Darius WHDLoad NTSC support?

TjLaZer · 11 March 2020, 05:53

Can anyone fix Darius to run on NTSC? I have an ADF that runs on NTSC, not sure on the original released disk, but I assume the slave just needs a little update.

CFou! · 11 March 2020, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by TjLaZer

Can anyone fix Darius to run on NTSC? I have an ADF that runs on ADF, not sure on the original, but I assume the slave just needs a little update.

perhaps somebody have an NTSC official release for whdload's update?

DrBong · 11 March 2020, 16:34

@Bertrand
Sorry Bertrand, but there's no real evidence that a NTSC version of Darius+ was ever produced for the North American market - I can't find a review appearing in any of the U.S. mags or a listing for a U.S. distributor in any of the Amazing Computing/Amiga World annual product guides. The coin-op conversion was licensed from Taito and handled by Softek, the in-house team of UK publisher The Edge. Taito didn't have much love for the Amiga and pretty much gave up on it during 1989 after producing a few Amiga conversions of their best-selling coin-ops.

Darius probably wasn't one of Taito's top tier coin-ops, so no surprise they were happy to license it out to a UK publisher and not bother with a NTSC conversion in-house for the Amiga or any other platform in the North American market. Moreover, The Edge was a small-ish UK publisher and, IIRC, only ever had one game marketed/distributed in North America and that was The Punisher by Paragon....which is quite obscure.

In a nutshell, you - in all likelihood - only have the PAL retail release to play with and your best bet is to add NTSC support to the slave for that version if you are to update the existing WHD patch. The screens used in the PAL version are already 320x200 lo-res, so I'm guessing it's the music and sound FX that are going to be harder to adapt for NTSC systems.

DamienD · 11 March 2020, 16:51

There are these in TOSEC but probably not official:

... Darius + (1989)(Edge, The)(US).zip
... Darius + (1989)(Edge, The)(US)[a].zip
... Darius + (1989)(Edge, The)[cr ACC][f NTSC PNA][t +2 Vanguard - AFL].zip

DrBong · 11 March 2020, 17:07

@Damien
Aye! The last one you've listed is an NTSC fix, so I can't see why they would've needed to have done one back in the day if there was a legitimate NTSC retail release in existence. The date stamps on the files of the so-called original U.S. releases of Darius+ in TOSEC are all in the year 2020....so just a little bit suss!

TjLaZer · 11 March 2020, 18:03

There might not be an official NTSC release but that is irrelevant. The ADF I have runs just fine on my NTSC system (not sure if it’s in fact a NTSC fix or not), so can the slave be tweaked to make it run on NTSC or on these ADFs that do work? I tried to use this disk in the WHDload package but that didn’t work. I guess it expects the protected ADF instead. I’ll check to see if the disk I do have is the same as the two posted up above tonight. Thanks!

DrBong · 11 March 2020, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by TjLaZer

There might not be an official NTSC release but that is irrelevant.

From your perspective perhaps, but from a WHD patcher's perspective it is....otherwise I doubt Bertrand would've asked if someone could supply him with an official NTSC release. It boils down to the work involved in adapting a WHD slave for an official NTSC version vs an official/hacked PAL version. Of course, sometimes NTSC fixes from the scene can help patchers adapt their slaves as it provides clues as to how to expediently go about it.

Why don't you upload the game version that you've been using so Bertrand can perhaps move things along? As he said in another thread, he's taking winter vacation right now and might not have much time for patching when it ends and he has to return to work.

TjLaZer · 11 March 2020, 18:57

Yes I will upload it tonight. I’d like to see if it’s indeed a fixed version or not. The game really does run like crap in PAL. Really slow. And unplayable in my opinion. Running it in NTSC really helps here. It would be so great to have it fixed for WHDLoad.

CFou! · 11 March 2020, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by TjLaZer

Yes I will upload it tonight. I’d like to see if it’s indeed a fixed version or not. The game really does run like crap in PAL. Really slow. And unplayable in my opinion. Running it in NTSC really helps here. It would be so great to have it fixed for WHDLoad.

i'll look tomorrow if i can update current whdload's patch to works on NTSC system.

Perhaps just a PAL/NTSC test to remove... as Chinease Karate on Cosmo Ranger

CFou! · 11 March 2020, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by TjLaZer

There might not be an official NTSC release but that is irrelevant. The ADF I have runs just fine on my NTSC system (not sure if it’s in fact a NTSC fix or not), so can the slave be tweaked to make it run on NTSC or on these ADFs that do work? I tried to use this disk in the WHDload package but that didn’t work. I guess it expects the protected ADF instead. I’ll check to see if the disk I do have is the same as the two posted up above tonight. Thanks!

original WaitVbl code freeze on NTSC version

CFou! · 11 March 2020, 22:47

I'am reworking patch

Files used now instead of disk image+ trainer added

After i will add NTSC support (i think using CUSTOM2=1 to enable NTSC patch)

TjLaZer · 11 March 2020, 23:13

Thanks! You want me to upload my disk?

DamienD · 11 March 2020, 23:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by TjLaZer

Thanks! You want me to upload my disk?

If It's not any of these 3, then maybe you should

Quote:

Originally Posted by DamienD

... Darius + (1989)(Edge, The)(US).zip
... Darius + (1989)(Edge, The)(US)[a].zip
... Darius + (1989)(Edge, The)[cr ACC][f NTSC PNA][t +2 Vanguard - AFL].zip

CFou! · 11 March 2020, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by TjLaZer

Thanks! You want me to upload my disk?

not need ntsc fix seem works (last test) soon beta uploaded

CFou! · 12 March 2020, 00:35

can you test beta in TheZone (pre-installed version) and compare NTSC fixe methode 1 & 2?

+files used instead of disk image
+ trainer
+ NTSC fix 2 methods
CUSTOM2=1 method1
CUSTOM2=2 method 2

TjLaZer · 12 March 2020, 00:46

Not sure if it is the same, but it's in the zone.

CFou! · 12 March 2020, 00:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by TjLaZer

Not sure if it is the same, but it's in the zone.

your version is cracked (track disk portection test removed...)

Try pre-installed version in TheZone! please

DamienD · 12 March 2020, 01:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by TjLaZer

Not sure if it is the same, but it's in the zone.

Well, it definitely has a different CRC32 when compared to the 3 x "NTSC / US" files currently in TOSEC.

Maybe Crashdisk is interested in this?

TjLaZer · 12 March 2020, 01:18

Tested on A4000 030/25 NTSC and it works great! Method 2 is perfect as it centers the screen vertically! THANK YOU!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFOU!

can you test beta in TheZone (pre-installed version) and compare NTSC fixe methode 1 & 2?

+files used instead of disk image
+ trainer
+ NTSC fix 2 methods
CUSTOM2=1 method1
CUSTOM2=2 method 2

CFou! · 12 March 2020, 01:28

great!
method 2 is similar to the one but in addition it shifts the position of the screen up by 10 pixels.

11 March 2020, 05:53	#1
TjLaZer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA USA Age: 52 Posts: 1,934	Darius WHDLoad NTSC support? Can anyone fix Darius to run on NTSC? I have an ADF that runs on NTSC, not sure on the original released disk, but I assume the slave just needs a little update. Last edited by TjLaZer; 11 March 2020 at 18:05.

11 March 2020, 17:07	#5
DrBong HOL / AMR Team Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 2,632	@Damien Aye! The last one you've listed is an NTSC fix, so I can't see why they would've needed to have done one back in the day if there was a legitimate NTSC retail release in existence. The date stamps on the files of the so-called original U.S. releases of Darius+ in TOSEC are all in the year 2020....so just a little bit suss! Last edited by DrBong; 11 March 2020 at 18:22. Reason: Fixed up sentence!

11 March 2020, 18:03	#6
TjLaZer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA USA Age: 52 Posts: 1,934	Darius WHDLoad NTSC support? There might not be an official NTSC release but that is irrelevant. The ADF I have runs just fine on my NTSC system (not sure if it’s in fact a NTSC fix or not), so can the slave be tweaked to make it run on NTSC or on these ADFs that do work? I tried to use this disk in the WHDload package but that didn’t work. I guess it expects the protected ADF instead. I’ll check to see if the disk I do have is the same as the two posted up above tonight. Thanks!

12 March 2020, 00:35	#15
CFou! Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: France Age: 51 Posts: 4,277	can you test beta in TheZone (pre-installed version) and compare NTSC fixe methode 1 & 2? +files used instead of disk image + trainer + NTSC fix 2 methods CUSTOM2=1 method1 CUSTOM2=2 method 2 Last edited by CFou!; 12 March 2020 at 00:57.

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11 March 2020, 16:34	#3
DrBong HOL / AMR Team Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Australia Posts: 2,632	@Bertrand Sorry Bertrand, but there's no real evidence that a NTSC version of Darius+ was ever produced for the North American market - I can't find a review appearing in any of the U.S. mags or a listing for a U.S. distributor in any of the Amazing Computing/Amiga World annual product guides. The coin-op conversion was licensed from Taito and handled by Softek, the in-house team of UK publisher The Edge. Taito didn't have much love for the Amiga and pretty much gave up on it during 1989 after producing a few Amiga conversions of their best-selling coin-ops. Darius probably wasn't one of Taito's top tier coin-ops, so no surprise they were happy to license it out to a UK publisher and not bother with a NTSC conversion in-house for the Amiga or any other platform in the North American market. Moreover, The Edge was a small-ish UK publisher and, IIRC, only ever had one game marketed/distributed in North America and that was The Punisher by Paragon....which is quite obscure. In a nutshell, you - in all likelihood - only have the PAL retail release to play with and your best bet is to add NTSC support to the slave for that version if you are to update the existing WHD patch. The screens used in the PAL version are already 320x200 lo-res, so I'm guessing it's the music and sound FX that are going to be harder to adapt for NTSC systems.

11 March 2020, 16:51	#4
DamienD Banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: London / Sydney Age: 47 Posts: 20,420	There are these in TOSEC but probably not official: ... Darius + (1989)(Edge, The)(US).zip ... Darius + (1989)(Edge, The)(US)[a].zip ... Darius + (1989)(Edge, The)[cr ACC][f NTSC PNA][t +2 Vanguard - AFL].zip

11 March 2020, 18:57	#8
TjLaZer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA USA Age: 52 Posts: 1,934	Yes I will upload it tonight. I’d like to see if it’s indeed a fixed version or not. The game really does run like crap in PAL. Really slow. And unplayable in my opinion. Running it in NTSC really helps here. It would be so great to have it fixed for WHDLoad.

11 March 2020, 22:47	#11
CFou! Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: France Age: 51 Posts: 4,277	I'am reworking patch Files used now instead of disk image+ trainer added After i will add NTSC support (i think using CUSTOM2=1 to enable NTSC patch)

11 March 2020, 23:13	#12
TjLaZer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA USA Age: 52 Posts: 1,934	Thanks! You want me to upload my disk?

12 March 2020, 00:46	#16
TjLaZer Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Tacoma, WA USA Age: 52 Posts: 1,934	Not sure if it is the same, but it's in the zone.

12 March 2020, 01:28	#20
CFou! Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: France Age: 51 Posts: 4,277	great! method 2 is similar to the one but in addition it shifts the position of the screen up by 10 pixels.

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