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Ghostrider
Administrator
Posts: 45 |
Mavis Beacon C64 never cracked?
Hi guys,
I just noticed Mavis Beacon 64 (disk version) on ebay. For those who don't know, the Mavis Beacon program teaches you touch typing - pretty useful for coders and, well, anybody. I checked on CSDb to find a crack of it, and there was nothing! :O Could it really be that no one has cracked/imported/released this one (yet)?
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Axis
Account closed
Registered: Aug 2006
Posts: 43 |
Was it CopyProtected?
I have a 5 Disk Version here but not realy Cracked.. Only a 1:1 Copy! |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11360 |
quite a lot of utility- and office software never got cracked i guess.... the entire "westermann learning" series for example (heureka sprint protected) |
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Ghostrider
Administrator
Posts: 45 |
Ok, thanks guys, it makes sense. I was just surprised not to find it here :) |
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FATFrost
Account closed
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 211 |
A crack of a typing tutor?! Haha..... What will the trainer version have? Infinite 'F' an 'U's??!
;) |
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Mace
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 1799 |
A crack of protected software makes sense, because it makes it easier for people to copy it without hardware hacks or stuff like that. |
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Jon
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 247 |
Hm... Is the "scene" even interested in unreleased educational software?
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iAN CooG
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 3187 |
I bet some of the active good crackers would walk on their hands to get something that needs to be actually cracked, which is hard to find these days. |
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Yogibear
Registered: Aug 2003
Posts: 223 |
Well it's uncracked on gb64.com for what's it worth. |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11360 |
Quote:I bet some of the active good crackers would walk on their hands to get something that needs to be actually cracked
so give the ori to nostalgia already :) |
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FATFrost
Account closed
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 211 |
I have the oregano in a box somewhere.... Only ever tried it once... Back In 92/3.. Was quite a good program, but made me hungry when I read the name. :/ |
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The Phantom
Registered: Jan 2004
Posts: 360 |
I actually have this in .d64 format, doesn't seem to be cracked either.
I also can't get anything to load because it seems nothing is on the .d64s, perhaps archived wrong, or maybe not emulator friendly. It does, however, show disk 1 with 133 blocks free, but nothing else on the disk. I'm thinking a bad archive.
A crack would be welcome, I think. At least then I would have a working copy of a program I've never used :D
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MADMAX
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 30 |
I cracked it! HEHE The code is simple! But next your woundering why GB64 has it with no MHI Intro! I never put one on it! I do alot of cracks and fixes that I don't put an intro on. As for the one at E-Bay I been looking for another version since my Side 3 locks the drive up. Well now you know their is a bug on MBTT disk! I will keep you posted if I get it and it fixes the prob. Also could then add Dox! Well more later!
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MADMAX
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 30 |
I just purchased it and its on the way to my home!
I will be busy working on it so when its done I will upload it! You guys want a mhi! intro! maybe since exomizer will shrink it down! 133 blocks is not correct as it uses all of side 1 I think he found the MHI 1st release disk without the MHI boot files if you have GB64 v5 I think is the version that used my old PAL fix I used Epyx fastlink code to code link it on disk and 1 file on side 1 if its that one you will have fun as it loads just like my Pirate Slayer code (B-R) OH! those old days when I amaze and kinda crazy when I cracked it was in Hielbronn Germany and I was stationed at wharton Barracks 1989 Year did a demo at the 64er club! Lots of memories and many a Bier! Crystal Wiesen Well you guys have fun and member the ol'e days! |
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Sixx
Registered: May 2005
Posts: 229 |
OK. |
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bugjam
Registered: Apr 2003
Posts: 2583 |
Go for it, Mad Max - looking forward to a nice release. |
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MADMAX
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 30 |
Thanks Bugjam for the incouragment! I got it yesturday and I figured only 1 copy but it came with 3 sets of disks and that may be of help since I went through a lot of versions piecing them together to make CANDYLAND 100% when Gamebase asked me how many it took I said 16 since most had errors in the same place. Well I know this SIDE 3 on the MHI! crack has a bug and if all goes well I will be releasing it on here for everyone to test!. Have fun all as I am going to be busy!.
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dink
Account closed
Registered: Mar 2012
Posts: 30 |
I found a working version of Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing on GameBase64 / http://www.gb64.com/game.php?id=12345
The catch? It only works on NTSC C64's... |
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MADMAX
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 30 |
Yep and disk 3 has a bug! And my 3 sets I have all show the same bug! Funny but I think the disks were all done from the same original! and if the truth be known it probably has the same bug on disk 3! I was hoping for closer but it won't stop me from what I have plans on doing but it could if the error is fatal! Keep fingers crossed that I can rip the data out of embedded data!.
They used a reverse compiler so if any byte rears its head it will lock up! I been looking at the loader for a way to PAL fix it!. Hope to know something by monday as I got some free time this weekend. Have a fun week.
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Romppainen
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2008
Posts: 40 |
Remember to check if the rumoured easter egg is really in there :) |
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Akira
Registered: Oct 2003
Posts: 52 |
I have this one still in Buenos Aires, maybe I can get it sent to any of you crackers to have a pop. But it might have my data saved on it, so not an untouched original. |
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MADMAX
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 30 |
Akira yeah! I could see if yours has a bug on disk 3 track 3 starts and then hangs! Not sure what sector but I can't seem to see any data in track that would show 23 or 21 read error (21 read error would have data from another sector and 23 read error would have FF bytes where the sector failed to load! I've been looking at the whole disk but more versions I have the better. And when finished I will need those who want to test it their E-mail addy so I can send it as it will help since I can not type fast enough and with less errors. And then when I get the NTSC version squeeky clean no errors is when I will get to pulling the data off and see if I can pull it out of protected mode! (Means the disk has been z-coded and needs to be brought out and back to file loading type!) more I guess later! Here is my e-mail addy mad_max1@netzero.com and tell me if you want to be a tester so I can save you to my beta testers list! Thanks guys!
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Count Zero
Registered: Jan 2003
Posts: 1927 |
Is this craxxortalk me not understands?
Mad could at least use his enter key from time to time!
So I get this right - you have like half a dozen copies of the same original and wonder about some "error" which spreads across all originals - which could as well be part of the protection...
Quote:
and see if I can pull it out of protected mode! (Means the disk has been z-coded and needs to be brought out and back to file loading type!)
WTF? Thats the BASIC thing when even THINKING about "cracking" something, huh?
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11360 |
not for USA people (re: ESI) afterall =) |
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Jon
Account closed
Registered: Apr 2005
Posts: 247 |
You're comparing Mitch to this dude? Oh dear.
Noooo. |
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chatGPZ
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 11360 |
not at all =) |
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dink
Account closed
Registered: Mar 2012
Posts: 30 |
Maybe he's been doing it for a long time? |
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Scout
Registered: Dec 2002
Posts: 1570 |
Quote: Maybe he's been doing it for a long time?
Recracking? Yeah. |
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MADMAX
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 30 |
Well for those who want to bitch there is a forum for it and this is not it!
Error is not part of the protection this is on the original which I have not 1 but 3 original copies that was sealed untill I opened them!
My drive is an excellerator plus 1541 clone! It failed to read disk 3 track 3 sector 4 and this was while I was typing!
Next I tried it in my SX64 with its built in drive once with Jiffydos off and then tried it with it on! Both attemps failed!
Now I have told what I found and it happens with my other 2 copy versions the copy I got from Jim Scaberry and my Original Crack I did in 1988 which all are NTSC only but in 1996 I did a special hack for PAL owners it worked but unless you didn't do what my Info file said it would not load. This was not acceptable to Gamebase since they wanted it to not need a special technique!
Disk 3 seems to be so far the only one that bugs and I have LR's save disk and I thought maybe some fast typists could test it and see if it bugs anywhere while they are using the one from gamebase as the save disk I have of LR's could be the culprit! I can't get that high with my authoritic hands!
Thanks for the help!
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Peacemaker
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 248 |
Ok?!
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Fungus
Registered: Sep 2002
Posts: 680 |
The disk error is potato. |
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Scout
Registered: Dec 2002
Posts: 1570 |
Admit it, it's a great story so far.
I wonder when his former girlfriend enters the story again :)
*popcorn* |
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tlr
Registered: Sep 2003
Posts: 1787 |
I tried "playing" it. Quite nice actually. Play-testing your crack will make you a typing _god_! |
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MADMAX
Registered: Dec 2001
Posts: 30 |
The Manual is now at Bombjack.org he has just put it online for those who haven't got one! It is in .PDF format so you need a reader to read it.
Thanks for the help still working on it and not much else to say yet!.
MAD MAX> Only time will tell! Just like the Holy Grail!
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TPM
Registered: Jan 2004
Posts: 110 |
drugs are bad mmkay |
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Ghostrider
Administrator
Posts: 45 |
Wow, MADMAX, really looking forward to seeing the crack! Any progress on it lately?
Is it a tough nut? |
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Rough
Account closed
Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 1829 |
there's not too few games which have never been cracked 100% - a dedicated collector like me recognizes that |
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Neo-Rio
Account closed
Registered: Jan 2004
Posts: 63 |
"Wordrace" is a tape-based game from 1983 that has never been "cracked" or should I say ported to disk.
GB64 has tape dumps.
Nobody seems to want to touch it... :) |
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The Overkiller
Account closed
Registered: Mar 2002
Posts: 342 |
Another one is Portal ? |
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iAN CooG
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 3187 |
clearly not worth the pain |
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TheRyk
Registered: Mar 2009
Posts: 2219 |
which of course holds true for quite a bunch of hitherto uncracked stuff ^^ if it was worth the pain, sb would already have suffered it. but if you still are looking for ways to achieve some kind of "firstie" stats, go ahead :) |
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Rough
Account closed
Registered: Feb 2002
Posts: 1829 |
There seems to be no 100% version of the English Stifflip & Co. which shouldnt be too hard work, 2-3 trainers, docs. The original is rare thou. |
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Fungus
Registered: Sep 2002
Posts: 680 |
There's so many games that are not 100% cracked... lots of speed cracks from the 80's are far from 100%. Parts removed to fit on disks, nothing was really tested to see if it actually worked 100%, etc. There are a lot better things to spend time on than some stupid educational game.
The main problem with Portal is to find an UNTOUCHED original of the game where it's never been played as doing so alters the disk immediately.
There are no 100% versions of the Alter Ego games either, several Avalon Hill titles are not cracked, many Datasoft titles are not 100% either. Problem with these games is they take not only a lot of time to crack properly, but also even more time to test properly... and not always FUN games to play so motivation is low to do them. |
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The Overkiller
Account closed
Registered: Mar 2002
Posts: 342 |
Quoting Fungusbut also even more time to test properly... and not always FUN games to play so motivation is low to do them.
Yeah, I agree ... |
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Gop
Account closed
Registered: Mar 2007
Posts: 4 |
It was definitely cracked way back as I learned to type with Mavis on a PAL C64. But I couldn't for the life of me tell you which group did it... |
