One of the questions that still today sometimes costs me hours of sleep ;)

There once was a Mac-Game, callde "The better dead ratification". In the very beginning of this game, you receive some kind of video-transmission, that was heavily disturbed. In this transmission, there was a guy, telling something not really understandable. As far as I could "read" the transmission, the guy was telling some code-word, that you should have entered, to begin the game. But that damn word was not understandable.

Well I dont have the game anymore - and of course, I don't have any Mac-Computer nowadays, especially not an old Mac.

But I still wonder today, what that word was, that one should have entered.

So, please, if anyone does remember this game and was able to enter it. WHAT was the word? Or what was the task you were asked to do, to enter the game anyway?

I'm bumping this thread, since the question has piqued my curiosity, and the thread has just fallen off the first page.

I actually looked in various databases, but couldn't find a game with that (odd) title anywhere. Which is strange - usually, games leave _some_ sort of trace somewhere on the net, even the obscure ones. For example, I have no trouble finding information about obscure Atari ST shareware titles from the mid-80s. But thius game, even though the title is apparently known, eludes me completely.

Was this a boxed copy that you bought in a shop, or some sort of mail order / BBS distribution? When did you play it? Which Macintosh exactly did you play it on?

Ditto
No luck

Yes, it was definitely a box, but you have to imagine, that this was between 1989 and about 1984, when Windows 95 wasn't existing, and it was only a Mac-Game. The story had some kind of military background, and was one of those first games with filmszenes in it - I had about 3 or 4 games of that kind, you had filmszenes and it was necessary, in the right moment to press the right button then. The title is correct - as you constate yourself, it is really a very special ttitle which you cannot forget easily. I have also to confess, that I already tried to find a hint of the title in the internet, but didn't success.

There are other games, which I never checked, but for those titles I found reference in the internet and am sure, that they really did work, so the mistake was on my side. But for this game, I still doubt, if this really was a workng game and not some kind of cheating-stuff, you know, looking like a real game, but not more. Only to lure people to buy them. I also showed the problem to the vendor in the shop, and they looked into it and also didn't check, what was meant to enter.
I think I played it on a performa 630 (don't mix it with Power-Performa 6300). There were other strange games:
Very well known: the Daedalus Encounter: I never got over the first task, findig the booby-trap, didn't check the physics of those color filters, perhaps my computer was not able to really simulate those effects?
-Another game, also with filmsequences, I don't knot the title, seemed to be some kind of Heart of Darkness-story about a Vietnam?-Veteran which went crazy. I remember, that the word Blood-Orange was important. But there I still was not skilled enough.
-Zeddas Tomb: never got over the first puzzle.
-Theocracy: interesting Strategy game, playing the Aztecs: But after the opening sequence, I was not able to do any operation with the units, expect making a group-selection.

After that, I stopped buying English titles, because I began to doubt about my English-abilities...

I went to bat for you as well but could only find a few references to the game here and there.

This thread makes mention of a "HoloBible" on the planet of "Arkadia" and drones

So I mean it does seem to exist as a real game, that post even has an e-mail address since the guy was stuck on a level, maybe he can tell you what that pass-phrase was.

Worth a shot anyway.

edit: It's not immediately obvious, you have to scroll down a bit.

double edit: That post is from 1995 so there's a good chance e-mailing wouldn't accomplish much. Wouldn't hurt though.

Cool, at last one sees, that the game really was a game - so I doubt also, to still get through there with an email, but I'll try it....

Okay, I posted to the two email-addresses, now I'll have to wait, if they still get through or if I'll catch e delivery-failure.
I will tune up the state, as soon as I get a result, be it positive or negative.

I'll regret, never have been able to enter the game, as it seems to have been a real cool thing (mentioning even then drones).

Sorry, already caught twoo delivery failures, well, I am not really surprised about it.

There is one that, similar to Wine, doesn't require the actual operating system. (And there are a few full machine emulators that do.)

Executor. Freeware and open-source nowadays, the official download site is slow as f*ck though, but I can put up a (probably) faster one later today.

To save others some effort -- the game isn't included in either archive. It's possible that it was in the missing section of the truncated disk 1 file.

Well that sucks I was really hoping we'd be able to resurrect this obscure-as-hell game.

One day.

Well it's no wonder I am still haunted by this game anyway, it seems really to be kind of dark, weird and twisted. I hope I did no one infect with that bad influence of this game.

But there was really a time, when there came several very dark games for the Mac - no kidding ye...

Hey after my posting this morning I went on google and typed in "Better dead ratification" and the first link I got was the one leading to this thread, no joke.

Perhaps the people at the Macintosh Garden forums are more knowledgeable regarding ancient Mac games. I shouldn't link to the site since it's full of "abandonware" (not the title in question though) and thus the legal status isn't exactly green, but search for the mentioned title and you should find it.

Thank you for that Macintosh-Garden-Link, wow, this stuff is really cool, nearly under every letter of the alphabet I found at least one game I once owned - and am dearly missing today.
From Jump Raven - Syndicate to Heart of China and Rising Dragon..... if I find a mac theese days and if I get the nerve to joke around with those emulators, who knows - perhaps the day will come, when I begin to play again those games of the good old time, when pc's where made of wood and...

Hi. We are a music retailer in Southern California and while pricing used CDs I came across a unique copy of "The Better Dead Ratification" game from 1994.

It is housed in a standard jewel case (like a CD) and comes with a folded up piece of paper stating "Dear Dead Player, This is a "rush" edition of The BETTER DEAD Ratification for those people who placed early orders. As many of you have been waiting for some time, we felt it best not to hold you up any longer. Therefore we have sent your copy of BETTER DEAD minus the packaging and with this B/W guide rather than waiting for the boxes and 4/C guide to become available." blah blah blah.

The insert also contains instructions for the game and a "cheat sheet" for some of the "sticky spots" in the game.

I can't answer your question about the intro to the game but can offer to sell you the copy we have! We have no way of testing it or playing it as we are all PC here but the disc appears to be in near mint/excellent condition. We will sell it for the very fair price of $2.99, plus shipping of course and tax if you live in the state of California. Thanks!