Jump to content
IGNORED

130XE's extra memory


Recommended Posts

What games and programs use all that extra memory in the 130XE?

 

And does it speed things up on older programs to have so much memory for an 8-bit?

 

Thanks for any replies!

 

 

Very few, if I recall. Back in the day, Atariwriter Plus used it for extra storage space, but I can't remember too many others that did. I think most 8-bit programs were built for 48K or 64K systems ... trying to spread across the broadest lineup.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Atari 8-bit FAQ has a section for this. IIRC only one or two commerical games used it and a few homebrews. Bop n Wrestle is one for sure.

 

Tempest

 

Dark Chambers was another game that used the extra memory, might have even been required IIRC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well,

there exists a quite long list in the A8FAQ maintained by Michael Current. These lists have been written (collected) by me, but I must tell you that I have not updated them for a long long time - the last update is from 2005. Please note that these lists (especially the games !) mentions only programs that support or require a RD right from the start (when the programs were published), they do not mention the many hacked / cracked / pirated versions out there, although some of these pirate versions may support a RD. One short example: Dark Chambers the original cart by Atari requires only 64k RAM, the file version by Fandal however requires 128k or 192k RAM...

 

I thought it would be quite uncool to list all the pirate versions, especially since some programs exist in various pirated forms, like boot tape, file created from boot tape, boot disk, file created from bootdisk, packed file version packed with xyz packer program, pseudo-bootdisk (Autorun.SYS file version on DOS 2.x disk or Sparta DOS disk, etc.), file version on a certain (non-DOS compatible) menu like Howfen, Ian K, Rob C., Multiboot, etc., single-file-version by Homesoft, etc. etc. etc. So as always, these lists are incomplete (and also out-of-date)... But here you go:

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Subject: 8.11) What programs support more than 64K RAM?

 

This section by Andreas Koch.

 

(This is version 3.5 from January 2005 by A.M.)

Alternate Reality: The City added 2005.08.01

 

The following Atari 8Bit programs support more than 64k RAM, but still

work alright (with multiple loads / disk-swaps) on standard 64k machines:

 

a) "TOOLS" that support more than 64k RAM:

 

A-Base (???, 64k Ramdisk, block E),

Alphasys-Sample Software (Mirage/ANG, 64k XRAM, block E),

A-Text (???, 64k Ramdisk, block E),

Atari Writer 80 (Atari, 64k Ramdisk, block E),

Atari Writer Plus (Atari, 64k Ramdisk, block E),

Basic XE (OSS/ICD/FTE, 64k XRAM, block E),

Bewe-DOS 1.x (Bewesoft, up to 1024k RD, all banks),

Bibo-DOS 5.x (Compy-Shop, up to 256k RD, E/AE/26AE/8ACE),

Bibo-DOS 6.x (Compy-Shop, up to 256k RD, E/AE/26AE/8ACE),

Datei 4.x (N. Schlia, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/26AE),

Desktop Atari (HBSF, 64k Ramdisk, block E),

Diskworker (Petsoft, 64k Ramdisk, block E),

Diskcommunicator 3.x (Robert "Bob" Puff, if there is more than 64k

RAM, answer the startup question with "Y" to use it as XRAM or with "N"

to use it as Ramdisk; up to 256k XRAM: E/AE/ACE/8ACE; RD = DOS depend.),

DOS 2.5 (Atari, original driver = 64k RD, block E; other

drivers: up to 2x 128k Ramdisks, E/AE/8ACE),

DOS II+D Version 6.x (S. D., up to 2x 128k RDs, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),

DOS XE 1.x (Atari, 64k Ramdisk, block E),

Extended Atari Basic (???, 64k XRAM, block E),

Extended Turbo Basic (???, 64k XRAM, block E),

Fampy 2.3 (Wolfgang Freitag, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),

Fampy 6.1 (Wolfgang Freitag, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),

Howfen DOS 3.x (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),

Howfen DOS 4.x (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),

Howfen Tape to Disk (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),

Inertia 2.x (MadTeam, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/8ACE),

Midi Mate II (Hybrid Arts, 64k XRAM, block E),

Midi Pattern Editor (Raster, 64k XRAM, block E),

Midi Player (I. Kuczek, 64k XRAM, block E),

Midi Recorder (I. Kuczek, 64k XRAM, block E),

Midi Sequencer (M. Sygit, 64k XRAM, block E),

MSC-IDE-Software (M. Belitz + S. Birrmanns, 64k XRAM, block E),

My-DOS 3.x (Wordmark, up to ???k Ramdisk),

My-DOS 4.x (Wordmark, up to 1024k Ramdisk, all banks),

Paperclip II (Batteries Included, 64k XRAM, block E),

Super DOS 2.x (P. Nichols, up to 2x 128k RDs, E/AE/ACE/8ACE),

Super DOS 5.x (P. Nichols, up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),

The [sparta DOS] Browser (Tom Hunt, up to 1024k Ramdisk, RD-driver dep.),

The Sound Utility (Tom Hunt, up to 1024k XRAM?, bug-free only under

Sparta/Bewe-DOS, one can choose between 64k/128k/256k/576k/1088k RAM, alas

all setups with more than 64k RAM produced some strange sound noises on

my 576k XL when playing waves or samples...),

Theta Music Composer 2.x (Jaskier, 64k XRAM, block E),

Turbo DOS 1.x (Reitershan, up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),

Turbo-DOS 2.x (Reitershan, up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),

Top-DOS 1.x (R.K. Bennett, 64k Ramdisk, block E),

Top DOS Plus (R.K. Bennett, up to ???k Ramdisk),

Top DOS Prof. (R.K. Bennett, up to ???k Ramdisk),

Typesetter (XLent, 64k XRAM, block E),

X-DOS 2.x (S. D., up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),

X-RAM 0.21 (Satantronic, tests up to 4 MB!, all banks!)

and most Text-Editors (e.g. Speedscript, Antic Writer, T-Edit, Page 6

Writer, Compy-Shop Editor,

Textpro, etc.) as long as they are running under a DOS 2.x (meaning a DOS 2

derivative) or Sparta / Bewe DOS and the appropriate Ramdisk driver...;

 

b) "Games" that support more than 64k RAM:

 

Adalmar (Falk Buettner, 64k Ramdisk, block E),

Alternate Reality: The City (well, I doubt this ! it supports 48k and 64k RAM,

but not 128k RAM afaik...A. Koch)

Alternate Reality: The Dungeon (Philipp Price, 64k XRAM, block E),

Bop N'Wrestle (Mindscape, 64k XRAM, block E),

The Brundles (KE-Soft, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/26AE),

Human Torch & the Thing (Questprobe, 64k XRAM, block E),

Megablast 1 (Thorsten Karwoth, 64k XRAM, block E),

Mental Age (???, 64k XRAM, block E),

[The Amazing] Spiderman (Questprobe, 64k XRAM, block E);

 

c) "Demos" that support more than 64k RAM:

 

ABBUC Magazine Intro 52 (Heaven, 64k XRAM, block E),

ABBUC Magazine Intro 55 (Heaven, 64k XRAM, block E),

Anime 4ever (Sente Software Group, 256k XRAM, 8ACE),

Grafik + Sound Demo (Peter Sabath, 64k XRAM, block E),

I. K. Plus Demo (???, 64k XRAM, block E),

Sweet Fantasy (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),

The Top 3 Demo (WFMH, "Veronika Part", 64k XRAM, block E);

 

 

Thanks and credits for this subject go to: Bernhard Pahl, Russ Gilbert,

Ron Hamilton and Mathy van Nisselroy for sharing some information with me.

- Andreas Koch

 

------------------------------

 

Subject: 8.12) What programs require more than 64K RAM?

 

This section by Andreas Koch.

 

(This is version 3.5 from January 2005 by A.M.)

 

The following Atari 8Bit programs require more than 64k RAM, and thus

do not work at all (or not alright/bug-free) on standard 64k machines:

 

a) "Tools" that require more than 64k RAM:

 

128k Memory Testers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),

130XE Bank/Mem.-Testers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),

130XE Sectorcopiers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),

130XE Utilities (HAPS PD 0031, 64k XRAM, block E),

192k Memory Testers (some PD programs, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),

256k Memory Testers (Newell, ICD, etc., 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),

320k Mem. Testers 8ACE (Atari Mag., TOMS, etc., 256k XRAM, blocks 8ACE),

320k Mem. Testers 26AE (Compy-Shop, etc., 256k XRAM, blocks 26AE),

576k Memory Testers (Peterson, TOMS, etc., 512k XRAM, blocks 8ACE),

1088k Memory Testers (Newell, TOMS, etc., 1MB XRAM, blocks 02468ACE),

4160k Memory Tester (Newell, 4MB XRAM, blocks 0123456789ABCDEF),

APC Archiver 1.x (LBS/APC, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),

APC Packer 1.x (LBS/APC, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),

A. W. P. Super Menu (Ken Siders, min. 64k XRAM, block E),

A. W. P. XE Super Menu (Ken Siders, min. 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),

Audio/Studio Master (Mirage/ANG, 256k XRAM, 26AE only?),

Boot Majster (Electron, 64k XRAM, block E),

Boss X [Vers. 10.x] (M. Sobe, with any DOS min. 64k Ramdisk, block E;

with MyDOS 4.x it supports up to 1MB RD, subdirs and up to 16MB HD part.),

Boss XE [Vers. 8.x] (M. Sobe, with any DOS min. 64k Ramdisk, block E;

with Turbo-DOS or MyDOS 4.5x it supports bigger Ramdisks, but no subdirs!),

CAD XE (HAPS PD 0350, 64k XRAM, block E),

Diskettenverwaltung XE (ABBUC PD 86, 64k XRAM, block E),

Draw XE (ABBUC PD 387, 64k XRAM, block E),

Dream Vision (ABBUC PD 480, 192k XRAM, blocks ACE?),

Fraktale & Colorprint (P. Woetzel, 64k XRAM, block E),

Grafik Zeilen Editor (HAPS PD 0296, 64k XRAM, block E),

Hires Dump (ABBUC PD 113, 64k XRAM, block E),

Inertia 3.x (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to

256k XRAM, AE/ACE/26AE/8ACE with almost any DOS),

Inertia 4.x (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to

1024k XRAM - all possible bank combinations!),

Macro Assembler XE (T. Karwoth, 64k XRAM, block E),

Macro Assembler XE+ (T. Karwoth, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up

to 1024k XRAM - all possible bank combinations!),

Masher XE (???, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to

256k XRAM: AE/ACE/8ACE),

Menu 130 (Les Howarth, 64k XRAM, block E),

Midi Mate III (Hybrid Arts, 64k XRAM, block E),

Monitors, Debuggers, ... (HAPS PD 0109, 64k XRAM, block E),

Multi DOS 130 (Kuchera/Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),

Multi DOS 320 (Kuchera/Excellent, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),

Multi Tasking OS (???, min. 64k XRAM, block E),

MTOS 256 (Tom Hunt, 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),

MTOS XE (Tom Hunt, 64k XRAM, block E),

Neo-Tracker 1.x (Epi, min. 64k XRAM, block E; under MyDOS 4.5x

or Sparta DOS X cart. it supports up to 1MB XRAM, all bank combinations!)

Newspaper Editor (HAPS PD 0294, 64k XRAM, block E),

Protracker 1.5 (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to

256k XRAM: AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),

Rechnen fuer Kinder (ABBUC PD 85, 64k XRAM, block E),

Rund um die Ramdisk (ABBUC PD 383, HAPS PD 1084, contains info texts

and pgms. for upgrading the 800 or XL/XE and testing its XRAM up to 1 MB;

the docs use english language and provide detailed information for Axlon

compatible 800 XRAM and Newell/Buchholz/Peterson compatible XL/XE XRAM),

Sample Art XE (Mozart/WSL, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up

to 1024k XRAM, all bank combinations, alas the program is faulty/buggy!),

Shrink XE (P. Fitzsimmons, 64k XRAM, block E),

Snapshot (???, 64k XRAM, block E),

Tape Ramdisk Drivers (Pokey, SAG, etc., 64k XRAM, block E),

Text 130 (B. Russmann, 64k XRAM, block E),

Textpro "+" [e.g. 4.54+] (Ronnie Riche, 64k XRAM, block E),

Textpro 5.x (Ronnie Riche, 64k XRAM, block E),

The Code Cruncher 2.x (Soused Teat, min. 64k XRAM, block E),

The Code Cruncher 3.x (Soused Teat, min. 64k XRAM, block E),

The Cruncher 5.x (MSL/Magnus, min. 64k XRAM, block E),

The Small Printery (W. Lojek, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up

to 1024k XRAM, all bank combinations!),

The [sparta DOS] Wedge (Ed Bachmann, 64k XRAM, block E, sep. Antic!),

The Works (Tom Hunt, min. 64k XRAM, block E),

Wuerttemberger Disk (ABBUC PD 361, HAPS PD 1050, 64k XRAM, block E;

mainly/only because side 2 contains the XE version of Gizmo's castle),

XL-2 (J.K. Picken, min. 64k XRAM, block E; under MyDOS

or Sparta DOS it supports up to 1024k XRAM !),

Zeitungsredakteur (ABBUC PD 121, 64k XRAM, block E);

 

b) "Games" that require more than 64k RAM:

 

Castle of Blackthorne (T. Graef, 64k RD, block E),

Cavepack XE (XE-version by K. Ezcan, 64k RD, block E),

Computer Baseball (D. Blackwell, 64k XRAM, block E),

Crownland (???, 64k XRAM, block E),

Der Neffe (XE-version by ???, 64k XRAM, block E),

Gizmo's Castle (XE-version by M. Kugler, 64k XRAM, block E),

Kaiser II (128k version by C. S., 64k XRAM, block E),

Kaiser II (320k version by C. S., 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),

Minesweeper 1-4 (4 versions by J.R. Chicko, 64k XRAM, block E),

Mister X (S. Soelbrandt, 64k RD, block E),

Oelbaron (XE-version by ???, 64k RD, block E),

Space Harrier (C. Hutt, 64k XRAM, block E),

Strategy Baseball (HAPS PD 0302, 64k XRAM, block E),

Yie Ar Kung Fu (???, 256k XRAM, blocks ???; please visit Fandal`s

and Homesoft`s pages for the latest versions...)

Zargon XE (ABBUC PD 611, HAPS PD 0485, 64k XRAM, block E),

 

-Please note, that hackers, crackers and pirates also made file versions

of (most of) the XE / XEGS 64k and 128k carts available. Due to cart.

bankswitching, a 64k XL/XE was enough for these super-carts; not so with

the file versions, they do (mostly) require more than 64k memory...

 

-Next, there are also "un-official" (pirated, hacked, cracked, patched)

cart. versions of former disk-based games, that require XRAM, which they

originally did not (example: Conan, the multi-stage disk-version by

Datasoft requires 64k RAM, whereas the single-stage version of the

Sunmark multicart. req. 128k RAM)...

 

c) "Demos" that require more than 64k RAM:

 

130XE Artshow (HAPS PD 0013, 64k XRAM, block E),

130XE Autoshow (HAPS PD 0637, ABBUC PD 191, 64k XRAM, block E),

130XE Demo (S.A.G., 64k XRAM, block E),

130XE Impossible Demo (R. Haegemann, 64k XRAM, block E),

3D Scroll (Jaskier/TQA, 64k XRAM, block E),

American Natives (Fox-1, 192k RD, Ramdisk = DOS dependant),

Amiga Boink XE (B. Armour, 64k XRAM, block E),

Animkom. meet B. V. (Animkomials + B.V., 64k XRAM, block E),

(The) Asskicker (Shadows, 64k XRAM, block E; hold Select!),

Back to Life 2 (Jaskier/TQA, 256k XRAM, auto-setup!),

Base 33 (AIDS, 256k XRAM, hold SHIFT for setup!),

Bill Pie Demo (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up

to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE with more frames),

BMW Animation (Mirko Sobe, 64k XRAM, block E),

Brull (Pin/Trs, 1MB XRAM for a sample demo),

CES XE Demo (full 580 sectors version by XANTH, 64k XRAM,

block E; includes the Swan-, Fuji-Boink- and Robot-Demo all in one file!),

Cogito Demo (AIDS, uses blocks 8C, thus 8ACE only!),

Critical Sounddemo (Innovative, 64k XRAM, block E),

Danielle (Gr.9) Ani (B. Kendrick, 64k XRAM, block E),

DoXEpin (AIDS, 64k XRAM, block E),

Edelweiss Demo (A.R.+C.S.S.+S.V.L., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),

Ergo Bibamus (Quasimodos, 64k XRAM, block E),

Extract Slideshow (Replay/Bit Busters, 64k XRAM, block E),

Fat Bottomed Girls (???, 64k XRAM block E for a Queen sample),

Forever 1ktro (New Generation, 64k XRAM block E for a 1k demo),

Forsaken Love (New Generation, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE; simply

delete "BANKS.DAT", reboot and create a new one for your kind of XRAM!),

Glasshead Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),

Halle 1994: The Wormhole (Magic Arts, 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),

Hardware Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),

Igor Demo (Side A) (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E - use 128k.BAT),

Igor Demo (Side B) (MadTeam, 128k XRAM, blocks AE - use 192k.BAT),

Igor Demo (Side A+B) (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only - use 320k.BAT),

Imperial Sounddemo (Innovative, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),

Impossible but Real (MacGyver, 192k XRAM, auto-setup!),

Incredible (Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),

Inside Out (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E),

Isolation Demo (M.E.C., 64k XRAM, block E),

Journey Demo (Boot version by Polynomials, min. 64k XRAM,

block E; supports up to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE),

Journey Demo (File version by MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block

E; supports up to 192k XRAM: AE/ACE),

Journey into Sound (DGS / D. Garaghty, 64k XRAM, block E),

Khai Et (AIDS, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, SHIFT for Setup!),

Killer Whales Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E, supports up

to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE with more frames!),

Landscape-XE Demo (Karl Pelzer, 64k XRAM, block E),

Manga Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E),

Megablast Sounddemo (DGS / D. Garaghty, 64k XRAM, block E),

MTV's Danielle = Danielle (Gr.9) Ani,

Nascar Ani (M. Sobe, 64k XRAM, block E),

Nonjm Demo (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),

Numen Demo (Taquart, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup!),

Ogluszacz Sounddemo (AIDS, 64k XRAM, block E),

Owca Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),

Owca 2 Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),

Pacem in Terris (Quasimodos, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup),

Parrot XMAS Demo (A. Ramos, 64k XRAM, block E),

Pedrokko Sounddemos (a collection of 10 disks / 20 sides by Pedrokko,

the player program assumes a 64k RD, block E),

Raving Vierpz (Pentagram, 64k XRAM, block E),

Raytracing Ani/128k (K. Pelzer, 64k XRAM, block E),

Raytracing 320k (Elsni / S. Elsner, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),

Raytracing 1088k (Solocoder of A.C.E., 1024k XRAM, works only on

K.P. 1MB Megaram III, 8 bootdisks, loading time approx. 17 minutes !!),

Reditus Demo (Zelax, 192k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup),

Render Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E),

Revenge of Hacker (Rasero Team, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),

Running Cow ASCII Ani (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E),

Sheol Demo (Bit Busters, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),

Shiny Bubbles (XE version by B. Paul, 64k XRAM, block E),

Stash 98 Demo (Rasero Team, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE via a buggy

setup: 1) for 8ACE XRAM press A in the 1st or 2nd menu, 2) for 26AE press

B in the 1st menu and C in the 2nd menu; don't use the CS auto-setup!),

Starwars Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),

The Wormhole (Magic Arts, 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),

Timekeep(er) (New Generation, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only! wait!),

Tit Demo (Mad Team, 192k XRAM, auto-setup!),

Too Hard 2 Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),

Too Hard 3 Demo (Animkomials, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),

Too Hard 4 Demo (Animkomials, 256k XRAM, auto-setup!),

Total Dazed (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),

Trabant Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),

Trip 6 (Shadows, 64k XRAM, block E),

Turtles Demo (Ultra Software, 64k XRAM, block E),

Ultra Demo (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E),

Ultra 2 Preview (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E, unfinished!),

Vengeance (Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),

Vent XE (Exc.+Pentagram, 64k XRAM, block E),

WAF-Demo (W.A.F., diskside B = 64k XRAM, block E),

Worms Demo (Datri, 256k XRAM, 8ACE otherwise buggy!),

X-Demo (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 26AE),

X-Files Ani (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E),

X-Files 2 (TV-Ani) (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),

Xyberscape XE (XE version by Bill Le Masurier, 64k XRAM, E),

Zero Demo (New Generation, 64k XRAM, block E);

 

 

Thanks and credits for this subject go to Russ Gilbert, Bernhard Pahl,

Ron Hamilton, Mathy van Nisselroy and Stephan Pollok for sharing their

information with me. Any corrections and/or updates are welcome...

-Andreas Koch

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Hmm, someone added A.R. The City to section 8.11, programs that support a RD, but I had both the american version by Datasoft and the cheap european version by US Gold and none of these *original versions* of The City did support more than 64k RAM (so this might be a hint for a pirated version ?). Maybe one day I find the time & motivation (!) to update these two lists, but I don`t think this will happen very soon (today I have only added Crownland to the list)... -Andreas Koch.

Edited by CharlieChaplin
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Atari 8-bit FAQ has a section for this. IIRC only one or two commerical games used it and a few homebrews. Bop n Wrestle is one for sure.

 

Tempest

 

Dark Chambers was another game that used the extra memory, might have even been required IIRC.

 

Nope !!

the original cart. by Atari requires only 64k RAM. However, a pirated (patched) file version of the cart requires more RAM... Question: How do you get a 128k game into a 64k computer without packing ?!? Answer: Use (cart.) bankswitching !!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also "Problem Jasia" and his English version "Johny's Trouble" supports extra memory.

 

And, regarding "Too Hard 2" & "Raving Vieprz". They should work on plain 64k machine. So the authors of the above list should recheck this fact.

 

What else... "T-34 The Battle" will not work without ext. 64k of RAM.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well,

there exists a quite long list in the A8FAQ maintained by Michael Current. These lists have been written (collected) by me, but I must tell you that I have not updated them for a long long time - the last update is from 2005... (big snip!)

 

Wow! A much bigger list than I ever imagined, and a very useful list. Thanks!

 

-Larry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots more than I expected too, though it looks like a number of those weren't really from the commercial life of the 130XE.

 

Out of curiosity, what's so special about Bop N' Wrestle that uses the extra memory? Haven't played it but the screen shots I've seen didn't seem like much that was special.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lots more than I expected too, though it looks like a number of those weren't really from the commercial life of the 130XE.

 

Out of curiosity, what's so special about Bop N' Wrestle that uses the extra memory? Haven't played it but the screen shots I've seen didn't seem like much that was special.

 

It's not. It runs on 64K, but when it does it constantly accesses the disk drive. I think the extra 64K was used as a buffer for data or something along those lines. The game looks like something that you could have easily run on a 48K machine though. It's pretty bad...

 

Tempest

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think Bop N Wrestle may have been missing some background music on 64k machines too, if memory serves. It's missing playability on all machines, however. I remember thinking it looked cool years ago, and the digitized speech (when it counts) was somewhat impressive. More of a demo than a game.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also "Problem Jasia" and his English version "Johny's Trouble" supports extra memory.

 

And, regarding "Too Hard 2" & "Raving Vieprz". They should work on plain 64k machine. So the authors of the above list should recheck this fact.

 

What else... "T-34 The Battle" will not work without ext. 64k of RAM.

 

 

Well,

as I have stated above, I only collected these infos - I did not test *all* the mentioned programs !! So, whenever some Atarians told me, that program abc requires xyz kybtes XRAM, I believed them. Furthermore, I nowadays have two Atari 800XL`s each with 512k XRAM and they are only downgradable via a switch to 256k XRAM. I do not have the switches anymore to test 64k RAM, 128k RAM, 192k RAM or 256k RAM, which means I can only test 320k RAM and 576k RAM now (in the meanwhile I removed all other switches, since I almost never used them)... maybe I will change this switch to work in such a way, that the Atari has a) 576k RAM (64k base RAM + 512k XRAM) or b) only 64k RAM (only base RAM, no XRAM), to see if a program works on a plain 64k machine, but personally I don`t need this option...

 

But hey, thats the problem of all my XRAM lists in the A8FAQ (section 8.10, 8.11 and 8.12), I only collected the information presented there. So there might be a lot of errors or inaccurate entries in these lists - but it is the job of all Atarians to update & correct them (the A8FAQ just like Wikipedia is written and updated from the readers / users themselves, if no-one writes something for the A8FAQ, no further update will appear)... And for all those, that want to distribute something for the A8FAQ (only ASCII text please !) here is the URL: ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/faqs/atari-8-bit/faq

Michael Current will be very happy to hear from you... :) greetings, Andreas Koch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...