Little bugs in the database 2

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druellan
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by druellan »

An interesting one:

Arañas o Tarántulas, a Spanish game that was published on several formats, many of them with modifications. We have two entries for this game in the database, both are about the same game, BUT there is a version that can be considered a mod, due to the modifications on the code. So, perhaps we can do this:

Original entry: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=18241

Original name is Tarántulas
Author López Martinez (1983)
Published on 1983 as a type-in, Enciclopedia Práctica de la Informática #24 P478
So, original publisher Enciclopedia Práctica de la Informática from Ediciones Ingelek S.A. (4220)

Image

Image

Alternate name: Arácnidos
Published in 1984 as part of the compilation Tus Juegos 2 from Monser S.A. (11388)

Alternate name: ¡Arañas!
Same game, but published in 1985 as a type-in on Run #14
Also published as part of RUN Cassette #4

The other entry is this one: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=5147

Here we have the reference about "Tus Juegos" editions, but only the "Tus Juegos Single" version has modifications to the code, the other one can be considered the same game. So, we can change this to:

Arácnidos (Tarántulas)
López Martinez (1983) and Andromeda Inc. (based on the first line on the code)
Published 1984, Tus Juegos Single (24024)

Image

This entry also has a .z80 that seems to be the "Tus Juegos 2" version, perhaps we can move that to the other entry
Also there is a screenshot "Individual running screen", again, seems to be the "Tus Juegos 2" version.
(Also, the instructions seems to be a description of the game by some source)

[mention]R-Tape[/mention] I know this is a lot, but what do you think? :)
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by StooB »

8BitAG wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2020 5:48 pm The Thirty-Nine Steps
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=7103

...isn't a Spectrum 48K game... it's a Spectrum 128K *only* game.
and the inspiration should be John Buchan's book rather than the film, as it features a dying American spy called Scadder who is obviously derived from Franklin P Scudder.(https://the.hitchcock.zone/wiki/Miss_Annabella_Smith).
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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StooB wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2020 12:33 pm
8BitAG wrote: Wed Jan 22, 2020 5:48 pm The Thirty-Nine Steps
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=7103
...isn't a Spectrum 48K game... it's a Spectrum 128K *only* game.
and the inspiration should be John Buchan's book rather than the film, as it features a dying American spy called Scadder who is obviously derived from Franklin P Scudder.(https://the.hitchcock.zone/wiki/Miss_Annabella_Smith).
Well, the inspiration could be a film, but not the Hitchcock one as the shadowy organisation's name follows the book rather than the film. Jack usually used books as inspiration, rather than films, so I would say, yes, change the inspiration source.
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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PeterJ wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:03 am Sent to me via email from Graham Richards:

Spectrum Computing erroneously states the original release of Balachor's Revenge as being by Lasasoft.
Lasasoft are the programming team. Original release for this sequel was by Monument Microgames and was not distributed by Lasasoft until the physical release had been out a while.
I have discussed this with Graz. The Lasasoft and Monument releases came out at the same time. Can they be marked as co-releases in ZXDB/SC, as that would be most accurate?
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Einar Saukas
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by Einar Saukas »

Rorthron wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2020 10:34 pm
PeterJ wrote: Mon Jan 06, 2020 7:03 am Sent to me via email from Graham Richards:

Spectrum Computing erroneously states the original release of Balachor's Revenge as being by Lasasoft.
Lasasoft are the programming team. Original release for this sequel was by Monument Microgames and was not distributed by Lasasoft until the physical release had been out a while.
I have discussed this with Graz. The Lasasoft and Monument releases came out at the same time. Can they be marked as co-releases in ZXDB/SC, as that would be most accurate?
There's no concept of "co-releases" in ZXDB. It's either:

a) A single release, jointly co-published by 2 publishers
b) Two different releases, each one by a different publisher

In this case, we are talking about 2 different releases. Lasasoft's release is electronic and free, Monument's release is physical and have a commercial price.

When they are released simultaneously, we usually list the electronic release first, because users get immediate access to the electronic version, and it takes them a few days to obtain the physical version afterwards. That's how they are currently listed in the game entry. However if the authors prefer to list the Monument's release first, there's no problem, just let me know!
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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Einar Saukas wrote: Wed Jan 29, 2020 4:41 pm
Rorthron wrote: Sun Jan 26, 2020 10:34 pm I have discussed this with Graz. The Lasasoft and Monument releases came out at the same time. Can they be marked as co-releases in ZXDB/SC, as that would be most accurate?
There's no concept of "co-releases" in ZXDB. It's either:

a) A single release, jointly co-published by 2 publishers
b) Two different releases, each one by a different publisher

In this case, we are talking about 2 different releases. Lasasoft's release is electronic and free, Monument's release is physical and have a commercial price.

When they are released simultaneously, we usually list the electronic release first, because users get immediate access to the electronic version, and it takes them a few days to obtain the physical version afterwards. That's how they are currently listed in the game entry. However if the authors prefer to list the Monument's release first, there's no problem, just let me know!
In that case I'd suggest leaving it as it is.
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=18950 - Scoopex is a demoscene group, not nickname of a person.

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by druellan »

Many of the games of Microparadise Software (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... el_id=9750) are marked as Availabletype=MIA but the games are in fact preserved inside the "10 Juegos" and "10 juegos II" compilations. The games never got published outside the compilation, so, they are not missed.

An example: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16079

[mention]Einar Saukas[/mention] This is a leftover from WOS right?
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by 8BitAG »

[Weren't we meant to be starting a new, third thread in 2020?]

Investigations
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10833

...was created with the Professional Adventure Writer not the Quill.

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by patters »

Based on this info:
NSFW!
Spoiler
Can we add Artem Orlov into the DB as the real name for Oleg Origin? Could be useful one day if someone wants to look him up for an interview or something.
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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patters wrote: Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:46 pm Can we add Artem Orlov into the DB as the real name for Oleg Origin? Could be useful one day if someone wants to look him up for an interview or something.
Argh! NSFW link! I put it in spoilers.

As Ralf said in the other thread, Oleg Origin is a mysterious character. Maybe it should be added as yet another nickname?
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by druellan »

Watching the stream by Arnau Jess
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUm-xtqTuoM

about that Spanish publisher I realized there are many games "inspired" on old type-in games, some of them are correctly related, but there are more, this are the ones I managed to catch:

Galaxians (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16079)
is related to Spectrum Galaxians by C. Fisher (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=23705)

Comecocos (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16076)
is related to Spacman by Sinclair User (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=26817)
and modded by Pacman 96 (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=3582)

Misiles (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16082)
is related to MIssile Command (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=3226)

Huevos Alienígenas (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16066)
is realted to Egg Saviour by Virgin Books (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=15165)

Bombardero (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16081)
City Bomber by Sinclair Programs (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=14292)

Conductor Nocturno (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16068)
3D Driver by Virgin Books (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=15159)

Conductor Novato (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16070)
Learner Driver by ZX Computing (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=13289)

Carrera Mortal (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16069)
Death Race by Virgin Books (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=14295)

Escudo (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16074)
Splodgies from Space by ZX Computing (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=25955)

Golf (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=15039)
Graphical Golf by ZX Computing (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=25792)

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by StooB »

Five Star Games was released on 1st November 1986, not in 1987. The release date is given on the inlay of 10 Computer Hits 3 which means that 10 Computer Hits 3 was also released in 1986.
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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Puzzled!
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6836

The original release is listed as being by The Guild in 1990. The Guild wasn't established until the end of 1991. The game was, in fact, re-released by The Guild in 1991.

The original release was actually by the author (Tony Marsh) in 1989.
See the original YS review linked to on the game page... https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 73&page=60
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by druellan »

Crossfire (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... id=4000017) is the Timex version of Cruising on Broadway (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=1174)

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by 8BitAG »

Mad in Cas$hcais...
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6623

was created with The Quill.

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by moroz1999 »

Infected Pixels is same person as Miguel (Mikhail Ershov, Rybinsk, Russia)
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... el_id=6294
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... el_id=9777

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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StooB wrote: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:37 pm Five Star Games was released on 1st November 1986, not in 1987. The release date is given on the inlay of 10 Computer Hits 3 which means that 10 Computer Hits 3 was also released in 1986.
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Hi! Excellent detective work on the Five Star Games. About the 10 Computer Hits 3 there is also confirmation it was released October 1986, as you can see on Popular Computer Weekly: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 31&page=45
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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druellan wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2020 12:21 pm Many of the games of Microparadise Software (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... el_id=9750) are marked as Availabletype=MIA but the games are in fact preserved inside the "10 Juegos" and "10 juegos II" compilations. The games never got published outside the compilation, so, they are not missed.

An example: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16079
Well, I'm not the guy to say it, but I wouldn't touch anything in ZXDB regarding to Spanish releases without getting an OK from SPA2 first. It's my humble opinion. What you see there is the product of having gone through lots of written documentation (i.e. magazines, adverts, software catalogs) and, what it's not less, direct contact with some software houses well related people.

For this time and about Microparadise (and sorry, not completely sure right now), I remember magazine adverts in which some of the programs today considered MIA were supposedly on sale back the time. So it might be better to keep them there for if eventually they 'decide' to appear someday.

druellan wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2020 12:21 pm @Einar Saukas This is a leftover from WOS right?
No, not a leftover, and not specifically from WOS. As said, this info comes from SPA2, and I consider it still in value.
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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djnzx48 wrote: Sat Dec 28, 2019 2:11 am Valley of Rains should have machine type 48K/128K, rather than 48K, as the 48K and 128K versions are different.
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Hi! Is there a 128k version? Is that the one they plan to sell as physical copy?
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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druellan wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2020 8:39 pm
djnzx48 wrote: Sat Dec 28, 2019 2:11 am Valley of Rains should have machine type 48K/128K, rather than 48K, as the 48K and 128K versions are different.
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Hi! Is there a 128k version? Is that the one they plan to sell as physical copy?
No, there's only one release (that I know of), but the game features additional graphics when loading it on a 128K machine.
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by druellan »

Hi! Thanks very much for the clarifications.
jlsoler wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2020 8:34 pm For this time and about Microparadise (and sorry, not completely sure right now), I remember magazine adverts in which some of the programs today considered MIA were supposedly on sale back the time. So it might be better to keep them there for if eventually they 'decide' to appear someday.
Well, that is exactly the point. Sorry if my inquiry was not clear enough. Let's see.
I already checked SPA2, and there are Microparadise games released on their own, like like Backgammon (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.php?cat=96&id=371) those are ok and listed as Available on the ZXDB.

BUT Microparadise released some compilations like 10 Juegos (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=13358). The titles on this compilations are not listed as individual releases on SPA2, but on the ZXDB each game must have their own entry, so we have Carrera Mortal (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=16069) correctly marked as released "as part of compilation", but it has also a MIA flag.
Perhaps I'm not understanding correctly how the SPA2 database works, but since this games have no individual entry there, I was intrigued about the origin of this flag.

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

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djnzx48 wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2020 8:44 pm No, there's only one release (that I know of), but the game features additional graphics when loading it on a 128K machine.
Ah! Gotcha, didn't noticed that. Perfect, thanks!
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Post by 8BitAG »

The authors of Horrorscope (Aura Scope)
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=5974

were Pete Jones and Pam Jones.

(information from the inlay of the original Square Peg release)

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