Sierra On-Line Debug Mode FAQ Version 0.94 [15-Apr-08] by HWM
Thanks to Omer Mor, Lars Skovlund & Kelmer for their valuable information.
Intro
This FAQ will explain the several debug modes found in Sierra On-Line adventure games.
Before you read, keep in mind the following things:
- References to "ego" mean "the main character" or the object you control.
- Any brackets, asterisks or quotation marks should NOT be typed in. They're only used to clarify.
- Anything between brackets means it's either a key or a combination of keys. So [CTRL + D] means you push the CONTROL-key and the D-key at the same time.
- Between quotation marks means it should be typed in.
- Words between asterisks should be replaced with a proper word/object/thing. So "PITCH *object name*" means you should type the object you want to get, e.g. "PITCH WIG".
- Commands to be used in the debug modes are listed in upper case and are followed by dash and a description of their effect. The input of commands is case insensitive.
And while you might know, Sierra games use an "interpreter". This basically is a program/system which translates the program statements (in byte-code) into executable machine code one line at a time as the program is running; as opposed to a compiler, which translates the entire program before the program is executed. The different interpreters used by Sierra for their games are described in the next chapter.
This FAQ only covers the debug modes of IBM PC versions, however, some of them might work on the other systems too.
AGI
AGI (Adventure Game Interpreter)
- Video: 160x200 resolution, 16 colors (2 or 4 colors on some platforms)
- Audio: Up to 4 channels of audio (if platform supports it)
- Platform: IBM PC (including PCjr & TANDY), Commodore AMIGA, Atari ST, Apple ][(GS), Apple Macintosh & Coco 3 (TRS-80 Color)
- Period: 1984-1989
Games using the AGI interpreter:
- Donald Duck's Playground
- Gold Rush!
- King's Quest 1: Quest for the Crown
- King's Quest 2: Romancing the Throne
- King's Quest 3: To Heir is Human
- King's Quest 4: The Perils of Rosella
- Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards
- Manhunter 1: New York
- Manhunter 2: San Francisco
- Mixed-Up Mother Goose
- Police Quest 1: In Pursuit of the Death Angel
- Space Quest 1: The Sarien Encounter
- Space Quest 2: Vohaul's revenge
- The Black Cauldron
Debug mode in AGI games
This debug mode is solely script related, which means that a debug script is located directly in the game code itself, not in the interpreter's (although the interpreter of course offers the commands to use in the script). So if a game does not have the debug script in it's code, it will not work. However, pretty much all the games have a debug mode, except for Mixed-Up Mother Goose and the Manhunter series. The latter does have some unused messages relating to a debug mode in it, but it's likely removed from the final release. The demo packs and other demonstrations also don't include a debug mode.
There are three major versions of AGI. AGIv1, AGIv2, and surprisingly, AGIv3.
AGIv1 is an old and uncommon interpreter. The only games using it are the self-booting first versions of King's Quest, King's Quest 2 and The Black Cauldron, which are rare and hardly used nowadays. However, the AGIv1 games do have a debug mode, so they're included here. Donald Duck's Playground is also self-booting, but in many aspects more like AGIv2, including the version number given by Sierra (v2.001), so it's listed under AGIv2. The first release of the first part of King's Quest is sometimes listed as AGIv0, but technically this is more a container category for the first versions of the first release of King's Quest, not really one interpreter.
AGIv2 and AGIv3 are pretty alike and so are their debug functions. Debug-wise the only major difference is that AGIv3 does not contain the trace-function. AGIv3 games are Gold Rush!, King's Quest 4 (AGI version), the Manhunter series and a certain version (v2.10) of The Black Cauldron. Some demos also use AGIv3. The rest of the games use AGIv2.
Script Debugger: AGIv1
In King's Quest 2, the debug mode is activated by entering "FAST SPEAK" at the command line. It will be activated on room change.
In The Black Cauldron, the debug mode is activated by pressing [ALT + D]. This would eventually become the standard way of activation. The debug mode will be deactivated on room change. Also, activating the debug mode multiple times will generate multiple input/output lines!
After the debug mode is activated, the following commands are available:
TP - Teleport (change room/scene/script) SP - Shows position of ego * SHOW POSITION - Shows position of ego * SHOW PRIORITY - Shows priority of ego SHOW FLAG - Shows a given flag (or rather variable) SET FLAG - Sets a given flag (or rather variable) GET OBJECT - Get a given object added to inventory QUIT - Quit game (originally, but now locks up)
* Does not work with King's Quest 2
Script Debugger: AGIv2/AGIv3
Usually, the debug mode is activated by pressing [ALT + D]. However, there are some alternative ways/exceptions with some games. These games require a certain sentence to be typed in; perhaps this was done to access the debug mode on other platforms, without redefining keys in the code. The games and their sentences are:
Gold Rush! - BIRD BOY King's Quest 2 - FAST SPEAK King's Quest 3 - RATS ASS (only in v2.14) Police Quest 1 - STINK BUGS (only in v2.0G) Space Quest 2 - BACKSTAGE or DBG (TESTER brings up ego position)
After the debug mode is activated, the following commands are available:
TP - Teleport (change room/scene/script) POSITION - Shows position of ego SHOW VARIABLE - Shows value of a given variable SET VARIABLE - Sets value of a given variable SHOW FLAG - Shows a given flag (if set or not set) SET FLAG - Sets a given flag RESET FLAG - Resets a given flag GET OBJECT - Get a given object added to inventory
[SCROLL LOCK] - Trace mode (only works with AGI v2)
These commands will work in all the AGI games with a debug mode. However some games have additional commands for use with the debug mode. The next chapters will cover them.
Game Specific: Al Lowe games
Games programmed by Al Lowe: Leisure Suit Larry, The Black Cauldron, Police Quest, King's Quest 3 and King's Quest 4. Donald Duck's Playground is also programmed by Al, but does not support these debug commands. When certain commands will only apply to a specific game, that game's abbreviation is given between brackets.
Commands:
GIMME GIMME - All objects get added to inventory OBJECT ROOM - Shows in which room certain object is located OBJECT NUMBER - Shows list of objects in game (PQ & LSL) OBJECT - Gives information on objects on screen (PQ & KQ4) SHOW OBJECT - Gives information on objects on screen (BC) EXAMINE POSITION - Shows coordinates of ego (LSL) ROOM - Shows coordinates of ego (PQ & KQ4) FIND - Shows position of ego (LSL)
[ALT + P] - Shows priority screen * [ALT + M] - Shows available memory * [ALT + I] - Gives information on objects on screen [ALT + E] - Shows position of ego [ALT + X] - Shows coordinates of ego (PQ & KQ4) [ALT + D] - Exits debug mode (BC)
* King's Quest 3 has several versions and with some this command won't work, or will use different keys like F6 or F10 (e.g. v1.01)
Game Specific: Priority commands
Games that use priority commands: Space Quest 1, Police Quest 1, Gold Rush!, Leisure Suit Larry, The Black Cauldron, Donald Duck's Playground & King's Quest 4.
Commands:
SHOW PRIORITY - Shows priority screen SET PRIORITY - Sets priority * RELEASE PRIORITY - Returns to normal visual screen
* Does not work with King's Quest 3 and Donald Duck's Playground
Game Specific: Space Quest series
General commands:
OBJECT - Gives information on objects on screen SHOW MEMORY - Shows available memory SHOW PRIORITY - Shows priority screen
Space Quest 1 includes a bunch of extra commands:
CASH - Change amount of money DRINK CLOTHES - Changes ego to normal outfit BE ALIEN - Changes ego to alien outfit DRINK JET PACK - Changes ego to wear jetpack NO HELMET - Changes ego to alien (without helmet)
Game Specific: King's Quest series & Gold Rush!
General commands:
OBJECT - Gives information on objects on screen (except KQ3) CHECK OUT FLAG - Shows certain status information (KQ2) EXAMINE OBJECT - Gives information on objects on screen (KQ3) EXAMINE POSITION - Shows coordinates of ego (KQ3) FIND - Shows position of ego (KQ3) ROOM NUMBER - Shows room number (KQ3/GR) SHOW POSITION - Shows coordinates of ego (GR) SHOW MEM - Shows available memory (GR) SHOW OBJECT - Gives information on objects on screen (GR)
[F6] - Shows priority screen (KQ1/KQ3 v1.01) [F8] - Shows priority screen (KQ2) [F10] - Shows available memory (KQ1/KQ2/KQ3) [ALT + S] - Gives information on objects on screen (GR)
King's Quest 3 has a more extensive debug mode:
SLEEP WIZARD - Wizard goes to sleep HERE WIZARD - Wizard appears DO CHORE - Chore for wizard completed BYE BYE WIZARD - Kills wizard PUT UP SPELL - Gives all inventory items PUT UP MOUNTAIN - Changes game state to arrival at the kingdom of Daventry PUT UP BOAT - Changes game state to the beginning of the sailing trip GIMME SPELL - Gives all magical items WIZARD STATUS - Gives a detailed status of the wizard
King's Quest 4:
CREATE DAY - Turns the game into day CREATE DARK - Turns the game into night TIME - Gives in-game time TRACE - Trace mode (originally, but does not work)