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Barbarian for the Apple IIgs

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Antoine Vignau

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Nov 23, 2012, 12:48:02 PM11/23/12
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Weird... I've been offered with the Apple IIgs version of Barbarian I've never heard of before.

It is (c) 1987 Palace Software, a UK company. Still shrink-wrapped.

Antoine

Tempest

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Nov 23, 2012, 1:04:42 PM11/23/12
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Really? Is this the same as the Atari ST/Amiga game?

Antoine Vignau

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Nov 23, 2012, 1:28:52 PM11/23/12
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It looks like a nice conversion (no boot yet) but pics taken and uploaded @ https://picasaweb.google.com/104707687928913128396/AppleIISW16bits

See the last three pics,
antoine

Tempest

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Nov 23, 2012, 2:21:53 PM11/23/12
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How on earth did this one escape notice for all these years? It's not like Barbarian is an unknown indie game or something. I'm looking forward to you uploading it! :)

Antoine Vignau

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Nov 23, 2012, 3:46:26 PM11/23/12
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Package is ready and available at http://www.brutaldeluxe.fr/public/barbarian/

It is a S16 application which must be launched from a system disk.
It does not boot on my real ROM 3 neither on Sweet16 with ROM01/3.
For a 1987 app, I suppose it requires a ProDOS 16 system disk.
Who knows?

I told Alex Lee about it,
Antoine

Antoine Vignau

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Nov 23, 2012, 5:09:05 PM11/23/12
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Weirdness... It looks like the GAME.PRG is corrupt.
I did a disassembly of Barbarian.S16 which is the launcher, and this is good ol' 65c816 code, other files are either Packbytes pics or sounds but that first PRG file is pure garbage.

Is there a key to decipher that beast?????????????

av

bloomer_au

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Nov 24, 2012, 6:33:02 AM11/24/12
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I can't recall there being a IIGS game discovery of this magnitude while I was looking. I mean, a genuine Apple IIGS conversion of a famous game, shrinkwrapped (so it's presumably not some hacky beta) that isn't documented anywhere? Too bizarre!

Of course, you need to get it working first. But I've lost track of the amount of thanks I owe Antoine for continually pulling up things like this.

- Wade

Antoine Vignau

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Nov 24, 2012, 8:24:48 AM11/24/12
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This is what I also believe. Too big to be true but who knows?
I've asked the original about the story of that IIgs Death Sword version...
Antoine

alel...@gmail.com

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Nov 24, 2012, 11:12:02 AM11/24/12
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This is truly amazing. It's one thing that no-one knew about it, it's another that it was fully boxed and shrink wrapped. How many copies were made? Why did they not go into stores or at least, mail order companies? Palace Software sold the rights to sell Barbarian as Death Sword in the U.S., perhaps that meant they couldn't distribute a IIGS version of Barbarian. All very interesting.

Let's collectively cross our fingers and hope that Antoine can get the game playable!

- Alex
http://www.whatisthe2gs.apple2.org.za

Tempest

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Nov 24, 2012, 11:14:46 AM11/24/12
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Maybe it was only sold in Europe? That would explain the original name and the fact that it's been so hard to find until now. There were a few other Euro only IIgs releases like Full Metal Planete

ritt...@gmail.com

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Nov 25, 2012, 9:37:17 PM11/25/12
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I was able to boot up in GS/OS in KEGS and insert the disk. Run it that way and the game comes up to title screen.

It says "prepare to die" then locks up, though.

-Pete

Antoine Vignau

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Nov 26, 2012, 3:20:15 PM11/26/12
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I confirm it is a fake: the barcode contains my then Olivier's birthdate!
Too bad but really well-made,
Antoine

Tempest

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Nov 26, 2012, 11:34:22 PM11/26/12
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I knew it was too good to be true. Oh well. :(

Sean Fahey

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Nov 27, 2012, 12:06:00 PM11/27/12
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On Monday, November 26, 2012 2:20:15 PM UTC-6, Antoine Vignau wrote:

> I confirm it is a fake: the barcode contains my then Olivier's birthdate!
> Too bad but really well-made,

Barbarian was a hoax? How uncivilized!

D Finnigan

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Nov 27, 2012, 12:29:23 PM11/27/12
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Even the packaging and manual were fakes? What effort!

Antoine Vignau

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Nov 27, 2012, 5:46:40 PM11/27/12
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Exactly! Uncivilized but so well made! That proves that in 2012, one or more person(s) still like the Apple II and take time to create such a hoax. Too bad it is not true but that was too BIG to be true

I still have not received feedback from the sender but I hope to get one day. Who? Why? How? are the remaining questions!

Antoine

gid...@sasktel.net

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Nov 27, 2012, 10:30:11 PM11/27/12
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On Monday, November 26, 2012 2:20:15 PM UTC-6, Antoine Vignau wrote:
Someone sends you a game for the IIGS that was never created for the IIGS of which you are no-doubt a master programmer, with your barcode, and sends it to you personally.

I would say, someone knows you quite well.

Maybe a gift, maybe a prank, maybe you have a secret admirer.

I like the idea of a lady with a secret crush would be capable of such knowledge of an Apple II to pull this off.

Rob

Antoine Vignau

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Nov 28, 2012, 5:55:47 PM11/28/12
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Yes, the mystery is solved!

It was not a fake, a hoax but that has to be seen as a work in progress. All work done by... Olivier, the other member of Brutal Deluxe, without telling me.

He would have liked me to contact him prior to asking in csa2 and other sites about Barbarian.

Over the past few months, Olivier worked hard to gather blank 3.5" disks, find companies to create packaging and he made each part of it: the layout, the label, etc. He then asked a friend to send the CIB app from the UK.

Why is it a work in progress? Because he would like the game to be available for the IIgs. Some of you may be interested in getting it once coded for the price of the box and shipping.

Olivier believes in other things than a binary disk image and he is right. So, I apologize for the noise, I wish it were real right now. It will be later!

If you are interested in such releases, let us know on info at whereyouknow dot fr
Antoine

Kevin

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Nov 28, 2012, 8:05:58 PM11/28/12
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> He would have liked me to contact him prior to asking in csa2 and other sites about Barbarian.

bet he had a good giggle once the dust settled though

BLuRry

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Nov 28, 2012, 10:53:06 PM11/28/12
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If he throws in something worn by Maria Whittaker then it would probably sell for... uh... a lot. It wouldn't affect the shipping weight too much I imagine. :-D

Sean Fahey

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Nov 30, 2012, 3:53:55 PM11/30/12
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On Friday, November 23, 2012 11:48:03 AM UTC-6, Antoine Vignau wrote:

> Weird... I've been offered with the Apple IIgs version of Barbarian I've never heard of before.

> It is (c) 1987 Palace Software, a UK company. Still shrink-wrapped.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Death-Sword-for-the-Apple-II-Compatibles-EPYX-Palace-Software-5-25-floppy-/110983649311

From EPYX/Palace Software.

Tempest

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Nov 30, 2012, 6:16:11 PM11/30/12
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I have that, I got it when it was new. It's a pretty looking Apple II game (all DHRG) but it plays slow and choppy. Other than cutting off peoples heads and going "ooooooh" at the blood spurt, I never found it all that interesting to be honest.
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