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Recently, our mail has gained weight, but we would still like you to write to us more often and in greater numbers. Apparently, the lack of proper feedback is a scourge of all electronic computer magazines. We have data that in many Western magazines of this type, the section dedicated to reader letters is absent.
Now about the letters. Recently, the question of the protection we use often arises.
Yes, until recently it only functioned in TR-DOS 5.03 and above. Moreover, it does not like too high a rotation speed of the disk drive. This should be noted by those whose drive "pushes" much more than 300 RPM. And one more thing. You cannot process a diskette with recovery programs like DCU - you will ruin the disk. Those who wish to recover the diskette are advised to use the ADS program, but ONLY in CHECK mode. After the disk is checked, the program will ask you if you want to restore "bad" sectors (if any are found). In this case, if you want to restore the diskette, do not exit CHECK mode, but immediately answer YES to the RESTORE? question.
In general, when we implemented the protection, we completely forgot that there still exists such a dinosaur as TR-DOS 5.01. We apologize to those who are still using this prehistoric specimen. We admit that we did not foresee the possibility of reading our magazine on 5.01. However, it is now clear to us - there are still all kinds of computers of the "ZX-SPECTRUM" family in the country, and we would not be surprised if tomorrow a letter arrives at the editorial office from the owner of a "SPECTRUM 16K" with two drives and a gigabyte "hard drive," asking to download some cool game via modem.
Seriously, it is not quite clear why people need this 5.01, on which practically all new programs do not run? Although, it is clear that there are users who find it easier to modify the loader for 5.01 than to delve into the depths of their computer, searching for the native 5.01, pulling it into the light of day, and then inserting the incomprehensible 5.04T. Well, whatever, those who use 5.01 know best what configuration their computer should have.
Now we are opening the world of "SPECTROFON" for those who still have 5.01.
As you can see, the issue of standardizing our Speccy is very acute. How to embrace the ungraspable? How to foresee all the nuances of the behavior of Uncle Vanya's computer, which has a one-sided 40-track drive, and additionally TR-DOS 4.99? And he also really wants to play. The simplest solution would be to advise him to come to Moscow to the Mitinsky market and buy himself a normal computer. For example, "PROFI" or "MOSCOW," or at worst, "PENTAGON." But what if Uncle Vanya has no money? What if to get to Moscow, he needs to spend twice as much money as the "PENTAGON" costs? In short, this problem cannot be solved with a cavalry charge. It is clear that we need to somehow negotiate about the standardization of our computers.
"SPECTROFON" is ready to provide its pages to anyone who wishes to express their opinion on this issue: developers, programmers, and manufacturers. Let's try to come to an agreement. Our magazine is ready to become the testing ground where all your ideas will be refined. We NEED a standard. Otherwise, what do we have? Please, two letters on the same topic.
From Mr. A. KIBA: About the 128th version of "DEACTIVATORS." In the form you published it, it is not functional on "SCORPION" family computers. And, it should be assumed, on any other computers with more than 128K of memory.
"S": Not quite so. On the editorial megabyte "PROFI," this game works.
A. KIBA: This is due to incorrect operation with the memory switching port 7FFD. To make it work, I had to insert a couple of commands.
The second letter is even harsher.
SIM OLEG: It is unpleasant that on the pages of your magazine there appeared a hack job from "FANATIC STAS," who previously irritated all progressive humanity with squeaky-flashing encodings, and now, using "DEACTIVATOR 128," distorts by making his versions "glitch" on a third of computers, switching pages in a barbaric way - OUT (#FD),A and tracking any non-standard NMI handler (fear of resident monitors).
We suggest that all such hackers, who are so jealous of their (?) intellectual property, keep such hack jobs at home, show them to no one, and admire them in proud solitude.
"S": We believe that FANATIC STAS will heed the wishes of our readers, and we would like to say the following. The fact is that when preparing games for inclusion in the "APPLICATION," we run them on two machines: "PROFI" and "MOSCOW." If the game does not run on at least one of them, we either redo it or look for another version. And we have no opportunity to keep all types of Speccy in the editorial office - starting from "ROBI-KA," "MASTER," skipping "BYTE" and "DELTA," and ending with "PENTAGON" and "LENINGRAD."
And can one even imagine such a thing? Therefore, returning to the discussion about standardization, we say - write, we will negotiate our own GOST.
A few more words on the topic of "works - does not work."
GMARY A.V.: The music editor ASM v1.12, included in the second issue, refuses to work with the disk drive in any operations. (I have a "PENTAGON" 128 TR-DOS 5.03). This version of ASM works in its own OS. It may work incorrectly. Even when trying to write compiled music code, a failure occurs. The computer accesses the drive, the LED lights up, the head jerks, and the program outputs - DRIVE NOT ATTACHED.
The same happens when selecting all other disk operations.
"S": This question has long troubled us. It was very difficult to figure out the ASM system of the "great archiver" Sendetsky. Apparently only he could competently explain why this happens. Unfortunately, the author did not warn us about possible inconsistencies when recording ASM into the magazine's shell. We found out only one thing: ASM must be recorded at the beginning of the disk. Then this system does not conflict with our magazine's shell and works normally. When we recorded the next batch of the second issue, this question was removed from the agenda.
Those who purchased the distribution of the second issue (from the "INFORCOM" company) from the first batch of the magazine are invited to send the diskette to us, and we will replace it with a working one. Those who can come to the radio market in Mitino, approach place A-37, there you will be able to exchange the diskette without problems. Others, if they encounter similar problems, can contact regional distributors.
GOLIKOV ALEXANDER from Krasnoyarsk asks us if we plan to open subscriptions for "SPECTROFON."
"S": Not yet, although we have thought about it. We simply currently do not have the ability to work with the subscriber database. We lack manpower. But, perhaps next year we will return to this issue.
Recently, we have received several letters with questions about some games. Well, let's try to answer.
VEDERNIKOV V.N. from Perm returns us to the discussion about "ELITE-3," released by THD. Here is what he writes:
You did not mention one circumstance. Or maybe this only happens on my computer? I mean the looping of the program on the mission to rescue people from a dying planet.
In the first galaxy, this mission is not offered, but as soon as you fly to the second, after 2-3 flights in this galaxy, you find yourself at a dying planet.
Well, we take the people and with the help of the planetary hyperdrive (for 125cr) or intergalactic flight, we fly to the 3rd galaxy. The same story repeats there. And so until we find ourselves in the first galaxy again. If I try not to land people or not to take them at all, I again find myself in a dying star system, and all this can continue until I get to the first galaxy.
I tried not to approach such a planet at all. I refuel from a star, start towards another planet, but the result is the same.
I am not even mentioning that after the first transport of refugees, I suddenly find that all the cargo holds acquired in the additional menu disappear, and the ship has a carrying capacity of only 35 tons instead of the usual 150, 200, or 255 tons.
And I simply lost 220 thousand credits spent on acquiring these compartments. Apparently, the rescued people are cutting off pieces of the ship for a long - long memory in gratitude for their rescue.
I would very much like to receive an answer or explanation on this topic: is it a property of my computer, my broken version of the game, or a general property of the game "ELITE-3" (THD)?
"S": A general property of THD. We have already written about the looping of this game, and we have nothing to add to the letter from our correspondent.
PENZIN Y.P. (Samara): I read in the third issue of your magazine about the full version of BATTLE COMMAND. Is this the version titled BATTLE COMMAND + 10 Missions? In Samara, a version without a map and missions has been sold for two years. Can this full version be published in the magazine "SPECTROFON"?
"S": Yes, this is that very version. As for publication... When we prepare a complete detailed description for the "EXPERTISE" section, we will definitely include this game in our application.
Now about the games that we ourselves would gladly acquire and see. Currently, these are the games our readers want to see:
F-19 STEALTH FIGHTER (described in issue 1 of "Computer Worlds ZX-Spectrum" published by "Peter").
BARD'S TALE (we only know that it has been quite successfully ported from IBM and belongs to the ROLE PLAYING GAME genre. By the way, this game remains one of the best in the RPG genre on IBM as well).
GATES OF ASSEENOT (one of the readers of ZX-REVIEW mentions this game in the third issue of the magazine).
We appeal to those who have these games to respond. Thank you in advance!
We have received several letters regarding the structure of our magazine.
SEMKIN ALEXANDER from Bryansk writes that in the "APPLICATION," in his opinion, one, at most two games would suffice. He also asks for more information about the system. The same is mentioned by SIM OLEG and GRIBOV BORIS, but in a slightly different context:
...there is absolutely no need to combine the "APPLICATION" section with the informational part.
The point is not even that out of all four issues we have received, we only lacked one game - "GREAT BRITAIN" (for quite a valid reason)...
"S": And what! A cool game, right?
...but that using "SPECTROFON" as a boot is somehow irrational. It would be much better to publish a more extensive informational part and, separately, the application. And the user, pardon, the subscriber, will decide for himself whether it is worth taking the second disk or not.
"S": At first glance, it seems logical. On the other hand, behind these words, one can see people who sell diskettes themselves and, accordingly, have a large number of gaming and system programs. But what should those do who have some programs but not others? Should they buy the "APPLICATION" on a separate diskette for one program that was described in "SPECTROFON"? Although, we are sure there will be some who would. But undoubtedly, our readers' costs would increase by at least one and a half times with this approach. No, still, the magazine was conceived somewhat differently: "READ-START." True, we can change our policy and do as the authors of the letter suggest, but this should be decided by the majority of our readers. And in general, thanks to SIM OLEG and GRIBOV BORIS from Volgograd for their detailed letter, which touches on many issues, including working with is-DOS.
As part of the ongoing discussion on this issue, let's quote the part of the letter that discusses this system:
...We completely agree with the author of the article (V. Ananyin "We don't need such order" "S"N2) that besides the text editor in this system, there is generally nothing worthwhile. And if anyone is interested in the appearance of programs for is-DOS, let them come forward on the pages of some publication (ideally - SPECTROFON) and tell everyone about the functions of the kernel called through Rst, and preferably in more detail than just listing them in the author's help file.
"S": We join the call of our correspondents and address the creators of is-DOS, as well as the "SLOT" company: IF YOU WANT YOUR SYSTEM NOT TO WITHER IN AN ARTIFICIALLY CREATED INFORMATIONAL HUNGER, BUT TO CONTINUE AN ACTIVE LIFE - GIVE PROGRAMMERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THE SYSTEM MORE CLOSELY. USE OUR INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES... However, if everything remains the same, someone may quietly figure out this system themselves, but by that time, the main mass of users will probably be interested in completely different machines and systems.
Meanwhile, is-DOS reminds us of a tin can with a beautiful label (a kind of computer Ankle Bens). Everything is closed, sealed, and there is no word about the contents. The so-called USER MANUAL for is-DOS is an ordinary collection of help files that have long been studied inside and out. Useful information for thinking people - zero. Of course, at some stage this "User Manual" was necessary, but now it is not enough, and people need other books on is-DOS as air. And what if there are none?.. Gentlemen, remember that canned goods have a tendency to swell and spoil.
Indeed, everything we have discussed here corresponds more to the opinion of a PROGRAMMER than an ordinary USER.
Our user is not picky, eats what he is given. And the user is quite SATISFIED with the dozen programs in is-DOS that currently exist. But... He wants more. And one "SLOT" alone is unlikely to manage this. Therefore, we would like this system to be opened to everyone who wants to create masterpieces for the common good.
Recently, we learned that the "SLOT" company is preparing a book on MACROASSEMBLER for the is-DOS operating system. Has the ice broken?
In conclusion, a few words about the distribution of our magazine. We have received several letters with questions on this topic.
Those who purchase a license for "SPECTROFON" receive the magazine in a non-copy-protected format and become our official regional distributor. This, however, does not apply to Moscow and the Moscow region. Those who purchase licenses for all issues of the magazine at once are also given a diskette with our protection. Thus, our regional distributor can distribute "SPECTROFON" quite calmly without worrying about lovers of pirate copying. Although it is clear that perfect protections do not exist, and playing cat-and-mouse with hackers is pointless: the more complex and unbreakable the protection, the stronger the desire to break it.
Therefore, in this case, the protection is on the magazine only to somehow maintain the profitability of our business at a level necessary for survival. Once again, we remind you that the programs in the "APPLICATION" section are NOT PROTECTED, and if necessary, you can copy them at your own discretion.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO NEW LETTERS!
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Contents of the publication: Spectrofon #06
- Экспретиза - Дмитрий Усманов
Review of 'Heroes of the Lance' for ZX Spectrum, focusing on gameplay mechanics, character roles, and the challenges faced by Russian gamers due to faulty localizations.
- Дебют - Дмитрий Усманов
The article reviews two arcade games for ZX Spectrum: 'The Munsters' and 'Star Paws'. 'The Munsters' combines arcade action with adventure elements, focusing on creating Frankenstein, while 'Star Paws' challenges players to hunt cosmic birds with limited resources. Tips on gameplay mechanics and controls are provided.
- Экзамен
Summary of answers to Spectrofon #05 tasks, winners Sergey Semenov and Andrey Shkolnikov. Detailed solutions for 'ROBIN OF SHERWOOD' adventure game tasks. New challenge in 'HEROES OF THE LANCE' awaits responses.
- Обзор
An overview of recent software releases for ZX Spectrum on the Moscow market, discussing Elite-2's protection removal, Hero Quest's save issues, and a comparison of game charts from Moscow and Omsk.
- С миру по биту
Discussion on mail volume, software protection issues, and TR-DOS versions. Challenges in standardizing ZX Spectrum hardware. Invitation for collaboration on standardization.
- Система
Discussion on data bus instability when connecting a music coprocessor and an effective schematic solution from Moscow radio amateurs.
- Реклама
Advertisement for acquiring the SPECTROFON magazine, collaborating with authors and distributors, and purchasing hardware and software for ZX Spectrum.
