Questions about Fairlight I&II 128k

Golfareninsweden · February 2012

Hi!

I wounder if the cassette inlays is different for the 128k versions than the 48k version.

I'm trying to find on Ebay the 128k versions but can't find it. Is it rare?
Infoseek lists the 128k codes as EDG5SC/EDG10SC and 48k has the same codes, shouldn't it be different?

Cheers
Christian

Mark R. Jones · February 2012

I've not seen a 128 version on Ebay for at least 6 months.

richl · February 2012

They've got pictures of Fairlight II 128k here (but it's out of stock):
http://www.retrogames.co.uk/more/on/details/027209

It appears that they just used the same inlay as the regular 48/128 compatible version and stuck a sticker on the front and a new barcode on the back. The tape is labelled as 128k/+2 but also has the EDG10SC catalogue number. A bit of a retro-fit job I think! :)

Not sure about Fairlight I though.

redballoon · February 2012

I've got about 4 versions of fairlight. I think 2 of them are the 128 versions. I won't be home until Sunday to check though.

Hairy · February 2012

I've got scans of them both:

MrCheese · February 2012

Just because:

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111112-U-K-Judge-Crushes-Tim-Langdell

He he he :)

Captain Offensive · February 2012

Ah Fairlight on the 128k.

I'd bought the standard tape and of course it didn't work. I was gutted and spent some time on the phone to The Edge trying to find out the sitaution without getting much joy.

A couple of weeks later we were going on a family outing to the west end (to see a production of the Hobbit!) and my Dad, who is not an inconsiderable sized man, and me barged into their old offices in the west end demanding a working version.

And somehow we managed to get one; before they were otherwise shipped out!

Think the inlay was indeed the same, just with a sticker on it, as mentioned above

Golfareninsweden · February 2012

Thanks for all the answers.

Should the inlay for the 128k be changed to the one here in this thread?
I will keep a lookout on Ebay for the 128k versions.

Cheers
Christian

ZnorXman · February 2012

Golfareninsweden wrote: »

Should the inlay for the 128k be changed to the one here in this thread?

I would think it would ok to add them, yes.

Plus I believe that the bar code from the 128k version posted above is also missing.

goodboy · February 2012

In this demo http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0009210
different screen to game

ewgf · February 2012

To continue laughing at Langdell (I will never forgive him for forcing Fairlight 2 to be released unfinished, which evidently soured the author on the Fairlight trilogy, if not computer gaming altogether, thereby making sure not only that Fairlight 3 was never released, but that the Spectrum (and other computers?) never saw another Bo Jangeborg game - Thanks Langdell) have a look at:

http://www.amazon.com/Racers-Pc/product-reviews/B002PXUZU0/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

which is a user review page for the PC game Racers (no, I've never heard of it either).

To save you clicking on the link, here's the review copied and pasted. As someone else says, this review has GOT TO be written by someone from the Edge, or at least with (a) a vested interest in the sales of this game, and (b) a staggering lack of intelligence that prevents them from seeing that this 'review', complete with inserted trademark signs (what amateur poster adds trademark signs to game and company names when postinga comment or review? Has anyone on WOS ever written the phrase "<blah blah whatever> Ultimate Play the Game (TM)"? Of course not) and utterly sycophantic over-praise for the (in reality all-but-unknown to modern gamers) The Edge or Edge Games. And what gamer would write "numerous and tastefully typeset trademarks that adorn the back of the case" in a review?

Read the review and judge for yourselves...

"Edge Games?, home of the Gamers Edge?, has long been my favourite games publisher. The Edge? led the way during gaming's golden era with standout titles such as the mind-bending Mazenture? and the captivating Activator?. Since then, the Masters Of The Game? have remained on the Cutting Edge? of game development with breakout genre busters like Mythora? (medieval AND futuristic? Can you beat that!?). Now, Edge? redefines modern gaming with this outstanding addition to the 700 strong Edge Games? catalogue: the cunningly titled Racers?.

Racers? promises much to the eager player: unlock more than a dozen space jets! Play in championship races worldwide on Internet servers! Multiple powerups! Numerous achievements! Strategies! It seems unlikely that any one game could possibly deliver on such outlandish promises, but, somehow, Racers? delivers on all fronts.

First, the visuals. From the sublime cover art through to the numerous and tastefully typeset trademarks that adorn the back of the case, Racers? is a real looker. The slick retro stylings of the numerous space jets and uncluttered interface leave imitators like Wipeout in the dust. Not since Mega Race has a futuristic racing game featured such compelling visual splendour.

The gameplay is equally compelling; so vivid is the sensation of speed I was on the verge of blacking out. Pressing various keys allows you to control your sleek craft and mastery of this skill is key to being a competitive member of the thriving online Racers? community.

The audio fits the action to a tee and will keep you on the edge? of your seat. Racers? sets new benchmarks for in game audio, delivering a sonic slug to the solar plexus of pale facsimiles such as Extreme-G and Sky Roads.

To sum up: I can't recommend this game highly enough. Edge? have produced an unqualified masterpiece that can confidently rub shoulders with the likes of Hi-Octane and Mach Rider, themselves outstanding examples of the genre. The fact that there is only a single copy remaining is testament to its quality. Live life on the edge?: grab it now!?"

ewgf · February 2012

goodboy wrote: »

In this demo http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=0009210
different screen to game

That's interesting to see, but it'd be a zillion gajillion times more interesting if you found an unknown version of Fairlight 2, one that was finished. To this day, F2 was one of my biggest gaming disappointments, along with Perfect Dark Zero, Doom 3, The Getaway, and Unreal Tournament 2003.

MartynC · February 2012

So, am I right in thinking that there was no dedicated 128 release (as with Ghostbusters, Gladiator or Rocky Horror)? Instead, there was a re-release that included both the old 48 version and the new 128 version?

And what about the sequel. The link that richl posted earlier - http://www.retrogames.co.uk/more/on/details/027209 - shows what looks like a dedicated 128 version. But I thought that the general release included both the 48 and 128 versions on one tape :-?

ewgf · February 2012

MartynC wrote: »

So, am I right in thinking that there was no dedicated 128 release (as with Ghostbusters, Gladiator or Rocky Horror)? Instead, there was a re-release that included both the old 48 version and the new 128 version?

And what about the sequel. The link that richl posted earlier - http://www.retrogames.co.uk/more/on/details/027209 - shows what looks like a dedicated 128 version. But I thought that the general release included both the 48 and 128 versions on one tape :-?

No, the 128K version was seperate, there were two seperate cassette versions of Fairlight 1 - the original 48K version, and then later the 128K version (with no 48K version on it, as far as I can remember) which had ingame music (that stopped when you changed screen and were waiting for the screen to redraw!) and more rooms (all I could find was when you dropped down the well there were one or two (I can't remember how many now). When you bought the game you choose the 48K or the 128K game. If there were any more rooms in the 128K version, then I never found them.

Fairlight 2 had the same release - two cassettes, sold separately, one with just the 128K game, and one with just the 48K game, but I think they were released at the same time.

BTW, Fairlight 48K famously didn't load on the Spectrum, I don't know if The Edge allowed you to send the 48K version back and they'd send you the 128K version, as Firebird did with Elite). I also don't know if later Fairlight 48K tapes were made 128K compatible, or if Fairlight 48K's tape run had finished by then.

MrCheese · February 2012

ewgf wrote: »

To continue laughing at Langdell (I will never forgive him for forcing Fairlight 2 to be released unfinished, which evidently soured the author on the Fairlight trilogy, if not computer gaming altogether, thereby making sure not only that Fairlight 3 was never released, but that the Spectrum (and other computers?) never saw another Bo Jangeborg game - Thanks Langdell) have a look at:

http://www.amazon.com/Racers-Pc/product-reviews/B002PXUZU0/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

which is a user review page for the PC game Racers (no, I've never heard of it either).

To save you clicking on the link, here's the review copied and pasted. As someone else says, this review has GOT TO be written by someone from the Edge, or at least with (a) a vested interest in the sales of this game, and (b) a staggering lack of intelligence that prevents them from seeing that this 'review', complete with inserted trademark signs (what amateur poster adds trademark signs to game and company names when postinga comment or review? Has anyone on WOS ever written the phrase "<blah blah whatever> Ultimate Play the Game (TM)"? Of course not) and utterly sycophantic over-praise for the (in reality all-but-unknown to modern gamers) The Edge or Edge Games. And what gamer would write "numerous and tastefully typeset trademarks that adorn the back of the case" in a review?

Read the review and judge for yourselves...

"Edge Games?, home of the Gamers Edge?, has long been my favourite games publisher. The Edge? led the way during gaming's golden era with standout titles such as the mind-bending Mazenture? and the captivating Activator?. Since then, the Masters Of The Game? have remained on the Cutting Edge? of game development with breakout genre busters like Mythora? (medieval AND futuristic? Can you beat that!?). Now, Edge? redefines modern gaming with this outstanding addition to the 700 strong Edge Games? catalogue: the cunningly titled Racers?.

Racers? promises much to the eager player: unlock more than a dozen space jets! Play in championship races worldwide on Internet servers! Multiple powerups! Numerous achievements! Strategies! It seems unlikely that any one game could possibly deliver on such outlandish promises, but, somehow, Racers? delivers on all fronts.

First, the visuals. From the sublime cover art through to the numerous and tastefully typeset trademarks that adorn the back of the case, Racers? is a real looker. The slick retro stylings of the numerous space jets and uncluttered interface leave imitators like Wipeout in the dust. Not since Mega Race has a futuristic racing game featured such compelling visual splendour.

The gameplay is equally compelling; so vivid is the sensation of speed I was on the verge of blacking out. Pressing various keys allows you to control your sleek craft and mastery of this skill is key to being a competitive member of the thriving online Racers? community.

The audio fits the action to a tee and will keep you on the edge? of your seat. Racers? sets new benchmarks for in game audio, delivering a sonic slug to the solar plexus of pale facsimiles such as Extreme-G and Sky Roads.

To sum up: I can't recommend this game highly enough. Edge? have produced an unqualified masterpiece that can confidently rub shoulders with the likes of Hi-Octane and Mach Rider, themselves outstanding examples of the genre. The fact that there is only a single copy remaining is testament to its quality. Live life on the edge?: grab it now!?"

Its spooky how the 4 star review seems to contradict the previous low reviews - low reviews say it comes on a DVD-R with a sticky label and takes weeks to arrive. The 4 star review states "I just bought this game and it arrived in a couple of days. It came shrink wrapped like any other major game I have bought here, with a quality factory duplicated DVD."

Gotta love the "genius" of the trademark troll.

MartynC · February 2012

ewgf wrote: »

No, the 128K version was seperate, there were two seperate cassette versions of Fairlight 1 - the original 48K version, and then later the 128K version (with no 48K version on it, as far as I can remember) which had ingame music (that stopped when you changed screen and were waiting for the screen to redraw!) and more rooms (all I could find was when you dropped down the well there were one or two (I can't remember how many now). When you bought the game you choose the 48K or the 128K game. If there were any more rooms in the 128K version, then I never found them.

Thanks for the info. It's just that the inlay uploaded on the first page on this thread has a sticker on which says "Also includes 128K version", suggesting that the 48K version was on there also.

It would be good to get a more detailed picture of the enhancements added to the 128 version (apart from the music). In the SU review, it just says "more rooms, more monsters".

cole · February 2012

I vaguely remember reading when Fairlight came out that there was a hint to completing the game either hidden in the loading screen or in the artwork? Does anyone else remember this?

This link also mentions hints in the artwork.

http://icemark.net/zx/SSD-III/servlet/ssd/title/exact/Fairlight/hints/cheats

Any ideas what they were? I can't see anything obvious.

ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games-adverts/f/Fairlight.jpg
ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/screens/load/f/gif/Fairlight.gif

apenao · February 2012

cole wrote: »

I vaguely remember reading when Fairlight came out that there was a hint to completing the game either hidden in the loading screen or in the artwork? Does anyone else remember this?

This link also mentions hints in the artwork.

http://icemark.net/zx/SSD-III/servlet/ssd/title/exact/Fairlight/hints/cheats

Any ideas what they were? I can't see anything obvious.

ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games-adverts/f/Fairlight.jpg
ftp://ftp.worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/screens/load/f/gif/Fairlight.gif

I vaguely remember reading about this in the past:

http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=16035&highlight=fairlight+hidden

cole · February 2012

apenao wrote: »

I vaguely remember reading about this in the past:

http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showthread.php?t=16035&highlight=fairlight+hidden

Great thanks.

Questions about Fairlight I&II 128k

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