Things I would like to do (and learn how to do!)

[MugUK]

I sent this to Gryzor last night but I thought I might as well open up the 'plans for my Amstrad' to you all to get some help and pointers in the right direction

a) On the Atari ST, within a year of getting it (1989) I discovered GFA BASIC and a hex editor.  There soon followed a few saved-game editors for Phantasie II and such like.  Are there many games for the Amstrad that use saved games, as I like to try this out.

b) I also used to do hacks for Sega Master System games using the old MEKA emulator (back when it was only running under DOS), so I know the basics of Z80 code.  I'd dump the ROM using a Windows-based disassembler and wade through the dead listing looking for the obvious lives / gold etc. routines and then create a patch for the MEKA.INI file so you could have these cheats enabled etc.  I'm guessing that there's some powerful disassembly tools out there in the Amstrad emulators, but how do you go about coding an old skool style trainer interface?

I used to use some code in my 68000 hacking/training days where the original .PRG was included as a binary file after the trainer-front end. The user pressed Y/N for the various options and then the game was patched accordingly, relocated back down to the proper start address and then executed.  Is there any simple source code examples out there to show this is done in Z80? 

Or is it done differently on the Amstrad due to memory constraints?  Am I best waiting until I've got a MegaFlash with an assembler/debugger on board?

[Gryzor]

Hello mate,


Apologies for not getting back to you earlier, just got home (11pm, same as last night).


On the CPC, as on the Spectrum, much of the hacking took place with a Multiface (see Multiface II - CPCWiki - The Ultimate Amstrad CPC Community & Encyclopedia!). Very few games used saves, so although a program to do it easily would be really nice, it wouldn't be of much use...


Btw, indeed, is there a list of games using saves?

[MugUK]

Games like Bloodwych (it says it has a save feature on your Wiki) or similar 'hack & slash' games?

I'm looking at a lot of different books on eBay so it shouldn't take long to catch up with the BASIC side of things.  I'll do that first before looking at Z80 dead listings

[Gryzor]

It's not an issue of type, mainly of length. I'd assume that Bloodwych would use a save system indeed!

[MugUK]

Just picked up my 6128. Halfway home with it. Lots of disks with it too ;-)

Sent from my Galaxy S2 using Tapatalk.

[Gryzor]

Oooh! And clearly so excited that you should post about it from the car! Just watch it lest you crash into something


Have fun mate!!!

[MugUK]

Oooh! And clearly so excited that you should post about it from the car! Just watch it lest you crash into something


Have fun mate!!!

Was travelling back by train, so was safe.

However, it's got a knackered drive - won't read any of the 45 (or so) disks.  I'll do a separate post in the Hardware section about it.  I can't complain too much for the bargain price I paid for it

[Gryzor]

The belt needs replacement, most probable cause-by far. Do a search, you'll find lots of advice in the forum and the wiki itself! Easy to do and very cheap, but you'll need to but one or find a similar elastic band.