Found

History and Preservation Issues

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
Peter
Vic 20 Drifter
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:03 am

Found “Motorway

Post by Peter »

Hi, I just found "Motorway" from Bubble Bus (Computer Room) on cassette. This version of "Motorway" is not listed in GB20, in fact I can't find any info about this game on the web.

It plays fine and it is a fun game. But i can't save it on floppy. Loading from a cassette is not a problem, it loads as "MOTORWAY*" and I can list it. When i save with SAVE"MOTORWAY*",8 nothing happens. When I save it as SAVE"MOTORWAY",8 it saves fine and I can list it. But when I run the game it cuts out with a "Illegal copy" message.

Is there a way to save this to floppy and get it to work? When I get a working copy I can tranfer it to play the game in Vice.

Image

Image

Image
Vic20-Ian
Vic 20 Scientist
Posts: 1213
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:58 pm

Post by Vic20-Ian »

I'm not an expert but it probably looks for some code in the tape buffer.

You could try looking for peek reads of that area and rem those out.

Look for the code that prints Illegal copy and you should find a test nearby.
Vic20-Ian

The best things in life are Vic-20

Upgrade all new gadgets and mobiles to 3583 Bytes Free today! Ready
User avatar
Mayhem
High Bidder
Posts: 3026
Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 7:03 am
Website: http://www.mayhem64.co.uk
Location: London

Post by Mayhem »

Technically, it would be better if you were able to produce a TAP of the game for archive purposes. The game is already preserved in GB20, well sort of... this appears to be Bubble Bus' licensed version of Nufekop's Dodge Cars, and that already is in GB20. Although having just fired it up, the game might have a different title screen anyhow.

As Ian states, the best way for now might be to hunt where the program checks that it is an illegal copy, and REM that out. Plus I would also appreciate a scan of the inlay at 300dpi :)
Lie with passion and be forever damned...
User avatar
Peter
Vic 20 Drifter
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:03 am

Post by Peter »

Sadly there is no line with a if…print “Illegal copy
User avatar
Mayhem
High Bidder
Posts: 3026
Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 7:03 am
Website: http://www.mayhem64.co.uk
Location: London

Post by Mayhem »

No worries there. You could also send the game to someone in Europe to transfer properly if you are unable to.
Lie with passion and be forever damned...
tlr
Vic 20 Nerd
Posts: 567
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:53 am

Re: Found “Motorway

Post by tlr »

Peter wrote:Is there a way to save this to floppy and get it to work? When I get a working copy I can tranfer it to play the game in Vice.
This program can transfer the raw files from the tape to disk: raw-tape-transfer-1.1.prg

It won't be runnable but it is probably sufficient for analyzing it. (Make sure to transfer "headers+files")
User avatar
Peter
Vic 20 Drifter
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:03 am

Post by Peter »

Here is a d64 image of Motorway including the copy protection.

Perfect for retro-hackers! :wink:

Please let me know how to remove the copy protection.

http://www.mediafire.com/?1bic7j433t3mmy2
User avatar
Mayhem
High Bidder
Posts: 3026
Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 7:03 am
Website: http://www.mayhem64.co.uk
Location: London

Post by Mayhem »

The check for a certain value in a certain memory location that triggers the "illegal program" message is in line 56. Remove that IF statement (and everything past it on that line) and it works. However it may also need a certain SYS to get the joystick working fine too... okay, added. And bingo.

Enjoy the now working PRG file!

As I said, it is pretty much identical to the Nufekop game, the only difference are the words on the title screen and the actual line numbers.
Lie with passion and be forever damned...
User avatar
Peter
Vic 20 Drifter
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:03 am

Post by Peter »

Thanks Mayhem!!!

I'll scan the inlay this weekend.
User avatar
eslapion
ultimate expander
Posts: 5458
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:50 pm
Location: Canada
Occupation: 8bit addict

Post by eslapion »

Shouldn't that be in the "Collecting and History" section?
Be normal.
User avatar
Peter
Vic 20 Drifter
Posts: 33
Joined: Fri Sep 02, 2011 1:03 am

Post by Peter »

Oops, I forgot to post the inlay scans. Here they are:

Image

Image
User avatar
Mayhem
High Bidder
Posts: 3026
Joined: Mon May 24, 2004 7:03 am
Website: http://www.mayhem64.co.uk
Location: London

Post by Mayhem »

Cheers :)
Lie with passion and be forever damned...
User avatar
eslapion
ultimate expander
Posts: 5458
Joined: Fri Jun 23, 2006 7:50 pm
Location: Canada
Occupation: 8bit addict

Post by eslapion »

Nice job Peter!

Thank you for archiving this old gem.
Be normal.
User avatar
nbla000
Salmon Run
Posts: 2582
Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:58 am
Location: Italy

Post by nbla000 »

Mayhem wrote:this appears to be Bubble Bus' licensed version of Nufekop's Dodge Cars
Yes it is, Dodge Cars is a my old tape2disk work I've fixed also bad joy moviments when loaded from disk.

It's present on Mega-Cart too, in the extra section.

A bit late info but better than nothing :wink:
Mega-Cart: the cartridge you plug in once and for all.
Post Reply