The Commodore 64 may have been one of the best personal computers for gaming in its time, but it had its limitations. It didn’t have any problems running classics likeImpossible MissionorBruce Lee, but if you wanted to play Sierra’s adventure games, you’d have to upgrade to a more powerful machine. Sierra’s Adventure Game Interpreter (AGI), which powered these games, was never ported to the Commodore.
Now, more than 40 years after AGI was originally developed, it has been. AGI-64 is a new interpreter that brings Sierra’s early graphic adventures to everyone’s favorite 8-bit Commodore computer. The project is still under development, but it has already reached a major milestone: Space Quest 1 is now completely playable, with the interpreter being about 75% complete.
This looks like trouble! (📷: Mean Hamster Software)
Instead of distributing copyrighted game data (Don’t copy that floppy!), AGI-64 provides a tool that converts the AGI game files you already own into a 1 MB EasyFlash-compatible CRT image. Those images can then be loaded onto original hardware using flash cartridge solutions such as Kung Fu Flash, making it possible to experience Sierra’s adventures on a stock 1 MHz Commodore 64.
As it currently stands, the interpreter already supports most standard AGI operations, allowing the original game logic to run largely as intended. WhileSpace Quest 1is currently the primary focus, the long-term goal is to support many more titles. The developer hopes to support most AGI-based Sierra titles, with work onKing’s Questalready planned onceSpace Questreaches completion.
AGI-64 can save and load games using real or SD card-based 1541-compatible disk drives connected as drive 8. A custom disk format stores up to six saved games, giving players the option to complete these titles in multiple gaming sessions.
King’s Quest support is on the way (📷: Mean Hamster Software)
One particularly clever feature of the interpreter is the custom background preprocessing technology. Sierra’s original artwork wasn’t designed with the Commodore 64’s graphics hardware in mind, but this preprocessing system preserves as much of the original look as possible while keeping loading times short enough for a responsive experience on a 1 MHz machine.
AGI-64 isn’t quite ready for the public, but it will be released as a free download as soon as it is. Keep an eye on theproject’s websitefor the latest updates.
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Nick BildR&D, creativity, and building the next big thing you never knew you wanted are my specialties.
