Spectrum Computing

moroz1999 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:37 pm https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=11863 R.B. is Richard Beston.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=11917 this RB is also Richard Beston

How to handle this in the database? It looks like RB 'only' created the loading screen for the Zeppelin Games Deathchase re-release - so he should not be attributed 'author' status on the original.

Stefan wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:27 pm

moroz1999 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:37 pm https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=11863 R.B. is Richard Beston.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=11917 this RB is also Richard Beston

How to handle this in the database? It looks like RB 'only' created the loading screen for the Zeppelin Games Deathchase re-release - so he should not be attributed 'author' status on the original.

This is tricky. A publisher is associated to each specific game release, but an author is associated to the game itself. There's no concept of "author in certain re-releases only".

For now, I suggest adding him as "load screen" author, and adding a comment like "Original load screen by ?, Zeppelin load screen by Richard Beston". Kinda like we currently differentiate between multiple music authors using comments like this:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=30148

If we find out later that there are many entries with authors of specific releases only, then I will modify the ZXDB model to support this information. However it's not worth it to increase ZXDB complexity if that's something that only happens in very few cases.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=12148 Renascence is a group from Ukraine (Luganskaya district).

According to info from War of Old World:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=15187 - Vitaly Gerasin used alias "Underlain", part of Renascence. Lysychansk, Ukraine.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... bel_id=599 - Alexander Boloto used alias "Alex Bat". Pryvillia, Ukraine
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=13124 - Sergey Gura used alias "Dexter". Pryvillia, Ukraine
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=15198 - Vlad Cheremison. Lysychansk, Ukraine.

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Mon Aug 19, 2019 6:12 pmIf we find out later that there are many entries with authors of specific releases only, then I will modify the ZXDB model to support this information. However it's not worth it to increase ZXDB complexity if that's something that only happens in very few cases.

According to my practice this is only required for cracks and unofficial re-releases in 99% of cases.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... l_id=12333 - RinsSoft is not a company, it's an alias of Stanislav Nikonov, Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia.

Golf Scorecard from Tom Frost...
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=15902

..is currently listed as MIA in the database.

But, in fact, it is bonus game/last program on both versions of the Spy Trilogy already held in the archive.
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10236

It is also listed on the linked compilation anyway,
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10818

So not MIA at all.

The same goes for Magic Pairs
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=15903

another compilation-only freebie which is held on the compilation in the archive.

Pulsoids

Release year should be 1989 rather than 1988 - it says 1988 on the title screen but "© Mastertronic Ltd 1989" on the inlay.

Wham! - The Music Box
The Music Box

"Wham! - The Music Box" does not come as a "bonus" with "The Music Box", "The Music Box" comes with 48k and 128k versions of "The Music Box" so should have a machine type of "ZX-Spectrum 48K/128K".

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=17492

The programmers behind the game ‘Dishmaster’ isn’t from Germany. It says on first screen that they are from Vienna, capital of Austria

IMPORTANT....

The file labelled the +3 version of the Professional Adventure Writer https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6825
in the database is NOT the +3 version of the PAWs... it is the CP/M version (for Amstrad CP/M machines, such as the CPC and PCW).

This continues to cause confusion in the community.

The correct +3 version can be downloaded in other places, including the official Gilsoft repository at
http://8-bit.info/the-gilsoft-adventure-systems/
Where the file is listed in the A17 zip file, together with documentation, here: http://cl.8-bit.info/0I0j4500442v/downl ... sk_A17.zip

We never did manage to get this file changed/updated on WOS, despite trying several times.

Amazon Adventure...
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=28085

The entry in the database lists Robert Bergstrom as the author.

The title screen says the author was Roberth Bergstrom

The publisher and date of publication are listed as Robert Bergstrom and 1986.

There is a reference on the title screen to (c) 1987 AMIS

8BitAG wrote: ↑Sun Aug 25, 2019 4:14 pm IMPORTANT....

The file labelled the +3 version of the Professional Adventure Writer https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6825
in the database is NOT the +3 version of the PAWs... it is the CP/M version (for Amstrad CP/M machines, such as the CPC and PCW).

Do you mean this file?

ProfessionalAdventureWriterB03+3(AventurasADS.A.).dsk.zip

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Mon Aug 26, 2019 11:45 pm Do you mean this file?
ProfessionalAdventureWriterB03+3(AventurasADS.A.).dsk.zip

No, that's the Spanish version.

It's this file that is incorrect...


That file is the CP/M version. (You may wish to keep it in the archive, but label it as such)

The game in the database...

Borrowed Time
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=9558

Doesn't have much information for it.

A tentative date of publication is listed as 1992, seemingly to match the reference in a 1992 issue of Sinclair User where some tips are given in the adventure column. (Although the ACE magazine reference, also on that page, is listed as being 1988)

The tips for the game given in Sinclair User match up exactly to the solution we have over at CASA for the Activision/Mastertronic game Borrowed Time...
http://solutionarchive.com/game/id%2C57 ... +Time.html

No Spectrum version is currently listed there. It's inclusion in SInclair User's adventure section might suggest that a Spectrum version was actually released... but it wouldn't be the first time (iirc) that hints for a game not available on the correct format had appeared in a single-format magazine.

Another reference for it's existence needed?

8BitAG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:25 am Another reference for it's existence needed?

It seems very unlikely that Activision could convert a disk-only point & click C64 game to a cassette based Spectrum game in 1985.

StooB wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:04 pm It seems very unlikely that Activision could convert a disk-only point & click C64 game to a cassette based Spectrum game in 1985.

I agree that it does seem unlikely the game made an appearance on the Spectrum. Like I said, it wouldn't be the first time that an adventure columnist had accidentally put tips for a game that wasn't even on that platform in his (or her) column. It's definitely that game that the tips in Sinclair User are for.

Mindshadow should have Interplay Productions Inc listed as an author like The Bard's Tale (otherwise it doesn't appear in a search for "Interplay").

The Bard's Tale should show the same Licence/Tie-In credit for Interplay that Mindshadow shows.

StooB wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:04 pm

8BitAG wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:25 am Another reference for it's existence needed?

It seems very unlikely that Activision could convert a disk-only point & click C64 game to a cassette based Spectrum game in 1985.

It's probably a disk game because of graphics. I'm guessing a text only version for the Spectrum would have been quite easy to do.

I don't think we have enough evidence to conclude either way. For now, I'm adding a comment in this game entry as follows:

It's not clear if this game was ever released for the ZX-Spectrum. Perhaps the game reference at Sinclair User was a mistake?

Lazer Tag

Year is 1988 not 1987 - earliest review is June 1988.

LED Storm

Year is 1989 not 1988 - earliest review is February 1989.

Last Duel

Publisher is Go! not US Gold - according to the back of the inlay.

Bruce Lee original US Gold version was released in 1985 not 1984 - all reviews are from May/June 1985

The Americana re-release is 1988 not 1984 - reviewed in Crash September 1988 which also confirms the release date of the original as May 1985


The Americana range was launched mid-1986 according to this and this so:
Spider-Man wasn't released by Americana in 1985
Knockout wasn't released by Americana in 1985
The Hulk wasn't released by Americana in 1984

There are reviews for the Americana release of The Hulk in 1986, but none for the others, so 1986 is a best guess for them too.

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 4:08 pm I don't think we have enough evidence to conclude either way.

C&VG review: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 06&page=77

"Machine: CBM64, Apple II, IBM PC, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari ST (DIsk only)"

This Crash article from February 1984 lists the first six Rabbit releases from "before Christmas" as Centropods, Escape-MCP, Frogger, Phantasia, Quackers and Race Fun.

Therefore these titles, currently listed as 1983, were presumably released in early 1984:

0000538 The Birds
0002804 Lancer Lords
0006719 Murder!
0003590 Pakacuda
0003619 Paratroopers
0003850 Potty Painter

It's TV Showtime!

is published by "TV Games (UK)", not Domark, according to the logo on the box front.

Xenon

Tronix re-release is missing - reviewed in Sinclair User January 1992

Re-release #4
Year: 1991
Price: £3.99

StooB wrote: ↑Wed Sep 04, 2019 11:39 am

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 4:08 pm I don't think we have enough evidence to conclude either way.

C&VG review: https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/mag.php ... 06&page=77

"Machine: CBM64, Apple II, IBM PC, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari ST (DIsk only)"

It's still technically possible that a disk point-and-click adventure from 1986 was later converted into a tape text-only adventure in the following years before 1992. Simply removing graphics would have been enough to fit it into 48K.

However I agree it's unlikely they would have done it. So I will update this entry as you suggest, marking it as "never released" and adding the following comment:

Although "Sinclair User" once published playing tips for this game, it was probably a mistake. Apparently this game was never released for the ZX-Spectrum.