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Unknown Realm game on Kickstarter (C128-compatible?)

In 2012, game programmer Bruce Gottlieb showed the then top-secret game, Unknown Realm, to the attendees at the Commodore Vegas Expo. It was so secret that no one from outside his team was allowed to photograph or videotape his session. The CommVEx attendees saw a potential game full of fun, and they were excited that it was to be released. At that time, Bruce wanted Unknown Realm to use the C128's extra capabilities in 40-column mode.

Fast forward to now... That early version of Unknown Realm is now graduating to the release version, "Unknown Realm: The Siege Perilous", and Bruce is putting it up on Kickstarter. Go to

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stirringdragongames/unknown-realm-a...

Available for the Commodore 64 (NTSC and PAL), Windows, and Mac, Unknown Realm is a new, 8-bit, role-playing game in the style of Ultima RPG's. At the above Kickstarter page, you'll be able to see all the details of the game release, including video shots, screenshots, and screen animation. Also at the page, you'll be able to see the many and various pledge amounts to get this game released.

The question remains... Is there a version of Unknown Realm which will work on the C128's 40-column mode, or is that idea discarded?

Merry Christmas,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Re: Unknown Realm game on Kickstarter (C128-compatible?)

Bruce Gottlieb replied, "...at one point I was considering making it for the C128 because I wasn't sure I could get all the features I wanted in just 64k, including things like, music, portraits and the ability for in-game cutscenes. Some may recall that features like those didn't exist on the C64 in the later Ultimas of that era (Ultima V & VI) and I thought they were important story telling devices. Since I got all the features in I wanted, there is no reason for a C128 version anymore. :)"

Hoping he will make a C128 version someday,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Actually the thought of a
Re: Actually the thought of a

Bil Herd wrote:

> Actually the thought of a game that makes use of unintentional differences in the C128's VIC chip kind of makes me shudder as it wasn't our intention to muck with the definition of VIC.

From what I saw of that early C128 version of Unknown Realm, Bruce was just using the C128's larger memory, not by using any VIC tricks.

> Is there a list of the differences somewhere?

Not to my knowledge.

> I know about the double speed register which was my call...

The most recent game that is supposed to use the C128's capabilities is the commercial cartridge, Bomberland. Though the webpage does not say what is enhanced when used on a C128, I believe that game decompressing is sped up.

Merry Christmas,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Actually I like the idea of
This is the only thing I have
The VICIIe has 3 main

The VICIIe has 3 main "differences"
1.) You can enable an interlace mode
2.) You can change the palette to an alternative colour set, I think it slides the phase, so might be a PAL or an NTSC only thing.
3.) The AEC line is extra strong
apart from 2Mhz and extra keyboard scanning.

You can also get at the VDC to use 80col mode in C64 mode, or just use it for a 16/64K RAM stash.

Re: Unknown Realm game on Kickstarter! (C128-compatible?)

The Kickstarter is now 100% funded!

Happy New Year!
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Re: Unknown Realm game on Kickstarter! (C128-compatible?)

At last night's New Year's Eve party in R.J. Mical's house, I met with Bruce and tried to convince him to continue with the C128 version of Unknown Realm. An enhanced version of the game would make use of the C128's extra keys, but he was not convinced. :(

Happy New Year!
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Re: Unknown Realm game on Kickstarter! (C128-compatible?)

With a little more than 24 hours to go, the Kickstarter campaign for Unknown Realm is now at 168% of its goal. Various stretch goals have been reached, the last one being that all pledgers who have put in over $19 will receive the R.J. Mical parody game that was demonstrated last year. The next stretch goal is $4,692 away, that being an Underwater City Level. For a complete list of the stretch goals, see

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stirringdragongames/unknown-realm-a...

Back in California,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

Re: Unknown Realm game on Kickstarter! (C128-compatible?)

The Unknown Realm campaign continues! This time it is at

https://www.megafounder.com/unknown-realm

Next stretch goal is unlocking the Complete Soundtrack by C64 veteran musician Chris Huelsbeck.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

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