Re: Q: Crimson Crown (aka Transylvania II)

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Jeff Thomas writes ...
> 
> I am attempting to play "Crimson Crown (aka  Transylvania II)" on Apple
> IIe.
> 
> My main difficulty is getting Erik or Sabrina to perform certain
> individual tasks, like: "Erik, take sword". Use of diacritical mark ( ,
> / - *) produces "?Extra Ignore" message understandably as parser was
> possibly not designed to handle such characters. By simply typing "Erik
> take sword" it replies "It is stuck fast.". Without the sword being
> removed, I am unable to goto the next scene and I tried notorious other
> word combinations including getting Sabrina to do it. Strangely, all the
> other versions on different computers (Macintosh, PC, etc) of this game,
> will happily accept those commands!
> 
> Does anyone know what the correct syntax would be?
> 
 ....

     Probably, you have the version with the crack screen which says "Released
by the Hitman" etc.. If it is, the problem is that the program uses a plain
INPUT statement to read what you type. So, when you type in ...

ERIK, GET SWORD

the input gets snipped at the comma.


     A workaround is to type in ...

"ERIK, GET SWORD"

The quotes let INPUT gulp the entire entry as a single string.


     A version of the cracked game with a fixed input routine is available-- no
need to use quotes when you enter commas. It's on GS WorldView at 
http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/Games/ . 

     The file (CrimsonCrown_OpenVersion.zip) has both disks and a Save disk.


     As Holger Picker mentioned, you can download CC from the publisher from
the MagicTree site. It's a newer version which, in most respects, is better
than the cracked version.

     The version on MagicTree does not have the input glitch; and, it includes
more in-game graphics-- like you get to see the Vampire when he interrupts your
meeting with the Princess. Definitely, it has a more polished look and feel.

     On the other hand, the new version does not include the intro stuff
available on the earlier version-- no Penguin, no meeting with the Boatman.
And, I don't like its response to LOOK-- it wants you to always enter something
to look at. The earlier version will accept just LOOK without complaint and
describe the current room.

     Also, the cracked earlier version is open-- you can CATALOG the files
under DOS 3.3 and load in and list, modify, etc. the main programs, which are
in BASIC.



Rubywand