Re: Looking for "Ultima II" .nib images

["Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com>]

Linards Ticmanis wrote:
> Michael J. Mahon wrote:
>
> > Probably so, but it is a non-trivial effort to make a usable
> > image or a copy of a heavily copy-protected disk.  Simple
> > protection schemes may permit SST-made nibble images, but
> > those were just the tip of the iceberg.
>
>
> Well "Ultima II" is a 1982 Sierra release. I doubt the copy protection 
> schemes were all that great already in 1982. Nothing that Copy II+ 
> shouldn't be able to handle, at least.

Since Ultima games can apparently be properly represented by
.nib images, I agree, the protection must involve only changes
to the prolog, epilog, or checksum nibbles--pretty straightforward.

> > And the *cracks* are also an interesting part of history.
> > It's a shame that we don't have a complete set of notes
> > on the protection schemes used...but maybe that's why you
> > want the protected disks.  ;-)
>
>
> Actually it is more like an anal retentive drive to get something as 
> close as possible to the original (which I currently can't really afford 
> at 200+ bucks going price). Maybe it has something to do with my dislike 
> of screwed-up or incomplete cracks, of which unfortunately there are 
> plenty.

Yes, I suppose so.  Of course, there are probably many "accurate"
cracks as well, but the archives probably don't discriminate well.

> I've got a better offer to make in return though: I managed to get my 
> hand on a cople of old apple books through distance lending. Currently 
> I've already got "The Applesoft Tutorial" and the "Applesoft II Basic 
> Programming Reference Manual". The "Apple II Basic Programming Manual" 
> (covering Integer BASIC) and "Beneath Apple DOS" are on the way, too. 
> And I've heard tell that Santa might consider getting me a scanner...

Ho, Ho, Ho!

> (Or are these ones online already?)

I've seen a French version of the Applseoft manual, but I don't
know about the others...

Good luck--and Merry Christmas!

-michael

Music synthesis for 8-bit Apple II's!
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/

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