Can anyone rip Amiga disks onto the PC in adf format?

_Paul · 03/06/2010, 09:11 AM

The question is in the title.

Arkhan Asylum · 03/06/2010, 02:19 PM

I am able to. Why? Whatcha need?

_Paul · 03/06/2010, 02:36 PM

What do you need to do it, is it easy?

I have quite a few things on Amiga floppy from way back that I would hate to lose, including PD demos I did, unfinished games and lots of graphics that I would be really sad to lose (I just hope the disks still work, they've been in storage for ages now).

I have a few options - find out how to do it myself, or find someone that can do it for me. At the very least, getting some of the graphics archived would be something. I think I heard there was a version of workbench that reads PC formatted floppys, is that right?

Arkhan Asylum · 03/06/2010, 08:55 PM

Quote from: guest on 03/06/2010, 02:36 PMWhat do you need to do it, is it easy?

It is pretty easy. Use cross dos and move stuff around. Do you still have an amiga computer to use? You could use a null modem cable to transfer the files from amiga---> PC

or an over the top way is to use AmiKit and mount a folder to use as a data folder in AmiKit, launch AmiKit, read the disks, put the stuff in that folder. Itll be there in Windows too. kind of like Cygwin.

QuoteI have quite a few things on Amiga floppy from way back that I would hate to lose, including PD demos I did, unfinished games and lots of graphics that I would be really sad to lose (I just hope the disks still work, they've been in storage for ages now).

I have a few options - find out how to do it myself, or find someone that can do it for me. At the very least, getting some of the graphics archived would be something. I think I heard there was a version of workbench that reads PC formatted floppys, is that right?

most WBs can read PC floppies, as long as Cross Dos is installed.

_Paul · 03/07/2010, 04:16 AM

I have an old Amiga 500 with an external floppy drive, it seems to still work OK.
I looked up Crossdos and I'm pretty sure my 500 is too old to have it, I only have a really early Workbench as well.
I don't even see anywhere in the back that I could put a null modem cable (I'm not sure where one would go, I only have a long serial and long parrallel port free there). Even if I did, would that allow me to transfer disk images so they are bootable, or just the data on them?
I'm not very good on technical stuff, so sorry for all the questions.

Failing that I could bundle them all up and chuck them in the post to you!

Edit: My God, I just came across some stuff I forgot I even did, like Virtua Washing Machine, Quiz Arcade (a Japanese style quiz game) and a really great City Hunter demo.

Tatsujin · 03/07/2010, 09:08 AM

post 'em all

guyjin · 03/07/2010, 12:48 PM

Quote from: guest on 03/07/2010, 04:16 AMI don't even see anywhere in the back that I could put a null modem cable

what arkhan means by 'null modem cable' is to connect the PC's serial port to the Amiga's serial port with a regular serial cable and an adaptor that crosses the transmit and recieve lines, or a specialized 'null modem cable'.

_Paul · 03/07/2010, 03:35 PM

Is anyone familiar with Amiga Explorer?

I am assuming that if I had a Null Modem Cable and Amiga Explorer, I could then rip disks in .adf format?
It doesn't clearly state that though, it sounds like it can only copy .adf files onto Amiga disks. Also I'm a bit concerned as it sounds like you cannot uninstall it without mucking around the registry which is something I don't go near. (This is getting far too technical for me!)

Arkhan Asylum · 03/07/2010, 04:11 PM

ah jeeze, the A500.

Yea, no cross dos there unless you happened to change kickstart roms, etc. and have a newer WB installed.

The null modem cable method will work but its slow if you have alot of files.

Amiga Explorer is pretty cool. There is also twin express.

http://www.amigaforever.com/kb/13-108

_Paul · 03/07/2010, 04:59 PM

I'm reading up on all of this in various places and my brain is starting to bleed. However I think if I can at least start by getting a null modem cable and go from there. (I just have to work out where to get one from now).

Edit: I'm guessing this is the one I want.

Arkhan Asylum · 03/07/2010, 06:20 PM

that might work. Though I dont trust amazon for cable-stuff anymore :-/

check out www.amigakit.com Theres goods to be had there.

_Paul · 03/08/2010, 03:34 AM

Too late, I already ordered it. That's the one recommended on the Amiga Forever page though so it should be fine.

Arkhan Asylum · 03/08/2010, 05:29 AM

Quote from: guest on 03/08/2010, 03:34 AMToo late, I already ordered it. That's the one recommended on the Amiga Forever page though so it should be fine.

oh well then you should be safe. As long as someone else confirms its good to go.

I've gotten bum cables before so I'm pretty anal about where they come from.

_Paul · 03/13/2010, 07:55 AM

After a couple of false starts, the cable seems to be working. Now I have the unenviable task of transferring tens of disks over at very slow speeds. I've had a couple of read errors so far - hopefully most of what I want will be OK, I have so many disks stuffed with old graphics - looking forward to seeing them all again.

guyjin · 03/13/2010, 11:17 AM

esteban · 03/13/2010, 04:34 PM

Quote from: guest on 03/13/2010, 07:55 AMAfter a couple of false starts, the cable seems to be working. Now I have the unenviable task of transferring tens of disks over at very slow speeds. I've had a couple of read errors so far - hopefully most of what I want will be OK, I have so many disks stuffed with old graphics - looking forward to seeing them all again.

You have to share some of this stuff ASAP!

If I had my old Apple II stuff, I'd show you the old games/art/demos that I made back in the day.

Not nearly as nice as your stuff, because I was using the low-res graphics mode

Arkhan Asylum · 03/14/2010, 01:54 AM

Quote from: guest on 03/13/2010, 07:55 AMAfter a couple of false starts, the cable seems to be working. Now I have the unenviable task of transferring tens of disks over at very slow speeds. I've had a couple of read errors so far - hopefully most of what I want will be OK, I have so many disks stuffed with old graphics - looking forward to seeing them all again.

yes, the speed is awful. Try transferring like, 3gb of stuff over one of those onto a HDD in the Amiga.

Its torture.

Its inevitable that some disks wont read right. Try using a FDD cleaner, and a few attempts. Some might surprise you in the end

_Paul · 03/14/2010, 10:54 AM

I have an absolute truck load of stuff that I never remembere I did. I plan to compile it all, video a lot of it for YouTube and put a couple of .adf files online (not all unfortunately for security reasons). There's a lot of nods to PC Engine games in a lot of my Amiga projects. I'm starting to put together a misc Sunteam site that will catalogue much of my other things, and these will be one section.

Here are a few pics I did that I'm very proud of, even though I didn't finish all of them. Drawn by hand (copied from Star Wars art books), no scanners in those days!

/sw001.png

/sw004.png

/sw008.png

esteban · 03/14/2010, 03:26 PM

Hot damn!

_Paul · 03/14/2010, 04:04 PM

Those were the last bits of artwork I ever did on the Amiga.

Arkhan Asylum · 03/14/2010, 06:25 PM

those are some very impressive Amiga pictures

I wish I was artistic!

did you use DPaint?

_Paul · 03/15/2010, 04:29 AM

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 03/14/2010, 06:25 PMthose are some very impressive Amiga pictures

I wish I was artistic!

did you use DPaint?

Yes, DPaint II. Amazing bit of software.

Arkhan Asylum · 03/15/2010, 04:42 AM

I sucked at DPaint but was well aware of how jawesome it was

Amiga had some great artstuff.

Nazi NecroPhile · 03/15/2010, 11:45 AM

Nice art Paul. More, please.

_Paul · 03/15/2010, 03:45 PM

OK I have to stop posting these and get round to sorting them all out properly, but here are a couple more:

Goku (always a favourite). The background was colourcycled for extra effect
/gokuuu.png

And a screen from a game we were working on at the time.
/dondon.png

Arkhan Asylum · 03/15/2010, 06:23 PM

that amiga game screen has a very distinct Japanese game style influence

_Paul · 03/15/2010, 06:32 PM

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 03/15/2010, 06:23 PMthat amiga game screen has a very distinct Japanese game style influence

We got very far with it. It was pretty much a Doraemon clone and used samples from PC Engine and Mega Drive for the music. The limitations of AMOS meant that it ended up slower and jerkier than we wanted (we actually visited EA and Thalamus to show them in case they were interested in publishing). I'll eventually put the .adf files up for people to download.

_Paul · 03/15/2010, 06:34 PM

Here's another pic that I'm proud of. It's from Akira and took bloody ages.

/akiracity.png

guyjin · 03/15/2010, 10:51 PM

Wow. This is some truly awesome stuff, Paul!

Arkhan Asylum · 03/16/2010, 02:50 AM

that last image gave me an erection.

_Paul · 03/16/2010, 04:49 AM

It's strange but I think there can be a real benefit to having restrictions on colour pallettes/resolution. I think it made me produce much better work - I really don't like the freedom of limitless colours on PC these days and even on my current not-very-secret project I intentionally withhold smooth gradients in favour of a lower pallette. It gives a certain feel and texture to the graphics.

Arkhan Asylum · 03/16/2010, 05:53 AM

limited palettes bring out creativity!

_Paul · 03/16/2010, 07:27 AM

Quote from: Psycho Arkhan on 03/16/2010, 05:53 AMlimited palettes bring out creativity!

Very true. I think even more key is a nice low resolution. With a high resolution It feels like you are drowning in a sea of pixels, there's far too much choice. But in low res you really have to draw everything carefully and precisely to make it look just right. I used to love doing the old 8x8 sprites on the Spectrum and drew them out on scrappy old bits of graph paper at school.

Tatsujin · 03/16/2010, 08:53 AM

Quote from: guest on 03/16/2010, 05:53 AMlimited palettes bring out creativity!

so does limited sound capability

btw. some uber great work you have done paul. indescribable! this is real pro work. you could have been a pro game designer

guyjin · 03/16/2010, 12:23 PM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 03/16/2010, 08:53 AMbtw. some uber great work you have done paul. indescribable! this is real pro work. you could have been a pro game designer

Unfortunately, it's probably for the best that he didn't go that route. 'Cuz, you know, I think he has a life, and likes it.

_Paul · 03/16/2010, 01:24 PM

Quote from: guyjin on 03/16/2010, 12:23 PM
Quote from: Tatsujin on 03/16/2010, 08:53 AMbtw. some uber great work you have done paul. indescribable! this is real pro work. you could have been a pro game designer
Unfortunately, it's probably for the best that he didn't go that route. 'Cuz, you know, I think he has a life, and likes it.

I vigorously deny any allegations that I have a life. If I did, you think I'd be able to create and maintain my website?

One of my big regrets is that we (the small group of us back then) never pushed far or hard enough with our work. With a few twitches of fate, we might just have slipped into game design as a career. Sure, we were not as good as a lot of people, but considering the quality of some of the bilge that was released on the Amiga, we were certainly more talented than others at the time. Unfortunately, none of our large projects were completely programmed to a finish and they were held back by the slowness of AMOS, great though it was. And after I moved away from the area with my family, it all started to fade away. I've repeatedly be driven to design retro styled games over the years since, but again, the programming just tends to never get finished (I'm not knocking my programmer, top bloke, but it seems there's always a bottleneck at the programming stage). We managed to complete the PC based Cybernoid remake which I am very pleased with, and I'm very much hoping that we can get the new project done (again, programming seems to be running slow, but of course these days people have families and it's just not as easy any more). Looking back at all my stuff makes me kind of sad at the untapped potential that we had, if only we had developed our skills a bit more.

_Paul · 03/16/2010, 06:43 PM

Some more anime/manga based pics. All from existing illustrations of course.

/pic3e.png
/pic2c.png
/pic1dl.png

Arkhan Asylum · 03/17/2010, 12:08 AM

so, that first anime picture rules and looks like it was straight out of a commercial release.

Tatsujin · 03/17/2010, 12:54 AM

how did you port them to amiga? pixel by pixel via hand adaption? amazing anyway!

_Paul · 03/17/2010, 04:24 AM

Quote from: Tatsujin on 03/17/2010, 12:54 AMhow did you port them to amiga? pixel by pixel via hand adaption? amazing anyway!

Some of the early ones were drawn by eye but I developed a sneaky way of doing them. I'd use an A4 bit of acetate, trace the picture (from Newtype or off a paused video) with a felt tip pen, then tape the acetate onto my TV screen and trace around it in DPaint. Not as easy as it sounds because if you moved your head a fraction, existing pixels would not line up properly. And the more detailed areas often came down to referring to the originals as the tracing just isn't accurate enough. I then hand drew backgrounds and coloured in manually based on the original image.

I think one of the key things that make a subtle yet significant difference is the manual anti-aliasing I put on the outlines, something that some 'real' games didn't do, and it does make the pictures look far better.

_Paul · 03/17/2010, 03:54 PM

My recreation of the Zillion pic (it was animated to).

/dpaint016.png

Arkhan Asylum · 03/17/2010, 06:19 PM

that

is

aweeeeesome.

Zillion shoulda been on PCE!

esteban · 03/21/2010, 05:57 AM

Great Scott! I love the last pic!

Quote from: guest on 03/15/2010, 03:45 PM/dondon.png

This looks like Yuko in Doraemon Land.

Do you have any screenshots of Emperor Megas, the final boss in your game?

_Paul · 03/21/2010, 06:43 AM

Hehe, the final boss was going to be a giant Dogu (like in Doraemon) in a shoot 'em up style stage, but we only got as far as drawing the graphics. When I finish my Sunteam minisite, I'll put the adf files for Don Don Land (for that is what we named it) up there to download.