Before RPG Maker, there was the Dante 98. And before the Dante 98... there was CHIMES QUEST.
Chime's Quest チャイムズクエスト was an RPG development software for PC-9801 by TAKERU. The company nowadays seems to be known for its online karaoke software, but back in the day they had something very unique going on: they sold pc-98 floppies through special vending machines.
a developer for the software apologizing for its quality due to it being his first job. thank you anyhow!
what?! you're telling me you sold the software through vending machines?? you can do that???
YOU CAN BUY SORCERIAN ADDITIONAL SCENARIOS IN A VENDING MACHINE?!?!?!!
After looking at a catalogue, I saw all sorts of things could be purchased through the machine. Game development tools, naughty doujin slideshows, STGs, and surprisingly plenty of Falcom games. I even saw a Falcom sprite editor featuring characters from the first two entries in the Gagharv trilogy (I snatched that for myself...)
uwahhhh.....Burai....!
Going back to Chimes Quest, I've found it be an extremely simple and charming program. The sprite editor is especially fun to use. Surprisingly, one of the most popular games on the system had a strong lead to it-- REINES DU SABBAT (what a serious reference!), a dark and bloody RPG featuring a cute little kitty girl, was created by the soon-to-be father of Corpse Party, Makoto Kedōin. He would move onto the Dante 98 in time, but to see that he started on Chimes Quest make a lot of sense. The game has been praised for it's daring story and (of course) cute cat girl ^_^ Puff even appeared in a doujin fighting game?
But that's what I wanted to talk about... Isn't it so kewl...you could go to a vending machine and buy games....? I wish that were me... Buying a can of UCC coffee with milk in one machine, and a set of Romancia floppies in the next... ♪(´▽｀)
The days of that glorious machine are long over, but the memories are strong for those who knew it in its prime.
additional links 🙆🏽♂️
gameplay of REINES DU SABBAT サバトの女王
sombody emulating buying games from a TAKERU vending machine
a snazzy commercial for the vending machine