What's the best platform for SSI Gold Box games?

[JustRob]

So, like the title says, which platform had the best versions of the SSI Gold Box AD&D games? I want to acquire and play through them in all order like god intended but I want ot make sure I get the best experience possible while I do it.

I know story wise, they are all identical, no matter which old PC you get it on, but are there any standouts graphics/music-wise?

[tom]

They were clearly more 8-bit games than 16 bit, so I'd play them on C64 or Apple ][. I played them on C64 first, and later continued on Amiga. But I have to admit, I prefererred the gameplay on C64

But to play them all you need an IBM compatible or Amiga, for example Pools of Darkness was not on the 8-bits platforms.

[Starwander]

PC without a doubt. You can use dosbox to get them to work on any computer with issues.

[Jorpho]

The Forgotten Realms Archives collection would be the most efficient way to acquire them all. Alas, it is no longer as readily available as it once was.

[Kitsune Sniper]

The Forgotten Realms Archives collection would be the most efficient way to acquire them all. Alas, it is no longer as readily available as it once was.

*stares at the copy on his desk*

Huh.

[Wraith Storm]

If you want to play ALL the Gold Box games then the only choice is really between the Amiga or the PC. I have listed the Gold Box games below and the different ports that were made, and the only computers that have the entire Gold Box line up are the Amiga and PC.

For older games (pre 91') the Amiga (and Atari ST) usually housed the better version when compared to the PC. You didn't have to worry about what Sound Card, Graphics Adapter, or the size (5 1/4 or 3 1/2) of your disk drive. So the games were hassle free and really optimized for the PC rivals. You simply bought the game, popped it into your Amiga or ST and it would play beautifully. Some of them even took advantage of the extra sound capabilities and had sampled music which was jaw dropping for the time... even still impressive to this day.

I don't have an Amiga yet. I have an Atari ST, but one of the reasons I am going to get an Amiga is so I can play the ENTIRE line up and the best version of the Gold Box series.

The C64 versions are good and it houses most of the Gold Box games, but not all. Also the graphics and sound aren't as good as the Amiga and ST and the load times take FOREVER!!!

Regardless, hopefully this will help you out.

~~~Forgotten Realms~~~
Pool of Radiance - Amiga, C64, Dos, Atari ST, Apple II, Mac, NES
Curse of the Azure Bonds - Amiga, C64, Dos, Atari ST, Apple II, Mac
Secret of the Silver Blades - Amiga, C64, Dos, Mac
Pools of Darkness - Amiga, Dos, Mac

~~~Dragon Lance~~~
Champions of Krynn - Amiga, C64, Dos, Apple II
Death Knights of Krynn - Amiga, C64, Dos
The Dark Queen of Krynn - Amiga, Dos, Mac

~~~Savage Frontier~~~
Gateway to the Savage Frontier - Amiga, C64, Dos
Treasures of the Savage Frontier - Amiga, Dos

[tom]

And later when you done them all, you get Unlimited Adventures and make your own (did anyone ever do this?)

[Wraith Storm]

And later when you done them all, you get Unlimited Adventures and make your own (did anyone ever do this?)

I still have my boxed copy from back then!

At the time I played the several games that came with it. But I was a little young and didn't have the patience to make a game. Although I made lots of levels and cities and you could wander around in them, I never made a "game" so there was nothing to do. Just wander empty dungeons and cities... lol.

I am piecing together and old computer today... Unlimited Adventures might just have to be the first game I load.

[Ze_ro]

Definitely play the PC versions. Best graphics, no disk swapping, fast loading, and you're already got one sitting right next to you. How can you go wrong?

I suppose there's something to be said for the C64 versions, but come on, Pool of Radiance is four disks (8 sides), plus a player disk. Screw that.

--Zero

[JustRob]

Ok, let's refocus this thread.

Assuming I acquire all of the games for the Amiga, which model would be the best to play them all on? Keep in mind I know dick about the whole Amiga line. I assume the newer ones kept compatibility with the older ones, the way the Apple IIs did.

[Soviet Conscript]

Definitely play the PC versions. Best graphics, no disk swapping, fast loading, and you're already got one sitting right next to you. How can you go wrong?

I suppose there's something to be said for the C64 versions, but come on, Pool of Radiance is four disks (8 sides), plus a player disk. Screw that.

--Zero

best graphics? i thought i saw or read somewhere that the amiga versions looked slightly better and maybe even sounded better.

[tom]

best graphics on IBM? maybe they improved later in the series....

Also, spread out after the Gold boxes for the others:
Dragons of Flame,
Heroes of the Lance
War of the Lance
Hillsfar
Dragon Strike


and of course, this is a Gold box too:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/thomasholzer/1184898186-00.jpg
courtesy of Moby Games

[skaar]

*stares at the copy on his desk*

Huh.

Stop hoarding that one copy then, you bastard. Set it free!

[Wraith Storm]

Ok, let's refocus this thread.

Assuming I acquire all of the games for the Amiga, which model would be the best to play them all on? Keep in mind I know dick about the whole Amiga line. I assume the newer ones kept compatibility with the older ones, the way the Apple IIs did.

The Amiga 500 would be your best bet. They are the most common Amiga and therefor the most affordable. Also most of the Amiga classics (Including the SSI games) were developed to run on the Amiga 500.

I suppose if you REALLY wanted to you could invest in an Amiga 1200 or 4000, but it would cost quite a bit more and honestly be overkill for what your wanting to do.

Also i'm not sure if the Amiga versions of the games were HD installable, so you might have to swap disks here and there. But it's nothing too bad. I have Pool of Radiance on my Atari ST (Same as the Amiga version) and the disk swapping is quick and never very long.

[Kitsune Sniper]

Stop hoarding that one copy then, you bastard. Set it free!

I'm not interested in selling it, but trading's fine. Someone at MobyGames wanted it but he hasn't sent me a message in over a week. :P

I have a few other games in the series in random CDs, too.

[namzep]

I picked up a copy for free fo the Archives set about a year or more ago and still haven't had a chance to play it. You guys are making me want to break it out and play a few of the games. :)

[Ed Oscuro]

The Forgotten Realms Archives collection would be the most efficient way to acquire them all. Alas, it is no longer as readily available as it once was.
That package kicks major boot - too bad I've given my copy more than its share of love over the years. Definitely would pick it up again if I didn't already have one.

Contents include:
Four CDs (right? In a cardboard slip I think)
Code Wheel(s?)
A thick book - supplemental materials for the games (some of which double as copy protection, the old "hunt out a phrase and input it" trick).

[Trebuken]

I'm not sure these were Gold Boxed but I'd include them as well; they were just as much fun:

Wikipedia:

The Buck Rogers series:
Countdown to Doomsday (1990)
Matrix Cubed (1992)

Additionally, Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace (1992) used the Gold Box combat engine.

I started on the C-64 and migrated to the PC, but was always envious of the Amiga and ST crowd.

[tubeway]

Just thought I would be an ass and say that I'm selling sealed copies of a lot of C64 RPGs, including a few of the gold box titles and buck rogers, on ebay right now.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtubewayQQhtZ-1

[CoZe]

I am a sucker for goldbox games (own all for most platforms) and I must say amiga gives the best experience. better graphics and sound even when compared to the PC (especially for earlier titles) and little hassle. You can also get WHDLoad'ified versions for no swapping and no hassle with copy protection.

Atari ST also has a similar experience, but only a couple of gold box games were ported to the ST.

Wraith Storm, are you sure you have pool of radiance for ST ? I've been hunting for that game for a couple of years and didn't even find a trace of it. I found the Curse for the ST, but pool seems very hard to get hold of. Would you mind if a take a look at it ?

[Octopod]

The PC version of the games seems to be more readily available.