I am trying to get the TS2048 version running on EightyOne. I cannot seem to control the space ship. It fly's to the top of the screen and blows up. Is a joystick required?
The game requires Timex graphics which use a different area of memory for the color attributes. The original ZX Spectrum models do not support that which is why you are only getting a black and white image. You are not seeing the lasers because they are only drawn in the Timex attribute space.
Please see the "To use with an emulator" section above to run the game with a supported model.
Hi! May I ask for a pure ZX-based version? The game should be runable also on the ZX-Uno and eLeMeNt ZX computers with simple HiColor graphics turned on (LD A,2: OUT (255),A) instead of using timex-like method of reading the port 255. 3 bytes could be applied in the 2048/AY code at 56092: 0,0,62, Tested with the eLeMeNt ZX :-)
Thanks for pointing this out. I tested it with ZEsarUX in ZX-Uno mode with new graphics modes enabled and it worked. However on a ZX-Go+ it does not. My other game that uses the Timex mode does work on the ZX-Go+ so I guess there is another problem with it. I was not aware of the eLeMeNt ZX is there an emulator for it?
Hi! The problem is that the port 255 returns various values on ZX machines, e.g. with bit 0 set, leading to non-defined states or simply switching to ZX-like graphics. Setting the mode directly with LD A,2 is safer :-). I do not have the ZX-Go+ but could test with the MB03+ interface which also adds Timex, a graphics part only, to any Speccy model (so the port 255 is ZX on reading and Timex with writing). Both MB and eZX hardware are emulated with the LnxSpectrum: www.ilnx.cz
Unfortunately the LnxSpec emulator does not fully reflect some non-ZXi ports. As written above, on the eLeMeNt hardware the port 255 is ZX-based when read (IN), so there is an extra "shadow" port for Timex, timex 0xFF port is writeable only and readable is at port 0x9FFD.
The current beta should be changed, instead of IN A,(255) use LD BC,0x9FFD and IN A,(C).
Another method, without previous reading IN A,..., is simply to write to the 0xFF port a timex graphics mode, value "2".
And the third solution: the ZXi configuration port will be improved, a setup bit will be added to make the port 255 fully timex readable, but it will take some little time...
Hi Pete, is there any other way to get in contact. I asked Rich (famous beeper artist in the speccy scene)to meet you on FB. But he had no luck. Maybe i can show you the project i am working on and you can decide if it would be fun to join :-) I am doing a TC2048 version of Beethoven's Revenge, using Jonathan's MPAGD. But i need definitely help to create a working version with extra features (AY music etc.) for the TS2068. You are our last hope, Obi Wan ;-)
Sorry, the game requires a joystick. Fuse has an option to set the keyboard up as the joystick. The "TC2048 with AY sound" version is almost exactly the same as the Next version. The only difference is the code that initializes the Timex Hi-color mode and sets the CPU speed.
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Nice!
I am trying to get the TS2048 version running on EightyOne. I cannot seem to control the space ship. It fly's to the top of the screen and blows up. Is a joystick required?
I think that's a problem with the emulator. I tried a few other games in Spectrum 48k mode and the same thing happen.
Thanks for verifying this!
Can you make a ZX Spectrum version?
The game requires Timex Hi-color mode.
This is what I am getting with Spectaculator (Model: ZX Spectrum 128 ). Cannot see lasers nor do they work.
The game requires Timex graphics which use a different area of memory for the color attributes. The original ZX Spectrum models do not support that which is why you are only getting a black and white image. You are not seeing the lasers because they are only drawn in the Timex attribute space.
Please see the "To use with an emulator" section above to run the game with a supported model.
Thanks Pete, I thought it was a ZX Spectrum game. :)
Hi! May I ask for a pure ZX-based version? The game should be runable also on the ZX-Uno and eLeMeNt ZX computers with simple HiColor graphics turned on (LD A,2: OUT (255),A) instead of using timex-like method of reading the port 255. 3 bytes could be applied in the 2048/AY code at 56092: 0,0,62, Tested with the eLeMeNt ZX :-)
Thanks for pointing this out. I tested it with ZEsarUX in ZX-Uno mode with new graphics modes enabled and it worked. However on a ZX-Go+ it does not. My other game that uses the Timex mode does work on the ZX-Go+ so I guess there is another problem with it. I was not aware of the eLeMeNt ZX is there an emulator for it?
BTW my code was already using:
in a, (0xFF)
or a, 2
out (0xFF), a
Changing this to just:
ld a, 2
out (0xFF), a
did not make any difference.
Hi! The problem is that the port 255 returns various values on ZX machines, e.g. with bit 0 set, leading to non-defined states or simply switching to ZX-like graphics. Setting the mode directly with LD A,2 is safer :-). I do not have the ZX-Go+ but could test with the MB03+ interface which also adds Timex, a graphics part only, to any Speccy model (so the port 255 is ZX on reading and Timex with writing). Both MB and eZX hardware are emulated with the LnxSpectrum: www.ilnx.cz
I've added a beta for the eLeMeNt ZX. It works in LnxSpectrum. Can you let me know if it works on real hardware?
Hi, many thanks for the eLeMeNt ZX/MB version!
Unfortunately the LnxSpec emulator does not fully reflect some non-ZXi ports. As written above, on the eLeMeNt hardware the port 255 is ZX-based when read (IN), so there is an extra "shadow" port for Timex, timex 0xFF port is writeable only and readable is at port 0x9FFD.
The current beta should be changed, instead of IN A,(255) use LD BC,0x9FFD and IN A,(C).
Another method, without previous reading IN A,..., is simply to write to the 0xFF port a timex graphics mode, value "2".
Please check the page 19 of the ProgRef manual
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NJB_z3zVorTfmEj2JAS3QtAx_zbpkdCAAptHSnOOzkU/...
And the third solution: the ZXi configuration port will be improved, a setup bit will be added to make the port 255 fully timex readable, but it will take some little time...
I've upload a new beta. It uses e_zxi_010 to enable Timex graphics then uses ports 0x9FFD and 0xFF as you suggested.
Cool game. Thanks a lot! Is there a way to contact you? I have some Timex related questions :-) Cheers, Sebastian
Thanks, you can message me on Facebook. I've added a link to my profile.
Hi Pete, i am not on FB, but i know a guy ;-)
Will be in contact soon :-)
Cheers, Sebastian
Hi Pete, is there any other way to get in contact. I asked Rich (famous beeper artist in the speccy scene)to meet you on FB. But he had no luck. Maybe i can show you the project i am working on and you can decide if it would be fun to join :-) I am doing a TC2048 version of Beethoven's Revenge, using Jonathan's MPAGD. But i need definitely help to create a working version with extra features (AY music etc.) for the TS2068. You are our last hope, Obi Wan ;-)
Great, just typing the mail for you :-)
Nice new game. I also added it to my new "Gameplay of New ZX Spectrum games from June 2024" video.
I'm trying to play this in Cspect, but it's loading the game, then no button will react to 'press fire to play'. What are the keys, please?
Sorry, the game requires a joystick. Fuse has an option to set the keyboard up as the joystick. The "TC2048 with AY sound" version is almost exactly the same as the Next version. The only difference is the code that initializes the Timex Hi-color mode and sets the CPU speed.
Nice game!
Very cool game, thanks for sharing.