7 replies to this topic

[lhfreak]

Does anyone out there remember an old game for the Apple II called 'The Wizards Eye' (or something like that...)

This was the first computer game I ever played. It was a D&D type game that was very simplistic, but floored me since I was just getting into D&D at the time (1979).....

Anyway, I am looking for the game (or a copy) for my recent Apple IIe aquisition....Again, I know it's a longshot....thanks!

[Xot]

Do you mean "Wizardry"? A first person dungeon crawler? If so, I believe I do have a copy of it floating around somewhere.

[lhfreak]

It wasnt Wizardry....this game had you 'build' a character (I remember you got to choose your 'body' after inputing your name and it created a sort of stick figure). There was a main map that you moved place to place, and when you met a creature (a bat for instance) it went to a different screen -- you on the left, the creature on the right. You would then take turnes hitting each other (parry, lunge, etc) And I think you could even meet up with and fight the Wizards Eye itself.

Old game, but has stuck in my memory since I played it....

[AtariYoungin]

Wizard's Crown?

[Mindfield]

No, Wizard's Crown was released in '84 by SSI.

It sounds like an early SSI game, though ... they were the big turn-based strategy/sci-fi/fantasy gaming company, though I don't know if they were around in '79.

[tyranthraxus]

My guess would be Phantasie.

But to know for sure your should go to an Apple II board and ask. Or
at least try the 8-bit Atari board.

[davidcalgary29]

I don't think it would be Phantasie, as that was released by SSI in 1985.

I think that SSI released its first games in 1980, but it seems that they didn't start to release sci-fi/fantasy games until 1982. I thought our game might be an Epyx or Avalon Hill release, but couldn't find anything that might have matched. Perhaps it was an amateur PD release.

[lhfreak]

Nope, I'm pretty sure it was Wizards Eye the more I think of it. And I dont think SSI did it either....(I have Wizards Crown and all three Phantasies).

Here's the story:

I was living in El Paso at the time, and my brother and I were waiting to see a movie. During this time we went to a video game store that had a special deal going on: For $5.00 you could either

a) Play as many handheld electronic games as long as you want

or

b) Get 30 min. on the Apple II computer they had setup.

Well, we choose b. And somehow the game we wound up playing was this one. Here are some more details I remember....

You had several prompts asking for your name, what type of 'body' you wanted (Also, what your body was dictated you nickname -- 'The Shadow' was mine so it was like DIRK the Shadow) The body was just the graphic of your stick figure below the head.... The Shadow was Grey, others were, say white with a cross, or some stripes, etc.

Then you had a map (I had no idea what the object was...I pretty much used up the whole half hour getting my character ready and had one fight with a bat (who killed me)....I cant really describe the map, and the screen was a B&W monitor.

I ran in to the bat and the screen changes to your stick figure on the left, and the bat on the right (jumping around)....Underneath both is just a straight line. You each took turns trying to kill each other (I remember parry, lunge -- I can see how this would sound like Phantasie but this game was long before that..)

Anyway, the game would be laughable today for sure, but looking at the Apple IIe brought back the memories. I would venture to say that this game was out around the same time as the original wolfenstien came out.....ahh memories....