8-bit acorn software: classic games • Re: Running Exile from Econet

Right, bringing this to a close, I've attached 3 different disc images:

Exile_STH_Econet
This image is based on the disc image that is archived on the StairwayToHell site. This version of the game does not have any Novella protection. The following files have been patched to make the game run from Econet:

• ExileL: This is the loader file, where most of the changes have been made to allow the game to run over Econet. It allows you to load and save to the Econet file server, as well as load the main game binaries.
• ExileB: This is the main game binary that is loaded if you select 'N' when asked if the game can use your SWR. It has been lightly patched to add in a small bit of code that had to be removed from the loader.
• ExileMC: This is the main game binary that is loaded if you select 'Y' when asked if the game can use your SWR. It has also been lightly patched to add in a small bit of code that had to be removed from the loader.

Exile_V3_Econet_Novella
This image is based on the Release 3 disc image that ScaryBeasts has archived as part of his efforts to archive .hfe based disc images. This version of the game does have Novella protection, and it is active on this version. You will need to use the Novella (attached above) to answer the word question correctly. The following files have been patched to make the game run from Econet:

• ExileL: This is the loader file, where most of the changes have been made to allow the game to run over Econet. It allows you to load and save to the Econet file server, as well as load the main game binaries. This loader is slightly different to the loader in the STH archive. The main change is that code in the loader gets relocated to a different location in RAM.
• ExileB: This is the main game binary that is loaded if you select 'N' when asked if the game can use your SWR. As with the STH version, this version has also been lightly patched to add in a small bit of code that had to be removed from the loader.
• ExileMC: This is the main game binary that is loaded if you select 'Y' when asked if the game can use your SWR. As with the STH version, this version has also been lightly patched to add in a small bit of code that had to be removed from the loader.

Exile_V3_Econet
This image is also based on the Release 3 disc image that ScaryBeasts has archived as part of his efforts to archive .hfe based disc images. However, the Novella protection has been stripped from this version. The following files have been patched to make the game run from Econet:

• ExileL: This is the loader file, where most of the changes have been made to allow the game to run over Econet. It allows you to load and save to the Econet file server, as well as load the main game binaries. This loader is slightly different to the loader in the STH archive. The main change is that code in the loader gets relocated to a different location in RAM.
• ExileB: This is the main game binary that is loaded if you select 'N' when asked if the game can use your SWR. As with the STH version, this version has also been patched to add in a small bit of code that had to be removed from the loader. This file has also been modified to remove the Novella protection, which effectively makes this file the same as the STH version.
• ExileMC: This is the main game binary that is loaded if you select 'Y' when asked if the game can use your SWR. As with the STH version, this version has also been patched to add in a small bit of code that had to be removed from the loader. Again, this file has also been modified to remove the Novella protection, which effectively makes this file the same as the STH version.

As mentioned in a previous post, don't try to run the game directly from these disc image. It will likely cause problems (particularly when you load or save a game, or try to read the disc catalogue). The files should be copied over to a suitable directory on your Econet file server. You also need to create a subdirectory called SAVES that all game users can read and write to, otherwise it won't work correctly.

If you don't want the pesky Novella question to come up each time you load the game, then go for one of the other two images. There really isn't much difference between the two others. Perhaps go with the STH version, as it doesn't corrupt the splash screen as the loader file loads.

Now, where did I save those encrypted Release 1 / 2 images to .

Statistics: Posted by KenLowe — Mon Jan 20, 2025 9:28 pm

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