The sad story of my DES ROMs

[blackdalek]

I recently discovered my DES disk which I bought along with the ROM version from the then named Campursoft.





It was 1994 and I'd just been awestruck by the demo and review in my Amstrad Action subscription.

I had the CPC6128 which I still own today (although I think at that time it was green screen plus an MP2 TV modulator), so I decided to treat myself to my very own copy of DES.  I already had an AMX mouse and now it would finally be put to some proper use. So I ordered the DES ROMs and disk. I knew I didn't yet have a ROM board to use them in yet, but I bought them anyway, confident that a ROM board would soon be part of my meagre setup.

The two little chunky ROMs arrived and they took pride of place in their little protective plastic holder on the top shelf of my computer desk alongside all my favourite trinkets, waiting for their opportunity to work their magic on my CPC.

And there they sat.... and waited... and waited.... and waited....

I never did manage to save up enough pocket money to afford to order a ROM board plus shipping to Australia from the UK (I had no internet and didn't know of anywhere else to buy one).

Several years passed and the ROMs were all but forgotten. I don't remember what happened to them in the end, but apparently I kept the disk all this time

So that is the sad story of my DES ROMs.

********
Now in this modern age with retro computer enthusiasts releasing new hardware... and me having more funds to spend on hobbies... I might actually finally get to see DES running on my CPC as it should have done 24 years ago.

[ComSoft6128]

That is sadly very true. One of the reasons that we started producing Romboxes was the lack of them from any commercial supplier. Rombo had left the scene by that time and the only way to get one was via the personal ad pages of Amstrad Action or WACCI. Let me know how you get on.


Cheers,


Peter

[Shaun M. Neary]

Aw man, I loved using DES, even if mine was on disc. So disk swapping could be a bit of a pain.
I didn't care that I was only rocking 64k of RAM. I'd only gotten my disk drive in 93, so my interest in the CPC was at it's peak again.

[CPC_Fan]

I always wanted to try DES when it came out, but never did. Must get round to downloading the ROM images and loading them onto my X-MEM.

[ComSoft6128]

Re: DES

I will be making a video on DES sometime this year. I had hoped for March/April but as mr_lou has pointed out this type of project can sometimes can take longer than initially expected. The video will show how DES interacts with other ROM software and also some disc based software.

Cheers,

Peter

[CPC_Fan]

That would be really good if you can both mange to find the time and do it Peter.


Just out of interest, I take that there is no hardware or software left from the CampurSoft/ComSoft days?

[ComSoft6128]

No hardware I'm afraid but I can copy any of the disc based software and I think there are a few Roms still lurking in the "Amstrad cupboard from Hell." Whether they still work is another matter entirely.


Cheers,


Peter

[CPC_Fan]

I didn't think that there would be, but thanks for taking the the time and trouble to reply and let us all know Peter. I might take you up on the disc based software, but I don't want to take the mickey... The ROM's sound interesting if indeed you did find them. However unfortunately I foolishly sold my Rombo Rombox and other useful hardware a long time ago, so I haven't got anything to put them in 

[Gryzor]

I came upon a copy (sorry) of DES at some point and although I couldn't do much with it, I was mesmerised, just playing around...