8BitChip Forum

Atari => True preservation, error reports => Topic started by: Petari on 02-03-2011, 10:54:02

Title: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 02-03-2011, 10:54:02
     List of "bad" Atari ST games

This should include all bad, incomplete cracks. Games with bugs. Games not running
with more RAM in machine than 512K-1MB.
Not games and cracks, menu disks   which fail on higher TOS versions - there is too many
of such.

1. Helter Skelter 1990 - cracked by Law.  Game restarts after each dying, so only 1 life in fact.
  Certainly as result of incomplete crack.

2. Forgotten Worlds - BBC crack and some others likely. About third level it crashes as result of
insufficient level data loaded.

3. Carrier Command - Automation crk. Only first protection removed. Second, which activates after some 100 minutes of play not.

4. Baal - STCS crk. , present in many releases as M.C.A. etc. (bad crack infos there) .  Missing 6 files.

5. B.A.T. II - French version, called Elite crack (again bad info) present on Vectronix - corrupted 4 files.
Crashes on Creation, stucks while playing.

6. Millennium 2.2 - 'Hard disk' version in GameBase ST. It is not bad crack in fact, but not real hard disk fix - as works good only in Steem with GEMDOS emul. 'hard disk' , not with real hard disks.

7. Crazy Cars 2 - not possible to finish. When completed everything, driving through finish does nothing.

8. Leaderboard Golf - incomplete cracks around .

9. Dungeon Master - some cracks are incomplete, and after some time all heroes die - game over.

10. OIDS - incomplete crack, Pugsy. Can't shoot enemies.

11. Ultima III - in GameBase ST :  can't enter shops. Not cracked, not played, not checked. Not corrected after report.


Some buggy games listed here:   http://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=15398


Please add here if you encountered some buggy game or bad, incomplete crack . It will help people in future to avoid such versions and maybe to update some lists, image bases.

Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: èné on 02-03-2011, 14:02:25
Outzone in Fuzion CD 060 crashes toward the end of the game (can't remember when exactly)

I faced a lot of bad crack, in any way, most of them crash during the latest levels

I keep myself some "buggy versions" actually since I know how to deal not to provoke the bug, but these versions are not recommended anyway - I can remember a few of them:

- Blood Money (Supergau) : screen is corrupted (only in one place though) - that's not very nasty and the game can be completed
- Barbarian 2 - Palace (Automation) : this version is fine, however, some monsters are not in the place they are supposed to be (the 'dino' who eat your head is at the beginning, while in the pasti version, you meet him a bit further..)
- Dragon breed (Bad Brew Crew) : crashes just before the final boss
- Interphase (Pompey Pirate) : going at some place in the highest level may result a crash.
- Mortville Manor (french - can't remember the crew) - same bug as Barbarian 2 but this time regarding objects - best is to play with the pasti version
- Navy Seals (can't remember the crew either - sorry) : crashed in the latest levels..
- Rick Dangerous 2 (Analogue Bubble Bath): crashes before accessing the secret level
- Robocop 3 (pompey pirates) : crashes during a sequence - i won't give any details (here also, you can deal with it if you know how, though)
- Saint Dragon (crew ?) - game can be completed, however the ending sequence is corrupted
- Sherman M4 (no cracktro) : a nasty bug in the "Africa Campaign" - one of the tank is at a wrong point, which result he's indestructible (him too  ;D) - doesn't happen every time though
- Targhan (Replicants) : unplayable mess - commands don't respond anymore  very often (so that you have to boot again)
- Uninvited (Delta Force) : a part of the text of the final sscene is unreadable - nothing nasty though

tested with TOS 1.06, 1mb ram
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: èné on 07-06-2011, 20:13:43
Police Quest 2 cracked by MCA :  crashes when you drive to the jail..

I'm off to play with Petari's adaptation (should have first play with this one i guess  ::))
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 25-07-2011, 10:46:07
Sleeping Gods Lie:   in Gamebase ST (unknown cracker) -  executable corrupted.
   D-Bug cr. :  language selection works not, game starts not - tested with TOS 1.04 .
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 25-10-2011, 10:41:31
Dragon Spirit - Replicants crack .  It is rather bad game version than bad crack - no skill level selection at start. After loosing all lives game starts again without user selection.
There is release (official ?) of Dragon Spirit together with Xybots on one floppy seemingly, but there is no space for other game except Dragon Spirit on 1 floppy ... I'm in process of doing this for HD - but must play game to see what happens .

P.S. :  I can't find correct version of this game. Not some top quality one, but shame, as I did almost everything with adapting for HD.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 05-11-2011, 14:46:59
King's Quest 3 - version available in GameBase ST, marked as 'unknown cracker'. Recognisable by too short ZIP - only ˇ300 KB. Should be about 410KB. The problem is that 1 data file is missing - content of org. floppy #3.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Anemos on 07-11-2011, 21:09:15
No time for playing - test for the time.. but i checking the new added games adaption thanks for your work!
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 15-11-2011, 17:47:59
Son-Shu-Shi  :  only available  is  crk. by Terminator Kid.  It is not complete, and works well only on TOS 1.62 (built in ROM !). Game will stuck at end of level 1 (tunnel).  Unfortunately it stays for my hard disk adapt. too, what is based on that crk. as only src. I examined code and found solution,  updated it, and it is DL-able now. I will test it until end in following days. but someone other may too - game is really good  :)
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 23-01-2012, 10:38:38
Bad Pasti images:  Kid Gloves (don't know where DL-ed it) - corrupted data on some levels.

First Samurai  - Pasti images in Gamebase ST - levels 9 and 10 have corrupted data.  And the reason is 99.99% not floppy in bad shape or bad imaging of Pasti tool, since there are no CRC errors indicated, + it is played until end - visible by saved scores.  So, like many times, image got corrupted during storage, copying .  Too bad that people behind Gamebase ST abandoned it - we could make it much more reliable source, if they just listened more to bug reports, instead starting now pretty much dead Guardians of Past .
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 08-02-2012, 16:38:10
Maupiti Island - English version : only available images, all likely based on Zippy crack have some corrupted files. Is crack bad, or images went corrupted, not relevant .
However, I completed game (solved the crime) with adapt based on it. But actually, visited max some 40% of game's locations. It was by some walkthrough.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 19-06-2012, 10:51:30
Not really bad, but 2 available cracks missing title soundtrack (on side B of floppy on original) - game self is OK.

  Fire!  by New Deal Productions  .
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 28-06-2012, 14:11:08
Fire! is now complete, with intro soundtrack. Thanx to  OBO  for making Pasti of org. !

http://atari.8bitchip.info/SCRSH/fire.html

Floppy version, STX :  http://atari.8bitchip.info/ASTGA/F/fire.php

Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 18-07-2012, 11:13:26
Iron Lord

I spent some time with it. What write is based on originals - have STX images of 3 floppy French release, and 1 floppy Action 16 English release. I read about some bad cracks, but let's focus on originals, because there are some serious problems:

Action16 (En) release has corrupted file FILE09, which loads after winning Battle (after declaring war). Then game will just crash. So it  is just not tested enough.  If replacing it with correct one, you can play maze part, but finishing game is not possible - most likely, and most likely because of bug.
Later stays for French (3 flo.) version too.
I write it after looking into code, checking for some additional protections and similar. Nothing from it .  After walking over whole level 6, all sections. There is no stair down at all.
If someone managed to finish game somehow - I would like to hear how it was ...

And game works only on older TOS versions because of lame joystick code.
3 floppy French release could fit on 2 floppies. Really pitty.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 25-07-2012, 14:13:07
Metal Master - Replicants crack - it crashes in later game stage, likely because copy protection check activates only then.
My adapt is based on it, so I need to fix. Have 2 pastis, in one not visible protection data, in another is - typical French protection on track 79 with some 70 sector IDs .  So, must play it to reach activation ....
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: OBO on 25-07-2012, 21:08:57
Quote from: Petari on 28-06-2012, 14:11:08
Fire! is now complete, with intro soundtrack. Thanx to  OBO  for making Pasti of org. !

http://atari.8bitchip.info/SCRSH/fire.html

Floppy version, STX :  http://atari.8bitchip.info/ASTGA/F/fire.php

You're welcome Petari  ;D
For once one of my crappy original is useful... I have a handful of shitty ST games :)
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 26-07-2012, 13:52:23
Fire! is not bad game at all. Your original is not crappy - STX is flawless.
And in few days I will post special selected, sorted missing Pasti images list. So, you are welcome to image some shit :-O
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 25-08-2012, 10:53:11
Player Manager by Anco :  it will crash with 4MB RAM.  I add it here, because crash happens not right at start, and you may not notice it if making some quick check. I tested with original, French and English versions. Certainly bad coding.
Did floppy version which solves problem by lowering Phystop to 2MB if 4MB RAM is detected - then will work fine.
http://atari.8bitchip.info/ASTGA/P/playerm.php

Ah, and btw. problem stays in GameBase ST too - they set Steem to 4MB for Player Manager, and it will crash ... Again, lack of better testing.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 28-08-2012, 10:43:14
I found where DL-ed bad Kid Gloves Pasti:  on Atari-forum - there is STX section with not too much images submitted.
After 2 and half years, nobody noticed errors ...  Pardon, I did. But they don't want me to post there ... So, enjoy the mess  :)
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 07-09-2012, 15:23:17
Next one bad, found this days:  Dyter-07  by Reline.

MCA crack crashes after first level. FOF crack just little later. What means that D-Bug HD patch will crash too, since it is based on FOF (I did not test it though, but assume that they not too  :)   ).

But real bad news just come:  original has bug(s).  I have OK Pasti images (DL-ed at Atarimania). There is no copy protection, but 'manual protection', activationg after level 1. Bug occurs at final level, part 'Jungle', when go down to the beast. Then it crashes because code damages self at some point.

So, I may say that this game can not be finished normally.

I did some workaround for that latest level, and may reach and kill endboss - which is btw. worst from all them.  After it you will get some congrat txt, and thanks God, can not start game again - this made me feel better - at least some good point  ;D

Anyway, hard disk adapt is done, and I'm on doing floppy version -what will take some extra effort because original is on 2x 450KB floppies, and I will put it on 1x 800K .
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 21-09-2012, 14:18:09
James Pond - Pasti original in GameBase ST has many bad files - lot of fuzzy data on side B. Likely will crash on later levels, or some graphic errors will appear.
Correct image of this version (GBH) may get at Atarimania.  Millennium edition is different considering files, floppy format, but as I see gameplay is same.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: paulwratt on 22-09-2012, 22:38:35
If you have any ST or STX that can from AtariForum, I would be happy to post details and updated image, just so at least some people know what is going on..  yes I see "ppera" is removed user - but originally they have many probs with Marcer too - now he is Atari Legend :) your time will come soon. I think not so many probs for you with AF if no d-bug guys doing "run from HD" and "run from new hardware" - it is same as "cracking crew back in the day" - it is competition in same area of expertise

I also know that "speak not proper english" get someone in trouble too :) even if what they say is true and correct.. but this even happen to me on MiNT list and I am 100% english speaker (did extra work of Corporate English in many jobs - letters, web content, etc)

BTW again thanks for ST/STX work, at least someone is trying to do something about problems..

Paul
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 24-09-2012, 14:45:54
Certainly, there were some misunderstandings with AF crew because language. Competition exists too - for instance with Klapauzius  :) too. However, I never had any problems with Klaz - he is just nice, fair guy, who appreciates other's work and opinion.

Problems with AF started when Mug UK took lead there (some 4 years ago).  How and why it happened, I don't know really, but there are some indications that it wnt not nice - forum was down some times, and they needed some external people to get it back. They (AL crew core) seem to be not motivated and not skilled in computer knowledge - can not perform relative simple forum maintanance and similar.
So, now Dal does it. While Mug UK plays his console  ;D .  I have nothing against if someone lost his interest and knowledge, but then let other to do things. AF forum just favorises AL people - you see there sections for even dead sites - like Guardians of Past - because it is AL GoldRunner's site.
I was banned because criticised GoldRunner's attitude in forum- after he ignored my error reports about GameBase ST several times.  Then, I dared to criticise Ijor - and all what happened in last year confirms that I was in right.  But enough about - I caould talk about all stupidities for hours.
Just to add that I tried to start some new sections at AF - about preservation and related, and had some mailing with Dal about, at end of last year. While he was interested, core was against, only because it is me. What I can say is only:  they care mostly about own fame, and not what is useful for Atari community (people).

I don't see the point to post floppy, STX images to AF (and btw. I can do it too, right now). STX section is not much visited, and DL counters are on low numbers.  The reason must be that people knows much better source - Atarimania.  And now I have enough space to host STX, ST/MSA and hard disk adaptations at 8bitchip.info  - thanx to MrSolajic .
I posted in last couple months over 60 STX images to Atarimana - all what could dig. And they update it quite regularry, and respect my work - especially after getting some STX error reports, and sometimes fixes.

Ah, and about:  " it is same as "cracking crew back in the day"  " - well, there are some similarities, and I was enough dumb to go in fight with D-Bug. But it is over now. After doing over 600 games, and solving many related problems, I don't see that there is competition more. And I still doing new solutions ...
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 04-01-2013, 14:49:05
L'Affaire:  there os B.O.S.S. crack and Crew 42 crack avail. No STX. And both have corrupted part of english text of game (Atari version is 6 language).  Crew 42 v. is little better - at least what can see by looking text with some viewer.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 23-01-2013, 15:12:41
Jumping Jack'Son:  Replicants  ST Amigos crack - later protection check not deactivated. Game will crash after some playing.
Pasti image of game at Atarimania missing title soundtrack (side B). If you have original, please submit.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 26-10-2013, 22:23:04
More errors in Gamebase ST:

Pixie and Dixie (Superior) - nothing, just some lines on screen appear.
The Untouchables - cracked by Law :  on level 2 graphic errors. Did not check further ..

Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 25-11-2013, 10:54:06
Grimblood by Maelstrom:
It works only under TOS 1.02, and that's enough reason to put it here. The exact problem is that game code uses TOS workspace at $3000-$4800 for own purposes - maybe that was necessary to make it work with 512KB machines.  And of course they tested only with TOS 1.02. Since other TOS versions have little different low RAM usage, it crashes on them. 
The funny thing is that there is solution and some free RAM space in all TOS versions when game starts automatically (boot or AUTO run) - used only by Dungeon Master as I know. In TOS header is address of Desktop workspace, and it is about 16-25KB long (depending on TOS version). That space is usually wasted in case of AUTO run, so with Grimblood too.  I fixed it by redirecting all involved addresses in game to that space with short code before start, which sets base address using TOS header info.
http://atari.8bitchip.info/ASTGA/G/grimblood.php
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 03-12-2013, 11:30:39
Dark Fusion by Gremlin
It seems that can not finish game. At stage 4 is not possible to enter fusion pods. Simply can not jump in pod #1, and can not reach pod #2 platform.
I did some hack to make it possible by changing jump altitude by keypress during gameplay.
http://atari.8bitchip.info/ASTGA/D/darkfus.php
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 22-02-2014, 13:13:12
Hillsfar:  there was still codewheel protection in my Gamex release, since I was not aware about it's presence - shows up when looking for guild master in fighters guild. Fixed. Thanx to Iain Metcalf for pointing on error.

James Pond:  Millennium release missing oil leaking on level 8, so can not be finished without cheat. No title music too. And most of cracks (if not all) are based on that release.  What is good is GBH release. This means that I need to update it ...
Thanx to Patryik Widulinski for writing about problem.

Both are updated now - 24 Feb. 2014. James Pond floppy version:   http://atari.8bitchip.info/ASTGA/J/jpond.php 
is likely only one based on good GBH release .
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 21-04-2015, 10:41:05
Jinks (Rainbow Arts) -  Map 2 data is messed up, and game crashes when try to enter it. Same error in Automation and Bladerunners cracks.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 07-07-2015, 13:30:51
Fireball (Microprose) -  Automation crack - it has 4 corrupted maps from 11, + some other errors.
Elite crack seems OK.

Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 19-09-2015, 19:12:27
Sidewalk original:  starting gameplay is troublesome, especially in Steem.  Code is mostly mess.  Version with fix in Game Archive.

Fool's Errand original (STX images at Atarimania) :   file INITDATA is missing, what results in stucking when NEW is clicked.
Save/Load works not well, + there are some weird messages in file selector. Indeed buggy code.  I took INITDATA from Amiga version, and with that Option NEW in menu works - get in Game Archive .
P.S. Load/Save works inly with TOS 1.00 and 1.02 so-so.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 29-10-2015, 13:08:43
Switchblade II :
IKBD code is really bad - sends (total unnecessary) IKBD reset 3 times, without pause between 2 byte writes. What results in dead controls in many cases - Mega STE, Falcon for sure.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 24-12-2015, 09:46:35
Potsworth & Co.
D-Bug crk: no pic. shown after finishing level 1. After finishing level 3 it freezes, so nothing from playing level 3-6.  Obviously untested.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 31-03-2016, 14:52:26
The Third Courier
There is 2x Trap #14 command in row at one place - what may cause some undefined data on stack, and crash. Happens under certain circumstances.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 05-06-2016, 09:13:24
Prehistorik (Titus) , Replicants crk. - instead music at title screen some nasty noise. They dropped audio track, what is on side B of floppy 1, but then should disable playback code too.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 27-06-2017, 17:41:00
Zone Warrior - Superior crk. : zone 5 loads forever, starts not. As I see, there is still checksum failure. Forgot to test it, despite can set zone 5 for start zone ????
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: èné on 29-07-2017, 00:22:32
If I may add few more titles :

Bad Brew Crew 29 Dragon Breed:  - crash in the last level (6th) if both 2 flying snakes are displayed at the same time - you can avoid the crash by quickly killing one of them  :)

Pompey Pirates 20 Interphase:  crash in the last level (where else ? :) ) in vault 7 if you read the message - otherwise the crack is ok

Pompey Pirates 108 Robocop 3: freeze (black screen with plenty numbers) : somewhere in part 3 'The Church' just after the message saying 'Lewis was murdered' - again, you can avoid the bug if you know how

Elite crack Secret of Monkey Island (french version): freeze in the prison (with Othis)
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: èné on 01-08-2017, 17:05:22
Well another one .. I'm playing Ween the Prophecy (french version) - crack Atari Legend. There's a freeze after opening the door in the stele.

I've tried your adaptation (english version) since the save games are compatible between the two versions. Obviously your version is ok (i could reach the other room). Still it's the english version, I would like a release of the french version. Yet I don't know if it's even possible, all the french versions I tested are corrupted ::) I suppose you need a clean version to work with ???

If by luck you happen to find one, it's one of my requests then ;D tks ;)
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 01-09-2017, 09:13:53
After the War - there is silly bug with music play at start. Audio track is located on side B of first floppy, so only owners of machines with 2 sided floppy can hear it - what is common practice. But instead of testing readability of side B, they test RAM size in machine, and load music only when it is not 512KB. I thought first that it needs extra RAM, but no - it loads in low 512KB  :)  I fixed it, so music plays on 512KB machines too.
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 06-06-2019, 05:17:52
Ice and Fire D-Bug release will stuck when it asks for disk change, and that will be soon after starting play.
No original images available, but Supergau release is OK - despite that is on 3 floppies vs. 2 of DB r. Or maybe right because that ?  :)
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 22-09-2022, 10:22:43
Here is more fresh list of games with bugs, problems, some explanations .


Games with bugs:

This should be list of known bugs in game originals.
Bugs like:
Not possible to finish game - probably the worst case.
Diverse errors occasionally - like graphic ones - but it may happen on certain configs, TOS versions only.
Not working on STE - but not because TOS version.
Not working on specific configs or emulators - because silly bug.
Not working with more RAM in machine.
Bad files, corrupted data on original floppies - some releases of game involved.
Other.


Iron Lord: not possible to finish maze - no stairs down from 6th level.
Additionally, single floppy English release (Action 16) has corrupted file, and game will
crash after winning battle.

Crazy Cars 2 - after doing all routes, driving thru final location makes nothing
- instead some message, congrat. you can only drive further.

Dyter-07 - game crashes at final level (descent to end boss). Code/data bug.
After some hacking I reached and defeated end boss, and may say that it is
poorest of all them - just to mention.

Trantor - one version of game tend to crash after some playing.
Recognizable by 45283 bytes long executable.


Bad release:

Tetra Quest - US release has corrupted last 2 files on floppy. - Correction: Microdeal release - should be same for UK and US .

Iron Lord, action 16 release - corrupted file, crashes after winning battle.



Not working on STE - because bugs:

Grand Monster Slam: palette writing overshot - on STE will see lines instead graph.

Hyperforce - same as above.

Nightdawn - writing into video pointer crashes on STE. (On ST does nothing).




Not working in Steem with current Pasti.dll :

Rubicon - there is silly bug in code (forgotten #), what causes both floppy
drives being selected at once. On real HW, with solo floppy drive it harms
not, and likely not on 2 drive configs, when second drive is empty. If Pasti is
inactive, it works in Steem.

 


Not working on higher TOS versions - but not from usual reasons like more
low RAM occupied or Timer-C problem - caused by bugs in code.

Deflector - stoopid bug with address register: copy (w instead l) in game.

Heimdall - graphic bug appears by running on higher TOS versions. Because
some silly code part.



Not working on specific configs or emulators - because (silly) bug:

Pro Tennis Tour - will crash on 2MB TT, if going straight in tournament - because
uninitialized var. - then try to access RAM area between 2-4MB, what on ST(E) does
nothing, but on TT with 2MB causes bus error.
Well, this is really very specific error, and likely only few people, or even
only me noticed it - but is interesting, and needed some time to track down.

Technocop - crashes on TT, Falcon because silly bug with sr setting.

Rick Dangerous II - '0FFF' bug - and it is present in some others. Makes trouble on
TT only - surely, the reason is mistype by coding, so we have something like: $FFF8800 instead $FFFF8800 or $FF8800 . Problems only with 32-bit address bus.

Ivanhoe - '0FFF' bug - see above.

EPIC - If play with mouse on Falcon, will loose controls after little time. The reason is some
strange code (in traps) activated periodically if 68030 is detected - but it does nothing useful.
I guess that because game is released in 1992, they planned Falcon support, but since it delayed game is published without testing on Falcon.


Not working with more RAM in machine:
There is many. For instance Sidewinder.





Other:

Wolfenstein 3D - this is not commercial game, and is not really finished. I found diverse bugs and
partially fixed it. But some levels still make problems. According to coder, he placed crucial parts of code in low 32K RAM, for extra speed. But that area is TOS workspace, so what works under one TOS version, may crash under other. Bad idea for TOS calling game.

Crossland - in audio code IR level is lowered, what may cause activating IR again, before current is finished - and it causes crash. On ST(E) it happens very rare, but on TT for instance after few seconds.

Shiftrix - I don't know on what they tested it, because there is extremely silly bug at start: enabling interrupt before setting it's vector !

Nicky 2 - even if game self needs only 512KB, it crashes with 512K RAM only. Because bug in code.



Special cases, affecting mostly hard disk adaptations (with exit to Desktop opt.) :

Sometimes RAM area above 512KB is intentionally cleared, but there are cases that it is because bugs:

Prehistoric Tale - mistype d7 instead d0 in code.

In many games, mostly graphic code has overshots, writing in higher RAM - Vroom for instance.

IKBD coding seems as big problem - there is a lot of games with bad IKBD code. Usually, playing on regular HW, from floppy you will not notice it. But if doing exit to Desktop from game strange things may happen, if IKBD chip is driven nut. Bad IKBD code may cause problems in Steem too - which has not perfect IKBD emulation. I guess that lack of good documentation is the reason for many bad coding.


If someone of game coders, publishers accidentally reads this, and has some objections, corrections, info about updated versions, feel free to write here.

And of course, I expect users that write here own experiences.

 
Title: Re: "Bad" games list
Post by: Petari on 28-09-2022, 11:45:06
Another my post, from AF. I just think that those things mentioned should be here too :
I will list some reasons why games not run on specific platform(s), without intention to be complete (as some problems are still not clarified) or to list them in some order by how frequent they are.

1: Game runs on machine with 512KB, but not on machines with more RAM. This is probably something stupidest possible, but is not so rare, unfortunately.
The reason is always bad programming. In most cases crackers are culprits, but happens by originals too.
Solution can be to try another crack, and more perspective: using one of small utils to set machine to act as has only 512K - for ST, STE.

2: TOS version related:

2.1: Game is written so that runs on fixed, low RAM locations (not relocatable code). As newer TOS versions reserve more RAM for system, game code will conflict with system, and crash is almost inevitable. Examples: Millennium 2.2, Sapiens.
In some cases game will give message about insufficient RAM at start. Even on machines with 4MB. But game checks actually is there enough free space between system and 512KB.
Possible solutions: running game from AUTO folder. Looking for adapted version. Using Hole.

2.2: Timer C stop problem. It happens on TOS 2.06 , 4.xx (Falcon) . Examples: Space Harrier, Falcon F16, FOTI.
Reason is that Atari changed TOS code by Trap calls, and system will stuck if timer C (200Hz) is stopped by regular Traps.
Solution is: using adapted versions where restart of Timer C is solved somehow. Or running lower TOS version in RAM.

2.3: Sometimes code runs well on some TOS version(s), but not on another one(s). It is mostly because of bad programming (even bugs sometimes), bad system function calls, jumps in ROM and similar.
Solutions: trying with another crack. Looking for patched version. Example: Predator.

3: Hardware related:
Mostly when try running ST(E) games on Falcon.

3.1: Different CPU in Falcon - Stack frame is different by interrupts and Traps. CPU cycles are different. There is cache in CPU. Used stack space is bigger.
Solutions: turning off code and/or data cache. Increasing stack space. Setting CPU clock to 8MHz.

3.2: Falcon uses PMMU table for normal work. It is placed at $700. If some game writes in that area it will crash. Solution is moving of PMMU table in unused RAM.

3.3: PSG shadow registers - Falcon will crash by long writes to PSG (YM) registers. Cure is setting of so called STE emulating bus mode. In some cases it will result with very bad sound, Then only correcting game code may help. Example: Princ of Persia.

3.4: Different video HW registers: screen disalign may happen by direct writing in video base registers. Solution is to use system calls by setting screen base, resolution. There are likely some other problems, as some games crash, freeze by certain points, what needs further investigation.


4. Special, mixed problems: As STE has palette of 4096 colors instead 512 by ST there may happen some problems because of that. Example is Defender of the Crown by which raiding stucks if run on STE. Cure was to correct palette by some pictures where were invalid 12-bit entries instead 9-bit ones. However, it was TOS version related too, since by older TOS versions game worked without stucking (Steem).