L.3.W

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#

This page or section needs more audio.
There's a whole lotta words here, but not enough audio. Please fix this.
Specifically: 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.