8bitSquad
Drug Wars 1984 title screen
Trading game, re-created

Drug Wars 1984

Commodore 16Commodore Plus/4Commodore VIC-20Public beta

A re-creation of J. E. Dell's 1984 original Drug Wars. The original source was lost, so it was rebuilt from scratch in Commodore BASIC 3.5. It runs in just 12K.

Get it on itch.ioDirect Download: Commodore Plus/4 (disk)Direct Download: Commodore 16 (disk)Direct Download: Commodore 16 and Plus/4 (PRG)Direct Download: Commodore VIC-20, unexpanded (disk, beta)

A re-creation of J. E. Dell's 1984 original Drug Wars. The original source code was lost, so the game was rebuilt from scratch in Commodore BASIC 3.5. It runs in just 12K on the Commodore 16 and Plus/4.

The VIC-20 edition squeezes the whole game into an unexpanded VIC-20's 3.5K: the same prices, events, loan shark and Officer Hardass, in fewer words. Designed and tested by Daz; its BASIC code was written with AI assistance.

Screenshots

The title screen: DRUG WARS by John E. Dell, 1984
The title screen: DRUG WARS by John E. Dell, 1984
Your stash in the Bronx, and a visit to the loan shark
Your stash in the Bronx, and a visit to the loan shark
Prices in the Bronx: buy, sell or jet?
Prices in the Bronx: buy, sell or jet?
Where to, dude? Six parts of New York
Where to, dude? Six parts of New York

Machines

  • Commodore 16
  • Commodore Plus/4
  • Commodore VIC-20

Credits

  • Original game by J. E. Dell, 1984
  • Re-created by Daz
  • VIC-20 edition: BASIC code written with AI assistance

Status

Public beta

Designed, written and tested by Daz; the VIC-20 edition's BASIC code was written with AI assistance. Build tools developed with AI assistance.