Thomas Jentzsch Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 While creating my Trak-Ball hack for VideoGems' Missile Control, I came across some characters, which seemed unused in the game. After further investigation, these turned out to be part of an Easter Egg! To trigger the Easter Egg, the following conditions have to be met: Game variation #6 Game over All six cities destroyed (no explosions!) Game is paused (Color switch = B/W) Right difficulty = B Right joystick FIRE and UP Then the game shows "LAV" instead of the left three cities (see screenshot). Any idea what that stands for? 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+nanochess Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 It's hard to know, I couldn't find info about Video Gems, most probably are the initials of programmer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Collector Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Very cool. I love Easter eggs. Thank You Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigO Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 I've heard (on rare occasion) the use of the term "lav", which is short for lavatory AKA bathroom. Maybe the programmer was being held captive under inhumane conditions and forced to write code. This was his way of sending a message to the outside world that that he desperately needed to use a restroom. If so, it was a poor choice. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+xucaen Posted January 7, 2017 Share Posted January 7, 2017 Looks like Video Gems is a Hong Kong company. They didn't put the author's name in the instructions, but if I had to guess I'd say LAV is probably the author's initials. Nice find!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Hunter Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Interesting! Thanks, Thomas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jeremiahjt Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Leroy Arthur Valenzuela? Just spitballing here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted January 8, 2017 Author Share Posted January 8, 2017 Maybe he was a she: LAVerne 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emulator Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Maybe that's what is meant on the back of the box by "many hidden surprises". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Atari_Warlord Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 Any chance the other Video Gem games have similar code? It probably is the programmer's initials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Jentzsch Posted February 27, 2017 Author Share Posted February 27, 2017 Nope, I checked them all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Atari_Warlord Posted February 27, 2017 Share Posted February 27, 2017 In reading some of the threads about Video Gems it appears they were distributed by a company named Hanimex. The gentleman that was managing director around this time was Des Franklin, and as of 2015 appeared to be still living. If anyone knows how to locate someone in Australia, it appears he is around Sydney. Even if he wasn't directly involved, he may know who to contact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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