Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!hc!lll-winken!uunet!unisoft!hoptoad!dasys1!reynolds
From: reynolds@dasys1.UUCP (Brian Reynolds)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st
Subject: Re: Flaming Irritation
Summary: Don't use Falcon with a Hard Disk connected
Message-ID: <9322@dasys1.UUCP>
Date: 12 Apr 89 19:14:17 GMT
References: <613@stag.math.lsa.umich.edu>
Reply-To: reynolds@dasys1.UUCP (Brian Reynolds)
Organization: The Omegamen
Lines: 48


I bought the Atari version of Falcon as soon as it came out.  Right
out of the box disk 2 was bad.  My dealer was kind enough to replace
it with his personal copy of disk 2.  I played it for a while and then
put it away to do "serious" work with my machine.  When I took it out
again recently disk 2 was garbage.  I wrote to Spectrum Holobyte
explained what happened and ordered the backup disks.  The disks came
with an invoice (I had to pay for the new disks) that had the reason
for replacement marked "User error." I don't know about you but to me
storing the disks in their original box (away from magnets, etc.) for
a couple of months is not user error! 

I then figured out that the only way to get the disks to work was if
I physically removed the hard disk cable before turning on my machine.
Now both sets of disks work.  I assume that if you have an internal
hard disk you're stuck. 

You are supposed to be able to copy disk 2.  I have yet to get a copy
of disk 2 to work.  Spectrum Holobyte's answer was to send them my
disk so they could copy it. 

Other than the copy protection and the stupid code wheel (which does
not look like the on screen graphics) Falcon is a fantastic simulator. 

I read in a magazine that Spectrum Holobyte is upset that there are
already code wheel diagrams and other "cheat sheets" for the Atari
version on some BBSs.  What do they expect?  The manual is the same as
the FalconAT manual (the table of contents even says FalconAT) and I
assume it uses the same type of code wheel.  I know all the keys are
the same.  Don't they realize that someone with a copy of the cheat
sheets for the IBM version retitled it and posted it for the Atari?  I
also read that Spectrum Holobyte is going to release Orbiter for the
Atari.  Orbiter was a really acurate space shuttle simulator that was
way too slow on a PC.  It should be better on the Atari, but I won't
buy it if it uses the same protection as Falcon. 

By the way, I had similar problems with Gunship but after ordering the
backups disks they were nice enough to reply to my letter.  I guess I
always like MicroProse anyway.

ttfn,
Brian

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