Psionics

[TheEseth]

Hello fellow abandonware lovers,

I would like to take a moment of your time and see if anyone can remember this game I have in mind...

As the thread title suggests it is a turn based sci-fi DOS. Here's what else I can remember about it:

It was very dark (atsmospherically and graphically), set in a spaceship or space station... You start either at the lowest or the highest deck level and need to go all the way up or down. I might be wrong but the game had 9 or 10 of these levels. Each level was significantly harder but there was loot, weapons... At the first level you basically battle against rats. Giant rats or mutated rats or both, I don't remember. Either I was bad at that game or it was really hard at the start because you started almost naked and the mentioned rats sometimes ate you swiftly.
I also remember the death screen a bit. It showed a skull (I think) and said something like "ALAS YOU HAVE PERISHED RADDARADDA".

Hope this will be enough and someone will help me remember it :) I'm really eager to beat this game because I'm still angry and provoked by that death screen...

[TotalAnarchy]

What about the perspective: first-person, third-person, top-down...? And the graphics: were they 4-color graphics (CGA) or better?

[DarthHelmet86]

Could it be something like System Shock (http://www.abandonia.com/en/games/24684/System+Shock.html)? Even if it is not that game is that the style? Or was it top down or isometric perhaps?

[Pex]

Starts the same as Fallout, and even death screen is similar, but that's where all similarities end... Sorry for not helping :whistling:

[TheEseth]

@TotalAnarchy it is a first person game, you only see what you're facing, like in old RPG's like Might and Magic.
There were few colors.. mostly black and white but there could have been some more.. I think I remember some walls of levels being teal, pink, purple.

@DarthHelmet86 it is a bit like System Shock but turn based, less colorful. And older, pretty sure.

@Pex Yeah, rats and stuff are similar to Fallout :D

[TheEseth]

Also, walls and basically surroundings in that game are very similar to how it looks in Wizardry 1. Except that, I remember that the window of player's vision is not taking the whole screen but rather is situated top left and the rest of the screen is filled with statistics and game messages.

[yoga]

Also, walls and basically surroundings in that game are very similar to how it looks in Wizardry 1. Except that, I remember that the window of player's vision is not taking the whole screen but rather is situated top left and the rest of the screen is filled with statistics and game messages.

:smile2:
Do You checked Games in AB yet?

[TheEseth]

@yoga I had, twice, but not 120% thoroughly so there is a tiny chance I missed it.

[TheEseth]

I found out that this game is very similar to Xenomorph, only it is way darker and grotesque.

[TotalAnarchy]

Could it be something like Mines of Titan (http://www.mobygames.com/game/mars-saga)?

[TheEseth]

@TotalAnarchy Wow, very similar.. The HUD especially. Yet in my mentioned game you only control one character. And there are less colors. And almost everything and everyone around the ship/station is hostile or if friendly - dying.

[hunvagy]

Captive (http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/captive/screenshots) maybe?

[TheEseth]

@hunvagy Unfortunately not. This one is somewhat similar but just too colorful and looks like you control more than one character? So no. But the HUD is quite similar.

[RRS]

Did you browse the games here? (http://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/dos/role-playing-rpg/sci-fi-futuristic/)

[TheEseth]

@RRS I just did. Even without the RPG filter, spent around 2 hours.

I'm 99% sure that this game is not listed in MobyGames. I think it's lost. The closest game I could find was Spacewrecked: 14 Billion Light Years From Earth (http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/spacewrecked-14-billion-light-years-from-earth). I guess I'll have to play this one :(

[RRS]

It won't hurt to ask the same question on MobyGames forum.

[TotalAnarchy]

I can't even believe there's a sci-fi RPG that asks you to kill rats in your first encounter. I know Sentinel Worlds I has rats, but I thought that was one of the exceptions. :p

[The Fifth Horseman]

It's a looong shot, but perhaps this? http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/cosmic-soldier-psychic-war

[TheEseth]

It's a looong shot, but perhaps this? http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/cosmic-soldier-psychic-war

Unfortunately not :) This one looks way too chaotic.

[TheEseth]

At last. A lad at MobyGames remembered the name of this game. It is Psionics (http://www.uvlist.net/game-106989)

Now I only need to find where to dl it from :D

[DarthHelmet86]

Well if it meets our rules to be on site and someone has it and someone reviews it that could be here. If someone did get a copy would you be able to write us up a review for it? After playing it again for a bit that is so you can remember it. :p

[TheEseth]

Well if it meets our rules to be on site and someone has it and someone reviews it that could be here. If someone did get a copy would you be able to write us up a review for it? After playing it again for a bit that is so you can remember it. :p

It would be a pleasure.

[DarthHelmet86]

Well I will rename this thread to the games name then move it into just the Requests forum and see if anyone can get us a copy.

Edit: I have an archive for this game if it does get approved.

[The Fifth Horseman]

The author describes it as shareware, though it seems to be closer to the current definition of freeware.
http://cd.textfiles.com/softkeyep/PROGRAMS/DOSGAMES/ARCADE2/PSI10/MANUAL.TEX
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS SOFTWARE MAY BE DISTRIBUTED:

Individual users may freely copy this software and share it with friends
and family.
Groups, BBS's, and Distributors may distribute this software subject to
the following conditions:
1) The files on each disk may not be modified or adapted in any
way. All the files provided on the disk must be distributed
together. Individual files or groups of files may not be sold
separately. Additional files may be added and this software may
be combined on a disk with other programs.
2) This software may not be represented as anything other than
shareware. The fact that this is shareware must be include in
any ad or packaging that is used to market or display the disk.
3) If the files are to be zipped for modem transmission, then
the files should all be included in the file "PSI10.ZIP".
The following command will do this if you have PKZIP installed
on your computer and you are in the correct directory.
PKZIP PSI10.ZIP *.PSI *.NAC *.EXE *.DOC
4) You must immediately stop selling or distributing copies of
this program upon notice from the author(Adam Stanchos) or Nachos
Software.

================================================== ====================

Though not necessary, you may register this software. By sending
$10.00 US dollars to the author's address at the end of this document,
you will receive:
- The latest version of Psionics on disk. (Specify 3.5" or 5.25" disk.
Also specify DS or HD disk capacity.)
- A Printed Manual.
- And a clue booklet, detailing the levels of Nexus and a list of
monsters and items.

================================================== ====================
Programed by Adam Stanchos.
Thanks to Jason Duke for some valuable playtesting.
This game was written in Microsoft QuickBasic 4.5.

If you wish, you can reach the author on the following:

The Academy VSBBS
(915)598-3080 - Screen Name: Adam Stanchos 1503

America Online - Screen Name: AdamS60982


Or write:
Adam Stanchos
6232 Constellation
El Paso, TX 79912

[DarthHelmet86]

Does that apply to the full game...or is there a shareware version that is only a part of it? I don't know enough about this to say either way so you lot let us know what is going to happen and I will throw the archive up on the FTP if it is allowed. I will even name the zip "PSI10.ZIP" if needed. :p

[Smiling Spectre]

Well, as author do not offer another, "full" copy for donators, I suppose, there is no such thing. I.e. "shareware"="full" in this case. :)

...Hmm, on the other hand, he offers "latest" copy... I don't know then.

...BTW, is it only for me, or cd.textfiles modified it's directory access to much less attractive one? (There was standard ftp-like interface before and only bare links now for me).

[RRS]

It would be a pleasure.
Now that you have an account, it would be only fair to add the entry to MobyGames as well - after all, you've identified this title thanks to them ;)

Even a short description will do (I guess this is easier/quicker done than a review).

[RRS]

Do I have to do everything myself?
http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/psionics

[TotalAnarchy]

Do I have to do everything myself?
http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/psionics

You enjoy it anyway :p

[RRS]

You enjoy it anyway :p
A kind of guilty pleasure, indeed, is this writing of short descriptions for old games... almost like uploading stuff on an abandonware related website :whistling: