The Death Trap

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The ZIP contains the BPS patch, instructions and required font notices. Original game files are not included.

ZIP SHA-256: 8581e22d39601bf0925bf0a9de0aa1760b3b86fc31c134772a0a1cd7acfe19b7

THE DEATH TRAP - ENGLISH v1.0.0
Public release - November 3, 2026

English localization of Square's 1984 PC-8801 adventure. Includes the Arden Federation, Republic of Kitala and Veyr Union names, English keyboard correction, clearer supply choices and COFFIN/SARCOPHAGUS synonyms.

CONTENTS
Two BPS patches, a Python disk-conversion helper, an optional MAME keyboard profile, instructions, checksums and licenses. Supply your own matching original disks, emulator and required firmware. No original or translated game disks, firmware, emulator or saves are included.

EXACT ORIGINALS AND OUTPUTS
Use complete D88 files without stripping headers, normalizing or repairing them. Alternate dumps and other computer versions are not interchangeable.
DISK A
Original D88: 419760 bytes
Original SHA-256: f47ba69cd9f95672490e2a3dc670d28787ba34113a8f4007e500c264a9fc2a30
Patch: death-trap-v1.0.0-disk-a.bps
Patch SHA-256: 09e0a7c6f8765f8a63734789d7490f4b4a2a927178e61d0d06a68869ae23f287
Patched D88 SHA-256: 38740ab4b4231e73eb3e4384fa232d06d7d7ee8bf752ef70884dfd060cee2dcd

DISK C
Original D88: 348848 bytes
Original SHA-256: 532e7ce6f286b2247f463d47170cd1fc02597aa565bd75a3c76b1ff3a875942c
Patch: death-trap-v1.0.0-disk-c.bps
Patch SHA-256: ff248a17c95fdce2449d84ecb5122cf1b858a2275062302938c78daee7a5e0f9
Patched D88 SHA-256: 5fd7c067c09228552fc719d21b971c29226540f4f0a4a1bf09053d75f81a8588

DISK B - UNCHANGED
Original D88: 348848 bytes
SHA-256: 36e163a5268acf7f5e4b783b099a12fd8ec4079907df70ed55bfde24c82f25d3
Do not patch Disk B.

INSTALL
1. Keep untouched backups of all originals and existing saves.
2. Verify the exact original checksums above. Apply the A patch to original A and the C patch to original C using a BPS applicator supporting all four BPS actions (for example ROM Patcher JS). Never force a checksum mismatch or patch an already translated disk.
3. Name the resulting files english-a.d88 and english-c.d88; verify their hashes above.
4. For the tested MAME setup, use Python 3.10 or later to make a fresh writable A once:
   python beta-d88-to-hfe.py "english-a.d88" "english-a.hfe" --sha256 38740ab4b4231e73eb3e4384fa232d06d7d7ee8bf752ef70884dfd060cee2dcd
Expected clean HFE SHA-256: 903f1400ed30aba500ef63eb1d090c78b13c937c43d600eae8a9e7057b956140
The helper uses only the Python standard library, refuses an existing output and verifies all 1360 sector payloads. Keep this HFE: native saves live on it. Do not convert over or replace a saved HFE.
Windows hash check: Get-FileHash -LiteralPath 'filename.d88' -Algorithm SHA256

PLAY
Tested emulator: MAME 0.289, pc8801mk2sr (PC-8801mkIISR). Supply the required pc8801mk2sr and pc80s31 firmware separately.
Mount writable english-a.hfe in Drive 1 and original Disk B in Drive 2. Boot afresh; advance opening pages as prompted, then choose N for New game. At the ravine's Disk C instruction replace only Drive 2 with english-c.d88. Leave Drive 1 mounted.
Stock MAME rejects this particular A when mounted directly as D88. Use the HFE workflow above; no modified emulator is needed. Reconstructed timing is not physical-disk/hardware certification.

ENGLISH KEYBOARD
The patched game accepts lower- and uppercase English. MAME's separate Kana toggle must also be off: Left Ctrl toggles Kana in default MAME 0.289 bindings.
For an isolated English configuration, keep the supplied keyboard folder and start MAME with -cfg_directory pointing to that folder. Its pc8801mk2sr.cfg starts Kana off and disables the Kana toggle binding; it does not change your existing configuration elsewhere.
Example (adjust paths to your own files):
  mame.exe pc8801mk2sr -window -cfg_directory "keyboard" -flop1 "english-a.hfe" -flop2 "disk-b.d88"
On default MAME bindings, Scroll Lock toggles UI mode and Tab opens configuration. Use File Manager for disk changes, then return input to the emulated keyboard. If you use another profile, turn Kana off and unbind its toggle to avoid accidental Japanese input.

SAVE AND RESUME
At a normal Command prompt enter SAVE, Return, then a slot number 1-9. Wait for acknowledgement and quit normally. Back up the same writable HFE between sessions.
At a fresh boot choose O for Old game and the slot number. Use Disk B or patched C in Drive 2 according to the saved region. Finish any replayed scene message before typing.
Never resume an emulator save state from a different translation build. Existing private-player saves should be retained through that player's established upgrade launcher; this public package does not automatically migrate older working disks.

PUZZLE REFERENCE
The original manual's correspondence tables are needed to decipher the island language and ancient inscriptions independently. A verified chart scan is not included. The walkthrough offers spoiler-hidden solutions, including the tomb keyword.

TESTING AND LIMITS
BrentW approved this exact Veyr Union build for public release on November 3, 2026. This records owner acceptance, not a claim of an independently documented complete playthrough of this final revision.
All 1604 catalogued translation targets are inserted. Earlier builds completed automated start-to-finish routes; this build and recent corrections have targeted emulator checks, including the new country dialogue, coffin synonyms, keyboard behavior and save transfer. Repeat builds, exact reconstruction, wrong-source rejection and independent BPS application were checked. Original title and puzzle artwork remain. Exhaustive optional routes, audio and original hardware are not certified.
Translation uses AI assistance with human corrections and refinement; no native-speaker certification is claimed.

GUIDES
Game and manual notice: https://patchquestdx.com/games/the-death-trap/
Walkthrough (spoilers): https://patchquestdx.com/games/the-death-trap/walkthrough/
Player guide: https://patchquestdx.com/games/the-death-trap/guide/

CREDITS AND RIGHTS
Original game: Square (1984). Unofficial fan localization by BrentW / Patch Quest DX with AI assistance and player feedback; not endorsed by the original rights holders.
Quest Pixel: Patrick H. Lauke (redux), CC BY 3.0; see bundled attribution/provenance and license. Disk converter and keyboard configuration: Apache-2.0. These licenses do not license original game contents. Keep applicable notices with redistributed materials.

Walkthrough (spoilers) → · Version history and known issues →