Help A Game Project -- Meseta, Prizes, etc!

[SoulBlazer]

Okay guys, I'm looking for the help of some gamers here to work on a project I've been considering for a while.

Basicaly, I need people to help me with Heart of Africa for the C64 (either real or emulated). It's a adventure game.

Here's the situation and some background -- Heart of Africa was published only for the C64 computer back in 1985. It was made by Ozark Software, the same people who did other great classics such as MULE and Seven Cities of Gold. Dan/Danni Burten was the main designer.

How the game plays -- the year is 1890 and you have been employed by the estee of a wealthy man, Mr. Primm, to go on a expedition to Africa. Mr. Primm was obessed with finding the lost tomb of Egyptain ruler Ankh Ankh, somewhere in Africa. One man sealed the tomb and traveled around many of the African tribes before dying, and those tales are still contained in the oral legends of the tribes. You have to go around Africa alone, win the trust of the tribes, get the clues to the 'Lost Man', and find the tomb, in a six year period. It plays like Seven Cities of Gold and MULE in that you use a joystick or keyboard to move a man around a map and push the button to do things.

I had a C64 growing up, but although I had many games I missed Heart of Africa. Recently I found the game for download, got nowhere with it, and looked online for a manual or a FAQ or SOMETHING to help with the game. To my surprise, I could find NOTHING. I know the game did'nt sell as well as other Burten games, but it got good reviews back in the day (THAT I recall) and I was shocked nothing was out there.

I like doing FAQ/guides for obscure games -- games no one has done anything before. I've written stuff for Startropics 2, Konami Arcade Advance, and several other games. So I took it as a challenge in order to see what I could find out about the game.

First, I found out through conversation that our own Zach M. has a actuall copy of the instructions. He was kind enough to scan that for me. It also came with a map of Africa. Now the manual for this game is a MUST READ, due to the hints and clues contained in it. With that information and the map I tried the game again and was finally able to make some progress.

However, with me being as busy as I am, I was looking for help. I'd like other people to play the game also, take notes, and then we can compare them. Not only can I see then what changes from game to game versus what is fixed (I know the tomb is moved, but not sure wht else), but it will help me to make a better and more accurate guide.

So, here's what I'm looking for -- people willing to play the game, take notes, and share them with me. I can provide the scanned copy of the manual Zach did for me and tell you where you can download the game from (Home of the Underdogs) as well as where to find Commodre 64 emulators.

In return, you will get:
-- Credit in the guide for the parts you worked on
-- Meseta determined by how much you did (can be anywhere from a hundred to a few thousand)
-- Bonus item I have around here (game, gaming related book or music, etc.)

Please post a reply here if interested with a e-mail address so I can send the needed files.

And please ask if you have any other questions or have actually PLAYED the game and can help out!

[Queen Of The Felines]

I'm up for it.

All my game systems and pc games are packed away so I gotta do something else besides play the MAME league games all day.

kathara@sbcglobal.net

(I'm already getting 700 spams a day, more won't matter )

Kristine

[MrSmiley381]

You know, it's worth a shot. I loved MULE, it's time to pay the companysome tribute.

MrSmiley381@gmail.com

I can only imagine what I'm getting myself into.

[Lothars]

I would like to try and help even though i have no idea

my email is Lord_Lothar71@hotmail.com

thanks

Jon

[SoulBlazer]

Okay guys, I'll get the files out to you in a bit.

Still looking for more people -- the more, the better!

We can continue talking about the game on here.

I'm going to start a new game myself tommorow, going off what I have learned so far, and I'll be very curious to see how the rest of you do.

[chimp69]

i vaguely remember the game, and am sure i have it. ill just whip out the old c64 and check it out. let you guys know.

[SkiDragon]

I'll see what I can do.

adonald at umich.edu

[Alucard]

I wouldn't mind trying to help you out to the best of my ability:
shoobywizard@hotmail.com

[SoulBlazer]

Okay guys, stuff being sent out to you now.

That's five people who I have sent information to. I understand that everyone will be busy, etc, but hopefully I'll have some information soon so I can start making the guide, along with my own game experiences.

I'm STILL looking for more people -- reply here if interested.

I'd like to have this done in about two weeks.

Here's one tip to get everyone started -- there's a cache hidden RIGHT UNDER YOU when you start the game. Go into Cairo, buy a shovel, put it in hand, and go out and dig it up. Some games it seems to have gold there also -- you can trade that with some tribes for clues.

[SoulBlazer]

Oh, we can continue to talk about the game here in the thread.

I finished a game today, ALMOST found the tomb -- now I'm eager to get your notes and compare them with mine and see what we can come up with.

I suggest the VICE emulator. You can use double speed but make sure you have True Drive Emulation selected and NO Warp Speed. EA games from this period are picky about stuff like that.

[Lothars]

hey I haven't played it yet but planning to tonight when I get home from work.

[Alucard]

I tried playing it but I can't get it to load properly or something. I got it to the opening screen, and then got it to say it was loading a stage then asked me to hit play on the recorder or something. Maybe I'll try a differnt emu, that might help. what is a good one that you guy's are using?