Proto:Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers

This page details one or more prototype versions of Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers.

To do: Find any additional differences I might have missed. Also, get some clean-up and more descriptions here.

Released by a cracking group named "The Humble Guys" a few months before the game's initial floppy release, this prototype lacks a lot of dialogue and contains several bugs.

General Differences

Unsurprisingly, many of the finishing touches are absent from this build. These include, but are not limited to...

• The score is always a "0 out of 69" in this build. There's no way to raise this score.
• Death dialogue boxes don't have unique pictures and just appear over gameplay.
• Several music stings and sound effects are missing in this build.
• Several Easter eggs are missing. Cutscenes in which to see these are usually locked off from player input in this build.

Debugging Abilities

As this is a prototype version, debugging material is available instantly. For starters, the player can teleport to any room in the game as soon as they boot up the game.

Be careful about this though, as several of the game's scripts are unstable and going to these rooms can sometimes crash the game. Also, a really detailed set of debug controls are available in this build.

Keys	Action
Alt + A	Show cast (info about all on-screen objects)
Alt + B	Removed; Game crashes
Alt + C	Show control layer
Alt + D	Internal debugger on room change (crashes due to removal)
Alt + E	Show information on Ego
Alt + F	Show stats for allocation of memory
Alt + G	Set/Clear Global variable
Alt + I	Get item
Alt + J	Justify text on-screen
Alt + M	Give yourself 20 buckazoids
Alt + N	Create a QA log entry
Alt + P	Show priority map
Alt + R	Show room info
Alt + T	Teleport to a room
Alt + W	Feature Writer (crashes)
Alt + Y	Adjust vanishing point
Alt + Z	Quit the game

(Source: HWM, ScummVM Wiki)

Room Differences

Xenon

• No warning about taking the unstable ordinance, though the text is in this version. You also cannot place the ordinance back into the tank.

Sewers

• No warning that no backtracking can occur after going into the sewers.

Estros

• Roger's dialogue appears on the top of the screen during his first encounter with the Latex Babes, instead of the bottom-left.

Mall

• Ms. Astro Chicken is not implemented in the build.
• No option to not play the Monolith Burger making game.

Ulence Flats

• No warning as to when the bikers are coming toward Roger.

Cutscenes

• There's a line connecting "Uh, yeah." to Roger in the opening.
• No special fanfare (or false fanfare) when using the Timepod.
• The sequence where Roger Jr. is taken to Vohaul is in Script 150 in the prototype, but Script 153 in the final version.

Graphical Differences

• The titles for the sections of the game are displayed as color text on a black background. It's consistently black text on a grey background in the final game.
• Some graphics in the mall sections are corrupted - most notably in the Arcade and the Radioshock/Hz So Good store.
• The icon of the Two Guys from Andromeda in the quit box is not drawn yet; instead, a placeholder graphic with "View 946" is shown.

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Roger's shirt is all pink inside the ship in the prototype. More importantly, the buttons are more visible in the final version.

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The time pod's in-game sprite has a yellow highlight removed from the final version.

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Zondra is missing her boots in this scene. Her position is also changed with in-game sprites to make it seem slightly less lopsided. Also, a single purple pixel hiding behind her arm was fixed.

Strangely, this scene was kept intact in the EGA floppy version and even re-used in "Take A Break! Pinball".

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This scene of Ulence Flats is a little unfinished in the prototype, notable in the background barriers and the crevices in the Droids'B'Us building. The gate was also redrawn to make it clearer the player can't enter in there.

Unused Graphics

While the keycard's cursor icon survived into the final game, it has an inventory image that was scrapped.

Text Differences

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As we rejoin our friend and semi-hero Roger Wilco we find him rocketing back toward his home planet of Xenon which he hasn't seen since Space Quest 2. Having worked hard to rescue those two ingrates from Andromeda he decides a pit stop at a little watering hole on the planet Magmetheus is in order.	We rejoin our friend and semi-hero Roger Wilco as he rockets back toward his home planet, Xenon, which he hasn't seen since Space Quest II. Having successfully rescued those two ingrates from Andromeda he decides a pit stop on Magmetheus is in order.

Some rewording here, making sure that the two guys from Andromeda were actually rescued.

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We have confirmation of his current position, sir.	We have confirmation of his position, Master.

Sludge becomes a master.

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Proceed to Magmetheus! Our unworthy prey awaits.	Off to Magmetheus with you then! It is time for Wilco to meet the fate which I have crafted for him.

Sludge calls Wilco "unworthy prey", but restrains from this in the final game.

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**Looks like a cross between a praying mantis and E.T.	It looks like a cross between a praying mantis and Richard Nixon.

Despite going unused in the final version, this description was changed to avoid a reference to E.T.

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Hey, what the... Listen! There's no time to explain! They've got a bead on our coordinates!	Hey! I wanna know what the... Listen! I can't explain it all to you now! They've got a bead on our coordinates! We've got to move fast!

The dialogue is expanded in the final version.

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** You discard the worn rope as it has frayed to uselessness.	The stress placed on the rope during the bunny snatching was too much. You cast the useless fibers aside.

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*** The door's locked from the other side.	This hatch opens from the other side only.

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*** Smells like your common variety of green slime.	What were you expecting, Lime Slime? You notice a burning sensation when you get a strong whiff.

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*** Be patient... it's almost in the right position!	Not quite yet... wait until it's in the right position!

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I'd be staying clear of that slime puddle at all possible opportunities.	You scoop up the slimy secretion. Better get away now before it scoops you up!

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*** You ran out of time	You took a little too long. Now it's slime time!

The messages for dealing with the slime were slightly reworded.

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*** You look at your puny piece of rope and realize that it wouldn't be strong enough to hold this puppy to the ground.	You examine your puny piece of rope and realize that it wouldn't be strong enough to hold this puppy to the ground.

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*** There is no way you can budge the landing gear on this monster.	You can't budge this.

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*** If you took the ship you would have no way of carrying it around.	Your pockets aren't big enough.

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*** You can't do anything with the ship from here.	If you can do anything with the ship you certainly can't do it from here.

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*** It looks like a little shuttle has arrived.	You look at the finely-sculpted ship. It looks to have been designed for atmospheric operation - probably used solely for patrol excursions.

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You are in the southern area of a rare clearing in this destroyed cityscape. All around you inanimate victims of war litter the streets. Your home as you remembered it does not exist in this period of Xenon's time. A huge boil of a structure clogs the horizon.	It looks like a graphic referenced repeatedly in a product use brochure for a line of foot care aids. Speaking of foot care, you haven't changed your socks in a couple of sequels. It conjures an unpleasant olfactory image.

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** Your head is flattening out very nicely.	Your head is unusually well suited to serve as a manhole coaster.

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A sleek ship occupies the area presently.	A sleek patrol transport occupies the area presently.

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*** Worrying about your hair is about the last thing on your mind right now!	Your hair is the last thing on your mind right now (even though it is on top of your head)!

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*** The policeman has no distinct smell, but in a week things might be different.	At this moment the Sequel policeman has no distinct smell other than that of someone with less than exemplary personal hygiene habits. Give him a few days or so and he'll be quite aromatic, not to mention pumped up like a ball park frank!

There's a much more expanded description upon smelling the sequel policeman's corpse in the nest.

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*** Please, this is a family oriented game!	Take it from someone who knows sick. Licking corpses is going way beyond just pushing the envelope of dementia. Grab the reins, pal.

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*** You get the feeling that your not alone.	A mysterious shadow quickly moves from your view.

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**Restraining belt. **Man strapper restraint system.	restraint It's a Mantrap restraint system.

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**The slug's mouth.	It's the slug's intake orifice. Looks pretty disgusting, don't you think?

Plain placeholder here.

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**A very dexterous mouth for a slug.	My, this slug has a very dexterous mouth.

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**Sea slime slowly oozes down the fin of this hideous creature.	Sea water and slug slime slowly ooze down the fin of this hideous creature.

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**Slug spit. Looks appetizing huh.	It's slug spit! Looks appetizing, huh.

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**Bulging bug eyed steaming slug head.	It looks like the internal pressure of the slug is starting to exceed its external strength

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**Better take cover slimy slug guts are gonna fly.	Better take cover. It looks like slimey slug guts are gonna fly.

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Yep, it's that nasty slug tongue again. Amazing what he can do with that thing isn't it?	Yep, it's that nasty slug tongue again. Scary to think of what he can do with that thing, isn't it?

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** you look, but by staring may draw some unwanted attention.	You look briefly, careful not to attract any attention. AS YOU CAN SEE, they are clad in dark uniforms, wearing helmets and carrying guns.

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** dispatch building lookStr	It looks to be a sealed, reinforced structure which houses dispatch communications and monitoring equipment.

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*** you need the Reveal-O-Matic Hint Revealer.	You'll need the Reveal-O-Matic Hint Revealer.

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*** the Reveal-O-Matic is out of juice.	Sorry. Your Reveal-O-Matic seems to have exhausted its power supply. You'll have to contact the now defunct supplier for a replacement.

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*** Only half the answer showed, must be a faulty hint.	Oh, great! Only half the answer showed! It must be a defective hint module.

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***Thanks to your janitor ingenuity, the doorlock is now destroyed and you may enter and leave at will.	Thanks to your janitorial ingenuity, the doorlock is now destroyed and you may enter and leave at will.

Slight fix here to add a suffix.

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Hi there. I'm Vohaul/Roger Jr., and you're not.	Hee, hee, hee! Hello again, Roger. It's me - your old friend Sludge Vohaul. I've taken the liberty of borrowing your son's body. I had to remove him first to make room for my mental self. His is on this disk. I must say, it is most enjoyable to be in a young, healthy body - even if it is from YOUR blood line.

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*** Whew! You were nearly thrown off the edge of the platform.	Whew! You were nearly thrown off the edge of the platform! Be more careful!

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C'mon, ya yellow-bellied cheese head!	Is that the best effort you can muster? All this space hero nonsense must be getting to you. You're getting OLD, Roger! I, on the other hand am enjoying the physical joys of youth.

The prototype dialogue is obviously a placeholder.

Hi, Dad.  Let's go somewhere near a dangerous, 
mind-boggling drop to certain death and exchange
insults about each other's looks..

Said by Roger Jr. before the game's ending sequence.

*** about screen
*** this thing can be anything  we want.  We can do line draws &
    draw cels, and all the stuff that could potentially make it look like the control panel.

At this point, the about screen is not ready yet, so this placeholder is here instead.

Mall

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***1 Hey! Beats an inflatable pleasure droid	"Would stripes look good on me", you wonder? Those boots are attractive.

The mannequins have a singular description here, which is rather inappropriate.

Maebot is completely different in this version. Here, they're named Gaybot (yes, really) and speak in a very stereotypical manner of gays.

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**Greetingss, I'm sssir Gaybot, what can I do with... err for you? ***I.. uh.. well... **Looking for the latest in high galactic polyfiber fashion. **Yeah I... uh.. guess so. **Shopping for that ssspecial sssomeone or is thiss for yoursself? **Actually it's for... someone else.. yeah thats it, someone else. **Mmmm I ssee, ssay no more I understand perfectly.. this sspecial ssomeone has the same measurements, I presume? **Uh yeah thats right, how did you know? **Don't worry luv, I have a reputation for keeping a ssecret. Now I have just the thing, it's all the rage.

Hiya, hon. I'm Maebot, fashion consultant to the cosmos. What can we do with ya today? Well, uh, this is kinda hard to explain... Oh, let me guess. You want something for someone very special, somebody who'd die to get the latest in high-galactic fashion. Are we right or are we right? Uh...we're right. Okay, what size does she take? 38. Ooh, I don't think we're right about that. Um, I'm...uh...I'm not sure, but she's, um, built about like me. Is she? A likely story. Good thing for you I can keep a secret, sweetie.

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**Ssince you are the ssame ssize why don't you try these on, the changing room is here to the right. **Ssay, why don't you try thiss on too, it's one of my personal favorites. **Oooh you look delicious, you'll... I mean she'll be so pleased!	I'm sure this will suit that 'special someone's needs'. It's all the rage. I suppose you'll want to try it on now. Here, use this dressing room. And honey, if your 'special someone' needs a wig, this one should look pretty good on you. Very lovely, honey, it's made for you. Would you like us to wrap it up, or would that 'special someone' prefer you to wear it home? I think I'll wear it home.

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**Ssay you should have your hearing checked, I said it will be %3d buckazoids please.	Are you in need of an auditory exam or what? I said it will be %3d buckazoids please.

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**I think your cute too, but looks won't pay for those designer duds.	I think you're cute too, but looks won't pay for those designer duds.

A typical typo fixed for the final version.

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Welcome, sir. How may I help you?	Pardon me, sir. You appear to be in dire need of my services.

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We have a nice line of apparel for the generic space hero. ** Here you are sir. You may try this on in the dressing room, just to my right. That will be twenty Buckaziods, please.	I see. Well, alright, let me get your measurements. I assume you'll be wanting something in the generic space hero line. These will do for you. Try them on in the dressing room here, if you wish. That will be 20 buckazoids, please

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Yes. I've misplaced the legs of my pants. My boots seem to missing as well.	I'm sorry, I lost my boots and the legs of my pants in a deadly fight with a giant sea slug, which I won in the nick of time with my clever thinking and my...uh...cleverness.

Roger gives a better-ish reason as to what happened to his boots and pants.

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** lights are used to brighten the display case.	Small fixtures emit rays of visible light greatly aiding the sighted shopper.

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** lights are used to brighten the display case.	Small fixtures emit rays of visible light greatly aiding the sighted shopper.

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Ah, I see you've made a selection from our box of shi..er, bargain bin.	Ah, I see you've made a selection from our box of slop..er, bargain bin

The retail store clerk comes VERY close to saying "shit", which would have been quite a surprise.

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*** The clerk was right, there is only boring applications software left.	The clerk was right. Only boring applications software remains.

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** A bargain bin contains discount software.	A bargain bin containing discount software.

Removed Text

*** Gee, I guess that way doesn't go anywhere.

*** Well... here we are, Roger, what are you going to do this time?

You engage in a meaningful conversation with the %s.
I guess that just doesn't work with the %s.
You've smelled better.
You smell nothing of interest.
That's funny, no taste.

Generic placeholder lines for interacting with anything that doesn't have a specific dialogue.

You are in the northwest corner of a small 
clearing on the otherwise rubble-choked streets of Xenon.

You have no use for the skulls, vertebras, bone shards,
dried cartilage, jerkified tendons, and pecked-clean
ligaments strewn about the nest.

An additional message for trying to grab something off the sequel policeman's corpse in the bird's nest.

Your last name might as well be `Lindsley' now.

A possible reference to Sierra programmer Robert Lindsley. Found within Ulence Flats's text data.

HOOK - What you see out the window msg goes here.

It's a rerun of "I Love Lunacy"

A couple of extra messages for searching around the patrol ship. In the final game, it shows a still picture of a title card saying "I Love Lunacy" instead of telling you what should be on the screen.

Wasted and semi-wasted buildings fill
the view of Xenon from up here.
The battles waged here were fierce
and all-encompassing.

Ego falls off the edge and dies.

Placeholder message for when Roger falls off at the end.

 *** You are somewhere.

Found inside Script 355, which is otherwise empty in this build.

Sound Differences

The prototype's PC speaker soundtrack is a poor conversion of a multi-channel soundtrack. It was reworked for the final version.

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