Boss key (boss button) \ VOGONS

Boss key (boss button)

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First post, by sledge

Posted on 2013-06-20, 15:15

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I'm trying to find as much DOS games with boss key as I can.

There is nice list on mobygames, but it's incomplete - for example Commander Keen is missing.

So, do you know any other DOS games with boss key feature? 😀

doshaven.eu / high-voltage.cz

Reply 1 of 9, by DonutKing

Posted on 2013-06-20, 23:19

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I remember the Hugo trilogy (house of horrors, whodunnit, Hugo 3) had a boss key that opened a DOS shell ln top of the game.

If you are squeamish, don't prod the beach rubble.

Reply 2 of 9, by collector

Posted on 2013-06-21, 02:35

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The first few LSL games did.

The Sierra Help Pages -- New Sierra Game Installers -- Sierra Game Patches -- New Non-Sierra Game Installers

Reply 3 of 9, by Great Hierophant

Posted on 2013-06-21, 04:27

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Added LSL3 to Mobygames.

http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/ - Nerdly Pleasures - My Retro Gaming, Computing & Tech Blog

Reply 4 of 9, by P4R4D0X

Posted on 2013-06-21, 10:27

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I remember Ész-kerék had one. It's a Hungarian Wheel of the Fortune clone. But unfortunately seems like the game is buggy and the boss key only works in Hercules, CGA, Tandy and PCjr modes. EGA/VGA modes are messed up unfortunately.

Thought it's a DOSBox bug, but it turned out it's just a glitchy game. You will find the game and the topic here:
Boss key in Ész-kerék crashes DOSBox

Basically if you press the boss key it will bring up the C:\> prompt and you will be able to list the directory content and such. A smiley face ASCII character will appear on the screen letting you know that the game is still in the background, but the PC speaker will beep too. That's the only downside of the Boss key.

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Last edited by P4R4D0X on 2013-07-02, 16:17. Edited 3 times in total.

Reply 5 of 9, by Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman

Posted on 2013-06-21, 10:39

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The existence for boss key proves that computer games have been primarily aimed at adult audience. Why do politicians insist that games are for kids?

Never thought this thread would be that long, but now, for something different.....
Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman.

Reply 6 of 9, by bristlehog

Posted on 2013-06-21, 11:01

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Pole Chudes has the boss key. This is a 1993 quiz game in Russian only.

Reply 7 of 9, by Malik

Posted on 2013-06-21, 13:38

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The boss may get suspicious anyway, when he sees the same screen with the same spreadsheet with the same topic and the same values again and again.

And a boss has the discretion to actually stop and have a closer look at the screen and may even ask what the hell is that piece of **** doing there, or why the worker is typing a "generic" letter when he's supposed to do his job...

Or worse, the wrong screen appearing in a wrong field of job...

Whatever it is, it was actually a part of DOS gaming history that can never be recreated in these days. Some of the screens are actually very amusing to look at. Imagine switching to a boss screen when Larry is busy f...ahemm....

SB Dos Drivers

Reply 8 of 9, by NJRoadfan

Posted on 2013-06-21, 16:46

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There was at least one Windows game that I know of that had a boss key, the original release of the Activision Atari 2600 Action Pack. It brought up a fake Excelish looking window. Plus it had the nagging mother feature during game play.