CPCWiki forum

General Category => General Discussion - Introductions => Topic started by: awergh on 04:16, 27 February 13

Title: Software Preservation
Post by: awergh on 04:16, 27 February 13
So I wondering through cpc-power looking to see what was there looked up play school  http://cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=6031 (http://cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=6031)
which I happen to have rescued a copy from a skip recently and looking at the page on cpc-power there is no packaging and no tape version listed
on there at all. I mean its not like it is lost in that the disk is there but it is not a complete listing as it could be.


So my question is how much effort have people gone through to check if they have any rare (not ***RARE**) and unusual software that might be available anywhere.
Somehow I imagine its the serious applications, educational stuff, and less popular/obscure games that have somehow been missed more then anything else.

Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: Bryce on 09:49, 27 February 13
I've gone through about 50% of my collection, scanned the inlays, even typed in the "Story-line" in some cases and uploaded it all to the Wiki. I just recently (Monday) found another box of Big-box games, so when I have time I'll process those too. None of them are really rare, but the info was missing from the wiki in many cases. The DSKs were all to be found on the net, so I didn't dump any of them.

Bryce.
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: arnoldemu on 10:26, 27 February 13
I've been through all of my collection, dumped what I can, scanned most of the inlays. I haven't done many instructions though because it takes some time.

I've also dumped both sides of each cassette, especially the amsoft ones just in case there are some small differences.
Sometimes there is, on one tape it had a full amsoft logo on one side, the other just had some simple text logo. The rest of the game was the same, but it was interesting to see that.

I also try to dump games when they are re-released or have different loaders, it sounds a bit pedantic but it means we have every different version, and if a game was bugged originally then perhaps a later release has fixes.

So, please continue and preserve as much as you can.

Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: steve on 23:48, 27 February 13
I have always thought that games were recorded on both sides of the tape so that if one side became unreadable, you could load the copy on the other side.
What games were actually recorded like this?
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: ralferoo on 09:39, 28 February 13
Quote from: steve on 23:48, 27 February 13
I have always thought that games were recorded on both sides of the tape so that if one side became unreadable, you could load the copy on the other side.
What games were actually recorded like this?
Most games were recorded double sided, but generally the tape was exactly the length needed to contain the data. So, if you had a dropout at 25% through side A, you were likely to also have a dropout 75% through side B. As most speedloaders tended to just crash if interrupted or when they hit bad data, you couldn't just turn the tape over and try the other side. Some loaders though, like the regular Amstrad one or the firebird loader (or anything with a counter, basically) should work fine if you turned the tape over midway unless the dropout was exactly in the middle of the tape.
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: arnoldemu on 10:32, 28 February 13
Quote from: steve on 23:48, 27 February 13
I have always thought that games were recorded on both sides of the tape so that if one side became unreadable, you could load the copy on the other side.
What games were actually recorded like this?
KC Compact games were recorded at different speeds on each side. 1000 baud on one side, 2000 on the other.

I think it was roland on the ropes that had a different logo on each side.

The majority that had the game on both sides were identical in their loading.

Some games would be released with a different loader. 1st release may be speedlock 1, next release may be speedlock 4.


Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: awergh on 08:18, 18 May 13
So anyone want to buy/dump this for me Tobruk Amstrad CPC | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tobruk-Amstrad-CPC-/140974234236?ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:AU:1123) since I can't buy it because I'm outside the UK and only the disk version appears to exist online
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: Gryzor on 10:56, 19 May 13
Hm, Tobruk isn't dumped?
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: AMSDOS on 12:11, 19 May 13
Quote from: Gryzor on 10:56, 19 May 13
Hm, Tobruk isn't dumped?


If I'm reading this correctly, they want the Tape version?
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: dcdrac on 15:13, 19 May 13
I have seen Tobruk

tobruk 1942 f 1986 [a2], download this ROM for Amstrad CPC - The Game Archives (http://www.thegamearchives.com/?val=0_2_1_0_0_9_21344_0_0_0_0_2_1_0_0_1_2_0_25_0_0);
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: awergh on 03:51, 20 May 13
Yeah the disk version is dumped in both french and english I think but there isn't a tape version anywhere that I can see and according to the user manual for multiplayer you require both computers to use tape or disk so having only one disk drive isn't enough.
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: Nich on 20:16, 20 May 13
Quote from: awergh on 03:51, 20 May 13
Yeah the disk version is dumped in both french and english I think but there isn't a tape version anywhere that I can see and according to the user manual for multiplayer you require both computers to use tape or disk so having only one disk drive isn't enough.
I have a tape version of Tobruk somewhere. I'll have to find it first, though, before I can dump it. ;)
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: Cholo on 13:00, 23 May 13
Did a dump of the cassette version back in 2010 i think (see attachment). Side 1 is the 1player software and Side 2 contains the 2player+slave software if i recall right.
Title: Re: Software Preservation
Post by: awergh on 08:17, 24 May 13
Oh cool thanks :) now I just need to get some tape belts for the tape deck so I can easily record it onto some tapes so I can try out the 2player stuff
Powered by SMFPacks Menu Editor Mod