Hacker needed (Opus Discovery)

Speccyman

Hello, I once was in contact with a guy who converted some games to Opus format. The contact was via the PM function here on WOS, but after the WOS-update, all old mails are lost and so I lost this contact.

I hope to get in contact again.

Our magazine needs support. We convert games for several disc systems. Although we just converted METAL MAN to +D/Disciple, we failed to do this for Opus as well. The loading routines are in machine code, so this is nothing we can solve with Basic.

I hope any expert who is familiar with MC-loading routines of the Opus will write me.

Regards

Thomas

ANDREW RYALS

Why not buy a multiface off eScum and then do it yourself??? :-j

Speccyman

You are not a hacker if you really think about doing it with Multiface. However, it is not possible to save Multiload games with a Multiface.

dbolli

If you're referring to the Metal Man in the WoS Archives here

Not sure how much hacking is needed just manual conversion given that the Opus Discovery commands are the same as Microdrive commands.

I did the following in Fuse (manual steps) to create a Metal Man.opd file from a Metal Man.tap file

	Create new .opd file in Fuse
	
	Fuse->Media menu->Drive A:->New
	
	FORMAT "m";1;"Metal Man"
	CAT 1
	
	Fuse->Media menu->Tape->Open Metal Man.tap
	
	NEW
	MERGE "Boot"
	Edit Line 45 LOAD "METALMAN" to add LOAD *"m";1;
	SAVE *"m";1;"run" LINE 1

	NEW
	MERGE "METALMAN"
	Edit Line 2 LOAD "mman$"CODE 16384 to add LOAD *"m";1;
	Edit Line 5 LOAD a$CODE to add LOAD *"m";1;
	Edit Line 6 LOAD b$CODE to add LOAD *"m";1;
	SAVE *"m";1;"METALMAN" LINE 1

	NEW
	CLEAR 25000
	LOAD "mman$" CODE 25000
	SAVE *"m";1;"mman$" CODE 25000,6912

	LOAD "mman1a" CODE 25000
	SAVE *"m";1;"mman1a" CODE 25000,25097

	LOAD "mman1b" CODE 50738
	SAVE *"m";1;"mman1b" CODE 50738,14798

	CAT 1
	
	Quit Fuse
	Click Yes to Save .opd file dialog

Then if you launch Fuse and type RUN it will load the "run" autorun file on the .opd disk file

Note that the "mman$" screen dump is loaded at a slightly higher address than the 24320 address on the .tap file as CLEAR 24320 does not leave enough memory to execute the SAVE * command.

Metal Man.opd file is available here for your info.

Opus Discovery Manual .PDF can be found here for further reference.

Regards,
Derek.

Speccyman

Thanks a lot. The problem is that I got a probably earlier release and this release had several headerless files to load from machine code. The file you showed got only 4 files and all loaded from BASIC, so not a real hacker problem. I can surely do it.

I didn´t await there will be an update version.

Regards

Thomas

Speccyman

Oh no, I just discovered that the METAL MAN on WOS is a rather old game, but what I want is not METAL MAN, but METAL MAN RELOADED, a new (ok, 2014) release of this game, far better and with more levels.

You cannot find on WOS, but here:
http://www.pouet.net/prod.php?which=62679

ANDREW RYALS

Speccyman wrote: »

You are not a hacker if you really think about doing it with Multiface.

Laugh I nearly pissed myself.

=))

dbolli

@Speccyman

After I posted the above I deduced that you were referring to Metal Man Reloaded and I have been looking at that code and attempting to load a file from assembler using the Opus Discovery ROM Disassembly 2.2 with little success (and some frustration) due to a lack of parameter table documentation in the disassembly.

I notice that the z88dk Opus Discovery implementation only supports low-level block read and writes so I might try this approach to get some sort of simple file loading and saving functionality up and running in assembler.

I would suggest that you will need access to the Metal Man Reloaded source code to make the changes as from what I have seen so far the size of the +D/Disciple code routines will be smaller than the Opus Discovery routines.

If you know of any working examples in assembler of file loading and saving using the higher level parameter tables, it would be useful to post it here for general information.

Regards,
Derek.

Speccyman

Yes, only few multiload games are converted to Opus. I have Lemmings and can upload the image if this is any help.

goodboy

try look at trd version
http://www.olegorigin.org/metal_man_reloaded.html
it loaded levels from basic and can easy convert to *.tap

dbolli

@Speccyman

I am making progress via the Fuse debugger but any working assembler examples would be helpful. Please post a link to this forum or send me a message. Thx :)

@goodboy

I have had a look at the .trd version. The first level can be loaded from BASIC but the subsequent levels are loaded from assembler from within the game code so equivalent Opus Discovery assembler code is required.

Regards,

Derek.

goodboy

dbolli wrote: »

I have had a look at the .trd version. The first level can be loaded from BASIC but the subsequent levels are loaded from assembler from within the game code so equivalent Opus Discovery assembler code is required.

Sure ???

dbolli

@goodboy

Fair point :)

I still think that investigating Opus Discovery LOAD/SAVE/CAT in assembly is a useful exercise e.g. if @Speccyman has other games to convert that require this.

Regards,
Derek.

Speccyman

Yes, Pouet is the source I had the game from. However, as far as I know in my collection is only 1 game (Lemmings) that loads from Assembler. But I have also some copy programs using MC routines for Opus LOAD/SAVE.
See these: http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekpub.cgi?regexp=^Lilywhite+Software$

I have the original versions, but I am unable to make a disk image. My PC cannot read the disk format and REAL SPECTRUM does not work anymore on my newer PC´s (WIN7). I can only send you the original disks if this is any help.

roko

Helge Keller used 82 tracks on his 'Lilywhite' disks for Opus, when I remember well.
I believe that SAMdisk for PC (Simon Owen) can be told to make a disk image from such disks,
and copy these to new disks .

Speccyman

ANDREW RYALS wrote: »

Speccyman wrote: »

You are not a hacker if you really think about doing it with Multiface.

Laugh I nearly pissed myself.

=))

Yeah, seeing it now, it was really a good one :)

FrankT

That guy who converted some machine code loaders to Opus was me.

All I did was convert them to standard rom load. Compressed the blocks, and loaded them with the standard basic Opus commands.

I was on XP at the time. Had more tools for this sort of thing. Don't have a pc anymore, so cannot help I'm afraid.

Speccyman

Yes, I remembered when I read your name. A pitty... if you need a version of Real Spectrum Emulator that runs under Win7 (maybe even Win10) then just write me, I got it.

FrankT

I bought a second hand laptop today. I'll try disassembling the machine code routine from Lemmings. Can you give me a link to the .opd for lemmings?

Cheers.

FrankT

Converting the trd to opd was easy.
MetalManReloaded(en).opd

Not getting any sound from the speccy in Fuse 1.1.1 for Windows atm. Haven't installed any DX runtimes yet. But MetalManReloaded loads ok from the Opus disk.

FrankT

Cannot edit above post.

Anyways, here it is again, but with the screen compressed with rcs+zx7.
MetalManReloaded w/comp screen

Speccyman

You´re fantastic. However, I already gave up and released our disk magazine without the Opzus version of Metal-Man, but we can offer our readers to get an update. I have not tested yet and I have to see how I will do it (surely there is a way). We have been discussing in another forum how to bring my Opus disk into OPD format and vice versa. It is not that easy, my original Spectrum set up with Opus don´t read the disk created with REAL SPECTRUM. We are checking out other copy programs like SAM DISK. However, surely the Lemmings I cannot make an .OPD from, because it uses 82 tracks. I can send you a copy of my real disk if you send me your adress and if you have a real Opus-drive anymore. Doubt any emulator will ever do it.

Fred

Fuse will support 82 track Opus disks in EDSK format. If you dump the disk with (I think) samdisk you should be able to use it with Fuse or dump the disk on other machines to use with real Opus.

Knik

Speccyman wrote: »

Hello, I once was in contact with a guy who converted some games to Opus format. The contact was via the PM function here on WOS, but after the WOS-update, all old mails are lost and so I lost this contact.

I hope to get in contact again.

Our magazine needs support. We convert games for several disc systems. Although we just converted METAL MAN to +D/Disciple, we failed to do this for Opus as well. The loading routines are in machine code, so this is nothing we can solve with Basic.

I hope any expert who is familiar with MC-loading routines of the Opus will write me.

Regards

Thomas

That might have been me. I did convert several tape games to the Opus Discovery. Some by loading them into a disassembler and the others by means of a self made crude snapshot device. I'm still thinking about a new snapshot device for tape/opus. https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMzFh0hnBk07Ka_95eWi8_oconRJlOtrQBz03AS2BkwsHS2zOfKNCcZepZMS3cP_Q?key=ZUZzTnk0S3dWQ2RqS3ZOOTJONGhCSEZQMGZEVTlB

Speccyman

No, it was Frank... I remembered already. However, any help is welcome. Our club magazines are spread for free to those who help us. Send me PM if you want join our team (we need hackers) and get paid in free magazines.