Xenon II Megablast 1 and 2 disk versions: differences?

[andreas]

Hey there,

this is due to KillerGorilla, who pointed me to the existence of a 1-disk version of Xenon II (ta bud!). I had the SPS IPF (#2234), but I wasn't aware of that ...

I remember both disks of the 2-disk version to be crammed with data and not a load of free space left on it anymore.
KG reported that the music is *there* on the budget 1-disk original, unlike on the 1-disk cracks from back in the days, i. e. 2 disk versions which had been 1-disked.

So if there was a load of data on both disks, what has fallen victim to deletion then to fit the original (!) game on one disk in its entirety, as on the Power Pack budget release?

[jotd]

Originally Posted by andreas

Hey there,

this is due to KillerGorilla, who pointed me to the existence of a 1-disk version of Xenon II (ta bud!). I had the SPS IPF (#2234), but I wasn't aware of that ...

I remember both disks of the 2-disk version to be crammed with data and not a load of free space left on it anymore.
KG reported that the music is *there* on the budget 1-disk original, unlike on the 1-disk cracks from back in the days, i. e. 2 disk versions which had been 1-disked.

So if there was a load of data on both disks, what has fallen victim to deletion then to fit the original (!) game on one disk in its entirety, as on the Power Pack budget release?

FYI 1-disked version uses Rob Northen 12 sector format (vs 11), which gives $200*160 = 80 kbytes more to put data on the disk.

[andreas]

Ahhhh thanks! So that's where the trick starts!
Funny isn't it? They need a budget version *much later* issued to release a 1-disk version, which can/could save people with only 1 drive lots of trouble.
I think there's a right for a question: Why not on the initial release either?
Could even have saved some MATERIAL because one disk per box is cheaper than two, in terms of production costs.

[ant512]

The music in the game is different to the music in the intro, which is missing from the 1-disk version. The intro track is about three or so minutes long and takes up most of the space on the first disk. The music in the game is heavily cut down in length, and possibly only plays on three channels, leaving the fourth channel for sound effects.

[killergorilla]

The 1 Disk version DOES have the intro

[ant512]

Originally Posted by killergorilla

The 1 Disk version DOES have the intro

Yes, with the in-game music. The intro music from the two-disk version is about 360K, or 320K when zipped, which won't fit into the 80K saved by using the alternative disk format.

Here's a link to the two files:

http://exotica.org.uk/tunes/unexotic...Megablast.html

You'll need something like DeliPlayer to play the tunes.

[killergorilla]

No.

The one disk version I am playing has exactly the same music.

[ant512]

Well, I could be wrong! I've got the 1-disk version somewhere, I'll have to dig it out and give it a go.

[killergorilla]

You are sire!

I can record them both for ya!

Or just get your hands on the IPF versions and compare the two

I know a lot of the cracked versions didn't have the original music though.

[jotd]

Originally Posted by killergorilla

You are sire!

I can record them both for ya!

Or just get your hands on the IPF versions and compare the two

I know a lot of the cracked versions didn't have the original music though.

I just think they improved both in disk format and in compressors.
At first, they just used RNC old DOS trackloader with RNC copylock (and mistakingly forgetting to remove the developper files so everyone could get their hands on RNC copylock system, docs ...)

The budget release loses the RNC copylock but gains the RNC PDOS format.

Same thing for Chaos Engine. ECS version has DOS tracks + copylock, AGA version has only RNC PDOS format.

[IFW]

Just for correctness: the one disk version of Xenon 2 is Speedlock - it has nothing to do with PDos.
The reason it is one disk is that it uses the theoretical maximum amount of data that a well aligned floppy drive could supply to the fdc. Same data with the original. Howeveer any misalignment of the drive would cause the game to fail loading completely.

[Titler]

Originally Posted by killergorilla

You are sire!

I can record them both for ya!

Or just get your hands on the IPF versions and compare the two

I know a lot of the cracked versions didn't have the original music though.

I've just rummaged out my old KIXX version of Xenon II to check the number of discs, and I can say killergorrila is correct, at least for one of them. You see, when I purchased the budget game, on one disc, it didnt load on my A500 so I had to return it. However, the replacement they sent me had a white label with the following on it:

"Pre Production Sample:
Title > Xenon 2
Serial > 26630
Customer > Kixx Software
Date > 9/8/1996
Disk > 1 of 1"

And this definately had the full intro music, with samples on it, as well as the sample free in game tune. I dont remember the production disc ever running (they actually sent that back too) so I cannot recall if it also had the intro music.

[girv]

Originally Posted by jotd

(and mistakingly forgetting to remove the developper files so everyone could get their hands on RNC copylock system, docs ...)

That's cool, I'll have to check that out

[christianlucio]

I know I am a bid late I just have tried the ipf of the one disk version (caps 2234). As it seems it can not be played after defeating the dragon in level 4. Afterwards the graphics are corrupt and you can not proceed. Is there a onedisk version that works till the end ?