Contents |
Introduction
Demo disk released in September 1990 by the Twinsoft team.
It makes an intense usage of CompileBGM BASIC and includes several music parts and even utilities.
Most parts have support for PSG, MSX-MUSIC and MSX-AUDIO. When both FM chips are present, MSX-MUSIC is automatically selected.
Attention! You need to boot the computer while pressing the CTRL key.
Content
Title
Before accessing the title screen, the computer asks you if you have a Music Module.
If you have the intention to use the utilities available on this disk, it is recommended to press the ESC key instead of answering Y or N to the mentioned question.
On the title screen, you have the possibility to skip the intro: press the spacebar and you will go directly to the menu.
Intro
The intro is composed of two parts:
- first part is in screen 8 and displays a static colored screen, followed by an animation of the 'Crackbird demo' logo and the credits
- second part is in screen 5 and gives some indications about the musics and graphics used on this demo disk
Direct launching:
- with MSX-MUSIC: RUN"FMDEMO-1.LDR"
- with MSX-AUDIO (except for the static screen that uses only MSX-MUSIC): POKE-54,35:RUN"FMDEMO-1.LDR"
Menu
Back to screen 8 for the menu. The selected palette of colors is not very nice, I think there are better combinations with the 256 colors of this screen!
One of the options of this menu allows to see (again) the intro.
Direct launching:
- with MSX-MUSIC: RUN"FMDEMO-M.ENU"
- with MSX-AUDIO: POKE-54,35:RUN"FMDEMO-M.ENU"
Music Demo
An impressive picture in screen 7 with 12 musics available under the SELECT key.
Direct launching:
- with MSX-MUSIC: RUN"FMDEMO-M.US"
- with MSX-AUDIO: POKE-54,35:RUN"FMDEMO-M.US"
BASIC FM Songs
A collection of MSX-MUSIC BASIC melodies (FMP files). You need to press the keys A to N.
Direct launching: RUN"FMDEMO-F.MB"
Outside the interface of this demo disk, you can run all these FMP files also on MSX1.
| File | Title | Author | Soundchips |
|---|---|---|---|
| BGM-MML1.FMP | The Blue Sky | RBM | MSX-MUSIC |
| BGM-MML2.FMP | Bubble Bobble | RBM | MSX-MUSIC + PSG |
| BGM-MML3.FMP | FM-PAC Yeah ! | RBM | MSX-MUSIC |
| BGM-MML4.FMP | MSX Won't Die | RBM | MSX-MUSIC + PSG |
| BGM-MML5.FMP | Mentampin | RTW Soft | MSX-MUSIC |
| BGM-MML6.FMP | Thundering | Berend Schotanus | MSX-MUSIC |
| DAARGTZE.FMP | Daar Gaat Ze | Richard Fielt | MSX-MUSIC |
| HURRYLOV.FMP | You Can't Hurry Love | Richard Fielt | MSX-MUSIC |
| INTHEAIR.FMP | In The Air Tonight | Richard Fielt | MSX-MUSIC |
| LAMBADA.FMP | The Lambada | Richard Fielt | MSX-MUSIC + PSG |
| LEITIBE.FMP | Let It Be | Richard Fielt | MSX-MUSIC |
| METAL.FMP | Metal Battle | Ernst Schuller | MSX-MUSIC |
| SACRIFIC.FMP | Sacrifice | Richard Fielt | MSX-MUSIC + PSG |
| SOMEONE.FMP | Someone That I Used To Love | Richard Fielt | MSX-MUSIC |
Utilities
A collection of utilities.
Most of them have been created by Crackbird, sometimes in 1988 or 1989, what seems to indicate that the Twinsoft activities have started in 1988.
To avoid interference with musical routines, it's recommended to go directly to the utilities menu - 2 solutions:
- press ESC on the screen asking a question about the Music Module
- enter RUN"FMDEMO-U.TIL"
It's also possible to run a specific utility without using the interface of the demo disk.
| MSX-BASIC loader | Title | Author | Generation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHNGNAME.BAS | Change Disk Label | ? | MSX2 | Printer required |
| CLRSEARC.BAS | Color Search | ? | MSX2 | |
| DCT.LDR | Disk Crack Turbo | Richard Fielt | MSX2 | X-BASIC required |
| MAPPER.LDR | Memory Mapper Tester | Richard Fielt | MSX2 | |
| MCT.LDR | Mega Crack Turbo | Richard Fielt | MSX2 | X-BASIC required |
| ROMPACK.SML | Rompack Simulator | Richard Fielt | MSX1 | |
| ROMPACK.SPT | Rompack Spectator | Richard Fielt | MSX1 | |
| SCR2SCR8.LDR | Conversion screen 2 to screen 8 | Richard Fielt | MSX2 | |
| SCR5SCR8.LDR | Conversion screen 5 to screen 8 | Richard Fielt | MSX2 | |
| MSX-DOS required | ||||
| DISKVIEW.COM | DiskView 1.1 | Steven van Loef | MSX2 | |
| PLUS-PIC.COM | Conversion screen 12 to screen 8 | Genic | MSX2 | It's better to use a tool released later (SC12TO8.BAS) |
Advertisements
An original part in screen 7 where you can see advertisements on the screen (F1 key) or create new advertisements (F2 key).
Note: No MSX-AUDIO support in this part.
Direct launching: RUN"FMDEMO-A.DVT"
The Final Blow
This part in screens 5 and 8 is at the same time a reminiscence of the FAC demos with a Commodore computer to destroy and an attack against the same FAC.
It looks like that the FACANAFOM (Federation Against Commodore And Not Against FM-PAC Or MSX2+) was something similar to the FAF...
No direct launching for this part.
Greetings
The final part in screen 5 with nice and naughty greetings.
Note: No MSX-AUDIO support in this part.
Direct launching: RUN"FMDEMO-G.REE"
Hidden parts
Secret Music Mode
To access this secret music mode in screen 8, you need to
- press CTRL+STOP on the title screen
- enter the following password: SIMPLY THE BEST
Use the letters A to M to enjoy the different musics of this mode!
Note: MSX-AUDIO is not supported in this hidden part.
Direct launching: A$=CHR$(127):FORI=1TO6:A$=A$+A$:NEXTI:RUN"AAA2"+A$
Cheat
To access this hidden cheat program, you need to press the C key in the Utilities menu.
This program allows to play Starship Rendezvous in cheating mode.
Direct launching: A$=CHR$(127):FORI=1TO6:A$=A$+A$:NEXTI:RUN"AAAA"+A$
Credits
- Crackbird
- Maddog