Microsoft GameShop, Quick Basic Interpreter

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sonicbrit
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Microsoft GameShop, Quick Basic Interpreter

Post by sonicbrit »

Looking through my software collection I found Microsoft Game Shop, and since no one has discussed this before, let alone talked about its oddities, I figured I would.

Its an interesting curiosity, the top of the box claims its Quick Basic 4.50 Game. The back of the box claims its Qbasic, and the book inside claims its Quick Basic Interpreter 1.01, how ever when running it it says version 1.00

The copyright for the interpreter is 1988, the same year as Quick Basic 4.5.

Whats interesting is this definitely the precursor to Qbasic, whilst it is almost the same, it does include a few features from Quick Basic, that Qbasic doesn't have.
  • 1. It supports command$, you can specify a command by launching qbi.exe with /cmd something.
  • 2. It supports binary Quick Basic files, if you try to load a binary file in Qbasic, it will give you an error.
  • 3. The help files are mostly the same as Quick Basic 4.5 apart from excluding the missing features (The advr_ex examples from Quick Basic 4.5 are included).
  • 4. '$DYNAMIC should allow access to more memory, but if you try to allocate too much memory it will crash the interpreter, if you don't use '$DYNAMIC, the traditional out of memory will be displayed. The /ah parameter is removed though. (The help mentions that it should allow you to allocate as much memory as the machine has).
    Under Qbasic '$DYNAMIC doesn't appear to allow you to use more memory, (The help mentions a max of 64k memory).
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burger2227
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Post by burger2227 »

Sounds like QuickBasic 4.5 to me. That comes with a compiler. You can save files as ordinary text BAS files in Save As. I never use the binary as I convert to QB64.
Please acknowledge and thank members who answer your questions!
QB64 is a FREE QBasic compiler for WIN, MAC(OSX) and LINUX : https://www.qb64.org/forum/index.php
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sonicbrit
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Post by sonicbrit »

But thats the most interesting part of all, it doesn't include the compiler, and also doesnt support qlb's and has the limited debug support that Qbasic has.

Here is the packing list:

Code: Select all


			   PACKING.LST File

		Disk Contents for Microsoft (R) Game Shop

			     Version 1.00

		(C) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1990


This file contains a complete list of all files and directories on the
distribution disks provided with this product.

This package comes with a number of demonstration and utility programs
written in BASIC. These files are for informational and recreational
purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, either expressed or
implied, as to their suitability for specific purposes or their correctness,
accuracy, or reliability. The entire risk as to the results and performance
of the software is assumed by you.

NOTE: The game files included on disk 4 are shipped in binary format to
improve load time and save space. The QuickBASIC Interpreter can read these 
binary files as well as regular text-format files. To convert the game files 
to regular text format, save them by using the Save As command from the 
QuickBASIC Interpreter File menu.

==============================================================================
                             Disk #1 
                             -------
INSTALL.BAT		Game Shop installation program.
INST.BAT		Batch file used by INSTALL.BAT during installation.
PACKING.LST		List and description of all files provided.
FLOPPY.DOC		Instructions for installing and using Game Shop on
			dual-floppy systems.
QBI.EXE			Microsoft QuickBASIC Interpreter.
QBI.INI			QuickBASIC Interpreter initialization file.
QBIQCK.HLP		QuickBASIC Interpreter online Help file.

==============================================================================
                             Disk #2 
                             -------
QBIENER.HLP		QuickBASIC Interpreter online Help file.
LEARN.COM		QB Express learning tutorial for the QuickBASIC 
			Interpreter.
BI.PGM			File used by QB Express.
QBICBT.CTX		 "    "   "  "	   "
QBICBT.SCN		 "    "   "  "	   "
QBICBT.SOB		 "    "   "  "	   "
MSHERC.COM		The device driver for use with computers equipped
			with a Hercules(R) Graphics Card, Graphics Card Plus,
			Hercules InColor Card, or 100%-compatible clones of
			these graphics cards.  This file allows	you to write
			BASIC programs that use	screen mode 3 for graphics.
QBI.PIF			File that provides information to aid in running
			QuickBASIC Interpreter under Microsoft Windows.
LEARN.PIF		File that provides information to aid in running
			QuickBASIC Express under Microsoft Windows.
GAMESHOP.PIF		File that provides information to aid in running
			Game Shop under Microsoft Windows.
WELCOME.BAS		"Learn BASIC Now" example program.

CHAP05\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 5 of "Learn BASIC Now."

  ELSEIF.BAS   IF-2.BAS     IF-4.BAS	 SELECT-1.BAS SELECT-3.BAS TO-2.BAS
  IF-1.BAS     IF-3.BAS     IF-5.BAS	 SELECT-2.BAS TO-1.BAS	   TO-3.BAS

CHAP06\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 6 of "Learn BASIC Now."

  BUDGET.BAS   DO-2.BAS     FOR-1.BAS	 FOR-4.BAS    FOR-7.BAS    RND-1.BAS
  DICE.BAS     DO-3.BAS     FOR-2.BAS	 FOR-5.BAS    GUESS.BAS    RND-2.BAS
  DO-1.BAS     DO-4.BAS     FOR-3.BAS	 FOR-6.BAS    NESTING.BAS  WHILE.BAS

CHAP07\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 7 of "Learn BASIC Now."

  ARGUMENT.BAS BOWLING.BAS  LOCAL.BAS	 SONG2.BAS
  AVERAGE.BAS  GLOBAL.BAS   SONG.BAS

CHAP08\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 8 of "Learn BASIC Now."

  ADDTHEM.BAS  BIKEINFO.BAS DATAEND.BAS  GETNAMES.BAS SALES.BAS    TVHOURS.BAS
  ADDTHEM2.BAS BOUDNS.BAS   DYNAMIC.BAS  MAXSALES.BAS SEARCH.BAS

CHAP09\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 9 of "Learn BASIC Now."

  ASCII.BAS    GETMID.BAS   HEADER.BAS	 MENU.BAS     PHONEFIX.BAS STRSORT.BAS
  COMPARE.BAS  GETRIGHT.BAS HUNT.BAS	 NEWS.BAS     PIG.BAS	   UPPER.BAS
  GETLEFT.BAS  GREETING.BAS LOWER.BAS	 PHONE.BAS    REPEAT.BAS

CHAP10\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 10 of "Learn BASIC Now."

  CARDATA.BAS  COINS2.BAS   FRIENDS.BAS  KILL.BAS     NEWNAME.BAS  SHOW.BAS
  COINS.BAS    DIARY.BAS    FRUITS.BAS	 MUSICDB.BAS  RUNDOS.BAS   VIEW.BAS

CHAP11\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 11 of "Learn BASIC Now."

  CIRCLE-1.BAS LINE-2.BAS   LOCATE-3.BAS SOUND-1.BAS  STEP-2.BAS
  CIRCLE-2.BAS LOCATE-1.BAS PRESET.BAS	 SOUND-2.BAS  TEST-VID.BAS
  LINE-1.BAS   LOCATE-2.BAS PSET.BAS	 STEP-1.BAS   WELCOME.BAS

CHAP12\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 12 of "Learn BASIC Now."

  BADBEAR.BAS  BADNAME.BAS  BUGSHAKE.BAS DESSERT.BAS  DESSERT2.BAS FIXSHAKE.BAS

APPNDX-D\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Appendix D of "Learn BASIC Now."

  ANTHEM.BAS   CALC.BAS     DIVIDE.BAS	 GOODNAME.BAS REVERSE.BAS  STATES.BAS
  BANZAI.BAS   CIRCLE.BAS   GASCASH.BAS  HIROLLER.BAS SHAPES.BAS   VIDEO.BAS
  BASEBALL.BAS CIRCMOVE.BAS GETNAMES.BAS MOVENAME.BAS SORTLIST.BAS
  BEAV.BAS     CITY.BAS     GOODBEAR.BAS QUESTION.BAS SOUNDER.BAS

==============================================================================
                             Disk #3 
                             -------
MOUSE.COM		The device driver for use with QuickBASIC programs
			that call mouse functions.
QBIADVR.HLP		QuickBASIC Interpreter online Help file.

ADVR_EX\*.*
  Directory containing BASIC programs cited in the online Help.

  CHR_EX.BAS   CSR_EX.BAS   DRAW_EX.BAS  SHARE_EX.BAS TYPE_EX.BAS  WINDO_EX.BAS
  COM1_EX.BAS  DECL_EX.BAS  FUNC_EX.BAS  SHELL_EX.BAS UBO_EX.BAS
  COM2_EX.BAS  DEFSG_EX.BAS OUT_EX.BAS	 STAT_EX.BAS  UCASE_EX.BAS

==============================================================================
                             Disk #4 
                             -------
GAMESHOP.EXE		Game Shop game manager with master control menu. 
GAMESHOP.INI		Initialization file used by GAMESHOP.EXE.

QBLOCKS.BAS		Fit the falling shapes into a row.
QBRICKS.BAS		Break through the bricks.
QSPACE.BAS		Defend space stations against enemy attack.
QSHIPS.BAS		Sink your opponent's ship.
QMAZE.BAS		Find your way through the maze before time runs out.
QSYNTH.BAS		Record and play your own music.

SORTDEMO.BAS		Sorting algorithm demonstration program.
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burger2227
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Post by burger2227 »

Well here is the compiler if you want it:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8440706/QB45.zip
Please acknowledge and thank members who answer your questions!
QB64 is a FREE QBasic compiler for WIN, MAC(OSX) and LINUX : https://www.qb64.org/forum/index.php
Get my Q-Basics demonstrator: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fdmgp91d6h8ps ... s.zip?dl=0
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Kiyotewolf
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Post by Kiyotewolf »

I saw this in a box, un - opened at a Goodwill.



~Kiyote!
Banana phone! We need more lemon pledge. * exploding fist of iced tea! * I see your psycho cat and counter with a duck that has a broken leg, in a cast.
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