Re: What was the first RPG?

[dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <4cfkjd$e7g@netaxs.com>, Erik Schultz <hikaru@netaxs.com> wrote:
> Tracy S. Schuhwerk (tracy@amiga.iac.net) wrote:
> : cshank@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca wrote:
> : : The oldest RPG I can think of was a cassette tape based game for the 
> : : Apple II+ called Fracas. Anybody heard of it? I believe it predates 
> : : Temple of Apshai.
> : 
> :   Wasn't Ultima I release on the Original Apple (Apple I)?
> 
>   Never knew that there was an Apple I, but I suppose it would make sense...

The Apple I was only sold in kitset form (motherboard was supplied, but
the keyboard, case and power supply had to be sourced elsewhere).
Some later ones may have been supplied with a case, keyboard and power
supply.  About 400 were made.  This would have been in 1976, and
pre-dates the formation of Apple Computer, Inc.

It is not compatible with the Apple II.  It does use a 6502
microprocessor, and was the basis for the Apple II.  It had about 4K
of RAM and 256 bytes of ROM (containing a very simple monitor).  Woz
wrote Integer BASIC on the Apple I, and keyed it in by hand (in hex)
each time he wanted to use it!

Ultima I was certainly never released for the Apple I.  It was written
mostly in Applesoft BASIC, so it required at least an Apple ][+
(released in 1978) or an Apple ][ with an Applesoft ROM card.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand