Debug Modes

Partially based on the On-Line Debug Mode FAQ by HWM

 

Introduction

This debug mode is solely script related. A debug script is located directly in the game logic itself, not in the interpreter (although the interpreter of course offers the commands to use in the script). If a game does not have the debug script in its logic, it will not work. However, pretty much all the games have a debug mode, except for Mixed-Up Mother Goose and the Manhunter series. The latter does have some unused messages relating to a debug mode in it, but it's likely removed from the final release. The AGI demo packs and other demonstrations also don't include a debug mode.

AGI1 is an old and uncommon interpreter. The only games using it are the rare first (booter) versions of King's Quest 2 and The Black Cauldron. However, the AGI1 games do have a debug mode, so they're included here. Donald Duck's Playground is also a booter game, but in many aspects more like AGI2, including the version number given by Sierra (v2.001), so it's listed under AGI2. The first release of King's Quest 1 is sometimes listed as AGI0, but technically this more a container category for the first versions of the first release of King's Quest, not really one interpreter.

AGI2 and AGI3 have few differences and have similar debug functions. Debug-wise the only major difference is that AGI3 does not contain the trace-function. AGI3 games are Gold Rush!, King's Quest 4 AGI, the Manhunter series and a certain version (v2.10) of The Black Cauldron. Some demos also use AGI3. The rest of the games use AGI2.

 

Activating Debug Modes

Most AGI games still have the debug code that developers used while the games were being developed. Most of the games activate their debug modes by simply pressing the [ALT-D] key combination. The other games use a "magic phrase" to enter the debug mode. Once activated, here are commands that can be used.

 

Activating AGI1 Debug Modes

In King's Quest 2, the debug mode is activated by entering "FAST SPEAK" at the command line. It will be activated on room change. In The Black Cauldron, the debug mode is activated by pressing [ALT + D]. This would eventually become the standard way of activation. The debug mode will be deactivated on room change. Also, activating the debug mode multiple times will generate multiple input/output lines!

Game	Debug Phrase
King's Quest II	"fast speak" (activated on room change)
The Black Cauldron	Alt+D

 

Activating AGI2/AGI3 Debug Modes

Of all the AGI games, it is unknown whether the KQ4AGI 256K version, Manhunter 1, Manhunter 2 and Mixed-Up Mother Goose have a debug mode or not. KQ4 will almost certainly have one, while Mixed Up Mother Goose probably doesn't even though its WORDS.TOK file has all the debug words contained in it. MH2 has some kind of debug mode which allows you to teleport and change variable values because there are text messages in the first Logic file along these lines. MH1 probably has the same debug mode.

Again, the debug mode is usually activated by pressing [ALT + D]. However, there are some alternative ways/exceptions with some games. These games require a certain sentence to be typed in; perhaps this was done to access the debug mode on other platforms, without redefining keys in the code. The games and their sentences are:

Game	Debug Phrase
Gold Rush!	"bird boy" or "bird man"
King's Quest 1	Alt+D
King's Quest II	"fast speak" or Alt+D
King's Quest III	"rats ass" (v2.14) or Alt+D
King's Quest IV AGI	Alt+D
Leisure Suit Larry 1	Alt+D
Police Quest 1	"stink bug" or "stink bugs" (v2.0G)
Space Quest 1	"backstage" or "dbg"
Space Quest II	"dbg" or Alt+D

 

Debug Mode Commands

 

AGI1 Debug Mode Commands

After the debug mode is activated, the following commands are available:

Room and Ego Commands

Command	Result
ROOM	Displays room number
TP (room number)	Teleport to specified room (change room/scene/script)
SP	Shows position of ego *
SHOW POSITION	Show ego's current screen coordinates *
POSITION + (new coordinates)	Change egos position
SHOW PRIORITY	Displays the current rooms priority bands and control lines
SET PRIORITY	Set the priority of ego
RELEASE PRIORITY	Release the last priority that ego was set to

* Does not work with King's Quest 2

Flag and Variable Commands

Command	Result
SHOW FLAG	Displays a specified flag (one of 256 flags)
SET FLAG	Sets a specified flag (one of 256 flags)
RESET FLAG	Clears specified flag (one of 256 flags)
SHOW VAR	Displays one of the 256 variables
SET VAR	Change the value of one of the 256 variables

Object/Inventory Debug Commands

Command	Result
OBJECT NUMBER	Displays list of all the objects and their object numbers
OBJECT ROOM	Displays which room an object is found in
GET OBJECT	Get specified object and added to inventory
GIMME GIMME	Get all inventory items

* There are 256 variables and 256 flags

Misc Debug Commands

Command	Result
QUIT	Quit game (originally, but now locks up)

 

AGI2/AGI3 Debug Commands

After the debug mode is activated, the following commands are available:

Room and Ego Commands

Command	Result
ROOM	Displays room number
TP (room number)	Teleport to specified room (change room/scene/script)
SP	Shows position of ego *
SHOW POSITION or POSITION	Show ego's current screen coordinates *
POSITION + (new coordinates)	Change egos position
SHOW PRIORITY	Displays the current rooms priority bands and control lines
SET PRIORITY	Set the priority of ego
RELEASE PRIORITY	Release the last priority that ego was set to

* Does not work with King's Quest 2

Flag and Variable Commands

Command	Result
SHOW FLAG	Displays a specified flag (one of 256 flags)
SET FLAG	Sets a specified flag (one of 256 flags)
RESET FLAG	Clears specified flag (one of 256 flags)
SHOW VAR or SHOW VARIABLE	Displays one of the 256 variables
SET VAR or SET VARIABLE	Change the value of one of the 256 variables

Object/Inventory Debug Commands

Command	Result
OBJECT NUMBER	Displays list of all the objects and their object numbers
OBJECT ROOM	Displays which room an object is found in
GET OBJECT	Get specified object and adds to inventory
GIMME GIMME	Get all inventory items

* There are 256 variables and 256 flags

Misc Debug Commands

Command	Result
QUIT	Quit game (locks up with most later games)
[SCROLL LOCK]	Trace mode*

* Only works with AGI v2

 

Game Specific Debug Commands

Note: Not all of these commands will work with all versions of the games

 

The Black Cauldron

Command	Result
GIMME GIMME	All objects get added to inventory
OBJECT ROOM	Shows in which room certain object is located
SHOW OBJECT	Gives information on objects on screen (BC)
ALT + P	Shows priority screen
ALT + M	Shows available memory
ALT + I	Gives information on objects on screen
ALT + E	Shows position of ego
ALT + D	Exits debug mode (BC)
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
SET PRIORITY	Sets priority *
RELEASE PRIORITY	Returns to normal visual screen

 

Donald Duck's Playground

Command	Result
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
RELEASE PRIORITY	Returns to normal visual screen

 

Gold Rush!

Command	Result
ROOM NUMBER	Shows room number
SHOW POSITION	Shows coordinates of ego
SHOW MEM	Shows available memory
SHOW OBJECT	Gives information on objects on screen
ALT + S	Gives information on objects on screen
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
SET PRIORITY	Sets priority *
RELEASE PRIORITY	Returns to normal visual screen

 

King's Quest II

Here are a few interesting tricks to help you deal with that intolerable wizard in debug mode (). Type:

Command	Result
CHECK OUT FLAG	Shows certain status information
F8	Shows priority screen
F10	Shows available memory

 

King's Quest III

Here are a few interesting tricks to help you deal with that intolerable wizard in debug mode (). Type:

Command	Result
ALT + I	Gives information on objects on screen
EXAMINE OBJECT	Gives information on objects on screen
OBJECT ROOM	Shows in which room certain object is located
GET OBJECT	Adds selected object to inventory
GIMME GIMME	Adds all objects to inventory
ROOM NUMBER	Shows room number
ALT + P	Shows priority screen *
F6	Shows priority screen **
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
RELEASE PRIORITY	Returns to normal visual screen ****
ROOM	Shows coordinates of ego
ALT + E	Shows position of ego
ALT + X	Shows coordinates of ego
EXAMINE POSITION	Shows coordinates of ego **
FIND	Shows position of ego
F10	Shows available memory ***
ALT + M	Shows available memory *
ENCHANTER STATUS or WIZARD STATUS	Gives a detailed status of Manannan.
HERE ENCHANTER or HERE WIZARD	Gives a detailed status of Manannan.
SLEEP ENCHANTER or SLEEP WIZARD	Manannan goes to sleep.
BYE BYE ENCHANTER or BYE BYE WIZARD	Kills Manannan.
DO CHORE	Sets assigned task flag as done.
PUT UP SPELL	Gives all inventory items.
PUT UP MOUNTAIN	Changes game state to arrival at the kingdom of Daventry
PUT UP BOAT	Changes game state to the beginning of the sailing trip
GIMME SPELL	Gives all magical items

* King's Quest 3 has several versions and some these commands won't work, or will use different keys like F6 or F10 (e.g. v1.01)
** King's Quest 3 v1.01
*** Not King's Quest 3 v. 2.14
**** "Enter" to return to normal visual screen for v. 2.14

 

King's Quest IV AGI

Note: In the newer versions of the game most of the debugging commands do not work

Command	Result
TP	Teleport to room *
GIMME GIMME	All objects get added to inventory
OBJECT ROOM	Shows in which room certain object is located
OBJECT	Gives information on objects on screen
ROOM	Shows coordinates of ego
ALT + P	Shows priority screen
ALT + M	Shows available memory
ALT + I	Gives information on objects on screen
ALT + E	Shows position of ego
ALT + X	Shows coordinates of ego
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
SET PRIORITY	Sets priority
RELEASE PRIORITY	Returns to normal visual screen
CREATE DAY	Turns the game into day
CREATE DARK	Turns the game into night
TIME	Gives in-game time
TRACE	Trace mode (originally, but does not work)

* For a list of room numbers for KQ4, see the King's Quest IV Room Maps.

 

Leisure Suit Larry 1

Press ALT+D and press enter twice to enable Debug Mode.

Command	Result
TP (room #*)	Teleport to specified room.
OBJECT NUMBER	Shows list of objects in game
OBJECT ROOM	Shows in which room certain object is located
ALT+I or SP (object #)	Shows information about screen objects
GET OBJECT (item #)	To get specified object
GIMME GIMME	All objects get added to inventory
ROOM NUMBER	X/Y Coordinates and current room number
EXAMINE POSITION	Shows coordinates of ego
FIND	Shows position of ego
ALT + P (ALT+V or PRIORITY **)	Shows priority screen
ALT + M	Shows available memory
ALT + I	Gives information on objects on screen
ALT + E	Shows position of ego
SHOW VAR or SV	Display value of variable
SET VAR or CHANGE VAR	Change value of variable
SET FLAG or SF	Set a flag
VIEW FLAG or SHOW FLAG	See flags
RESET FLAG	Reset a flag
ALT+M	Display heap size
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
SET PRIORITY	Sets priority
RELEASE PRIORITY	Returns to normal visual screen

* For a list of room numbers, see here.
** Not v 1.00

 

Police Quest

Command	Result
GIMME GIMME	All objects get added to inventory
OBJECT ROOM	Shows in which room certain object is located
OBJECT NUMBER	Shows list of objects in game
OBJECT	Gives information on objects on screen
ROOM	Shows coordinates of ego
ALT + P	Shows priority screen
ALT + M	Shows available memory
ALT + I	Gives information on objects on screen
ALT + E	Shows position of ego
ALT + X	Shows coordinates of ego
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
SET PRIORITY	Sets priority
RELEASE PRIORITY	Returns to normal visual screen

Space Quest I

Command	Result
OBJECT	Gives information on objects on screen
SHOW MEMORY	Shows available memory
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
tester	Displays EGO's screen coordinates.
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
SET PRIORITY	Sets priority
RELEASE PRIORITY	Returns to normal visual screen
CASH	Change amount of money
DRINK CLOTHES	Changes ego to normal outfit
BE ALIEN	Changes ego to alien outfit
DRINK JET PACK	Changes ego to wear jetpack
NO HELMET	Changes ego to alien (without helmet)

Space Quest II

Command	Result
OBJECT	Gives information on objects on screen
SHOW MEMORY	Shows available memory
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
tester	Displays ego's screen coordinates.
SHOW PRIORITY	Shows priority screen
SET PRIORITY	Sets priority
RELEASE PRIORITY	Returns to normal visual screen