Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

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dr beep
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Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by dr beep »

So in 2019 we tried to make 1 tape with the 60 1K hires at that moment.

Unfortunately not all ZX81 machines can load the games. So you can have a machine that is not capable of displaying the games correctly. For this reason the tap is never released.

However... especially for this tape I refurbished all the games I had sofar.
I added extra options (like hiscore) when possible and made controls more uniform to QAOPZ when possible.

It would be a waste of work if the new versions were never released.

So here in 1 downlloadlink you will find a folder with the games in order how they would have come on tape.
With some bonusses.

Comment below.....

Dr Beep

https://www.mediafire.com/file/iyor7x1b ... 0.zip/file
Lardo Boffin
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Re: Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by Lardo Boffin »

Shame it didn’t work. That would have been an awesome tape!
ZX80
ZX81 iss 1 (bugged ROM, kludge fix, normal, rebuilt)
TS 1000 iss 3, ZXPand AY and +, ZX8-CCB, ZX-KDLX & ChromaSCART
Tatung 81 + Wespi
TS 1500 & 2000
Spectrum 16k (iss 1 s/n 862)
Spectrum 48ks plus a DIVMMC future and SPECTRA
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kpalser
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Re: Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by kpalser »

Any conclusions why they don’t work on all ZX81s? The obvious being RAM packs or modified units with internal RAM not being compatible with WRX - but I think Simon ruled this out.
dr beep
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Re: Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by dr beep »

kpalser wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 10:47 pm Any conclusions why they don’t work on all ZX81s? The obvious being RAM packs or modified units with internal RAM not being compatible with WRX - but I think Simon ruled this out.
Internal RAM or ULA, I don’t know.
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kpalser
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Re: Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by kpalser »

dr beep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:00 pm Internal RAM or ULA, I don’t know.
OK, so let’s narrow this down a bit:
1) Were the problems limited to WRX games?
2) Did any of the WRX games work on Simon’s ZX81?
3) Did Simon record any video or stills of the display problems?
4) Are there known cases where it works on one unmodified ZX81 without a RAM pack and then fails on another similar configuration?
5) Do the display problems vary, e.g. rolling screen vs distorted patterns?

———

Anything else worth noting?
dr beep
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Re: Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by dr beep »

kpalser wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:25 pm
dr beep wrote: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:00 pm Internal RAM or ULA, I don’t know.
OK, so let’s narrow this down a bit:
1) Were the problems limited to WRX games?
all games are wrx
2) Did any of the WRX games work on Simon’s ZX81?
Simon tested several ZX81. Some work, some not.
3) Did Simon record any video or stills of the display problems?
pictures were taken. Some ressembly the current display of blocky.
4) Are there known cases where it works on one unmodified ZX81 without a RAM pack and then fails on another similar configuration?
Yes... see 2
5) Do the display problems vary, e.g. rolling screen vs distorted patterns?
Mosty 1 line in 8 disturbed (line 3)
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kpalser
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Re: Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by kpalser »

dr beep wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 9:22 am Simon tested several ZX81. Some work, some not.
Was there a clear pattern where there same ZX81 computers always failed with all the WRX games?

My experience is more to the emulation side. That said, I recommend that you ask Simon to do some controlled tests (no RAM packs, Chroma interfaces etc - just standard CRT display) and label those ZX81 computers with pass/fail stickers. Then one by one open up their cases and in good lighting conditions take photos where the text on the chips set is clearly legible. On those photos also add a pass / fail annotations. Whilst this is not going to help you get the tape published in the short term, if there is an identifiable pattern it would be valuable for our community.
dr beep
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Re: Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by dr beep »

kpalser wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 10:51 am
dr beep wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 9:22 am Simon tested several ZX81. Some work, some not.
Was there a clear pattern where there same ZX81 computers always failed with all the WRX games?

My experience is more to the emulation side. That said, I recommend that you ask Simon to do some controlled tests (no RAM packs, Chroma interfaces etc - just standard CRT display) and label those ZX81 computers with pass/fail stickers. Then one by one open up their cases and in good lighting conditions take photos where the text on the chips set is clearly legible. On those photos also add a pass / fail annotations. Whilst this is not going to help you get the tape published in the short term, if there is an identifiable pattern it would be valuable for our community.
Simon wanted a working or not. Not defined that some machines might not work. This to prevent taking back sales.
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kpalser
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Re: Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by kpalser »

dr beep wrote: Sat Jan 18, 2020 12:24 pm Simon wanted a working or not. Not defined that some machines might not work. This to prevent taking back sales.
Understood - It is difficult not to agree with his decision.

Bigger picture: It would be helpful to the ZX81 community to determine why WRX does not work with all unexpanded ZX81 issues/series. So let’s set aside the understandable frustration that both Simon and especially you must have experienced and turn this into a positive. Can we get Simon to repeat his tests and document the ZX81 boards as suggested in my last reply?
dr beep
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Re: Cassette60 : the 1K hires games

Post by dr beep »

ghosthunt
85ABFA34-419E-4751-AEB2-98B63E898E85.jpeg
And othello on 3 machines. Second seems to havetextproblems too.
AF4A4F52-8A80-47ED-ACFC-85B5CE3B8E93.jpeg
1B1AD87D-3130-4016-9B2E-C6B93DD6AA12.jpeg
3A9D2091-5A38-4C52-9D57-D46559221C52.jpeg
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