Games ported to standard +3DOS loading format

Details

All of the games I make available below were already or have been made fully +3 compatible and, the most important – for me at least, they have been ported to standard +3DOS disk loading format – as opposed to proprietary protected disk format.

Basically, I wanted to be able to use my physical +3 like I do with any modern PC; a file should be copied from one disk to another with the standard tools provided by the operating system – in this case, the COPY command of the +3 BASIC. Besides, I wanted to be able to run the programs from either A: or B: drive if/where available. In this regard, all these games can be loaded and/or copied like any other file and can be run on either of the A: or B: drives.

If you are looking for perfect original disk files, this is not the place for you !

Note: except where otherwise noted, only the loading routines were modified – either from direct disk access (protected or not) to +3DOS, or from tape to +3DOS.

Game What’s so special
Colossus Chess v4.2 for +3
  • The best chess program available for Spectrum (well, according to my opinion :) However, I find its 3D view mode too rudimentary
  • During the game, the move-records and game position can be saved and/or loaded to/from disk. The tape routines are no longer functional, I have replaced them with standard +3DOS disk loading routines. The file handling commands are the same as for tape. The complete Colossus Chess instructions may be found here (HTML version). Please check also the +3 Spectrum specific instructions.
  • Added a printer dump option, based on the +3 BASIC’s COPY EXP command. The routine uses its own port driver, therefore it is not +3, +3B, +3whatever dependent (i.e. the parallel printer bug has no influence).
  • This +3 version is based on my original tape, included in The Classic Collection compilation, © 1992 Hot-Shot Entertainments. In fact, the code on tape is v4.0, but the original BASIC loader modify the code just before the game starts. The v4.2 is mentioned in the BASIC loader. I have no idea what the difference is (what that pokeing changes).
Jumping Jack for +3
  • In order for the game to be playable on a +3 keyboard, the control keys for Jack movement are changed to [Q] [O] [P], as follows:
    • Q replaces CAPS SHIFT (jump)
    • O replaces SYMBOL SHIFT (move left)
    • P replaces SPACE (move right)
  • The [Z] key (pause) is unaffected
  • This +3 version is based on a tape copy I have from the obscure past.
Platoon for +3
A separate page is dedicated to this one – click here.		  
Renegade 1 128K for +3
  • One of the game that makes use of the IN #FF port. If present, the music is enabled during game play, else only sound effects are heard (the sound effects are always present, regardless the IN #FF port issue)
  • Added the standard +3DOS disk loading
  • Added the real IN #FF port presence detection.
    This +3 version is based on an original tape, identical to Renegade 128K Speedlock3 TZX version from World of Spectrum archive. The original tape version has no support for music during game play on +2A/+3, even with the IN #FF port installed. The original tape version checks the presence or absence of the ROM2&3 bank; if present, it assumes the +2A/+3 is used and the music during game play is disabled; if absent, it assumes the +128/+2 is used (which also means the IN #FF port is present) and the music during game play is enabled.
    This +3 version checks the real presence or absence of the IN #FF port (the ROM2&3 bank detection has been removed). Its functionality can be put in evidence this way:
    1. play the .DSK file with the X128 Spectrum Emulator in +3 mode; the music can be enjoyed during game play (this program emulates the IN #FF port in either ROM mode)
    2. play the .DSK file with the ZX Spin in +3 mode; no music will be heard during game play (this program does not emulates the IN #FF port in +2A/+3 mode, it strictly follows the real machine hardware implementation (true for the current version, 0.504; this may change in future releases))
Superchess v3.5 for +3
  • This is a “super” chess program too. I find only one disadvantage with respect to Colossus, which is graphically, not strategically related: the (graphical) movement of the program is too fast, there is no preceding beep, no flash, no nothing.
  • During the game, the move-records and game position can be saved and/or loaded to/from disk. Only 1 saved game can be present on a single diskette at a given time. The microdrive routines are no longer functional, I have replaced them with standard +3DOS disk loading routines.
  • Added a printer dump option, based on the +3 BASIC’s COPY EXP command. The routine uses its own port driver, therefore it is not +3, +3B, +3whatever dependent (i.e. the parallel printer bug has no influence).
  • This +3 version is based on a tape copy I have from the obscure past.
Wild West Hero for +3
  • In order for the game to be playable on a +3 keyboard, the control keys for horizontal shooting directions are changed to [O] [P], as follows:
    • O replaces SYMBOL SHIFT (left)
    • P replaces SPACE (right)
  • The [Q] (up) and [A] (down) keys are unaffected
  • This +3 version is based on a tape copy I have from the obscure past.
Nightbreed  

Under construction

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