Strange messages hidden in the C64-code

[Sigvald]

I’ve got the Commodore 64 diskette version of M.U.L.E. But since I didn’t have access to the games manual before recently, I once examined the program-files with a machine-code monitor in order to make lists of the various personal- and planet-events. However during this process I also discovered some messages that I have never seen appearing when playing the game. These are NO MULE STEALING starting at 5583 ($15CF) and GO TO JAIL! starting at 5745 ($1671) both in the first of the two main files of the diskette-version. What does this mean? Does any of these messages ever appear in the game? And if so, when and why does it happen? If not, could these messages be remnants from the developing phase of the game?

[Chuckie Chuck]

If it's not a modified copy, I would assume that those were ideas that they rejected and left some dormant code behind, perhaps for revision history tracking.  They are not active events in the official release.

You can find a text only version of the original manual online, I have it and also a very nicely done review in Commodore Play Mag (also downloadable scans from the actual magazine)  Couldn't tell you where to find them, but google and hunting the commodore ring fan sites should dig them up.

[Gohar]

Please share any other gems you come across.

[Sigvald]

OK, here is a complete excerpt (set in italic) of the actual messages included in code of the C64 disk version. Please note that I have found no difference, what-so-ever, between my old C64 disk copy from 1984 an this one that I downloaded this year (30 years later) for use with my C64-emulator. The headlines below is *not* a part of the C64-code:

Various messages:
Land for sale, Production, Ownership map, Development, Need a mule, No mules allowed, Not enough money, No mules left, Mule set for:, Not your plot, Already got mule, Need soil sample, No plot marked, Time has run out, No mule stealing, Go to BLDG first, Mark plot to sell, Get soil sample then come back., Marked for sale., Sample ready to return to office, Transferring mule, Outfitting mule, Go to jail!, Food shortage decreases time, You own it now!, 1 plot per trip, Mule installed., No mining in the river valley.

Sample-results.

Planet events.

Mountain vampus message.

Auction-messages:
Store has run dry!, Seller(s) run dry!, Auction is over, Buyer(s) strapped for cash! Bids start at $, No bids tendered, Hig bid is $, Plot is sold!, Plot didn’t sell!, Sale price, No sellers – no auction, Seller at critical level, No commodity – no auction, buy, sell, collusion, colliusion is over.

Personal events.

[Death_Mule17]

 Ive heard the msg - Go to jail!- pops up when all 4 players have no food plots out and no food to play with by round 6.  Anyone Have a screenshot, I cant find 1







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