Saturday, October 6, 2012

Lucasfilm Games & LucasArts Technical Qualities

This article discusses the hardware support for every Lucasfilm Games/LucasArts title released on a floppy disk for the IBM PC and compatibles for DOS.  This article does not cover games not developed by LucasArts (Indy Action Adventures, Pipe Dream, Night Shift, Masterblazer) or versions of these games for other systems (C64, Apple II, Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh, FM-Towns), CD-ROM versions, collections or games for Windows (Indy's Desktop Adventures).  It also identifies any different versions and gives information about them where known.  Non-English versions are not covered.

Options in bold are, at least in my opinion, the ideal graphics and sound hardware to run the game on.  Unless otherwise noted, all games support keyboard, mouse and joystick.  All games in this article can be run from a hard drive and do not have disk-based copy protection.

Maniac Mansion
Video Support - CGA, HGC, TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice
Minimum RAM - 256KB
Media - 1 x 5.25" DD & 1 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 04/13/1988
Copy Protection - Nuke'm Alarms Codebook

Initially distributed by Activision, uses a box with no border, unlike every Lucas product thereafter.  First Lucas game for the IBM PC and DOS (PHM Pegasus and Strike Fleet have later file dates)  Supports CGA composite color, but poorly.  Tandy 3-Voice is the ideal for music and sound effects, but EGA graphics are superior to Tandy graphics because the text looks nicer.  (Tandy uses a true 160x200 mode, requiring a blockier font, while all other graphics adapters except Hercules use a 320x200 mode with double-wide pixels for the graphics area).  Can be found without copy-protection in Day of the Tentacle, but Tandy support is broken in that version (text is garbled).  Comes with large poster with hints for puzzles in the game.  Can write the current configuration, including video mode and input (joystick or mouse) to a file called PREFS.

PHM Pegasus
Video Support - CGA, HGC, TGAEGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice
Minimum RAM - 256KB
Media - 1 x 5.25" DD & 1 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 05/15/1988
Copy Protection - Manual

Distributed by Electronic Arts.  Early release came on 5.25" floppy, later release included both types of media.  Unusually, EGA is more colorful than Tandy.  Tandy 3-Voice only seems to be used for the title music.  CGA is supported in color and Black & White, the latter intended for laptops.  No mouse support.

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
Video Support - CGA, HGC, TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice
Minimum RAM - 256KB
Media - 2 x 5.25" DD & 1 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 07/19/1988; 07/25/1988
Copy Protection - Zap 'Em II Exit Visa Security Codes Codebook

Probably the first product fully distributed by Lucas.  Supports CGA composite color, but poorly.  Was on the market for only a few months, then replaced by the Enhanced edition.  Tandy 3-Voice is the ideal for music and sound effects, but EGA graphics are superior to Tandy graphics because the text looks nicer.  (Tandy uses a true 160x200 mode, requiring a blockier font, while all other graphics adapters except Hercules use a 320x200 mode with double-wide pixels for the graphics area).  Comes with The National Inquisitor with hints for the puzzles in the game.  Can write the current configuration, including video mode and input (joystick or mouse) to a file called PREFS.

Battlehawks 1942
Video Support - CGA, TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice
Minimum RAM - 384KB
Media - 2 x 5.25" DD & 1 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 10/06/1988
Copy Protection - Manual

First game to use Lucas' flight simulator engine, which would be continuously improved until the Star Wars sims.  Copy protection is removed in the Air Combat Classics Collection.

Strike Fleet
Video Support - CGA, HGC, TGAEGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice
Minimum RAM - 384KB
Media - 1 x 5.25" DD
File Date - 11/30/1988
Copy Protection - Manual?

No mouse support.  Last game to be released by another company.  Unknown if released on 3.5" disk.

Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders "Enhanced"
Video Support - CGA, HGC, TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice
Minimum RAM - 384KB
Media - 3 x 5.25" DD & 2 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 12/30/1988; 09/21/1992
Copy Protection - Zap 'Em II Exit Visa Security Codes Codebook

Uses proper 320x200 graphics for all modes.  First game to be developed for the IBM PC.  Music and sound effects are identical with low resolution version.  As far as I can tell, Lucas never used the words "Enhanced" to refer to this version.  I believe that they silently replaced the older version with this version.  Copy protection removed in the Classic Adventures Collection with a 09/21/1992 install date (even though the codes are in the manual).

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade : The Graphics Adventure
Video Support - CGA, TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice, Adlib, Creative C/MS*
Minimum RAM - 384KB
Media - 6 x 5.25" DD or 3 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 07/09/1989 (v1.0); 08/14/1989 (v1.3); 11/07/1989 (v1.4)
Copy Protection - Translation Table with Red Filter
* - Version 1.4 only

First game to not include both types of disks (5.25" 360KB and 3.5" 720KB) in the box, requiring the user to use an offer to switch their game disks.  First use of a red filter for copy protection.  A decent scan of the pages will allow the underlying text to be read with a filter (looking at a screen) or by color manipulation in Photoshop.  Not immediately removed from the company store when the 256-color version was released.  Comes with a Grail Diary with clues to various puzzles in the game and is essential to beating the game.   Versions 1.0, 1.3 and 1.4 exist.  Mouse & Adlib support is autodetected for this game, LOOM and later games using the SCUMM engine.  

Maniac Mansion "Enhanced"
Video Support - CGA, HGC, TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice
Minimum RAM - 384KB
Media - 2 x 5.25" DD & 1 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 08/03/1989; 10/31/1989; 09/21/1992
Copy Protection - Nuke'm Alarms Codebook with Red Filter

Apparently the maroon pages of the original Codebook were not sufficient to deter photocopying, so Lucas used a red filter in this version.  Uses proper 320x200 graphics for all modes.  Music and sound effects are improved compared with low resolution version.  I believe that they silently replaced the older version with this version.  Copy protection is not removed in the Classic Adventures Collection (at least the version with the install files end with 09/21/1992).  Last game to support Hercules.

Their Finest Hour : The Battle of Britain
Video Support - CGA, TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice, Adlib
Minimum RAM - 512KB
Media - 4 x 5.25" DD or 2 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 10/02/1989
Copy Protection - Radio Frequency Cipher Wheel Codewheel
Expansions : Their Finest Missions Volume One

First Lucas game with a Codewheel, would not be the last.  Copy protection is removed in the Air Combat Classics Collection.  First Lucas game to provide true support for VGA (more than the 16 CGA colors are used), although graphics were originally drawn for EGA.

Loom
Video Support - CGA, TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice, Adlib, Creative C/MS, Roland MT-32*
Minimum RAM - 512KB
Media - 6 x 5.25" DD or 3 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 03/07/1990 (v1.0/Int. 3.5.57); 03/15/1990 (v1.1/Int. 3.5.37) 09/21/1992 (v1.1/Int. 3.5.40)
Copy Protection - Book of Patterns with Red Filter

* - Patch disk required

Uniquely came with a stereo Cassette featuring a nearly 30-minute audio drama telling the backstory.  Only 16-color game not to have an upgraded floppy version released.  Copy protection removed in the Classic Adventures Collection.  Users originally had to pay $10 and send in a card to receive the MT-32 patch, but it is available on LucasArts' support site.  Last game to use a red filter for copy protection.  Versions 1.0 and 1.1 exist.  CD version dated 06/09/92, has 256-color graphics, full voice-acting with simplified script, almost no portraits, CD audio music and sound effects.  FM-Towns CD uses floppy text, 256-color portraits and CD audio music (two different versions for each piece) but no voice acting.  First game to use the /? command line argument to list the arguments the game accepts.  LucasArts Classic Collection version with copy protection eliminated reports v1.1/Int. 3.5.40.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade : The Graphics Adventure "256-Color VGA"
Video Support - MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice, Adlib, Creative C/MS
Minimum RAM - 640KB
Media - 4 x 3.5" HD or 4 x 5.25" HD or 3 x 3.5" HD
File Date - 05/03/1990 (v.2.0/Int. 3.0.18); 08/30/1990 (v2.0/Int. v3.0.20) 08/06/1992; 09/21/1992 (v2.0/Int. 3.0.22)
Copy Protection - None

There is no translation table screen in this version, so no copy protection.  Unlike 16-color version, any copy of this version will support the C/MS Game Blaster.  Included in the Classic Adventures Collection.  First game to come on high density floppies, but LucasArts apparently only offered a "full" version on 5.25"HD disks.  Upgrade, budget or slash releases may come on 1.44MB 3.5" disks.  If there are four 3.5" HD disks, then the game can be run off floppies.  If there are only three disks, then it must be decompressed to a hard drive.  FM-Towns CD uses CD audio music.  LucasArts Classic Collection version with copy protection eliminated reports v2.0/Int. 3.0.22.

The Secret of Monkey Island
Video Support - CGA, HGC, TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice, Adlib, Creative C/MS, Roland MT-32*
Minimum RAM - 640KB
Media - 8 x 5.25" DD or 4 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 09/01/1990 (v1.0/Int. v.4.0.62)
Copy Protection - Dial-A-Pirate Codewheel

* - Patch disk required, cost $10 back in the day.  Not immediately removed from the company store when the 256-color version was released.  Last game to support CGA and HGC.  Roland is not always ideal, since you lose the sound effects of the Adlib and other sound drivers.

The Secret of Monkey Island "256-Color VGA"
Video Support - EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice, Adlib , Creative C/MS, Roland MT-32
Minimum RAM - 640KB
Media - 8 x 3.5" DD or 7 x 3.5" DD (v1.1) or 4 x 5.25" HD.or 3 x 3.5" HD
File Date - 12/03/1990; 02/04/1992 (v1.0/Int. v.5.0.16); 02/15/1991 (v1.1/Int. v.5.0.16), (v1.1/Int. v.5.0.15); 09/21/1992 (v1.0/Int. v.5.0.19)
Copy Protection - Dial-A-Pirate Codewheel

CD version dated 06/10/92, "stump joke" removed, CD audio music added and interface changed from text to icons and fewer verbs.  Copy protection removed in the Classic Adventures Collection, which reports v1.0/Int. v.5.0.19.  Versions 1.0 and 1.1? exist.  Later budget releases may come on 1.44MB floppies.  Last game to support C/MS.

Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe
Video Support - TGA, EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Tandy 3-Voice, Adlib, Sound Blaster
Minimum RAM - 640KB, 768KB for Tandy, 1MB EMS Recommended
Media - 8 x 5.25" DD or 4 x 3.5" DD
File Date - 09/01/1990
Copy Protection -  Codewheel
Expansions : P-38 Lightning Tour Of Duty
                   Do 335 Pfeil Tour Of Duty
                   P-80 Shooting Star Tour Of Duty
                   He 162 Volksjager Tour Of Duty

Expansions will bring 1.0 and 1.02 to 2.0 and 2.1.  2.1 is the version that third-party missions use.  2.2 comes on the CD.  First game with "true" VGA graphics and last to support Tandy graphics and sound.

Monkey Island 2 - LeChuck's Revenge
Video Support - EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Adlib, Sound Blaster, Roland MT-32
Minimum RAM - 640KB
Media - 6 x 5.25" HD or 5 x 3.5" HD
File Date - 11/21/1991 (v1.0/Int. v.5.2.02)
Copy Protection - Mix-n-Mojo Codewheel

Copy protection, Easy Mode & the 16-color EGA support (appears in B&W) removed in the Monkey Island Madness CD.  KIXX released this game with the copy protection removed (probably to eliminate the expensive codewheel), but without damage otherwise.  Last game to use a codewheel.  Last to use Lucasfilm Games and first to use LucasArts company name.  I believe the opening title music was originally composed for Adlib and the in-game music for Roland.

Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Video Support - EGA, MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - PC Speaker, Adlib, Sound Blaster, Roland MT-32
Minimum RAM - 640KB
Media - 6 x 5.25" HD or 5 x 3.5" HD
File Date - 05/21/1992 (v1.0/Int. v.5.2.20)
Copy Protection - Manual

CD version is dated 05/17/93 and adds voice acting.  Last game to support EGA.

Star Wars : X-Wing
Video Support - MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - Adlib, Sound Blaster, Creative Sound Blaster Pro, Roland MT-32, General MIDI
Minimum RAM - 640KB, 896KB EMS Recommended
Media - 6 x 5.25" HD or 5 x 3.5" HD
File Date - 02/16/1993 (v1.0)
Copy Protection - Manual
Expansions : Imperial Pursuit Tour of Duty
                    B-Wing Tour of Duty

No music or sound effects without EMS.  Limited Edition release came with a book, The Farlander Papers, but is otherwise identical to the standard version.  Supports the hat switch of a CH Flightstick Pro.  Last game to be offered publicly by LucasArts on 5.25" disks.

Maniac Mansion - Day of the Tentacle
Video Support - MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - Adlib, Sound Blaster, Roland MT-32*, General MIDI
Minimum RAM - 640KB, 2MB EMS Recommended
Media - 6 x 3.5" HD or 8 x 5.25" HD
File Date - 06/02/1993 (v1.5/Int. v.6.4.2)
Copy Protection - Manual

* - Patch disk required

Released simultaneously with CD version.  Floppy has speech in intro and end, CD has speech (same actors) throughout.  CD version came in a unique triangular box or regular box.  LucasArts has a patch to add Roland MT-32 and General MIDI support to the floppy disk version.  This patch was originally sent from the company on floppy disk.  It adds the files GMIDI.IMS, ROLAND.IMS and TENTACLE.002.  If your copy has those files, you can play the game with MIDI devices.  If not, then presumably you have a virgin install and the game will not start with those options selected, despite what the configuration menu may allow.  The 5.25" version may have been available by special order or was released for non-U.S. markets only.

Sam 'N Max Hit the Road
Video Support - MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - Adlib, Sound Blaster, Roland MT-32, General MIDI
Minimum RAM - 640KB, 2MB EMS Recommended
Media - 6 x 3.5" HD + 1 x 3.5" DD or 8 x 5.25" HD
File Date - 11/02/1993 (v1.0/Int. v.6.5.0)
Copy Protection - Crimestompers' Coloring Book : How to Play Sam & Max Hit the Road Manual

CD version dated 03/24/94 (CDv1.11), includes 4 CD audio tracks.  Floppy has speech in intro and end, CD has speech (same actors) throughout.  The 5.25" version may have been available by special order or was released for non-U.S. markets only.

Star Wars : TIE Fighter
Video Support - MCGA, VGA
Sound Support - Adlib, Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster Pro, Sound Blaster 16, Sound Blaster AWE32, Pro Audio Spectrum, Pro Audio Spectrum 16, Roland MT-32, General MIDI
Minimum RAM - 640KB, 2MB EMS Recommended, 900KB Required
Media - 6 x 3.5" HD
File Date - 06/22/1994 (v1.0)
Copy Protection - Manual
Expansions : Defender of the Empire

Last floppy disk game developed by LucasArts.  Came with short story The Stele Chronicles.

4 comments:

  1. Very interesting post. I collect lucasfilm stuff and I'd love to ask you a few questions about some specifics of this list!!! My email is paulodavidvicente at gmail dot com
    Please send me a message (i couldn't find your email contact). Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I want to point out that Monkey 2 is not the first game with the LucasArts name, as you stated.
    While it is the first adventure with a LucasArts logo, the name as such is there in the Monkey 1 end credits.

    I also want to point out that the Indy 4 CD interpreter not only adds voice support, but unfortunately also removes EGA support and CD audio support. That's why my Ultimate Talkie patch (which is based on Indy 4 talkie patched to optionally load a General MIDI driver) does not support those in the DOS version.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have an Indy: The Graphic Adventure 4 disks. Want to sell it. Not sure what to charge for it.
    karen

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your blog is always very helpful.

    For all the pre-92 adventures game, i think the "LucasArts Classic Adventures" set is really the way to go

    ReplyDelete