Re: Weird orig. ][ problem

[shoppa@almach.caltech.edu (Timothy D. Shoppa)]

In article <D9ovFH.CKq@actrix.gen.nz>, dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) writes...
>In article <BO--lUZ.rogtha@delphi.com>,  <rogtha@delphi.com> wrote:
>> All right . . .
>> When I load in DOS 3.3 System Master, and run "Little Brick Out,"
>> the computer flashes me through all the start-up screens
>> (intro screen, instructions/name input, etc.) and takes me right into
>> the game itself. Does this with every different system master disk
>> I try. Is there a problem in ROM?
> 
>Just a guess (I haven't used Little Brick Out for many years): it
>might be looking for a paddle button being pressed before continuing
>on each of the screens.

Exactly right!

>If you have a joystick or set of paddles plugged in, check that
>nothing is resting on the buttons, and that the buttons are being
>detected properly by software.

Yep, this might be the case.

>If you don't have a joystick or set of paddles plugged in, there may
>be a fault in the game I/O circuitry.

Nope.  On a ][ or ][+, if there is no joystick or paddle set plugged in, the
button inputs will float to a logic 'high' level, making it look
like the buttons are depressed.  Many games for the ][ look to see
if both paddle inputs are 'high', and if they are, the game assumes
that there are no paddles present and default to keyboard input.

Tim. (shoppa@krl.caltech.edu)