Dungeon Master and Chaos Strikes Back copy protection clarification needed

[rsn8887]

Originally Posted by BarryB

Don't forget the Psygnosis v3.6 release of Dungeon Master has the copy protection removed!

The Psygnosis version has modified dungeon graphics compared to the original game, see here http://dmweb.free.fr/?q=node/247 .

I am also wondering which version of the old DM is 100%?

[jotd]

heads up I've reworked Dungeon Master whdload to support files (not diskimages). Not that easy even if there's no protection on v3.6 because of all the disk checks.

ATM V3.6 is done (with save slots), working on v2.2 and trying to support all of them. Anyone has good links to cracked versions or can zone them?

I'm looking for cracked 2.2, 2.x and v1 (original/cracked) to save time as protection is known to be sneaky. I have IPF of original version (V3.6) and SCP of 2.2 already.

[meynaf]

I have fully cracked 2.0fr if that can interest you.

[jotd]

thanks, I have 2 cracks of that 2.0 already but why not? I'd like to get original 2.0 version too so I can support it properly (no SPS bizarrely, because of flaky bits protection?)

Plus v2.2 cracked if exists. Is there a 1.0 BTW? Didn't find it anywhere.

Not willing to re-do others work, specially cracks, plus I understood that there's a lot of checks and I don't want to play the game 100% to test it.

ATM whdload patch runs with real files (no more disk images, I had to remove a lot of trackdisk stuff regardless of the protection). Even V2.2 runs when original SCP dump is in drive

[dlfrsilver]

Originally Posted by jotd

thanks, I have 2 cracks of that 2.0 already but why not? I'd like to get original 2.0 version too so I can support it properly (no SPS bizarrely, because of flaky bits protection?)

Plus v2.2 cracked if exists. Is there a 1.0 BTW? Didn't find it anywhere.

Not willing to re-do others work, specially cracks, plus I understood that there's a lot of checks and I don't want to play the game 100% to test it.

ATM whdload patch runs with real files (no more disk images, I had to remove a lot of trackdisk stuff regardless of the protection). Even V2.2 runs when original SCP dump is in drive

All the routines to crack are on DMWEB.free.fr, the repository for dungeon master.....

[meynaf]

My crack of 2.0fr is there too.

On this page you will find details :
http://dmweb.free.fr/?q=node/627

[jotd]

Yeah I know that site. And I didn't find detailed routines (I was sure I read them some years ago)

ah yes thanks for the link!!

[dlfrsilver]

Originally Posted by jotd

Yeah I know that site. And I didn't find detailed routines (I was sure I read them some years ago)

ah yes thanks for the link!!

be my guest :

http://dmweb.free.fr/?q=node/627#toc46

[jotd]

thanks meynaf I could adapt your crack and get the game (2.0 fr) run from HD. It still had issues as the disk was checked when saving the game

part of my patchlist (offsets are the segment offsets):

	; meynaf crack
	PL_B	$0bf18,$60
	PL_R	$1399e
	PL_B	$177f0,$60
	PL_B	$18b66,$60
	PL_B	$19dd4,$60
	PL_B	$1a250,$60
	PL_L	$23f78,$7004E75
	; skip hardware disk read
	; (encountered when saving game)
	; meynaf didn't patch it so it probably does
	; nothing, but requires floppy in drive
	PL_S	$1a864,$1aaae-$1a864
	; jotd addons to be able to disable prot routine
	PL_NOP	$1b46a,4	; skip checksum
	PL_NOP	$1b474,4	; skip test (BNE)

I had to disable stuff in a routine (@1a864) that just read stuff but since you didn't patch it it was probably doing nothing but blocked if the disk was not in the drive (DSKRDY test).

That routine was checksummed. Since your crack didn't need to remove it, the checksum was also still active and I was lucky to find it (also it crashed the game when routine was modified so it was not that stealthy)

[Snoopy1234]

Originally Posted by jotd

thanks, I have 2 cracks of that 2.0 already but why not? I'd like to get original 2.0 version too so I can support it properly (no SPS bizarrely, because of flaky bits protection?)

Plus v2.2 cracked if exists. Is there a 1.0 BTW? Didn't find it anywhere.

Not willing to re-do others work, specially cracks, plus I understood that there's a lot of checks and I don't want to play the game 100% to test it.

ATM whdload patch runs with real files (no more disk images, I had to remove a lot of trackdisk stuff regardless of the protection). Even V2.2 runs when original SCP dump is in drive

AmigaLove site had an ADF download of v2.2 DM touted as playable so I'm supposing a cracked one.

[jotd]

cracked doesn't mean HD installable as the meynaf version proved.

It still may require disk in drive (which was the case), and there was a checksum on that particular routine (damn!) plus the handling of savegames & master disk (there's a check to avoid to write on the master disk) is tricky.

thanks anyway. I'll see if it's useful for me. In the meantime I could adapt UK v2.0 version in a matter of minutes from french version (using Beyond Compare + search offsets on the assembly files worked great)

[Snoopy1234]

Originally Posted by jotd

cracked doesn't mean HD installable as the meynaf version proved.

It still may require disk in drive (which was the case), and there was a checksum on that particular routine (damn!) plus the handling of savegames & master disk (there's a check to avoid to write on the master disk) is tricky.

thanks anyway. I'll see if it's useful for me. In the meantime I could adapt UK v2.0 version in a matter of minutes from french version (using Beyond Compare + search offsets on the assembly files worked great)

This v2.2 DM on AL site has a WHDL install with it too which I haven't tried if works or version.

[Snoopy1234]

I see now it the previous WHDL install package.

[Snoopy1234]

I tried :| The adf I posted isn't a crack. It doesn't do game save. Apologies....

[TCD]

I found an ADF of a Dungeon Master disk that isn't in TOSEC while cleaning up Turran's server. I've uploaded it to the zone.

[jotd]

I don't need cracks. I need as many original versions I can put my hands on. And yes, full HD version exists (I downloaded an ADF on TOSEC called "Dungeon Master HD") but with whdload I'll add even more tweaking

- buttonwait
- transparent game saving
- save slots
- trainer
- possibly blitter fixes as some gfx appear trashed sometimes

(plus the ability to quit as always)

ATM I have as originals (or copies that don't work but unmodified files)

- v2.2 (english)
- v2.2 (german)
- v2.0 (french)
- v2.0 (english)
- v3.6 (international?)

[Snoopy1234]

Originally Posted by jotd

I don't need cracks. I need as many original versions I can put my hands on. And yes, full HD version exists (I downloaded an ADF on TOSEC called "Dungeon Master HD") but with whdload I'll add even more tweaking

- buttonwait
- transparent game saving
- save slots
- trainer
- possibly blitter fixes as some gfx appear trashed sometimes

(plus the ability to quit as always)

ATM I have as originals (or copies that don't work but unmodified files)

- v2.2 (english)
- v2.2 (german)
- v2.0 (french)
- v2.0 (english)
- v3.6 (international?)

Quite Exciting really, progress is being made.

[jotd]

yes. Not a piece of cake with all those versions, savegames, gfx issues, etc...

[A500+]

I had no idea of the sheer amount of work that goes into creating WHDL installs until reading the last few posts in this thread. Mad respect to all involved!

I'm not sure if it helps or not but I have an English v3.6 in .ipf format? Can't remember where it came from now though so I'm assuming it's already readily available.

[jotd]

yes, that game wasn't a piece of cake. And the protection wasn't the worst problem. Lots of patching to do to make it work properly (no graphical glitches) with whdload on 5 different versions.

Released soon officially. Happy new year everyone.