Tape Images

[morcar]

As I am getting a CPC464 next week I wanted to know is it possible to play the .cdt tape images back into a real computer and how would i do this ?

Also what sites are there apart from this one that supplies these tape images as i plan on buying the games but wanted to test drive them through the computer first.

Thanks for your time 

[beaker]

MacDeath pointed me to CPC-Power for images of games...

http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=jeux

...and here's a link for converting tape images to run on a real CPC, although there are probably other options with tape adapters and MP3 players playing wav files...

http://www.cepece.info/amstrad/docs/tocpc.html

[morcar]

Thank you

+1 Liked

[Cholo]

Just a few tips on using tape images-2-real 464:

One way to load tape cdt games is to simply output the tape audio from you pc (or similar output like cd-player, mp3 player etc) and send the signal direct into your 464 using a "car-cassette-adapter" aka something like a:
http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/4-/3515811/Car-Audio-Cassette-3-5mm-Jack-Adapter-iPod-MP3-Player/Product.html?searchstring=cassette+adaper&searchsource=0&searchtype=allproducts&urlrefer=search

Also before you start converting CDT to Wav .. you can try simply playing back the CDT in a amstrad emulator (aka open the emulator and select the tape-image .. the simply CAT it and it will playback to your pc's audio output .. hint: need a pretty high output volume).

The "car-cassette-adapter" cable can be a bit annoing (the cord makes it hard to close the cassette) and do note that there exist cordless adapters like a "SD-card" ones but do be a bit carefull as i hear bad things about the battery life of those.

Another importent note to is to know that the CDT format is basicly the same as the TZX spectrum format.

The 464 internal cassette player really is of a pretty good quality and as such its actually limited by the tape format itself .. but if you use a tape adapter you can actually make tapes load 2-3x times faster from cd-r:

Amstrad CPC CD Fast Load. Convert Cassette games into CD Fast Loading Games 464 6128 664

Of cause the 6128 can go even faster (like 10-15x) as it has direct input:

Fast loading for Amstrad CPC
with Otla:
otla - Tool for loading programs into vintage computers via their cassette

Not that you really needed to know that so lets get back on topic, here is some amstrad CDT tape images (that some fool made a while back and put into on zip file):
AllInOne.zip - 4shared.com - online file sharing and storage - download

(if you have trouble downloading let me know)

[morcar]

Another +1 like

thank you my friends this is all great info.

1 game i cant find on tape but can on disk is World Class Rugby.

I already played it on WinAPE but wanted it on tape if poss

Anyone knows where i can get it from (Although I think this will be one of the games i will buy)

[Cholo]

I fear that World Class Rugby is one of those "6128 only" games as it seem to use the full 128kb ram. It does exist on tape i think (im pretty sure ive seen one), but i dont think it will load on your 464 .. even with a 64kb ram expansion, sorry.

You would think that being on tape it would be able to load on the 464 as its the tape computer. But there do exist a few tape games that are 6128 only .. disc's was expensive and as the 6128 do have a plugin so you can hook up a cassette player it made sense to release some large game on tape as well (another good example is the Addams Family game that was sold on a lot of tapes but was 6128 only).

Even though there do exist several 64k ram expansion for the 464 it sadly dont mean that 128kb ram games are compatible with the 464+64k ram or even 464+64k+disk drive either.

A bit off topic:
Using a 464 actually has its advantages as its the original machine with the first version of the OS (and Basic 1.0 etc). The 6128 being a upgrade did indeed have more features (like Basic 1.1), but that also limited it as the 6128 with its additional commands and updated OS is a basicly also a 64k ram base machine .. so it actually has less free ram space because all the new commands take up more space in the first 64k ram (of cause the 6128 do have a additional 64k ram but as it accessed "separately").
The 464 also has the advantage of simply being the first. So programmers based future programming on being compatible with it without question. Quite amazing how many games are actually "464 only" as they all are just the few bytes to large for the 6128s base memory. Thankfully there do exist 6128-2-464 "downgrading" software that temporary help you boot those old games on a 6128. Sadly, a 464 (even with a 64k ram expansion+disc drive) cant be "upgraded"  the same way.

This is also why most people recommend the 6128 for new users as it has the compatability and you can connect a modern 3,5" floppy drive for easy disk image transfer from pc.

Of cause if you are a game collector there is no doubt that you can get the largest collection of amstrad games on tape .. as those odd 3" discs are pretty rare (and freakishly expensive too). A tape collection will also be the cheapest as well. Personally i have both simply as i had a 464 25 years ago (and it so cheap and easy to get tape games) and the 6128 as well just for software transfer and for the latest homebrew games (most of them is 6128 "enhanced" in some way).

[ralferoo]

I use playtzx for converting cdt files to wav.

[morcar]

yeah ithink your right about world class rugby because i tried it on winape and i could only get it running in 128k mode.

No problem I will be picking up another Amstrad later on anyway.

I am going to put all my games back on to tape and any I like I will be buying like the awesome Exolon and Savage