View Full Version : Need help identifying a reeeeeeaaaaaly old PC game
Porksta
12-03-2008, 11:24 AM
Ok, so the game I am thinking of is really old. Back in elementary school days, so maybe 15 years ago. All I can really remember is this game was on the library computers and helped with spelling or something. You were a guy in basically a Mario style game - side scrolling, jump on enemies, etc. I believe you had to collect letters in the game to get bonuses and some other things. Sorry, this is so vague, but we didn't own a computer at the time so I didn't really care, and now I am remembering this game and would like to relive those days. A longshot I know, but I would be very much obliged.
I remember Stickybear Alphabet being a room-based platformer with a bear in overalls, or something to that effect. Our school had it on Apple //e.
nintendoeats
12-03-2008, 12:13 PM
oh man! i remember this game! It was awesome! if I was in Canada (which I will be in 72 hours) I would flip through our floppy collection. If we still don't know by then I'll gladly do that.
Porksta
12-03-2008, 12:19 PM
Nah, it wasn't Stickybear. From what I remember, it was purely the game. It never went off onto these side games. Straight gaming all the way through.
nintendoeats
12-03-2008, 12:32 PM
Did it have one level in a castle, and one in a desert? (ignore that most platformers have levels in castles and desserts)
Porksta
12-03-2008, 01:25 PM
Maybe... Like I said, I really don't remember too much (okay, I really can't remember anything) but maybe someone that worked in a school would know what I am talking about.
apogee_vgc
12-03-2008, 01:42 PM
Sure it wasn't Mario Teaches Typing?
Porksta
12-03-2008, 01:45 PM
Sure it wasn't Mario Teaches Typing?
Heh, yeah I'm sure.
YoshiM
12-03-2008, 03:18 PM
What type of computer was it on? Apple, IBM Compatible, etc?
Porksta
12-03-2008, 03:45 PM
A really old one. I know searching the internet was done one a black screen with green text.
Sorry I can't be more helpful guys, but I was like five or six when I was playing this.
AB Positive
12-03-2008, 05:55 PM
I'm curious if it's Giana Sisters or whatnot, the sort of PCish Mario clone down to the level design.
Porksta
12-03-2008, 06:08 PM
Not the Giana Sisters. It wasn't a clone, just the same genre, the side scrolling and jumping game.
I emailed my sister, maybe she can shed some light onto it.
EDIT: Aw, she remembers it, but not the title. :(
hydr0x
12-03-2008, 06:21 PM
you're not talking about the Amiga version of Wiz n Liz, are you?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiz%27n%27Liz
Cause you have to collect letters for bonuses in there too... It's not very mario like, but it is a jump n run and fits the time
Porksta
12-03-2008, 06:43 PM
No. :(
A really old one. I know searching the internet was done one a black screen with green text.
Well, middle 80s and a green terminal could mean an IBM compat, but considering it was an educational environement, I bet it was an Apple // series.
How did you play the game? Joystick? Keyboard? Paddle? Magic Pen? (Sorry, had to ask.)
Do you think if you saw an image of the system you could recognize it?
Porksta
12-03-2008, 08:23 PM
Of the computer itself? No. I do know that I used a keyboard.
Was the game at all educational? I know you say you spelled words, but one also spelled words in Bubble Bobble.
Can you get any more specific on the year? How likely is 1985 versus 1981?
Porksta
12-03-2008, 11:08 PM
It was in 2nd-3rd grade, so probably around 1995/96. Sorry, I really can't be any more help. I knew it was a longshot.
kingpong
12-03-2008, 11:41 PM
While I can't add anything to the hunt for this game, I have to say this thread sure makes a guy feel old. I still can't bring myself to call anything post-crash "old". Stuff from the 70s I'll call old, early 80s I don't put a name on for some mysterious reason, and anything from the mid 80s forward is modern.
It was in 2nd-3rd grade, so probably around 1995/96. Sorry, I really can't be any more help. I knew it was a longshot.
1995? That makes a green screen much more odd. I can't imagine what it could be at that late a date.
While I can't add anything to the hunt for this game, I have to say this thread sure makes a guy feel old. I still can't bring myself to call anything post-crash "old". Stuff from the 70s I'll call old, early 80s I don't put a name on for some mysterious reason, and anything from the mid 80s forward is modern.
True. Sometimes I consider the following:
In September 1970, the month and year of my birth, there was a lot of 50s re-runs on TV. 1950 was only 20 years previous. Now it's nearly 60 years ago and 1988 is 20 years ago. 20 FREAKING YEARS. It boggles my mind to consider where all the time went. But considering that 1988 is 20 years ago, it's just on the edge of old for me.
Porksta
12-03-2008, 11:53 PM
The green screen wasn't a menu or start up, it was the internet search engine. Although it could have been regular white but I doubt it.
The green screen wasn't a menu or start up, it was the internet search engine. Although it could have been regular white but I doubt it.
A little lost: There was an Internet search engine that was rendered in green? In 1995, the web was around, though in its infancy.
Was the GAME in green?
Porksta
12-04-2008, 12:00 AM
The game was full color. The search engine I am referring to may have been a library database search, but I doubt it. I am fairly certain it was an internet searching device.
The game was full color. The search engine I am referring to may have been a library database search, but I doubt it. I am fairly certain it was an internet searching device.
Well, it was likely a Gopher search. A lot of libraries had Gopher search capabilities long before and after the introduction of the web. If that were the case, they'd likely be using telnet to connect to a gopher search. That could very well have been black with green letters.
Do you recall if the point of the game was to collect letters or was that a side-goal of sorts?
Do you recall if the words you spelled were the same words or different ones every time you played?
Do you recall any of the words?
Sorry for the rapid-fire questions. It's an interesting challenge. In 1995, I was playing Commander Keen, Duke Nuke 'Em and Doom (when it arrived). Windows for Workgroups was still the primary Windows O/S with Windows 95 not arriving until later that year.
m
XianXi
12-04-2008, 01:55 AM
Could be Spelling Bee.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN_sgnX_c6o&feature=related
poloplayr
12-04-2008, 07:10 AM
This thread is making me feel reeeeeeeeeeeeeally old :)
Jimmy Yakapucci
12-04-2008, 08:43 AM
Could it be Word Rescue? I remember having that one. They made another version called Math Rescue. And they were made by a company that every gamer should remember, 3D Realms.
http://www.3drealms.com/word/index.html
JY
Porksta
12-04-2008, 09:04 AM
Could it be Word Rescue? I remember having that one. They made another version called Math Rescue. And they were made by a company that every gamer should remember, 3D Realms.
http://www.3drealms.com/word/index.html
JY
NO FUCKING WAY. THAT IS THE GAME. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Thanks to everyone that helped, and sorry if I was off base with any of my descriptions, it was the best I could do from 15 years ago.
This is why I love DP. Given the most ambiguous descriptions, they can still pull through.
ALRIIIIIiiiiIIIIIIGHT! And 3D Realms made Duke Nuke 'Em that year. A very popular company.
You can download the game here (http://www.dosgamesarchive.com/download/game/213).
Ok, so the game I am thinking of is really old. Back in elementary school days, so maybe 15 years ago.
That's not really old. Almost new by my standards. :)
Well, middle 80s and a green terminal could mean an IBM compat, but considering it was an educational environement, I bet it was an Apple // series.
How did you play the game? Joystick? Keyboard? Paddle? Magic Pen? (Sorry, had to ask.)
Do you think if you saw an image of the system you could recognize it?
Can't be mid-80's, he said about 15 years ago, so maybe 1993. Maybe on a 286, or leftover IBM XT?
Trebuken
12-04-2008, 02:54 PM
Man wanted to play this now that I read the thread; it won't run on 64-bit Vista (yeah no surprise).
DosBox?
Porksta
12-04-2008, 04:08 PM
Aw man, this game is so awesome. I just wish I could figure out how to turn off the volume.
Aw man, this game is so awesome. I just wish I could figure out how to turn off the volume.
Jam a screwdriver in the speakers?
Submerge them in water?
Pull the AC cord?
cyberfluxor
12-04-2008, 11:13 PM
I don't know if anyone has looked, but it does offer a shareware release. If you want to purchase the game it's:
Downloadable: $15
Shipped CD-ROM: $29.95
I mean seriously, they own the rights to license the game but that much for an older game? That's insane and I wonder what their current sales figures are.
I don't know if anyone has looked, but it does offer a shareware release. If you want to purchase the game it's:
Downloadable: $15
Shipped CD-ROM: $29.95
I mean seriously, they own the rights to license the game but that much for an older game? That's insane and I wonder what their current sales figures are.
Actually, you can download it here (http://www.dosgamesarchive.com/download/game/213).