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Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Sun Aug 02, 2020 8:33 pm
by Collector
The Ultimate King's Quest IV

There are several versions of Sierra's first SCI game, "King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella". In addition to revisions of the PC version, there were ports for other platforms. These ports often had different features based on what the abilities of the target platform. The Amiga port had digital sound effects for environmental sounds, which was missing from the PC version. NewRisingSun, famous for his timer bug patches for several problematic SCI games and SCI sound driver hacks has created a patch to add these environmental sounds from the Amiga version to the PC version.
KQ41_000_111.png
NewRisingSun wrote:In my view, there is no "perfect" version of KQ4:
[*]PC version 1.000.106 and 1.000.111 are the only ones with the original detailed graphics. For later versions (1.003.006 onwards), Sierra would simplify the background graphics to make the game fit on one 5.25 inch diskette, removing background detail and separate night pictures.

See http://queststudios.com/smf/index.php/topic,2802.0.html

[*]PC version 1.006.004 is the latest PC version and has the main character walking faster diagonally. It also changes the arrangement for the Fisherman's theme (for the better), and replaces "Lolotte's death" music with a completely different (more appropriate) tune.
[*]Amiga Version 1.023 is the only one with environmental sound effects, and a few additional incidental sound effects as well. The music is horrendous on the other hand.
[*]AGI version 2.0 is the only one with the "beam me" Easter egg.

I therefore tried to combine the best from all versions. So far, I have succeeded combining the first three. I am releasing this as a preliminary patch in the event that someone wants to try it.
The end result is a version that combines all of the best features from the various versions and can be played in DOSBox with the higher detailed graphics, improved sprite movement, Roland MT-32 music with the Amiga sound effects and the AGI "beam me" Easter egg.



The original NRS KQ4 patch only worked with the PC version 1.000.111 and required the extracted files from the Amiga version 1.023. You had to install the Amiga version in an emulator like WinUAE to get the files for his patch to extract the Amiga audio resources. This can be involved if you do not already have an emulator setup. It also used some DOS based tools to modify the files, so his patch had to be run in DOSBox for anyone on x64 Windows.

This installer uses a binary level difference patch that automatically patches the game. It will work with PC versions 1.000.111 and 1.006.004 with no need to extract the audio resources from the Amiga version. This is all done completely from Windows, even x64. This installer also takes advantage of a special build of DOSBox with Munt for Roland sound.

Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 1:44 am
by Tawmis
<3 King's Quest IV <3

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2020 10:32 pm
by MusicallyInspired
I need to get a hold of the Amiga version of KQ4...

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 5:07 pm
by Collector
Don't need it with this installer. Just any DOS version of KQ4SCI. NRS's patch required it, but this one includes a binary difference patch that includes what is needed based upon the version you are installing. It only uses some audio resources and the driver from the Amiga version. That is really no different than most SCI patches that include updated resources and or drivers.

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 5:39 am
by OmerMor
I don't think the "beam me" easter is included.

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 6:34 am
by Collector
Wasn't that only in the AGI 2.0 release?

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 10:00 am
by MusicallyInspired
Yeah, only AGI. I think I recall at one point he was asking if anyone was interested in making SCI resources of that egg so he could implement it, but nobody did. I gave it a shot but my SCI Picture resource drawing skills are subpar in my opinion.

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 2:06 pm
by OmerMor
Collector wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2020 6:34 am Wasn't that only in the AGI 2.0 release?
Indeed.
I mentioned it because you wrote the following:
The end result is a version that combines all of the best features from the various versions and can be played in DOSBox with the higher detailed graphics, improved sprite movement, Roland MT-32 music with the Amiga sound effects and the AGI "beam me" Easter egg.

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 2:39 pm
by Tawmis
MusicallyInspired wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2020 10:00 am Yeah, only AGI. I think I recall at one point he was asking if anyone was interested in making SCI resources of that egg so he could implement it, but nobody did. I gave it a shot but my SCI Picture resource drawing skills are subpar in my opinion.
Could you export the AGI screens into SCI - and then touch them up in an SCI Editor?
#TalkingOutMyRump

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 3:43 pm
by Collector
OmerMor wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2020 2:06 pm I mentioned it because you wrote the following:
The end result is a version that combines all of the best features from the various versions and can be played in DOSBox with the higher detailed graphics, improved sprite movement, Roland MT-32 music with the Amiga sound effects and the AGI "beam me" Easter egg.
Copy and past thing. I copied a list of version differences and pasted it into the message. Did not intend to suggest that it adds the AGI Easter eggs into the final SCI result.

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 3:44 pm
by Collector
Tawmis wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2020 2:39 pm
MusicallyInspired wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2020 10:00 am Yeah, only AGI. I think I recall at one point he was asking if anyone was interested in making SCI resources of that egg so he could implement it, but nobody did. I gave it a shot but my SCI Picture resource drawing skills are subpar in my opinion.
Could you export the AGI screens into SCI - and then touch them up in an SCI Editor?
#TalkingOutMyRump
Yes, but you would still need to script it.

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 7:28 pm
by Tawmis
Collector wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2020 3:44 pm
Tawmis wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2020 2:39 pm
MusicallyInspired wrote: Wed Aug 05, 2020 10:00 am Yeah, only AGI. I think I recall at one point he was asking if anyone was interested in making SCI resources of that egg so he could implement it, but nobody did. I gave it a shot but my SCI Picture resource drawing skills are subpar in my opinion.
Could you export the AGI screens into SCI - and then touch them up in an SCI Editor?
#TalkingOutMyRump
Yes, but you would still need to script it.
He only mentioned his DRAWING skills in SCI were subpar. :D

Re: Ultimate King's Quest 4 with Amiga sounds and Munt

Posted: Wed Aug 05, 2020 10:52 pm
by MusicallyInspired
Yeah, but it wouldn't be without error. Even so, it'd be better if it were handmade in the quality that SCI is capable of. If only to match the rest of the game.