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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 | Gold Rush! - BIRD BOY | ||
Line 110: | Line 98: | ||
King's Quest 3 - RATS ASS (only in v2.14) | King's Quest 3 - RATS ASS (only in v2.14) | ||
Police Quest 1 - STINK BUGS (only in v2.0G) | Police Quest 1 - STINK BUGS (only in v2.0G) | ||
Space Quest 2 - DBG | 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) | TP - Teleport (change room/scene/script) | ||
Line 123: | Line 110: | ||
RESET FLAG - Resets a given flag | RESET FLAG - Resets a given flag | ||
GET OBJECT - Get a given object added to inventory | GET OBJECT - Get a given object added to inventory | ||
[SCROLL LOCK] - Trace mode (only works with AGI v2) | [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 | GIMME GIMME - All objects get added to inventory | ||
Line 160: | Line 143: | ||
[ALT + D] - Exits debug mode (BC) | [ALT + D] - Exits debug mode (BC) | ||
* King's Quest 3 has several versions and with some this command won't work, | * 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 | SHOW PRIORITY - Shows priority screen | ||
Line 179: | Line 159: | ||
* Does not work with King's Quest 3 and Donald Duck's Playground | * 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 | OBJECT - Gives information on objects on screen | ||
Line 189: | Line 167: | ||
SHOW PRIORITY - Shows priority screen | SHOW PRIORITY - Shows priority screen | ||
Space Quest 1 includes a bunch of extra commands: | |||
CASH - Change amount of money | CASH - Change amount of money | ||
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NO HELMET - Changes ego to alien (without helmet) | 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) | OBJECT - Gives information on objects on screen (except KQ3) | ||
Line 218: | Line 194: | ||
[ALT + S] - Gives information on objects on screen (GR) | [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 | SLEEP WIZARD - Wizard goes to sleep | ||
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WIZARD STATUS - Gives a detailed status of the wizard | WIZARD STATUS - Gives a detailed status of the wizard | ||
King's Quest 4: | |||
CREATE DAY - Turns the game into day | CREATE DAY - Turns the game into day |
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