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Dungeon Master and Chaos Strikes Back for Atari ST hacked for RamDisk use

Tue, 2005-11-15 23:37 — ChristopheF

Here are special versions of Dungeon Master and Chaos Strikes Back for Atari ST hacked for RamDisk use. [Supplied by ppera (pkpera@sezampro.yu)]

These versions have the following features:

  • Using RamDisk decreases the loading time (normally Dungeon Master needs a couple of minutes to start on a real Atari ST).
  • Both games includes a normal and a cheat version. In the cheat version of Dungeon Master, champions get very strong characteristics after their first action and their levels increase after every action. In the cheat version of Chaos Strikes Back, champions are less vulnerable.
  • These disk images work fine with recent emulators like Steem 3.2 (recommended), Winston 0.5 and Saint 1.99d. The emulator configuration must not define a C: hard disk because this drive letter is used by the RamDisk.
  • The minimum required RAM is 1 MB because RamDisk needs 512 KB.
  • There is enough free disk space to save your game on these floppy disks images.
  • The main copy protection in the games is based on the sector #F7 on the floppy disks which is impossible to write with a standard Atari ST. This protection is circumvented with a new Xbios routine which tracks all calls and 'lies' to the game when needed.

How to customize the Dungeon Master disk image to include a custom dungeon?

  1. Start your Atari ST emulator. Ensure that the emulator configuration does not define a C: hard disk, and that there is 2 MB of RAM.
  2. Insert the DM_KID.st disk image in drive A:.
  3. Open drive A: and run the program called FIRDC11.PRG.
  4. Click on INSTALL RRD (The predefined RRS size of 512 KB is OK). Click CONFIRM to reset the Atari ST and create an RRD (Resident RamDisk) visible as drive C: on the desktop.
  5. Open drive A: and run FIRDC11.PRG again.
  6. Click on LOAD & DEC and select DM_KID.RCC. Click GO ON to confirm that you want to overwrite the content of the Ramdisk.
  7. Click on EXIT.
  8. Open drive C:. You will see all the files stored in the .RCC disk image.
  9. Replace the DUNGEON.DAT file with your custom dungeon (take care to only use dungeons in big endian format). The original Dungeon Master dungeon was renamed to DUNGEON.DA.
  10. Open drive A: and run FIRDC11.PRG again.
  11. Click CMR RRD. This will compress the data from the RamDisk and build an .RCC file. Compression is pretty slow so you might want to speed up the emulator during this step.
  12. When compression is finished click SAVE CMR. Choose a file name like CUSTDUN1.RCC and save it on drive B: (or A: if you insert an empty floppy disk first)
  13. Click MK LDER. Use the same file name but with extension PRG, like CUSTDUN1.PRG.

How to customize the Chaos Strikes Back disk image to include a custom dungeon?

  1. Start your Atari ST emulator. Ensure that the emulator configuration does not define a C: hard disk.
  2. Insert the CSB_KID.st disk image in drive A:.
  3. Open drive A: and run the program called CSB_NA.PRG (CSB.PRG is for normal start and play, CSB_CEA.PRG is for the cheat version). This will install the RamDisk without starting the game. The RamDisk will use drive letter A: and drive B: will be mapped the real A: drive showing the content of the CSB_KID.ST disk image.
  4. Replace the DUNGEON.DAT file on A: with your custom dungeon (take care to only use dungeons in big endian format).
  5. Open drive B: and run RRD_D.PRG. It will save RamDisk content with name CHAOSSTB.RRD to the disk image inserted in the real A: drive. It will overwrite the original so work with copy!
Game~Dungeon_Master_And_Chaos_Strikes_Back~Atati_ST~Hacked_Ram_Disk_DM_CSB~Software.7z Game~Dungeon_Master_And_Chaos_Strikes_Back~Atati_ST~Hacked_Ram_Disk_DM_CSB~Software.7z
This archive contains ST disk images of the hacked versions for RamDisk use of Dungeon Master for Atari ST and Chaos Strikes Back for Atari ST. It also contains the source code of the normal and cheat versions of the Chaos Strikes Back loader (including copy protection removal).
Game~Dungeon_Master_And_Chaos_Strikes_Back~Atati_ST~Hacked_Ram_Disk_DM_KID~Software.rar Game~Dungeon_Master_And_Chaos_Strikes_Back~Atati_ST~Hacked_Ram_Disk_DM_KID~Software.rar
This archive contains a modified version of the hacked Dungeon Master with a custom dungeon (the Kid Dungeon from Dungeon Master for Apple IIGS). The program required to include a custom dungeon is also supplied.
Game~Dungeon_Master_And_Chaos_Strikes_Back~Atati_ST~Hacked_Ram_Disk_CSB_KID~Software.rar Game~Dungeon_Master_And_Chaos_Strikes_Back~Atati_ST~Hacked_Ram_Disk_CSB_KID~Software.rar
This archive contains a modified version of the hacked Chaos Strikes Back with a custom dungeon (the Kid Dungeon from Dungeon Master for Apple IIGS). The program required to include a custom dungeon is also supplied.