Commander Keen Stuff Archive-name: msdos/games/keen-faq Version: 0.3 Last-modified: 19 February 1995 Changes: 2/9/94 - added topic 0 - updated episode descriptions 6/8/94 - repost 8/21/94- post to alt.games.apogee 2/19/95- minor changes Topics: 0. Why have a Keen faq? 1. Who is Commander Keen? 2. What Commander Keen games have been issued? 3. What are the background descriptions for each series? 4. What is the difference between Apogee Software and Id Software? 5. Where can I get shareware copies of Commander Keen games? 6. What is anonymous ftp? 7. How do I download a game? 8. What does .zip mean and how do I install the game? 9. Give me some hints, please. 10. How do I enter the cheat mode? 11. How do I register the shareware version? 12. How do I obtain non-shareware edisodes? 13. Where do I go for help? 14. SPOILER Section ===================================================================== 0. Why have a Keen faq? I stumbled across Apogee/Id and their games in the past year, thanks to a neighbor of mine. I suspect that many other shareware-unaware people may also be out there. Hence, this faq to share the excitement I've received since discovering these great games. Yes, I know many of you may say that Keen is an old game, long played out. But I suspect that with the astronomical growth of the Internet, many newbies will start reading this newsgroup who were equally unaware as I was. Although I have been involved with various computers and the peculiarities of their software since 1962, I must admit that somehow I missed the entire shareware scene! True, I'm a recent PC convert (I bought my first one in 1991 after enjoying IBM and DEC mainframes at work and Macintoshes at home) and I have come to realize that PC's have great games (okay, maybe with the exception of such great oldies as Adventure on those good old PDP-11's - they required you to imagine - but that's another thread). So after all this rambling, I want to say that I have tried to assemble in one place hints and tricks I have discovered from reading the comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.* newsgroups and playing the games. I would also like to thank Id Software and Apogee for their hint sheets and catalog extracts. I hope that this faq reaches new converts to the shareware scene. Also, like most faq's, this one is "under construction." Please post recommended additions or comments on this faq to the comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.misc newsgroup. Use "keen" in the subject line and I will retrieve it for review and possible inclusion in subsequent versions. ===================================================================== 1. Who is Commander Keen? The following description is extracted from the Apogee catalog and other documentation that comes with the Commander Keen games. "Commander Keen is the alter ego of Billy Blaze, eight year-old kid genius who builds an interstellar ship when not working at home on his college fast-track degree. Among other household objects, Billy uses his Nintendo joystick for flight control and his mom's vacuum cleaner (heavily modified) for his ship's ion propulsion system (with pile height adjustment). At the hint of galactic trouble, Billy dons his brother's football helmet and becomes "Commander Keen"Ddefender of Earth! Ever on the side of justice, fairness, and high calorie junk food, Keen dispenses justice with an iron hand." ===================================================================== 2. What Commander Keen games have been issued? There have been four series of Keen games issued, with seven (7) missions or episodes. They are: First Series: Invasion of the Vorticons Keen #1 - Marooned on Mars (12/90) Keen #2 - The Earth Explodes Keen #3 - Keen Must Die Second Series: Goodbye Galaxy Keen #4 - Secret of the Oracle (12/91) Keen #5 - The Armageddon Machine (2/92) Special Edition Series: Keen #6 - Aliens ate my Babysitter! (11/91) "Lost Game Collection of Id Software" Series from Gamer's Edge: Keen Dreams (9/92) A very comprehensive explanation of the history of the Keen series is found in "The Official Apogee FAQ." This was provided by Joe Siegler, the Apogee "netspokesman." ===================================================================== 3. What are the background descriptions for each series? INVASION OF THE VORTICONS: "Keen's first adventure takes you to Mars, where the Vorticon invasion force is planning their conquest of Earth. While Keen is exploring Mars the Vorticons steal pieces of his ship and hide them within their cities. Can Keen recover all the pieces and repel the Vorticon invasion? You'll explore many dangerous cities, packed with diabolical traps and hideous creatures, both of Martian and Vorticon origin. Use your pogo stick to reach high ledges and jump deadly pits, and use your ray gun to stun the Vorticon invaders. Can you find the secret city? EACH EPISODE HAS COMPLETELY UNIQUE GRAPHICS AND ANIMATION! Episode one is located on the planet mars. Episode two takes place on the immense Vorticon mothership, where you'll need to stop the destruction of Earth by disabling the eight deadly ray cannons aimed at Earth's greatest cities and wonders. Episode three takes Keen to the dangerous Vorticon home planet, where you'll explore huge caves, battle the top Vorticon ninja fighters and discover the secret of the Grand Intellect." [extracted from the Apogee catalog.exe dated 11-21-91] GOODBYE GALAXY: "In episode one, "Secret of the Oracle," Commander Keen rockets to an alien planet to rescue the Keepers of the Oracle, who are the only ones capable of helping Keen finding out more about the Shikadi. Who are the Shikadi and why are they planning to use our galaxy as target practice!" After completing the mission in episode one, Keen learns of the Shikadi's enormous ship, which doubles as the latest weapon ever built. So in episode two, titled "The Armageddon Machine," Keen faces his greatest challenge yet--to save the Galaxy!" [extracted from the Apogee catalog.exe dated 11-21-91] ALIENS ATE MY BABYSITTER: "In this episode, Billy is out in his clubhouse, busily working on his handy new ComputerWrist wrist computer. He hears Molly, his baby sitter, calling him to supper but he keeps on working. He hears a strange noise in the backyard and decides to investigate. On a patch of scorched grass he finds a note: 'Keen -- Thanks for dinner. -- The Bloogs of Fribbulus Xax. P.S. Next time get one with more meat, please.' He puzzles over this for a moment, then notices the baby sitter has stopped calling. Suddenly, he realizes that aliens are having her over for supper - and when they say 'for supper' they mean 'FOR SUPPER'! If he doesn't save her, his parents will be furious. They'll never believe that 'Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter!' 'This is a job for commander Keen!' he declares. Once again, he dons his brother's football helmet, hops into the trusty Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket and starts the launch sequence for Fribbulus Xax. He's got to save Molly from becoming a snack for creatures from another planet!" [extracted from FormGen Corporation and Id Software, Inc. instruction manual that comes with the game] KEEN DREAMS: "Only you can help Commander Keen overcome the killer vegetables which have conspired to "clean his plate" in KEEN DREAMS, the "lost episode" developed for GAMER'S EDGE by Keen's award-winning creators, ID Software. King Boobus Tuber and his Tater Troopers are ready to take you on in this choice Keen adventure!" [extracted from the file_id.diz file description for Keen Dreams] ===================================================================== 4. What is the difference between Apogee Software and Id Software? Joe Siegler (joe.siegler@swcbbs.com) of Apogee Software answered this question some time ago as follows: "Here. Read this. It's for people who get confused about the relationship between Apogee and Id Software. Apogee and Id Software are two completely different companies. Here is an explanation as to the two of them. Apogee Software writes and distributes software. We have published a total of 28 games over our history up until the writing of this text, and of those, only 4 have not actually been written by Apogee. Three are Id games (Keen Vorticons, Keen Galaxy, & Wolf3D). The other is the current Halloween Harry by SubZero Software in Australia. Id Software writes software, and up until Doom, has never published anything themselves. Id has published through a few companies, and Apogee is one of them. They wrote the Keen Vorticons and Keen Galaxy series as well as Wolfenstein 3-D. These are distributed by Apogee. Some earlier Id efforts such as Catacombs Abyss are distributed through Softdisk. Id's two commercial games, Aliens Ate My Babysitter (Keen6), and Spear of Destiny are published through FormGen. These two are quite frequently assumed to be Apogee games, but they are not. Check them, the name Apogee does not appear in there. More confusion gets added when I say that Apogee RESELLS Keen6 and Spear, but they aren't our games. We only sell them. Now, with Doom, Id is going to be publishing on their own from now on. Apogee and Id are two completely seperate entities. Apogee doesn't own Id, nor does Id own Apogee or anything like that. There has also been no "big divorce", or "big feud" or something along those lines. The Id guys and the Apogee guys are all really good friends, and in fact, we all get together for lunch, and shoot pool up at the Id offices. There is no big fallout, or anything of the sort. In fact, 3 games that Apogee is currently working on have some sort of Id Software code in them, so there is no real big 'breakup'. (These games won't all be released until the fall of 1994)." ===================================================================== 5. Where can I get shareware copies of Commander Keen games? Only three of the seven episodes of Commander Keen are available as shareware: Keen #1 ("Marooned on Mars") Keen #4 ("Secret of the Oracle") Keen Dreams There are many anonymous ftp servers on the Internet that mirror the Commander Keen games (as well as several other excellent games such as Halloween Harry, Duke Nukum, Cosmo's Cosmic Adventures, and Doom). Here are a few good ftp servers, with directory paths to Commander Keen, in the United States: ftp.uml.edu /msdos/Games/Misc/keendm01.zip (Keen Dreams) /msdos/Games/Apogee/1keen.zip Size: 209754 Commander Keen, Part 1 - "Invasion of the Vorticons". Requires EGA, 530k. Supports joystick. /4keen.zip Size: 648640 Commander Keen part 4, "Secret of the Oracle", the first of two parts to "Goodbye, Galaxy!". The other is commercial. Requires EGA, supports Adlib/SB, joystick. ftp.uwp.edu /pub/msdos/Games/Apogee /1keen.zip /4keen.zip ===================================================================== 6. What is anonymous ftp? The file transfer protocol (ftp), a part of the application layer of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), is the most common method of moving files around on the Internet. As a courtesy to all users, many server sites allow access to controlled portions of their hosts without prior arrangement to establish an account and a password. This general access, when used to transfer files, is termed "anonymous ftp." Typically, you issue the ftp command on your Internet host (e.g., ftp ftp.uml.edu) and, when prompted to login, you enter "anonymous." Internet convention ("netiquette") usually calls for you to enter your e-mail name as the password to provide statistics for usage tracking by the server site administrator. Upon completion of login, you should read whatever "readme's" are indicated in the welcome message. You may then navigate through the authorized directories using the change directory command (cd). Use the directory listing command (dir) to view accessible files. Use the get and put commands to receive or submit files. Ftp will then transfer the specified file to or from your own host system. ===================================================================== 7. How do I download a game? Following transfer of a game to your host, the next step is to download it to your home computer. Several protocols can be used to accomplish this. Your communications software most likely supports the more common protocols such as xmodem, ymodem, zmodem, and Kermit. Use the protocol supported by both your communications software and your Internet host. Here is an example using xmodem to transfer a game from a UNIX host to a PC running Procomm Plus: on UNIX host % xmodem -sbk 4keen.zip [this instructs the host to send a binary file using xmodem protocol and 1K packets] on PC [this brings up the file transfer menu] o [this selects xmodem 1K packets] c:\keen\4keen.zip [this points to the directory into which the file, 4KEEN.ZIP, will be transferred] The next step, after logging off your Internet host, is to uncompress the game. Note that the .zip file extension indicates that the game is compressed using a utility available from PKWARE. To expand the game into its full distribution, you must use the shareware program, PKUNZIP, as follows: >pkunzip 4keen You will see several files displayed as they are "inflated." If no errors are displayed, copy the .zip file to a floppy diskette and delete it from the hard disk to conserve disk space. Read the documentation files and information on registering the shareware version. ===================================================================== 8. What does .zip mean and how do I install the game? The shareware versions of the Keen games are archived in compressed form. The file extension .zip indicates that the compression format used is from the PK company. To uncompress the game, you must run the PKUNZIP utility. The entire distribution is archived in the self-expanding archive program PKZ204G.EXE. This is also a compressed form; however, the .EXE extension indicates that you merely execute this archive and it automatically uncompresses. Following that, you will see several files, including the PKUNZIP.EXE utility as well as information for registering (and paying for) this excellent set of programs. ===================================================================== 9. Give me some hints, please. KEEN #4: - Level 1 has 7 free Keens - At the Pyramid of the Moons, you can get to the top on the outside - At the top of the Cave of the Descendents, there is a hidden area - Princess Lindsey appears twice - A slug in the Chasm of Chills holds a secret - In Hillville, there is "stuff" hidden - In Miragia is a free Keen - In the Pyramid of the Ancients is a free Keen - On the Isle of Fire is a free Keen - In the Pyramid of Shadows are 7 free Keens - You can get to the secret pyramid with something in the Pyramid of the Moons (see the spoiler section) - Dopefish will eat the small schoolfish that follow you - Push the key to swim faster - Jump on skypests with your pogo stick to squash them - Only shoot mimrocks when they are jumping at you - Mad Mushrooms leap higher on the third bounce - Stand on the little moon on the floor in the Pyramid of the Moons for an interesting display - In the tunnel under the houses of the first village by the lava pool there is a hidden gap (revealed by the F10 J cheat) you can jump through (with the F10 J cheat) to get 9 free Keens. Note you can also enter the gap without cheating. Pogo into the gap using an extended jump (pogo then jump quickly to get the maximum height). When just below the gap, pogo again and push left to enter the special area. KEEN #5 - Level 1 has 9 free Keens - Level designers Tom Hall and John Romero have hidden their names in two of the levels - Near the start of Defense Tunnel Sorra are 30,000 hidden points - Pogo on the fuses to break them - The Gravitational Damping Hub contains the way to the secret level. Look down and translate the message. - Find someone or something to destroy the QED. - Duck under Slicestars and Volte-faces but not Robo Red. - You can stand right next to Robo Red and not get shot. ===================================================================== 10. How do I enter the cheat mode? The cheat mode is also known as the debugging mode. It is typically used by software designers to assist during a game's final testing phase. The code is often left in when the program goes to full scale production (e.g., Microsoft programmers have left some personal touches in Windows to display the programming team and show a cartoon destroying IBM). In the Invasion of the Vorticon series (Keen #1 - #3), press C, T and SPACE simultaneously. You will receive the pogo stick, all key cards, and lots of ray gun charges. While at the map level, pressing SHIFT and TAB will allow you to bypass a city. Press G, O, and D simultaneously to get the jump cheat. This is an early implementation of the more complete debug mode found in the next Keen series. In the Goodbye Galaxy series (Keen #4 and #5), press B, A, and T simultaneously to enter the cheat mode. This gives you additional shots, gems, and an extra life. Also in Goodbye Galaxy, push A 2 ENTER at the same time to enter the debugging mode (used during beta testing). Then the following codes can be used to cheat or gather information (hold down F10 and push the letter key): B - Set border color (1-15) C - Number of active/inactive objects in the level D - Record a demo E - End or finish the current level G - God mode (you can't die) I - Free items (add 3000 points and 99 shots) J - Jump mode (you can fly anywhere) M - Memory usage display N - No clipping (fall through ground) S - Slow motion T - Sprite test display V - Add 0-8 VBLs W - Warp to any level Y - Reveal hidden areas (shown in normal color) Note that several of the above codes also work in Keen Dreams and Aliens Ate My Babysitter (particularly the God and jump modes). ===================================================================== 11. How do I register the shareware version? The readme documentation that comes with the games provides details for registering the game. ===================================================================== 12. How do I obtain non-shareware edisodes? The simplest way is to call Apogee at 1-800-GAME-123 (1-800-426-3123) to order any of their games. Current pricing is as follows: Invasion of the Vorticons series $29.95 Goodbye Galaxy series $34.95 Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter $34.95 I've seen Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter at Microcenter packaged just like the other commercial games. ===================================================================== 13. Where do I go for help? Apogee used to maintain a help line for registered players. With the establishment of their Bulletin Board System (BBS), this requirement is no longer as critical. As of December 1993, the Apogee BBS had 83 nodes, with plans to increase the number of lines to over 100! They are running PCBOARD 15 over a Novell v4.0 10 base T network. Storage capacity is 8GB. Contact them by modem as follows: 508-365-2359 (2400 baud) 508-368-7036 (V.32bis or 9600-14.4K) 508-368-4137 (HST/DS or 14.4K-16.8K) ===================================================================== 14. SPOILER Section KEEN #4 To get to the secret pyramid (the one with the hand on it), go in the Pyramid of the Moons. Take the yellow diamond and go down. Use the diamond on the second yellow keyhole. Assemble 12 of the little yellow worms in one place. They will turn into a giant foot. Jump on the foot to go to the secret pyramid. You can not get to the raindrops and lifewater flasks floating over the underground river in Lifewater Oasis (it's just a tease). In the Pyramid of the Moons, stand on the moon drawing on the floor in the upper right portion of the game level. Wait for a while - Keen will "moon" you. ===================================================================== This is a very modest update to the FAQ. I hope some of you new Keen gamers will contribute to expanding this FAQ. If you have any additions, please send them to me at my e-mail address (below) since I do not often keep up with my NewsGroups before the 1 week TTD (time to die) expires. -- Bill Amon The MITRE Corporation wamon@mitre.org