to use or program the computers of the day, assuming you had access? Would you even want to? Would you know enough about how computers really work to be able to help advance the field? In the mainframe world, IBM rules as king, though there is a smattering of much smaller competitors such as Burroughs, Control Data, Honeywell, and UNIVAC. A new class of computer, though, has arisen - the minicomputer, from a very young DEC. Operating these computers requires an understanding of computer science: http://www.cca.org/photo/rcsri/pdp-8.jpg Microcomputers, microprocessors, do not exist. For programming languages you have ALGOL, APL, COBOL, FORTRAN, Lisp, and of course assembly. BASIC and Pascal do not exist. The first ARPANET nodes aren't deployed until 1969. Would you help? Would you run?

The disappearance of standalone arcades is well-established, and commercially all we have left are places like Chuck E. Cheese's and Dave & Buster's. However, these machines seem to have long-term survivability on college campuses, due to administrative indifference and a generally glacial rate of change. At the University of Iowa, we had Burger Time, Galaga, and a pinball machine next to a massive study area, Arkanoid near a dorm entrance, and a multi-game "UltraCade" in a cafeteria. At Iowa State, there's actually a dedicated gaming area with several arcade cabinets, pool tables, and even a concession stand (a vital component of this pseudo-retro haven): http://www.mu.iastate.edu/underground/?at=photo So, what's still around these days at your alma mater, or even a college with which you have no affiliation at all?

1. Matrox 2. Aureal 3. ZiLOG 4. MOS Technology 5. Guillemot 6. SGI 7. Tseng Labs 8. Rendition 9. Hercules 10. Trident 11. Oak Technologies 12. ArtX 13. California Games and Peripherals 14. Creative 15. AdLib 16. Diamond Multimedia 17. Quantum3D 18. ZiLOG 19. Number Nine Visual Technology 20. Orchid Technology And here's a fresh one for you. Back to developers/publishers!

Here's the answer key for the last set: 1. Digital Eclipse 2. Majesco 3. Parroty Interactive 4. DMA Design 5. Three-Sixty 6. MECC 7. Renegade Software 8. Quicksilver Software 9. Ensemble Studios 10. Vicarious Visions 11. Synergistic Software 12. Relic Entertainment 13. Monolith Productions 14. Oxygen Interactive 15. NCsoft 16. Gearbox Software 17. Technos Japan 18. Red Orb Entertainment 19. Adventure International 20. Spectrum HoloByte I think I'm pretty well spent on game developer/publisher logos now, so it's time for the... Hardware Edition! Each logo belongs to a hardware manufacturer that had some connection with gaming. Good luck!

Yet another round! Go!

Latest answer key: 1. Introversion Software 2. Remedy Entertainment 3. Digital Illusions CE 4. Accolade 5. Lionhead Studios 6. Hasbro Interactive 7. Intelligent Systems 8. Troika Games 9. AdventureSoft 10. Stormfront Studios 11. Microsoft Game Studios 12. Pandemic Studios 13. Infinity Ward 14. Pyro Studios 15. Cryptic Studios 16. Zipper Interactive 17. Retro Studios 18. DemonWare 19. Harmonix 20. Flagship Studios 21. Backbone Entertainment 22. Silicon & Synapse 23. Silicon Knights 24. Human Head Studios

Hey guys! It's been a while, but it's time for another round!

Latest answer key: 1. Sir-Tech 2. System 3 3. Vision 4. Players 5. Paradox Development 6. Magic Soft 7. Singletrac 8. Z-Axis 9. Clockwork Games 10. Epic 11. Artronic 12. Alligata 13. Talonsoft 14. Digital Integration 15. Digital Extremes 16. LucasArts 17. Argonaut Software 18. Denki 19. Gonzo Games 20. Addictive Software 21. Particle Systems 22. Terminal Software 23. Electric Dreams 24. Beagle Bros. 25. 989 Studios 26. Grand Slam 27. PictureHouse 28. Cryo Interactive 29. NovaLogic 30. Byte Back 31. Firaxis 32. Thunder Mountain 33. Volition 34. Capcom 35. Presage Software Development 36. Psionic Systems 37. 21st Century Entertainment 38. Muffbusters 39. Alternative Software 40. Vulcan Software

Awww, okay. Here's the key: 1. Bitmap Brothers 2. Infocom 3. Hewson Consultants 4. Bubble Bus Software 5. Gotham Games 6. Aackosoft 7. Bug-Byte 8. Incentive Software 9. Wanadoo 10. Encore 11. Ascon 12. Mattel Media 13. Babylon Software 14. Admiral Software 15. eGames 16. Millennium 17. Cascade Games 18. Tomahawk 19. Software Projects 20. Psyclapse 21. Mastertronic 22. PAM Development 23. Mindware 24. Crystal Dynamics 25. Sunsoft 26. Mastertronic Plus 27. Zeus Soft 28. Omnitrend 29. Runecraft 30. Impressions

You guys are doing great... c'mon, I know you can squeeze out a few more!

Set 6! The year gets newer, the logos get older...

Here's the answer key for the last set: 1. Conspiracy Entertainment 2. Acclaim Sports 3. Westwood Studios 4. Ariolasoft 5. Vic Tokai 6. Coktel Vision 7. (duplicate, removed) 8. Microprose 9. Cryo Interactive 10. Melbourne House 11. Digital Mayhem 12. Metro3D 13. King of Skate 14. Koei 15. Tsunami Media 16. Thalamus 17. Sammy 18. New World Computing 19. Enterbrain 20. Interstel 21. Got Game Entertainment 22. Data Age 23. High Moon Studios 24. Monarch Software 25. Epyx 26. Trilobyte 27. Planet Moon Studios 28. Melbourne House 29. Southpeak Interactive 30. High Moon Studios 31. Hue Forest Entertainment 32. Microids

Here's Set 5 - probably the last one before the weekend. Have at it!