Plus

2010-09-02T10:21:54Z

Xyphoe:

<center><gallery caption="CPC+/GX4000">

image:6128plus_es.jpg|Spanish Amstrad CPC 6128 Plus
image:6128plus_fr_en_kanga.jpg|Airbrushed CPC 6128 plus
Image:Gx4000.jpg|The Amstrad GX4000
</gallery></center>

== Introduction ==

In 1990 Amstrad introduced the "Plus" series which tweaked the hardware in many ways and added a cartridge slot to all models. Most improvements were to the video display which saw an increase in palette to 4096 colours and gained the capability of hardware sprites. Splitting the display into two separate windows and pixel scrolling both became full supported hardware features although both were possible on the non-"Plus" hardware using clever programming of the existing Motorola 6845.

An automatic DMA transfer system for feeding the sound chip was also added but the sound chip itself remained unchanged. Additionally, the BASIC command set for disc access was improved.

A cut down CPC+ without the keyboard nor support for non-cartridge media was released simultaneously as the GX4000 video game console.

These models did not do very well in the marketplace, failing to attract any substantial third party support. The 8-bit technology behind the CPC was starting to look a little out of date by 1990 and users resented the substantial price hike for cartridge games compared to their tape and disc counterparts. It's often forgotten that Europe had a large CPC following well supplied by Amstrad it's said the plus machines sold best in France.

''(Taken from Wikipedia.org)''

== Technical ==

For details about the CPC+/GX4000 features, see [[Arnold V Specs Revised]].

== The CPC Plus ==

'''CPC Plus''' can use cartridges released for the '''GX4000''', ''but specific software can be created using the extra features without the need of hardware (contrary as it was claimed by Amstrad in 1991). The extra features are not locked by a hardware mechanism but only by a special 17 bytes-lenght sequence send to the CRTC. So, it's possible for everyone to create his/her own software on the cpc plus, using the extra features available through a 16kb [[ASIC]] I/O page(See [[Programming ASIC]].) Except the extra-features, the 464 & 6218 Plus machines are almost fully compatible with the old CPC generation. Some minor differences are noticable in emulated components ([[8255|PPI]], [[CRTC]], [[Gate Array]][[Gate Array]]) and in the interrupt mechanism in vectorised mode.''

== The GX4000 Games Console ==

The GX4000 is a game console based on a CPC 464+ without a floppy controller or keyboard (although it is actually possible to modify one, add a floppy controller and a keyboard and use it as a CPC+). It was delivered with two game paddles (as the ones delivered with the CPC+ models) and Burning Rubber on [[GX4000 cartridge|cartidge]] (without basic).

The GX4000 was [[Amstrad]]'s attempt to gain some share in the home game console market, then dominated by the likes of Nintendo and Sega. Like others before it, and like others after it, it failed abysmally in its goal. Despite the fact that the hardware was decent (after all the CPC+ series were some of the very best 8-bit computers ever designed), it was a case of 'too little, too late'. Lack of CPC+ specific software, lack of marketing effort and bad timing meant that Amstrad's adventure in the home market was about to end.

<gallery caption="Amstrad GX4000">
Image:GX4000 01.jpg
Image:GX4000 02.jpg
Image:GX4000 03.jpg
Image:GX4000 04.jpg
Image:GX4000 05.jpg
Image:GX4000 06.jpg
Image:GX4000 07.jpg
Image:GX4000 08.jpg
Image:GX4000 09.jpg
Image:GX4000 10.jpg
Image:GX4000 11.jpg
Image:GX4000 12.jpg
Image:GX4000_Top.jpg|GX4000 Top
Image:GX4000_Bottom.jpg|GX4000 Bottom
Image:GX4000_PCB_Top.jpg|GX4000 Motherboard Top
Image:GX4000_PCB_Bottom.jpg|GX4000 Motherboard Bottom
Image:GX4000_System_Cartridge_Inserted.jpg|GX4000 with Yellow system cartridge inserted
Image:GX4000_System_Cartridge_Result.jpg|GX4000 with Yellow system cartridge inserted. Thi is the result.
</gallery>

== GX4000 Differences compared to 464 or 6128 Plus ==

* The master clock is 39.9Mhz (approx) instead of 40Mhz for the 464/6128 Plus. The Arnold V specification indicates this is to give a better picture. This means the GX4000 is 0.25% slower than a 464 or 6128 Plus but should have a better picture.

* The pause button on the GX4000 is mapped to the P button on the CPC keyboard. Other than this the 2 digital joysticks are connected, all other keys are not connected.

* There is a difference in the wiring schematics on the ADC inputs where the ASIC senses the computer configuration.

* The following are not connected on GX4000 so the associated inputs are not defined (possibly high):
* Printer (data and strobe)
* Keyboard lines 0,1,2,4,5,7,8
* FDC
* FDD motor
* Cassette read, write, motor
* The signals /ROMEN, ROMDIS, /RAMRD, RAMDIS, CRTC CURSOR, EXP, Printer BUSY

* When a system cartridge is inserted (this has been verified with a yellow and a green labelled system cartridge), the copyright message and a Ready prompt is displayed. If the fire buttons or directions are pressed on the first digital joystick you see X,Z and the arrows displayed, the same as if you had pressed these buttons on a 464/6128 Plus or CPC. Pressing Pause displays "P".

== Specific Software for CPC+/GX4000 ==

===== Graphic utilities =====

* [[Bmp Converter]] ([[Snn]] of [[Futur's]])
* [[Claudia]], a Bmp Converter ([[Eliot]])
* [[GMSK]] ([[TFM]] of [[FutureSoft]])
* [[GraphOS]] ([[BDC-Iron]])
* [[Kit 4096]] ([[OffseT]])
* [[Sprite Editor]] ([[Blue Impuls]])
* [[SMARTplus]] ([[Radical Software]])

To complete... See [[Applications]] for exact words

==== Music software ====

* [[Soundtracker DMA]] by [[Zik]] of [[Futur's]]

To complete with software able to use dma sound playlist... See [[Applications]] for exact words

==== Libraries ====

* [[B-ASIC]] ([[Logon System]])

==== Operating Systems ====

* [[FutureOS]] (only in german)

== Demos ==

=== Pure CPC Plus demos ===

*[[4096 Preview|4096 Preview]] ([[Kevin Thacker|Kevin Thacker]])
*[[Allergy|Allergy]] by [[Semilanceata|Semilanceata]]
*[[ASM Intro 1|ASM Intro 1]] by [[Roudoudou|Roudoudou]] of [[Flower corp|Flower corp]]
*[[Basic Demo 3|Basic Demo 3]] by [[Roudoudou|Roudoudou]] of [[Flower corp|Flower corp]]
*[[Black Sabbath|Black Sabbath]] by [[BDC-Iron|BDC-Iron]]
*[[Blob Demo]] by [[Redbox]]
*[[CPC+ Desktop|CPC+ Desktop]] by [[Odiesoft|Odiesoft]]
*[[Demo Plus|Demo Plus]] ([[GPA|GPA]])
*[[Diamonds|Diamonds]] ([[ZilogMonkey|ZilogMonkey]])
*[[DMA music demo|DMA music demo]] ([[Cadjo Clan|Cadjo Clan]])
*[[Fantasy|Fantasy]] by [[Semilanceata|Semilanceata]]
*[[Hate Beats|Hate Beats]] by [[Ukonx|Ukonx]]
*[[It was so nice before the crash of the mir station|It was so nice before the crash of the mir station]] by [[Eliot|Eliot]]
*[[Kill Max]] by [[OFE|OFE]]
*[[Larsen|Larsen]] by [[OFE|OFE]]
*[[LiquidSnake|LiquidSnake]] by [[Revival|Revival]]
*[[Sappy|Sappy]] by [[Semilanceata|Semilanceata]]
*[[Simply The Bests|Simply The Bests]] by [[Eliot|Eliot]]
*[[Seminoisin|Seminoisin]] by [[Semilanceata|Semilanceata]]
*[[Synergy|Synergy]] by [[Ast]] of [[Impact|Impact]]
*[[Tragedy|Tragedy]]
*[[Walking on a scroll|Walking on a scroll]] by [[BDC-Iron|BDC-Iron]]
*[[XMas 2008]] Dentro by [[Ast]] of [[Impact|Impact]]
*[[Wulf|Wulf]]/[[Ratz|Ratz]] unreleased part of [[Palatine|Palatine]]
*[[Ze Meeting 2000 Demo|Ze Meeting 2000 Demo]] by [[BDC-Iron|BDC-Iron]]

=== Demos with Plus features ===

* [[20, 21,22 February 1999 meeting Demo]] by [[Benediction]]
* [[A Step Beyond]] by [[Dirty Minds]]
* [[Genesis demo]] (unreleased ? - [[STS]])
* [[Heat Demo]] by [[Odiesoft]]
* [[Fire Engine demo]] (attributed to [[Roo-dolph]] but unreleased?)
* [[System Party 97]] by [[Eliot]]
* [[Texture Mapping Plus]] by [[Odiesoft]]
* [[Ze Meeting 96-97 Compilation]] by [[Condense]] (Contains a CPC+ part)
* [[Ae2010 Final Exams]] by [[Impact]] (The last part contains some Cpc+ features !)

* to complete

==== Slide Shows ====

* [[Fatal Beauties]] by ([[FaTaLiTy]], 2007)
* [[Ghostbuster plus]] (fast-made slide-show by [[Ninxpe]] in 2007)
* [[Models]] by [[Da Boxon Team]]
* [[Sexy Slideshow]] by [[Demoniak]]
* [[Samantha Fox Slideshow]] by [[Demoniak]]
* [[The 7th guest slideshow]] by [[Snn]]

== Games ==

=== Non-cartridge games ===

* [[Aigle D'or: Le Retour]]
* [[Best Of The Best]] - Championship Panza Gold Edition Karate/Kick Boxing Gold Edition ([[Loriciels]]) (1991)
* [[Burger Party]] ([[Futur's]]) - horizontal shoot'em up
* [[Call &BD10'n'oeuf]] ([[Fenyx Kell]]) - released for the Amstrad Expo 2005 Contest
* [[DDay]]
* [[Fluff]] ([[Radical Software]])
* [[Frogger]] ([[Executioner]])
* [[Jet Set Willy Plus - Manic Miner 3 Plus]] ([[Andy Cadley]]) - remakes of 3 CPC classics for the CPC Plus
* [[Prehistorik 2]] ([[Titus Software]])
* [[Space Gun]] ([[Ocean]])
* [[Stryker and the Crypts of Trogan]] ([[Codemasters]]) - enhanced for Plus
* [[Wildfire]] (Game in development for the CPC plus)

=== Cartridges released for the GX4000 ===

* [[Barbarian 2 ( Cartridge )|Barbarian 2]]
* [[Batman The Movie ( Cartridge )|Batman The Movie]]
* [[Burnin' Rubber|Burning Rubber]]
* [[Copter 271 ( Cartridge )|Copter 271]]
* [[Crazy Cars 2 ( Cartridge )|Crazy Cars 2]]
* [[Dick Tracy ( Cartridge )|Dick Tracy]]
* [[Enforcer (With Phazer) ( Cartridge )|Enforcer (With Phazer)]]
* [[Fire and Forget 2 ( Cartridge )|Fire and Forget 2]]
* [[Klax ( Cartridge )|Klax]]
* [[Mystical ( Cartridge )|Mystical]]
* [[Navy Seals ( Cartridge )|Navy Seals]]
* [[No Exit ( Cartridge )|No Exit]]
* [[Operation Thunderbolt ( Cartridge )|Operation Thunderbolt]]
* [[Pang ( Cartridge )|Pang]]
* [[Panza kickboxing ( Cartridge )|Panza Kick Boxing]]
* [[Plotting ( Cartridge )|Plotting]]
* [[Pro Tennis Tour ( Cartridge )|Pro Tennis Tour]]
* [[Robocop 2 ( Cartridge )|Robocop 2]]
* [[Skeet Shoot]] (With Phazer) ( Cartridge )
* [[Super Pinball Magic ( Cartridge )|Super Pinball Magic]]
* [[Switchblade ( Cartridge )|Switchblade]]
* [[Tennis Cup 2 ( Cartridge )|Tennis Cup 2]]
* [[Tintin On the Moon ( Cartridge )|Tintin on the Moon]]
* [[Wild Streets ( Cartridge )|Wild Streets]]
* [[World Of Sports ( Cartridge )|World Of Sports]]

==Vaporwares==

Said to have actually existed and even reviewed in some specialised press :

* [[Chase HQ 2 ( Cartridge )]]
* [[Gazza II ( Cartridge )]]

=== Games patched for the Amstrad CPC Plus ===

The following Amstrad CPC games have been patched for the Amstrad CPC Plus to take advantage of its extended colour palette:

* [[Cybernoid II Plus]]
* [[FIFA World Cup 2006]] (based on ''World Cup Soccer: Italia '90'')
* [[Solomon's Key Plus]]
* [[Rick Dangerous Plus]]
* [[Operation Wolf Plus]]
* [[Rick dangerous 128%2B]] - Extended and enhanced for Plus

=== Bootlegs ===

Lately (as of May 2007) several instances of bootleg cartridges have appeared. These are not original releases and, although they could run without any problems, caution should be exercised when buying. What is more, their collectible/historical value is doubtful. For more details, see [http://www.pcwking.netfirms.com/cartridge.html here]

== System Cartridges ==

* [[English ROM with Burning Rubber]]
* [[French ROM with Burning Rubber]]
* [[Spanish ROM with Burning Rubber]]

== Systems Cartridges with Parados ==

* [[Media:English System + Parados.rar|English System + Parados.rar]]
* [[Media:French System + Parados.rar|French System + Parados.rar]]
* [[Media:Spanish System + Parados.rar|Spanish System + Parados.rar]]

== Included in Delivery ==

=== 464plus ===

* The computer itself, incl. built-in Datacorder
* System Cartridge with AMSDOS(the Plus series were actyakky the first Amstrad machines to have the OS on a removable medium, as opposed to on-chop built-in OSes; nevertheless, this was not that bad as cartidge loading is instantaneous), Locomotive BASIC 1.1 and the game Burnin' Rubber
* 1 Paddle
* CPC464plus/CPC6128plus manual
* Game manual
* Either an [[Amstrad MM12 Monochrome Monitor]] or an [[Amstrad CM14 Colour Monitor]]

=== 6128plus ===

* The computer itself, incl. built-in 3" disk drive
* System Cartridge with AMSDOS (the Plus series were actually the first Amstrad machines to have the OS on a removable medium, as opposed to on-chop built-in OSes; nevertheless, this was not that bad as cartidge loading is instantaneous, Locomotive BASIC 1.1 and the game Burnin' Rubber
* [[System Disk]] with CP/M Plus and utilities, identical disk for all countries
* 1 Paddle
* 464plus/6128plus manual
* Game manual
* Either an [[Amstrad MM12 Monochrome Monitor]] or an [[Amstrad CM14 Colour Monitor]]

=== GX4000 ===

* The console itself
* [[Burnin' Rubber|Burning Rubber]]
* 2 Paddles
* Console manual
* Game manual
* Power supply 11v 500mA - -(o- +
* Optional: [[Amstrad MM12 Monochrome Monitor]] or [[Amstrad CM14 Colour Monitor]]

Showing the GX4000 in action

{{#ev:youtube|HLE7vi1J6Jc|300}}

Review of the GX4000 by Retro Zone

{{#ev:youtube|T6oG7DRdBgI|300}}

== Emulators for CPC Plus ==

* [[Arnold]]
* [[WinApe]]

== Weblinks ==

*http://www.gx4000.co.uk/ Xyphoe's GX4000 site - Reviews, roms, manuals, screen shots, vidoes, rarity/price guide for carts and more!
*http://www.cpcmania.com/ ( on the games section : GX4000/CPC+ GAMES )
*[http://www.pcwking.netfirms.com/cartridge.html Listing and pictures of Amstrad GX4000 games]
*[http://www.kjthacker.f2s.com/docs/carts.htm Complete list of GX 4000 games]

[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:CPC Plus|CPC Plus]][[Category:Video contents]][[Category:CPC Internal Components]][[Category:CPC History]][[Category:Non CPC Computers]]

The Living Daylights

2010-09-02T10:12:00Z

Xyphoe:

{| align="right" valign="top"
|{{Infobox Game
|Image = [[Image:Living_Daylights_Title.png‎|center|300px|Titlescreen of the game]]
|Developer = [[Walking Circles]]
|Publisher = [[Domark]]
|Musician = [[David Whittaker]]
|Release = [[:Category:Games 1987|1987]]
|Platform = [[Amstrad CPC|CPC]], [http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_8-bit_family Atari 8-bit], [[Commodore 64|C64]], [[ZX Spectrum]]
|Genre = [[Run & Gun]]
|GameModes = 1 Player
|Controls = {{Keyboard}} {{Joystick}}
|Media = {{Disk}} {{Tape}}
|Language = {{EN}}
|Info =
}}
|}

Domark's second bite at the James Bond cherry, 'The Living Daylights' is very loosely based on the events of the movie of the same name.

== Description ==

After Bond helps Russian officer Georgi Koskov make a daring defection to the West, the intelligence community is shocked when Koskov is abducted from his remote hiding place. Bond leaps into action, following a trail that leads to the gorgeous Kara, who plays Bond as easily as she plays her Stradivari cello. As they unravel a complex weapons scheme with global implications, they are forced into hair-raising chases, a riveting jailbreak and an epic battle in the Afghanistan desert with tanks, airplanes and a legion of freedom fighters on horseback.

The game takes place over eight levels, each depicting different scenes and locations from the movie.

== Ratings ==

Although felt to be an improvement on the previous James Bond game and certainly enjoyed by [[Amstrad Action]] reviewer [[Bob Wade]], he critcised the fact that it was impossible to avoid the attacks of some enemies and that this is undermined the element of skill required to play the game. This was echoed in the second opinion for the game which felt that "Control can be frustrating, spoiling the otherwise lovely animation of Bond."

[[Computing with the Amstrad]] felt that "more variety could have made it a very good game. As it is, it's a lot better than expected, certainly good graphically but only averagely playable.

{|{{Prettytable|width: 700px; font-size: 2em;}}
|AA:|| [http://cpcoxygen.fxwebdevelopment.com/aa_depot/024JS.html Issue 24 (Sep '87)]|| Page 54-55|| 68%
|-
|CWTA:|| Issue 33 (Sep '87)|| Page 12|| 60%
|-
|}

== Solution ==

None

== Cheats ==

None

== Screenshots ==

<gallery>
Image:Living_Daylights_1.png | In-game 1
Image:Living_Daylights_2.png | In-game 2
Image:Living_Daylights_3.png | In-game 3
</gallery>

== Videos ==

{{#ev:youtube|d62vifOaqhg|505}}

== Weblinks ==

* {{CpcPower|1307|Link to CPC-Power.com}}
*[http://www.cpcgamereviews.com/l/index3.html Link to CPC Game Reviews]
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093428/ The Living Daylights movie at IMDB]

[[Category:Games]] [[Category:Games 1987]]

CPCWiki - THE Amstrad CPC encyclopedia! - User contributions [en]

Plus

The Living Daylights