Spectrum Computing

R-Tape wrote: ↑Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:24 pm

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:22 pm It's from a compilation, not a re-release.

Right now, there's no way to differentiate screens from compilations, in either ZXDB or WoS. I will need more time to consider the best solution to this issue...

If it's not easy to prioritise them, couldn't the compilation screen be removed entirely? The only loading screen worth seeing in Booty is the one with the ship.

I don't like the idea of throwing away any content from the database, just to improve visuals. I'm sure we can figure out a better solution!

pavero wrote: ↑Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:39 pmI don't believe there is any re-released version by Argus Press. There is only one original release from AnF+Argus Press and re-release by Bug-Byte.

Are you sure? The archive contains different tapes for A'n'F, Argus, and Bug-Byte releases...

Rorthron wrote: ↑Fri Oct 19, 2018 9:10 amIt might be worth trying to put together a separate table of publisher affiliations, though.

ZXDB already contains this information. If you vist the CORE page at SC page, then click on either Argus or Bug-Byte, you will see they are both owned by Grandslam.

Can anyone suggest a better way for SC to display this information?

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Fri Oct 19, 2018 11:03 pm

pavero wrote: ↑Thu Oct 18, 2018 6:39 pmI don't believe there is any re-released version by Argus Press. There is only one original release from AnF+Argus Press and re-release by Bug-Byte.

Are you sure? The archive contains different tapes for A'n'F, Argus, and Bug-Byte releases...

According to tzxlist, CORE.tzx.zip is from "Spectrum Games Compilation" (https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=14685).

CORE(ArgusPressSoftwareLtd).tzx.zip is the original version, however Argus are only doing the 'marketing' according to this review.

The final two A'n'F releases after CORE are Xeno and WIbstars which were also marketed by Argus but are shown as published by A 'n' F in ZXDB.

Finally, the Bug Byte re-release year should be 1987 according to the reviews.

La Città Fantasma is not only wrongly spelt ("Fantasimo"), but being a hack translated and sold as an original game, as it was common in Italy back in the day with the infamous "tape magazines" (Load 'n' Run - which also included original software coded by readers, however this is not the case -, Program, Special Program, Special Playgames, Tutto Spectrum etc.), should not be hosted in the archive.

The entries for Death Pit and Doom Pit should be integrated with a notice specifying that both are sold together by Monument Microgames as a physical media compilation (two distinct tapes, printed manuals and CD-ROMs in fact) for the price of 22.00.

Currently, the entries state that Doom Pit only is sold on tape at that price, and that Death Pit is not available as physical media. The loading screen for the 2018 release of Death Pit is also different from the 1985 one:

The entry for The Golden Locket says it was created using The Quill.

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6376

It was actually created using Tartan's Adventure Builder System (see the Zenobi instructions and the in-game intro program)

Al's Double Bill: The entry lists a "map" which is, in fact, the map for the old 48K version of Lost In My Spectrum. Please remove it from the entry.

Lost In My Spectrum and Apulija-13: Please change the license from "Free (Creative Commons)" to "Freeware".

Funky Fungus: The archive still hosts the old 1.0 version, which has been superseded for more than five years by now Please substitute it with the newer 1.1/Plus version (which also has a re-worked loading screen).

Einar Saukas wrote: ↑Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:37 pm

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue Oct 16, 2018 9:11 amWould it be too tedious to remove them from the database?

If someone provides me a list (or spreadsheet) of all redundant inlays, I can remove them easily.

At a first view, it seems almost every Firebird, Encore, Beyond, The Hit Squad & Mastetronic title has a redundant inlay. I'll post if any other company has the same issue.

Another issue:

Whenever I try to find the game https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=2446 typing the correct name (I.C.U.P.S., with every point) no entries are displayed. It has to be typing 'ICUPS' or 'icups' to get the desired game.

The same with the game C.O.R.E. (A'n'F, discussed some posts above). In this case, if I type 'core' 5 pages of games are displayed.

Blockade Runner is listed as a 48K-only title, when in fact it runs on the 16K as well; also see the inlays:

- "For any ZX Spectrum"
- "Para Spectrum 16K/48K"

I wonder why [MOD] Manic Miner - Highscore Challenge - https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=34429 has this screen capture?



Looks like it was captured just at the end of the level, when everything flashes.

Juan F. Ramirez wrote: ↑Tue Oct 30, 2018 10:12 am At a first view, it seems almost every Firebird, Encore, Beyond, The Hit Squad & Mastetronic title has a redundant inlay. I'll post if any other company has the same issue.

Also Bug-Byte.

The loading screen for Chickin Chase is wrong. It is an in-game screen in fact.

This is the correct one. (The error was most probably carried over from the WoS database which also shows the same, wrong screen.)

Speaking about loading screens, here is the new one for Death Pit (see my previous post in this thread).

The

Ramsbottom Smith... https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=34416

entry, is missing one of the authors...

namely

Gareth Pitchford
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... el_id=5192

druellan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:51 am I wonder why [MOD] Manic Miner - Highscore Challenge - https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=34429 has this screen capture?



Looks like it was captured just at the end of the level, when everything flashes.

I took that. I felt that because it was a Hi-Score based game, the screen should demonstrate the difference between that and Manic Miner level 1.

Oh, fair enough then!

Is the Ninjajar youtube video linked to the right one in the database?
The video is on the ATM version but the video seems to be the 128 version?
Regards.

Turrican wrote: ↑Sat Nov 03, 2018 4:03 pm Is the Ninjajar youtube video linked to the right one in the database?
The video is on the ATM version but the video seems to be the 128 version?
Regards.

You're right—the youtube RZX should be linked to the 128 version. I don't know if it's Einar or Daren that need to fix it, but I'll add it to the list.

Great game.

Star Reporter https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=7036

appears to have been made with The Quill rather than the Professional Adventure Writer, judging from the file structure on the tape and the results of UNPAWing a snapshot of the game.

R-Tape wrote: ↑Sun Nov 04, 2018 9:35 pm

Turrican wrote: ↑Sat Nov 03, 2018 4:03 pm Is the Ninjajar youtube video linked to the right one in the database?
The video is on the ATM version but the video seems to be the 128 version?
Regards.

You're right—the youtube RZX should be linked to the 128 version. I don't know if it's Einar or Daren that need to fix it, but I'll add it to the list.

It's Daren. Please let him know!

The text adventure, The Long Journey Home...
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=17438

was created using The Professional Adventure Writing System.

Both....

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=21008

...and...

Terror from Sarnath
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=20982

were created using the Professional Adventure Writing System.

The games...

Lost in the Desert
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=9914

and

Crash
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=15920

are actually the *same* game.

The game was billed as 'Lost in the Desert' when it appear on The Guild's Quill Thrill Volume 1 compilation, so 'Lost in the Desert' seems the best title to list it under.

Quill Thrill Vol 1
https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=13168

I hope to discover the name of the author at some point.

Missing Compilation...

Quill Thrill Vol.3

by The Guild http://solutionarchive.com/game/id%2C30 ... ume+1.html
Part of the series that has Quill Thrill Vol.1 http://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.ph ... 6&id=13168
and Quill Thrill Vol.2 http://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.ph ... 6&id=15483

Compilation Contains:

Puzzled https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6836
The Crystal Cavern https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 6&id=10753
Castle Warlock https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/index.p ... 96&id=6072

(Also note that the original publisher of the Spectrum version of Castle Warlock was The Guild)