Here is the "Universal disc, with graphics" version of:

The Lord Of the Rings: Game 1 for the BBC Micro

When originally released by Melbourne House back in the 80s it 
would only run on a BBC Model B with a 8271 FDC. Everything else
simply would not work. The BBC version was also completely devoid
of the location graphics found in many of the other 8bit and 
16bit editions of the game.

This version has been significantly reworked by Kieran Mockford:

1. It will now run on almost any BBC Micro model (with any disc
   controller) providing it has at least 16K of sideways RAM.
   
2. Full location graphics have been retro-fitted to the game!

The graphic version is rather large and as such needs to be run 
from an ADFS disc (either floppy or hard drive/CF), or the 
version that has been split over several SSDs. The game play of 
the graphic version is designed to be very close to The Hobbit. 
Location graphics can optionally be shown automatically as you 
move from location to location. Or alternatively only when you 
press TAB at the input prompt (that also works when 
auto-pictures are on).

Also added is the ability to save games as files to the drive that
it is running from (this includes ADFS, CF etc.). Just use the 
normal save feature in-game and it will create and load the 
appropriate file.

The intro screens are from the Amstrad CPC version, and the 
location graphics are from the PC/MSDos version, but the horrible
original CGA colours have been fixed! 

The code to make it work is all new :)

It has been tested on:

- A real BBC Master 128 (using DFS, ADFS, RetroClinic CF, MMBeeb)
- The same Master 128 running in 1770 'B' mode using Vine's 
  Replay

- All the emulators I could lay my hands on for PC and OSX 
  including BeebEm and B-Em. In BBC, BBC B+ and Master 
  incarnations, using DFS and ADFS.

There are three versions here:

1. lotr_ADFS_graphics.zip contains a bootable 640K ADFS image 
   that contains all parts of the newly re-engineered edition
   which includes full location graphics and very pretty intro 
   screens! This version requires at least 16K of Sideways RAM
   (32K makes it faster) and ADFS.

2. lotr_SSD_graphics.zip contains 5 (!) bootable single sided 80
   track disc images that should work on any BBC with 16K of 
   Sideways RAM (32K makes it faster). Each is dedicated to one
   of the parts of the game. Enough space for saved games has
   been left on these images.These are ideal for running from an 
   MMBeeb (or DataCentre once I figure out the "known issue" 
   described below).
 
3. lotr_SSD_no_graphics.zip contains a bootable single sided 80
   track disc image that should work on any BBC with 16K of 
   Sideways RAM. It contains all parts of the game, but with no
   graphics.
   (it just fits, should also fit a couple of save games!)

Happy keeping away from the Nazguls-ing! :)

Known issue:
-----------

For some reason the SSD image won't work correctly from a 
DataCenter *IMPORT. The game appears to load, but is then stuck 
solid at the point where one chooses which character to play. 
Investigations are ongoing.. It does, however, work perfectly
from a RetroClinic or DataCenter CF ADFS hard drive, 
so all is not lost..!

Credits where credits are due:
-----------------------------
samwise:  for laying the challenge before me and for orchestrating
          a trans-atlantic bit-shipping of the appropriate disc 
          images.
         
billcarr: wrestling the images off the original floppies and 
          getting them beaten into some kind of shape for surgery. 
          He also did some pretty deep investigation that helped 
          head me in the right direction for getting off the 8271.

Steven Flintham: for his splendid LZSSC and accompanying utilities
                 for LZSS compression and decompression.

Francis G. Loch: for his excellent Image2BBC application.

The original 8271/Model B only disc images can be found here:

http://www.stairwaytohell.com/bbc/archive/diskimages/MelbourneHouse/LordOfTheRings-disc.zip
          
          Thanks chaps.

Kieran Mockford

Change log
==========

v1.02a - Bug Fix
- TAB is now available during sentence input.

v1.01 - Bug Fixes
- Minor update to Menus
- Eliminate the "Showing Picture.." and "No Picture." messages
- Fix load bug when there is only 16K of SWR available
- Fix bug when disc is write protected and only 16K of SWR available

v1.00 - Initial Release