I was wondering if we could try to come up with lists of all software using either Lenslok or Padlock (or both), since the former will require some "help" to play the game if the device is missing, while the latter requires scans of the code sheets or manuals.
I trick I figured out when using Lenslok games was this. Once the OK message appears onscreen, activate the Multiface (or similar device) and display the memory map as text, search through it until 'OK' is found. Write down the addresses. The access code for the game in question will always be stored in that location. It's different for each game though, so you'll have to do it for each one. It required a bit of work the first time around but it's worth it.
Anyway, here's a list of games that use Lenslok (that I'm aware of anyway).
Tomahawk
Elite
TT Racer
Art Studio
The Price Of Magik
Ace
Time & Majik Trilogy (I think - I know that at least one of the Level 9 compilations uses it).
Padlock
Jet Set Willy
Astro-Nut
Lode Runner
Jet Set Willy 2
The .tzx in the archive works fine (I just tried it a minute ago). I thought I had a scan of the code sheet but it was not to be. I can ask my friend for a loan of the tape but it could be a while (he doesn't live around here any more).
It shouldn't be too hard to remove these. I say this because I've successfully removed the Lenslok from Art Studio, Tomahawk and Elite, and the code sheet from LodeRunner.
I could just give them out as Multiface pokes I suppose, given that it's far easier to use those in an emulator than type in hacks, although I wrote a complete crack for Tomahawk (used the Digital Integration bespoke protection system) specifically to remove Lenslok if anyone wants that published? Funnily enough it never made it into the column or a Pokerama!
What do you guys think?
[ This Message was edited by: JonNorth on 2005-11-07 13:19 ]
On 2005-11-06 22:06, Necros wrote:
I trick I figured out when using Lenslok games was this. Once the OK message appears onscreen, activate the Multiface (or similar device) and display the memory map as text, search through it until 'OK' is found. Write down the addresses. The access code for the game in question will always be stored in that location.
Don't know if anyone cares particularly but that was the logic behind cracking them back in the day. If you knew where it looked to find the original OK, you knew where the actual code would end up being. It was just a question of finding references to writing to that address and POKEing out the MSB so it wrote to the ROM. That way you knew the code to get into the game itself (when it was supposed to be random) was always OK.
Yep. It was called LensKey. There's a link to download it somewhere in the forum. But it's Pretty Much Useless, 2 our of 10 (TM) :) if you're using an emulator on a different system (e.g. Linux).
So I went through all the old notes I could find last night. The good news - I found my notes on cracking the Tomahawk loader (hooray!). The bad news, there was nothing (nothing!) on removing/cracking the Lenslok (booooo!). I even found the listing for what would have been the mag hack and all I've got on it for Lenslok is "put lenslok removal pokes here". So I'll have to do it again. Can't find anything on Art Studio or ACE either. I did find the Lode Runner "any code to start" poke though so that's a start *ahem*. Anyway, I'll go through them all when I have some time (hopefully the weekend but you know how demanding fiancee's can be).
[ This Message was edited by: jonnorth on 2005-11-08 09:15 ]
Just to confirm that Lode Runner works, but you need to turn off Auto Play/Stop features in Spectaculator and others.
It also uses a weird custom loader that we've referred to as Software Project Loader. It's the same as BC's Quest For Tires & Learning With Leeper which will be available in the next Vault update. Mikie gave us some better TZXs, but until the TZX spec gets it's update, we'll have to rely on an assumed TZX.
Something to do with non-symetrical pulses...:
Software Projects
BC's Quest for Tires, Learning with Leeper
PILOT standard 3223x[P 2168]
SYNC standard P 667, P 735
SPEED DETECTION 4x[P 780, P 1170]
DATA
bit 0 = P 780, P 780
bit 1 = P 780, P 1560
FLAG BYTE none
PARITY BYTE present, ADD instead of XOR
Anyway, I'm sure most will only wanna see a working TZX, so we'll get those out and make more accurate ones at a later date when more information is available and decoders etc.
On 2005-11-07 15:35, Necros wrote:
Yep. It was called LensKey. There's a link to download it somewhere in the forum. But it's Pretty Much Useless, 2 our of 10 (TM) :) if you're using an emulator on a different system (e.g. Linux).
Even I'd agree it's pretty useless, but I did include the source code so you can port it to Linux if ya like. Admitedly, the code is very Windows-specific, but there's not much more to it than the data tables.
Lenskey works very well for me in the emulated 48k version of "Elite"...
Must say thanks to people for this thread, as I will try and update my website (http://www.birdsanctuary.co.uk/sanct/s_lenslok.php) with the extra coding information on Lenslok that you've put up here!
On 2005-11-08 09:18, JonNorth wrote:
On 2005-11-07 15:32, vanpeebles wrote:
just to add, also wasnt there a lenslok emulator that you held over the speccy emulator window? :)
Comments
Anyway, here's a list of games that use Lenslok (that I'm aware of anyway).
Tomahawk
Elite
TT Racer
Art Studio
The Price Of Magik
Ace
Time & Majik Trilogy (I think - I know that at least one of the Level 9 compilations uses it).
Padlock
Jet Set Willy
Astro-Nut
Lode Runner
Jet Set Willy 2
There may be more.
Necros.
Are you sure about Lode Runner, though? I can't get the TZX image to work and neither of the TAP files ask for a code...
Yes, Lode Runner used the colour sheet. I borrowed a copy from a friend a few years ago, so that's a definite.
Necros.
Necros.
I could just give them out as Multiface pokes I suppose, given that it's far easier to use those in an emulator than type in hacks, although I wrote a complete crack for Tomahawk (used the Digital Integration bespoke protection system) specifically to remove Lenslok if anyone wants that published? Funnily enough it never made it into the column or a Pokerama!
What do you guys think?
[ This Message was edited by: JonNorth on 2005-11-07 13:19 ]
I rarely play games on emulators anyway.
Go for it!
Necros.
Nope. It does use the (almost impossible to load 9 times out of 10) Power Load system. How I hate that. :)
Necros.
Don't know if anyone cares particularly but that was the logic behind cracking them back in the day. If you knew where it looked to find the original OK, you knew where the actual code would end up being. It was just a question of finding references to writing to that address and POKEing out the MSB so it wrote to the ROM. That way you knew the code to get into the game itself (when it was supposed to be random) was always OK.
http://simonowen.com/spectrum/lenskey/
[ This Message was edited by: vanpeebles on 2005-11-07 15:33 ]
Necros.
[ This Message was edited by: jonnorth on 2005-11-08 09:15 ]
Very clever. I like this :)
Just to confirm that Lode Runner works, but you need to turn off Auto Play/Stop features in Spectaculator and others.
It also uses a weird custom loader that we've referred to as Software Project Loader. It's the same as BC's Quest For Tires & Learning With Leeper which will be available in the next Vault update. Mikie gave us some better TZXs, but until the TZX spec gets it's update, we'll have to rely on an assumed TZX.
Something to do with non-symetrical pulses...:
Anyway, I'm sure most will only wanna see a working TZX, so we'll get those out and make more accurate ones at a later date when more information is available and decoders etc.
Cheers
Andy
Even I'd agree it's pretty useless, but I did include the source code so you can port it to Linux if ya like. Admitedly, the code is very Windows-specific, but there's not much more to it than the data tables.
Si
Must say thanks to people for this thread, as I will try and update my website (http://www.birdsanctuary.co.uk/sanct/s_lenslok.php) with the extra coding information on Lenslok that you've put up here!