Best Software of 1984?

Anything about Mac emulation that does not belong in the above categories.

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adespoton
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Best Software of 1984?

Post by adespoton »

Hey everyone,
After all these years, I've finally got to the point where I'm starting to build my "quintessential Mac setup of 19xx" images.

First up is 1984.

I'm planning to have the following setup for 1984:

Mac 128k via Mini vMac
Mac System Software 0.1 (System 1.1, Finder 1.1g)

I'm definitely including the following software:
Apple MacWrite
Apple MacPaint

Here are some other applications -- which ones should I include (or any that I'm missing that scream "1984")?
MusicWorks
MacProject
OverVue
Consulair Mac C
The Macintosh Desk Top Demo
The Mind Prober
Typing Tutor III
Alice Through the Looking Glass
Amazing
Backgammon
Daleks
Flight Simulator
Frogger
Iago
Klondike
Lode Runner
Missile Command
Reversi
Sargon III
Zork
MacDraw
Banner
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Cat_7
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Re: Best Software of 1984?

Post by Cat_7 »

For me, Typing Tutor screams 1984. The first automation wave went across the western world, and you would need typing skills to be part of it. What can you do if you can't type ;-)

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adespoton
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Re: Best Software of 1984?

Post by adespoton »

Yes, for me the ones that really reflect that year are Typing Tutor III, MacPaint, Daleks, Load Runner, Missile Command, Rervsi and Sargon III. Sure, some of those are carryovers from the Apple ][ products of the same name, but boy did they get a lot of use on the Macs :)
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adespoton
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Re: Best Software of 1984?

Post by adespoton »

To give people ideas on other Mac software released in 1984, you can skim through:
http://macintoshgarden.org/year/1984
I can't guarantee I'll be able to incorporate anything listed there, but I can see if I can locate the appropriate software if it proves popular.
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Re: Best Software of 1984?

Post by CharlesS »

I'd vote for putting Enchanted Scepters on that list.
There's no earthly way of knowing, which direction we are going, for the rowers keep on rowing, and they're certainly not showing any signs that they are slowing.
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adespoton
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Re: Best Software of 1984?

Post by adespoton »

Enchanted Scepters (and before anyone mentions it, Airborne!) weren't released until 1985. They'll be on the 1985 list :)

I found this really good article from 1985 though:
https://books.google.ca/books?id=6C4EAA ... &q&f=false

And from that, some contenders are:
Macterminal
MS Multiplan
MS Chart
PFS File and Report
Dollars and Sense
Thinktank
Filevision
MS Basic
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Re: Best Software of 1984?

Post by CharlesS »

Wikipedia claims it was 1984, as does the copyright date in the About panel for the app itself.
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Re: Best Software of 1984?

Post by adespoton »

Yes, I believe the game's final build was in November/December of 1984; however, IIRC it hit store shelves in January 1985. The copyright on the manuals is 1985. But I might include it anyway :)
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