Software
8.1) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
8.2) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
8.3) What games support 4 or more simultaneous players?
8.4) What programs run only on the 400 and 800 models, and why?
8.5) What programs make use of the Light Gun or a light pen?
8.6) What programs have a track ball mode or support a mouse?
8.7) What programs have a paddle(s) or Koala Pad mode?
8.8) What programs have a CX85 Numerical Keypad mode?
8.9) What programs have a Touch tablet mode?
8.10) What kinds of extra RAM and RAMdisks can be installed?
8.11) What programs support more than 64K RAM?
8.12) What programs require more than 64K RAM?
8.13) What voice/sound synthesis software is there for the Atari?
8.14) What programs support stereo and upgraded sound?
8.15) What games support online action via modem?
8.16) What programs support Atari computer networking?
Subject: 8.1) What programming languages are available for the Atari?
This section is by Freddy Offenga.
Revision : 1.9
Date.... : 2004-3-30
==============================================================
The goal is to give information about all available languages
for the Atari 8-bit computer. This information includes:
title, last version, author, date and a short description.
It would also be nice to know how to get it and where to get
more information (like reference cards, reviews and such).
Maintainer: Freddy Offenga
Email : taf.offenga [at] chello.nl (replace " [at] " with "@")
URL : http://members.chello.nl/taf.offenga/atari.htm
==============================================================
There are quite a lot! To get some structure in this section it's
divided into the following categories;
a) ASSEMBLER
b) BASIC
c) C
d) PASCAL
e) LISP
f) FORTH
g) PILOT
h) LOGO
i) All the rest
The following format is used:
- Language titel (medium)
version, year : version, year
author/company : author/company
available..... : where/how to get it
package....... : programs, documentation
features...... : main features
Description.
The question marks (?) indicate that more information is
required about that topic.
Credits
=======
- The Multi-lingual Atari, Analog magazine 45, August 1986
- A bunch of manuals
- Some copy-pasted lines from the Atari 8-bit newsgroup
- umich (University of Michigan Atari archive)
- David Wyn Davies (PL65)
- Kevin Savetz (APX titles)
- Maury Markowitz
- Michael Current
- JT (ValForth)
- Andreas Magenheimer
- Winston Smith
- Carsten Strotmann
Revision history
================
1.9
- X-Assembler updated
- Added "QS FORTH" info from Winston Smith
- Added FORTH section work from Michael Current (thanks to Carsten Strotmann)
(see also: http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForth)
- Several updates in the assembler section
1.8
Thanks to Adreas Magenheimer for these updates:
- Added "Mesa-Forth"
- Added "130XE Assembler 4.32"
- Updated "SynAssembler"
1.7
Thanks to Maury Markowitz for these updates:
- Updated "A BASIC Compiler"
- Added "Der BASIC Compiler", "MMG BASIC Compiler"
- Added "Frost BASIC", "TT-BASIC XL"
1.6
Synchronized with Atari 8-bit FAQ May-2002 :
- Added "X-Assembler"
- Added "CTH Fast Basic"
- Added availability for "Deep Blue C"
- Added availability for "Atari Pascal"
- Ignored changes "Kyan Pascal" (need more info)
- Updated "ValForth"
- Updated "Extended fig-Forth"
- Updated "fun-Forth"
- Added "Extended WSFN"
- Removed e-mail addresses
- Added availability for "A65"
- Updated "PL65"
1.0 .. 1.5
Changes not noted.
Old versions are available on request.
a) ASSEMBLER
- 130XE Makro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 4.32, ?
author/company : Torsten Karwoth
available..... : freeware, ABBUC PD #297
package....... : assembler, editor, menu, monitor,
batch enhancement, linker/packer
features...... : macros
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated menu, editor
and monitor shell for 128KB RAM Ataris. Source format
is derived from Atmas Makroassembler.
- 130XE+ Makro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 2.2, 1992
author/company : Torsten Karwoth
available..... : freeware, ABBUC PD #368
package....... : assembler, editor, menu, monitor,
batch enhancement, linker/packer
features...... : macros
New version with 128KB - 1088KB RAM support.
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated menu, editor
and monitor shell. Needs extra RAM banks. Source
format is derived from Atmas Makroassembler.
- A65 (disk)
version, year : ?, 1989
author/company : Charles Marslett, WORDMARK Systems
available..... : abandonware, http://www.wordmark.org/
package....... : assembler, manual
features...... : source include
Two pass 6502 assembler. Source format is based on the
Atari Macro Assembler. Assembler source included.
- Alfasm, Turbo-Assembler/16 (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1990
author/company : Jeff Williams, DataQue Software
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, docs
features...... : source include
Two pass 6502/65816 assembler.
- Assi (download)
version, year : 0.0.41, 2000
author/company : MacFalkner
available..... : http://members.aol.com/macfalkner/atariindex.htm
package....... : assembler, file linker
features...... : source include, data include, code relocation
Cross assembler for Win32. Source code is highly compatible with
Atmas for the Atari.
- Atari Assembler/Editor (cart)
version, year : ?, 1981
author/company : Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
features...... : -
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor
- Atari Macro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 1.0C, 1981
author/company : Atari, APX
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, debugger, manual
features...... : macros, source include
Two pass 6502 assembler.
- ATasm (disk)
version, year : 0.92, 1999
author/company : Mark Schmelzenbach
available..... : umich
package....... : assembler
features...... : macros, source include, optionally target .XFD
disk images and machine state files (Atari800 / Atari800Win),
conditional assembly. Two pass 6502 portable cross assembler.
Highly compatible with MAC/65.
- Atmas Makroassembler (disk)
version, year : 2, 1985
author/company : Peter Finzel, Hofacker
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
features...... : macros
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor.
- Bibo Assembler (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 13/12/1986
author/company : E.Reuss, Compy-shop
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor
features...... : source include, data include
Two pass 6502/65c02 assembler with integrated editor/
monitor.
- Datasm/65 assembler (disk)
version, year : 2.0, 1981
author/company : DataSoft Inc.
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, menu, manual
features...... : -
Two pass 6502 assembler.
- EASMD (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1981
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor
features...... : ?
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor.
- Fast Assembler (disk)
version, year : 1.5, 1995
author/company : MMMG Soft
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, disassembler
features...... : ?
- Kasm65 (disk)
version, year : 2.51, 1997
author/company : Ken Siders
available..... : shareware, umich
package....... : assembler, editor, linker, docs
features...... : macros, relocation, source include,
conditional assembly
Two pass 6502 assembler. Relocatable object files are
compatible with ra65. Source format is derived from
the Atari Macro Assembler.
- MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk|cart)
version, year : 1.01, 1984
author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk|cart)
version, year : 2.00, 1982
author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
features...... : macros, source include
Two pass 6502 assembler with integrated editor/monitor.
Mac/65 is a direct descendant of the Atari Assembler/
Editor (via EASMD).
- MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 4.20, 1994
author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, Fine Tooned Engineering
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- MAC/65 Macro Assembler (disk)
version, year : 4.20 demo version, 1982
author/company : Stephen D. Lawrow, OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- MAE (disk)
version, year : .96, 1996
author/company : John Harris
available..... : umich
package....... : assembler, menu, editor, monitor, docs
features...... : macros, source include, data include,
conditional assembly
Two pass 6502/65816 assembler with integrated editor/
monitor. Extra RAM supported.
- NASM65 (disk)
version, year : ?, 1992
author/company : Nat!
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, linker, librarian
features...... : macros, relocation, source include
One pass 6502 portable cross assembler (initially for
the ST). Highly compatible with MAC/65.
- PC-65 (disk)
version, year : 1.0 beta, 1996
author/company : Jan Feenstra & Freddy Offenga
available..... : -
package....... : assembler
features...... : macros, source include, data include,
boundary directive
Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC/DOS. The source
format is highly compatible with the ST-65 assembler.
- Quick Assembler (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1990?
author/company : JBW, Avalon?
available..... : ?
package....... : assembler, editor, menu, debugger
features...... : source include
Two pass 6502 cross assembler with integrated editor.
Very user friendly menu environment.
- Ra65 (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1989
author/company : John R. Dunning
available..... : public domain, umich
package....... : assembler, linker, librarian
part of cc65 (c-compiler)
features...... : ?
- Synassembler (disk|cart)
version, year : 4.0, 1982
author/company : Steve Hales, Synapse Soft
available..... : http://www.atariland.com/members/oldatarian/
package....... : assembler, editor, monitor, manual
features...... : source include
Two pass 6502 assembler.
An Adaptation by Steve Hales of the S.C. Assembler II.
- ST-65 (disk)
version, year : ?, 1991
author/company : A. Stauffenberg, F. Offenga
available..... : -
package....... : assembler, menu shell, manual
features...... : macros, conditional assembly,
source include, data include,
boundary directive
Two pass 6502/65c02 cross assembler for the Atari ST
written in 68000 assembly. As far as I know this is
the first assembler with the boundary directive.
- Xasm
version, year : 2.5.2, 2002
author/company : Piotr Fusik
available..... : http://xasm.atari.org
package....... : assembler, docs
features...... : conditional assembly, source include,
binary include, pseudo commands,
pseudo addressing modes
Two pass 6502 cross assembler for PC/DOS. The source
format is backward compatible with Quick Assembler.
b) BASIC
- A BASIC Compiler (?)
version, year : 1.05, 1987
author/company : Monarch Data Systems
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?
- Advan BASIC (disk)
version, year : ?, ?
author/company : Advan Language Designs
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?
- Atari 800 Basic (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1981
author/company : Microsoft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- Atari BASIC (cart)
version, year : Rev.C, 1983
author/company : Atari
available..... : standard ROM in Atari XL/XE
package....... : BASIC interpreter, manual
features...... : pretty plain BASIC implementation
- Atari Microsoft BASIC II (cart)
version, year : ?, 1991
author/company : Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?
- BASIC A+ (disk)
version, year : 3.05, 1981
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?
- BASIC XL (cart)
version, year : ?, ?
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?
- BASIC XE (cart)
version, year : ?, 1985
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter
features...... : ?
- CTH Fast Basic (disk)
version/year : ?
author/company : Tom Hunt/Closer to Home
avaiable.......: PD, Freeware or Shareware;
package........: language plus several test files
and examples; english docs;
features.......: faster than Atari Basic, not much
slower than TB, does not use Ram under OS;
avaiable at Tom Hunt's homepage or elsewhere...
- Der BASIC Compiler (?)
version, year : ?, 1983
author/company : Datasoft
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?
- Frost BASIC (?)
version, year : 1.04, 1985
author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler
features...... : ?
Version of Turbo Basic XL that runs on 48k machines (400/800).
- MMG BASIC Compiler 2.0 (?)
version, year : 2.0, 1984
author/company : Special Software Systems
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC compiler
features...... : ?
It appears that this is a newer version of Der BASIC Compiler,
licensed to some other company.
- TT-BASIC XL (disk)
version, year : 2.11, 1985
author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler
features...... : ?
Published in the German magazine "Happy Computer".
Appears to be a newer version of Turbo Basic XL.
- Turbo Basic XL (disk)
version, year : 1.5, 1985
author/company : Frank Ostrowski, Happy Computer
available..... : ?
package....... : BASIC interpreter, compiler (V1.1)
features...... : ?
Published in the German magazine "Happy Computer".
c) C
- ACE C (disk)
version, year : ?
author/company : John Palevich & Ralph Walden
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
This is a newer version of 'Deep Blue C'.
- C/65 (?)
version, year : ?
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
Probably derived from Dr.Dobbs "Small C". Compiles to 6502
code which emulates the 8080 instruction set.
- C65 (?)
version, year : ?
author/company : Keith Ledbetter
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : good macro assembler
This compiler does not support structs.
- CC65 (disk)
version, year : 1989
author/company : John R. Dunning
available..... : umich archive,
http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/8bit/Languages/Cc65/
package....... : compiler, linker, assembler, librarian
features...... : ?
Public domain compiler. Also used as cross compiler.
Relocatable object linkage files, and the most thorough
K&R C for the 8-bit. Comes with an relocatable assembler.
- CC8 (disk)
version, year : 2.3
author/company : John Palevich & Steve Kennedy
available..... : ?
package....... : Compiler
features...... : ?
ACE C with more "real" C support (e.g. arrays of pointers
to structs). Requires ACE C runtime libs and linker.
- Deep Blue C (disk)
version, year : 1.2, 1982
author/company : John Palevich, APX
available..... : http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20166
Source code "Deep Blue Secrets" downloadable at
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20179
package....... : Compiler, Linker
features...... : ?
Deep Blue C was originally an independent product, but it
then became available from APX. It converts C to pseudo-
code and then interprets the pseudo code (8080 instruction
set emulation).
Drawn from Ron Cain's public domain C-compiler (Small-C).
- DVC C (disk)
version, year : 1.05, 1985
author/company : Ralph E. Walden
available..... : ?
package....... : Editor, Compiler, Optimizer, Linker
features...... : Quite user friendly program
The compiler generates special object files (.CCC)
which can be optimized and linked. The package uses a
special DOS called DVC DOS which contains runtime stuff.
- LightSpeed C (disk)
version, year : 1.08, 1986
author/company : Clearstar Softechnology
available..... : ?
package....... : Compiler, Optimizer, Linker
features...... : ?
Runs under CLI DOS's and MENU DOS's.
- Tiny-C
version, year : ?
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
First sold C compiler by OSS. This compiler was used to
compile itself! First true language "bootstrap" on any
8-bit machine (it was also available for Apple and CP/M
machines). Derived from Dr.Dobbs "Small C". Compiles to
6502 code which emulates the 8080 instruction set.
d) PASCAL
- Atari Pascal (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1982
author/company : APX
available..... : APX-20102
Information at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20102
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
Needs two drives.
- Draper Pascal (disk)
version, year : 2.1, 1989
author/company : Norm Draper
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- Kyan Pascal (disk)
version, year : 1986
author/company : Kyan Software, APX
available..... : ?
package....... : editor, compiler, linker, macro-assembler
and manual
features...... : ?
Kyan Pascal would run off a single floppy. The Atari (APX)
version needs two drives. A version which runs entirely in
128k should be available too.
e) LISP
- INTER-LISP/65 (disk)
version, year : 2.1, 1981
author/company : Special Software Systems, DataSoft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- INTER-LISP/65 (disk)
version, year : 2.2, 1982
author/company : Special Software Systems, DataSoft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
f) FORTH
- ES-FORTH
version, year : 1.2, 1984
author/company : The English Software Company
available..... :
http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthESForth
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
Seems to be based on fig-FORTH, but with some unique "Words".
Works with normal DOS.
- Extended fig-FORTH, (disk)
version, year : 11/10/1981
author/company : Patrick Mullarky, APX
available..... : APX-20029
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20029
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- Extended fig-Forth (disk)
version, year : 1.1 Rev. 2.0, 01/15/82
author/company : Patrick Mullarky, APX
available..... : APX-20029
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20029
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- fig-FORTH
version, year : 1/26/81 and 4/01/82 releases
author/company : Steven R. Calfee "Team FORTH"
available..... :
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=unknown_fig
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- fig-FORTH
version, year : 4/10/82
author/company : Peter Lipson / Robin Ziegler "Team FORTH"
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... :
based on 4/1/82 release of fig-FORTH by Steve Calfee
- fig-FORTH
version, year : 5/5/82 - 10/16/82
author/company : Harald Striepe "Team FORTH"
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... :
based on 4/10/82 release of fig-FORTH by Lipson/Ziegler
- fig-FORTH, Antic (disk)
version, year : 1.4S REV.H, 18Jun85
author/company : John Stanley/Antic Magazine "Team FORTH"
available..... :
http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthAntic
package....... : ?
features...... :
based on 10/16/82 release of fig-FORTH by Striepe
- fun-Forth (disk)
version, year : ?
author/company : Joel Gluck, APX
available..... : APX-20146
http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20146
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
- Grafik-FORTH
version, year : 1990
author/company : RAI Production
available..... :
http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthGraphicForth
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
based on fig-FORTH 1.4S and TURBO-GRAPHICS-SYSTEM 256
- MesaForth
version, year : 12/03/81
author/company : ?
available..... :
http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthMesa
package....... : language, source code, documents, examples
features...... :
based on 6502 fig-Forth. The major difference is in the size of the
screen on disk (512 bytes instead of 1024 bytes).
Runs under ATARI DOS 2.0S.
- QS FORTH
version, year : 1.0, 3/27/81
author/company : James Abanese / [QS] Quality Software
available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/LangForthQS
package....... : Editor, Assembler, I/O routines
Single Density 5.25 Floppy and Manual in Binder
features...... : Editor, Assembler, I/O Routines.
based on fig-FORTH.
- Turbo-4th
version, year : January 1985
author/company : Steven R. Calfee
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... :
compatible with fig-FORTH and Team FORTH. It's fast.
Not threaded, it is a true compiler
- ValForth (disk)
version, year : 1.1, 1982
author/company : Valpar International
available..... : ?
package....... : (8) disks in the set including: 1)master disk,
2)display formatter, 3)text compression and auto text formatting,
4)valDOS-I, 5)valDOS-II, 6)player-missile graphics, character editor and
sound editor, 7)general utilities and video editor, 8) Turtle &
valGraphics and advanced floating point routines.
features...... : ?
based on fig-FORTH
- X-FORTH
version, year : 26 Jan 2003
author/company : Carsten Strotmann
available..... : http://www.strotmann.de/twiki/bin/view/APG/ProjXForth
package....... : binary, source, disk image with samples & editor
features...... : aims to be compatible with new ANSI standard.
works with normal DOS.
g) PILOT
- Atari PILOT (cart)
version, year : 1980
author/company : Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
h) LOGO
- Atari LOGO (cart)
version, year : 1983
author/company : LCSI, Atari
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
i) All the rest
- Action! (cart)
version, year : 1983
author/company : OSS
available..... : ?
package....... : compiler, editor, monitor and library
features...... : fast compiler which generates good code
Needs cartridge for runtime procedures. A PD runtime
library is also available.
All variables are static, so recursive routine calls
are not possible. No floating point type (though a
PD library should make this possible). No arrays of
objects (arrays of POINTERS to objects are possible).
- Extended WSFN, WSFN = Which Stands For Nothing
version, year : ?
author/company : Harry Stewart, APX
available..... : APX-20026
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
Info at http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20026
- Quick (disk)
version, year : 2.0, 1990
author/company : Raindorf Soft
available..... : ?
package....... : ?
features...... : ?
This is the "poor man's Action!". Same restrictions as
Action! apply also to Quick. Further restrictions are:
only simple assignment expressions, no records and no
pointers.
- PL65 (disk)
version, year : 1.0, 1987
author/company : Noahsoft
available..... : commercial, Extremely rare.
package....... : compiler, editor, library, sample game
features...... : Similar features to Action with same restrictions.
Highly flexible language that includes inline assembler features and
pointers. Robust and well-engineered editor. Does not require
additional runtime library - automatically generated and included in
the compiled code during compilation.
- Test Computer Language (disk)
version, year : 2.2, 1985-1990
author/company : D.Firth
available..... : public domain, ?
package....... : compiler and editor
features...... : ?
Subject: 8.2) What cartridges were released for the Right Slot of the 800?
Contributors: Gene, Larry White, others
Austin Franklin Austin 80 Console Software
Eastern House KISS
Eastern House Monkey Wrench
Eastern House Monkey Wrench II
Geminisoft/Sar-An Magic Dump
Geminisoft Magic Dump II
Radical Systems Cartridge Maker (eprom burner)
Block (first right cart/first "backup" program hardware device)
R-Time 8 ICD (battery-backed clock, for left or right cart slots)
Real Time Cartridge Sunmark, http://www.sunmark.com/
Subject: 8.3) What games support 4 or more simultaneous players?
Contributors to this section: Jeff M Lodoen, Vidar \"Hawk\" Olavesen, Pat
Mulvey, Steven E. Posey (Party Quiz), Andreas Magenheimer, Florian Dingler,
Matthias
a) The following games support 3 simultaneous players:
(2 players via joystick, 1 player via keyboard)
- Dynakillers by GMG/Slovakia (Freeware!)
- Blastermind by Numbercruncher/Germany (Freeware!)
- M.U.L.E. cracked+changed by CSS/Germany (pirate copy!)
- some more PD and commercial games...
b) The following games support 4-joystick head-to-head play:
(Only the 400 and 800 computer models sport 4 controller ports)
- Asteroids cart. by Atari,
- Basketball cart. by Atari,
- Dandy disk by APX,
- M.U.L.E. disk by Electronic Arts,
- Maze War disk or cart. by ???,
- Silicon Warrior disk or tape by Epyx,
- Survivor disk or cart. by Synapse,
- Major League Soccer cart. by Thorn EMI,
- Major League Hockey cart. by Thorn EMI,
- Volleyball by ???
(PD game written in Atari BASIC);
- Tank Battle by Fred Pinho from Antic magazine:
http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n2/animate.html
- Roadblock by Brian Holness from Compute! magazine
- Battle Room (CIA vs. KGB) a PD game by SNACC
- Aliens a PD-game by ??? using an altered Dandy program
(the Dandy font and thus the graphics were changed, however,
the levels remain the same and can be used in both games);
- Sky Warrior by ??? from ROM magazine, June 1984 ***
- Depth Warrior by ??? from ROM magazine, Aug. 1984 ***
- Yellow-Brick-Road by ??? from ROM magazine, Feb. 1984 ***
*** these programs are reported to be 4-player programs, I'm
not sure if they are meant to be 4-players simultaneously
or 4-players - one after another (try to find out!);
c) The following games support 8 players on the 400/800 or 4 on the other
computer models, using the 2 controllers-per-port CX30 Paddle controllers:
- Super Breakout by Atari,
- Worms? by Electronic Arts
(has nothing to do with the PC game!)
d) The following game supports 4 players on all machines, using special
4-button keypad controllers linked together with RJ-11 jacks (standard
phone jacks) to a box with 2 joystick port connectors:
- PQ: The Party Quiz Game by Suncom
e) The following programs support multi-joystick games, using extra
hardware called Quadrotron (from the german Atari magazin 2/1989):
- test program for 4 joysticks (and assembler source);
- Quadro-Tron by H.Schoenfeld (4-player Tron-clone);
f) The following programs support multi-joystick games, using extra
hardware called Multijoy (multijoy4 for up to 4 players, multijoy8
for up to 8 players and multijoy16 for up to 16 players; originally
developed by Raster/Radek Sterba, but also available from ABBUC):
- Cervi by R.Sterba (up to 8-players Snake-clone);
- Multris by R.Sterba (up to 4 players Tetris-clone)
- Bremspunkt by T.Butschke (up to 4 players Car-race);
- Sheeprace by F.Dingler (1 to 8 players Sheep-race);
- Card Grabber by F.Dingler (2 to 8 players grab-a-card-game);
- Ice-Hockey by F.Dingler (4 to 8 players Icehockey-game);
- Quadrotron-M4 by R.Sterba (patched Quadro-Tron for Multijoy);
- Shot'em All by R.Sterba (16 players shooting-game)
The following are available at:
http://mitglied.lycos.de/gunnarbusse/bajamar/download.htm
- Asteroids, modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
- Basketball, modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
- Tennis, modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
- Dandy, modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
- M.U.L.E., modified for Multijoy by Schmutzpuppe
Subject: 8.4) What programs run only on the 400 and 800 models, and why?
The following are reported as incompatible with models other than the
original Atari 400/800. Most probably do work on XL/XE's if you use a
translator to run the original 400/800 OS on your XL/XE.
Apple Panic Broderbund
Aquatron Sierra On-Line
Astro Chase (by First Star Software) Parker Bros.
Atari Word Processor Atari
(this is not the same as AtariWriter!)
Atlantis (some versions!) Imagic
Attack at EP-CYG-4 (by Bram) Romox
Bacterion! Kyle Peacock/Tom Hudson/ANALOG#20
( http://www.cyberroach.com/analog/an20/bacterion.htm
patch for XL/XE available:
http://www.cyberroach.com/analog/an20/bacterion_patch.htm )
Bandits Sirius Software
BearJam Chalkboard
Boulders And Bombs CBS
Chicken Synapse
Dancing Feats (by Softsync) Romox
Demon Attack Imagic
Dreadnaught Factor, The Activision
Drelbs Synapse
File Manager 800+ Synapse
Forbidden Forest Cosmi
(later versions by different companies work ok on XL/XE!)
Fort Apocalypse Synapse
(cart version is 400/800 only! tape+disk versions work ok on XL/XE!)
Galahad And The Holy Grail APX
(Downloadable: http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20132)
Go Hayden
Gorf Roklan
Jawbreaker II Sierra On-Line
Jet Boot Jack English Software
(can be found on various tapes/disks; at least the re-release
version by Byte Back works alright on XL/XE computers!)
Juggler IDSI
K-Razy Antiks K-Byte
K-razy Kritters CBS
K-razy Kritters K-Byte
Kangaroo Atari prototype
KoalaPainter Koala
Leo's 'Lectric Paintbrush Chalkboard
Leo's Links Chalkboard
Letter Perfect (before v6) LJK
LogicMaster Chalkboard
Mac/65 [ver. 1.00, orange] OSS
Mario Bros. ('83) Atari
Maze Epyx
Micro Illustrator Chalkboard
MicroMaestro Chalkboard
Monkey Wrench Eastern House
Monster Maze Epyx
Ms. Pac-Man Atari
(has problems with newer XE/XEGS computers!)
M.U.L.E.(early release only) Electronic Arts
Nautilus Synapse
Pac-Man Jr. Atari prototype
Picnic Paranoia Synapse
Pool 1.5 IDSI
Pool 400 IDSI
Protector II Synapse
QS Forth James Abanese / [QS] Quality Software
Rack 'Em Up Rocklan
Shamus Synapse
Slime Synapse
Snapper Silicon Valley Systems
Space Dungeon Atari
Squish 'Em Sirius
Super Pac-Man Atari prototype
Synassembler Synapse
Text Wizard Datasoft
Zaxxon (early release only!) Datasoft
Konrad M.Kokoszkiewicz writes:
XL/XE software won't work on 400/800 if:
1) it uses shadow RAM at $C000-$CFFF and $D800-$FFFF
2) it uses RAM expansions at $4000-$7FFF controlled by PORTB $D301
3) it uses specific XL OS functions (like JNEWDEVC)
4) it uses illegal XL OS addresses.
5) it uses European Charset :)
Andreas Magenheimer adds:
To get an overview or see a chart of OS changes from the 800 to the XL
line, refer to Antic magazine Volume 3, Number 2 (June 1984), pages 10-14;
(online: http://www.atarimagazines.com/v3n2/insideatari.html )
Also note, that some software will not work correct (or not at all) on
newer XE/XEGS versions (which have a new OS with a new version number,
a new selftest/memory-test/keyboard-test, larger RAM chips, etc. etc.);
Thomas Richter contributes further details (16 Jan 2004):
There are a couple of reasons why some games don't run on the XL/XE
models. I try to order them by "likeliness", of course biased by my
personal observations:
i) The printer buffer of the XL Operating System in page 3 is a couple
of bytes shorter. The additional bytes are used for extended OS
variables not available in the 800 series. Most prominent is the $3fa
location, holding a shadow register of GTIA's TRIG3 signal. While a
true joystick trigger line in the 400/800 series, this signal is used
as "cart inserted" signal for XL/XE models. Unfortunately, the OS
compares GTIA trig3 with the shadow register at $3fa in each vertical
blank, running into an endless loop if the register contents don't
match. This causes hangs for games using page 3 either as copy-buffer
or for player-missile graphics. (Hangs by Ms. Pac-Man and
Bacterion! are caused by this, and many others...) This is "fixable"
either by the translator disk, or by a quick hack into the game,
replacing the OS vertical blank or poking TRIG3 frequently into its
shadow. The reason for the OS behaviour might be that Atari wanted to
prevent crashes if the cartridge is inserted or removed while the
machine is running. The 400/800 is powered down when a cart is
inserted, the XL/XE lacks the cover of the older models that triggered
a little switch to interrupt the power line.
ii) Similar to the above, writes to $3f8. This OS equate defines
whether on a warm start, the BASIC ROM shall be mapped back in. If
its contents are altered, a program triggering a reset as part of its
initialization will find itself then with 8K less RAM occupied by
a BASIC ROM, making it crash. Similarly, writes to the cartridge checksum
$3eb could cause a cold-start on a "reset initialization". This is
fixable by the translator disk.
iii) Some games use a four-joystick setup, or at least initialize
PIA itself. If this happens inadequately, PIA Port B, bit 0 gets changed,
disabling the ROM, and thus crashing the machine. This is not fixable
by the translator since it is a hardware issue.
iv) Direct jumps into the OS ROM, not using the documented vectors in
the $e450 area. Interestingly, this fault is not as common as it may
sound since games hardly ever use the OS. It causes failures of
some "serious applications", most notably "QS Forth" and applications
compiled by it. This is fixable by the translator disk.
As a side remark, it is interesting to note that no such documented
jump-ins exist for the math-pack ($d800 to $dfff). It is not really
part of the OS, but looks more like a part of the BASIC interpreter
that didn't make it into the OS because there was no room left. Thus,
direct jump-ins have to be used here that are documented in the De Re
Atari (for example). Atari never changed them, but it seems likely
that this documentation happened more or less as an accident since the
same source also lists some mathematics-related jump-ins into the
Basic (namely, to compute SIN and COS and related) that are only valid
for the Rev. A BASIC. Thus, the math pack might be a couple of
routines that have been originally intended for "private use" of the
BASIC ROM, but then have been found "too useful" by many others to
remain "closed". Otherwise, it is hard to explain why the otherwise
pretty cleaned-up OS comes with a construction like this.
Subject: 8.5) What programs make use of the Light Gun or a light pen?
Bertrand M. (LEXX) writes:
- Bug Hunt cart. by Atari;
- Barnyard Blaster cart. by Atari;
- Crossbow cart. by Atari;
- Crimebuster cart. by Atari;
- Operation Blood disk by ANG/Mirage;
- Operation Blood II - Special Forces disk by ANG/Mirage;
- Light Gun Blaster (PD from Page 6);
- enhanced Lightgun Blaster (PD from Pedrokko);
- Gangsterville disk by Linda Soft
(an italian game written in BASIC);
- maybe a couple more...
James Bradford mentions:
"On the 400, the light gun /pen will only work in joystick port 4."
This renders much light gun and light pen software unusable on the 400.
Andreas Magenheimer adds:
All Lightgun games can be used with a lightpen (which is not as accurate
as a Lightgun however). And all lightpen programs can be used with a
lightgun. thus add:
- Atari Graphics cart. by Atari
(a painting/drawing program);
- Matrix a PD game by Dave Oblad
(a 4-wins or 5-wins clone!)
- Alien Invaders (TB-XL or CTB) disk by R.Gore (available from DGS);
- Bembelwo a PD game by Thorsten Butschke
(a sort of golf/minesweeper game, written in Quick);
- Sharp Shooter by Mat*Rat a PD game from Analog,
(also available on cart from Video 61/Lance Ringquist);
- Lightgun Shooter by ??? from ABBUC mag.
(a simple shooter game, at least PD!)
- Flyshot or Flyshoot a PD game by Kemal Ezcan
(a Turbo BASIC game from ZONG, the KE Soft magazine);
- Geisterschloss game+editor disk by KE Soft;
- Lightpen Doodle by ??? from Antic magazine;
- Sniper by ??? and Raster (Freeware!);
- Cementario (english = cemetery), PD by Pelusa-Software;
- Invasion, PD by Pelusa-Software Chile;
- Hit the Mole by Phoenix-Softcrew / Carsten Strotmann;
- Hardware-tester by Florian Dingler (tests the following hardware:
joysticks, paddles, koala pad, touch tablet, lightpen, lightgun,
multijoy8, video touch pad / kids controller, driving/steering wheel,
atari trackball, numeric keypad cx85 and maybe some more devices)
- some more PD programs and utilities for Lightpen or Lightgun;
Subject: 8.6) What programs have a track ball mode or support a mouse?
Contributors: Andreas Magenheimer, Mirko Sobe
Title Keystroke Required
-------------- ---------------------
- Missile Command by Atari CTRL-T
- Slime by Synapse [T]
- Shanghai by Activision choose controller type: ST mouse !
(plug it into port 2; if you do not
have one, you have to reboot!!)
- Bombdown by Roemer of Uno choose between Joystick, Amiga
mouse, ST mouse or CX85 numeric
keypad (use port 2 for any mice)
- Minesweeper by Raindorf-Soft use an ST mouse in port 2
- The Brundles by KE-Soft use an ST mouse in port 2
- The Brundles Editor by KE-Soft, PD use an ST mouse in port 2
- Geisterschloss by KE-Soft, PD choose Lightgun (port 1) or ST
mouse (port 2)
- Vanish (ZONG, Vol. 5+6/1993); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- Hong Kong (ZONG, Vol. 5+6/1993); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- Maus-DOS (ZONG 5+6/1993); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- Faecher-Patience (ZONG 1/1993); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- Macao (Zong 5+6/1994); use an ST-mouse in port 2
- Multi-Mouse manager (PD) drivers for mice, TB, etc.
- Multiplayer 2.1 by Madteam supports ST + Amiga mouse in port A
- Unriagh I (german PD adventure) has drivers for ST mouse+Joystick
(stick=port 1, mouse=port2)
- Unriagh II (german PD adventure) has drivers for ST mouse+joystick
(stick=port 1, mouse=port 2)
- little Calculator (AMC-Verlag, PD) uses ST-mouse only (port 2)
- big UPN calculator (PD) uses ST mouse, TB, Touch tab. and
joystick; (there are different COM
files, rename the one you wish to
use to *.EXE; all drivers use port
1 - if I remember correctly)
- Operation Blood (ANG/Mirage) press mouse fire or Select to start
in ST mouse mode (port 2)
- Operation Blood 2 / Special Forces press mouse fire or Select to start
(ANG/Mirage) in ST mouse mode
- Sprint XL (ABBUC Jahresgabe 1992) uses an ST mouse in port 2
- M.O.S. (ABBUC magazine) uses an ST mouse in port 2
- Diamond GOS (Reeve software) all three versions support an ST
mouse in port 2
- S.A.M. (Power per Post) german GUI, supports an ST mouse in
port 2
- G.O.E. (TCS) supports an ST mouse in port 1
- BOSS-X (MS-Software, Mirko Sobe) supports ST-Mouse in Port 2
RE: Missile Command, Andreas writes:
there are many different versions available... I know the old Atari 800
cart version, which works correct with Joystick and Trakball, but not at
all with a mouse. The newer XL version works with Mouse, trackball and
Joystick, also the newest (built-in) XEGS version of MC. But, there is
also a tape version (and maybe a disk version) of MC available. I am not
sure if this tape version behaves like the old 800 version or like the
newer XL and XE/XEGS versions...
And about mice, Andreas adds:
Maybe you did not know, there is a little difference between Trackball
and ST-mouse. Although MC works with both input devices does not mean,
they are the same. they are not !! Connect the TB to an ST computer and
you see: it does not work at all !! You have to do a small conversion to
convert the TB to an ST mouse. (Plans are avaiable from ABBUC, Germany).
Subject: 8.7) What programs have a paddle(s) or Koala Pad mode?
Andreas Magenheimer contributes:
- Super Breakout (Atari) breakout clone
- Live Wire (Analog) tempest clone
- Live wire 2 (Analog) tempest clone
- Planetary Defense (Analog)
- Pong (Antic) Pong clone
- Pong (Analog) Pong clone
- Super Ball (Compy Shop Magazin) Breakout clone
- Arkanoid (Taito/Imagic) Breakout clone
- Koala/Micro-Illustrator (Island graphics/Koala Ware) graphics program
- Chiseler (Antic or Analog) a breakout clone
- Slime (Synapse) a slimy shooter...
- Chicken (Synapse) catch the chicken eggs...
- One on One (Compute!) a breakout/warlords clone
- Paratroop Attack by David Plotkin
- all Pinballs created with the P.C.S.
(use left paddle trigger for left flipper and right paddle trigger for
right flipper; or simply use a joystick and left/right/fire button);
- many more Pong and Breakout clones
(forgot their names, maybe someone can help here!)
- many more programs (which I do not remember right now!)
for Koala Pad only: - Micro-Illustrator / Koala Painter
- other Koala Pad painters or programs
Subject: 8.8) What programs have a CX85 Numerical Keypad mode?
Andreas Magenheimer contributes:
- Bombdown (Roemer of Uno);
- The Bookkeeper (Atari);
- Multi mouse Management (PD);
- UPN calculator (PD);
- Ball Harbour (Zong 8/1992);
- The Big Quest (Zong 7/1992);
- Blob (Zong 2/1992);
- Bomber Jack (KE-Soft);
- Catch (Zong 6/1992);
- Code table (Zong 11+12/1993);
- CX-85-Driver (Zong 7+8/1994);
- CX-85-Keycode-driver (Zong 7+8/1995);
- Donald (by KE-Soft);
- Drag (by KE-Soft);
- Dragon Fire (Zong 1/1993);
- Gravitar (Zong 4/1992);
- Hungry Goblin (Zong 5/1992);
- Invaders (Zong 5+6/1993);
- Joshi (Zong 3+4/1993);
- Lasermaze (by KE-Soft);
- Lost in the Antarctic (Zong 2/1992);
- Mampfman (Zong 8/1992);
- Minipac (Zong 3/1992);
- Minipac 2 (Zong 6/1992);
- Money Raider (Zong 2/1992);
- Monster Tracking (Zong 9/1992);
- Oblitroid (by KE-Soft)
- Pac-Man (Zong 11/1992);
- Schlumpf/Smurf (Zong 5/1992);
- Slurp (Zong 3/1992);
- Techno Ninja (by KE-Soft)
- Transsylvania (Zong 3+4/1993);
- Viro-Mania (Zong 2/1993);
- Zador XL (by KE-Soft)
- Zador II (by KE-Soft)
- many more games from KE-Soft and Powersoft;
(forgot their names, help needed!)
Subject 8.9) What programs have a Touch tablet mode?
Andreas Magenheimer writes:
- Atari Artist (Atari) graphics program
- Pixel Artist Deluxe 1.3 (PD) graphics program
- The Brundles (KE-Soft) Lemmings clone
- Musorqua (Analog computing) educational program
- many more (which I do not remember right now!)
Subject: 8.10) What kinds of extra RAM and RAMdisks can be installed?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
(Version 3.5 from January 2004 by A.M.)
A) Atari 400/800 Ramdisks:
- Size: 64k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 3 (total memory = 96k RAM)
Types: Axlon (=Atari) and compatibles;
- Size: 128k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 7 (total memory = 160k RAM)
Types: Axlon (= Atari) and compatibles;
- Size: 256k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 15 (total memory = 288k RAM)
Types: D. Byrd and other selfmade / Axlon-compatible RDs;
- Size: 512k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 31 (total memory = 544k RAM)
Types: selfmade / Axlon-compatible Ramdisks;
- Size: 1024k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 63 (total memory = 1056k RAM)
Types: selfmade / Axlon-compatible Ramdisks;
- Size: 2048k XRAM (+ 32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 127 (total memory = 2080k RAM)
Types: selfmade / Axlon-compatible Ramdisks;
- Size: 4096k XRAM (+32k RAM)
Banks: 0 thru 255 (total memory = 4128k RAM)
Types: selfmade / Axlon-compatible Ramdisks;
=> Note that all so-called Axlon "compatible" (256k-4096k) Ramdisks
normally do not homebank when RESET is pressed (a fix should be
available somewhere), whereas original Axlon Ramdisks do homebank
properly !! (Special thanks to Lee Barnes for this note !!)
B) XL/XE - 64k base RAM plus XRAM:
- Size: 64k (total = 128k RAM, 4 banks)
- Banks: E3, E7, EB, EF (block E = 1 block * 4 banks)
- Types: 130XE-Ramdisk, Turbo-Freezer-XL + 64k, selfmade-ramdisks...
- Size: 128k (total = 192k RAM, 8 banks)
- Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(blocks AE = 2 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Compyshop 600XL with 192k, Turbo-Freezer-XL + 128k,
selfmade-RDs...
- Size: 256k / 26AE (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(blocks 26AE, = 4 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Compyshop 800XL RD., Compyshop 130XE RD.,
Peters/David Megaram 1, Peters/David Megaram 2,
Peters/David Megaram 3 with 256k, selfmade RDs...
- Size: 256k / 8ACE (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(blocks 8ACE = 4 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Newell, Rambo-XL, Scott Peterson, Atari Magazin,
TOMS, selfmade-RDs...
- Size: 512k / 26AE (total = 576k RAM, 32 banks)
- Banks: 21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F,
A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
(blocks 26AE = 4 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: none (that I know of) at the moment - but possible!
- Size: 512k / 8ACE (total = 576k RAM, 32 banks)
- Banks: 81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
(blocks 8ACE = 4 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: Scott Peterson, TOMS, selfmade-RDs...
- Size: 512k / 02468ACE (total = 576k RAM, 32 banks)
- Banks: 03,07,0B,0F,23,27,2B,2F,43,47,4B,4F,63,67,6B,6F,
83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF;
(blocks 02468ACE = 8 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: 1) upgrade / combination of 26AE and 8ACE ramdisk
types to 512k RAM or to *one* 02468ACE ramdisk;
idea by me, built by Bernhard Pahl (see his homepage
at http://www.b-pahl.de/atari8bit/ramdisk)
2) Upgrade of the Rambo XL to 512k by Dan Schmid
(see Pooldisk Too, Subdir ACE/ Acec202a.ATR and
Acec202b.ATR) and of course 3) selfmade ramdisks...
- Size: 1024k / 02468ACE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F
41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F
81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF
(blocks 02468ACE = 8 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: Newell, Scott Peterson, TOMS, Satantronic`s 1MB-
PC-SIMM-RD, selfmade-RDs...
- Size: 1024k / 26AE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: EF,EE,ED,EC,EB,EA,E9,E8,E7,E6,E5,E4,E3,E2,E1,E0
AF,AE,AD,AC,AB,AA,A9,A8,A7,A6,A5,A4,A3,A2,A1,A0
6F,6E,6D,6C,6B,6A,69,68,67,66,65,64,63,62,61,60
2F,2E,2D,2C,2B,2A,29,28,27,26,25,24,23,22,21,20
(blocks 26AE = 4 blocks * 16 banks)
- Types: Mathy van Nisselroy`s 1024k XEGS-PC-SIMM-Upgrade!
(with some changes probably also usable for XL and XE,
see also: http://www.mathy-van-nisselroy.nl)
- Size: 1024k / 8ACE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: EF,EE,ED,EC,EB,EA,E9,E8,E7,E6,E5,E4,E3,E2,E1,E0
CF,CE,CD,CC,CB,CA,C9,C8,C7,C6,C5,C4,C3,C2,C1,C0
AF,AE,AD,AC,AB,AA,A9,A8,A7,A6,A5,A4,A3,A2,A1,A0
8F,8E,8D,8C,8B,8A,89,88,87,86,85,84,83,88,81,80
(blocks 8ACE = 4 blocks * 16 banks)
- Types: none (that I know of) at the moment - but possible!
- Size: 1024k / 0123456789ABCDE (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: blocks 0123456789ABCDE each with 4 banks
= 16 blocks * 4 banks (does not make much sense, but...)
- Types: luckily, none at the moment...
- Size: 1024k / ??? (max. memory = 1088k, 64 banks)
- Port-Bits / Control-Bits: $D301 = 2,3,6,7
$D600 = 0,1 (or switches);
- Banks: $D301: 23,27,2B,2F,63,67,6B,6F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF
$D600: F3,F7,FB,FF...
- Types: David/Peters Megaram 3 with 1024k RAM (and the switches
positioned to 1 x 1024k)
- Size: 2048k / 02468ACE (total = 2112k, 128 banks)
- Banks: 00,01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,09,0A,0B,0C,0D,0E,0F
20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,2A,2B,2C,2D,2E,2F
40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,4A,4B,4C,4D,4E,4F
60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,6A,6B,6C,6D,6E,6F
80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,8A,8B,8C,8D,8E,8F
A0,A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,AA,AB,AC,AD,AE,AF
C0,C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6,C7,C8,C9,CA,CB,CC,CD,CE,CF
E0,E1,E2,E3,E4,E5,E6,E7,E8,E9,EA,EB,EC,ED,EE,EF
(blocks 02468ACE = 8 blocks * 16 banks)
- Types: selfmade-Ramdisks...
- Size: 2048k / 0123456789ABCDEF (total = 2112k, 128 banks)
- Banks: 01,03,05,07,09,0B,0D,0F,11,13,15,17,19,1B,1D,1F,
21,23,25,27,29,2B,2D,2F,31,33,35,37,39,3B,3D,3F,
41,43,45,47,49,4B,4D,4F,51,53,55,57,59,5B,5D,5F,
61,63,65,67,69,6B,6D,6F,71,73,75,77,79,7B,7D,7F,
81,83,85,87,89,8B,8D,8F,91,93,95,97,99,9B,9D,9F,
A1,A3,A5,A7,A9,AB,AD,AF,B1,B3,B5,B7,B9,BB,BD,BF,
C1,C3,C5,C7,C9,CB,CD,CF,D1,D3,D5,D7,D9,DB,DD,DF,
E1,E3,E5,E7,E9,EB,ED,EF,F1,F3,F5,F7,F9,FB,FD,FF;
(blocks 0123456789ABCDEF = 16 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: selfmade-Ramdisks...
- Size: 4096k / 0123456789ABCDEF (total = 4160k, 256 banks)
- Banks: 00,01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,09,0A,0B,0C,0D,0E,0F
10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,1A,1B,1C,1D,1E,1F
20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,2A,2B,2C,2D,2E,2F
30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39,3A,3B,3C,3D,3E,3F
40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,4A,4B,4C,4D,4E,4F
50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,5A,5B,5C,5D,5E,5F
60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,6A,6B,6C,6D,6E,6F
70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,7A,7B,7C,7D,7E,7F
80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,8A,8B,8C,8D,8E,8F
90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,9A,9B,9C,9D,9E,9F
A0,A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,AA,AB,AC,AD,AE,AF
B0,B1,B2,B3,B4,B5,B6,B7,B8,B9,BA,BB,BC,BD,BE,BF
C0,C1,C2,C3,C4,C5,C6,C7,C8,C9,CA,CB,CC,CD,CE,CF
D0,D1,D2,D3,D4,D5,D6,D7,D8,D9,DA,DB,DC,DD,DE,DF
E0,E1,E2,E3,E4,E5,E6,E7,E8,E9,EA,EB,EC,ED,EE,EF
F0,F1,F2,F3,F4,F5,F6,F7,F8,F9,FA,FB,FC,FD,FE,FF
(blocks 0123456789ABCDEF = 16 blocks * 16 banks)
- Types: Newell, FTE, selfmade-Ramdisks...
Well, I will not go into details with the disadvantages and
software-problems with ramdisks beyond 512k RAM (Selftest, XL/XE Basic,
RAM under the OS, separate Antic access, etc.). These problems mostly
occur with 1 Megabyte or bigger ramdisks and there are several hardware
and software solutions for them, alas not working correct with every
software or program. With 4 Megabyte extra RAM / Ramdisk, the PIA is
fully used/adressed, so that normally the base RAM at 4000-7FFF is not
available any longer. But again, there are tricks and solutions to solve
this problem. Installing a second PIA for example makes it possible to
adress up to 256 Megabytes of extra RAM / Ramdisk - but who needs so much
RAM on the Atari 8Bit computer ???
C) XL/XE - XRAM minus 64k Base-RAM:
- Size: 192k / 8AE (total = 256k RAM, usable = 12 banks)
- Banks: 83,87,8B,8F,A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(8AE = 3 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: older Newell ramdisks (replace 64k by 256k);
- Size: 192k / ACE (total = 256k RAM, usable = 12 banks)
- Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,C3,C7,CB,CF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(ACE = 3 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: newer Newell RDs, newer Buchholz-RDs, Rambo-XL,
selfmade Ramdisks (replace 64k by 256k)...
- Size: 448k / 2468ACE (total = 512k, usable = 28 banks)
- Banks: EF,EB,E7,E3,CF,CB,C7,C3,AF,AB,A7,A3,8F,8B,87,83
6F,6B,67,63,4F,4B,47,43,2F,2B,27,23
(2468ACE = 7 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: selfmade-RDs (replace 64k by 512k)...
- Size: 896k? / 0248ACE (total = 1024k, usable = 56 banks)
- Banks: EF,ED,EB,E9,E7,E5,E3,E1,CF,CD,CB,C9,C7,C5,C3,C1,
AF,AD,AB,A9,A7,A5,A3,A1,8F,8D,8B,89,87,85,83,81,
4F,4D,4B,49,47,45,43,41,2F,2D,2B,29,27,25,23,21,
0F,0D,0B,09,07,05,03,01 (0248ACE = 7 blocks * 8 banks)
- Types: Bob Woolley`s 1200XL 1MB Upgrade, selfmade-RDs
(replace 64k by 1024k)...
Allthough these RAM upgrades are relatively easy to build
(and to install into the computer), they make problems with
quite some software. Some programs tend to use the base RAM
as extra RAM / Ramdisk with these upgrades, which will most
often result in a crash of the computer. Next, most extra RAM
testers will show more extra RAM (or a bigger Ramdisk) than
there is really available (e.g. with a 256k upgrade you will
see 240k extra RAM, but there is only 64k base RAM + 192k
extra RAM). Alas, this is a typical hardware problem for these
upgrades and it cannot be solved or avoided with software...
D) XL/XE: Parallel-Bus-Devices:
(600XL/800XL = Parallel Bus, XE = Cart.-Port + ECI)
- Size: 64k / E (total = 128k RAM, 4 banks)
- Banks: E3,E7,EB,EF (block E = 1 block * 4 banks)
- Types: Turbo-Freezer-XL by Bernhard Engl with 64k XRAM
- Size: 128k / AE (total = 192k RAM, 8 banks)
- Banks: A3,A7,AB,AF,E3,E7,EB,EF (blocks AE = 2 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Turbo-Freezer-XL by Bernhard Engl with 128k XRAM
- Size: 256k / 9ABE (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: 93,97,9B,9F,A3,A7,AB,AF,B3,B7,BB,BF,E3,E7,EB,EF
(blocks 9ABE = 4 blocks * 4 banks)
- Types: Turbo-Freezer-XL by Bernhard Engl with 256k XRAM
- Size: 256k / ??? (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: unknown !!
- Types: Yorky-XL by Richard Gore / Derek Fern (from
GB/UK) with 256k XRAM
- Size: 256k / ??? (total = 320k RAM, 16 banks)
- Banks: unknown !!
- Types: Multi-Input-Output-Harddisk-Interface (MIO) with 256k
XRAM by ICD
- Size: 1024k / ??? (total = 1088k RAM, 64 banks)
- Banks: unknown !!
- Types: Multi-Input-Output-Harddisk-Interface (MIO) with 1024k
XRAM by ICD
E) XL/XE: RAM/Flash-ROM/... Cartridges:
- Rambox II with 256k RAM by JRC (Czech Republic; with special
Ramdisk drivers for TT-DOS and Bewe-DOS!)
- Ramcart 64k by LK Avalon (Poland)
- Ramcart 128k by LK Avalon (Poland; binaries of the Eprom and GAL
chips of this cart can be found on ABBUC magazine 64)
- Ramcart 256k by Zenon/Dial (Poland)
- Ramcart 512k by Zenon/Dial (Poland)
- Ramcart 1024k by Zenon/Dial (Poland)
(for some hints and pics see: www2.asw.cz/~kubecj/acarts.htm)
- Flash-ROM cart 128k / 1Mbit "Atarimax" by Stephen Tucker
(allthough they are not usable as extra RAM / Ramdisk at the moment,
I am quite sure that it is possible to write some drivers and thus
use the Atarimax Flash-ROM carts as extremely fast floppy drives!)
- Flash-ROM cart 1024k / 8Mbit "Atarimax" by Stephen Tucker
(for information and complete documentation plus software see:
www.atarimax.com/flashcart/documentation/index.html )
- and many others I do not know and I do not have any info about;
Even cartridges can be used as Ramdisks (= fast floppy drives),
especially RAM-carts or Flash-RAM carts. But they function like
most other Super- or Mega-Carts, meaning the bank-switching
techniques are also used there. Since the subject carts and
bank-switching carts is quite enormous, I will not discuss it or
present any information here. Just try to find a large description
by John K. Picken ("RAM/ROM Control on an XL/XE") if interested in that
subject (e.g. at Jindrich Kubec`s homepage: www2.asw.cz/kubecj/... ).
Finally thanks and credits for this subject and lots of (used /
borrowed) information therefore go to: Lee Barnes, Russ Gilbert,
Mathy van Nisselroy, Erhard Puetz, Mathias Reichl, Ron Hamilton,
Wes Newell, Guy Ferrante, XI of Satantronic, Bernhard Pahl, Walter
Lojek and Voy/Dial. Also thanks to John K. Picken who wrote an
excellent article about A8 extra RAM / Ramdisks and A8 cartridges and
their technique of bank-switching. Well, if you still find errors, bugs,
mistakes, etc. in this list, then tell me *nicely* or in a friendly
way. Any updates and corrections can be send to: amp@abbuc.de
-Andreas Magenheimer
Subject: 8.11) What programs support more than 64K RAM?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
(This is version 3.5 from January 2005 by A.M.)
Alternate Reality: The City added 2005.08.01
The following Atari 8Bit programs support more than 64k RAM, but still
work alright (with multiple loads / disk-swaps) on standard 64k machines:
a) "TOOLS" that support more than 64k RAM:
A-Base (???, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Alphasys-Sample Software (Mirage/ANG, 64k XRAM, block E),
A-Text (???, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Atari Writer 80 (Atari, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Atari Writer Plus (Atari, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Basic XE (OSS/ICD/FTE, 64k XRAM, block E),
Bewe-DOS 1.x (Bewesoft, up to 1024k RD, all banks),
Bibo-DOS 5.x (Compyshop, up to 256k RD, E/AE/26AE/8ACE),
Bibo-DOS 6.x (Compyshop, up to 256k RD, E/AE/26AE/8ACE),
Datei 4.x (N. Schlia, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/26AE),
Desktop Atari (HBSF, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Diskworker (Petsoft, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Diskcommunicator 3.x (Robert "Bob" Puff, if there is more than 64k
RAM, answer the startup question with "Y" to use it as XRAM or with "N"
to use it as Ramdisk; up to 256k XRAM: E/AE/ACE/8ACE; RD = DOS depend.),
DOS 2.5 (Atari, original driver = 64k RD, block E; other
drivers: up to 2x 128k Ramdisks, E/AE/8ACE),
DOS II+D Version 6.x (S. D., up to 2x 128k RDs, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
DOS XE 1.x (Atari, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Extended Atari Basic (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Extended Turbo Basic (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Fampy 2.3 (Wolfgang Freitag, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Fampy 6.1 (Wolfgang Freitag, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Howfen DOS 3.x (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Howfen DOS 4.x (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Howfen Tape to Disk (???, up to 128k XRAM, E/AE),
Inertia 2.x (MadTeam, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/8ACE),
Midi Mate II (Hybrid Arts, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Pattern Editor (Raster, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Player (I. Kuczek, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Recorder (I. Kuczek, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Sequencer (M. Sygit, 64k XRAM, block E),
MSC-IDE-Software (M. Belitz + S. Birrmanns, 64k XRAM, block E),
My-DOS 3.x (Wordmark, up to ???k Ramdisk),
My-DOS 4.x (Wordmark, up to 1024k Ramdisk, all banks),
Paperclip II (Batteries Included, 64k XRAM, block E),
Super DOS 2.x (P. Nichols, up to 2x 128k RDs, E/AE/ACE/8ACE),
Super DOS 5.x (P. Nichols, up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
The [Sparta DOS] Browser (Tom Hunt, up to 1024k Ramdisk, RD-driver dep.),
The Sound Utility (Tom Hunt, up to 1024k XRAM?, bug-free only under
Sparta/Bewe-DOS, one can choose between 64k/128k/256k/576k/1088k RAM, alas
all setups with more than 64k RAM produced some strange sound noises on
my 576k XL when playing waves or samples...),
Theta Music Composer 2.x (Jaskier, 64k XRAM, block E),
Turbo DOS 1.x (Reitershan, up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
Turbo-DOS 2.x (Reitershan, up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
Top-DOS 1.x (R.K. Bennett, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Top DOS Plus (R.K. Bennett, up to ???k Ramdisk),
Top DOS Prof. (R.K. Bennett, up to ???k Ramdisk),
Typesetter (XLent, 64k XRAM, block E),
X-DOS 2.x (S. D., up to 256k RD, E/AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
X-RAM 0.21 (Satantronic, tests up to 4 MB!, all banks!)
and most Text-Editors (e.g. Speedscript, Antic Writer, T-Edit, Page 6
Writer, Compyshop Editor,
Textpro, etc.) as long as they are running under a DOS 2.x (meaning a DOS 2
derivative) or Sparta / Bewe DOS and the appropriate Ramdisk driver...;
b) "Games" that support more than 64k RAM:
Adalmar (Falk Buettner, 64k Ramdisk, block E),
Alternate Reality: The City
Alternate Reality: The Dungeon (Philipp Price, 64k XRAM, block E),
Bop N'Wrestle (Mindscape, 64k XRAM, block E),
The Brundles (KE-Soft, up to 256k XRAM, E/AE/26AE),
Human Torch & the Thing (Questprobe, 64k XRAM, block E),
Megablast 1 (Thorsten Karwoth, 64k XRAM, block E),
Mental Age (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
[The Amazing] Spiderman (Questprobe, 64k XRAM, block E);
c) "Demos" that support more than 64k RAM:
ABBUC Magazine Intro 52 (Heaven, 64k XRAM, block E),
ABBUC Magazine Intro 55 (Heaven, 64k XRAM, block E),
Anime 4ever (Sente Software Group, 256k XRAM, 8ACE),
Grafik + Sound Demo (Peter Sabath, 64k XRAM, block E),
I. K. Plus Demo (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Sweet Fantasy (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),
The Top 3 Demo (WFMH, "Veronika Part", 64k XRAM, block E);
Thanks and credits for this subject go to: Bernhard Pahl, Russ Gilbert,
Ron Hamilton and Mathy van Nisselroy for sharing some information with me.
- Andreas Magenheimer
Subject: 8.12) What programs require more than 64K RAM?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
(This is version 3.5 from January 2005 by A.M.)
The following Atari 8Bit programs require more than 64k RAM, and thus
do not work at all (or not alright/bug-free) on standard 64k machines:
a) "Tools" that require more than 64k RAM:
128k Memory Testers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Bank/Mem.-Testers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Sectorcopiers (quite many programs, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Utilities (HAPS PD 0031, 64k XRAM, block E),
192k Memory Testers (some PD programs, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),
256k Memory Testers (Newell, ICD, etc., 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),
320k Mem. Testers 8ACE (Atari Mag., TOMS, etc., 256k XRAM, blocks 8ACE),
320k Mem. Testers 26AE (Compyshop, etc., 256k XRAM, blocks 26AE),
576k Memory Testers (Peterson, TOMS, etc., 512k XRAM, blocks 8ACE),
1088k Memory Testers (Newell, TOMS, etc., 1MB XRAM, blocks 02468ACE),
4160k Memory Tester (Newell, 4MB XRAM, blocks 0123456789ABCDEF),
APC Archiver 1.x (LBS/APC, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
APC Packer 1.x (LBS/APC, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
A. W. P. Super Menu (Ken Siders, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
A. W. P. XE Super Menu (Ken Siders, min. 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),
Audio/Studio Master (Mirage/ANG, 256k XRAM, 26AE only?),
Boot Majster (Electron, 64k XRAM, block E),
Boss X [Vers. 10.x] (M. Sobe, with any DOS min. 64k Ramdisk, block E;
with MyDOS 4.x it supports up to 1MB RD, subdirs and up to 16MB HD part.),
Boss XE [Vers. 8.x] (M. Sobe, with any DOS min. 64k Ramdisk, block E;
with Turbo-DOS or MyDOS 4.5x it supports bigger Ramdisks, but no subdirs!),
CAD XE (HAPS PD 0350, 64k XRAM, block E),
Diskettenverwaltung XE (ABBUC PD 86, 64k XRAM, block E),
Draw XE (ABBUC PD 387, 64k XRAM, block E),
Dream Vision (ABBUC PD 480, 192k XRAM, blocks ACE?),
Fraktale & Colorprint (P. Woetzel, 64k XRAM, block E),
Grafik Zeilen Editor (HAPS PD 0296, 64k XRAM, block E),
Hires Dump (ABBUC PD 113, 64k XRAM, block E),
Inertia 3.x (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to
256k XRAM, AE/ACE/26AE/8ACE with almost any DOS),
Inertia 4.x (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to
1024k XRAM - all possible bank combinations!),
Macro Assembler XE (T. Karwoth, 64k XRAM, block E),
Macro Assembler XE+ (T. Karwoth, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 1024k XRAM - all possible bank combinations!),
Masher XE (???, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to
256k XRAM: AE/ACE/8ACE),
Menu 130 (Les Howarth, 64k XRAM, block E),
Midi Mate III (Hybrid Arts, 64k XRAM, block E),
Monitors, Debuggers, ... (HAPS PD 0109, 64k XRAM, block E),
Multi DOS 130 (Kuchera/Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),
Multi DOS 320 (Kuchera/Excellent, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
Multi Tasking OS (???, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
MTOS 256 (Tom Hunt, 192k XRAM, blocks ACE),
MTOS XE (Tom Hunt, 64k XRAM, block E),
Neo-Tracker 1.x (Epi, min. 64k XRAM, block E; under MyDOS 4.5x
or Sparta DOS X cart. it supports up to 1MB XRAM, all bank combinations!)
Newspaper Editor (HAPS PD 0294, 64k XRAM, block E),
Protracker 1.5 (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up to
256k XRAM: AE/ACE/8ACE/26AE),
Rechnen fuer Kinder (ABBUC PD 85, 64k XRAM, block E),
Rund um die Ramdisk (ABBUC PD 383, HAPS PD 1084, contains info texts
and pgms. for upgrading the 800 or XL/XE and testing its XRAM up to 1 MB;
the docs use english language and provide detailed information for Axlon
compatible 800 XRAM and Newell/Buchholz/Peterson compatible XL/XE XRAM),
Sample Art XE (Mozart/WSL, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 1024k XRAM, all bank combinations, alas the program is faulty/buggy!),
Shrink XE (P. Fitzsimmons, 64k XRAM, block E),
Snapshot (???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Tape Ramdisk Drivers (Pokey, SAG, etc., 64k XRAM, block E),
Text 130 (B. Russmann, 64k XRAM, block E),
Textpro "+" [e.g. 4.54+] (Ronnie Riche, 64k XRAM, block E),
Textpro 5.x (Ronnie Riche, 64k XRAM, block E),
The Code Cruncher 2.x (Soused Teat, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
The Code Cruncher 3.x (Soused Teat, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
The Cruncher 5.x (MSL/Magnus, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
The Small Printery (W. Lojek, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 1024k XRAM, all bank combinations!),
The [Sparta DOS] Wedge (Ed Bachmann, 64k XRAM, block E, sep. Antic!),
The Works (Tom Hunt, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
Wuerttemberger Disk (ABBUC PD 361, HAPS PD 1050, 64k XRAM, block E;
mainly/only because side 2 contains the XE version of Gizmo's castle),
XL-2 (J.K. Picken, min. 64k XRAM, block E; under MyDOS
or Sparta DOS it supports up to 1024k XRAM !),
Zeitungsredakteur (ABBUC PD 121, 64k XRAM, block E);
b) "Games" that require more than 64k RAM:
Castle of Blackthorne (T. Graef, 64k RD, block E),
Cavepack XE (XE-version by K. Ezcan, 64k RD, block E),
Computer Baseball (D. Blackwell, 64k XRAM, block E),
Der Neffe (XE-version by ???, 64k XRAM, block E),
Gizmo's Castle (XE-version by M. Kugler, 64k XRAM, block E),
Kaiser II (128k version by C. S., 64k XRAM, block E),
Kaiser II (320k version by C. S., 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),
Minesweeper 1-4 (4 versions by J.R. Chicko, 64k XRAM, block E),
Mister X (S. Soelbrandt, 64k RD, block E),
Oelbaron (XE-version by ???, 64k RD, block E),
Space Harrier (C. Hutt, 64k XRAM, block E),
Strategy Baseball (HAPS PD 0302, 64k XRAM, block E),
Yie Ar Kung Fu (???, 256k XRAM, blocks ??? - This game is a real
shame [Such a Shame, Talk Talk], since it does not work on a real Atari
computer! Maybe it works on an emulator, maybe it does not work at all ?),
Zargon XE (ABBUC PD 611, HAPS PD 0485, 64k XRAM, block E),
Please note, that hackers, crackers and pirates also made file versions
of (most of) the XE / XEGS 64k and 128k carts available. Due to cart.
bankswitching, a 64k XL/XE was enough for these super-carts; not so with
the file versions, they do (mostly) require more than 64k memory...
Next, there are also "un-official" (pirated, hacked, cracked, patched)
cart. versions of former disk-based games, that require XRAM, which they
originally did not (example: Conan, the multi-stage disk-version by
Datasoft requires 64k RAM, whereas the single-stage version of the
Sunmark multicart. req. 128k RAM). Since Sunmark will continue producing
A8 carts and other programable / flashable carts (like the Atarimax Flash
cart. by Steven Tucker) are on the market today, it is quite likely, that
more games will occur in the Atari scene with the same behaviour...
c) "Demos" that require more than 64k RAM:
130XE Artshow (HAPS PD 0013, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Autoshow (HAPS PD 0637, ABBUC PD 191, 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Demo (S.A.G., 64k XRAM, block E),
130XE Impossible Demo (R. Haegemann, 64k XRAM, block E),
3D Scroll (Jaskier/TQA, 64k XRAM, block E),
American Natives (Fox-1, 192k RD, Ramdisk = DOS dependant),
Amiga Boink XE (B. Armour, 64k XRAM, block E),
Animkom. meet B. V. (Animkomials + B.V., 64k XRAM, block E),
(The) Asskicker (Shadows, 64k XRAM, block E; hold Select!),
Back to Life 2 (Jaskier/TQA, 256k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Base 33 (AIDS, 256k XRAM, hold SHIFT for setup!),
Bill Pie Demo (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E; supports up
to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE with more frames),
BMW Animation (Mirko Sobe, 64k XRAM, block E),
Brull (Pin/Trs, 1MB XRAM for a sample demo),
CES XE Demo (full 580 sectors version by XANTH, 64k XRAM,
block E; includes the Swan-, Fuji-Boink- and Robot-Demo all in one file!),
Cogito Demo (AIDS, uses blocks 8C, thus 8ACE only!),
Critical Sounddemo (Innovative, 64k XRAM, block E),
Danielle (Gr.9) Ani (B. Kendrick, 64k XRAM, block E),
DoXEpin (AIDS, 64k XRAM, block E),
Edelweiss Demo (A.R.+C.S.S.+S.V.L., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Ergo Bibamus (Quasimodos, 64k XRAM, block E),
Extract Slideshow (Replay/Bit Busters, 64k XRAM, block E),
Fat Bottomed Girls (???, 64k XRAM block E for a Queen sample),
Forever 1ktro (New Generation, 64k XRAM block E for a 1k demo),
Forsaken Love (New Generation, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE; simply
delete "BANKS.DAT", reboot and create a new one for your kind of XRAM!),
Glasshead Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Halle 1994: The Wormhole (Magic Arts, 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Hardware Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Igor Demo (Side A) (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E - use 128k.BAT),
Igor Demo (Side B) (MadTeam, 128k XRAM, blocks AE - use 192k.BAT),
Igor Demo (Side A+B) (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only - use 320k.BAT),
Imperial Sounddemo (Innovative, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),
Impossible but Real (MacGyver, 192k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Incredible (Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),
Inside Out (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E),
Isolation Demo (M.E.C., 64k XRAM, block E),
Journey Demo (Boot version by Polynomials, min. 64k XRAM,
block E; supports up to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE),
Journey Demo (File version by MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block
E; supports up to 192k XRAM: AE/ACE),
Journey into Sound (DGS / D. Garaghty, 64k XRAM, block E),
Khai Et (AIDS, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, SHIFT for Setup!),
Killer Whales Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E, supports up
to 256k XRAM: AE/8ACE with more frames!),
Landscape-XE Demo (Karl Pelzer, 64k XRAM, block E),
Manga Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
Megablast Sounddemo (DGS / D. Garaghty, 64k XRAM, block E),
MTV's Danielle = Danielle (Gr.9) Ani,
Nascar Ani (M. Sobe, 64k XRAM, block E),
Nonjm Demo (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),
Numen Demo (Taquart, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup!),
Ogluszacz Sounddemo (AIDS, 64k XRAM, block E),
Owca Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),
Owca 2 Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),
Pacem in Terris (Quasimodos, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup),
Parrot XMAS Demo (A. Ramos, 64k XRAM, block E),
Pedrokko Sounddemos (a collection of 10 disks / 20 sides by Pedrokko,
the player program assumes a 64k RD, block E),
Raving Vierpz (Pentagram, 64k XRAM, block E),
Raytracing Ani/128k (K. Pelzer, 64k XRAM, block E),
Raytracing 320k (Elsni / S. Elsner, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
Raytracing 1088k (Solocoder of A.C.E., 1024k XRAM, works only on
K.P. 1MB Megaram III, 8 bootdisks, loading time approx. 17 minutes !!),
Reditus Demo (Zelax, 192k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE, auto-setup),
Render Ani (MadTeam, min. 64k XRAM, block E),
Revenge of Hacker (Rasero Team, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),
Running Cow ASCII Ani (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E),
Sheol Demo (Bit Busters, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only!),
Shiny Bubbles (XE version by B. Paul, 64k XRAM, block E),
Stash 98 Demo (Rasero Team, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE via a buggy
setup: 1) for 8ACE XRAM press A in the 1st or 2nd menu, 2) for 26AE press
B in the 1st menu and C in the 2nd menu; don't use the CS auto-setup!),
Starwars Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
The Wormhole (Magic Arts, 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Timekeep(er) (New Generation, 256k XRAM, 8ACE only! wait!),
Tit Demo (Mad Team, 192k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Too Hard 2 Demo (Animkomials, 64k XRAM, block E),
Too Hard 3 Demo (Animkomials, 128k XRAM, blocks AE),
Too Hard 4 Demo (Animkomials, 256k XRAM, auto-setup!),
Total Dazed (Tight, 64k XRAM, block E),
Trabant Demo (A.R.+C.S.S., 256k XRAM, 26AE only!),
Trip 6 (Shadows, 64k XRAM, block E),
Turtles Demo (Ultra Software, 64k XRAM, block E),
Ultra Demo (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E),
Ultra 2 Preview (Taquart, 64k XRAM, block E, unfinished!),
Vengeance (Excellent, 64k XRAM, block E),
Vent XE (Exc.+Pentagram, 64k XRAM, block E),
WAF-Demo (W.A.F., diskside B = 64k XRAM, block E),
Worms Demo (Datri, 256k XRAM, 8ACE otherwise buggy!),
X-Demo (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 26AE),
X-Files Ani (MadTeam, 64k XRAM, block E),
X-Files 2 (TV-Ani) (MadTeam, 256k XRAM, 26AE & 8ACE),
Xyberscape XE (XE version by Bill Le Masurier, 64k XRAM, E),
Zero Demo (New Generation, 64k XRAM, block E);
Thanks and credits for this subject go to Russ Gilbert, Bernhard Pahl,
Ron Hamilton, Mathy van Nisselroy and Stephan Pollok for sharing their
information with me. Any corrections and/or updates are welcome...
-Andreas Magenheimer
Subject: 8.13) What voice/sound synthesis software is there for the Atari?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
- S.A.M. - the Software Automated Mouth by Don't Ask Software (a
software package; you can find it at Don`s / the author's homepage:
http://www.retrobits.net)
- Softsynth (a PD program, that creates sounds and sound effects via
modulation of the tv/monitor speaker; available from the ABBUC library);
- MOD-Sounds (sound-MODulation, allthough I do not know any software to
create such sounds on an A8, some programs to edit (Protracker) and
playback (Inertia, Modplayer, Neotracker, etc.) these sounds do exist);
Subject: 8.14) What programs support stereo and upgraded sound?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
There is already a lot of stereo software for the upgraded Atari computers
available, of course most of these programs are limited to certain/special
upgrades and merely perform their stereo effects on these items (with
otherwise upgraded or non-upgraded Ataris, the sounds or programs will
only play in mono):
a) software for the various stereo-upgrades:
- stereo with one Pokey (POPS-software): Afaik for this kind of upgrade,
there merely exists a patched version of the Pokey player program, I am
not sure if there is anything else for it; anyway, refer to Analog
Computing, issue 66, november 1988, pages 54 -60;
- stereo with two computers (thus two Pokeys): Afaik for this simple trick
there merely exist two programs, they are "Perestroyka" and "Sky
Network" by T.Liebich. In order to achieve the stereo effect, you
have to boot/load one of these demos on two computers (connected to
different TV's or monitors, there is no need to connect the computers to
each other!). When done, press 1-5 on the first computer while pressing
Shift-1-5 on the second computer. Meaning, if you want to hear the first
sound in stereo then press 1 on computer 1 and press Shift-1 on
computer 2 simultanously (that`s a little tricky, I know). If you want
to hear sound 5 in stereo, then press 5 on computer 1 and Shift-5 on
computer 2 simultanously. Tricky at first, but sooner or later you will
get the hang of it. Of course you can also connect the two Ataris to
a hifi-system, using the sound output of one Atari for the left channel
and the sound output of the other Atari for the right channel...
- stereo-sound with Stereo-Blaster Pro (Portronic/AMC): Afaik there was
at least one demo disk (early version was single-sided only, later
versions were double-sided), that contained some demo-software, namely
the simple "Stereo-demos" (by AMC, side 1) and the "Stereoblaster-Demo"
(by HU-Soft, side 2 if available). The Stereoblaster demo was written
in Turbo-Basic and played back via Compiled-Turbo-Basic, it uses Chaos
Music-Composer Sounds (*.CMC) and a few of these provide stereo effects,
if equipped with a stereo-blaster-pro and a hifi-system. The simple
stereo-demos included some programs written in Atari Basic, for example
a (pong-like) bouncing ball and a flying helicopter. Equipped with a
stereo-blaster-pro and a hifi-system, one could see the ball bouncing
left and right and simultanously hear the sound fx on the left or right
channel. The helicopter started at the left side and produced a loud
sound on the left channel, when it was flying to the right side, the
sound faded on the left channel and got louder on the right channel,
until the helicopter disappeared (and the sound completely faded away).
There were some more of these simple demos available, but I don`t
remember them anymore.
- Stereo with two Pokeys: There already exist dozens of sounds and demos,
that support this upgrade, most of these programs were made in Poland,
but a few sound-demos were also made in other countries. Anyway, the
following programs support stereo via two Pokey chips:
- Alf-Demo by the Unknown Base (Netherlands);
- Alpha-Demo by GMG (Slovakia);
- AMS-Stereo player by ??? (author unknown), USA;
(there are at least two AMS-stereo-players, that let you play
*.AMS sounds in true stereo or at least simulated stereo!);
- ARS-Mori 16k Intro by Tristesse (music shortened and ripped from
Drunk Chessboard by Infinity!), Poland of course;
- Ballada sound by DJ V / BK (Poland);
- Base 33 by AIDS (msx by Greg, Poland);
- Chaos Music Composer version x.x patched by ??? , Poland;
(=> the original version by Janusz Pelc / LK Avalon is only mono,
but there is a patch available, as well as various patched CMC
versions on the internet; thus *.CMC sounds can be generated in
stereo!);
- (many) *.CMC sounds created by one of the many stereo-versions of
Chaos Music Composer;
- Cogito-Demo by AIDS (Poland)
- Do you see the light? sound-demo by Roemer of UNO (Germany);
- Draconus, patched version by ANG and/or Micro Discount (NL/UK)
(the original version by Zeppelin games is only mono!);
- Drunk Chessboard by Infinity (music by X-Ray!), Poland;
- Dynakillers (Game) by GMG, Slovakia;
- First of All (sound) by Raster, Czech Republic;
- Impossible but Real Demo by MacGyver (Poland);
- King of Aggregat by X-Ray / Slight (Poland);
- Megaplayer Versions 1.6 and 2.0 by MacGyver (Poland)
(=> and thus all *.CMC, *.MPT, *.TMC, etc. sounds played with
this sound-player tool can be heard in true or simulated stereo!);
- Multi-Pro-Tracker 2.4 (various versions) by Jaskier/Taquart?
(=> thus *.MPT sounds can be generated in stereo!), Poland;
- (many) *.MPT sounds created by the stereo-version of Multi Protracker;
- Nazebany by DJ V / BK (Poland);
- Overload sound by X-Ray / Slight (Poland);
- Raster Music Tracker 1.x by Raster, Radek Sterba (a PC program
that creates mono/4-channels or stereo/8-channels *.RMT sounds that
can be played back on the A8 or any Atari 800/XL/XE emulator);
- (most) *.RMT sounds created by Raster Music Tracker;
- Stereo-Patch for Pokey Player by ??? (author unknown)
(=> thus all Pokey-Player / *.V sounds can be heard in stereo!);
- Stereo-Patch for Softsynth by Freddy Offenga (Netherlands)
(=> thus Softsynth will create stereo-sounds!);
- Stereo Patch for World of Wonders by Freddy Offenga (Netherlands)
(World of Wonders is a great Softsynth sound-demo!);
- Still Alive (TMC-sound) by Greg, Poland;
- Time sound by X-Ray / Slight (Poland);
- Theta-Music-Composer version 1.x by Greg (Poland)
(=> thus *.TMC sounds can be generated in stereo!);
- (most) *.TMC sounds created by Theta Music Composer;
- Vanity sound by Kuchara / Excellent (Poland) ;
- Worms (320k-Demo) by Datri, Czech Republic;
- Zybex, patched version by ANG and/or Micro Discount (NL/UK)
(the original version by Zeppelin games is only mono!);
- thats all what I found so far... (A.M.)
b) software for other sound enhancements:
- enhanced-sound with Covox: Afaik this upgrade will playback digitised or
sampled sound in 8Bit resolution rather than in 4Bit resolution. The
following programs support the Covox-Upgrade:
- Inertia 2.9, a MOD-player by MadTeam;
- Inertia 4.5, a MOD player by MadTeam;
- Protracker x.x, a MOD-editor and player by ???;
- NeoTracker 1.x, a MOD+NEO+... player by EPI/Allegresse;
- that's all I have found so far;
note that all programs (except neo-tracker?) will still work with pokey...;
Subject: 8.15) What games support online action via modem?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
- Modem Chess, a PD game in Basic by ???
- Modem-Battleships, a PD game in Basic by ???
- Tele-Chess, a PD game in Basic by ???
- Jelly Beans a ML game by Chris Martin
- "Battleships ST-XL" by Florian Dingler
(ok, thats not the actual name, but describes the gameplay)
- probably some more games...
(I have also seen an advert from GCP in Analog or Antic, that listed
the following games: The City, Cybertank, Cybership, Bio-War, Lords
of Space; I am not sure if they are all available for the Atari, A.M.)
To play these games online, one would not only require an Atari computer,
but also a modem, a modem-driver and/or a terminal program (like Kermit,
Bobterm, Teleterm, A-Term, Ice-T, BBS Express Pro, etc.). See also the
sections 7.8, 10.1 and 10.2 which tell you more about modem/terminal
programs and modem hardware for the Atari. Emulator users have it a little
easier and can use the built-in modem emulation in Ape-DOS, Ape-Win,
Atari 800 DOS, Atari 800 Win, etc. and thus do not require any extra
hardware or drivers or such...
Subject: 8.16) What programs support Atari computer networking?
This section by Andreas Magenheimer.
There are two different hardware add-ons which provide a "computer-
network" (two or more Ataris linked together). Thus, there is software
that supports either one or the other hardware (namely Gamelink-1 or
Gamelink-2). The following software supports the networking hardware:
- Gamelink-1 (by Dataque):
- info-text about GL-1 and where to buy it, by Dataque;
- Tic-Tac-Two by J.Potter/Dataque, a tic-tac-toe clone;
- Modem-Battleships, patched by Rick Detlefsen for Gamelink-1;
- Gamelink-2 / Multilink (by Dataque & Bewesoft):
- info-text about GL-2 and where to buy it, by Dataque;
- info text about Maze of Agdagon demo, by Dataque;
- Maze of Agdagon demo (1 player only) by Dataque;
- documentation for Maze of Agdagon (full version) by Dataque;
- Maze of Agdagon (full version, 2-8 players) by Dataque;
- description of multilink/gamelink-2 hardware and schematics by
Bewesoft (two texts, one in czech and one in english; schematics
presented as an Atari Gr.8 picture for a) easy-2-computer hardware
and b) more complicated 2-8 computer hardware);
- Multi-Dash (2-8 players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- Multi-Race (2-16 players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- description of "how to program networking games for multilink
[gamelink-2] hardware" (text available in english and czech, with
lots of source codes and OS adresses/variables/...) by Bewesoft;
- Multi-Worms (2-8 or 2-16? players, XL/XE only) by Bewesoft;
- complete + documented source code for Multi-Worms by Bewesoft;
- "starter-kit" module to use in your own networking-games by Bewesoft
(free use of this module is granted by Bewesoft/Jiri Bernasek);