SeanJul 12, 2024
Benj Edwards

I recently discovered an odd first-person maze game called “Lair of Squid” built into my HP 200LX palmtop PC, released in 1994

Then I found the author. Here’s the story of how this quirky Doom-inspired title came to be: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/07/how-i-found-a-forgotten-squid-based-ode-to-doom-on-a-1994-palmtop-pc/

Why 1994’s Lair of Squid was the weirdest pack-in game of all time

The HP 200LX included a mysterious maze game called Lair of Squid. We tracked down the author.

Ars Technica
Jul 10, 2024 at 12:22amMastodon for iOS
Show threadishotjr ✨💙✨💗✨Jul 10, 2024
@benjedwards I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to see this! I too had an #HP95LX as a kid, and an #HP200LX after that, and I've been addicted ever since, to the point where I'm currently writing a book about them! Thank you so much for including the full interview -- that's pure gold! Would love to discuss potentially including an extract in my book! 💗
Show threadBenj EdwardsJul 10, 2024
@ishotjr Sounds awesome, feel free to email me and remind me later editor at vintagecomputing dot com
Show threadPopeASDF  Jul 10, 2024
@benjedwards @vxo god I loved my 200LX it lasted a while on batteries, had serial.. ran dos… so magic
Show threadZorroJul 10, 2024
@benjedwards great article! It looks and sounds a lot like 3D Monster Maze from the ZX81.
Show threadWeaselJul 10, 2024
@benjedwards Andy mentioned Everett Kaser - I've heard of that guy before! One of DOS shareware's somewhat more prevalent names, still in business to this day selling updated versions of his logic puzzle games. That's a really cool connection.
Show threadBenj EdwardsJul 11, 2024
@wildweasel yeah, and his Hearts and Bones game on the 200LX is excellent
Show threadFrugalGamerJul 11, 2024
@benjedwards this was a lovely read about a fascinating hidden gem!
Show threadBenj EdwardsJul 11, 2024
@FrugalGamer thanks!
Show threadwebdoktorJul 11, 2024
@benjedwards
nice find. thanks for sharing
Show threadBenj EdwardsJul 11, 2024
@masterhit glad you liked it!
Show threadwebdoktorJul 12, 2024
@benjedwards
Sadly it does not work on my portable LCD Computer. I‘ve spent the whole morning transfering the squid game via Xmodem. But it‘s just a blank screen. At least I‘ve set up the serial connection and can now search for more old DOS games.
Show threadBenj EdwardsJul 12, 2024
@masterhit Bummer! It may have some unique screen writing routines for the 200LX
Show threadwebdoktorJul 12, 2024
@benjedwards
the archive.org online version uses the ‚screen emulator‘ cg.com . this one doesn‘t seem to werken on my hümple läptöp. There are other lx200 screen emu‘s for DOS (palrun, int5h and palmpc) but my patience was gone :)
Show threadwebdoktorJul 13, 2024
@benjedwards
PALRUN.EXE as lx200 screen emu does the job 😁
Show threadBenj EdwardsJul 16, 2024
@masterhit Wow, that's awesome!