Soon some new images for HxC

[Petari]

After struggling with Ijor about he give some specs and help about Pasti format, and 0 help I found Markus Fritze's description of pasti format, so could start with my old ideas.

STX to STT conversion.  Why it is good ?  STX usable only with emulators. STT writeable on floppies in some cases (game Virus). Usable with HxC floppy emulator.
So, I will post soon STT images for all floppies on serial Space Ace and Dragon's Lair. It is about 30 floppies. Exact copies of originals, from which I made hard disk adapts.  It will be usable only with HxC. No way to write onto floppies with Atari or PC - there is too much data on tracks. Likely possible to write with Kryoflux, but it needs conversion to proper format. There will be some other games too, like Ivanhoe ...

Another Pasti related new :  STX to STX conversion .    A lot of existing Pasti images can be shrinked to aprox half size. The reason is some doubled data storing in images (track image beside sectors), while track image serves nothing. So, may drop out.   But I will not publish SW for it soon - it is not for everyone, but people with some experience, + I need to work on it yet a lot - mostly testing with diverse images.

[Anemos]

If I understood..
My opinion is: your work is great in HDD adaptions, maybe your time for other forms of image is unnecessary, but i will not tell you how to use your free time ..
I think the HxC pretty good tool, but not so, since it is expensive.
If someone has a genuine ST machine and running Floppy drive, and hard drive,(or UT) what to do using  HxC?
There are also new PC floppy drives that can be adapted to ST, so they have a genuine feel floppy and not a substitute ..

[Petari]

This with STX, STT images will not last long. I just want to do some things, which are solveable relative easy.
And with hard disk adaptations will not last too much yet. I'm out of good games, and it is time to gradually stop with it. Years passed with it, and  1 year max more I will deal with.

I think that HxC is fine device. Not cheap, but floppy disks are not cheap too, and getting worse, damaged by time. Many people already purchased HxC, so why not doing little support. Especially as Jeff is very helpful and fast (contrary to someone mentinoned here...) .
Then, as I said already, STT files of Space Ace, Dragon's Lair will be usable only with HxC. There is no way to write them onto floppies. Only with Kryoflux - in theory. But first you must buy Kryoflux, and then someone must convert to it's format or imaging originals (but where to get them).
What I offer is usable instantly for people with HxC. Other thing, Pasti shrinking is for Game Archive (+people with small hard disks). Sizes matters, WEBspace costs money.

[Anemos]

I thought Hxc converter image, and the entire process of transferring image was easier for Hxc .. if enough games they want special treatment .. grin ..
As for the web space I would do my own proposal to host you in my ftp, but I do not think I can keep it for a long time, therefore difficult economic situations ..
Edit: for me, the best would be to improve the "imagerunner" running from the HDD, there is "all money" for our Atari,s.

[Petari]

As is explained on page, Image Runner is good only for games where no direct floppy controller access - so all loads go via TOS calls. As many games use direct access, they can not work from hard disk without changes in their code. So, Image Runner can not be better in that aspect.
Even idea to enhancing it with multifloppy game support seems as not much prosperious. Usually, multifloppy games using only TOS calls are hard disk installable, or is easy to do hard disk adapt.

As real problem I see lack of will to do something useful for Atari users:  creating list of games which are playable with Image Runner. I started with it on page, but for sure will not do everything myself. I started general compatibility list - it was not accepted, or updated by users. So, we are at point that everyone self must experience.  Nobody contributes in Game Archive.  I can not do more, and loosing my motivation.

If Atari users are satisfied with things as they are now - bunch of menu disks DL-able, then I don't need to bother. If want something better then contribute.  Ar at least accept something new with opened arms.

What I see is envy, grouping, crews which not cooperate and similar. Forum lead by fat alcoholicer Muguk which is on downspirale - there is not left people with knowledge, only useless discussions and lot of stupidity around.

In any case, I check for runnability with Image Runner for new items in Game Archive, and put notice if works. Will in that base be much more games depends on you, folks.

[Anemos]

We are offtopic i know .. but some people might want some help in your projects (if they have knowledge), you just go to remind most often what you ask for, with fresh new topics.
I could start a compatibility list for "Image Runner " ..even what games can start with this program .. because they are time consuming to check every game on halfway gameplaying.

[Petari]

OK, back to topic: Here are STT images of Space Ace : http://atari.8bitchip.info/SpaceAceHxC.ZIP
100% OK, played until end. But you need to wait until Jeff publish updated SW for HxC. There are some problems with running on Mega STE.

STX shrinking: shrinked some files by dropping unnecessary track images. Updated in Game Archive. Shrinked STX images are with Shr in filename.
Replaced some STX files with ordinary ST ones, as no protection, even if some pirates 'cracked' those games  (Aigle D'Or) .  So people can use them not only in Steem and Saint.

[Petari]

I converted all other ReadySoft titles - Space Ace 2, Dragon's Lair 1-4. But will not post them for some time. If you want them, drop me a mail. I need to know who is interested, and what HW has.

[Petari]

STT images currently available:
STT image list :

   Originals:

Action Fighter  - latest tr. 12s/t - so HxC only
Alternate Reality - tr 79, s245-247, writeable to floppy +
Atomix -  tr79 high s#    writeable
Aventures De Moktar - 11 s/tr, high s#  HxC only ?
Awesome - custom sector #s   3 disks  writeable


Bad Cat -   tr79 high s#      2 disks, only first prot.
Bard's Tale - tr 79 high s#  12s/t  HxC only  2 disks, only first prot.
Bermuda Project - tr 79 empty - writeable


Dragon's Lair - custom s#, 6x1KB/track       4 disks  Only HxC
Dragon's Lair 2 - custom s#, 6x1KB/track    6 disks
Dragon's Lair 3 - custom s#, 6x1KB/track    7 disks
Dragon's Lair 4 - custom s#, 6x1KB/track    6 disks

Ivanhoe - 12  s/t   HxC only



Space Ace - custom s#, 6x1KB/track      4 disks
Space Ace II -  custom s#, 6x1KB/track       5 disks   HxC only


Virus - high  s# ,  writeable


 Almost originals:

Alien World - added unlimited lives, removed track load test

Total 50 floppies.

Shortages descript used protection - for experts.

[Anemos]

Excellent work, that make happy Atari & HxC users ..
I suppose you also have the HxC drive eh?

[Petari]

HxC is nice thing - it does what Floppy Image Runner can not: work of games with direct floppy controller access. And it is multiplatform, so for almost any machine with floppy.  I did HxC support earlier too - starting with basic STT support, faster ST, MSA load (added skew by reading) - I mean I suggested that this be implemented to Jeff.
But Atari 'community' knows almost nothing about it. We are separated because mindless forum admins which care only for their 'fellows', and not for people doing useful things.
In past I nerved when saw what D-Bug morons wrote (partition wiping and similar crap). Tried to point on nonsenses and absurds, lacking facts. But Atari people cared not much. Some even found fun in all that.  Now I say that all it is OK. Who listens on D-Bug or goes on 'great' Atari forum to learn something (and gets useless Muguk image files where will loose data when on partition will be over 32MB occupied   ) + endless, useless discussions about things which are crarified years, decades ago - such people deserves not better. I did not spend my time for people without sense for seeing who is one, who really does and knows something.

As side result of dealing with Pasti images is improved description:  
http://atari.8bitchip.info/STXdesc.html

P.S. looking recent posts of Jorge, I bet that he will not publish soon specs, sources. As usual, he just listed some excuses, plans and forgot not to say that has no time. I guess that 1-2 hours to do something similar what I did is too much for hh. And clock ticks without pause

[Petari]

New STTs:  Wrath of the Demon (4 flo) - HxC only.
Currently testing updated HxC SW (beta) with improved STX support - will write here what works ...

[Shredder11]

Thanks PP!