Dallas Quest

The Dallas Quest

The Dallas Quest opening screen
Developer(s) Datasoft
Publisher(s) Datasoft
Programmer(s) Steve Bjork, James Garon and others
Artist(s) Joe Person & Kelly Day
Writer(s) Louella Lee Caraway & Phyllis Wapner
Engine Proprietary
Platform(s) Commodore 64
Apple IIe
Atari 8-bit
TRS-80 Color Computer
Release date(s) 1984
Genre(s) Adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

The Dallas Quest is an adventure programmed by Steve Bjork, James Garon and others, and published by Datasoft for the Tandy Color Computer, Commodore 64 computer in 1984. It is based on the television series Dallas. There was also a version for the Apple IIe and Atari 8-bit home computers as well as the TRS-80 Color Computer.

Premise

In the game, you are a famous detective who has been summoned to South Fork for a secret meeting with Sue Ellen. She has called you here to offer you a proposition. Sue Ellen is in possession of a letter from Jock Ewing written to Miss Ellie, describing an extremely rich oil field he had discovered during his stay in South America. When Jock left for his ill-fated trip back to Southfork Ranch, he carried a map of the oilfield with him. But he also took the precaution of leaving a copy of it with an old friend and former fellow wildcatter named "Chugalug" Jones who now runs a trading post in South America in a village called Playa Peligro. Should anything happen to Jock, Chugalug has been instructed to give the map only to the person who possesses a particular ring. This ring was enclosed with the letter written to Miss Ellie; also enclosed was a snapshot of Chugalug.

Sue Ellen explains that she wants the map for herself. She wants to become financially independent of J.R. so that if he begins pulling any of his old tricks she can use her own wealth to either make him behave or finance her escape from him. You must, therefore, avoid J.R. at all costs; first, because he will want to stop Sue Ellen from obtaining this independence, and second, because he will most assuredly feel that the map and the oil fields are rightfully his. J.R. will use any means to stop you!

Sue Ellen continues, saying that you will be paid very handsomely for your services and, if you find the map and return it safely to her, she will pay you a bonus of two million dollars. Unbeknownst to you and Sue Ellen, J.R. has been listening to your conversation while lurking in the hallway outside the living room doors. After Sue Ellen quickly gives you the snapshot, the ring, and $500,000 for expenses, she leaves you and proceeds upstairs to her room. You now must leave at once to meet the unknown challenges that await you.

Development

Lorimar Productions, the studio that produced the popular TV series Dallas, licensed the rights to its characters to Datasoft and provided a script by two writers for the show. James Garon adapted the script into a text adventure game, with graphics provided by professional artists.[1]

Reception

The game was positively received by Your Commodore. Their review praised the graphics which were considered to be some of the best in the genre, although their quality did mean that they "take a long time to be reproduced." A minor criticism was that there was not very much music, and that present was thought unimpressive. Overall the game was said to be "one of the best games out on the CBM64."[2]

References

  1. ↑ Springer, Steve (April 1984). "Who Programmed J.R.?". Ahoy!. p. 49. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
  2. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/02-your-commodore-magazine/Your_Commodore_Issue_02_1984_Nov#page/n31/mode/2up

External links

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