This one showed up on eBay of all places. The original MSRP was $49.95 USD.
Microsoft Game Shop
Well it seems that back in the early 90’s Microsoft was transitioning their Basic offering from the QuickBASIC to Qbasic. And one of the launch products was the Microsoft Game Shop, back from 1990. This was a specialized version apparently without any compiler, but included a tutorial based around games to teach basic.
Microsoft Game Shop (back)
Which back in the day it looks like it would have been a good way to inspire kids, although I have never heard of it. There is even a glowing review in Compute, issue 130.
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From the packing list it contains:
- QBLOCKS.BAS Fit the falling shapes into a row.
- QBRICKS.BAS Break through the bricks.
- QSPACE.BAS Defend space stations against enemy attack.
- QSHIPS.BAS Sink your opponent’s ship.
- QMAZE.BAS Find your way through the maze before time runs out.
- QSYNTH.BAS Record and play your own music.
QuickBasic went on to become the cut down QBasic that was later included in MS-DOS 5.0, Windows NT 3.1, and of course OS/2 2.00.
UPDATE:
There may be updates later in the year as these are waiting for me on the other side of the planet. So I have to urge patience.
Who knows, maybe they will even read! The Windows/386 v2.03 I had recently ordered circa early 1988 read fine, so let’s hope these will too.
Beautiful, I would have loved this when I was a kid! Then again, part of the reason that moving from GW-BASIC to QuickBASIC made me feel like a professional was the fact that I could make .EXE files 🙂
I was wondering what version of QuickBASIC it was based on and http://www.petesqbsite.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=3532 answered my question – it sounds like it’s halfway between QuickBASIC 4.5 and QBasic.
Hey Neozeed, sense you have full version Microsoft Game Shop will you Uploaded to site like Vetusware, or Archive.org. Nice Find Neozeed.
I’m sorry the pictures were just from an auction, I didn’t actually purchase it. So, like you & everyone else we don’t have the contents of the disks, although I suspect it’s more inline with Qbasic along with the above games source code.
If I do see it, I’ll do a follow up.
5 of 6 Microsoft Game Shop files you posted have time stamp date of February 1991 on
http://alansondheim.org ftp files servers. he’s do not have rest of Microsoft Game Shop files on his ftp files servers. he do have quickbasic and qbasic files on his ftp files server. He possibly desired not put any Microsoft Games Shop files on he’s ftp files server. try email him i have no response of him.
It’s going to take a while longer, as I have to travel to the other side of the planet to pick this up, and hope the disks still read but…
But I won a copy of Microsoft Game Shop a while back, so if it works then the digital part will be saved.
It’s getting harder and harder to find stuff from the late 80’s and early 90’s.
Microsoft Game Shop is found I upload to WinWorldPc. Merry Christmas. https://winworldpc.com/product/microsoft-game-shop/10
very cool! thanks!
Merry Christmas & a happy New Years!
Thanks so much for posting! I had MS Game Shop when I was a kid, but I haven’t found a copy on eBay or disk images until now!
Indeed, it’s surprisingly rare!