View Full Version : Battle Squadron question
john4p
21 July 2008, 08:22
Is there an adf available of the PAL-version of this game?
Because the WHDLoad-version I have is PAL and MUCH better than the NTSC-version because the playfield is more than 25% larger! Battle Squadron PAL has a resolution of 320x256 whilst the NTSC-version has a resolution of a mere 320x200 (btw.: this also holds true for Arkanoid) - which is total crap for a vertical shooter.
So if one day this game should be voted I really would prefer the PAL-version. But not everyone knows how to use WHDLoad. That's why I want to know if there is a PAL-adf available? All ADFs of this game available on planetemu are the inferior NTSC-version.
P.S. Since I don't have an original Amiga anymore I can't make an adf of my legit purchased copy of this game. ;)
musashi5150
21 July 2008, 08:53
I can't make an adf of my legit purchased copy of this game. ;)
You couldn't anyway - it's pretty well protected :)
john4p
21 July 2008, 09:11
Okay - so that might be the reason why I couldn't find an adf yet. Has the PAL-version ever been cracked?
Slightly off topic, have you ever listened to the remixed title music by Reed (http://www.bitfellas.org/e107_plugins/radio/download.php?id=7089) or the official remake by original musicial Ron Klaren on Immortal 2 CD (http://www.amiga-immortal.com/cds/immortal2/immortal2.htm)?
BS was the first game I had for my Amiga coming free in a bonus game bundle from the recently defunct Evesham Micro's in 1990.
john4p
21 July 2008, 11:54
have you ever listened to the remixed title music by Reed (http://www.bitfellas.org/e107_plugins/radio/download.php?id=7089) or the official remake by original musicial Ron Klaren on Immortal 2 CD (http://www.amiga-immortal.com/cds/immortal2/immortal2.htm)?I have now. Sounds pretty good - but I still find the original better.
The Immortal 2 CD version (arranged by the original composer Ron Klaren) grows on you. But you have to listen to it a few times.
It is a remix of all the tunes in the original (Title, in-game, Game-Over and Ending)
It is without a doubt my favourite track on that Album.
john4p
21 July 2008, 12:19
Okay - the mp3 from that site you've linked is just a 30 seconds preview and thus couldn't grow that much on me. ;)
Old Fool
21 July 2008, 14:55
Is there an adf available of the PAL-version of this game?
It's really amazing that this game made back in 1989 has actually even better version for PAL systems. Incredible, because the NTSC version is technically one of the most impressive OCS games... :crazy Due the great copy protection I only see in my dreams it on full screen mode on my A500!! :scream
john4p
21 July 2008, 15:16
Well, I just found an IPF of the PAL-version on some french site. It works flawlessly (like an ADF) with WinUAE after placing the file "CAPSImg.dll" from www.softpres.org in the WinUAE-folder.
But since it's a disk image of the original with copy protection intact I'm not allowed to post the link to that french site, am I? And in order to convert it to an ADF you would have to crack the protection.
But as I said you can just use it like an ADF if you copy the library "CAPSImg.dll" in the same folder as your winuae.exe.
Graham Humphrey
21 July 2008, 18:49
To get around the whole "not everyone knows how to use WHDLoad" thing, we could use a similar method like we will for Lotus 2 if that ever gets voted for - stick it on an autobooting ADF (High-Density if necessary), that would probably do the trick. Not an ideal solution but it'll probably work.
well i remember i get a working PAL version which can be copied using XCopy in Nibble Mode... AFAIR... but my memory is not what it was in the past...
Galahad/FLT
21 July 2008, 19:51
Didn't Flashtro do a 1 disk PAL crack?
If not, i'm happy to do one.
Belgarath
21 July 2008, 19:55
I thought the flashtro ver was PAL as well?
formater
21 July 2008, 23:19
As say Galahad and Belgarath , the flashtro's version is PAL
Graham Humphrey
21 July 2008, 23:24
So are there actually any gameplay differences between the PAL and NTSC versions then? Could be worth knowing should this get played in a future round (I know where John's double-voting power is going ;))
Galahad/FLT
21 July 2008, 23:37
Would imagine, unless the timings were done with the CIA chip, the NTSC version should be faster and on a smaller screen.
StrategyGamer
22 July 2008, 01:44
The PAL version was given a score of 107% in a magazine review. Does this mean that the NTSC version rates a mere 100% ?
john4p
22 July 2008, 08:24
Where can I find the Flashtro version? And who or what is "Flashtro" - is it a forum-user or a cracking group?
@Graham: I won't vote for that game if only the NTSC-version can be provided for all (unless the PAL-version's scores are identical and both versions would be allowed)...
@StrategyGamer: I guess I found the article. "Amiga Computing" gave it 109% to express how much better this game is than Xenon II which they previously considered perfect and gave 100%. They only tested the PAL-version of Battle Squadron.
Retro-Nerd
22 July 2008, 11:12
The Flashtro PAL crack from Rob is in the Zone. :)
Old Fool
22 July 2008, 13:05
Thanks for this information about PAL version from Flashtro. Info to John:
http://www.box.net/shared/bsenhfm04w#1:15405427
There you can find Flashtro cracks and trainers for several games. Sorry to say but due to some conflicts there are not coming new ones anymore :(
By the way: Everyone whose interested there is a rolling demo of BATTLE SQUADRON with more powerfull sound effects than the release version has. I guess there wasn't enough free memory to left those better sound effects... It's worth checking the demo version though!
john4p
22 July 2008, 13:14
The PAL-adf finally - thanks a lot, Old Fool! There is also the PAL-adf of Arkanoid available. Nice.
@Retro-Nerd: Thanks for the info. Don't have access to the zone, though...
TheCyberDruid
22 July 2008, 13:15
Thanks for this information about PAL version from Flashtro. Info to John:
http://www.box.net/shared/bsenhfm04w#1:15405427
Hmm, I know that site from somewhere ;)
Just noticed that long file names seem to be truncated :( So if you download the file from there add '.7z' or '.zip' to the filename and you can extract it. Wil l check the files again and reupload them if necessary. I will also post the link again in the 'Rob's trainer' thread :)
@john
Here's (http://eab.abime.net/faq.php?faq=vb_faq#faq_thezone_faq_item) your access to the zone :)
where can I find that preview version of Battle Squadron?
Old Fool
22 July 2008, 13:23
where can I find that preview version of Battle Squadron?
If I remember right it was one of those DEFJAM compilations in TOSEC -> COMPILATIONS. It's a pity that there's no info what on earth this disks contains. Few years ago I systematically checked those but there were too many and too little time...
john4p
22 July 2008, 13:35
That demo (you can't play yourself) is available on planetemu:
Battle Squadron - The Destruction of the Barrax Empire! (demo-rolling) (1989)(Innerprise Software)(PAL) (http://planetemu.net/index.php?section=roms&dat=257&action=showrom&id=325771)
john4p
22 July 2008, 13:48
@CyberDruid: Somehow missed your post - thanks for the link!
Old Fool
22 July 2008, 15:06
That demo (you can't play yourself) is available on planetemu:
Battle Squadron - The Destruction of the Barrax Empire! (demo-rolling) (1989)(Innerprise Software)(PAL) (http://planetemu.net/index.php?section=roms&dat=257&action=showrom&id=325771)
OK, thanks for the link!
Now I have played the rolling demo again and it seems that also music is some what reduced compared to the original! Those "after new weapon catch" tunes are missing from the playable version. Also few sound effects are missing. Correct if I'm wrong but is there also some GRAPHIC effects used that not in the final????
It's easier to make a rolling demo than a real-time calculated two-player game so the makers have used tricks that reminds me on those game packages with retouched screen shots...
TheCyberDruid
22 July 2008, 16:27
@CyberDruid: Somehow missed your post - thanks for the link!
You're welcome :) You'll find a lot of nice stuff there! Just be sure to check it at least once a week ;)
preview is also on Medway Boys & Ikari, The - Mega Menu 012 (19xx)(Medway Boys-Ikari) (http://planetemu.net/?section=roms&dat=32&action=showrom&id=20004) (with Lode Runner)
demoniac
24 July 2008, 00:39
Correct if I'm wrong but is there also some GRAPHIC effects used that not in the final????
I didn't notice any missing gfx, but the intro is better than one in the game. It makes me wonder if there's a colorized ending sequence somewhere that didn't make it to the game.
demoniac
24 July 2008, 00:48
Would imagine, unless the timings were done with the CIA chip, the NTSC version should be faster and on a smaller screen.
I just checked Captain Paranoia's version, which seemed to be NTSC. The timing is the same speed as PAL. It does have a smaller screen area.
extralife
16 April 2009, 09:54
woohoo, i know this thread is old, but since my a1200 has lost its sound channels, i have been looking for the pal crack of this super game to run on my a500, crossing fingers it works :D damn i see even more of my favorites in that link :D thx
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