> Maybe 130XE will work?  Not sure....

> So is it possible to run a binary game of say, 468 sector
> (about 60K)  in XE's second memory bank (64k)?
> ...

> I just noticed that "Realm of Impossibility" and "Zombies" are the
> exact same game, just different title screen, and the theme music is
> different too!

> --Chuck

> the 130xe uses bank switching to access the extra 64k.
> The bits in PORTB control which bank is visible.
> There are 4 16k banks that get visible at $4000 when activated.
> Somebody made an extensive list of games/demos that use
> extended memory, but I can't remember who.
> There are very few 'old' ie. commercial, or even magazine
> programs that use extra RAM.  A few programs, like Bob
> Puff's Disk Communicator, can use the extra RAM or not
> if it isn't present.
> Some cartridges do banking also, but not the $4000 kind.
> I think 'Gator' used a 128k cart, and OSS Action! also did
> cart bank switching, different control bits in the $Dxxx area
> if I recall.

> MStepansky wrote:

> > But I don't understand how memory are accessed:  how can 130XE access memory up
> > to 128K?

> It uses two (in the 800XL) unused pins of the PIA-PortB to map in four
> additional RAM banks of 16K size each in the area $4000 to $7fff. IIRC,
> these were bits 2 and 3.

> > Finally, which 130XE's games that use "extra" memory of 64K ?  Also, are there
> > any game that uses 320K memory in a modified XE, if any?

> DOS 2.5 provided a RAM disk in the extended memory area.

>  > I remember seeing a rare single pirated game like "MULE" using
> > ridiculously high, like 412 sector, about 52k - wont work on my 800xl.

> > Maybe 130XE will work?  Not sure....

> Unlikely.
> These long games are often "autoloaders" in the sense that they provide
> their own loading routines, bypassing the loading from DOS/game DOS and
> expecting a certain DOS format. The DOS then loads the first couple of
> sectors and then runs an INIT routine that continues loading the game,
> expecting a specific sector format (typically DOS 2.0S like).

> Just try to copy it to a plain 2.0S/2.5 disk and try loading it from
> there with a game dos (e.g. NDOS), that might work better.

> > So is it possible to run a binary game of say, 468 sector (about 60K)  in XE's
> > second memory bank (64k)?

> Well, if the game is cleverly written, then yes. It would take some INIT
> routines that would switch the banks while loading the game, or an
> autoloader to do that. Clearly all possible, but I've never seen it done.

> So long,
>         Thomas

> "MStepansky" <mstepan@aol.com> wrote in message
> ...
> > I still have the Atari 800xl w/ 64k (normal) but my ex-roommate in my
> college
> > days used to have 130XE (64k+64k) in 1985.

> > But I don't understand how memory are accessed:  how can 130XE access
> memory up
> > to 128K?

> > I mean does it allow you to access like this:

> > 64K (bank1, normal memory like in 65XE or my 800XL)
> > 64K (separate bank2, special memory area as in 130XE) via RAMDISK

> > or...

> > 64K bank1 (normal) plus a full chunk of "64k memory" bank2 (ramdisk)- to
> get
> > total of 128K?

> > Finally, which 130XE's games that use "extra" memory of 64K ?  Also, are
> there
> > any game that uses 320K memory in a modified XE, if any?

> > BTW, "Mission of Impossibility", a nice 3D maze game, is the only game
> that I
> > was able to load in and run about 382 sector long, or about 48k max in my
> > 800xl. Next largest game I remember is the "AgentUSA", 322 sector long,
> about
> > 41k.  Both games are in a single "hacked" file binary format, rather the
> whole
> > disk.  I remember seeing a rare single pirated game like "MULE" using
> > ridiculously high, like 412 sector, about 52k - wont work on my 800xl.

> > Maybe 130XE will work?  Not sure....

> > So is it possible to run a binary game of say, 468 sector (about 60K)  in
> XE's
> > second memory bank (64k)?

> From Welcome to comp.sys.atari.8bit Quick Faq

>  Non-DOS programs:

>   a) Name(s)                           b) Author(s)
>   c) supported memory                  d) RD-type(s)

> - Adalmar (GAME)                       F.Buettner (PPP);
>   64k, 128k                            130XE-Ramdisk;

> - A.R.-The Dungeon (GAME)              P.Price/Datasoft;
>   48k, 64k, 128k                       130XE-RD;

> - Bop N'Wrestle (GAME)                 (Mindscape)
>   64k, 128k                            130XE-RD
>   (on 64k Ataris the floppy will never stand still!)

> - [The] Brundles (GAME)                A.R.+C.S.S. (KE-Soft);
>   64k, 128k, 192k, 320k                130XE-RD, AE & 26AE Ramdisks;
>   (merely copies the levels into the RD and loads them from there;
>    if you don't want to play all 100 levels at once, 64k is enough!)

> - Human Torch & The Thing              Questprobe (SAGA+Marvel);
>   48k/64k, 128k RAM                    130XE-Ramdisk
>   (The main program or some pics will be copied to the Ramdisk)

> - I.K. Plus Demo (GameDEMO)            ??? (authors unknown)
>   a) 64k RAM                           only graphics;
>   b) 128k RAM                          graphics + sound;

> - Megablast 1 (GAME)                   Thorsten Karwoth;
>   64k, 128k                            130XE-Ramdisk;

> - Questprobe featuring Spiderman - see: Spiderman;
>   (afaik, THE HULK does not support 128k RAM);

> - Questprobe featuring Human Torch and Thing - see Human Torch;

> - Spiderman                            Questprobe (SAGA+Marvel);
>   48k/64k, 128k RAM                    130XE-Ramdisk;
>   (The main program or some pics will be copied to the Ramdisk)

> Mark

> Happy new year!

>

> Anders "Blocky Pixels" Skelander