Ballblazer (crack by Remember) - freeze in NTSC mode
Thelypody opened this issue · comments
C64 core: 20230517, Main: 20230716.
TOSEC-v2022-12-25 C64: Ballblazer (1985)(Activision)[cr REM][a3][Docs][#169].d64
CRC32: 4CD58301 (identical to the crack listed on CSDb)
According to a recent forum discussion, this is the only version of Ballblazer which runs correctly on NTSC machines, with the only exception being the original game release which has copy protection and as such is not playable on MiSTer yet. On the current core even this cracked version doesn't work with settings set to stock NTSC machine, with the game freezing on black screen after pressing Space on Lucasfilm Games logo screen.
When launched in VICE emulator, it looks like the game sends commands to the Datassette motor during this screen. This probably confuses the MiSTer core, but I'm not so sure as the game works fine in PAL mode, despite VICE displaying the same behavior in PAL.
I'm glad to report that with the latest core release the disk image behaves identically to VICE, making C64 Ballblazer finally playable in its original NTSC speed.