SDrive 1564 (Video & Questions)

[VectorGamer]

I got my SDrive the other day and I am really pleased with it. I thought I'd do a video to show this thing off and demonstrate how to use 64Copy to convert T64 to D64 so people could get up and running quickly with this neat device.

 

https://youtu.be/KHa9dBX3vL0

 

Thanks to the member that awared me on GameBase64.com. I downloaded a ton of images over the weekend. I found two that weren't working if someone could confirm and test on their end (the forum registration does not work on GameBase64.com).

 

- Star Trek SOS: I've downloaded and ran 3 different images and I get the same result when using the joystick. Using the joystick the only thing that happens is your ship spins counterclockwise.

 

- Xevious: after pressing the function key to start the game the program freezes up.

 

If anyone has a known working version of these two games I'd like a copy to try out.

[carlsson]

A tip is to test troublesome games in emulation. In this case, it appears that the version of Xevious found on Gamebase64 is PAL only. If you run it in NTSC mode, it freezes after you press F1 like you describe, while it plays fine in PAL.

 

I found another three versions of this game, of which exactly one is NTSC fixed:

ftp://arnold.c64.org/pub/games/x/Xevious.US_Gold.+1-ESI.zip

 

I don't know about the Star Trek game, but there might be a similar issue there.

[motrucker]

I got my SDrive the other day and I am really pleased with it. I thought I'd do a video to show this thing off and demonstrate how to use 64Copy to convert T64 to D64 so people could get up and running quickly with this neat device.

Thanks to the member that awared me on GameBase64.com. I downloaded a ton of images over the weekend. I found two that weren't working if someone could confirm and test on their end (the forum registration does not work on GameBase64.com).

 

- Star Trek SOS: I've downloaded and ran 3 different images and I get the same result when using the joystick. Using the joystick the only thing that happens is your ship spins counterclockwise.

 

- Xevious: after pressing the function key to start the game the program freezes up.

 

If anyone has a known working version of these two games I'd like a copy to try out.

You will run into more problems with this device, because it is not a true 1541 emulator. For that you need a 1541 U2, or TC64. The device you have good, as far as it goes, just learn it's limitations. I use one of Jim Brains "drives":

 

http://store.go4retro.com/uiec-sd/

 

Mounted in the computer, like this:

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/249184-sdrive-1564-video-questions/http://atariage.com/forums/topic/249184-sdrive-1564-video-questions/

[VectorGamer]

I found another three versions of this game, of which exactly one is NTSC fixed:

ftp://arnold.c64.org/pub/games/x/Xevious.US_Gold.+1-ESI.zip

 

I don't know about the Star Trek game, but there might be a similar issue there.

 

OK thanks I will try that version and see what happens

[carlsson]

When it comes to Sega's Star Trek, the clue seems to be that if you press F1 or fire on joystick in port #1, you enable keyboard steering. You need a joystick in port #2 and press its fire button to enable joystick controls.

[VectorGamer]

When it comes to Sega's Star Trek, the clue seems to be that if you press F1 or fire on joystick in port #1, you enable keyboard steering. You need a joystick in port #2 and press its fire button to enable joystick controls.

 

Alright I will give that a go as well. Thanks for checking.

[VectorGamer]

It really is a pain in the butt in that there doesn't seem to be a standard as far as what port the joystick should be plugged in.

 

With Star Trek, I have to have the joystick in port 1 to get past the splash screen with Spock and Kirk and then move it to port 2 to play the game correctly with a joystick.

 

The Xevious that was posted in this thread works.

 

Thanks!

[7800fan]

Many games will only works on port 2 but there were a few games that expects port one used instead. Someone was selling on Lemon64 a switch board that plugs into C64 or 128's ports and with a press of a button, the joystick switches port without unplugging and re-plugging. Safer on CIA since you risk frying it when you plug and unplug from controller port while the system's on.

[motrucker]

Many games will only works on port 2 but there were a few games that expects port one used instead. Someone was selling on Lemon64 a switch board that plugs into C64 or 128's ports and with a press of a button, the joystick switches port without unplugging and re-plugging. Safer on CIA since you risk frying it when you plug and unplug from controller port while the system's on.

That would be SkydivinGirl who is also on amibay. She helps C-64 users a lot, & is great to work with.

[carlsson]

The intro screens you often can bypass with the space bar, no need for fire button for that. The reason why many games prefer the rear joystick port, oddly named #2 although it is #1 in the memory map, is because this port doesn't interfer with keyboard scanning and it makes it easier to read it with no false positives. I think those who defaulted to port #1 didn't realize or care about any conflicts with the keyboard, or rather went along with what was printed on the case so #1 for first player.

 

In the 1980's, I kept a register with every game, which publisher, on which tape or disk I could find it and which joystick port to use so I could look up games, see where I'd find it and adjust joystick ports before loading. Or choose a game with the same joystick port that I currently had my joystick plugged into. Of course you could have one joystick in each port too.