Working Games Cartridge MDR Image (from the IF1 pack)

A place to discuss the ZX80's and ZX81's younger brother - the Sinclair ZX Spectrum
Post Reply
User avatar
Erm
Posts: 225
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:07 pm
Contact:

Working Games Cartridge MDR Image (from the IF1 pack)

Post by Erm »

Hello,

I'm restoring the Microdrive cartridges that came with the Interface 1 expansion pack, namely: 'Introduction', 'Business' and 'Games'. I'm using my vDrive to write the good mdr images onto the original real (and formatted/checked etc) cartridges. It's fiddly, but I'm making progress!

I've stumbled on a problem though. The 'Games' cartridge mdr image available online is faulty. In fact there are 2 versions and both seem to be faulty, here:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... id=0014815

Even in Spectaculator they fail when you attempt to load the Games Designer option. (the other option 'Ant Attack' works, but only in 48k mode if using a 128k Spectrum)

Anyone got or know where I can find a known good mdr image of the 'Games' cartridge?

Thanks.
I'm Chris, a Brit in Germany (Chr$ on the QL forum). https:\\QXL.WIN < QL related collection.
Paul Young
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2020 4:19 pm

Re: Working Games Cartridge MDR Image (from the IF1 pack)

Post by Paul Young »

Hi I am also trying to recreate the Games Cartridge. Using my vDrive ZX all I need to do is copy the virtual .mdr to my physical drive, but the downloadable .mdr is faulty as you said. Have you been able to resolve the problem? I am not knowlegable enough to understand what the fault is. My guess is either the load menu has the wrong syntax, so does not find the file, or the gd2 file on the .mdr is faulty. If the former then someone who knows about microdrive syntax could resolve? If the latter, then the correct piece of code could be recopied from the .tzx version using trans-express tape to cartridge onto the microdrive to replace the faulty gd2 code, but of course the program naming and syntax would need to be correct to work with the menu loader on the cartridge. If you have resolved already, please could you send me you revised .mdr?

thanks

Paul
User avatar
stefano
Posts: 542
Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2012 9:24 am
Contact:

Re: Working Games Cartridge MDR Image (from the IF1 pack)

Post by stefano »

I strongly suspect it is a home -made compilation rather than an official release.
Is it worth to put time on it rather than converting the games yourself?
User avatar
Erm
Posts: 225
Joined: Thu Jun 20, 2019 7:07 pm
Contact:

Re: Working Games Cartridge MDR Image (from the IF1 pack)

Post by Erm »

The 'Games Cartridge' is certainly an official release, it came with the Interface 1 pack that Sinclair sold, which included 2 other carts with content, a blank one, an actual microdrive, cable, manual etc.

The actual Games designer BASIC file is corrupted and it never actually loads the m/c part.
I'm Chris, a Brit in Germany (Chr$ on the QL forum). https:\\QXL.WIN < QL related collection.
redgatemodels
Posts: 160
Joined: Tue Sep 05, 2023 11:56 am

Re: Working Games Cartridge MDR Image (from the IF1 pack)

Post by redgatemodels »

Did you get anywhere with this? I have a Games cartridge that will not CAT. I'd like to reformat it and load a working mdr from a VDriveZX to it.....
Post Reply