This is the KQ 1 version I remember running on my IBM clone computer back in mid 1980s. My monitor was CGA and was not compatible in showing proper display of composite version and there would be a slew of vertical lines across the screen making it a challenge to play KQ 1 composite version.
Ah Kings Quest, the first PC game I ever played. The booter version is what I had and differs from the later, DOS-based versions (sound most notably). The on-screen drawing is fascinating to watch; later versions drew off-screen then copied to VRAM.
-- software name="kingqst" supported="no" description King's Quest 1984 IBM info name="developer" value="Sierra On-Line" info name="usage" value="PC Booter" part name="flop1" interface="floppy_5_25" dataarea name="flop" size="368640" rom name="king's quest.img" size="368640" crc="a331a88b" sha1="51b7db761c2d9d8bb25fe053e0a5a0f97e2f2914" -
Anyone know what version is documented (not yet working) in the 5150.xml hash list file?
If the KQ 1 composite version isn't supported yet, I am hoping the 5150 gets further updates later with KQ 1 composite version being supported. That was probably first or second PC game I recalled playing back in mid 1980s.
I don't remember what IBM computer we had when I was a kid, but I played the KQ1 & KQ2 booters with RGB colors. You can see what it looked like if you play it in DosBox. Set the Machine to CGA, then after you launch the game, press Ctrl-R to change to the RGB colors. I was excited when my Dad got a IBM PS/2 Model 50. It was the 1st time we had EGA colors and I could play the games as they were intended. The 1st thing I ever saved up for was to get a MT-32. Took me forever to afford it! Minimum wage was only like $3.75
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>I played the KQ1 & KQ2 booters with RGB colors. You can see what it looked like if you >play it in DosBox. Set the Machine to CGA, then after you launch the game, press Ctrl-R to >change to the RGB colors.
I am guessing what is supported in hash file is probably the CGA RGB (newer version) of KQ1. I'll have to check later.
I'd like to believe the CGA Composite graphics version has already been preserved.
King's Quest I - IBM PC Booter game 1984 CGA Composite graphics -
A Spanish contributor had uploaded IBM games earlier in the year. I grabbed a copy of that myself when it was available. I don't know if the zip file is still online, but any IBM fans can follow the links for getting the zip file. It doesn't have Composite version of KQ1. I thought maybe some future hash file IBM updates were in the works with contents from booters_demondlord.zip upload. Nothing yet.
booters_demondlord.zip shows comes from the booters.txt file that is within the zip file. It is a 74Mb file --
>It was the 1st time we had EGA colors and I could play the games as they were intended.
I was envious of some of the IBM'ers that had computers that could run EGA back in mid 1980s. No fun when trying to play Accolade's Mean 18 golf in CGA mode. The thing that made Mean 18 an awesome game is when the golf ball hits a tree and the ball can fly backwards 25 to 30 yards. Great memories when playing Mean 18, and the Ancient Art of War series.
>The 1st thing I ever saved up for was to get a MT-32.
The audio output factor wasn't important to me back then, but I can understand why it was an important issue for some users. I was satisfied if I could get some IBM DOS game running and that was good enough for me at the time.
Definitely an informative site and bookmarked for future references. I picture future hash file updates of info coming from there in the future. I recall getting some diskettes from someone (friend, coworker...don't remember) with several diskettes being backups back in 1985. I didn't know the KQ1 I was using in 1985 was the 'composite' version. I thought maybe it was some 'demo diskette' version.
> Definitely an informative site and bookmarked for future references. I picture > future hash file updates of info coming from there in the future. I recall getting > some diskettes from someone (friend, coworker...don't remember) with several > diskettes being backups back in 1985. I didn't know the KQ1 I was using in 1985 was > the 'composite' version. I thought maybe it was some 'demo diskette' version.
The below blog posts, a few years after the aforementioned one, goes into more depth specifically with all of the various KQ 1 releases, including month and year of release, protection implemented, features, highlights, and respective changes:
King's Quest IBM PCjr. Released on May 10, 1984. Copy Protection : Non-standard sector sizes
Runs only on an IBM PCjr. or a Tandy 1000 with 128KB of RAM Type "copy disk" to make a play and save game disk IBM's later printings replaced the full keyboard overlay with a function key strip when it recalled the chicket-style PCjr. keyboards. Boxes with a copyright of 1983 have the overlay, boxes with a copyright of 1984 has the key strip.
King's Quest IBM PC Release : May 30, 1984 Copy Protection : Formaster Copylock
Supports composite color CGA and PC speaker sound. Requires 128KB of RAM The protagonist's name was changed from "Grahame" to "Graham". The manual was drastically changed to give a more dramatic version of the story. Playing information now given on a reference card
King's Quest IBM PC Release : August 16, 1984 Copy Protection : Formaster Copylock
CGA RGB color support added Chris Iden is credited for the first time Script bugs were fixed
King's Quest Tandy 1000 Release : May 24, 1985 Copy Protection : Unnamed Protection, unofficially known as "Sierra Online Protection #2"
Will run on a 128KB IBM PCjr. but not an IBM PC or Compatible Sound effects derive from PC version, even though the Tandy supports the same 3-voice sound chip that the PCjr. uses.
King's Quest Tandy 1000 & IBM PCjr. Release : September 4, 1985. Copy Protection : Unnamed Protection, unofficially known as "Sierra Online Protection #2"
Identical to above, but copyright text strings no longer reference Tandy or Radio Shack.
King's Quest : Quest for the Crown Release November 13 or 26, 1986 Game Version : 1.0U AGI Interpreter : 2.272 Copy Protection : Softguard Softlock 2.0.3 Sierra Variant
MS-DOS Required Adds EGA and Hard Disk drive support Status bar visible RGB and Composite CGA dithering algorithms changed Different and more music and sound effects (Greensleeves from KQ2), ambient sounds removed 256KB Required Replacement character art (Wizard from KQ2, crocodiles from Black Cauldron) New version and special thanks credits added Title screen gives black background/white text scroll Screen vector drawing and filling no longer shown Two alligators on castle screens Slow, Normal and Fast speeds added Can add text descriptions to save games Copyright date 1986 Pre-title screen prompt to center the joystick
King's Quest : Quest for the Crown Release : May 5, 1987 Game Version : 2.0F AGI Interpreter : 2.245 Copy Protection : Softguard Softlock 2.0.3 Sierra Variant
Hercules Graphics support Drop down menu support Fixed red-leaf title screen error 3.5" 720KB Disk Support Executable recognizes certain command-line arguments -c, -r, -t, -h, -e Graham stops walking when he touches a solid object Tells you to press Escape if you do not want to use a joystick Copyright date 1987
King's Quest : Quest for the Crown Release : December 1, 1987 Game Version : 2.0F AGI Interpreter : 2.917 Copy Protection : Softguard Softlock 2.0.3 Sierra Variant or None (Slash and Anniversary releases)
MCGA 16-Color Support EGA Graphics Speed Bug fix (no more trails on 386 and fast 286 machines) Supports EGA or VGA on Tandy 1000 with Tandy 3-voice sound (unofficially) Note envelopes added to 3-voice music, different envelope parameters used on PCjr and Tandy 1000
Index 
Threaded 
IBM 5150 hash file and KQ 1 entry
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