Mike the Magic Dragon: in-game problem or WinUAE problem?
 

a simple platformer popular mostly in German-speaking countries.
You control a small dragon and in every stage you have to collect orbs and 3 letters in a specific order, usually related to computer science (RAM, CPU, KEY etc). If you do that correctly a key appears and you're off to the next stage. If not you start from the beginning with the same 3 letters and all orbs already collected. Orbs are necessary for the key to appear so key is already there.

You have to avoid the enemy's of each stage (ghosts, pumpkin heads etc), bullets and when time runs out a spider descends from above, making life even more difficult.

You can collect 2 parachutes in each stage so if you fall off a platform you can use it to land safely.

Intro music is the famous song from Miami Vice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HU-uCj5WDU

You can download the game here

http://www.back2roots.org/Games/ADF-Games/M/20/


Now here is tje problem. No matter in which order I collect the letters, even by going back through save states or replaying the stage I always get an "WRONG" code and repeat the stage.

I havent played the game in a real amiga for a long time but I remember that someone managed to reach the second stage where the platforms change and bullets become even more.

Back2roots hosts correct dumps from what I know. Has it to do with WinUAE or the game? can someone try this on a real Amiga?

thanks.

Usually these kinds of problems are caused by a bad crack.

Game is also very old, try using ks1.2 ocs 512k configuration without any extra drives configured.

you are probably right. so no chance to finish the game. :crying

I also played the Commodore 64 version (easier since there are no enemies). when I collect all the letters and reach the key the game freezes and garbled colours flip in the background.

the demo version of the sequel, Runaway Mike, runs fine. there is no letter code though, you just collect orbs and the key appears.

I see on Hall of Light that it's available as .ipf (SPS project).
http://hol.abime.net/2478

If you can find it you can play it from the original disk's image...

Problem is I cant find it anywhere. Probably it is not officially released yet.

You're probably right... it's number 3072:
http://www.softpres.org/?id=:games&gameid=3072

I see it keeps high scores, maybe it needs to be write enabled..

On the atari 8 bit that caused issues with some games, maybe same with this on the Amiga?

It was given to the contributor(s). We don't distribute for obvious reasons...

On Youtube I had posted a clip from the game and got the following answer:

Emulation problem! To get to the next level, even the crack would only work on an Amiga 500 with Kick 1.2, and 512K of memory. Unfortunately, even with this config, WinUE fails. I can only play it on my original Amiga hardware.

kingsoft games are most of the time nastily protected.

Sorry but I won't trust any youtube comments (or any other similar useless comments).

It must be confirmed by someone who can guarantee he used correct configuration (not just some "ks1.2" config from the net): quickstart 1.2, 512k only, most compatible, no extra drives.

EDIT: and of course to test it on real Amiga too. Using _exact_ same image.

(I don't test play games that require too much time)

The original is protected, but I bet - like most games using the same protection - it is playable to some degree without the correct protection... so I'd say the game you are trying to use is missing the correct protection data.

well that guy posted the comment

http://www.youtube.com/user/Thunderblade64

he seems proficient in Computer Science.

Anyway thanks for the feedback! There goes my dream of finishing a favourite childhood game :crying

There are two versions in Tosec.

Mike the Magic Dragon (1987)(Kingsoft). This matches BTTR version. Perhaps this is not cracked (It attempts to read track 80 which is probably the protection track)

Mike the Magic Dragon (1987)(Kingsoft)[cr Quadlite] (Tiny cracktro and does not read track 80)

Ok, some time has passed...

I can confirm that the game works straight from disk, and yes, it accesses track 80.1, where it looks for a protection screen.

I am going to test one of the ADF versions now. If these access track 80, I am sure it won't work...

Have you found a solution now? Can you already play this game correctly (reaching the next level)in the emulator?
I have the original disk at home. Can someone transfer the content into a correct adf-file, that I can play it on the emulator?

Heya General,

Welcome to EAB :great

One of our uber coders by the name of ross cracked and AGA fixed Mike The Magic Dragon ;)

Grab it from here: /TheZone/files/_2018/Mike the Magic Dragon (1987)(Kingsoft)[cr ross][fix 020+AGA] [Mike the Magic Dragon (full fix, ross)].zip

Edit: Bah, the link isn't currently working so have put the file in The Zone! for you ;)

Wow, thank you very much! You are my hero und suddenly I am 25 years younger! :-)

Don't thank me, thank ross ;)

Came here from a youtube video - they also had trouble with the copy protection until they used an .ipf file.
When copy protection strikes you can play the game, but the code to complete the level doesn't get accepted. So keep that in mind if you use other .adf of this game.

The fixed version works like a charm Ross, thanks! :great