Space Quest: Chapter I - The Sarien Encounter (1986)

Space Quest: Chapter I - The Sarien Encounter
Developer: Sierra On-Line Publisher: Sierra On-Line Platforms: DOS, Apple II, Apple IIGS, Amiga, Atari ST, Mac OS Classic Released in US: October 1986 This game has hidden development-related text. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused items. This game has unused music. This game has unused sounds. This game has unused text. This game has debugging material. This game has a hidden level select. This game has revisional differences. This game has a notes page

> LOOK ARTICLE

Say, there's a bunch of junk on here from Space Quest 1!

Strange, you don't recognize most of this. This conglomeration of curious content was clearly cut from the completed game.

Either that, or you've taken one too many whiffs from cleaning solvents.

> _

ENABLE DEBUG

Press Alt+D to enable some debugging functions. These features are disabled upon entering a new room.

Here's the complete word list:

• TP: Teleport to the appropriate room.
• POS: Set Roger's X and Y positions.
• GET OBJECT: Puts the appropriate object by ID in the player's inventory.
• OBJECT or SP: Gives status on the appropriate object.
• SET VAR: Sets a chosen variable to a given value.
• SHOW VAR: Displays the value of a variable.
• SET FLAG: Sets the appropriate flag.
• RESET FLAG: Resets the appropriate flag.
• SHOW FLAG: Displays info on a flag (Can be either set or not set).
• CASH: Allows the player to set the number of Buckazoids they have.
• DRINK CLOTHES: Changes Roger's outfit to his excursion garb.
• BE ALIEN: Changes Roger's outfit to the Sarien disguise.
• DRINK JET PACK: Equips Roger with the jet pack.
• NO HELMET: Changes Roger's outfit to the Sarien disguise, sans helmet.

• SHOW MEM: Displays info on memory use.

• SHOW PRI: Displays priority settings on the current room.

SEARCH LOGICS

Code that's never called anywhere in the game.

Logic 4

If you return to the room you start in (logic 2) on the upper level, there's a 21% chance that three guards show up marching on the lower level. The same code exists in logic 4, but due to a coding bug they never show up (you'd have to enter from the right side with an Y coordinate less than 80; and in that room the exit is placed lower than that; and repositioning the player occurs after this step). It is possible to get them to show up anyway with the debug mode, by repeatedly teleporting from room 4 to room 4; at this point, they'll promptly get stuck behind one of the corpses.

Logic 118

This appears to be an early version of the wandering Sarien logic used on the Arcada. There are only two messages in this logic compared to the final logic's five. Notably missing are the footstep messages that are used to alert the player.

This logic was removed from the game's resources in Version 2.2.

Message 3	Message 4
Unable to see anyone here, the alien leaves to search elsewhere.	The Sarien crewman stands over you radiating a chill you can no longer sense. His unblinking stare searches for confirmation of the kill.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

LOOK AT GRAPHICS

Three static Sarien guards. Their design here is a lot beefier than their finalized look.

The first three frames of Orat swelling up from eating the can of dehydrated water aren't used. It's a little animation of Orat actually examining the can before eating the thing. Apparently, at one point, you could GIVE CAN instead of throwing it at him.

Note the yellow eyes on Orat. He has green eyes in the final game, but these frames were never updated to match.

Old (Picture 63)	Final (Picture 65)

Picture 63 -- removed from Version 2.2 -- is an older version of the Star Generator keypad. The only difference is the lack of an enter button.

Wow! Exciting stuff.

(Source: SpaceQuest.net, Original TCRF research)

CHECK OUT ITEMS

None of these items have descriptions or graphics. They're just kinda there.

Life Detector

Item ID: 01 (Versions 1.0x & 1.1a only)
This item was removed entirely from version 2.2. There's no code in the game that references it. All that was ever done (or is left in the code) is the object name and ID.

Own 1 Used Ship

Item ID: 0D (Versions 1.0x & 1.1a), 20 (Version 2.2)
Presumably this would be given to the player when they bought the correct ship. This is referenced once in the back lot of Tiny's Used Spacecrafts, where it would remove Tiny from the screen if it was obtained.

Control

Item ID: 14 (Versions 1.0x & 1.1a), 15 (Version 2.2)
This item actually has a unique use message!
When the player types PRESS BUTTON or PRESS CONTROL BUTTON with this item in their inventory, and the player is not in the Deltaur's Star Generator room, the following message is displayed:

You press the button on the
remote control but notice
nothing different.

It's possible that this item was accidentally created in the object list. There's a Remote Control item in the game, and its only use is in the Star Generator room. It probably should have used this code.

Pocket Lint

Item ID: 23 (All versions)
Probably a joke item. On the room to the right of the starting screen, you can type GET LINT and get a special message, but this item isn't added to the inventory.

In Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards, Larry starts the game with pocket lint in his inventory, with its description stating "why is this stuff in every adventure game?", so it was probably an inside joke at Sierra.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

EXAMINE TEXT

ID	Message	Notes
General Logic
9	The can gives only one size of serving, 10 gallons. I don't think you're that thirsty.	This message would appear if the player tried to drink the entire can of dehydrated water.
53	You just had a drink. You'd better ration your supply. This place is hot!	At one point, there was a limit on how many times you could drink from the can of dehydrated water. The way it is in the final game, the player can drink from the can as many times as they want.
114	Sorry, you'll have to go back into the bar to do that.	This would likely appear by inputting the command BUY BEER outside of the bar.
Logic 1 - Data Archive
4	The screen says "Type the word `find` followed by the first name of the desired cartridge title."	This hints at an older version of the Cartridge Retrieval system. The final system has its own screen and prompt, so the "FIND" command does nothing special in this room.
16	He certainly looks dead. Do you get off on checking out stiffs?	An earlier, alternate dialogue for typing LOOK BODY.
38	There is no time for that. The alien attackers are on their way.	An unused warning for trying to insert the cartridge into the computer?
49	I warned you, but noooooo! Did you listen?!	And here's the narrator mocking you for not obeying said warning and getting shot.
Logic 2 - Starting Screen
2	You recognize this as your sanitation supply closet. You have spent many hours sleeping in it.	At one point, LOOK CLOSET might have had a different response than "LOOK DOOR".
9	The doors here are not particularly interesting.	An alternate message for "LOOK DOOR".
19	The door is closed, fool!	Possible response from typing "LOOK CLOSET" while the door is closed.
Logic 7 - Room Before Flight Prep Room
8	<word1> <word2>? I'm sorry, <name>. You can't do that. I question your mental fitness.	A humorous error message that could have been used for a multitude of things.
Logic 8 - Vehicle Bay
5	Sorry, <name>. You can't enter the Escape Pod when the Vehicle Bay doors are closed.	It's impossible for the escape pod to even be in the room while the bay doors are closed.
7	The Vehicle Bay Door is quite large.	A rather bland message that was replaced with a different bit of descriptive text.
Logic 9 - Flight Prep Room
12	Your sight isn't what it once was. Maybe mom and dad weren't kidding. Anyway, you'll have to get closer.	An amusing message that might have been prompted by typing LOOK SIGN a significant distance away.
33	The elevator door opens automatically and the others open by pushing buttons.	This was split into two messages in the final version. The message displayed depends on where the player is in the room.
Logic 19 - Mesa Center
	This is one of the electronic barrier stations encircling Ulence Flats. Its force field keeps out anything or anyone traveling on or under ground.	This room shares some of its logic with Ulence Flats, i.e. a call to logic 107. This contains a number of default responses, including this one to "look barrier". Obviously there is no barrier at the mesa.
Logic 23 - Mesa Southeast
	Fortunately for you, the path here is not far above the ground. Your suffering is limited to a dull pain in the hindquarters.	This room contains logic for falling off the cliff, which is lethal in other rooms but only embarrassing here. However, due to the room layout, it is not possible to fall off the cliff. It was likely possible in an earlier version.
Logic 26 - Grate Room
1	rock taken	Given their blandness and lack of capitalization, these are very likely placeholder or test messages. No messages are displayed for these actions in the final game.
2	geyser plugged
4	geyser unplugged
Logic 28 - Laser Machine Room
9	You are in a large room in the cavern. There is a level area below. Standing toward the bottom are two odd-looking units emitting beams of light.	This is displayed with the command "LOOK AREA" on the upper path with the laser machine intact. This is impossible, since the player can't reach the upper path without destroying the laser machine.
Logic 30 - Pod Crash Site
8	Hold your breath!	Unknown. Probably response to inputting some stupid in the parser.
Logic 34 - Tiny's Used Spacecrafts
5	"So whaddaya think? Is she a diamond in the rough, or what? And only 129 buckazoids."	There's no ship that Tiny sells for 129 buckazoids in the finalized game.
Logic 35 - Outside of Bar
26	Ulence Flats is a typical example of some of the frontier settlements that sprang up in the early days of the Outer Zone exploration several years ago. Unfortunately, this attracted many unsavory individuals looking to make a quick buckazoid. Caution is advised.	Unlike most of the messages on this list, this is rendered unused due to an oversight. There are meant to be two descriptions: One for "LOOK AREA", and one for "LOOK CITY". However, the check for the first message includes both "LOOK AREA" and "LOOK CITY". So, because the first check catches both inputs, the first description is always used. Kind of a shame too, since this description gives the city more character. This is properly used, with a bit of minor rewording, in the SCI remake.
28	Turning the key does no good since the skimmer was programmed to get here and go no further.	An alternate explanation for why turning the skimmer key does nothing. The final game explains that the skimmer ran out of power.
Logic 36 - Behind Bar
34	"I warned you, but, did you listen?"	Probably intended to be said by the mugger, right before he shoots you for trying to get away.
Logic 37 - Tiny's Back Lot
20	It won't do you any good to be in the ship without a droid to operate it.	A message for a check that's never performed in the final game.
30	"Say what?"	An unused generic response to giving an invalid sector to the pilot droid, perhaps.
Logic 57 - Deltaur Storage Room
10	You hear strange voices coming toward you!	A line that would pop up before the trunk was picked up by the Sarien guards.
Logic 70 - Rocket Bar
9	You're not close enough to play.	Since you just have to walk up to the slot machine to play it, these aren't needed. Perhaps at one point you had to type PLAY GAME to activate the machine.
10	Sorry, someone is currently playing. Wait your turn.
43	"Whatever you say."	A nondescript line for the barkeep.
Logic 73 - Daventry Zone
1	You have this strange sinking feeling.	This would be used after crashing into the Daventry moat.
Logic 100 - Death Parser
7	How about that darn artificial gravity, <name>. Just like the real thing, huh?	A message for falling from a great height in one of the spaceships. That situation never comes up.
16	You've been mowed down by a Deltaur crewthing.	Unlike the previous message this has a bit of coding associated with it. If the death value (Var 130) was ever set to 24, this message would be displayed.
18	Not being a very smooth thief you have been caught and dealt with appropriately.	An unused death message for trying to steal from the Deltaur armory. If the death value is set to 25, this text is displayed.
31	Alas, <name>, you have failed in your attempt to save the universe from the clutches of the Sariens.	Out of three generic death messages, only one is used. This is one of the two that's not. At one point, the generic death message might have been randomized like in Space Quest II.
32	Once again, you've demonstrated your inability to carry out a simple task like saving all of humanity. You quickly glance around the room to see if anyone saw your silly mistake. Thank you for playing Space Quest, <name>. You've been most entertaining.	This is the other one. Interestingly, this is very similar to two of the generic death messages in Space Quest II.
Logic 110 - Spider Droid Logic
2	Not many tales are told of the spider droids due to a lack of live witnesses.	This was replaced with a more interesting message that's stored per room.
Logic 119 - Pulseray Logic
5	Are you crazy?	Possibly used for trying to shoot something weird. Like yourself.
Logic 121 - Trunk & Grate Logic
3	You slide the trunk just beneath a wall vent.	This is done in the final game without text.
8	It won't do any good unless you PUSH TRUNK to the wall, so that you can CLIMB TRUNK, OPEN VENT, ENTER VENT.	This text, in all likelihood, was used for testing purposes. It gives away the entire grate puzzle!
23	With the chest open that act would be highly ineffective.	An alternate message for trying to stand on the trunk while it's open?

COMPARE TEXT

Early	Final	Notes
Logic 4, Message 11 Good grief, man! You are a bit twisted, I must say.?	Logic 0, Message 65 Good grief, %s1! You are a bit twisted, I must say.	The early text is actually coded in the game through KICK BODY in Logic 4. However, it's overridden by the same command in the main game logic.
Logic 1, Message 7 You are suddenly startled by the sound of the ship's alarm coming from the hallway.	Logic 94, Message 1 You are startled by the sound of an alarm. It is followed by an urgent voice which warns that the Arcada has been boarded by unknown intruders. It ends abruptly.	This description was beefed up considerably.
Logic 2, Message 18 Looking into the closet you see nothing but darkness.	Logic 2, Message 21 It looks dark in there.	This description, however, was made more concise.
Logic 14, Message 8 You are inside the escape pod. It appears that the more fragile devices were damaged severely by the impact of landing. Got any bright ideas, Edison?	Logic 14, Message 1 You are inside the escape pod. It appears that the more fragile devices were damaged severely by the impact of landing.	The early description has a joke that was removed from the final text.
Logic 34, Message 16 "We have a motto. You don't mess with it - You don't die!"	Logic 37, Message 16 "We have a motto. You don't own it - You don't mess with it - You don't die!"	There's more to the motto in the main game.
Logic 36, Message 4 "<$> buckazoids? I guess it's better than nothing. Here, keep five for yourself. I gotta admit you look like you need it. Well, gotta run. Later, pal."	Logic 36, Message 32 "<$> buckazoids? I guess it's better than nothing. Here, keep five for yourself. I gotta admit you look like you need it."	The earlier text implies that the mugger would leave after robbing Roger. In the final game, it's the player who has to exit the screen.
Logic 50, Message 13 By pressing the button, you have deactivated the force field which surroundsthe generator.	Logic 50, Message 45 Suddenly, the force field protecting the Star Generator disappears.	The incorrect spacing of the earlier text has been left as-is.
Logic 50, Message 16 The gas grenade has done its job. The guard is now unconscious. Well done, <name>.	Logic 119, Message 15 The grenade drops to the floor releasing its poisonous gas on the unsuspecting alien. Good shot <name>!	The guard's just unconscious in the early script. He's dead in the final game.

Early	Final	Notes
Logic 121, Messages 11-12 You climb into the trunk. The lid pounds shut above you. The voices, muffled now, grow louder.	Logic 57, Message 11-12 You climb into the trunk. The lid pounds shut above you. You hear voices, muffled, then louder."	Just some rewording for the first two lines of this message.

(Source: Original TCRF research)

LISTEN SOUNDS

The sounds in this game are programmed with three sound channels and a noise channel. In most computers, only the first two are heard.

Both the two-channel and four-channel (Tandy) versions of these unused sounds are provided here.

ID	Basic	Tandy	Notes
06	N/A		Plays exclusively on the noise channel. Possibly used for Orat's death.
08
27
28			Something shrill and annoying.
32	N/A		Plays exclusively on the noise channel. Either a splash or an explosion.
35
38
46
61			An unused celebratory jingle!

(Source: Original TCRF research)

INSPECT VERSIONS

Do you want an exhaustive (bordering on obsessive) look at the changes between versions? Here you go.

Droids R Us

Versions 1.0X + 1.1A	Version 2.2

The shop "Droids R Us" was changed to "Droids B Us" after Toys "R" Us threatened Sierra On-Line with legal action.

Word Groups

Group 58 "Being"
Words Added: Crew Man, Crew Person, Crewperson, Man's, Scientist, Technician

Group 76 "I.D."
Words Added: Sarien ID Card

Group 83 "Explore"
Words Added: Rummage

Group 87 "Scott"
Words Added: Scott Murphy

Group 233 "Belt"
Words Added: Belts

Group 251 "Box"
Words Added: Model DX Unit

Text Changes

Command	V1.1A	V2.2	Notes
Main Game Logic
SCOTT	N/A	Hello, <name>. I've been expecting you. You're obviously a person of dubious taste. Drop me a line at Sierra and let me know if you've enjoyed playing.	This easter egg referring to co-creator Scott Murphy only appears in Version 2.2. Scott's name appears in the word bank in the earlier revisions as well, but it's unused. The message in this slot in earlier versions is "Don't snivel!"
Logic 8 - Vehicle Bay
LOOK IN CRAFT	N/A	You peer in through the open door but are unable to make out any detail.	One of a few lines added for Version 2.2.
Logic 26 - Grate Room
SIT GEYSER	N/A	Anything for a thrill, eh? That's a pretty darn interesting idea, but not the correct one.	A joke exclusive to Version 2.2.
Logic 35 - Outside of Bar
TAKE KEY (First arrival)	N/A	Do not remove the key while the skimmer is in motion.	Obviously this wouldn't make sense, would it?
Logic 57 - Deltaur Storage Room
LOOK TRUNK	The trunk is not of interest. It is only here because the sloppy Sariens never pick up after themselves.	There doesn't seem to be anything special about the container.	Strangely, Version 2.2 removes a joke here at the sake of puzzle clarity.
Logic 61 - Deltaur Airlock
(None)	"Bleep, Gurgle, Pop!", apologizes the strange robot as he pushes you aside."	"Bleep, Gurgle, Pop!" apologizes the strange robot as he pushes you aside.	Just some minor changes in comma placement.
TALK ROBOT	"Snap, Crackle, Murphy", responds the little robot.	"Snap, Crackle, Murphy," responds the little robot.
Logic 70 - Rocket Bar
LOOK AREA	In the lower corner a sweeper is standing silent.	You notice a sweeper in the lower corner of the room.	Some random dialogue rephrasing.

Parser Changes

Version 2.2 adds some additional word combinations for certain actions.

Logic 24 - Orat Cave
Action: Trying to give Orat the Dehydrated Water.
Version 1.1A: GIVE DEHYDRATED WATER, GIVE CAN, GIVE DEHYDRATED WATER CAN
Version 2.2 Adds: GIVE DEHYDRATED WATER ORAT, GIVE CAN ORAT, GIVE DEHYDRATED WATER CAN ORAT

Action: Throwing Dehydrated Water to Orat.
Version 1.1A: THROW CAN, THROW DEHYDRATED WATER, THROW CAN DEHYDRATED WATER, THROW DEHYDRATED WATER CAN
Version 2.2 Adds: THROW CAN ORAT, THROW DEHYDRATED WATER ORAT, THROW CAN DEHYDRATED WATER ORAT, THROW DEHYDRATED WATER CAN ORAT

Action: Obtaining the Orat Chunk.
Version 1.1A: GET ORAT CHUNK, GET CHUNK
Version 2.2 Adds: GET CHUNK ORAT

Logic 28 - Laser Machine Room
Action: Using the shard of glass on the laser machine.
Version 1.1A: USE GLASS, PLACE GLASS BEAM, BLOCK BEAM GLASS, HOLD GLASS BEAM
Version 2.2 Adds: PLACE GLASS LIGHT, BLOCK LIGHT GLASS, DROP GLASS BEAM, DROP GLASS LIGHT, HOLD GLASS LIGHT

Logic 30 - Pod Crash Site
Action: Looking at the shards of glass.
Version 1.1A: CHECK OUT FLOOR
Version 2.2 Adds: CHECK OUT GLASS

Action: Grabbing the shard of glass.
Version 1.1A: GET GLASS
Version 2.2 Adds: GET MIRRORED GLASS, GET CHUNK GLASS, GET WIND SHIELD

Logic 36 - Behind Bar
Action: Reading the graffiti on the wall.
Version 1.1A: READ LETTERS, LOOK LETTERS
Version 2.2 Adds: READ WALL

Logic 57 - Deltaur Storage Room
Action: Looking at the trunk.
Version 1.1A: LOOK TRUNK
Version 2.2 Adds: LOOK CAN, LOOK BOX

Bug Fixes

• In the Flight Prep Room, versions before 2.2 do not freeze the parser after a button is pressed. This allows the player to press the same button multiple times, which gives the error message "No action taken.".
• In the Laser Machine Room, in what's probably a copy/paste error, the LOOK AREA description will always say that the laser machine is on if the player is on the lower level, even if it has been destroyed. This was fixed in Version 2.2.

• When loading the droid in earlier versions, there's no check in the game to tell whether or not the droid is in the correct position. Loading the droid too soon leads to a minor graphical glitch.

Miscellaneous

Version 2.2 adds a way to cheat at the slot machine. Type in "HOLY SHIT" (You can replace Shit with any other expletive the game recognizes) to bring up a slot machine menu. This will configure the next pull of the slots.

The text for this menu was present in earlier versions, suggesting that this was a debugging tool that got added back in due to player complaints.

(Source: Original TCRF research)