+therealbountybob Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 In the HSC we're playing Creative Sparks' Desmond's Dungeon ... the game gets to level 11 and is missing a ladder (see this post) making it impossible to complete. Anyone know if this is a kill level due to lack of RAM etc or a bug? Either way perhaps someone could fix it and at least make it loop around perhaps if there are no more levels coded ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pengwin Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 I'll be lucky if I get to level 6! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted February 29, 2012 Author Share Posted February 29, 2012 I'll be lucky if I get to level 6! But you'll be good at Pengo or Winter Wally (shudder) though I thought you'd be ok with the darkness... guess it's difficult for you to pick up the gold and then there's the ladders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Jefferson Posted February 29, 2012 Share Posted February 29, 2012 You can just change the characters on the screen to add a ladder... just tried it in level 1 and it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted March 1, 2012 Author Share Posted March 1, 2012 You can just change the characters on the screen to add a ladder... just tried it in level 1 and it works. Please can you share how to do this? Looks like it's bottom left of level 11 (see screenshots on HSC link above) but here's what's strange I then started up on level 11 from the menu and the level was possible. I wonder if there is a random screen design element at play? Perhaps someone could make the starting level selectable from the off (rather than being the highest you have reached) - that way we could try out the higher levels? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted March 8, 2012 Author Share Posted March 8, 2012 BUMP! can anyone help with this? Or point me in the right direction to make the edits? Some more info looks like the Alternative s/w re-release had starting level selectable up to level 8 details here: http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/194641-hsc9-round-3-desmonds-dungeon/page__view__findpost__p__2479208 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 The game plays just fine from the original tape. Using save states, I got to level 14. Also, all releases are 100% the same (Creative Sparks, Sparklers, Alternative Software). I believe there's also a Dutch version by Aackosoft but it probably isn't any different. -- Atari Frog http://www.atarimania.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+rdemming Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 I believe there's also a Dutch version by Aackosoft but it probably isn't any different. Attached the Aackosoft tape release (which AtariMania should already have ). I don't have the tape versions of the other releases (AtariMania only has a .xex file), but this version uses 256 byte tape blocks instead of the standard 128 byte tape blocks. Strangely the AtariMania .xex is 19 KB while the game itself only needs 16KB. The .cas file is only 11KB including loading screen. So the .xex version has about 8KB of redundant data. I don't know which version you are using for the HSC, but maybe this .xex has introduced the bug. Robert Desmond\'s Dungeon (AackoSoft - Creative Sparks - Thorn EMI).zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+rdemming Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 (edited) I just saw that the Alternative Software version was posted in the other thread. It is at least different from the Aackosoft release in that the Aacksoft version has a loading screen and uses 256 byte blocks while the Alternative Software version is a normal boot tape without loading screen. I didn't compare the loaded data yet. Robert Edit: In both the Aackosoft and Alternative version, you can initially select the starting level from 1 to 8 while the .xex version does not initially allow to change the starting level with the select key. Edited March 8, 2012 by rdemming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 I presume Shawn was talking about editing the map in memory as I see no way adjust anything nor a screen maker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted March 8, 2012 Author Share Posted March 8, 2012 Great response to the bump guys Perhaps someone can create an xex/atr of those .cas versions? I remember the problem from an original tape years ago but thought it was a higher level (perhaps 13?) atarionline.pl have a release(?) by English Software Co v4.xex which also allows start level 1-8. I'll check this out tonight. Would still like the info on editing the levels and if somone could adjust the v4 above to allow start on any level (or 1-20) that would be much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Thanks Robert, I'll check out the Aackosoft image when I get home! I'll verify what's up with our version on the site as well and probably replace it, unless it's some kind of preliminary release (?). -- Atari Frog http://www.atarimania.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+rdemming Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Perhaps someone can create an xex/atr of those .cas versions? Not an .xex but I've created a "Multi Boot" disk out of the AackoSoft tape version of Desmond's Dungeon. But the loading screen was removed. The disk also contains the Aackosoft tape versions of "Tank Commander" and "Submarine Commander" and the Aackosoft tape release of Hijack. I will post the .cas files of those in later messages. Robert Games08.atr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+rdemming Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 Thanks Robert, I'll check out the Aackosoft image when I get home! You're welcome. Attached the Aackosoft tape version of Tank Commander for you to check out. I wasted many hours on this game :-) Tank Commander (Creative Sparks - Thorn EMI - Aackosoft Release).zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+rdemming Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 And Tank Commander... Submarine Commander (Creative Sparks - Thorn EMI - Aackosoft Release).zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+rdemming Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 And Hijack is also missing at AtariMania... Hijack! (English Software - Aackosoft Release).zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+therealbountybob Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 OK looks like the (v4) XEX or Desmond's Dungeone from atarionline.pl is good (well level 11 completes) not played much further yet. Not sure if gameplay is the same. I have extended the HSC round for a couple extra days so we'll see how far people can get! Details here. Interestingly text shows "English Software" and not "English Software Company" ? (still would like to know how to edit the levels (when someone has time) You're welcome. Attached the Aackosoft tape version of Tank Commander for you to check out. I wasted many hours on this game :-) Me too! Tank commander is a really good game (it's an arcade game folks not a war/strategy game!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 Many thanks to Robert for the additional material and kudos to people who have dumped their tapes! Had never seen this edition of Desmond's Dungeon by English Software! I believe it's a leaked version. Chances are the author submitted the program and English Software either had no interest or didn't offer as much money as Thorn EMI! -- Atari Frog http://www.atarimania.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.atarimania.com Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 That unidentified version which won't let you choose your starting level is pretty odd. Wondering whether it's an early run or another leaked edition... Well, I was completely wrong about there only being one version... Would anybody be able to dump both the Creative Sparks and Sparklers cassettes so we could have some sort of "final comparison chart"? Does anyone have the English Software file unpacked? Thanks, Atari Frog http://www.atarimania.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Jefferson Posted March 10, 2012 Share Posted March 10, 2012 (still would like to know how to edit the levels (when someone has time) I just used Atari800Win+, used DLIST to find the where the screen was in memory, did some trial and error adding character codes based on what I saw there. It appears that the levels are compressed or encoded somehow though, so I wasn't able to modify the original level (not easily in the time I took to look at it.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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