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Dimension X - Prototype or standard

Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:48 pm
by beamer320i
Hi guys,yet ANOTHER question... :)

I have an original Synapse disk of Dimension X,which i am selling,on side A is the game,but it is a single file load(no loading screen as I noticed in your screenshot),on side B is a Synapse menu with demo versions of four of their games(Slime,etc)

Is this correct?Disk has Synapse label with Dimension X printed on it and No: 8365 below it ,same style as my disk of Shamus

Just wondered if this was a prototype or standard release,especially with the demo's on side b?

Cheers,
Dom

Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 12:51 am
by Atari Frog
It could be an early or late release but not a proto. I don't have the game so can't really comment...

What I do know is that the original disk version we have - in special ATX/VAPI format with copy protection - has two hidden programs on side A! Load the disk while pressing CONTROL+F and you'll get a nice demo of Fort Apocalypse! Press CONTROL+S and you can play Slime!

Is side B copy-protected? If it isn't, could you image it (at least to another disk) so it can be archived? You don't have a Happy drive, do you?

--
Atari Frog
http://www.atarimania.com

Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 1:01 am
by beamer320i
Thanks for the reply,excuse my ignorance,what does imaging mean/involve?Yes,I have two happy drives,just tried to copy side b(the demo's),no protection whatsoever...
However,nothing happens when trying your ctrl key combo's,the plot thickens...
Surely Synapse would have copy-protected somehow...?

I know my Shamus disk is well protected.

Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 9:06 pm
by Atari Frog
beamer320i wrote:Thanks for the reply,excuse my ignorance,what does imaging mean/involve?
That's dumping the contents of the disk so it can be archived.
Yes,I have two happy drives,just tried to copy side b(the demo's),no protection whatsoever...
It would be cool if you could make a copy of the two sides of this disk before you sell it... One of our next goals will be to preserve as many original disks as we can so we might need this title in its unaltered form. Do you have a list of your disks by any chance (originals and copies)?
However,nothing happens when trying your ctrl key combo's,the plot thickens... Surely Synapse would have copy-protected somehow...?
It definitely works with our version (with the title screen). Remember you need to download the VAPI-compatible version of Atari800Win PLus if you want to run it with an emulator: http://www.atarimania.com/vapi.php?MENU=8&RUB=VAPI

--
Atari Frog
http://www.atarimania.com

Dimension X queries

Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 11:36 pm
by beamer320i
No problem at all,will gladly copy both sides,please email me address details,etc.My disk collection is very extensive,I have many games that you don't have downloads for(e.g. Forest Fire! by Dynacomp),does this mean you need them for the site?Am currently preparing a list,let you know when done!

Re: Dimension X queries

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:18 am
by Atari Frog
beamer320i wrote:No problem at all,will gladly copy both sides,please email me address details,etc.
If you have other titles, it may be easier to send everything together... Please PM or e-mail me once your list is finished :wink:
My disk collection is very extensive,I have many games that you don't have downloads for(e.g. Forest Fire! by Dynacomp),does this mean you need them for the site?
Definitely. We only try to list everything that exists but there are hundreds and hundreds of titles that we don't have. Some programs can only be found in people's disk collections.

If you see anything not in our database, please let us know. This list is a good start: http://www.atarimania.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=498

Do you have an APE / SIO2PC setup?

Thanks!

--
Atari Frog
http://www.atarimania.com

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:45 am
by beamer320i
Just had a quick look at your list,am able to fill quite a few gaps!Mostly copies tho' :wink:

Once upon a time...(I'll keep this brief!) My introduction to Atari started when my uncle bought an 800 with 410 back in Oct'82 from a (then) A8 specialist,Maplin's in Birmingham,it cost £750 with a few bits!!My first unit was a 16K 400 in June'83,then 800XL with 1050 from Silica.For the next few years,collected a massive software bas,sold the lot in '88.Found an 800XL at car boot in 2000 for £5 with 1050 which rekindled my interest,and have slowly rebuilt my collection from ebay since then...

Alas,space dictates I need to downsize,so am selling duplicates,etc.Never realised how much i amassed!

Found some American mags recently called Hi-Res,was this a popular mag?Remember Analog and Compute!,but not this one...

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:57 am
by Atari Frog
Copies are OK. This is the only way we'll find a number of games in the database so it's beter than nothing.

Hi-Res was an excellent mag but it only lasted four issues or so. Not easy to find nowadays. Do you know a Canadian publication called ROM by any chance?

--
Atari Frog
http://www.atarimania.com

Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:02 am
by beamer320i
'Fraid not,new one on me!Got a first issue of I/O,the official Atari mag,does that count?? :P

Re: Dimension X - Prototype or standard

Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 6:40 pm
by ijor
beamer320i wrote:I have an original Synapse disk of Dimension X,which i am selling,on side A is the game,but it is a single file load(no loading screen as I noticed in your screenshot),on side B is a Synapse menu with demo versions of four of their games(Slime,etc)

Just wondered if this was a prototype or standard release,especially with the demo's on side b?
It is probably an "overwritten" copy. The demo on the back side is normal, many if not most Synapse games have demos on the back side. Some, specially the older ones, have a second copy of the game on the back side. But the front side should be heavily copy protected.

Overwritten means that the disk might be original, but the content was replaced. Sometimes people do this when the disk is damaged, even some sellers do this.