Little bugs in the database 5

[PeterJ]

I agree @4thRock. I spoke with this to @Einar Saukas, but he is not keen on the idea sadly.

[Einar Saukas]

The TS1000 was supposed to be very close to the ZX81 (100 or 99.9% compatible).
But in these cases instructions clearly indicate TS 1000 & TS 1500, so we might add those machine types for consistency.
After all, these are official software releases by the hardware manufacturer. I'd say it's best to stick to the references than guess about compatibility.

All ZX81 programs in ZXDB are currently classified in 6 "machine type" categories:

• ZX81 1K
• ZX81 2K
• ZX81 16K
• ZX81 16K/32K
• ZX81 32K
• ZX81 64K

However there are 7 "official" machine models related to Timex: ZX81, TS100, TS1500, CZ 1000, CZ 1500, CZ 1000 Plus, CZ 1500 Plus. Regarding software compatibility, they are nearly identical. Are you proposing we should have 7*6=42 classifications for ZX81 software?

If so, what about software published specifically for other "unofficial" non-Timex models? Shouldn't we have machine types for them too? This should give us over a hundred classifications for ZX81 programs...

Afterwards let's talk about how many more ZX Spectrum classifications we need!

[PeterJ]

@Einar Saukas
I do think it's reasonable that where there are official clones to have them separately listed. The Timex machines are listed separately in many emulators too.

I do agree with you Einar that you don't want hundreds of different systems limited, so let's have a limited number.

[StooB]

All ZX81 programs in ZXDB are currently classified in 6 "machine type" categories:

• ZX81 1K
• ZX81 2K
• ZX81 16K
• ZX81 16K/32K
• ZX81 32K
• ZX81 64K

Even this seems excessive. These aren't "machine types" - you couldn't go out and buy a 32K ZX81. Shadow of the Unicorn has a machine type of "Spectrum 48K" but it doesn't work without the expansion pack plugged in - the ZX81 games that require extra memory are exactly the same.

[PeterJ]

@StooB

Agreed, those aren't machine types as they were released, it's more (as with the spectrum machine types), the minimum memory required for the game, plus as we know where a game has different versions.

Interestingly there do seem quite a few ZX81 32K games.

Here we are talking more about official clones,
such as Timex. So Timex TS1000, and TS1500. I'm not going to loose sleep over it, but it seems sensible.

[4thRock]

Einar you are right, we can't have 42 ZX81 machine types
On the other hand, I think we should (somehow) record the required hardware, as indicated on the software inlay, instructions, etc.

Perhaps we could have an optional machine variation field? It could cover both memory variations and/or specific clones?

[PeterJ]

Perhaps we could have an optional machine variation field? It could cover both memory variations and/or specific clones?

Sounds like a good compromise.

[AndyC]

Einar you are right, we can't have 42 ZX81 machine types
On the other hand, I think we should (somehow) record the required hardware, as indicated on the software inlay, instructions, etc.

Perhaps we could have an optional machine variation field? It could cover both memory variations and/or specific clones?

I'd be inclined to have a numeric "minimum RAM" field (possibly also with a variations field). It probably covers a lot of the variation requirements across both the Spectrum and ZX81 (not all because some might specifically need a +2A/+3) and has the benefit of being more sargable - searching for ZX81 games that work with less than 4K RAM etc.

[PeterJ]

It's important that we don't have something which needs lots of manual work to populate the data, because it just won't happen. The Timex stuff can mostly be done on the publisher.

As an example, I would also love subgenres for games, but I realise that no-one is going to volunteer to work through x thousand entries.

[4thRock]

Another possibility, perhaps simpler, would be to use the existing "Remarks" field.
"Remarks" can already point to hardware, for example the Kempston Mouse:
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... ace_Driver

We have hardware entries for most (or all) hardware variations, so this might be a good solution.

[Einar Saukas]

Seems to be another similar one here @4thRock:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... a_da_Morte

OK, it's not a compatibility issue.

I just loaded this game into EightyOne emulating a ZX81 16K, saved the screen as BMP, then used the "ZX81 Screen Converter" at ZXInfo to convert to SCR. It worked just fine. You can see the result here:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... a_da_Morte

I also noticed that the previous garbage SCR had 7043 bytes, although it's supposed to have 6912 bytes.

[PeterJ]

As mentioned via email @Einar Saukas, I was using the same emulator but TS100 emulation which failed, but TS1500 emulation worked when creating the SCR via BMP. Andre was also using TS1000 which created the issue in the first place. This is a bug with the emulator, and not linked to the request to split things out.

I'm working through the screens I highlighted with issues and replacing them.

[Einar Saukas]

I don't think it's an emulation bug. There's something else going on.

I just tried again loading this game into EightyOne emulating a TS1000 16K, saved the screen as BMP, then used the "ZX81 Screen Converter" at ZXInfo to convert to SCR. I even repeated the test using 3 different versions of EightyOne (0.43, 1.0, 1.2). Everything worked just fine.

[PeterJ]

These were 2K Games using the unexpanded TS1000 @Einar Saukas

This is the title I used as a test. The screen file was broken, but now works:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=38705

I'm sorting them anyway @Einar Saukas, so you don't need to worry.

[Einar Saukas]

Thanks!

[PeterJ]

Currently 3D Dungeon has a release date of Unknown. However, the accompanying text file has 2017 listed.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... 3D-Dungeon

✓ Processed

[Vampyre]

Contact Sam Cruise has a price of £6.95. It was released at £7.95 as can be seen from the price near the barcode here.

[Stefan]

Contact Sam Cruise has a price of £6.95. It was released at £7.95 as can be seen from the price near the barcode here.

The first ad on that page in C&VG shows 6.95.

[Vampyre]

The first ad on that page in C&VG shows 6.95.

I'm pretty sure, in fact I'm positive, they changed the price. That advert you've linked to is incredibly early - April 1986 when it wasn't released until near Christmas 1986. The second C+VG advert has the updated price to £7.95. All of the later ads, near the time of release, have it at £7.95.

Most of the previews, apart from one Crash version at £6.95, mention it will be £7.95. Every review has it's price listed as £7.95. The inlay card I linked to, surely the biggest indicator, has the price of £7.95. I'm pretty sure I remember paying £7.95 for it.

[Alessandro]

Vikings: https://www.spectrumcomputing.co.uk/ent ... um/Vikings

should be linked to the Historical Warfare theme rather than Medieval Legends, because it is based upon two historical battles.

[PeterJ]

Rock Crush II: The Power of Dan is incorrectly listed as needing 2K RAM. The website says 16K.

Rock Crush II runs on a standard 16K ZX81, but also supports colour via the Chroma interface, sound via AY / ZON X devices (enhanced if 8K-16K area RAM is present) and a joystick via the Chroma or ZXpand interfaces.

This game features a high quality Pseudo High Res display - almost SPECTRUM quality resolution - It requires no hardware modification to work other than a standard ZX81 and 16K (or greater) RAMPACK.

[PeterJ]

Sprite Grabber seems to have the running screen from Slow Scan Television

I appreciate it's a screen grabber program, but the screen chosen may cause some confusion?

[PeterJ]

Are these two the same? Certainly the magazine references are the same, and even with my limited grasp of Spanish I know cinco is five.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... _Impresion

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/2 ... esi%C3%B3n

[PeterJ]

@Einar Saukas, @druellan and @pavero,

Can I ask about the approach with type ins that appeared in magazines from multiple countries. Should they be merged?

A good example is:

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/3 ... /Bug_Fever

And

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/entry/1 ... /La_Charca

[Einar Saukas]

Can I ask about the approach with type ins that appeared in magazines from multiple countries. Should they be merged?

If there are enough differences, then we keep them under separate entries, indicating that one of them is a MOD of the other.

If they are too similar, then we simply merge them into a single entry.