JSW Central - a website dedicated to Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy games for the ZX Spectrum

[DouglasReynholm]

Just had a quick look great stuff, and looking forward to more screen dumps in the JSW section.. but Manic Scribbler just looks insane - is it really playable to completion?!

Yes, you can watch the RZX walkthrough on RZX Archive. Recording it was a real struggle and a very time-consuming, but also very gratifying experience...

I thought Dark Souls was hard..

[jetsetdanny]

Excellent!

It seems most of your game pages have links to Spectrum Computing. The few pages that don't, they have links to Martijn's WoS, that shares the same ID anyway.

Would it be easy for you to send me a list of all your game page links with the corresponding ID (in WoS/SC/ZXDB) for each one? It can be a text file, spreadsheet, or whatever you like. I would like to import this list into ZXDB, so sites like Spectrum Computing can provide links to your site.

JSW Central has just been updated. On all of the individual pages of games and game variants there are now links to their pages on Spectrum Computing - if pertinent (not all games have their pages here yet).

As a next step, I will prepare the list you've mentioned, Einar, of all game page links with the corresponding ID SC/ZXDB for each one. However, I want to do more than that. I will prepare and send you all the files which are not hosted here but could or perhaps should be, and various other comments and suggestions where appropriate (e.g. about games which are missing from here, or about cases where there is an RZX recording of a game on the RZX Archive but no link to it on the game's page on Spectrum Computing, etc.).

It will take me a little while to do it, and due to some extreme work-related real life distractions I don't think I'll be able to start this work in earnest until about a month from now. So the ETA will probably be around the end of July, or even later. I'll do my best not to take too long, but I also want to do a thorough job of it.

One question, please: on Spectrum Computing in case of some games there are game files to download (that's the case of Jet Set Willy II, for example), and in case of other games there are no game downloads (e.g. that's what happens to the original Jet Set Willy - just ads, cassette inlays, maps and instructons can be downloaded, but no game files). Is this some kind of glitch or rather a problem related to intellectual property protection, explicit permits to host these files here - or lack thereof, etc.?

Should it be the latter, it would seem strange to me that "JSW II" can be download and "JSW" cannot, since both games were originally released by Software Projects. I understand, however, that there may be things about their copyright history I just don't know...

[jetsetdanny]

Let me just add that the details of the latest JSW Central update are available here.

[PeterJ]

JSW Central has just been updated. On all of the individual pages of games and game variants there are now links to their pages on Spectrum Computing - if pertinent (not all games have their pages here yet).


One question, please: on Spectrum Computing in case of some games there are game files to download (that's the case of Jet Set Willy II, for example), and in case of other games there are no game downloads (e.g. that's what happens to the original Jet Set Willy - just ads, cassette inlays, maps and instructons can be downloaded, but no game files). Is this some kind of glitch or rather a problem related to intellectual property protection, explicit permits to host these files here - or lack thereof, etc.?

Should it be the latter, it would seem strange to me that "JSW II" can be download and "JSW" cannot, since both games were originally released by Software Projects. I understand, however, that there may be things about their copyright history I just don't know...

Hi. We were asked to remove some titles by Elite Systems.

[spider]

Hi. We were asked to remove some titles by Elite Systems.

[Bizzley]

Let me just add that the details of the latest JSW Central update are available here.

Since many of the games you list were created by both commercial and non-commercial MM/JSW editor programs have you thought about adding info and links to these editors as well? Perhaps even a basic How-To guide so that anyone who feels they have it in them can at least make a start on designing their own levels? You might even end up with more submissions to your website

[spider]

Let me just add that the details of the latest JSW Central update are available here.

Since many of the games you list were created by both commercial and non-commercial MM/JSW editor programs have you thought about adding info and links to these editors as well? Perhaps even a basic How-To guide so that anyone who feels they have it in them can at least make a start on designing their own levels? You might even end up with more submissions to your website

That is a good idea and (myself at least, Danny will no doubt have his own thoughts on this for his site) I did plan on eventually writing a few guides or suchlike but general 'how to' topics are welcome wherever I see them, be it here/mine/wos etc , if I can answer and help I will.

[jetsetdanny]

Yes, I have thought about adding info about editors as well. I think it's a very good idea.

At some point I will create a separate list of editors, perhaps with individual sub-pages (or perhaps not) and links to their download pages, so that everyone interested can try them. No ETA for this at the moment; I'll just do it in the future when time permits.

Having said that, I think there is only one editor which is the obvious choice if anyone wants to do any MM or JSW editing, and it is John Elliott's JSWED. So easy to use, so versatile, and free. Frankly, I can't imagine why anyone would want to use any of the other ones these days, unless they have some specific function that JSWED doesn't.

[jetsetdanny]

Hi. We were asked to remove some titles by Elite Systems.

Hi. Thanks for the info!

They are still over on WoS, I believe. It would be interesting to know if WoS hasn't been asked to take them down, or has been asked but refused. Just wondering...

[PeterJ]

Hi. Thanks for the info!

They are still over on WoS, I believe. It would be interesting to know if WoS hasn't been asked to take them down, or has been asked but refused. Just wondering...

Having had experience of Elite Systems I prefer just to comply. I don't have the time or energy to deal with one of their letters. I don't have any insight into WoS.

[Ralf]

Having had experience of Elite Systems I prefer just to comply. I don't have the time or energy to deal with one of their letters. I don't have any insight into WoS.

Good choice. I wouldn't lose any minimal amount of my energy to fight with them too. Anybody will be able to get these games in dozens of other places anywhere. And for their actions they'll get some karma back sooner or later

[PeterJ]

Thanks [mention]Ralf[/mention]

[spider]

I guess this means my future plans (eventual, very eventual) for a Kokotoni Wilf editor are scuppered if there's going to be any uncertainty in the near future.

[jetsetdanny]

Would it be easy for you to send me a list of all your game page links with the corresponding ID (in WoS/SC/ZXDB) for each one? It can be a text file, spreadsheet, or whatever you like. I would like to import this list into ZXDB, so sites like Spectrum Computing can provide links to your site.

As a next step, I will prepare the list you've mentioned, Einar, of all game page links with the corresponding ID SC/ZXDB for each one. However, I want to do more than that. I will prepare and send you all the files which are not hosted here but could or perhaps should be, and various other comments and suggestions where appropriate (e.g. about games which are missing from here, or about cases where there is an RZX recording of a game on the RZX Archive but no link to it on the game's page on Spectrum Computing, etc.).

It will take me a little while to do it, and due to some extreme work-related real life distractions I don't think I'll be able to start this work in earnest until about a month from now. So the ETA will probably be around the end of July, or even later. I'll do my best not to take too long, but I also want to do a thorough job of it.

Real life has been relatively kind in that I have been able to start work on the list already, and, hopefully, it will be ready by the end of the month.

One question though:

On WoS several games by The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!! have an adult status. "Allow adult search results (opt-in)" must be turned on through the Infoseek Config facility to view the game or find it using Sinclair Infoseek. An example of such a game is Jet Set Willy: The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!!, which is here on WoS and here on SC.

Its SC page is missing the downloads which WoS is offering (as well as e.g. title-screen and in-game screenshots). I am pretty sure that this doesn't have anything to do with someone asking for the files to be taken down, but rather with the game's adult status on WoS. IIRC, it's the same with the other games by The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!! which have this particular status on WoS.

My question is: Is there any equivalent of 'Adult status' on SC? Is it that I'm not seeing the download files because of some setting I don't have turned on, or is it just that the files are really missing from SC?

[R-Tape]

My question is: Is there any equivalent of 'Adult status' on SC? Is it that I'm not seeing the download files because of some setting I don't have turned on, or is it just that the files are really missing from SC?

Any games that are listed as adult in ZXDB are not shown in an SC search (there is no setting to turn on/off), if you know the ID directly you can work out what the webaddress will be and type that in - but you only see info and possibly screenshots here. You would have to go elsewhere for files. Just to be clear - SC doesn't have any objection to adult games, but some of us work in education and we need to be extra careful

Having said that - isn't there a good case to reappraise the status of some of The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!!'s games? Some of them are a bit sweary, but it generally takes more than that to get an adult rating.

[Einar Saukas]

Real life has been relatively kind in that I have been able to start work on the list already, and, hopefully, it will be ready by the end of the month.

Great! Thank you!

One question though:

On WoS several games by The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!! have an adult status. "Allow adult search results (opt-in)" must be turned on through the Infoseek Config facility to view the game or find it using Sinclair Infoseek. An example of such a game is Jet Set Willy: The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!!, which is here on WoS and here on SC.

Its SC page is missing the downloads which WoS is offering (as well as e.g. title-screen and in-game screenshots). I am pretty sure that this doesn't have anything to do with someone asking for the files to be taken down, but rather with the game's adult status on WoS. IIRC, it's the same with the other games by The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!! which have this particular status on WoS.

My question is: Is there any equivalent of 'Adult status' on SC? Is it that I'm not seeing the download files because of some setting I don't have turned on, or is it just that the files are really missing from SC?

All files are indexed in ZXDB, but SC disables searches, screenshots and download files for any title marked as "x-rated".

However all this information can be seen at ZXInfo. Just follow the link you will find near the bottom of every game page at SC.

[jetsetdanny]

Thanks, guys!

This probably means that it doesn't make sense for me to provide any files of The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!!'s games, because the reason they are not hosted is not because you don't have them, but because they have an adult rating in ZXDB.

I agree that it would be good to reappraise the status of The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!!'s games which are X-rated. If it were my choice, I wouldn't consider them adult titles (in spite of the vulgarities and some sexual references which appear in them). Having said that, I don't know what the level of sensitivity is usually applied for these decisions here .

[StooB]

I agree that it would be good to reappraise the status of The DrUnKeN mAsTeR!!!'s games which are X-rated. If it were my choice, I wouldn't consider them adult titles (in spite of the vulgarities and some sexual references which appear in them). Having said that, I don't know what the level of sensitivity is usually applied for these decisions here .

Bearing in mind that there are now 10 year olds visiting the site, this is unlikely to change!

[spider]

I considered things like that at one point with COPPA etc but given how it is so easy to just enter whatever you like there seemed little point as the 'blame' would never fall the correct way unfortunately. I'm not even sure how valid those rules are across countries anyway given the 'global' nature of the internet.

This reminds me of how parents buy an 18+ 'game' for their small offspring's console then complain its unsuitable with content etc. I say "well would you take them to see an 18 film at the cinema?" , the answer is usually "no" , so my reply would be something along the lines of "you purchased it knowing its rating" but it tends to end with something like "but its only a game!" , rock vs hard place with this kind of thing really unfortunately. You can't win.

Back on topic, the site updates look very good Danny now I've actually had a few more minutes to digest them. Top work!

[jetsetdanny]

Thanks, Andy!

[jetsetdanny]

Real life has been relatively kind in that I have been able to start work on the list already, and, hopefully, it will be ready by the end of the month.

Great! Thank you!

OK, it's done! I have sent Einar, Peter and Dave a PM with links to download the documents and files I have prepared .

[jetsetdanny]

I am pleased to announce another update of JSW Central .

The highlights:

1. A "proper" main page has been created, giving an overview of the site (previously links to the Home page led to the main list of MM and JSW games).

2. Two new sections: "Authors about their games" and "What's new?" have been added to the site.

The section "Authors about their games" was created at this time because I received "exclusive" input from Paul Equinox Collins, the author of "JSW: The '96 Remix" and "It's Wet Jelly", and from Leslie Marwick, the author of "Spaceman Willy", and I wanted to put it online. To make the section a little more than a nucleus, I added descriptions of games by Richard Hallas (copied from his website - with his kind explicit permission), Andrew Broad - using his generic permission to quote his texts: "I give my permission to quote anything I ever posted in public (provided of course that it's properly attributed, and not taken out of context to make me look bad)", and myself. I would like to extend warm thanks to Paul and Leslie for sending me their input and to Richard for allowing me to use the texts from his website!

There are links from the authors' texts (their titles, to be exact) to the games' individual pages, and there are links from the games' pages to the authors' descriptions. One doubt I have is whether it is better that these open in a new tab (as is currently the case) or not - please advise if you have a strong opinion on it after browsing JSW Central.

I will develop this section gradually, but it is not a priority for me - my next big (and slow) task will be to provide a complete screenshot gallery for each game's individual page. However, I will prioritise the addition of new entries to "Authors about their games" if authors send me their input - please do, I will be happy to publish it on JSW Central!

The "What's new?" section is self-explanatory, of course. Its creation responds to a suggestion I've received of making the updates more visible so that people know the site is up to date.

3. The "About JSW Central" section has been modified and renamed "Brief history", to reflect its content better and in order not to duplicate the current home page.

4. The panel on the left side has been modified to reflect the changes in the section layout.

5. Links to their recently-created pages on Spectrum Computing have been added on several games' pages.

6. Chronology has been updated.

There have also been various other minor updates here and there which are not worth describing in detail.

Enjoy!