Lost version of Frogger? FOUND!

Stinky · Post by **Stinky** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:57 am

This is possibly an unknown version of Frogger. I bought it in 1984 from a computer store in Canberra, Australia. It came on a plain tape with no sleeve, just a plain case and a green spot sticker with "frogger" handwritten on it. I have not seen it anywhere else and a quick scan through the online archive doesn't show it.

Download it here http://gringo.strangled.net/frogger-stinky.tgz

Notes: For the unexpanded VIC. frogger is the basic loader which has a bogus load statement, but pokes a routine into RAM which loads the next part which I have named zfrogger.

I can't remember the details as I archived it many years ago, but zfrogger loads to $1000, test it with a 3k expander and load it with ,1. Sys 4096 to start it. I think I dumped it like this because of the special loader trick. Both files are exactly as they are in VIC RAM, but could use a cleanup for other things.

This is my favourite version of frogger on the VIC and IMHO the best. I'm sorry that I hadn't uploaded it previously and I would like for this to be included in Mega-Cart if possible.

Mayhem · Post by **Mayhem** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:22 am

Any chance of producing a TAP of it and a scan of the inlay? I can't get the files to load properly (even after putting them in a D64), so perhaps someone needs to massage them properly to make it self working for GB20...

nbla000 · Post by **nbla000** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:26 am

Hi, i've tested your frogger discovered version and i think there is a very close/same game in zimmer/arma's but i don't remember the name at the moment.

Stinky wrote:This is my favourite version of frogger on the VIC and IMHO the best.

You probably don't know Frogger '07 absolutely the best Vic-20 frogger conversion, it was released by Victragic, another Australian guy.
Frogger '07 is a game for any Vic+16K, full infos on this thread.

I'm sorry that I hadn't uploaded it previously and I would like for this to be included in Mega-Cart if possible.

I need to check if is possible because i need to hack it since is a multi file version, btw FYI Frogger '07 is included on Mega-Cart, to be honest is my Vic favorite game after Salmon Run

nbla000 · Post by **nbla000** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:32 am

Mayhem wrote:I can't get the files to load properly (even after putting them in a D64)

I need to investigate but i think is a game for the Vic+3K even if the start address is $1000.

On vice set a vic+3K

if you want to see instruction:
LOAD"FROGGER",8
RUN

to run the game:
LOAD"ZFROGGER",8,1
and after SYS4096 to start it.

ral-clan · Post by **ral-clan** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:49 am

Can someone explain how to start this in VICE?

There was no file extention on the unRAR'd file, so I assumed it was a .PRG and renamed it such.

Then I opened VICE and switched to 3K expansion (as the poster suggested above).

The I choose "AUTOSTART DISK/TAPE IMAGE" and it loads, but then starts automatically (no time to type the SYS command recommended) and I get a black screen that hangs.

It seems like I need to put this on a D64 image - is there a quick way to do that in VICE (i.e. create a blank D64 image, then get this PRG onto it)?

Mayhem · Post by **Mayhem** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:48 am

Having got it run now, I've checked it off against all the entries in GB20 and it matches the Anirog release. So I've already got it here

As for constructing D64 images, I usually create them and then add the PRGs in using a program like DirMaster.

nbla000 · Post by **nbla000** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:58 am

ral-clan wrote:Can someone explain how to start this in VICE?

There was no file extention on the unRAR'd file, so I assumed it was a .PRG and renamed it such.

Then I opened VICE and switched to 3K expansion (as the poster suggested above).

The I choose "AUTOSTART DISK/TAPE IMAGE" and it loads, but then starts automatically (no time to type the SYS command recommended) and I get a black screen that hangs.

It seems like I need to put this on a D64 image - is there a quick way to do that in VICE (i.e. create a blank D64 image, then get this PRG onto it)?

If you want to start it without create a D64 image using Vice on WINDOWS, this is the way:

1) Unrar the tgz file and rename the file "ZFROGGER" as ZFROGGER.PRG

2) open VICE, set the memory as VIC+3K and close VICE.

3) Double click on ZFROGGER.PRG by holding the Caps-Lock key (Run-Stop for VICE) this prevent load and autorun.

4) In Vice (Vic+3K emulated) go up with cursor keys and press "RETURN" above the row LOAD"ZFORGGER.PRG",8,1 and after type SYS4096 to start it instead of RUN.

Enjoy yourself

PS: To create D64/D71/D81 images i use Star Commander a DOS program that works in windows too, btw i've tried DirMaster and i must say that is really practical and cool

Stinky · Post by **Stinky** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:45 am

nbla000 wrote:
Mayhem wrote:I can't get the files to load properly (even after putting them in a D64)
I need to investigate but i think is a game for the Vic+3K even if the start address is $1000.

I can't exactly remember how it works but the original program did run on an unexpanded VIC. The details are hazy but the loader would start and load directly to $1000, which is why there's a problem loading from basic. This version of Frogger was a favourite in my youth. It is remeniscent of "Road Toad" on the 64.

I still have the tape somewhere, but it's in another city. Be sure that this is the 100% version.

Stinky · Post by **Stinky** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:56 am

Mayhem wrote:Having got it run now, I've checked it off against all the entries in GB20 and it matches the Anirog release. So I've already got it here

Have you verified the gameplay/intro against this version? It resembles other versions graphically but is quite different.

Mayhem · Post by **Mayhem** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:07 pm

Yeah I played the game you posted, it looks and plays exactly like the Anirog release I have here. But which was first? Entirely possible it got licensed down under for release there.

Stinky · Post by **Stinky** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:53 pm

Mayhem wrote:Yeah I played the game you posted, it looks and plays exactly like the Anirog release I have here. But which was first? Entirely possible it got licensed down under for release there.

Where can I get a copy of Anirog frogger?

Stinky · Post by **Stinky** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:18 pm

I've had a look at the program, the correct entry point is $10F0, so sys 4336 will start it correctly. There also seems to be some extraneous bytes appended to zfrogger. I'll do a cleanup and onefile when I've got some time.

Also in the archive is SNAKMAN, this ubiquitous and excellent game is complete and is a version released in Australia by "Computer Classics". It may differ slightly to the other online versions.

Mayhem · Post by **Mayhem** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:13 am

Snakman I actually have via a random purchase I made a couple of years back; if not for that I would certainly still need the file you uploaded. But as it's a one-piece and I made a TAP, it's still going in

I've uploaded the Anirog version of Frogger if you wish to check it out. I know Anirog did license games from other companies (especially Kingsoft in Germany) but I believe this is one of theirs...

http://www.mayhem64.co.uk/misc/FroggerAnirog.zip

ral-clan · Post by **ral-clan** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:37 pm

nbla000 wrote:If you want to start it without create a D64 image using Vice on WINDOWS, this is the way:

1) Unrar the tgz file and rename the file "ZFROGGER" as ZFROGGER.PRG

2) open VICE, set the memory as VIC+3K and close VICE.

3) Double click on ZFROGGER.PRG by holding the Caps-Lock key (Run-Stop for VICE) this prevent load and autorun.

4) In Vice (Vic+3K emulated) go up with cursor keys and press "RETURN" above the row LOAD"ZFORGGER.PRG",8,1 and after type SYS4096 to start it instead of RUN.

Enjoy yourself

Thanks, I did double click on the icon for FROGGERZ.PRG.

Unfortunately, VICE starts, then looks for a file:

LOAD "*",8,1
SEARCHING
?FILE NOT FOUND
READY.

I tried changing "*" to "FROGGERZ.PRG" but it cannot find that either.

I did get the game working from the D64 posted by Mayhem though.

Thanks anyway.

Stinky · Post by **Stinky** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 3:56 pm

Mayhem wrote: I've uploaded the Anirog version of Frogger if you wish to check it out. I know Anirog did license games from other companies (especially Kingsoft in Germany) but I believe this is one of theirs...

Yes it's pretty much the same game but there are some tiny differences. The intro is different of course, and the lady frogs are a different colour.