TCC has so many episodes filled to the brim with pure unadulterated tech nostalgia - most of which I've never seen. So watching 1-2 per week is a fun guilty pleasure.
Today I watched an episode from December of 1990 titled, Battle of Video Game Consoles. This was a partial departure because the focus is almost always computer hardware and software. This episode talked entirely about video games, arcades, consoles - and a couple of PC games.
At the 8:50 mark we're introduced to David Riordan of Cinemaware. He's asked by the host, Stewart Cheifet, to explain the hardware we're about to be shown running this particular Cinemaware title.
Riordan responded:
The reason I bring all of this up is because the game in question we're about to be shown is Cinemaware's Defender of the Crown.Well we're looking at a standard PC with a CD-ROM drive attached to it.
Reminder: this is 1990. We are next presented with what looks to be Amiga-level graphics, yet with pure audio CD with voice actors and orchestral music. I don't recall ever seeing this game look this good on a PC back in the day. From what I recall, the DOS version was ported to CGA (4 color) and EGA (16 color) and it was a mere shadow of the Amiga version. And yet here we are...
According to Wikipedia, DotC was the 2nd game ever put to CD, way back in 1989. But ... was it this version? If so, what happened to this remarkable port? Has anyone ever seen it look like this on a PC before way back when? I'm genuinely baffled.
Could this have been an early Amiga-driven CD-ROM prototype shown in PC clothing? It does appear to be shown on an IBM PS/2 16" monitor either way.
Note: For those not aware the show's co-host was often Gary Kildall, who created the CP/M operating system. (He actually isn't in the episode I just focused on, however.)