I dunno if my copy works so I'll try it sometime, but have you tried the other versions? I'm pretty sure most US sold 8-bit systems got the treatment back then. Err, all 3 of them. Ok, maybe that's a dumb comment...but if an XT emulator or an Apple ][e emulator comes out tomorrow, I'd check up on this theory!
Or here's an idea: There was two versions of Alter Ego released. Have you tried the female version yet?