USIfAC ii Direct Load games

[Devlin]

So, to stop essentially spamming the list ikonsgr made(https://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/games/how-about-making-a-'worth-to-play'-collection-of-amstrad-games/) I'm making a new thread for direct-load games that are known to work on the USIfAC ii in USB-DirectLoad form.

My spreadsheet showing 464 compatibility:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dVFDK63R0wTtEo1vFLDO359uj1w7iHIatQ2Xz-6erfM/edit?usp=sharing

If you want to contribute a new game to the spreadsheet, post here with the following:
Game name (with files attached to your post)
Machines you tested it on (464,664,6128,464+,6128+)

NOTE: this is *NOT* for games loaded as DSK/SNA - just purely extracted files from images for direct-load. Snapshots and DSK images are already well covered (it's pretty safe to assume *most* will work, as the FDC emulation is very good!) and not the focus of this particular thread.

If you have a request for a game that isn't on the compatibility spreadsheet, make a post here with a request and I'll see what I can do.

FULL LIST IS NOW AVAILABLE!!!
GET IT HERE
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oW_-Zmk2Kyx5xqH-Rl7UX_oaCLjWd4yy/view?usp=sharing

Off-Topic: ShowHide

if anyone has a complete archive of CPC-Power's contents that would be absolutely magical in helping me extract games in future

[Gryzor]

That's tons of work... thanks!!!

[Devlin]

That's tons of work... thanks!!!

My motivation is down to largely wanting to *know* which games work with usifac2 on an otherwise stock 464 - I figured that it'd be helpful, so instead of keeping it all to myself I decided to share my results.

[Gryzor]

My motivation is down to largely wanting to *know* which games work with usifac2 on an otherwise stock 464 - I figured that it'd be helpful, so instead of keeping it all to myself I decided to share my results.

Oh I completely understand - I had made such a huge file for ST menus/games when I got my MiST FPGA and needed to try all the cores/TOS/game versions to find out which plays with which, and then shared it...

[Devlin]

Oh I completely understand - I had made such a huge file for ST menus/games when I got my MiST FPGA and needed to try all the cores/TOS/game versions to find out which plays with which, and then shared it...

Yep, I've pruned a few entries from the list as they were literally *only* disk images, which isn't what I'm wanting to deal with here - Most disk images i've tried have failed for reasons mostly down to them being broken(due to what i'm assuming is not-quite-perfect DSK emulation) or needing/assuming 6128/128k specific behaviour.


I'm hoping developments on a simple file manager(as spotted in the breakaway thread) will cut down on typing time - making the progress of loading and testing a lot faster.

[ikonsgr]

(due to what i'm assuming is not-quite-perfect DSK emulation)

Let me assure you that this is most certainly a wrong assumption!
ALL dsk images in the direct file list, are tested and work on a CPC 6128! So, if you tried a dsk image on a cpc 464 and it doesn't work, then most certainly, this is because ,either  game needs 128k or the game was made "exclusively" for "disk equipped" amstrad models (CPC 664/6128). And as we already discussed, this had to do with the minor differences in "internal working" of amstrad 6128 and 464 + the different Basic version (many games used basic loaders and some might not work under cpc464 basic 1.0)
Let me also note that, the "DSK emulation", which is actually a "low level" 765 Floppy Disk Controller emulation, can handle almost any kind of dsk image, except for some copy protected images! And this is validated by thorough testing of 100's of dsk images!
So, although "not quite perfect" , i'm pretty sure that the VAST majority of dsk images can be perfectly used with usifac ii! 


p.s. very admirable project with a truly a community spirit! And it will surely help many other CPC464 owners to have a better and easier experience! 
 

[Devlin]

p.s. very admirable project with a truly a community spirit! And it will surely help many other CPC464 owners to have a better and easier experience! 

I appreciate the encouragement! It's a big project, but ultimately will improve the experience for a lot of usifac2 users in the future, I hope.


I would love to see a 464 compatibility list for DSK images though, it would also be a big help for those wanting to use DSK for that sweet sweet accuracy

[ikonsgr]

I would love to see a 464 compatibility list for DSK images though, it would also be a big help for those wanting to use DSK for that sweet sweet accuracy

Well, for that,i could be of help, as i already tested some dsk images with cpc464. Ofcourse this is not a preferable way of loading a game in cpc464, as it requires emulation of both AMSDOS/PARADOS ROM and 765 FDC controller, resulting in a rather slow loading speed (~20%-30% slower of an actuald disk drive).
IMHO, the best alternative of loading games on cpc464 would be using snapshots, as they offer the same super fast loading speeds! Also, compatibility should be rather high too (only 128k games should not run). Ofcourse, snapshots  have the restriction of not supporting all games that require "in game" file loading. But, the good thing is, that you can always load a game you want on an Amstrad emulator, take a snapshot, and then use the sna file to load it directly on a cpc 464! 

[Devlin]

I found another version of Elite that works on 464 in usb direct-load...

What's interesting about this though is that LOADING *AND* SAVING work.

Find attached the files and excuse me I have some space trading to do.

[ikonsgr]

Great! I replace previous version with this one!
I've also make a small test of the few games in dsk image form in the list:
Arkanoid 2:     ok
Gauntlet 2:      ok
Supercars:      ok
sorcery plus:   ok
Dizzy IV magicland: ok
Orion prime: needs 128k
subhunter   :needs 128k
pinball dreams: needs 128k

finally, the 3 multi dsk image games turbo out run, outrun europa and xyphobes obviously need 128k too. So as it seems, all games in dsk form in the direct list (except those needed 128k) are working on a cpc 464 . I suppose you can use the above to update your excel 

[Devlin]

Cool. I'll make a new sheet for DSK images and add those ones.

[Mark_wllms]

Ofcourse, snapshots  have the restriction of not supporting all games that require "in game" file loading.

I don't see why not. The USB direct access should continue to work once the snapshot is loaded?  As long as the file is in the same directory as the snapshot and can be loaded through the normal mechanisms it should be fine. If the file needs direct disk sector access, it could be a problem.
Snapshots of multiload tape games could be a problem though.

[Devlin]

I don't see why not. The USB direct access should continue to work once the snapshot is loaded?  As long as the file is in the same directory as the snapshot and can be loaded through the normal mechanisms it should be fine. If the file needs direct disk sector access, it could be a problem. Snapshots of multiload tape games could be a problem though.

That's the thought I have. I might have to try it with something and see what happens.

[ikonsgr]

Snapshots of multiload tape games could be a problem though.

Well, that's what i have in mind too  .
Indeed if the only problem of a game is the initial loading to a cpc464, you can "overcome" this, using a snapshot of the game from a dsk image (to avoid "tape problems"  ), and then, place the files of the same game in the same directory with snapshot, for any extra loading needed! 

[Devlin]

PART 1 IS NOW AVAILABLE!!!!!
See the OP of the thread for the DL link - All are known and tested(by me) to work on an unexpanded 464 with only a usifac2 attached.


As always, any requests, don't hesitate to post and I'll see what I can do to make it happen. I can't make 128k only games work, however so be reasonable in your requests <3

[SkulleateR]

I'm way too lazy to copy all those files from a DSK onto the USB stick, but if you need general infos :


BETILED works fine on 464
BOOTY works fine on 464

[Devlin]

i'll make a note on the dsk sheet: but the thread is specifically intended for loading off the usb, not using snapshots or disk emulation


What was the DSK image source? If they work in DSK emulation, they're more than likely to work in |usb mode too.

[SkulleateR]

i'll make a note on the dsk sheet: but the thread is specifically intended for loading off the usb, not using snapshots or disk emulation

I know, I just mentioned them as "running" so others can copy the files of the disk themselves 


Think got them both from cpc-power.com

[Devlin]

Think got them both from cpc-power.com

That's what I needed to know.

[ikonsgr]

And here is an alternative for some games that don't load, using.... the snaphots 

- 1943
- Cauldron 2
- Exolon

Also switchblade is not loading because it also needs 128k.

Btw, i see that out of 101 games tested, ~8-9 need 128k , and from the ~92-93 games left, ~dozen don't work on cpc 464.
So, ~85% of tested games actually work on cpc464, and if you add the 3 games using snapshot we reach a CPC464 compatibility rate of ~90%!
That's quite an achievement, considering that all files are extracted from disk images

[Devlin]

Of the 19 that didn't initially work so far, i've found 7 alternatives that do - Once the initial list is complete testing-wise, I'll search for alternative dumps that do, where possible.

f.ex: Auf Weidersehen Monty didn't initially work (and demanded 128k) but I found an alternate DSK dump that extracted and worked on 464 just fine.

For any particularly egregiously unhappy games, I'll look into snapshots. But it's very much an absolute "last resort", and not the go-to when something doesn't work quite right - I'm heavily leaning into the idea of loading direct from USB over anything else for now.


Honestly, once I find alternatives for everything I'm expecting a hit rate of about 97% or more of the initial list.

[Devlin]

okay, the initial set is now tested!


If you have requests you want adding to the list (and 464 testing) reply here and let me know!
If you've tested a game on the list (or not on the list) on one of the listed machines in the spreadsheet let me know what game, attach the files if applicable (remember, not DSK/SNA, just the extracted files in a zip) and reply here!


GDrive link is in the main post (since it's too big to attach to a post)

[ikonsgr]

I have added some new games in the known list and some are tested and work with cpc 464 too:
-Prince of Persia.
-Roland in the ropes.
-Manic miner.
-PAC-MAN EMULATOR.
-Scramble (the arcade remake).
-Donkey Kong.

Except from prince of persia which uses DSK image, all others use direct file loading.

[Gryzor]

Nice ones!! Thanks 😊

[thomas]

thank you!