As the title says, does anyone still load their ZX Spectrum/C64/CPC/... games from tapes? I have collection of tapes but I don't ever use them.
Does anyone still load games from tape?
- Thread starter Half-Saint
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Still use my dragon 64 via tapes
i find if you load via tape you give the game a bit more time before loading another one. I like fast/instant load times but its then too easy to load another not giving the game you quick loaded any commitment so to speak
i find if you load via tape you give the game a bit more time before loading another one. I like fast/instant load times but its then too easy to load another not giving the game you quick loaded any commitment so to speak
Wow, I'm really surprised by this as I thought everyone would have moved onto more modern loading solutions in this "instant on" world.
Speaking of which, why did the screen display all these crazy colours when loading up anyway?
Speaking of which, why did the screen display all these crazy colours when loading up anyway?
^^
because 5 minutes of C64 pale blue screen ,,, is it working ??? you cant even hear if it is.
after those lines then came loading screens , music and even mini games while you waited.
I liked the Nova load (I think it was called that) where it counted down and if it messed up you could rewind a bit and press play and try again,,
on a spectrum you could tell visually if the volume and tone was correct by the space in the bars..
on a dragon 32 you couldnt do raster bars the video chip couldn't do it
so you got a flashing cursor in the top left so you knew it was working
because 5 minutes of C64 pale blue screen ,,, is it working ??? you cant even hear if it is.
after those lines then came loading screens , music and even mini games while you waited.
I liked the Nova load (I think it was called that) where it counted down and if it messed up you could rewind a bit and press play and try again,,
on a spectrum you could tell visually if the volume and tone was correct by the space in the bars..
on a dragon 32 you couldnt do raster bars the video chip couldn't do it
so you got a flashing cursor in the top left so you knew it was working ^^
because 5 minutes of C64 pale blue screen ,,, is it working ??? you cant even hear if it is.
after those lines then came loading screens , music and even mini games while you waited.
I liked the Nova load (I think it was called that) where it counted down and if it messed up you could rewind a bit and press play and try again,,
on a spectrum you could tell visually if the volume and tone was correct by the space in the bars..
on a dragon 32 you couldnt do raster bars the video chip couldn't do it
You sure about that? The Amiga had similar screens and the loading gaps were nowhere near that. I always thought it was the visual equivalent of the data noise but would like to know whats it origin and purpose was.
- - - Updated - - -
Looks like we were both right:
TIL indeed.
ptyerman
Member
I still load my 800XL via tapes occasionally, I don't use it much at the moment though.
I load at least a dozen tapes on my Amstrad CPC. The thousands that I have loaded over the years still give me the same buzz and excitement that I felt back in the 80's
Well at least on the spectrum you had the gradually appearing loading screen. I really liked the effect
I'll have to show to my son how we used to load games from tape. Still have a couple of original commodore tape decks.
I'll have to show to my son how we used to load games from tape. Still have a couple of original commodore tape decks.
FutureVariant
Member
I recently acquired a c64c and got the chance to test it today; my kids were very impatient with the time it took to load but really enjoyed a few of the games when they were loaded - they spent hours on SEUCK today. So although it takes ages to load, you spend even longer playing it
I owned one back in the day (funnily enough it was in worse condition than this one I got hold of) and I was happy that I could remember all the commands. The kids were less impressed though
I owned one back in the day (funnily enough it was in worse condition than this one I got hold of) and I was happy that I could remember all the commands. The kids were less impressed though
I got over 50 C64 Tape to test them today like Rainbow Island, IK+, Rick dangerious 1 and 2, Last ninja 2 and so on. So many good games!
Retrograde
Member
No but I got a drive with my first C64, I was that spoiled.
I have aquired a tape deck since then, but only have a handful of games on turbotape, most of which I have on disk.
If I had been used to tape loading times I would probably load from it from time to time for nostalgic reasons.
I have aquired a tape deck since then, but only have a handful of games on turbotape, most of which I have on disk.
If I had been used to tape loading times I would probably load from it from time to time for nostalgic reasons.
Retro_Lover
Member
I use a Tzxduino for ZX Spectrum, Amstrad, and ZX81 machines. Casduino for MSX and Dragon 32. Tapuino for Vic-20, C64, Plus/4 and C16.
These devices load exact copies of tape images exactly the same as real tapes, with the added bonus of 100% loading reliability, no tape rewinding, and thousands of tapes at the touch of a button. So why bother with tapes when you can do exactly the same thing with reliable modern storage ?
The nostalgic reasons don't make any sense, unless you have loads of spare time and loads of patience. Thing is, whether it's tape or modern solutions, the end result is still exactly the same game running. Only difference is you don't have to put yourself through all the horrors of 80's tape loading. Back in the 80's, I would have killed for what we have today.
These devices load exact copies of tape images exactly the same as real tapes, with the added bonus of 100% loading reliability, no tape rewinding, and thousands of tapes at the touch of a button. So why bother with tapes when you can do exactly the same thing with reliable modern storage ?
The nostalgic reasons don't make any sense, unless you have loads of spare time and loads of patience. Thing is, whether it's tape or modern solutions, the end result is still exactly the same game running. Only difference is you don't have to put yourself through all the horrors of 80's tape loading. Back in the 80's, I would have killed for what we have today.
