Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Blogs & guides and tales of woo by forum members.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10608
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by rubber_jonnie »

BennehBoy wrote: Tue Mar 08, 2022 4:15 pm I think the penultimate cart can control an SD2IEC - but I'm not sure if it will load a cart image from that, probably worth a read up as that would be a great solution if it can.
Yeah, I need to do some research, see just what the capabilities are.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10608
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by rubber_jonnie »

So, I got some time to test these three today:

PXL_20220320_175832872.jpg
PXL_20220320_175832872.jpg (218.03 KiB) Viewed 1572 times

Both the Programmers Aid and Super Lander work, sadly Omega Race did not, despite giving the edge connector a good clean.

I'm assuming a dead ROM so I will see about burning a new one, because aside from the ROM, there seems to only be a single ceramic disc capacitor on the board, so not a lot to go wrong. I'll check it anyway, just in case, you never know.

Programmers Aid adds a load of features in as documented here: http://sleepingelephant.com/denial/wiki ... _Cartridge.

Super Lander is one of those games that just has that replay factor that other games just don't have, so the 'just one more go' factor is pretty high. You have left/right thrust and a main thruster to fight against gravity with, all with the end goal of landing on a pad. The difficulty of the pads goes up depending on location, and you can improve your score by landing safely on the more difficult ones.

But it has inertia too, plus a limited fuel supply, and is devilishly fiendish!! I'd certainly recommend it if you have a VIC-20 :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
stephen_usher
Posts: 5662
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Oxford, UK.
Contact:

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by stephen_usher »

So, basically "Super Lander" is "Lunar Lander" :-)
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10608
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 6:54 pm So, basically "Super Lander" is "Lunar Lander" :-)
It is, except more 'Super' :)
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
stephen_usher
Posts: 5662
Joined: Mon Nov 13, 2017 7:19 pm
Location: Oxford, UK.
Contact:

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by stephen_usher »

Hehe... Of course. :-) Added high score table, unlike the original?
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10608
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 7:06 pm Hehe... Of course. :-) Added high score table, unlike the original?
I think so, perhaps just one more go to check.....
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10608
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by rubber_jonnie »

stephen_usher wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 7:06 pm Hehe... Of course. :-) Added high score table, unlike the original?
No hi-score table, but a single hi-score value :)

PXL_20220321_092624078.jpg
PXL_20220321_092624078.jpg (183.05 KiB) Viewed 1537 times

Oddly the basic prompt is really sharp and clear, but this game is quite fuzzy, though still very playable.

Starting to develop a soft spot for the VIC-20.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
mrbombermillzy
Posts: 1468
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2018 7:37 pm

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by mrbombermillzy »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 9:28 am Starting to develop a soft spot for the VIC-20.
Well, if it's good enough for William Shatner :lol:

The only exposure I had to a VIC20 was Radar Rat Race. I still hear that 'three blind mice' ditty to this day.
User avatar
rubber_jonnie
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10608
Joined: Thu Aug 17, 2017 7:40 pm
Location: Essex
Contact:

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by rubber_jonnie »

mrbombermillzy wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 12:19 pm
rubber_jonnie wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 9:28 am Starting to develop a soft spot for the VIC-20.
Well, if it's good enough for William Shatner :lol:

The only exposure I had to a VIC20 was Radar Rat Race. I still hear that 'three blind mice' ditty to this day.
I have a RAM/ROM cart on the way which will take up to 4 ROMs in one go with selectable banks plus up to 35KB of RAM. I will burn a ROM with Radar Rat Race on it and see if the music is as maddening as you suggest!!
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
User avatar
mrbombermillzy
Posts: 1468
Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2018 7:37 pm

Re: Whoops, I did it again! VIC-20 on the way...

Post by mrbombermillzy »

rubber_jonnie wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 12:58 pm I will burn a ROM with Radar Rat Race on it and see if the music is as maddening as you suggest!!
Beware! You can't unhear that music! :lol:
Post Reply

Return to “MEMBER BLOGS”