|
|
| Home > Computers and Hardware > atari-8-bit > |
Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions |
Section 9 of 11 - Prev - Next
All sections - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11
- Tape-Ramdisk-Drivers (TOOLs) various authors (PD);
128k RAM and more XE-Ramdisks;
- Text-130 (TOOL) B.Russmann;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Textpro "+" (TOOL) Ronnie Riche;
(e.g. Vers. 4.54+) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- The Code Cruncher (TOOL) Soused Teat / A.Bienias;
128k RAM and more XE-Ramdisks;
- The Cruncher 5.0 (Tool) MSL / Magnus;
128k RAM and more XE-Ramdisks;
- The [Sparta DOS] Wedge (TOOL) Ed Bachman;
128k RAM and more + sep. Antic! XE-RD`s with separate Antic!;
- The Works (Tool) CTH / Tom Hunt;
128k RAM and more 130XE and A,C,E Ramdisks;
- [Die] Wuerttemberger-Disk (TOOLS) (ABBUC PD 361, HAPS PD 1050);
also contains the XE-version of Gizmo`s castle => see Gizmo`s Castle!;
- (various) XE-Sectorcopiers (TOOLs) various authors (PD);
128k RAM and more XE-Ramdisks;
- XE-Utilities (10 XE-TOOLs) (HAPS PD 0031);
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- XL-2 (Tool) John K. Picken;
128k RAM and more all Sparta und DOS 2.x RD`s;
- Zargon (german text-adv. GAME) (ABBUC PD 611, HAPS PD 0485);
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- [Der] Zeitungsredakteur (ABBUC PD 121, german!);
(newspaper-editor) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
B) Demo-Programs:
- 130XE-Artshow (Koala!) (HAPS PD 0013);
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
(simply exchange the picture viewer for use with 48k or 64k Ataris!)
- 130XE-Autoshow (Oldtimers!) (ABBUC PD 191, HAPS PD 0637);
(130XE carshow) 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
(simply exchange the picture viewer for use with 48k or 64k Ataris!)
- 130XE-Demo S.A.G. (Netherlands);
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
(written in TB; change all D8: entries into D1: for use with 48k and
64k Ataris; exchange Turbo-Basic XL with TB 3.2q, TB 400 or Frost
Basic for use with older 48k Ataris or (most versions of) Sparta-DOS)
- 130XE-Impossible-Demo Rudy Haegemann / V.T.B.;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Amiga-Boink-XE Bob Armour;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- American Natives Fox-1 / R.Verdaasdonk;
256k RAM all DOS 2 und MyDOS RD`s;
- (X-Files) Animation-Demo Mad Team;
128k RAM ($04 banks / $4b frames) 130XE-Ramdisk;
(the real name of this demo is unknown to me; maybe it is also called
X-Files-Demo, like the X-Files (picture) demo by Sphoon, maybe it has
a different name; on all tested XL/XE Ataris this demo has graphic bugs)
- Animkomials meet Boris Valleyo Animkomials+Boris Valleyo;
128k RAM (gr.9+11 pictures!) 130XE-Ramdisk; (has a setup!);
- Base-33 AIDS / AIDZ;
320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(=> hold down SHIFT upon bootup to get to the Setup-menu!)
- Bill-Pie-Demo ??? (maybe Mad Team?);
a) 128k RAM ($1E frames) 130XE-Ramdisk; RD-block E;
b) 192k RAM ($36 frames) RD-blocks A+E (CS, Rambo, etc.);
b) 320k RAM ($4C frames) RD-blocks 8+A+C+E (TOMS, etc.);
(=> this demo chooses the Ramdisk & Setup automatically! users of
a Compyshop or compatible RD can merely see the 192k version!)
- BMW-Animation MS-Soft / Mirko Sobe;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- CES-XE-Demo XANTH (full version);
128k RAM (580 sectors) 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Cogito-Demo AIDS / AIDZ;
192k RAM 26AE = no?! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- Comet-Ani MadTeam;
a) 128k RAM ($36 frames) 130XE-Ramdisk; RD-block E;
b) 192k RAM ($6D frames) RD-blocks A+E (CS, Rambo, etc.);
b) 320k RAM ($96 frames) RD-blocks 8+A+C+E (TOMS, etc.);
(=> this demo chooses the Ramdisk & Setup automatically! users of
a Compyshop RD and compatible can merely see the 192k version!)
- Critical-Sound-Demo Innovative;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Danielle-(Gr.9-TB-)Ani NBS / Bill Kendrick;
a) 64k RAM (499 sectors) Disk = very slowww!;
b) 128k RAM or Harddisk RD/HD = much faster !!;
(=> use your favourite DOS, Turbo-Basic and a RD/HD driver!)
- Edelweiss-Demo A.R. + C.S.S. + S.V.L.;
320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
(with 8ACE-RD`s you can see all demo-parts, however the mainpart,
known as the Edelweiss-Digi-Sample is shorter & sounds strange!)
- Ergo-Bibamus Quasimodos;
128k RAM (with Setup!) 130XE-Ramdisk;
(well, for 130XE and compatible Ramdisks no setup needed!)
- Extract-Slideshow Bit Busters / Replay;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Glasshead / HTPPD A.R. + C.S.S.;
320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
(with 8ACE-RD`s the animation uses only A+E blocks and is shorter!)
- Halle 1994b: The Wormhole Magic Arts;
320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = NO!! ;
(well, this demo does not work at all on 8ACE-Ramdisks!)
- (Atari) Hardware-Demo A.R. + C.S.S.;
320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
(with 8ACE-RD`s the animation uses only A+E blocks and is shorter!)
- Igor Demo MadTeam;
a) 128k (Part 1, Part 2) 130XE-Ramdisk;
b) 192k (Part 3) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
c) 320k (Parts 1+2+3) 26AE = NO!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(=> the demo normally runs a setup for 320k memory; but there are 2-3
batch files for each Setup; goto DOS and install the one you want or
need with the JOB command: JOB @xxxx.BAT [RETURN], then reboot disk)
- Imperial (Sounddemo) Innovative;
320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- Impossible but Real! MacGyver / AIDS;
256k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(=> press A for 8ACE-RDs, press B for manual setup of other RDs)
- Isolation Demo Masters of Electric City;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Journey Polynomials
a) 128k RAM ($36 frames) 130XE-Ramdisk;
b) 320k RAM ($96 frames) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
(=> this demo chooses the Ramdisk & Setup automatically! the demo
has quite some graphic bugs on 8ACE ramdisks, but is viewable!)
- Journey into Sound DGS / Dean Garaghty;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Khai-Et AIDS / AIDZ;
320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(=> hold down SHIFT key upon bootup for the Setup-menu)
- Killer-Whales MadTeam
a) 128k RAM ($2E frames) 130XE-Ramdisk; RD-block E;
b) 192k RAM ($54 frames) RD-blocks A+E (CS, Rambo, etc.);
b) 320k RAM ($94 frames) RD-blocks 8+A+C+E (TOMS, etc.);
(=> this demo chooses the Ramdisk & Setup automatically! users of
a Compyshop RD and compatible can merely see the 192k version!)
- Lajf-Demo MadTeam;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Landscape-XE-Demo Karl Pelzer;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Megablast-Sounddemo DGS / Dean Garaghty;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- MTV`s-Danielle see: Danielle-Ani.;
- Nascar-Animation MS-Soft / Mirko Sobe;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Nonjm-Demo TIGHT;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Numen-Demo Taquart;
320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(=> the newer/updated version has an auto-setup for 26AE & 8ACE RD`s!)
- Owca-Demo Animkomials;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Owca-2-Demo Animkomials;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Parrot-X-MAS-Demo Anthony Ramos;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Pedrokko-Sounddemos Pedrokko (10 Disks / 20 S.);
128k RAM (some demos) 130XE-Ramdisk;
- P.I.T. - Demo Quasimodos;
320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(=> a menu appears automatically; setup 15 banks to run the demo!
this demo does not work correct on Ramdisks with refresh-bugs!)
- Raving Vierpz Pentagram;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Raytracing 320k Elsni/Stephan Elsner;
320k RAM (TB listings!) 26AE = NO!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- Raytracing 1MB Solocoder of A.C.E.;
1088k RAM (K.Peters Megaram 3) works only on K.P.-1MB-RD !!;
(=> Bootdisk with 8 disksides; loading time: approx. 17 minutes!)
- Raytracing Animation Karl Pelzer;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Revenge of Hacker Rasero Team;
192k RAM (RD-blocks A+E) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
- Sweet Fantasy TIGHT;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Sheol Bit Busters;
320k RAM 26AE = NO!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(on 26AE / CS - Ramdisks you will merely receive an error
message like this: sorry, this demo needs 256k of xms RAM)
- Shiny-Bubbles-XE Brian Paul / LACE;
XE-Version = 128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Stash-Demo Rasero-Team;
320k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(=> in the first menu press A for 8ACE Ramdisks or press B for
manual setup of other Ramdisks like Compyshop; in the second menu
press A for 8ACE Ramdisks or C for manual input of Rambanks; don`t
press B -Compyshop- here, since this CS setup is faulty/wrong)
- Starwars-Demo A.R. + C.S.S.;
320k RAM (hold down Option-Key!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
(the program checks if Basic is disabled via the Option key, thus
an OS with inverted Basic / Option-key function does not work here!;
with 8ACE-RD`s the animation uses only A+E blocks and is shorter!)
- The Asskicker Shadows Computer Group;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- The Turtles-Demo (Animation!) Ultra-Software;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
(the file version by John E. requires 128k, maybe this bootdisk also)
- The Wormhole Magic Arts;
320k RAM 26AE = YES!!, 8ACE = NO!!;
(this demo is part of the Halle Project 1994 demo, side B!)
- Timekeep(er) New Generation;
320k RAM ??? 26AE = NO!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(after loading on an 8ACE-RD be patient! the demo requires some time
for depacking - don`t switch off when you see a black screen, wait!)
- Tit-Demo MadTeam;
256k RAM (with Setup!) 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(=> the Setup appears automatically; accept or change it !)
- Too-Hard-2 Animkomials (Rippers!);
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Too-Hard-3 Animkomials (Rippers!);
192k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = YES ;
(=> the Setup appears automatically; accept or change it!)
- Too-Hard-4 Animkomials (Rippers!);
320k RAM 26AE = YES!!, 8ACE = YES!!;
(=> the Setup appears automatically; accept or change it!)
- Total Daze TIGHT;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Trabant Demo / HTPPD A.R. + C.S.S.;
320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = yes!? ;
(with 8ACE-RD`s the animation uses only A+E blocks and is shorter!)
- Trip-6-Demo Shadows Computer Group;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Ultra Taquart;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Vengeance Excellent;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Vent Excellent+Pentagram;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Video Blitz Helvetica Bold;
128k RAM (+sep. Antic!) 130XE-Ramdisk + sep. Antic!;
- WAF-Demo (Side B) ABBUC regional group W.A.F.;
128k RAM (2 Parts!) 130XE-Ramdisk;
(=> here the Raytracing and Vector part require 128k memory!)
- Worms-Demo Datri;
320k RAM 26AE = yes!? ; 8ACE = YES!! ;
(with 8ACE-RD`s you see the complete+bug-free version; with 26AE
RD`s you see a shorter and very buggy version with many deja-vues!)
- X-Demo Mad Team;
320k RAM 26AE = YES!! ; 8ACE = NO!! ;
- Xyberscape-XE Bill Le Masurier;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
- Zero-Demo New Generation;
128k RAM 130XE-Ramdisk;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: - 256k Compyshop-Ramdisks, 256k K.Peters-Megaram 1,2,3
and Mathy`s 1024k RD have/use 26AE Ramdisk blocks;
- afaik all other 192k / 256k Ramdisks have ACE (8CE)
or 8ACE blocks (Newell, Peterson, Buchholz, TOMS, etc.);
- ??? means unknown; TB means Turbo-Basic (XL);
- HTPPD means Hobby-Tronic-Power-Pack-Demo;
- YES!! means the demo works as it should (100% correct);
- yes!? means the demo works but has some bugs or is shorter
(50-80% correct);
- no?! means the demo almost does not work and has many bugs
(10-40% correct);
- NO!! means the demo does not work at all - it refuses to load
or crashes shortly after loading (0% correct);
- sep. Antic means separate Antic access of the Ramdisk;
(only 2 programs seem to exist: Video Blitz & The Wedge);
Thanks and credits go to Russ Gilbert, Bernhard Pahl and Mathy van
Nisselroy for sharing their info with me. Any corrections and/or updates
are welcome... - Andreas Magenheimer
------------------------------
Subject: 8.13) What voice/sound synthesis software is there for the Atari?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
- S.A.M. - the Software Automated Mouth by Don't Ask Software (a
software package; you can find it at Don`s / the author's homepage:
http://www.retrobits.net)
- Softsynth (a PD program, that creates sounds and sound effects via
modulation of the tv/monitor speaker; available from the ABBUC library);
- MOD-Sounds (sound-MODulation, allthough I do not know any software to
create such sounds on an A8, some programs to edit (Protracker) and
playback (Inertia, Modplayer, Neotracker, etc.) these sounds do exist);
------------------------------
Subject: 8.14) What programs support stereo and upgraded sound?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
There is already a lot of stereo software for the upgraded Atari computers
available, of course most of these programs are limited to certain/special
upgrades and merely perform their stereo effects on these items (with
otherwise upgraded or non-upgraded Ataris, the sounds or programs will
only play in mono):
a) software for the various stereo-upgrades:
- stereo with one Pokey (POPS-software): Afaik for this kind of upgrade,
there merely exists a patched version of the Pokey player program, I am
not sure if there is anything else for it; anyway, refer to Analog
Computing, issue 66, november 1988, pages 54 -60;
- stereo with two computers (thus two Pokeys): Afaik for this simple trick
there merely exist two programs, they are "Perestroyka" and "Sky
Network" by T.Liebich. In order to achieve the stereo effect, you
have to boot/load one of these demos on two computers (connected to
different TV's or monitors, there is no need to connect the computers to
each other!). When done, press 1-5 on the first computer while pressing
Shift-1-5 on the second computer. Meaning, if you want to hear the first
sound in stereo then press 1 on computer 1 and press Shift-1 on
computer 2 simultanously (that`s a little tricky, I know). If you want
to hear sound 5 in stereo, then press 5 on computer 1 and Shift-5 on
computer 2 simultanously. Tricky at first, but sooner or later you will
get the hang of it. Of course you can also connect the two Ataris to
a hifi-system, using the sound output of one Atari for the left channel
and the sound output of the other Atari for the right channel...
- stereo-sound with Stereo-Blaster Pro (Portronic/AMC): Afaik there was
at least one demo disk (early version was single-sided only, later
versions were double-sided), that contained some demo-software, namely
the simple "Stereo-demos" (by AMC, side 1) and the "Stereoblaster-Demo"
(by HU-Soft, side 2 if available). The Stereoblaster demo was written
in Turbo-Basic and played back via Compiled-Turbo-Basic, it uses Chaos
Music-Composer Sounds (*.CMC) and a few of these provide stereo effects,
if equipped with a stereo-blaster-pro and a hifi-system. The simple
stereo-demos included some programs written in Atari Basic, for example
a (pong-like) bouncing ball and a flying helicopter. Equipped with a
stereo-blaster-pro and a hifi-system, one could see the ball bouncing
left and right and simultanously hear the sound fx on the left or right
channel. The helicopter started at the left side and produced a loud
sound on the left channel, when it was flying to the right side, the
sound faded on the left channel and got louder on the right channel,
until the helicopter disappeared (and the sound completely faded away).
There were some more of these simple demos available, but I don`t
remember them anymore.
- Stereo with two Pokeys: There already exist dozens of sounds and demos,
that support this upgrade, most of these programs were made in Poland,
but a few sound-demos were also made in other countries. Anyway, the
following programs support stereo via two Pokey chips:
- Alf-Demo by the Unknown Base (Netherlands);
- Alpha-Demo by GMG (Slovakia);
- AMS-Stereo player by ??? (author unknown), USA;
(there are at least two AMS-stereo-players, that let you play
*.AMS sounds in true stereo or at least simulated stereo!);
- ARS-Mori 16k Intro by Tristesse (music shortened and ripped from
Drunk Chessboard by Infinity!), Poland of course;
- Ballada sound by DJ V / BK (Poland);
- Base 33 by AIDS (msx by Greg, Poland);
- Chaos Music Composer version x.x patched by ??? , Poland;
(=> the original version by Janusz Pelc / LK Avalon is only mono,
but there is a patch available, as well as various patched CMC
versions on the internet; thus *.CMC sounds can be generated in
stereo!);
- (many) *.CMC sounds created by one of the many stereo-versions of
Chaos Music Composer;
- Cogito-Demo by AIDS (Poland)
- Do you see the light? sound-demo by Roemer of UNO (Germany);
- Draconus, patched version by ANG and/or Micro Discount (NL/UK)
(the original version by Zeppelin games is only mono!);
- Drunk Chessboard by Infinity (music by X-Ray!), Poland;
- Dynakillers (Game) by GMG, Slovakia;
- First of All (sound) by Raster, Czech Republic;
- Impossible but Real Demo by MacGyver (Poland);
- King of Aggregat by X-Ray / Slight (Poland);
- Megaplayer Versions 1.6 and 2.0 by MacGyver (Poland)
(=> and thus all *.CMC, *.MPT, *.TMC, etc. sounds played with
this sound-player tool can be heard in true or simulated stereo!);
- Multi-Pro-Tracker 2.4 (various versions) by Jaskier/Taquart?
(=> thus *.MPT sounds can be generated in stereo!), Poland;
- (many) *.MPT sounds created by the stereo-version of Multi Protracker;
- Nazebany by DJ V / BK (Poland);
- Overload sound by X-Ray / Slight (Poland);
- Raster Music Tracker 1.x by Raster, Radek Sterba (a PC program
that creates mono/4-channels or stereo/8-channels *.RMT sounds that
can be played back on the A8 or any Atari 800/XL/XE emulator);
- (most) *.RMT sounds created by Raster Music Tracker;
- Stereo-Patch for Pokey Player by ??? (author unknown)
(=> thus all Pokey-Player / *.V sounds can be heard in stereo!);
- Stereo-Patch for Softsynth by Freddy Offenga (Netherlands)
(=> thus Softsynth will create stereo-sounds!);
- Stereo Patch for World of Wonders by Freddy Offenga (Netherlands)
(World of Wonders is a great Softsynth sound-demo!);
- Still Alive (TMC-sound) by Greg, Poland;
- Time sound by X-Ray / Slight (Poland);
- Theta-Music-Composer version 1.x by Greg (Poland)
(=> thus *.TMC sounds can be generated in stereo!);
- (most) *.TMC sounds created by Theta Music Composer;
- Vanity sound by Kuchara / Excellent (Poland) ;
- Worms (320k-Demo) by Datri, Czech Republic;
- Zybex, patched version by ANG and/or Micro Discount (NL/UK)
(the original version by Zeppelin games is only mono!);
- thats all what I found so far... (A.M.)
b) software for other sound enhancements:
- enhanced-sound with Covox: Afaik this upgrade will playback digitised or
sampled sound in 8Bit resolution rather than in 4Bit resolution. The
following programs support the Covox-Upgrade:
- Inertia 2.9, a MOD-player by MadTeam;
- Inertia 4.5, a MOD player by MadTeam;
- Protracker x.x, a MOD-editor and player by ???;
- NeoTracker 1.x, a MOD+NEO+... player by EPI/Allegresse;
- that's all I have found so far;
note that all programs (except neo-tracker?) will still work with pokey...;
------------------------------
Subject: 8.15) What games support online action via modem?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
- Modem Chess, a PD game in Basic by ???
- Modem-Battleships, a PD game in Basic by ???
- Tele-Chess, a PD game in Basic by ???
- probably some more games...
(I have also seen an advert from GCP in Analog or Antic, that listed
the following games: The City, Cybertank, Cybership, Bio-War, Lords
of Space; I am not sure if they are all available for the Atari, A.M.)
To play these games online, one would not only require an Atari computer,
but also a modem, a modem-driver and/or a terminal program (like Kermit,
Bobterm, Teleterm, A-Term, Ice-T, BBS Express Pro, etc.). See also the
sections 7.8, 10.1 and 10.2 which tell you more about modem/terminal
programs and modem hardware for the Atari...
------------------------------
Subject: 8.16) What programs support Atari computer networking?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
There are two different hardware add-ons which provide a "computer-
network" (two or more Ataris linked together). Thus, there is software
that supports either one or the other hardware (namely Gamelink-1 or
Gamelink-2). The following software supports the networking hardware:
- Gamelink-1 (by Dataque):
- info-text about GL-1 and where to buy it, by Dataque;
- Tic-Tac-Two by J.Potter/Dataque, a tic-tac-toe clone;
- Modem-Battleships, patched by Rick Detlefsen for Gamelink-1;
- Gamelink-2 / Multilink (by Dataque & Bewesoft):
- info-text about GL-2 and where to buy it, by Dataque;
- info text about Maze of Agdagon demo, by Dataque;
- Maze of Agdagon demo (1 player only) by Dataque;
- documentation for Maze of Agdagon (full version) by Dataque;
- Maze of Agdagon (full version, 2-8 players) by Dataque;
- description of multilink/gamelink-2 hardware and schematics by
Bewesoft (two texts, one in czech and one in english; schematics
presented as an Atari Gr.8 picture for a) easy-2-computer hardware
and b) more complicated 2-8 computer hardware);
- Multi-Dash (2-8 players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- Multi-Race (2-16 players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- description of "how to program networking games for multilink
[gamelink-2] hardware" (text available in english and czech, with
lots of source codes and OS adresses/variables/...) by Bewesoft;
- Multi-Worms (2-8 or 2-16? players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- complete + documented source code for Multi-Worms by Bewesoft;
- "starter-kit" module to use in your own networking-games by Bewesoft
(free use of this module is granted by Bewesoft/Jiri Bernasek);
------------------------------
Subject: 9.1) How can I work with .arc files on my 8-bit Atari?
ARC.EXE for MS-DOS was released by System Enhancement Associates (SEA) around
1985. It will compress and store groups of files as one file, making it
easier and quicker to download programs and support files at once. Because of
the ease of use and availability of this program, it quickly became the
defacto standard for file archives on Intel-based IBM machines. Files
compressed and stored with ARC or a compatible utility are normally given the
filename extender ".arc".
The 8-bit Atari computers have several software utility options that are fully
compatible with ARC.EXE, the most important being:
Super UnArc 2.4 and Super Arc 2.4 - shareware by Bob Puff, released 01/31/89
Available:
http://www.nleaudio.com/css/files/superarc.arc (complete package + docs)
Also, SpartaDOS X includes a fully compatible ARC command for both creating
and extracting .arc files.
------------------------------
Subject: 9.2) What file formats for entire disks/tapes/cartridges are there?
It is now common, especially when working on Windows PCs or Macs, to work with
Atari software as files or "images" containing the data from an entire disk,
data cassette, or cartridge as duplicated from the native media for the Atari.
Here is a list of file formats, arranged by their associated filename
extensions. These are all filename extensions used to name files containing
entire 8-bit Atari floppy disk images, cassette tape images, or cartridge
images.
.DCM -Image format invented by Bob Puff for his Disk Communicator 3.2 utility.
Used when working with native Atari hardware.
DISKCOMM is at http://www.nleaudio.com/css/files/DISKCOM.ARC
DCM specs at: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/diskcomm.zip
.ATR -Image format invented by Nick Kennedy, for his SIO2PC project.
Used with most 8-bit Atari emulators running on other computer
platforms. SIO2PC is at http://www.tcainternet.com/wa5bdu/
.XFD -Image format invented by Emulators Inc, for their ST Xformer emulator.
Identical to ATR except without the 16 byte header.
Used with ST Xformer and PC Xformer emulators.
Xformer is at http://www.emulators.com/
.PRO -Image format invented by Steven Tucker, for his APE ProSystem device.
Used with APE, the Atari Peripheral Emulator.
APE and APE ProSystem are at http://www.atarimax.com/
.SCP -SpartaDOS SCOPY image file. SCOPY was a utility by ICD.
.DI -Image format invented by Kolja Koischwitz & Christian Kruger for their
800XL DJ emulator for the Atari ST.
.CAS -Cassette image format invented by Ernest R. Schreurs, for his
Digital Cassette Image system (includes CAS2SIO, WAV2CAS, and CAS2WAV
MS-DOS utilities. See: http://home.planet.nl/~ernest/
See also:
Atari Disk Image FAQ (Steve Tucker)
http://www.atarimax.com/ape/docs/DiskImageFAQ/
One tool for converting among all of these disk image formats is:
Acvt v1.07 by Jindrich Kubec, found at http://jindroush.atari.org
------------------------------
Subject: 9.3) How can I copy my copy-protected Atari software?
Russ Gilbert writes:
Almost all commercial software for the A8 is/was copy protected. For boot
disks, this usually involved a large number of special formatting that
couldn't be copied using ordinary sector copiers. Usually the boot process
involved checking to see if a certain sector error occurred, then proceeding.
If the error did not occur, the disk was a copy and would not work.
For carts, usually the method of protection was to write to the cart area of
memory and see if the value changed. If the value changed, the cart program
was in RAM, not ROM and would fail to operate.
For tapes, again a fair number of schemes were used. Some varied the speed at
which the tape loaded. I'm not familiar with tape protection schemes.
With all software media (cart, tape, disk), there may be program encryption,
which must be decrypted before the program can run. This to make more
difficult disassembly of the program.
There were/are a number of products to defeat copy protection/allow copying of
protected software for the A8. The most common way to defeat copy protection
was to disassemble the software and revise sections of code so that the copy
protection was defeated. A software with defeated copy protection is called a
'cracked' software. The basic procedure is to understand how cart/tape/disk
software initializes, loads and runs. Usually make a file out of the software
and 'follow the code', starting with loading of the program, to decryption to
the actual running of the program. Today, it is unnecessary to copy original
commercial A8 software because it has already been defeated and may be found
at a few ftp sites. (Note umich archive has no commercial/non-shareware
software.)
Besides 'cracking' software, there were/are hardware devices to copy
commercial protected software. The Happy 1050 and the Archiver, and probably
other modifications to the 810, or 1050 allowed 'bit image' copying and
reproduction of the special formatting that copy protected disks had. Using
these archiving disk drives, a copy of the original disk, including all
special formatting and the original code is copied, thus making a copy
protected copy, not cracked, just like the original.
For carts, copying could involve cracking or again there were/are products to
Section 9 of 11 - Prev - Next
All sections - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11
| Back to category atari-8-bit - Use Smart Search |
| Home - Smart Search - About the project - Feedback |
© allanswers.org | Terms of use