Spider

Following on from here , here MM5 :) The game was only supplied as a snapshot (including a loading screen) and there was little if any Basic actually present in this. Thankfully it was not difficult to create a simple loader , the picture and the game code. With this in mind it was noted the screen was actually only pixel data as all the attributes were the same (black ink on non-bright cyan paper) so it was sensible to save the screen as merely the pixel data (16384,6144) instead of a full screen (16384,6912) Interestingly the game does actually crash if you just try to save its codeblock out and re-use it. A closer look shows that the routine to print the cavern name has been changed: 37565 call 23538 , whereas the default is 37565 call 37579 The 'new code' is thus: CP 32 JP NC, 37579 ADD A, A ADD A, A ADD A, A LD L, A LD H, 91 JP 37587 I would speculate that the author did not do this as protection merely as this routine is larger than the space available so they could not replace it. It seems to be intended to alter a couple of the character names. The game can be used by applying the following pokes to it: poke 37566,203 poke 37567,146 This restores the CALL back where it should be. With this in mind I built the following: 1. A full tape file including the loader, screen (16384,6144), game data (32768,32768) and the 'extra' code(23538,44): MM5 full.tap If editing this be aware the lower placement of the 'extra' code, it would be prudent to load this last after everything else as it (potentially) extends into the Basic area. 2. A tape file consisting only of the game data, with those pokes applied. No other changes. This is editable in JSWED MM5 fixed code.tap It would probably be sensible to manually add the two missing cavern names to 'fix' this, although I'll leave that for someone else to do. :)

There would of been some kind of loader, even if it was entered directly aka CLEAR 28000 : LOAD "" CODE : LOAD "" CODE : PAUSE 0: PRINT USR 33792 , and then saved a snapshot. :)

There is no "Basic" loader data as such for them apart from JSW-WH which looks like this: Ignoring the code hiding in the Basic and the 'anti tamper' line numbering (best plan) , we appear to have: A codeblock that is then called. This is likely the "loading screen" but also contains something higher up (moved there) as... A bit of Basic moving code from past the Basic (it appears) to 49963. There's then three calls, speculating about these: 31023 = No idea 32000 = Likely decompression call for the game data 33792 = Game start I'll have a closer look at these later. If nothing else I guess I can assemble something that not far of mimics how it "probably was" :)

Most welcome. I tried to cover a few bits with this, I should comment the 'lives choice' bit next really I guess when I have a bit of time. The 'tape loader' is as it was although given it loads two blocks to the screen I had to guess what to do, and its not accurate. I could do something that would use the original loader though but it would then end up being a headerless game load (possibly it was) The loading screen, well I had to improvise as there's no way to see what was there originally so I settled for a partial (MM style) attribute section. Hopefully the explainations on the tape files above will help too, I tried to 'cover all bases' sensibly so there's the original, a 'ready to edit' one as well as my 'ready to load in' one as well. Regarding other games, I'm happy to have a look. :)

I discovered this recently and have been examining it. I could not find a lot of information out however its a Spanish translated version of JSW with a few mild tweaks. Unfortunately its only available as a snapshot / z80 file so I had to do a bit of digging. The keypad was bypassed in a slightly different way, namely a direct jump to "title screen" was put into the start of the keypad routine instead of either changing one of two two initial values to make HL equal this and / or just inserting a jump into the startup at 33792 after setting the stack. The 'raw' game message is as follows: The most intersting feature is when you choose to start the game (on the title screen) you are taken to a new screen where you can choose infinite lives or not. A look at the code shows this is a simple 'display message and read keyboard' routine that lives in the middle of the old keypad routine. Its called at 34158 It simply changes 35899 to 0 (infinite lives) or back to to 8 again if needed. The start screen is set to what was "Master Bedroom" instead of the more usual Bathroom. Now for a few room screenshots: The original '4 bugs' are all still present and in full swing unfortunately too: As can be seen by it "in process" As mentioned its a .z80 file so there is no loader. I was able to extract the original loader out of it though. There are two pics of this as its got embedded colour codes in, so you can clearly see it all: Its interesting to see there's two 16384 loads, one can only speculate what the second was was for (loader perhaps?) The code is also missing the AIR string, so it will not edit in JSWED either until you 'fix' it: After some thought on all this, I decided to slightly modify the startup Basic I extracted and create a 'dummy' screen and load that in. With this in mind I'm attaching some files as follows: This is the .zip as supplied containing the .z80 file: lacasadijack.zip This is the extracted original loader code, just the loader no game code: cdj_orig_loader_code.tap This is the raw (unfixed) game data tape file. Its not suitable for editing in JSWED without the pokes above: cdjdata.tap This again is the raw (but fixed) game data tape file. This is suitable for editing. The only change between this and the file above are the three pokes to restore 'AIR' into the text: cdjdata_air_fixed.tap Finally this is my quick (I can do better) assembled tape file of the game. It contains the Basic (I've kept as much original as I can including the authors message) as well as creating a simple loading screen: cdj_fixed.tap Enjoy. :)

Happy New Year :)

Great stuff. :D

The only immediate answer I have assuming it was not a space issue (which you solved) would be if auto load is on in the emulator so the tape does not stop when it should. This is a bit difficult to describe but if its on flash/edge you'd not notice it, but on normal speed you would as it would actually skip a block out as it 'missed' the header as the tape was still playing while it was pausing. So it would miss out highload.jv7 Switch 'auto load' on and try it again or try in Spin, ensure that 'auto load' and 'auto stop' are enabled. :)

I was wondering if you managed to look into making it run properly on the Master series yet ? :) I guess not as I do not see an update although you never know. :) My investigations so far reveal: JSW2 'disk' version (the full one) works OK at least on MOS3.5 . I note it loads it all in rather than when running on the B, which is interesting as with BeebEm I have quite a few empty slots of SRam but it appears to ignore them. No matter. I may edit the code to load them in anyway to see what happens. JSW2 'tape' version (the trimmed one) , does not appear to work properly, graphics are terribly corrupt. JSW1 , similar to JSW 'tape' corruption although not quite as bad as JSW2, its playable-ish with immunity applied but it looks like the ZX version with the Attic Bug in full swing.

Cheat version fixed thanks to a kind member on the stardot forum. :) Just map hunting now.

Currently searching magazine archives for the map of JSW2 (the 'full' one) as well as trying to figure out how to edit the cheat version so it works properly without asking.

I would go with Caverns (rooms) possibly. I pick this simply as Richard has in the disassembly described the "screens" in MM as "Caverns" opposed to in JSW where they are described as "Rooms"

I have two maps one for JSW1 (BBC) and one for JSW2** The reason I've not posted them is simply as the JSW2 map is the 'tape' or 'cut down' version of the game not the full normal (disc only) version. This latter version near mirrors the Amstrad / Spectrum versions. The 'cut down' one is very cut down indeed. I have the files ready (almost) too, but again I need to tweak one of them slightly before I post them. Currently there's: Manic Miner , normal Manic Miner , immunity JSW1 , normal JSW1 , immunity JSW2 (full disc version) , normal JSW2 (full disc version) , immunity I will obtain and attend to the 'cut down' version of JSW2 as well although it is (to me at least) quite poor compared to the full version. :)

I have a couple. :)

BeebEm is the one to go for. The setup can be complex (if you let it) given the versatility of this machine. I prefer the 1770 disc interface to the 8271. I will have 'full' versions of JSW2 to hand shortly, both with and without immunity. :) Still looking for MM 'immunity' rather than infy lives. I did have it once.

Online play. :) Note: Manic Miner is *very* slow and flickery. Some screens are different to other platforms. JSW 1 is OK and quite a good conversion. JSW 2 is not the 'full' version, its the 'tape' version rather than the full disc one**. ** The tape version is brutally cut down with some new (to BBC only) rooms as well as a lot (I mean a lot) missing. The disc version is about identical to the other platforms, as it loads each mansion section as you play. Its not on there yet I have requested it to be added however. Play Manic Miner Z=Left , X=Right , Space=Jump Enter=Start S=Sound On , Q= Sound Off Play JSW Z=Left , X=Right , @=Jump Space=Start S=Sound On , Q= Sound Off Play JSW2 (cut down, tape version) Z=Left , X=Right , @=Jump Space=Start S=Sound On , Q= Sound Off Please be patient after clicking as the game must load into an online BBC Micro B emulator. Enjoy.

Interesting effect although even with the poke applied it results in instant death for Willy in the real Final Barrier. Guardians should mostly be OK given they are defined in the screen layout code as such not separate as per JSW. :) I copied Final Barrier into Menagerie and then copied Central Cavern into Final Barrier... :) Title screen now: Menagerie using the layout from Final Barrier, note the missing vertical guardian but there's code to not check for them until cavern X from what I remember, as this is now cavern 3 as such, well 2 really I guess. Note the sword fish for the 'boot' too. FInal Barrier (instant death) Game over (using swordfish!) In game tune is messed too, although title screen seems OK. Not tested extensively to see if I've messed anything up accidentally. I simply copied: 1024 bytes from 64512 (Final Barrier) to 47104 (Menagerie) and 1024 bytes from 45046 (Central Cavern) to 64512 (Final Barrier)

I might have a go at copying another screen into that one to see what effect it has. Should be quite easy.

I see what you did there ;) Although the other way is to change the 19 in the comparator above to something else ( ! ) :) , did you plan on trying to use the screen space for a "full screen" :unsure: Pic:

The other items posted included the (on now very old paper) source code complete with what appeared to be the programmers hand written notes etc, so I could not really decide if (reading the text again) it was jolly joke or something else. :unsure: :)

If you're having out of memory errors **before** loading any code (ideally before anything else!) do a CLEAR 28000 or you can try 32000 if you want. Basically, anything above that is 'reserved' for code so your Basic listing will not grow to overwrite it. If for instance you set it to 40000, loaded JSW then loaded a huge Basic program you'd potentially overwrite some of the JSW code. When its running however (JSW) it will use lower memory so your Basic may be 'eaten' but unless you have set JSW to drop back out to Basic this should not be an issue.

I'm not actually 100% sure although the poster did have quite a bit of information regarding JSW2's development (including some original printed source code) complete with handwritten notes on it.

Posted here with kind permission from the JSW2 group on FB.