Spider

View File JetSet Willy 2 (Amstrad) JetSet Willy 2 aka "The Final Frontier" for the Amstrad CPC range of machines, written by D.P.Rowson & S.Wetherill Two original tape (.cdt) versions are provided: V1 is the first original release and has the keypad code. It should be noted this does not run properly on the 6128 machines. V2 is the later / re-release version. This is compatible with the 464,664 and 6128. There is no keypad. I'd recommend using V2 in most cases, although the keypad codes (all seven pages) of them are included in the download if required. The game is about identical to the Spectrum version, which is no surprise as this version was written first then ported across to the Spectrum. The 'in game' tune is different but the game play is much the same. The scrolling message reads as follows: Submitter Spider Submitted 05/27/2017 Category Jet Set Willy [Originals]  

Further to this, you simply need a tiny bit of Basic once you have your screen code. Assuming you load it at the default address of 28350 then simply this will suffice: 10 LOAD "" CODE : RANDOMIZE USR 28350 It is however recommended to set the ink and paper colours the same before running it simply as when it 'draws' the pixels this way they won't show until the attributes are present. Assuming its going to be a black on black then... 10 BORDER 0 : PAPER 0 : INK 0 : CLS 20 LOAD "" CODE : CLS 30 RANDOMIZE USR 28350 As noted you're not restricted to loading it here, I do recommend loading it a little bit higher is possible, although in this case you'll need to issue a CLEAR if you have not already done so as part of of your loading program. :) The 'screen file' used to create the screenshots was actually Kokotoni Wilf, simply as I had said tape file on my desktop. It compressed quite well down to 3888 bytes from 6912, a saving of 3024. The 'saving' is also shown in the compression program too. Obviously results will vary depending on how much duplication is in the screen data as the routine relies on this to compress it. In very very rare cases (I can only recall one) it is possible that the screen may be the same size or (in theory at least) larger than the original although its highly unlikely this would happen and in 99% of cases you'll achieve a saving. The other advantage of the compression is if loading at conventional speed on an emulator (no flash or edge loading) or on a real machine, you lose the 'draw the attributes down the screen' effect as the full screen will appear more or less instantly too.

View File Screen Compress This is a very much modified version of the Spectrum 'Artist' screen compressor. I have rewritten most of it to make it a lot, lot easier to use as well as more friendly and more friendly by providing 'step by step' instructions during its use. Simply load the compressor then load in your screen$. You can elect to load in a normal screen or a headerless file, the latter was added as it permits you to load in a screen that is shorter than standard length if necessary for any reason too. Once a screen is loaded, the reduced size is shown and you are offered the option to save it or load a new one. Also offered is a simple colour change for the menu itself as its new default is black text on yellow, but a keypress will cycle through other combinations. The code is saved at 28350 however it is completely relocatable (above this address) without further modification. It is generally recommended to issue a CLS after loading the screen code before executing it and ideally the paper and ink colours should be set the same before the CLS but this is completely optional. Enjoy! Submitter Spider Submitted 05/26/2017 Category Other resources  

View File JetSet Willy (Amstrad) JetSet Willy for the Amstrad CPC range of machines. It is compatible with the 464,664 and 6128. This is an original disk and tape image. The tape is a .tzx file (can be renamed to .cdt if required) and is Speedlock protected. The game closely follows the Spectrum version and plays just as well. The 'in game' tune is different but the game play is much the same. The scrolling message reads as follows: Submitter Spider Submitted 05/26/2017 Category Jet Set Willy [Originals]  

View File Manic Miner (Amstrad) Manic Miner for the Amstrad CPC range of machines. Both disk (.dsk) and tape (.cdt) versions are present as well as the original Software Projects release and the Amsoft Re-Release The scrolling message reads as follows: Note in particular the original Software Projects release only tends to function properly on the 464 machine! It is recommended to use the Amsoft branded Re-Release if playing on this machine. On an emulator simply switch to use a 6128 instead. Manual pokes are available to rectify this if its a concern on a real machine however but the game code is practically identical between the original and the Re-Release, the only 'real' change is the loading screen itself. The game plays just as well as the original Spectrum version and with the exception of the last cavern it is near identical to that version too. Why the last cavern is different remains a mystery as on the BBC Micro version as well the last cavern (and a few others) are different too. Submitter Spider Submitted 05/26/2017 Category Manic Miner [Originals]  

View File JetSet Willy (Atari ST) JSW for the Atari ST range of machines, written by Paul Taylor and Carl Whitwell This very closely mimics the Spectrum version, right down to the font and sound effects. The 'jump' sound effect is slightly different and is more like the BBC Micro version in that its a higher pitch. The only real addition (apart from the scrolling message change) is a built in attract mode, this is very similar to the one in JSWED but without displaying Willy on each page. It does not appear to go through every room however. The Attic Bug and Banyan Tree bugs are fixed, and the Conservatory Roof layout mimics the BBC Micro version (or the JSW2 version, whichever you prefer) , a screenshot of this room is shown. The other "minor issues" are still present: Its possible to leap off the top of The Watch Tower The Beach object still counts as two The Swimming Pool object is 'auto collected' The 'Landing Invisible Object' has been relocated to The Hall and it has a suitable wine glass shape applied, a screenshot of this is shown. There's no 'writetyper' built in unfortunately. It may have another key-combination to do this however no doubt various pokes are available anyway. There is no built in Keypad protection on this release and after examining it with an alternative one, I'm 99% confident this is 'original' as intended. The scrolling message reads as follows: Submitter Spider Submitted 05/24/2017 Category Jet Set Willy [Originals]  

Screen Attributes Display View File This is a small tool to dertermine what attributes are being used on the screen and where. This may prove quite useful if you intend to split them out from the pixels and wish to find any errant incorrectly coloured blocks. It should be noted this is a tool rather than a solution in itself. :) It is very simple to use, simply load and run it. You are offered the option to load in a real screen$ file or if you have an .scr you can use this instead. The next option offers a choice of enabling 'OVER' or not to overwrite the pixel data and finally a choice of 5 fill characters to choose from. Generally the asterisk is the best choice, combined with overwrite being enabled as ultimately (although the output is not pretty) it will show you if you have any ink blocks where there should not be any. Submitter Spider Submitted 05/12/2017 Category Other resources  

Basic Lister View File This is a slightly updated (by myself) and tweaked version of two programs published a long time ago in Y.S There was a *LIST and a *LOAD to load / view protected Basic however they appeared to not work too well so I have updated them into one working file. The idea is simple: This program will load in a piece of Basic and show you what is really present, stripped of any of its protection. This is quite useful to determine if floating point values have been used and / or for protected loaders such as Speed-Lock and similar. It should be noted this is a tool to assist, not a solution in itself. It is very simple to use. Simply load and run it, then load in the Basic loader in question. Once it has loaded, it will be displayed (ignore any error messages) showing what is 'really' there. Submitter Spider Submitted 05/12/2017 Category Other resources  

View File Manic Miner PC Manic Miner for the IBM PC range of machines by Andy Noble. The download contains three versions as follows plus a small bonus too. All versions are complete and unmodified in any way (hence a .zip for each inside the main .zip) , they also include their original unmodified readme file, a requirement for distribution. 0.75 , This is one of the earliest ones available, it also includes some of the Blitz Basic source code too. Please note this version needs a 32bit operating system, it will not function on a 64bit machine. 0.79 , This is a slightly later version with a few bug-fixed applied. The good news is this will run on a 32bit or 64bit machine without any real issue as such. 1.51 , A later version, again this is like 0.75 and requires a 32bit Operating System to function. The screenshots were taken using a 64bit OS using version 0.79. To play the 32bit versions you will either need a 32bit Operating System or perhaps an alternative solution: 1. DosBox would work quite well 2. If you are using WIndows7 Pro or Ultimate you will be able to obtain XP-Mode as a download from Microsoft. This is more or less a complete VM using 32bit XP and would be ideal 3. Another alternative would be to use something like VirtualBox or VirtualPC but with these you would have to supply your own OS such as XP / 2K / 98 / possibly MS-Dos The bonus is the source data as well as some of the graphics and sound effects. Although these are present in one of the versions above, it seemed prudent to also split them out into a separate file for convenience too. Given the speed of modern computers, running the game on "slow" or "boring" speed is ideal. On the main title page press F1 to get to the options page. Submitter Spider Submitted 05/12/2017 Category Manic Miner [Remakes]  

Its not actually that bad to re-do it but given we'll need a newer one soon it is probably OK 'as is' for now I guess. :)

View File Manic Miner (Sam Coupe) Manic Miner for the MGT Sam Coup Submitter Spider Submitted 05/06/2017 Category Manic Miner [Originals] File removed upon request. This placeholder topic left for reference to this version

The same routine (with a tiny tweak to the 'limits' and changing it to COLOUR x) works on the BBC Micro too which does not have colour clash in M2 although its low res so it looks blocky(ish) on that. I must try to do this on the Oric / Dragon and Amstrad too. I do not think I can figure out the odd Basic on the C64 as it appears to involve a lot of odd symbols. I guess I should hunt down a Basic Programming manual for the C64/C128 to work it out.

I've posted my honest thoughts. :) I do confess I appreciate them both.

There's no prize for figuring out how I did it though unfortunately. 😅 🤣 😀 🤪

Colour Clash Attack 😉 Take a look at this listing from the Spectrum Basic Programming manual. It draws some colourful lines however the effects of the colour clash (partly it was written to demo this 'effect' I think) are quickly shown... Two video's attached, both approx 40s long. Here it is 'in action' : Now lets take a look again, this time without any colour clash:

:) Danny is correct regarding the 2015 Bug Fixed Edition erm "authorship" (for want of a better word!) However I have absolutely no objections at all for it to stay 'as is' or be changed, I do not mind either. :) Honest.

I've only (as I write this) had a quick look at the new version and very much 'skim read' the text file again, although what I see I like very much. :) :) I'll be taking a 'proper' look over the weekend.