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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 3:01 am
by druellan
Einar Saukas wrote: Sun Apr 28, 2019 2:43 am Nowadays, snapshots still make sense to save a game you are playing for instance, but not for software preservation.
Hi! Well, that was pretty much my intention. Since we need to "extract" the game from the TZX if we want a less confusing image of it, a snap is pretty much screaming "this is not a preservation image", but I totally agree if you want to exterminate the format from the DB. We can leave things alone or create a quick TAP.

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 3:36 am
by Einar Saukas
druellan wrote: Sun Apr 28, 2019 3:01 am
Einar Saukas wrote: Sun Apr 28, 2019 2:43 am Nowadays, snapshots still make sense to save a game you are playing for instance, but not for software preservation.
Hi! Well, that was pretty much my intention. Since we need to "extract" the game from the TZX if we want a less confusing image of it, a snap is pretty much screaming "this is not a preservation image", but I totally agree if you want to exterminate the format from the DB. We can leave things alone or create a quick TAP.
I think it would be better to create a TZX of this program. This way, nothing will be lost.

You can edit the TZX from the compilation, to delete all other programs, then save the remaining TZX under a different name. I suggest something like "PROGRAM_NAME(COMPILATION_NAME).tzx.zip" so we know exactly from which compilation it was extracted.

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:03 pm
by Ralf
Please check the game called Genus, and precisely the .tzx file:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=2012

https://archive.org/download/World_of_S ... us.tzx.zip

The tape image contains not only Genus but also some presentation/utility called Speechdemo. And another game called Guppi from the same author is on the B side.

Maybe we should make a new database entry for Speechdemo? Or mark the tape as compilation? Or maybe leave it as it is ;) I dunno.

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:22 pm
by druellan
Frankie wrote: Sat Apr 27, 2019 9:40 am Andromeda and Willibald are two different games both included on that TZX I made, one game on each side.
Hi, just to double check: the TZX on Andromeda was compiled by you or it is an image from an official compilation?

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:46 pm
by druellan
Ralf wrote: Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:03 pm The tape image contains not only Genus but also some presentation/utility called Speechdemo. And another game called Guppi from the same author is on the B side.
Confirmed! Guppy seems to be this one: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=2187 but we only have a TAP image.
But I'm not sure we can call this a compilation, seems that the game was self-distributed and the author just wanted to add some extras:

Image

We can just note everything on the comments.
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2019 10:22 am
by Ralf
But I'm not sure we can call this a compilation, seems that the game was self-distributed and the author just wanted to add some extras:
Yes, I also feel that calling it a compilation would be too much. These bonus programs aren't even mentioned anywhere in the inlay. So yes, probably a comment would be enough.

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 12:02 pm
by Ralf
Some more discoveries about Genus ( https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=2012 ).

So I made a rzx recording of it: http://www.rzxarchive.co.uk/g.php#genus Quite interesting to watch, lots of nice inspirations in the levels coming from games like Cybernoid, I Ball, Manic Miner and others

And at some moment we get a hint about next author's game which isn't mentioned anywhere in the database so it sadly seems that it never was completed:

Image

So I would suggest adding a record to the database:

Name: Zyborgs
Author: Andrew Mark Daly
Genre: Arcade action (a wild guess, based on intuition and author's other games)
Status: Never released

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Fri May 03, 2019 3:43 pm
by Frankie
druellan wrote: Sun Apr 28, 2019 9:22 pm
Frankie wrote: Sat Apr 27, 2019 9:40 am Andromeda and Willibald are two different games both included on that TZX I made, one game on each side.
Hi, just to double check: the TZX on Andromeda was compiled by you or it is an image from an official compilation?
What do you mean by compiled by you? Its an official release with both games on one tape, and I provided the Perfect TZX. That company did more double game releases like this. There has been one uploaded to WOS within the last six months or so.

Here is my dropbox link to the complete package I uploaded, including inlay and all :)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rqrcuxbtberts ... d.zip?dl=0

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 1:39 am
by druellan
Frankie wrote: Fri May 03, 2019 3:43 pm What do you mean by compiled by you? Its an official release with both games on one tape, and I provided the Perfect TZX. That company did more double game releases like this. There has been one uploaded to WOS within the last six months or so.
Thanks Frankie, sorry, it was not my intention to imply anything, I just wanted to be sure I was understanding the source correctly, since it is not that usual to record both games twice on the same side of the cassette.
Thanks again, and apologies.

BTW: Andromeda is a really cute Atlantis clone, and fast!

Image

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 6:04 am
by Frankie
druellan wrote: Sat May 04, 2019 1:39 am
Frankie wrote: Fri May 03, 2019 3:43 pm What do you mean by compiled by you? Its an official release with both games on one tape, and I provided the Perfect TZX. That company did more double game releases like this. There has been one uploaded to WOS within the last six months or so.
Thanks Frankie, sorry, it was not my intention to imply anything, I just wanted to be sure I was understanding the source correctly, since it is not that usual to record both games twice on the same side of the cassette.
Thanks again, and apologies.

BTW: Andromeda is a really cute Atlantis clone, and fast!

Image
Sorry if I sounded harsh, wasn’t meant to :)

Yes, Andromeda is a good game just as Willibald. Shame these games wasn’t known outside Germany back then. I would have had a lot of fun with these :)

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 11:09 am
by Ralf
Human Killing Machine:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=2375

is one on one fighting game. So the better cattegory for it would be
"Arcade Game: Solo beat-em-up"
instead of current
"Arcade Game: Gang beat-em-up"

✓ reviewed

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Mon May 06, 2019 1:20 pm
by 8BitAG
The re-release dates, listed against TZX files, for the following adventures are currently wrong in the database...

The following Fergus McNeil re-releases, the date for the GI Games releases should be 1991 and the corresponding Zenobi releases should be 1992 for tape and 1993 for +D disk.

The Big Sleeze
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6008

The Boggit
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6023

Bored of the Rings
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6036

The Dragonstar Trilogy
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=21610

Sherwood Forest
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6969

Robin of Sherlock *
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6900
* The Zenobi date is already correct here

Return of the Holy Joystick
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6885

Quest for the Holy Joystick *
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6846
* There was also a Zenobi re-release, that's not listed
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Mon May 06, 2019 1:21 pm
by 8BitAG
These Walter Pooley & Precision Gamess re-releases, the GI Games dates should be 1991 and the Zenobi dates 1992 for tape and 1993 for +D disk.

Castle Adventure
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6065

Pyramid
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=7176

Mission X
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6699

Mansion Quest
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6652

Desert Island
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6165

The Energem Enigma
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10780

The Extricator
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6277
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Mon May 06, 2019 1:21 pm
by 8BitAG

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Mon May 06, 2019 1:21 pm
by 8BitAG
These St. Bride's game re-releases should be 1991 for GI Games, and 1992 for Zenobi for tape and 1993 for +D disk.

Dogboy
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6191

Secret of St. Bride's
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6951

Silverwolf
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6974
* Zenobi date already correct

Snowqueen
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6991

Very Big Cave Adventure
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=7161

and also... Jack the Ripper should be 1991 for GI Games and 1992 for Zenobi Software for tape and 1993 for +D disk.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6497
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Mon May 06, 2019 1:22 pm
by 8BitAG
Re. Microfair Madness...

Microfair Madness Plus
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=15471
was published by Zenobi in 1993 NOT 1991

Microfair Madness
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6682
was re-released by Zenobi in 1993
Note: only the 128K version was re-released. Not the separate and distinct 48K version.

The TZX listed under 'Microfair Madness (different)' is NOT an official release, by Zenobi or anyone else. It only seems to consist of part 3 of the game without loading screen or title page. I have no idea where that came from.
[MicrofairMadness(different)(ZenobiSoftware).tzx.zip]
It should probably be deleted.

✓ reviewed

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Wed May 15, 2019 8:24 pm
by StooB
International Cricket

Thanks to David Stevens posting on Facebook, it turns out that International Cricket, thought to have been originally released on a cover tape and then re-released by Bug Byte was in fact originally released by Bug Byte as Test Cricket, then re-released as International Cricket by Your Sinclair, and then re-released again by Bug Byte under the new title.

so:

Title: should be "Test Cricket"
Original Release Year: should be "1986"
Original Publisher: should be "Bug-Byte Software Ltd (UK)"
Authors: "Grandslam Entertainments Ltd (UK)" should be removed as they didn't exist at the time of the original release
Original Publication: should be "Commerical" rather than "On A Cover Tape"

Releases:
Original Release: Bug-Byte Software Ltd (UK) 1986
Re-release #1: Your Sinclair (UK) 1988 Alternate Title: International Cricket
Re-release #2: Bug-Byte Software Ltd (UK) 1988 Alternate Title: International Cricket


Retrogames has some photos which prove it's the same game from the screenshots on the back of the inlay, and the address of Victory House which shows that it's Bug Byte under Argus Press ownership, pre-Grandslam.

Unfortunately David's sold his copy without scanning it or making a tzx.

✓ reviewed

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 7:38 pm
by StooB
Silverbird corrections:

According to The Bird Sanctuary, the Silverbird label wasn't launched until 1988. This means that Blow Out, Octan, On The Run and Sir Loin cannot have been released in 1987. The reviews for Octan date it to 1988, which is presumably the date of the others.

Also, Olli & Lissa 2: Halloween and Magnum Pack Volume 1 were not released until in 1990 after Microprose had sold the label to Tudor Enterprises (which explains why their covers are completely different to all the other Silverbird titles).
(source C&VG March 1990)
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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Thu May 23, 2019 11:18 am
by StooB
Mini-Putt is not published by Accolade, it's published by Electronic Arts and licenced from Accolade according to the cover (same as The Train: Escape to Normandy).

The cover is also missing/broken and just links back to the same page, but it should look like this:

Image

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sun May 26, 2019 11:26 am
by djnzx48
Oleg Nikitin has a duplicate entry under the name Nikitin Oleg.

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sun May 26, 2019 1:48 pm
by StooB
StooB wrote: Thu May 23, 2019 11:18 am The cover is also missing/broken and just links back to the same page.
Cover had been added in the latest update so ignore this bit.

Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sun May 26, 2019 3:26 pm
by Fahnn
While searching to see whether my insane porn industry game had spread further on the internet (it has, there's now a playable in-browser version on a Portuguese site, but I digress) I noticed that it now has a ZXDB entry. There's no download link, which might be intentional and I understand if so. However, I'd love it if at least my author credit could be included so that it could be associated with my earlier games. It's author no. 7090, Jim Bentley. I can also supply loading/running screen images (nothing contentious, obviously) if required, would make the page look more complete at least, even if there's not to be a download available.

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sun May 26, 2019 3:33 pm
by Alessandro
A bug has been found and corrected in Al's Double Bill (details here). Please substitute the .TRD and .SCL files with those provided in the archive downloadable from my website.

Also, could the files for Sinclair User 127: Great Eight 16 be added to the corresponding entry?

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Wed May 29, 2019 1:27 pm
by 8BitAG
This seems to be one of those errors that has just been copied and pasted across the Internet...

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6207

by The Essential Myth

is, for some reason, credited to Rod Pike.

The Essential Myth were actually Mark Davies, Lee Hodgson & Andrew Dean... (Shaun McClure is correctly credited as the external artist who did the loading screen)

as shown in their Book of the Dead entry here...
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6033

Presumably the confusion is because Rod Pike wrote some horror-style games for CRL, and the Essential Myth's Book of the Dead was published by CRL (Jekyll and Hyde was slated to be published/republished by CRL at one point too, but that never happened).

See the Games Machine review for author references etc. https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 96&page=39

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Re: Little bugs in the database 2

Posted: Sat Jun 01, 2019 11:00 pm
by druellan
Fahnn wrote: Sun May 26, 2019 3:26 pm While searching to see whether my insane porn industry game had spread further on the internet (it has, there's now a playable in-browser version on a Portuguese site, but I digress) I noticed that it now has a ZXDB entry. There's no download link, which might be intentional and I understand if so. However, I'd love it if at least my author credit could be included so that it could be associated with my earlier games. It's author no. 7090, Jim Bentley. I can also supply loading/running screen images (nothing contentious, obviously) if required, would make the page look more complete at least, even if there's not to be a download available.
There is proper tagging for that kind of content, so, I think there is no problem hosting the game, if you give permission to do so. Can you send me the screen captures (and the ID of the game, so avoid mistakes)? Thanks!