Re: Mockingboard

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Otter writes ...
> 
> At Value Village this past weekend, I picked up an Apple ][+ that I
> have had my eyes on for about a week  (Saturday was their 50%-off
> sale, so I got her for $7.50)

     Like, for sure, thanks for telling us that. (Not that anyone is
green with envy or anything ...)


> 
> Anyway; in addition to the standard Apple Language card, Disk ][ card,
> and Epson APL card, there was a Micromodem-2 card (card only, not even
> the cable; so it's useless to me

     Tsk; rotten luck there.


> -- But if anyone wants it, I'll trade
> for either a set of Apple CP/M disks or the code wheel for Legacy of
> the Ancients... :3 ), and a Mockingboard card.  The Mockingboard was
> the biggest reason I picked up this system.

     Oh, great. So, for $7.50 you got a II+, Language Card, ..., _and_ a
Mockingboard. (While you were at it, you should have said something
about the absence of a Disk ][ drive.)


> If I remember correctly,
> it is some sort of sound card?

     Yes. The Mockingboard is covered in our Sound FAQs file
F003SOUND.TXT maintained on Ground at ...

ftp://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs
http://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs

The FAQs describes programming, etc.; and, thanks to contributions from
Edhel Iaur and Mike Mahon, there is a good description of the different
models; so, it should be easy to discover which kind you have. I'll go
ahead and email a copy of the file.


> Can anyone recommend a few games that
> I might be able to test this thing with?
>
     There are a number of games which used Mockingboard's sound effects
and music capabilities. A great II+ game for effects is an arcade oldie
named "Thuderbombs". "SkyFox" (good music and effects) is a neat air
combat game; and, "Lancaster" is an unusual arcade with good music.

     Ultima III was the first major adventure to use Mockingboard.
Origin did a great job with music and effects.  


Rubywand