6128 version of Double Dragon

[Swainy]

Hi guys as many of you will know, there were two versions of Double Dragon released, with the 6128 version being a lot different to the tape version. Do you know if the tape version was also released on disc or was the 6128 version the only version released on disc?

[MacDeath]

Trust me, you don't want to play the 64K Tape version...

[Shaun M. Neary]

Trust me, you don't want to play the 64K Tape version...

What he said.
From what I recall, there was a massive delay on the Amstrad version too. Every other format got theirs around late 87, early 88. CPC didn't get their version til mid 89 (Hence why AA never got to review it until it came out as part of the 100% dynamite compilation!) As for the 64k tape version ever got released. I've seen it bundled in with a few tape compilations between 89-91, but I really never saw it get released as a full priced title (although a quick google image search reveals that it did see the light of day). It did eventually make it on budget via Mastertronic shortly afterwards too.

Double Dragon 2's tape version isn't much better either.

[sigh]

Hi guys as many of you will know, there were two versions of Double Dragon released, with the 6128 version being a lot different to the tape version. Do you know if the tape version was also released on disc or was the 6128 version the only version released on disc?

I had the tape version on my 464. It came in a huge box (roughly the same size as Last Ninja 2 if I remember correctly).

Here is a quote from Richard Aplin:

"The poor version was made for the cassette tape based CPC 464, but if converted to disk it works on any Amstrad."

By that statement, it looks like it was only a tape.

Double Dragon Dojo: The Amstrad Mystery

[Morri]

I had the tape version on my 464. It came in a huge box (roughly the same size as Last Ninja 2 if I remember correctly).

Here is a quote from Richard Aplin:

"The poor version was made for the cassette tape based CPC 464, but if converted to disk it works on any Amstrad."

By that statement, it looks like it was only a tape.

Double Dragon Dojo: The Amstrad Mystery

Another good DDD interview is Nick Speakman who was a project manager at Binary at the time.
Double Dragon Dojo: Nick Speakman interview on Double Dragon

Glad to hear that.  So what was the deal with the two Amstrad ports?
Nick: "In version 1 (the poor CPC 464 game) Ben (Jackson) did the original Spectrum graphics and Jez (Nelson) colored them up a bit.  The second set of graphics (in the good CPC 6128 game) were "ported" from the excellent Amiga version... which  is why they look better but have strange color combinations."

To me, that sounds like one was tape only (albeit transferrable to disk) while the other was disk only.
Also going by the interview, it sounds like the tape version was meant to have been cancelled (as they realised it was crap!) but they had already produced copies and didn't want to dump them ET style, instead they dumped them onto unsuspecting 464 customers who brought the game based on the 6128 version reviews. but  at the same time.

[MacDeath]

Haha, those 64K tapers deserved it... 464 ! yoo spoiled CPC as much as ZX spectrum... 6128 was betrayed too often.

[Shaun M. Neary]

We get it MacDeath, you're still a CPC snob 
In retrospect though, Amstrad missed the boat by not making something like a 4128. A 128k machine with the built in tape drive. Given how popular the Speccy +2 became, it wouldn't have killed them. It would have probably struck a nice balance cost wise as well, cos disk based games were astronomical prices between 86-89 during an economy that was for want of a better term, screwed.

To be fair, the 64k version wouldn't have been so bad if it just had a little bit more speed. But it moved so sluggish that by the time the second level was ready to load, you felt more inclined to knock the thing off rather than sit through the loading.

[AMSDOS]

Too bad I guess if you had a 664 


Richard Aplin wrote Shinobi as a result didn't he?

[Shaun M. Neary]

Too bad I guess if you had a 664 


Richard Aplin wrote Shinobi as a result didn't he?

He worked on both at the same time, I think... Halfway through Shinobi he started on Double Dragon. I remember reading an AA interview with him a month after Shinobi had been released that he was just finishing up Double Dragon.

[Swainy]

I had the tape version on my 464. It came in a huge box (roughly the same size as Last Ninja 2 if I remember correctly).

Here is a quote from Richard Aplin:

"The poor version was made for the cassette tape based CPC 464, but if converted to disk it works on any Amstrad."

By that statement, it looks like it was only a tape.

Double Dragon Dojo: The Amstrad Mystery

I used to work in a software shop during the late 80's and I remember a disc version being released on a compilation (mainly because a customer brought it back saying it had broken his drive) so I'm wondering if it was the 6128 version or just the tape version transfered to disc.

[McKlain]

The graphics on double dragon look strange. Like if a few colours have the wrong values.

[remax]

The graphics on double dragon look strange. Like if a few colours have the wrong values.

It's a straight port from the ST graphics without any modifications to match the CPC color set

[McKlain]

It's a straight port from the ST graphics without any modifications to match the CPC color set

Sooo... who's up to the challenge? 

[sigh]

I used to work in a software shop during the late 80's and I remember a disc version being released on a compilation (mainly because a customer brought it back saying it had broken his drive) so I'm wondering if it was the 6128 version or just the tape version transfered to disc.

Now that's interesting! Do you remember the name of the compilation? I've tried to find a disc version of Double Dragon on ebay but I have never seen it.

Sooo... who's up to the challenge? 

Wanted: New Graphics for Double Dragon (128k version)

I did this mock up ages ago; it's a bit rough round the edges but I have no intention on completing or doing it properly. Scroll down and you will see it after Swainy's lovely looking spectrum version.

[Swainy]

Now that's interesting! Do you remember the name of the compilation? I've tried to find a disc version of Double Dragon on ebay but I have never seen it.

Wanted: New Graphics for Double Dragon (128k version)

I did this mock up ages ago; it's a bit rough round the edges but I have no intention on completing or doing it properly. Scroll down and you will see it after Swainy's lovely looking spectrum version.

I can't remember the name of it but it was published by Virgin Mastertronic, pretty sure that it had Gemini Wing, Xenon & Silkworm on it too.


So how easy it it to change graphics on an Amstrad game?

[zeropolis79]

Edition One

[sigh]

I can't remember the name of it but it was published by Virgin Mastertronic, pretty sure that it had Gemini Wing, Xenon & Silkworm on it too.


So how easy it it to change graphics on an Amstrad game?

I think that the R-Type remake and Rick Dangerous remake guys would have the best answers.

[Swainy]

Guys, I've just bought the disc version on eBay however the seller says that it didn't load when tested on their 6128 but they are not sure if it is their drive playing up or not.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=191478996756

Chances are it won't work. However, is there a way that I can transfer a disc image of the 6128 version onto this disc once it arrives?

[arnoldemu]

Chances are it won't work. However, is there a way that I can transfer a disc image of the 6128 version onto this disc once it arrives?

the media may be defective so you may need another 3" disc.
When you get it, open the shutter and see if the disc looks like it's ok.
Difficult to know until you get it really. The seller's drive may not be working correctly.
The disc may just work on your machine.

I do remember that you could catalogue this disc, but I think it ran using |CPM.

What setup do you have on your 6128? Do you have a 3.5" drive connected to it?
Or a 3.5" drive on a Spectrum+3? Do you have an older PC that will run CPCDiskXP?

[CraigsBar]

Guys, I've just bought the disc version on eBay however the seller says that it didn't load when tested on their 6128 but they are not sure if it is their drive playing up or not.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=191478996756

Chances are it won't work. However, is there a way that I can transfer a disc image of the 6128 version onto this disc once it arrives?

So long as the disc itself is good yes. The most reliable way is to hook up a 3 inch drive to a Windows XP PC and use either CPCDiscXP or Samdisc to re write the data onto the disc.


If however the disc isfaulty this will nt work.


On the CPC side, wrtdsk from Arkos (With or without a minibooster), Disk DeDumper on Symbos or DSK-CPC for AmsDos can all have a go at the task.


If you have none of these, and no way of rigging up 3 inch drive on a PC then if you can confirm the disc is OK (If you can format and verify it) then I can certainly re duplicate it for you if you don't mind the shipping to Ireland (I won't charge and will pay the return postage myself)


Let me know via PM if you want to do this.


Craig

[sigh]

Guys, I've just bought the disc version on eBay however the seller says that it didn't load when tested on their 6128 but they are not sure if it is their drive playing up or not.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=191478996756

Chances are it won't work. However, is there a way that I can transfer a disc image of the 6128 version onto this disc once it arrives?

What a brilliant find! I hope it works.

[Swainy]

Well it's the right version...

But sadly it's only loaded the once out of about five attempts and the graphics were badly corrupted.

[CraigsBar]

Well it's the right version...

But sadly it's only loaded the once out of about five attempts and the graphics were badly corrupted.

post me the disc and I'll see what I can do with it.

[VincentGR]

I am confused.
I found this version on my disk images collection :



But I have this original disk which was my gift for xmas 89"     (or 90"  )
I was so happy!!! This is the best version for me.

[sigh]

I found and purchased the Edition One box with Double Dragon, Silkworm, Xenon and Gemini Wing! Double Dragon has it's own disk.

Now the problem...

My television and the CPC PLUS 6128 are refusing to play nice with each other! The screen is just unreadable even though I am using an amstrad scart lead I purchased from a retro game shop a while ago. Another strange thing is that my 6128 doesn't seem to be functioning properly as it seems as though the keyboard is dodgy as the keys act as if they are continuosly being pressed down; spawning lots of letters on the screen. Well....at least I think they arey are letters, as the display is so bad I'm not even too sure what the characters are!

I already chucked out my old RF signal TV because of room space and wont be buying another one.