Looking through my software collection I found Microsoft Game Shop, and since no one has discussed this before, let alone talked about its oddities, I figured I would.
Its an interesting curiosity, the top of the box claims its Quick Basic 4.50 Game. The back of the box claims its Qbasic, and the book inside claims its Quick Basic Interpreter 1.01, how ever when running it it says version 1.00
The copyright for the interpreter is 1988, the same year as Quick Basic 4.5.
Whats interesting is this definitely the precursor to Qbasic, whilst it is almost the same, it does include a few features from Quick Basic, that Qbasic doesn't have.
1. It supports command$, you can specify a command by launching qbi.exe with /cmd something.
2. It supports binary Quick Basic files, if you try to load a binary file in Qbasic, it will give you an error.
3. The help files are mostly the same as Quick Basic 4.5 apart from excluding the missing features (The advr_ex examples from Quick Basic 4.5 are included).
4. '$DYNAMIC should allow access to more memory, but if you try to allocate too much memory it will crash the interpreter, if you don't use '$DYNAMIC, the traditional out of memory will be displayed. The /ah parameter is removed though. (The help mentions that it should allow you to allocate as much memory as the machine has).
Under Qbasic '$DYNAMIC doesn't appear to allow you to use more memory, (The help mentions a max of 64k memory).
Sounds like QuickBasic 4.5 to me. That comes with a compiler. You can save files as ordinary text BAS files in Save As. I never use the binary as I convert to QB64.
But thats the most interesting part of all, it doesn't include the compiler, and also doesnt support qlb's and has the limited debug support that Qbasic has.
PACKING.LST File
Disk Contents for Microsoft (R) Game Shop
Version 1.00
(C) Copyright Microsoft Corporation, 1990
This file contains a complete list of all files and directories on the
distribution disks provided with this product.
This package comes with a number of demonstration and utility programs
written in BASIC. These files are for informational and recreational
purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, either expressed or
implied, as to their suitability for specific purposes or their correctness,
accuracy, or reliability. The entire risk as to the results and performance
of the software is assumed by you.
NOTE: The game files included on disk 4 are shipped in binary format to
improve load time and save space. The QuickBASIC Interpreter can read these
binary files as well as regular text-format files. To convert the game files
to regular text format, save them by using the Save As command from the
QuickBASIC Interpreter File menu.
==============================================================================
Disk #1
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INSTALL.BAT Game Shop installation program.
INST.BAT Batch file used by INSTALL.BAT during installation.
PACKING.LST List and description of all files provided.
FLOPPY.DOC Instructions for installing and using Game Shop on
dual-floppy systems.
QBI.EXE Microsoft QuickBASIC Interpreter.
QBI.INI QuickBASIC Interpreter initialization file.
QBIQCK.HLP QuickBASIC Interpreter online Help file.
==============================================================================
Disk #2
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QBIENER.HLP QuickBASIC Interpreter online Help file.
LEARN.COM QB Express learning tutorial for the QuickBASIC
Interpreter.
BI.PGM File used by QB Express.
QBICBT.CTX " " " " "
QBICBT.SCN " " " " "
QBICBT.SOB " " " " "
MSHERC.COM The device driver for use with computers equipped
with a Hercules(R) Graphics Card, Graphics Card Plus,
Hercules InColor Card, or 100%-compatible clones of
these graphics cards. This file allows you to write
BASIC programs that use screen mode 3 for graphics.
QBI.PIF File that provides information to aid in running
QuickBASIC Interpreter under Microsoft Windows.
LEARN.PIF File that provides information to aid in running
QuickBASIC Express under Microsoft Windows.
GAMESHOP.PIF File that provides information to aid in running
Game Shop under Microsoft Windows.
WELCOME.BAS "Learn BASIC Now" example program.
CHAP05\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 5 of "Learn BASIC Now."
ELSEIF.BAS IF-2.BAS IF-4.BAS SELECT-1.BAS SELECT-3.BAS TO-2.BAS
IF-1.BAS IF-3.BAS IF-5.BAS SELECT-2.BAS TO-1.BAS TO-3.BAS
CHAP06\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 6 of "Learn BASIC Now."
BUDGET.BAS DO-2.BAS FOR-1.BAS FOR-4.BAS FOR-7.BAS RND-1.BAS
DICE.BAS DO-3.BAS FOR-2.BAS FOR-5.BAS GUESS.BAS RND-2.BAS
DO-1.BAS DO-4.BAS FOR-3.BAS FOR-6.BAS NESTING.BAS WHILE.BAS
CHAP07\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 7 of "Learn BASIC Now."
ARGUMENT.BAS BOWLING.BAS LOCAL.BAS SONG2.BAS
AVERAGE.BAS GLOBAL.BAS SONG.BAS
CHAP08\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 8 of "Learn BASIC Now."
ADDTHEM.BAS BIKEINFO.BAS DATAEND.BAS GETNAMES.BAS SALES.BAS TVHOURS.BAS
ADDTHEM2.BAS BOUDNS.BAS DYNAMIC.BAS MAXSALES.BAS SEARCH.BAS
CHAP09\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 9 of "Learn BASIC Now."
ASCII.BAS GETMID.BAS HEADER.BAS MENU.BAS PHONEFIX.BAS STRSORT.BAS
COMPARE.BAS GETRIGHT.BAS HUNT.BAS NEWS.BAS PIG.BAS UPPER.BAS
GETLEFT.BAS GREETING.BAS LOWER.BAS PHONE.BAS REPEAT.BAS
CHAP10\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 10 of "Learn BASIC Now."
CARDATA.BAS COINS2.BAS FRIENDS.BAS KILL.BAS NEWNAME.BAS SHOW.BAS
COINS.BAS DIARY.BAS FRUITS.BAS MUSICDB.BAS RUNDOS.BAS VIEW.BAS
CHAP11\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 11 of "Learn BASIC Now."
CIRCLE-1.BAS LINE-2.BAS LOCATE-3.BAS SOUND-1.BAS STEP-2.BAS
CIRCLE-2.BAS LOCATE-1.BAS PRESET.BAS SOUND-2.BAS TEST-VID.BAS
LINE-1.BAS LOCATE-2.BAS PSET.BAS STEP-1.BAS WELCOME.BAS
CHAP12\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Chapter 12 of "Learn BASIC Now."
BADBEAR.BAS BADNAME.BAS BUGSHAKE.BAS DESSERT.BAS DESSERT2.BAS FIXSHAKE.BAS
APPNDX-D\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in Appendix D of "Learn BASIC Now."
ANTHEM.BAS CALC.BAS DIVIDE.BAS GOODNAME.BAS REVERSE.BAS STATES.BAS
BANZAI.BAS CIRCLE.BAS GASCASH.BAS HIROLLER.BAS SHAPES.BAS VIDEO.BAS
BASEBALL.BAS CIRCMOVE.BAS GETNAMES.BAS MOVENAME.BAS SORTLIST.BAS
BEAV.BAS CITY.BAS GOODBEAR.BAS QUESTION.BAS SOUNDER.BAS
==============================================================================
Disk #3
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MOUSE.COM The device driver for use with QuickBASIC programs
that call mouse functions.
QBIADVR.HLP QuickBASIC Interpreter online Help file.
ADVR_EX\*.*
Directory containing BASIC programs cited in the online Help.
CHR_EX.BAS CSR_EX.BAS DRAW_EX.BAS SHARE_EX.BAS TYPE_EX.BAS WINDO_EX.BAS
COM1_EX.BAS DECL_EX.BAS FUNC_EX.BAS SHELL_EX.BAS UBO_EX.BAS
COM2_EX.BAS DEFSG_EX.BAS OUT_EX.BAS STAT_EX.BAS UCASE_EX.BAS
==============================================================================
Disk #4
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GAMESHOP.EXE Game Shop game manager with master control menu.
GAMESHOP.INI Initialization file used by GAMESHOP.EXE.
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.
SORTDEMO.BAS Sorting algorithm demonstration program.
Banana phone! We need more lemon pledge. * exploding fist of iced tea! * I see your psycho cat and counter with a duck that has a broken leg, in a cast.