The C16, C116 and Plus/4 Discussion Board

Ati has added some news to his homepage!!

by Lando

http://plus4.emuviews.com/

Please check it out. Thanks.

Cheers Ati. C ya soon m8ty!

Posted on Jul 22, 2001, 11:25 AM

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Joystick wanted !

My joystick is broken and I am in urgent need of a replacement - preferably a new one.
I am willing to pay a fair price.
I need a single button joystick with an 8-pin mini-DIN socket connection.
Can anyone help ?

Posted on Jul 16, 2001, 11:38 PM

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Adapter and 9 pin joystick?

by James C

Here's a 9 to 8 pin joystick adapter on Ebay UK:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1255167590

You can use this to hook an Atari/Spectrum/C64-style joystick to the Plus/4. The 9 pin joysticks are in much more ample supply, and much cheaper than a 1341 or clone.

James

Posted on Jul 17, 2001, 1:43 AM

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If you can get hold of an adapter......

by Lando

Cut off the conection 1/2 end of your broken joystick and wire it to the new (C64, Amiga) type ended one.

I use a Sega Megadrive 6 button pad on my Plus4. It`s been fine for years. "B" if the normal fire button.

Posted on Jul 17, 2001, 2:01 PM

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Above: If you cant..... Sorry (nt)

by Lando

.

Posted on Jul 17, 2001, 2:02 PM

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I have a joystick convert cable for sale.

Hi,
I have a joystick convertor cable that changes the round eight pin din plug to accept the flat pin plug so that you can use any joystick off an amiga, st, speccy, amstrade and c64 or other computer like it on your c16.
If you want the connector then please email me.

Posted on Jan 13, 2002, 2:11 AM

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XeO3 music!

XeO3 basic jingles & fx, plus Level 1 music, are now available on www.xeo3.com
Please prefer downloading the .SID file, 'coz the sidplug won't play th filtered voices, damn...
In the latter case, remember to set emulation for sid chip 8580 and oversample by 4.

Posted on Jul 9, 2001, 5:36 PM

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FOR SALE

Hi,

Dug the ol' girl out of the loft, have no further need for my little baby, this is what I have.

HARDWARE
Keyboard (1 missing key)
Cassette player (damaged door)
Power pack (no plug)
joystick adapter

SOFTWARE (COMPLETE WITH ORIGINAL SLEEVES)
Video Classics (4 games - Street Warrior,Moto Cross Mania,International speedway,Billboard)
Fighting Warrior
Frank Bruno's Boxing
One Man And His Droid
Crazy Golf
Dingbat
Hektik
Water Grand Prix
Gun Law
Who Dares Wins 2
World Cup 2
Harbour attack
Exorcist
Icicle Works
Mr Puniverse
Finders Keepers
Survivors
Battle
POD
Starforce Nova
Xadium
Arthur Noid
Mayhem
Terra Cognita
Harvey Headbanger
Storm
Formula 1 Simulator
BMX Simulator
BMX Racers
Oblido
Dorks Dilemma
Number Builder
Number4 Chaser
Sun Star
Wimbledon
Auf Wiedersehen Monty
Trailblazer
Championship Wrestling

SOFTWARE (MINUS SLEEVES)
Fire Ant
Indoor Soccer

4 Bootleg Cassettes unknown content
Possibly Ghosts and Goblins,Winter Olympics, League Challenge??????

ORIGINAL SLEEVES WITH NO CASSETTES
Guzzler
Lawn Tennis
Manic Miner
Airwolf
Ace (+4 Version with speech)
Squirm
Sport 4 (4 game pack)
Joe Blade
Best Of Elite (4 game pack)
International Karate
Scooby Doo

MANUAL
Intergrated Software Manual

Offers?.....email me neil@glasgowskyline.com

Cheers

Neil

Posted on Jul 8, 2001, 9:20 PM

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Oops!

by Neil

Should probably state that this is Commordore Plus 4 not a C16.

Cheers

Neil

Posted on Jul 9, 2001, 5:53 PM

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Tom Thumb for PC email address

by Lando

As a real lamer that I am I messed up Stuart`s email address on the site. AHhhhhhh!

Sorry for my major mistake

StuJWilson@aol.com

Posted on Jul 8, 2001, 6:11 PM

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Download Commadore Plus4 Games For The PC

Does anyone know where I can download Commadore plus 4 games from the internet which run on PC's ?

Posted on Jul 8, 2001, 12:04 AM

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Plus/4 and C16 Games

by James

... can be downloaded from the site that sponsors this message board: http://plus4.emucamp.com/index2.htm

You can also FTP a lot of stuff from ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/cbm/ (select the plus4 directory), however, by FTPing you won't get any descriptions of what you're downloading. It is handy if you already know what the program's name is, though.

James

Posted on Jul 8, 2001, 12:06 PM

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Plus4 Games and more !!

You can also download many Games from the German C16 Site....

http://www.c16.de

cu
atallen of www.c16.de

greetings to Lando ;-))

Posted on Aug 8, 2001, 12:28 AM

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no

no but the closest thing to do is to search the net for what game u want and even though its unlikely-u may get lucky.i tried for football masters and the nearest i found was football masters 98.

Posted on Nov 15, 2002, 9:51 PM

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Uh ohhh - My Plus 4 doesnt work!

MY PLUS 4 DOESNT WORK NO MORE

The return key (and a few others) dont work. Other than that, it works but I cant load my games no more (since I cant type LOAD <RETURN>!!!). I've taken the thing apart and cleaned the contacts but alas it still doesnt work. I had so many games for it and 50% of them games havent been converted for use on an emulator. Ohhhhhhh bugger! Anyone know anyone who are selling a Plus 4 or is it possible to find just the keyboard itself?

Also, if I cant get the Plus 4 working - is there any way I can convert my games into PRG files without the machine?

Still, I've got to give my Plus 4 credit. I've had it for 16 years and its given me plenty of hours of joy!

Seeya!
Stuart

Posted on Jul 2, 2001, 1:07 AM

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Whoops your warranty has expired

by James

Try Control-M for the Enter key.

By my calculations, your 90 day warranty expired.... uh... ummmm.... 16 years ago, give or take three days.

You might try reseating the ribbon cable into its connector on the motherboard. Check it for damage (rusting on a bare spot of ribbon, black marks would indicate electrical short) while you have it out of the connector.

Failing that, you need a TED chip, which is hard enough to find unless you obtain a working motherboard.

Alternatively, you might use a X-1541 series cable to connect your 1541/1571/1581 to your IBM compatiable computer, and transfer files over that way. If you have stuff on tape to move over, that's gonna be hard, but maybe you can download most of what you haven't converted from this site.

www.ebay.co.uk may have a C16 or Plus/4 on auction. I know there's a 116 on there, I saw it yesterday.

James

Posted on Jul 2, 2001, 7:58 AM

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Good thinking James :-)

by Lando

I never would of guess RETRUN would of been a short hand job with Control-M. Never ever needed to use it. Nice one.

I guess the more keys covered the better

Posted on Jul 2, 2001, 3:52 PM

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More information for 1531 datasette to PC

by James

http://arnold.c64.org/~minstrel/

Descriptons of cables to connect 1531 to PC, and software to control recording/playback.

James

Posted on Jul 2, 2001, 8:04 AM

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How to load tapes with-out using the RETURN key!

by Lando

With any luck you might have a couple of much needed keys that still work.

3 of the F-keys have auto RETURN once pressed. These are F4, F6 and F7.

so if you can type the following

LOAD:

and then press SHIFT and one of the F-keys and it`s PRESS PLAY ON TAPE

L,SHIFT+O is also short for LOAD.
Fingers crossed you can do this!!!

I wish I had another spare keyboard to give ya

The one I sent Sam a little while back runs perfect. Try and get hold of another plussy, but keep your old one as it might be fine!!

Yes you would convert your games into PRG`s with emulation. You would need to make TAP images or smaples of the tapes and load, crack and re-save them with Yape. I`ve done this a number of times. Way quicker then using the real machine, plus I get a working tap image

What games are you after for emulation ?? I would guess over 95% of the original releases are on the site. Alot of Turbo Loaders are availabe in TAP format (these are the real tapes!!). I`ve yet to do more Long Loaders, but if you have a request of something which is a long loader, ask as I might have it to make a tap image of.

best of luck, let me know how you get on.
regards,

Posted on Jul 2, 2001, 3:40 PM

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Is there a way to network a plus 4 to a pc?

I just wanted to know if there was a way to network a PC and a commodore Plus/4 together.

Please email me

Posted on Jul 2, 2001, 12:49 AM

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Yes, there is!

by James

Here is an article from 'Your Commodore' magazine in 1987. It tells how to construct a cable to allow a Plus/4 (or C64 or 128) to another computer, and some simple software to control it.

http://plus4.emucamp.com/your_commodore/jan1987.htm

If you just want to move files over from your Plus/4 (for use with an emulator, for example) then check sta.c64.org for the software, and they can alse sell you a cable to connect the 1541/1571/1581 to your IBM compatiable computer.

Posted on Jul 2, 2001, 7:40 AM

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visit http://www.geocities.com/cbmplus4/projects/

contains instructions for hardware / software solution to your question

Posted on Jul 4, 2001, 1:56 PM

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I'M WORKING ON A TOM THUMB REMAKE ON THE PC

Hey guys. I just want to let you people know that I am currently working on a PC remake on Tom Thumb with enhanced graphics (I hope) and sound but maintaining the classic gameplay of the original. Anyway, the reason I am leaving a message here is because I require some graphics for the game - erm, all graphics!(I can program, but when it comes to the simple things like drawing the grapics, I'm hopeless). The actual game engine is finished and is perfect but if there are anyone out there who might be interested in helping me out (you'll get your name in the credits of course), then email me please. Thanks alot

Posted on Jun 30, 2001, 11:02 PM

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This guy is KING!!!!!!

by Lando

Why not take on Udo`s ideas and style and make an official Tom Thumb 2?

Posted on Jul 1, 2001, 12:11 AM

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IDEAS FOR MY TOM THUMB PC REMAKE

A sequel eh? I had thought of creating an entirely new level as well as including the original in my Tom Thumb remake. There are still many things I need to think about - I guess I just got overly excited since the actual game engine is complete and Im so happy about that. I've actually got a basic looking Tom walking around a very early basic level (a few platforms and a couple of creatures) but it does look and feel like Tom 16. I'm going to release a very early demo soon just to show people what it looks like. I think you certainly wont be disapointed. I'm going to set up a webpage soon which will include screenshots and downloads. As soon as its up and running, you'll be the first to try it out

I hope I dont get into trouble with Udo Gertz - afterall, Tom Thumb is copyrighted. Anyone know how and where I can contact him?

Anyway, take care (and I'm really annoyed I missed BiT in London - I didnt see no adverts for it!! I didnt even know it was on - I guess I was looked up in my bedroom working on Tom PC for too long!!)

Seeya
Stuart

Posted on Jul 1, 2001, 12:49 AM

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Sorry about London :-(

by Lando

I only found out one week before the event! Yep I did`nt look at the date, thinking it was next year as you would (maybe not)?

Well I hope there is another one and if so I`ll spam the site with info and links. It would of been great to see some more plussy fans there. Sorry.

Also a note on copyright for Tom Thumb. Udo I would`nt of thought has any rights to the game at all. No one has ever made contact with him from the C16/Plus4 scene as far as I know. I dont think Udo would mind, being more of a nice surprise if he ever found out?

Anirog and Kingstoft would be the guys who own the rights.

I`m not sure what happened to Kingsoft, but Anirog now Anco are still going:
http://www.anco.co.uk/index.html

Posted on Jul 1, 2001, 1:56 PM

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Anco/irog

by pat

They've certainly come on a bit since their days in a semi in Dartford.

Posted on Jul 6, 2001, 11:02 PM

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Going Rate?

by Neil

SO whats the going rate for a +4 these days, with the basic attachments and games?

curious, as I have one in the loft.

Neil

Posted on Jun 25, 2001, 12:45 AM

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This page may help ?

by Lando

http://www.geocities.com/eyethian2000/commodorepricelist.html

Posted on Jun 25, 2001, 12:52 AM

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Hi Ho all

by Lando

Hows things?

Man it was hot in the UK today and I`m on melt down. Anyone got a swimming pool I can download ?

laters,

Posted on Jun 25, 2001, 12:11 AM

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Fur coats.

It may be hot but I got two fur coats today. With a leg at each corner ;-).

http://www.enormouscamel.freeserve.co.uk/llamas.htm

\
(:-) - Yak
/

Posted on Jun 25, 2001, 3:18 PM

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Llamarassic Blinkin Park (gulp)

by Lando

You said the babes were comin Monday and indeed the ultimate dream has come true

Llama fans hail to the King! Yes we salute you!

Ah yeah, looks like you have a great day. I`ve borrowed a couple of piccys to use as BG`s on my Amiga. Well I`m always looking at this screen and it makes me feel more at home with my own Llama Coat on. 800x600 is prefect. Cheers!

No game should be with-out a real Llama sound!! Time to get the mic out and sample away, be great to hear

Posted on Jun 25, 2001, 11:35 PM

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Plus 4 for sale

I have a commodore plus 4 with video cable and power supply for sale. make me an offer, email: jarvisr@yahoo.com
thanks

Posted on Jun 20, 2001, 2:51 PM

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Mmmmm.....

Give me a tenner I'll take it off your hands!!
(okay,okay...it was a joke.... 15 quid!

Posted on Jun 28, 2001, 1:10 PM

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does anyone know of a cheat for monty on the run?

by smila

.please.

Posted on Jun 20, 2001, 9:58 AM

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Yes. Infinty lives cheat.

by Lando

Use the cracked version on the site. Load this version in and before running it type:

POKE 11572,173
POKE 11731,255

Now run the game.

Thanks to Zsolts page where I found this cheat along with many more:

http://winemu.emuunlim.com/

Posted on Jun 20, 2001, 2:06 PM

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thanks a lot mate! :-)

by smila

.

Posted on Jun 20, 2001, 2:07 PM

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i get scrolling rasta bars then i reset it!

by smila

.

Posted on Jun 20, 2001, 3:41 PM

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Hehehe.......

by Lando

This is the copy protection. A hard/soft reset could not be made on a C16/Plus4 with this title.

Most emulators use SHIFT+F11 to fully reset the plus4 as if you had just turned it on. Even the memeory is clear of any mess.

Posted on Jun 21, 2001, 2:09 PM

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Tom Thumb

Hey!!

Hi my first post here, I was a Plus 4 owner in the 80's too, still have one in the attic somewhere, with a load of games too, though I think my cousin stole all the good ones!!!

My question is about Tom Thumb, remember loving this, and wanted to relive the experience. Found the file on the web and have 2 or 3 emulators but when it loads it's all scrambled?.....how can I fix this or is there a fixed file somewhere that can be emailed to me?

Thanks, I really dig you guys for being so passionate about a machine that was such a memorable part of my childhood. For the record I loved 'Big Mac'!!!

Neil

Posted on Jun 16, 2001, 2:08 AM

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Hi Neil

by Lando

First of all the Tom Thumb files (.PRG) are fine.

This is a problem not only with emulation, but the screen the game is being displayed on. Udo used some custom screen mode that only a real TV can display. Minus4 may look jumpy, but Mike ported his Minus4 over to dreamcast once. Tom was running sweet with his emulator on a real TV screen.

The only emulator to run tom at a playable display on PC is Winemu which you can find here:
http://winemu.emuunlim.com/

Current version: 0.49. Zsolt(author)is tricking the emulator to make tom work

Heres a quick guide to setup Winemu for Tom Thumb:

First of all run the Winemusetup.exe and set the option "Full screen" to "320x240". Now set the "joystick" options "Default joystick" to "Joystick 2".

Now hit "RUN" and start the emulator. Once running press "F8" and select the Tom Thumb.prg file from your Harddrive. Now type run, the game will start.

Use arrow keys as the joystick, put Caps Lock on the keyboard to on and tom will always run and jump using this.

Control is fire, but there is a bug stopping Tom from jumping left. You can use "V" as fire if you wish..

Have fun

Happy days are here again!!!

PS. If you have an amiga then get back to me and I`ll tell you how to trick CP4 into running Tom Thumb.

Posted on Jun 16, 2001, 5:33 AM

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help me again! - new commodore 4 plus

Help - I just finally ot the connection from my plus 4 to the TV and was thrilled to see it work and Football Manager load. Unfortunately, I then notice that the numbers 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 were not working on the keyboard and a couple of other keys (delete and down and left curser keys)

Is there any quick fix for this?

It is supposed to be a present for My dad for fathers day. I cant believe how much I have been ripped off on this.

Please, please, please, give me some advice.

Posted on Jun 15, 2001, 7:52 PM

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I dont think you have been ripped off...........

by Lando

Only a guess because of I have a number of Plus4`s like this.

I think this could be the age of the machine and how it was kept over the years.

Please try pressing down harder on the keys... They may or should work. There could be just muck and dust under these keys. I`ve never taken one apart before, but have done on my C64. Once the board was cleaned she work like a treat.

Let me know how you get on.... If you find thses keys will work with some presure then I might have a spare keyboard you could have.

Posted on Jun 15, 2001, 9:54 PM

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thanks

Thanks for the tip. I think I will leave the taking apart to my dad and we can try to save it. I will let you know how I get on.

I was just angry yesterday at having to take my dad a pressie that he has wnated for years and he cant play his fav game on.

I can always rely on you for advice. Thanks.

If it doesnt work and you do have a spare keyboard, I will pay you obviously.

Keep you fingers crossed. In the meantime I can play icicle works and fireant and exorcist to my hearts content.

Posted on Jun 16, 2001, 11:42 AM

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...Another quesiton about cleaning the Plus/4...

I have a couple of Plus/4s, and one of them was just recently given to me. It's a mess, though, and needs to be dissassembled and cleaned.

Is there any cleaning substance that should be used on the plastic parts of the computer? Just regular soap and water, or something that won't discolour (or worse - melt!) it?

Thanks!

Jay

Posted on Jun 18, 2001, 12:01 AM

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Yeah soap and warm water...

by Lando

And a bit of rubbing

I also use Jiff (bath cleaner) sometimes if it`s real mucky eg.(1541 floppy drive case). I`m not sure if you have the same named stuff, It`s a cream type of cleaning fluid. Like you said "Plastic only".

Should`nt do any harm.

Posted on Jun 18, 2001, 2:40 PM

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LANDO - it didnt work

I took the keyboard apart and cleaned it last night and the same keys still didnt work.

e-mail me at sammyk@blueyonder.co.uk if you can help.

Posted on Jun 17, 2001, 1:15 PM

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Ok`s...

by Lando@tcp.co.uk

Please email insted your address and tomorrow I`ll take a plussy apart and sort something out... I`m so busy with other things at the mo I dont want to forget and this will remind me. Thanks

No need to send me money for it. I`m hoping the machine is fine and it is just the keyboard. Anyways its worth ago.

I dont want you to sending money just incase the plussy might be at fault. And this is`nt worth the hassle and I dont mind

Hear from you soon,

Posted on Jun 17, 2001, 4:45 PM

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Survivors Re-Start

by Lando

While I remember press F1 twice if you get traped. You will lose a life for doing so.

Posted on Jun 13, 2001, 12:28 PM

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Hey, I've got a 1541!

Someone sold me a 1541 for $10 - a steal i thought (remember, this is Canadian money, so that works out to be about $0.07 U.S.)!

Only problem is it doesn't work - when I try to LOAD"$",8 or anything, it makes a machine gun noise, which I think is signalling that it's in bad need of alignment, yes?

Anyone know of a website or anything with some documentation on how to do a hardware alignment, or what is involved in fixing one of these puppies up?

Thanks!
(I miss my 1581...)
Jay

Posted on Jun 12, 2001, 11:49 PM

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Definately a problem.....

by James

The 'machine gun' noice is caused by either bad alignment, or a defective Track 1 sensor. Original 1541's didn't have this sensor, and later 1541's have been known to have bad ones.

Have you tried reading the directory from a purchased diskette (as opposed to one you've formatted and written yourself)? The 1541 test/demo disk is great for checking the alignment of the drive.

This rattling can also be caused by inserting a non-Commodore diskette (ie an Apple or IBM diskette). The drive can't read other formats than its' own, so a foreign diskette is the same as a blank one, and the drive will search for quite a while for CBM GCR sync marks before giving up (if it ever does).

A good alignment is a hardware AND software repair. It requires adjusting the stepper motor and using a known good diskette with the proper program to read the diskette, telling you how far off it is and how much to adjust the motor.

I've not seen a Plus/4 version, but Compute's Gazette published a 64 version. I think it was machine language for speed, which is probably why we've not seen a port to the Plus/4. I'll thumb through my old mags and see if I can provide more info on this.

James

Posted on Jun 13, 2001, 3:41 AM

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1541 software alignment

I've seen some BASIC code for "bumping" the alignment head, it's pretty short. I've never used it before, but I may give it a try. I need to take the drive apart first and give it a decent cleaning first, because it's in kind of ruddy shape.

Unfortunately, I don't have any purchased disks for it. All I have are a couple of C-64 formatted disks.

As for the age of the drive, it's the darker brown colour, but it's got a pull-down lever, not the "push in-and-up" original mechanism.

Posted on Jun 14, 2001, 12:28 AM

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1541 Alignment

by James

The "1541 Speed and Alignment Tester" program and documentation appear in the May 1988 Compute's Gazette, page 63. The program itself is just under 3k of machine language for the 64. Documentation takes almost 4 pages.

I think I may have a simple alignment program on diskette around here somewhere, but I haven't had a chance to look in the last couple of weeks. If you still need help, let me know and I'll try to prioritize my 'Commodore playtime', as my wife calls it.

James

Posted on Jul 1, 2001, 3:11 PM

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Copy C116-programs with 1541-Discs on a common 486 / Pentium 3-PC

Hi James,
could you help me?
Is there a program which copies a whole disc with C116 / C16 / Plus 4 programs with a 1541-floppy and a special link cable on a common 486/ or pentium 3- PC?
I want to store all C116 programs on CD.
Could you help me?
Thanks
My Name is
Dieter Neumann
Germany
Mail-Address:
neumannhgb@freenet.de

Posted on Jul 14, 2001, 1:31 PM

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Yes, provided you have a 1541

by James C

If you have a working 1541, then check out sta.c64.org for the cable and software required to move Commodore files to the PC.

Once you get them on your PC, you will need a CD-ROM burner or a CD-RW drive to generate the CDs. If you intend to share the CD with others, a CD-ROM is preferred, as some CD drives cannot read CD-RW.

James C, USA

Posted on Jul 17, 2001, 1:21 PM

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opps I forgot one tap!

by Lando

Soz yes I was ment to add 22 but only added 21

Anyways Dirty Den has now been added.

http://plus4.emucamp.com/mtapimages.htm

Posted on Jun 12, 2001, 10:00 PM

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What`s your 10 fav Mastertronic games?

by Lando

Here`s my 10 fav MT games of all time.... In no order of best:

Dingbat
Video Meanies
Gunlaw
Squirm
Powerball
Big Mac
Bmx Racers
Fingers Malone
Rockman
Kikstart

Still a couple more I wanted to add.

By the way I never liked Mr Puniverse as much as Big Mac even though it`s a great game

Posted on Jun 11, 2001, 11:43 PM

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Here's my 10

by Shuffler

Heres my 10 also in no particular order. . .

BMX Racers
F1 Simulator
Fingers Malone
Rockman 2
Big Mac
Mr Puniverse
Speed King
Kikstart
Gwnn
Starforce Nova
P.O.D.

Cheers,

Shuffler.

Posted on Jun 13, 2001, 9:12 AM

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Nice collection

by Lando

F1 sim and Speed king were smart, but always in the shadow of Out Run the arcade machine for me

If I was`nt buying games I was putting it this baby.

I have a thing for rockman 2 also. I lov it. Have you tryed playing this on emu at twice the speed?

P.O.D was great, but I wished the fire fired all the time, this would of made it way cooler. Myraid was another with the same fire pause type of thing, again would of been better if it did`nt...

Posted on Jun 13, 2001, 10:06 PM

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GWNN

Gwnn, nice choice. Do you know what it stands for?

Pat

Posted on Jun 13, 2001, 11:38 PM

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Not a clue.

Thought I had seen your name from somewhere before.

I can't even remember if it was written in the inlay card. Go on give us a clue.

Cheers,

Shuffler.

Posted on Jun 14, 2001, 9:45 AM

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Re : Not a Clue

by Patrick Strassen

It was originally called Challenger. This was around the time of the Space shuttle accident (with the same name) so this name didn't seem appropriate. Mastertronic nor I could think of a name so it was labelled 'Game with no name' until one could be thought of, and ...

Pat.

Posted on Jun 14, 2001, 7:40 PM

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Wow

by Lando

I cant believe that 15years on I`m reading this info about GWNN. Made my day

The name GWNN has always fitted the game as a name. I guess we did`nt know any different, but all the same this is one little story I`ll never forget.

Cheers,

Posted on Jun 14, 2001, 10:23 PM

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Oi!

Ewe blagged that font off me ;-).

\
(:-) - Yak
/

Posted on Jun 15, 2001, 4:53 PM

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Re : Oi!

by Pat

I think that is why Chris wanted to be known as Captain Carnage (he had a C64 freeze-frame thingy). I remember at the time reading something about you commenting on the amount of your fonts that appeared in various (64) games.

Posted on Jun 15, 2001, 7:42 PM

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Re: Re : Oi!

by Chris

Young and vain.

Sorry Jeff.

Posted on Dec 12, 2006, 4:45 PM

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Yeah and I blagged ya coat :-)

by Llando

Shearing day was sweet

Some awesome piccys there!!

Shy looks a real stunner, I lov the expression in the piccy "Hey you lookin at me" BAAH!

cheers,

Posted on Jun 15, 2001, 11:02 PM

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Please tell us more.

by Lando

Hi Patrick, great to here from you

Also the Design & GFX was by Captain Carnage...... Was this you?

I was amazed by the rainbow bars you added to the borders of the game along with the fast smooth scrolling which is almost on par with Sonic on the Megadrive

Wicked!

Was Xcellor8 going to be a Mastertronic release before Gremlin Graphics snapped you up ?

Did you code Daley Thompsons Star Events (There was no authors name in-game) because your Street Olympics was very similar?

Was there any other cool games you may not of added
your name to or helped work with.

Sorry for so many questions.

Power ball was my fav and even today it`s a class game. Man you showed us how 16k of memory was ment to be used. Many thanks for your games.

Posted on Jun 14, 2001, 12:15 PM

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Re : More info..

by Patrick Strassen

>>Also the Design & GFX was by Captain Carnage...... Was this you?

When I was at college I shared a house with a Guy, Chris, who was into Jeff Minter games and had an idea for a game based around his graphics, he wanted to be known by this name (?).

>>I was amazed by the rainbow bars you added to the >>borders of the game along with the fast smooth >>scrolling which is almost on par with Sonic on the >>Megadrive Wicked!

This was the last game that I sold and spent a couple of years trying to improve it (my first version was in Autobahn, for Tynesoft). The rainbow stuff was inspired by Jeff Minter's games.

>> Was Xcellor8 going to be a Mastertronic release
>> before Gremlin Graphics snapped you up ?

At the time I had just finished doing a conversion for Gremlin Graphics (Bounder) through a 3rd party (DPA) and they liked the game (and didn't want me to change any of it).

>> Did you code Daley Thompsons Star Events (There was >> no authors name in-game) because your Street
>> Olympics was very similar?

No, Street Olympics was 'inspired' by DT's Star events. I wasn't/am not good at graphics so I opted for Coronation Street houses.

>> Was there any other cool games you may not of added
>> your name to or helped work with.
In order of writing:

Published
Vox, Autobahn, Pogo Pete, Street Olympics, Powerball, Bounder, Xcellor8, GWNN.

UnPublished/Not completed
Warhawk, Suicide Express, Uridium (very minor), some Galaga shoot-em-up game.

In all the games I have ever written there is always a cheat (the typing of a word) allowing you to get infinite lives, not die or run at maximum speed automatically.

Thanks for taking an interest

Patrick

Posted on Jun 14, 2001, 8:01 PM

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Can we jump back to 1986-ish and have these games released..

by Lando

>UnPublished/Not completed
>Warhawk, Suicide Express, Uridium (very minor), some Galaga shoot-em-up game.

With your already imaginative releases and the awesome conversion of Bounder it almost makes me cry wondering how cool the above title would of been...

Wow even the thought of Uridim on C16 is alarming.

Would you still have any of your works at hand so we could have a look? They would be most intresting to see.

Also the cheat I did`nt find.... I tryed PAT and TTOAW (the typing of a word), well after the GWNN name I had to try. Yep I`m think like that

Do you have any clues or have I already missed it?

cheers,

Posted on Jun 14, 2001, 11:37 PM

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Untitled

by Pat

I am moving house next week so when I'm settled in I'll have a go at trying to read my old floppy disks and i'll send you anything that looks ok (and runs).

Posted on Jun 17, 2001, 7:32 AM

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Good man :-)

by Lando

Well, all the best with the move and hope to hear from you sometime in the future. Dont drop anything will ya!

Looking forward to seeing your work.

kind regards,

Posted on Jun 17, 2001, 4:48 PM

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Web stuff

by Csabo

It's great to hear from you, Patrick. For us C=16 and Plus/4 fanatics it's truly an amazing feeling to get a chance to talk to you, and to find you little secrets like "Game With No Name"

I hope you don't mind that we have a webpage on you:

http://plus4.emucamp.com/info/patrickstrassen.htm

Would you have anything to add? (Maybe country and email address?) Also check out the linked pages for the games (Bounder will be added by tomorrow), I'm sure the info pages on those are incomplete (e.g. year of release, etc). Who would know this stuff better than you?

And I'd like to say thank you for the great games. (Powerball is my fav, too.)

Csabo

Posted on Jun 15, 2001, 12:09 AM

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Some bugs in your games?

Hi Pat,I have found some bugs in your old games. In Autobahn the score table do not work with 32 oder 64 kB memory. There was a graphic error with the characters. But in some other games (not from you, too!).

In Pogo Pete the function for thange the job will not work when everybody start the game with the basic start. But it works fine if you start it from the tedmon.

Greetings,
R�diger

Posted on Aug 8, 2001, 8:31 PM

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Is that true?

by Chris

>run at maximum speed automatically

I seem to remember beating the Street Olympics cheat mode. Or is an old man's memory playing tricks?

Posted on Dec 14, 2006, 12:31 PM

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Re : GWYNN

by Pat

>The copy of GWNN I gave Jeff has a miss printed name
> on the cassette of "GWYNN". Now Patrick (If your
>reading) can you explain this one?

I've never seen a copy with that name on it. MT did 3 or 4 production runs (and the proof copy has the correct name it). Well, I was in Wales at the time. (or it was a strange typo). 8-)

Pat.

Posted on Jun 29, 2001, 12:33 PM

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I should of scanned it :-(

by Lando

I was short on time to get to London. I knew I had a spare copy and when I went to test it to make sure she still loaded I noticed the mis-typed error. I had 10mins to get out of the door and my C16 was hanging on top of my TV by the power lead, was a real mess. I was going to give Jeff a copy of Gwnn just incase he did`nt have one and the name bit was just blind luck. I was ooo-ing and arr-ing whcih one to give away

I also have a copy of Oblido with P.O.D intructions printed on the inside of the cover??? MT must of released a game aday with the amount of machines they covered at the time.

I blame the night shift

Posted on Jun 29, 2001, 10:03 PM

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ML on the Plus 4 or emulator

Hi guys... me again. I'm still feeling pretty new to this Plus 4 stuff, but I'm starting to get a feel for it.

Okay, I've picked up a couple of actual Plus 4 computers, but I still have to get my hands on a disk drive (my 1581 is in storage, so I'll pull that out soon). The emulators are great, though.

I'd REALLY like to get started PROGRAMMING on this thing, though! I picked up a godo book by Jim Butterfield that has memory maps and tips for all the old C= machines, and the resources are pretty good on the web sites, but I was wondering about Assemblers.

Are there any GREAT programming tools out there that I should know about? I know the P/4 has a built-in monitor, but I haven't used it yet. If it's like the other built in software, well...

Any recommendations of assemblers/disassemblers or other resources would be appreciated!

Thanks!
Jay

Posted on Jun 7, 2001, 10:18 PM

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You need to chat with S\_/S of [fire]

by Lando

ftp://c64.rulez.org/pub/plus4/Tools/Assembler/

Here you can find his Mega Assembler v5 4

S\_/S is the author of this software.

Posted on Jun 7, 2001, 10:37 PM

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Thanks for the tip!

I will check it out - thanks for the link, too!

Posted on Jun 8, 2001, 1:23 AM

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If you need any info

or help... I'm here

S\_/S of [FIRE]

Posted on Jun 8, 2001, 7:18 AM

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CrossAssembly

Unless you actually want to program ON a plus/4 (or in BASIC)I would recomend using a PC assembler and an emulator. This has a MUCH faster turnaround. In the old days when developers wrote for Plus/4's and C64's we used crossdevelopment kits. These are PC's hooked into a real machine, we'd assemble on a PC and download to the remote machine. VERY quick, VERY nice. Nowadays, you can assemble on a PC, and run using an EMU.. almost as nice. Minus4dos has "real" source level debugging, and although its a big fiddly, it does allow a good local development environment. Using TASM for the PC you can assemble and run, and trace with ease..

Posted on Jun 9, 2001, 9:11 AM

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Re : old days

by Pat

>> In the old days when developers wrote for Plus/4's and C64's we used crossdevelopment kits.

I think I must be a bit sad because I wrote all my software on the Plus/4 built-in ssembler / disassembler. I tried using a C64 proper assembler but couldn't get on with it.

Posted on Jun 15, 2001, 7:49 PM

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Well....

Well, on the C64 I used cross asseblers - once I started to do it for a living... but when I was on the plus/4 I was still at School.

I did the same as you, Used the built in assembler to do games. Lando has my only full game I did called "Freek Out".. .very sad

Posted on Jun 16, 2001, 11:24 PM

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When I was at school...

by Pat

When I was at school the C16 hadn't been released. However I did manage to write (and publish) games for the TI99 4/a (that was a long time ago). That is where I got most of my ideas for my C16 stuff.

Posted on Jun 17, 2001, 7:21 AM

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