Missing computer in D/Generation (AGA)

[Bolch]

I've just started playing the AGA version of D/Generation (cracked by CLS) and I already got stuck on level 81.

There is a closed door which I could supposedly open with the code "Ostrich".. but I can't find the terminal to enter the code! I checked the walkthrough and the computer should be in the same room as the door.

Is it part of the copy protecton? If this is the case, does anyone can point me toward a working AGA version?

Thanks in advance!

[Bolch]

Ehh... I started over from scratch and feel myself embarrassed.

The computer WAS THERE, but it seems that I accidentally hit it with my laser in the first game. That's why I couldn't find it anymore, no matter how long I kept wandering the level...

[musashi5150]

Excellent!

[Steve]

You what!?

Are you saying the software allows you to destroy an integral part of the game? Something which you need to progress?? Thats some dodgy program design. Ooh I sense a new thread brewing.

[eLowar]

Originally Posted by Steve

You what!?

Are you saying the software allows you to destroy an integral part of the game? Something which you need to progress?? Thats some dodgy program design. Ooh I sense a new thread brewing.

Yes, indeed, it does. And as far as I remember, I found no way to get the password without destroying the computer somehow (don't remember how or why; something to do with a bomb you had to use before getting to the guy who tells you the password and the bomb destroying the computer maybe?), luckily it doesn't change.

[Bolch]

Okay, now here's a REAL problem.

On one of the later levels, you have to use a password to enter the door. Unfortunately, though the program displays the keypad (and a cursor) to enter the code, but there's nothing you can do with it! There's no way to move the cursor and you cannot use your keyboard to enter the code, either. And there's no other way to blow up or otherwise evade the door.

I searched some forums and it seems to be a recurring problem (though it perhaps just happens with the WinUAE version).

Could anyone offer a solution?

[Retro-Nerd]

Here are some hints, found it in the WHDLoad install archive.

D/Generation
Hints
FIXED BY RYGAR

This is easily one of the best arcade/action games I've played on the IBM.
Probably THE best. I typed up this hint file in the hopes you guys would
get the same enjoyment from it.

In each room there are yellow triangles on the walls, use these to open
doors. In many cases you will need to fire your laser in order to richochet
off the walls and connect with the triangle, opening a door you would not
otherwise be able to open safely.

On level 81 (I believe) the username and passcode for the computer that
unlocks the doorway are: Username: Seth,Passcode: Ostrich

The only other password you need for another computer on a higher level in
the game (I forget which level) is Pestilence.

Basically in every room you enter, blow up everything. Press "U" to use
items in your inventory, bombs, stop time, barriers, or shields. Bombs of
course can be used with button 2 on the joystick. Stop time stops time.
Barriers blow up things for you (make sure they don't backfire on you and
kill you instead). Shields protect you from everything for a short period
of time (The exception to this is the green cannons, your shield will
disappear after being hit once by a cannon, so get rid of those mothers right
away).

I believe level 90 is the final level in the game, so even though it might
look like you've reached the roof of the damn building, you haven't.

In order to save people, first secure the room by blowing up everything and
walking over those squares so they turn green. Then walk up the person and
hit enter a few times to see if the person has anything to say. If not, just
walk with the person (being very careful to keep the person from walking over
electric shock pads) over to the red arrow in the room, and the person will
walk out. At the end of the game I had saved approximately 40 people, so you
know you'll be doing fine if you average about 4 people each level. Some
people you attempt to save will turn into "fire guys". Blow them up with a
bomb immediately. You can discern real people from fire dudes by firing
bombs against the wall. If a person shakes, he is real. If a person stays
stationary, he is fake and will decapitate you.

In one room in the game you will not be able to open one of the doors unless
you blow up one of the yellow rods. It will then unlock. (You don't have to
worry about that door anyway, since I already gave you the passcode/userid)

When you see a computer walk up to it and you'll get some cool graphics and
information about Genoq. Mostly they're not of much use, but 2 of the
computers ask for passcodes that I mentioned above and are very important.
In one room you will walk to the computer and suddenly be transported to a
weird area with a guy resembling the T-1000 coming after you. When this
happens, restore the game and when you get back to that room, DONT TOUCH THE
COMPUTER AT ALL. You do not need to, and you can only lock yourself in the
room by doing so.

Oh yeah, by the way use ALT-S to save the game and ALT-R to restore. You can
only save your game at the beginning of each level. So say you save your
game in the middle of level 82. When you restore you will be at the entrance
to level 82.

Use CTRL-J to turn on the joystick. S for your status. CTRL-R to restart
(sometimes).

Level 90 (the last level) is the weirdest level of the game. You will
encounter Derrida (the guy you want to give the package to). Just talk with
him and then touch him. Then walk to the right out of the weird screen.
Then continue walking diagonally right-down, then diagonally right-up to get
out of the EYE screen. Then talk to the second Derrida and walk to the top
of the cross and exit. Continue walking right out of the next room. When
you see the glowing dude, wait until he starts walking then get the hell out
of there to the left. Follow the red-arrow path downward and walk to the
keyhole at the bottom left of the screen. Touch the thing when glowdude is
about to walk in front of the radar dish, and he will get fried and explode
in blood. Then walk out and back to the room you first met the glowing guy
in. Touch the computer for the fun of it and then touch the jetpack and fly
away to victory.

Oh yeah again, Those white open triangles are keyholes. You need to find the
key on each level for each keyhole. Sometimes there may be like 5
keyholes/keys on a level. Just get the key and touch the keyhole and the
door will open.

Are those transporter things rad or what? Notice how you can shoot into
them. This is valuable when you have to shoot a yellow triangle from a
distance to make a door open. The bomb will enter the transporter and come
out the other transporter, connecting with the triangle perfectly (if you aim
that way).

The game took me about 2 hours to complete total I'd say. DO NOT attempt the
stuff I've mentioned WITHOUT Rescue Raider's D/Generation Trainer v1.1. The
thing works great and is invaluable, although this is the kind of game I
might play without cheating on.

Special thanks to Rescue Raider for the trainer(without it I wouldn't have
been able to complete the game) and North Wind and INC for the crack and game.
Greets also to Disc Commando, The Eel, Genesis, The Byter, Crzy Joe, Califboy,
The Arsonist, and Thanatos.

If you need more help with the game (I know there are things I must have
missed in here), call Pool of Radiance [RR/INC WHQ] or contact me via
CelerityNet private e-mail/PlusNet subs.

-Nightwing
RR/INC Courier

P.S. I have included my save game file in case you are dying to see the last
level of this awesome game. Just load up the game and ALT-R. As I said
I could not save the game in the middle of the level, but since level 90
is the best one you'll enjoy working through it.

P.P.S. Yes this game has to be installed but like North Wind said just unzip
it to a ramdrive or any root directory, or assigned directory and
install. It may take a little time but it's well worth it!

[CHook/OTT]

Originally Posted by Bolch

Okay, now here's a REAL problem.

On one of the later levels, you have to use a password to enter the door. Unfortunately, though the program displays the keypad (and a cursor) to enter the code, but there's nothing you can do with it! There's no way to move the cursor and you cannot use your keyboard to enter the code, either. And there's no other way to blow up or otherwise evade the door.

I searched some forums and it seems to be a recurring problem (though it perhaps just happens with the WinUAE version).

Could anyone offer a solution?

The AGA version requires a CD32 pad (on a real Amiga or easily configured in WinUAE) in order to pass the terminal password protection you mention. Perhaps it was a lazy CD32 port that they forgot to patch but with a normal joystick you couldn't move the cursor to input the password and you couldn't proceed beyond this point.

Playing with a joystick also means you have to shoot your lazer using the space bar

With a CD32 pad the buttons replace:

RED = Fire Lazer (Space Bar)
GREEN = Talk (Enter)
YELLOW = Status (S)
BLUE = ?????

PLAY = Pause (Esc)

F/FORWARD = Inventory (U)

REWIND = brings up in game options:
Toggle sound (CTRL S)
Save game (ALT S)
Restore game (ALT R)
Restart room (CTRL A) (If you accidentaly blow up a required terminal)
Restart level (CTRL R)

Annoyingly is doesn't save to disk though so you have to use save states. I doubt this is a problem under emulation but it says previous save game locked. I'm sure there was something you could do to re-enable this because if it is a lazy CD32 port it will have something to do with the nonvolatile.library that is present on the disk.

If someone knows how to get this saving to disk again that would be cool.

[CHook/OTT]

It looks like the Classic "AGA" crack (scratches chin) could be a CD32 botch? (Don't have the CD32 version to check against) but the SPS/CAPS AGA version works perfectly (with a joystick) and saves to disk

[Bolch]

Many thanks for everyone's help!

I managed to complete the game in the meanwhile and I totally enjoyed it. The graphics are mediocre at best, the sounds are pretty non-existent, but the gameplay, storyline and atmosphere are easily make up for this.

This game is truly a precursor to Resident Evil games: a biological weapon experiment which gone horribly bad, frightening enemies, a desperate run against the clock in the finale, an almost invincible arch-villain... Only the story is more intelligent and has more depth than RE.

In retrospect, even the small details - like the speech of some helpful NPCs which made no sense at first - are seen in a wholly new light...