Wizkid - writes to original disk?

[Peanutuk]

Hi

I don't know if Wizkid has been CAP-ed already but whilst reading the site I noticed that some games have to e dumped unplayed as they write to the original disk, it was whilst reading this that I remembered something with Wizkid.

I had had the original for quite some time, I put it on and instead of the normal loading screen a picture of Wizkid appeared with 'Happy Birthday to me' or somesuch. Sorry that this is so vauge but it only happened once many many years ago!

This would suggest that the game knows how many times it has been played or has access to the Amiga'a clock? In any case this may require it to write to the original disk.

Just thought I would air this. Has anyone else seen the game do the above?

[fiath]

Oh dear...

Not a great thing for preservation - but it doesn't matter anymore: http://www.caps-project.org/games.php?search=Wizkid

[Peanutuk]

"server unreachable"

[IFW]

Wizkid only writes to disk two. But unlike most games it uses a factory unformatted track (80.0) for the purpose as a good practice.
The Happy Birthday thing I've seen a few times, no idea what triggers it (and no real use in finding out), but certainly not a disk write as it is on disk one and happens during the boot process.

[Peanutuk]

I'd like to know...

[turk182]

I've tried many times to see if I can view that message again , to no avail. I only ever saw it once too

[IFW]

Might be the internal clock or a simple random generator.
If internal clock try it in uae setting the clock from around 11pm to 8am, with 5 minute stepping.

Or better just catch the clock accesses in uae and find out what the program does

[Shatterhand]

Ive seen this "Happy Birthday" stuff a lot of times.

Now I may be dreaming, but I remember of seeing a THIRD different loading screen.

[Peanutuk]

Originally Posted by IFW

Or better just catch the clock accesses in uae and find out what the program does

Go on then. I would like to know what happens. I would but I'm true Amiga only

What say does this third screen look like?

[IFW]

Sorry, no time to do it.

[Galahad/FLT]

Check out the WHDLoad version, all the IFF files are viewable if its a graphic on its own.

[JohnnyWalker]

Bizarrely enough I just saw this screen for the first time ever yesterday (May 26th if it checks the clock, although I booted it again and it DIDN'T happen!). Luckily I'm in the process of writing a FAQ/guide for the game and was taking screenshots... when that popped up I didn't miss my chance! Enjoy!!

There's also a cool rendition of the birthday song that played too.

This is such a freaky co-incidence BTW... I've NEVER seen this screen before in all the times I've played it on my real Amiga!

[fiath]

Cool