Re: Fantavision 2.1?

[Mitchell Spector <mitch2gs@hotmail.com>]

Alex Lee <alelee@mac.com> wrote:

>On 2008-04-22 17:22:44 +1000, Mitchell Spector <mitch2gs@hotmail.com> said:
>>    There *was* indeed an updated version of Fantavision that was 
>> hardisk installable and compatible with the ROM 3 (no issue
>> with the mouse pointer and screen redraws). It does exist, but
>> this copy is NOT it.
>> 
>>     Upon re-examination of this so-called "version 2.1" and the
>> original 1.0 disk, I'm fairly sure this particular copy is a fake! All
>> the same files are present, the main application is still exactly 34K 
>> (34,030 bytes) and the only visible difference is the "About" dialog 
>> box claims its new and version 2.1. And no, as mentioned 3 years ago, 
>> as such it has the same ROM 3 incompatibility and not hardisk 
>> installable--it's just version 1.0 sector edited with a
>> few random clip-art images added to the disk.
>> 
>>     Now that I know it's a fake, if anyone has the real update
>> of Fantavision, I still wouldn't mind getting a copy (I own the
>> original but Broderbund doesn't even exist now, not that any
>> software company today would have any knowledge of what the "Apple II" 
>> is, or that it ever existed. Sad, but true). :)
>> 
>> Mitchell Spector
>
>A fake!? Mitch I'm disappointed in you! :-)

    Didn't mean to imply you of all people would put out a fake. :)  In 
fact I didn't think twice about it when I downloaded it to disk, labeled 
it and added it to my software collection two years back.

>The image that appears on the archive is an image made from an original 
>Fantavision disk, which was a lab pack version I bought very cheaply 
>back in 1992. It hasn't been sector edited or altered in anyway...I 
>think :-) I got the Fantavision box out and unfortunately, there's no 
>information regarding the version 2.1 features.

    Did you buy it second hand, or you were the original owner? 
I'm thinking maybe whoever had it previous to you, came across
a fake version 2.x online (or from a friend) and copied it over the
original disk. Now if you're the original owner, and the package 
was shrink wrapped, scratch that theory...

    Pulled out my original v1.0 disk. It just says "Version for the Apple
IIGS",there's no copyright date, revision info or serial number. Does 
yours have anything different?

    Two reasons I'm thinking "v2.1" can't be a real update:

- The program size is 34,030 bytes in 1.0 and 2.1. If any code changed,
even slightly, i would go up or down in size. Unless they just patched a
few bytes, but wouldn't that make it only a "1.01" or "1.1" update?
Version 2.x implies significant change, which also means....

- How can this significant update (written in 1991 no less) still not be
compatible with the ROM 3? Or any other changes for that matter?

Mitchell Spector