Dungeon Master V2.0 IPF?

[malko]

Originally Posted by BarryB

[...] I have v2.0 as well but it's the French version!!

The best version

[Supamax]

Originally Posted by BarryB

It's my own dump from an original disk,

Ok, thanks .

HxC shows all the ADOS tracks as index-aligned.

This is good, isn't it?

I have v2.0 as well but it's the French version!!

Would you image it?

Originally Posted by dlfrsilver

The SPS IPF encoding tool.

It's available for the SPS staff only and selected contributors like you, right?
EDIT: stupid question, if the tool is what I think it is .

[Supamax]

I uploaded to The Zone the .scp image (made with GreaseWeazle) of my original Dungeon Master v2.0 English floppy, which unfortunately I cannot use/play because the protection track is not working anymore .

I'm planning to overwrite that track (not the whole disk which is still good) with a good track from one good flux image...

EDIT: since I own the original Chaos Strikes Back game, too, maybe I could copy/take the protection track from its floppy?

[Snoopy1234]

Originally Posted by Supamax

I uploaded to The Zone the .scp image (made with GreaseWeazle) of my original Dungeon Master v2.0 English floppy, which unfortunately I cannot use/play because the protection track is not working anymore .

I'm planning to overwrite that track (not the whole disk which is still good) with a good track from one good flux image...

EDIT: since I own the original Chaos Strikes Back game, too, maybe I could copy/take the protection track from its floppy?

I've used disk-analyse to convert your zoned image to ipf. Conversion sorts out some errors sometimes. In this case disk analyse reported unsupported weak bits on track 0.1 but the conversion completed. I've run it in Amiga Forever and it works ok. in the Zone.

[kipper2k]

Originally Posted by Snoopy1234

I've used disk-analyse to convert your zoned image to ipf. Conversion sorts out some errors sometimes. In this case disk analyse reported unsupported weak bits on track 0.1 but the conversion completed. I've run it in Amiga Forever and it works ok. in the Zone.

didn't DM have a habit of making backups crash subtly later on in the game making it impossible to win ?

[Supamax]

Originally Posted by Snoopy1234

I've used disk-analyse to convert your zoned image to ipf. Conversion sorts out some errors sometimes. In this case disk analyse reported unsupported weak bits on track 0.1 but the conversion completed. I've run it in Amiga Forever and it works ok. in the Zone.

Thanks, but I strongly doubt that the converted .ipf image will work.
The original floppy and my .scp images share the same issue: the game can be loaded and played for a little, but some time after you go down to the first level you'll get errors/hangs due to the protection kicking in.

Originally Posted by kipper2k

didn't DM have a habit of making backups crash subtly later on in the game making it impossible to win ?

You're right

[alexh]

Originally Posted by kipper2k

didn't DM have a habit of making backups crash subtly later on in the game making it impossible to win ?

Yes. v2.0 you can run for hours if not days before it will give you either an error or a map with a wall where there isn't normally one.

[BarryB]

I've uploaded to The Zone my KF dumps of DM v2.0 French and DM v2.2 English!

[Supamax]

Originally Posted by Snoopy1234

I've used disk-analyse to convert your zoned image to ipf. Conversion sorts out some errors sometimes. In this case disk analyse reported unsupported weak bits on track 0.1 but the conversion completed. I've run it in Amiga Forever and it works ok. in the Zone.

Unfortunately (as I thought) it's not fully working.
It's also showing this message when I click on the floppy icon in one of the characters' menu: (see attached image)

Originally Posted by Snoopy1234

I've used disk-analyse

Where can I find that utility (just to experiment/fun)? It's by Kier?

[Supamax]

Originally Posted by BarryB

I've uploaded to The Zone my KF dumps of DM v2.0 French and DM v2.2 English!

Thanks!

[Snoopy1234]

Originally Posted by Supamax

Unfortunately (as I thought) it's not fully working.
It's also showing this message when I click on the floppy icon in one of the characters' menu: (see attached image)



Where can I find that utility (just to experiment/fun)? It's by Kier?

A compiled version of disk-analyse.exe is regularly updated and linked by ACD2001 in the Create your own IPF's thread. disk-analyse.exe -h in cmd gives parameters and a general command is : >disk-analyse.exe format=(game name from format list) -i input file.xxx output file.xxx

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?...hlight=ipf%27s

[Supamax]

Originally Posted by Snoopy1234

A compiled version of disk-analyse.exe is regularly updated and linked by ACD2001 in the Create your own IPF's thread. disk-analyse.exe -h in cmd gives parameters and a general command is : >disk-analyse.exe format=(game name from format list) -i input file.xxx output file.xxx

http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?...hlight=ipf%27s

Thanks

Originally Posted by BarryB

I've uploaded to The Zone my KF dumps of DM v2.0 French and DM v2.2 English!

Can I use these directly in WinUAE, even if they are multiple files?
I played a little with your SCP conversion of the v2.2, exploring the Kids Dungeon (nice! Never saw it before), but after some minutes... :

[Supamax]

Maybe the .scp conversion looses some weak bits information?

[BarryB]

Originally Posted by Supamax

Can I use these directly in WinUAE, even if they are multiple files?
I played a little with your SCP conversion of the v2.2, exploring the Kids Dungeon (nice! Never saw it before), but after some minutes... :

I converted my v2.2 dump in HxC, exporting it to SCP and I played for about an hour and could format a disk then save/load the game! But that's no guarantee it won't guru later on!

How did you make your SCP image?

[Snoopy1234]

Originally Posted by Supamax

Maybe the .scp conversion looses some weak bits information?

This might be it. I shifted the protection track of your scp with HxC as per Jim Drew (SCP developer) instructions from awhile back. I've played it through to character regen and it's ok so far. Uploaded to the Zone FY convenience.

[Supamax]

Originally Posted by BarryB

I converted my v2.2 dump in HxC, exporting it to SCP and I played for about an hour and could format a disk then save/load the game! But that's no guarantee it won't guru later on!

Yes, your .scp is faithful enough to pass some checks (including the save stage) but not enough to pass all of them .
The System Error 60 is a DM alert meaning that the protection has kicked in:
http://dmweb.free.fr/?q=node/210#toc25

If the game detects a copied disk or that the program was modified then it can produce different effects, immediate or delayed:

- The game hangs, crashes or deliberately runs out of memory.
- The game displays a dialog box with the message "THAT'S NOT THE MASTER DISK!"
- When clicking on the disk icon, the champion inventory is closed instead of opening the save menu.
- Mouse clicks are ignored.
- Animation stops (thrown items remain in the air, door do not open/close, creatures do not move, etc.). Soon after this the following message is displayed: "SYSTEM ERROR 60".
- Altars of Vi cannot be used anymore
- Instant death of the whole party. When this happens, you do not have the option to "Restart this game" as you usually have when your party is killed during combat.

How did you make your SCP image?

I used the GreaseWeazle I have here (F7 v2 - 2020).

[Supamax]

Originally Posted by BarryB

I converted my v2.2 dump in HxC, exporting it to SCP and I played for about an hour and could format a disk then save/load the game! But that's no guarantee it won't guru later on!

I'm hoping you KF image is fully working (that's why I asked you to upload it too ).

[Supamax]

Originally Posted by Snoopy1234

I shifted the protection track of your scp with HxC as per Jim Drew (SCP developer) instructions from awhile back.

What do you mean with "shifted"?
Is there a link to the relevant thread?

I've played it through to character regen and it's ok so far. Uploaded to the Zone FY convenience.

Thanks, I'll test it.
NOTE: the game must be tested at least upto the beginning of the first level (down the stairs) and played for 10 or more minutes.

[Supamax]

The main disk of Chaos Strikes Back has the same protection track as DM 2.0.
Has it been done in IPF by the SPS team?
If so, we could somehow take the track 0.1 from there and 'inject' it in the DM image?

However, I have the original disks of it, too. I'll later make .scp images of them and upload to The Zone for your analysis.

[BarryB]

Originally Posted by Supamax

I'm hoping you KF image is fully working (that's why I asked you to upload it too ).

It will contain all the information that was duplicated on the disk, the problem is converting that information into a format that can describe the protection track!

Currently no official IPFs exist of DM or CSB as SPS have not updated their analyser to support the protection yet, same reason that some Psygnosis titles that have never had official IPFs released either!!