🔍 Cryptographic State Machines in Space Quest 4

Independent Research by Alan Robinson

📖 Abstract

This repository documents my discovery of sophisticated cryptographic state management patterns in Sierra On-Line's Space Quest 4: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers (1995). Analysis reveals a multi-layered state machine architecture that anticipates distributed systems and blockchain concepts by nearly two decades.

🎯 Key Discoveries

• Atomic transaction protocols in the mall economic system
• Byzantine fault tolerance patterns in error recovery
• Merkle tree-like state validation hierarchies
• Multi-party consensus protocols using bitwise flag systems
• Persistent ledger behavior across game sessions

📁 Repository Structure

/ ├── research-paper.md # Complete research paper ├── code-analysis/ # Annotated script analysis ├── state-machines/ # Diagrams and specifications ├── comparisons/ # Blockchain pattern comparisons └── preservation/ # Original code references

text

🔬 Research Contents

Complete Research Paper

Full academic analysis with technical details and historical context.

Code Analysis

• Annotated SCI script files
• State machine reverse engineering
• Cryptographic pattern documentation

Visual Diagrams

• Economic transaction state machines
• Flag system architecture
• Validation hierarchy maps

🤝 Collaboration

This is open research. I welcome:

• Peer review and verification
• Additional analysis contributions
• Historical context from original developers
• Academic collaboration

📜 License

Research content: CC BY 4.0 Note: Original game code remains copyright of Sierra On-Line

📬 Contact

Alan Robinson

• Email: alan.robinson1983@gmail.com
• Issues: Use GitHub issues for research discussions

---

"The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'" - Isaac Asimov