Demo version of the game, which could be downloaded completely free of charge from the site lucasarts.com , contained only one mission to destroy the Imperial Arms Factory on the ice-bound planet Neshtab.
The self-extracting WinZip archive yodademo.exe takes 3.2 MB.
Making Magic is not included.
Wrong date in PE file header 13.09.1996 does not allow to know the exact time of its creation.
The developers saved time for hackers and, in addition to changing scripts, simply removed almost all unused graphics, so, it will not be possible to restore the demo to a full-fledged game.
Judging by the dates, the release began to be prepared around February 14th. That's when the help file was ready. Finalization (or rather trimming of the game) took another 3-4 days.
The most remarkable thing is that at that time the 1.1 version of the game was being prepared,
but only fixes for winter zones got into the demo version,
which once again confirms the parallel development of these games.
We can also safely assume that the probe was formed even before version 1.0,
because, when studying the list of differences, artifacts were found that were corrected in the first release of the game.
The demo version can be found on many collections of that time:
LucasArts Super Sampler, The (USA) (1997)LucasArts Super Sampler 2 (USA)Shamrock's Fall '97 CD-ROM (USA)Shamrock's Fall '97 CD-ROM (USA) (Older)- in fact, these two discs containLucasArts Super Sampler 2.1Computer Buyer Issue 75 CD-ROMPCGamer Demo Disc 3.4PC Gamer (Italian Edition) Coverdisc 021Personal Computer World Interactive - Disk 11
and so on...
It's time to take a look at what exactly was cut from the Demo version of Yoda Stories. There are many differences, so we will probably omit a few of the least significant ones.
In the process of studying this version of the game, an opinion was formed that the proofreaders had not yet had time to double-check the text, and here at the last moment several zonal corrections were made. In particular, all winter zones known at that time were adjusted.
Differences are found in the following sections:
- Executable file
- Startup screen
- Tiles
- Zones
- Puzzles
- Characters
Executable file
Modified About dialog.
Yoda(tm) Stories Demo
Deactivated menu items:
- Replay Story
- Load World
- Save World
- World Control
- S&tatistics
Loading and saving gameplay completely blocked.
Moreover, even if they are enabled in the PE resource editor, the game will disable them again during the loading process.
Startup screen
The inscription "Demo".
Tiles
Desert and Forest tiles have been erased. In fact, there is one level in the winter, on the planet Neshtab.
So even if full functionality is restored, most of the levels will look bare and impassable.
- 0-6
- 8-17
- 19-84
- 86-111
- 115-149
- 151-154
- 156-162
- 235-250
- 281-284
- 311-343
- 345-350
- 356
- 364-372
- 642-647
- 879-897
- 1184-1185
- 1188-1195
- 1215-1217
- 1282-1283
- 1309
- 1344-1347
- 1353
- 1357-1359
- 1399-1402
- 1451-1473
- 1484-1517
- 1519-1539
- 1581-1595
- 1619-1624
- 1631-1645
- 1663-1664
- 1667-1672
- 1756-1760
- 1813-1814
- 1872-1879
- 1890-1893
- 2059-2074
Replaced tiles:
- 855
- 872
- 874-875
- 877-878
- 902
- 961
- 1170
- 2121-2122 (Demo)
Removed Rancor, Little Rancor (Tatooine quest), Bugs (Tarsa quest).
Removed C-3PO Body.
Removed C-3PO, DataCube, Star Sapphire and Dianoga Heart.
Blockade East/Solved, North/Solved, South/Solved, West/Solved, Final Chapter Unsolved, Puzzle/Solved, Spaceport, Gateway/Solved, Locator Indicator.
Among other removed Jabba Hutt.
Blaster, Heavy, Lightsaber and The Force:
Added tiles:
- 2123-2127 (Demo)
(original)
(demo)
Zones
Since planets with deserts and jungles are not available in the demo version, and the tiles associated with them were removed, these tiles were also removed from all the corresponding zones (replaced with transparent tiles).
Some snow locations were also erased.
Recall that in version 1.1 the zones were fixed: 151, 176, 203, 430, 535.
The demo version does not contain fixes for zones 430 and 535, that is, only 151, 176, 203 are fixed.
Zone 0: +1 instruction for Action 0
Since the phrase "Demo" is displayed on the top layer, its bottom tile must be removed after the X-Wing has been flown.
remove-tile: 5 5 2 0 0 ""
Zones 76-77: added Demo.
Zones 93-96: removed all mini-quests from Yoda, the scene of his abduction.
This phrase is missing: Dagobah! Yoda must be around here somewhere. I better find him and see what's on his mind...
Change: izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 115: removed hotspot: DROP_ITEM [12; 11] enabled: 1; argument: 1198
A strange decision, since this is a deserted location.
Most likely, this zone contains a bug that was fixed in version 1.0.
Zone 146:
Quest items will never appear in this location. Absent all provided items.
Zone 151: spaceport.
Snowdrift removed: [11; 1]
New actions performed upon arrival. In theory, in Action 1, Luke's X-wing is displayed, and in the 16th Action it is hidden, and he makes a speech. In fact, the loss of the starship is imperceptible.
Action 16
if
standing-on: 8 11 997
then
remove-tile: 8 10 1
remove-tile: 9 10 1
remove-tile: 7 11 1
remove-tile: 8 12 1
remove-tile: 9 12 1
set-rect-needs-display: 7 10 9 12
speak-hero: "This is the tiny Spaceport on Neshtab. In a real game, I might find myself in the DESERT or a RAIN FOREST as easily as here, but the DEMO is all ICE, and there's only one ending..."
disable-action
Action 18
if
enter-by-plane
hero-is-at: 8 11
then
place-tile: 8 10 1 355
place-tile: 9 10 1 355
place-tile: 7 11 1 355
place-tile: 8 12 1 355
place-tile: 9 12 1 355
set-rect-needs-display: 7 10 9 12
disable-action
Also in Action 5 the remove-tile command inserted after place-tile and not before it.
This will not affect the gameplay, but it clearly makes it clear that the demo version
corrected in parallel with the commercial implementation.
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
In fact, the izx4._unnamed2 field is haunting me.
It can be assumed that it is not used,
but it may also be that this value is somehow used when generating a map, or somewhere else.
Zone 152:
Changed medical droid monologue.
Greetings, sir! Welcome to our DEMO. If you need my services, please don't hesitate to visit."
Greetings, sir! Welcome to our DEMO! I'm a MEDICAL DROID, General Practitioner Class 2-1B, fully qualified to treat all injuries and wounds. If you need my services, please don't hesitate to visit. Meanwhile, this is dangerous country, so stay on the lookout for WEAPONS! You can never have too many. I like my patients well- equipped... that way they stay healthy, and I can relax.
Greetings, sir! Welcome to our DEMO!
Zone 160:
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 176:
This zone received a fix similar to version 1.1.
izx4._unnamed2: 0 -> 1
Zone 203:
This zone received a fix similar to version 1.1.
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 204:
Zone type changed: EMPTY -> FIND
Added hotspot: DROP_QUEST_ITEM [9; 8] enabled: 1; argument: 65535
A quest item can now be found in this zone.
Zone 210:
Removed all provided items.
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 246:
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 258:
Removed all required and provided items.
Zone 263:
It was:
speak-npc: 4 4 "I'm not really a farm droid. I belong in the big city."
It became:
speak-npc: 4 4 "This isn't the real game. It's only a DEMO."
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 264:
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
It was:
speak-npc: 6 1 "If you want WEAPONS or MEDICINE, drop something on the table here, and maybe we'll do business..."
It became:
speak-npc: 6 1 "If you want WEAPONS or MEDICINE, drop something on the table here, and I'll give you a DEMO of how the system works..."
It was:
speak-npc: 6 1 "Nice junk..."
It became:
speak-npc: 6 1 "Nice junk. Say, if you enjoy this DEMO, why not buy the real game? Then you can thaw out in some warmer terrain..."
Zone 294:
Removed all provided items.
Zone 316:
Small check change - removed the tile-at-is: 444 4 3 1 condition. What for? The Shield Generator is on the map.
If this check succeeds, Luke then says, "Hey! that's the ship's shield generator over there... If I could disable the thing, it might cause a distraction..."
This is probably an outdated part of the game that was improved in the final release.
Zone 317:
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 326:
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 327:
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 328:
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 336:
It was:
speak-npc: 8 15 "Go away. We're peaceful snow farmers. You don't want to be here."
It became:
speak-npc: 8 15 "Playing the DEMO of LucasArts' new Desktop Adventure, I see. Well, we're peaceful snow farmers. Go away!"
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 385:
Disabled completion of the quest upon arrival. Removed:
Action 1
if
enter-by-plane
hero-is-at: 8 11
then
mark-as-solved
disable-action
Zone 407:
Disabled quest completion. Removed mark-as-solved commands for steps 16 and 17.
mark-as-solved: 0 0 0 0 0 ""
Zone 462:
This zone cannot appear in the game, however, the text in it is slightly different from the final version:
It was:
- Instruction 0:
Good work, stranger! For rescuing me, I'll show you where I hid the ¥ that I stole from those stormtroopers! - Instruction 1:
All right... where? - Instruction 2:
Just follow me...
Became:
- Instruction 0:
Good work, stranger! What can I possibly give you in return for rescuing me? - Instruction 1:
You mentioned something about a ¥...? - Instruction 2:
That's right; I did. Well, follow me...
This is very strange, perhaps it is part of the draft text, which was finalized already for the final release of the game.
Zone 465:
Removed all required items.
Zone 489:
Added one required item (449):
Zone 535:
Yoda's hut.
Removed all mini-quests and any mention of Boba Fett.
izx4._unnamed2: 1 -> 0
Zone 596:
Another forest zone. Same fix in two actions.
move-hero-to: 10 8
replaced by
change-zone: 595 0 0
It should be added that zone 595 is also green, that is, it does not participate in the demo. This is probably another piece of draft code.
Zone 605:
Another invisible zone and unverified text:
speak-npc: 4 3 "Whoa... dark in this hovel. And what's that scuttling noise???"
speak-npc: 4 3 "Whoa... dark in this hovel. And what's that scuttling noise???."
Zone 642:
Another invisible zone. The place where Luke wakes up after being knocked out by fighters. In the demo version, it looks rather crude, in the final it was quite heavily reworked.
Removed half of the actions, the rest have been redesigned.
Puzzle 108:
It was:
Luke! Time it is for your training to advance a step...[CR2]The Empire has set up a HIDDEN FACTORY in the snowy wastes of planet Neshtab, where they are building stormtrooper droids. These robots could tip the balance against the Rebel Alliance.[CR2]Find this factory you must! Destroy it you must! [CR2]Here! Help you finish what you start, this will...
Became:
Hello! A ripple in the Force I feel... you are playing a DEMO of LucasArts' new Desktop Adventure, mmm? I thought so... fool Yoda you cannot! If you enjoy it, why not buy real game from your local retailer, mmm?[CR2]Now then, Luke! Time to continue your training...[CR2]The Empire has set up a HIDDEN FACTORY in the snowy wastes of planet Neshtab, where they are building combat droids. These robots could tip the balance against the Rebel Alliance.[CR2]Find this factory you must! Destroy it you must! [CR2]Here! Help you finish what you start, this will...
Pay attention, [CR2] means two line breaks.
Characters:
Tank-Wander
frame1: [2120, 1959, 2120, 2119, 1959, 2120, 1958, 1959] -> [2119, 1959, 2119, 2119, 1959, 2119, 1958, 1959]
Tank-Patrol
frame1: [2120, 1959, 2120, 2119, 1959, 2120, 1958, 1959] -> [2119, 1959, 2119, 2119, 1959, 2119, 1958, 1959]
Why this was done is unclear, but in some areas these tanks were also swapped.
This is probably the last thing that was fixed before the release of version 1.0.
0(schwing.wav): 482 (-14)3(shpoonk.wav): 41 (-1)39(xwingout.wav): 27 (-2)