L.3.W

L.3.W
Also known as: Super Columns (MSX revision, SMS) Developer: Screen Software Publishers: Screen Software (MSX original), HiCOM (MSX revision, SMS) Platforms: MSX, Unlicensed Sega Master System Released in KR: 1990 This game has uncompiled source code. This game has revisional differences.

An unlicensed port of Columns. From where Screen Software got this original title remains a mystery.

Uncompiled Source Code

Several snippets of uncompiled source code can be found within the game's releases. Offsets are listed as appropriate.

0xBA3 (MSX, earlier) / 0xBC3 (MSX, later) / 0x4BC3 (SMS)
Red - Exclusive to earlier MSX revision

  LD A,0
  LD E,B
  CALL C0093
  DEC B
  DEC B

0x1EAC (MSX, both) / 0x4EAC (SMS)

  CAL��>0w+�úÉ0H
  LDIR
  CALL VRAM

Additionally, exclusive to the earlier MSX version at offset 0x7D86 is a credit that is likely a leftover from something else.

958C95809580000&h8095B595B500095B595B595A495A400095A495A49596959600095969596958C958C000958C958C9580

 =====================
 |  ─ BAD COMPANY ─  |
 | Original theme    |
 |      By (C)IREM  .|
 |   Msx arranged    |
 |        By         |
 |     lee.k-h!      |
 |    1988.12.01     |
 =====

Revisional Differences

To do: Extract the music

Two versions of the game are known to exist.

• The earlier MSX revision, known as L.3.W, published by Screen Software
• The later MSX revision, known as Super Columns, published by HiCOM and also released for the Sega Master System:

Overall

• Super Columns uses a nearly completely updated font:

L.3.W	Super Columns

• No year is displayed in the title screen. The date shown during gameplay was also shortened to just the year in order to make up for the game's title.
• The "3" in L.3.W's title graphic flickers red and blue; no such effect is present in Super Columns.

L.3.W	Super Columns

• There is an additional Tetris game mode in Super Columns.

• The music is completely different between both versions of the game. Additionally, while L.3.W uses two BGM tracks, Super Columns uses only one.