There were 122,701views and 119 comments made on the video prior to the refresh on 31st October. 2023. Those comments appear below...
@scsirob
8 years ago
What a great trip down memory lane! My first computer was the Video Genie EG3003, basically the European version of this. I got it for free from a buddy. It was broken due to a lightning strike nearby. I clipped all TTL chips from the main board and replaced them all. It worked! I was lucky that the CPU, memory and ROM's were undamaged.
I learned how to program BASIC and Z80 assembly on this machine, built an expansion unit, added a graphics card and even managed to run CP/M on it. Even today I enjoy building kit, programming stuff and working with computers. It all started with this machine.
@tezzaNZ
8 years ago
scsirob Great! Glad you enjoyed the video.
@tamphex
4 years ago
The hours I wasted playing Star Trek on the System 80 at the office where I was supposed to be doing work experience - hours best spent!
@TheCarin12
3 years ago
Ah yes...Alert!! Klingons in this quadrant! Fire Photon torpedo *1,3*
@carstenunland8924
8 years ago
Oh, my 1st computer! Thanks a lot for this video!!! I spent millions of hours programming in BASIC and playin' Scarfman!
@tezzaNZ
8 years ago
Me too!. Loads of fun!
@MrKelaher
3 years ago
my first comp too
@UNSINKABLEII
4 years ago
My first computer. Used to love playing Penetrator on it!
@notahat
6 years ago
I learnt to program on one of those when I was a kid. The Monash Uni chemistry department had one, and my dad was a lecturer. I reckon it was the most connected System 80 ever. It was plugged into: two disk drives, two printers, a plotter, some laser measuring equipment, a mass spectrometer, and the mainframe in the basement.
That was one heck of a nostalgic trip for me. I had the blue label version and it was also my first computer and the one I learned to program on. I am now a professional computer programmer :) So I can safely say that if it wasn't for tricky Dicky I would not be where I am today. I had previously found your website and still continue showing it to people.
@tezzaNZ
7 years ago
Thanks for the support!
@majkl98se15
8 years ago
I noticed on that one ad that something called "Dick Smith Backup" was mentioned. Do you know what that was?
@tezzaNZ
8 years ago
+Majkl98 Hmm. Not sure about that one.
@dickkickemthereckoning7425
7 years ago
My guess it might have been a few extra floppy disks or cassettes in case some broke or malfunctioned?
@majkl98se15
7 years ago
Good thinking, because it wouldn't make any sense if it was a dial-up thing because the modems at the time were slow and hard drives were expensive and/or non-existent for the end-user, but then again, it just might just be some sort of proprietary thing...
@dickkickemthereckoning7425
7 years ago
My other guess would be some kind of warranty on the disks themselves? Or maybe some weird command that saves some files into a rom chip? I'm just speculating hah I'm only 19 so this was way before my time
@majkl98se15
7 years ago
ROM chips were small (I think) and was not worth it...
@markmcdougall2406
9 years ago
I'm curious about the origin of the "Dick Smith Invaders" game. You say it was programmed by contractors for Dick Smith, but it is clearly a port of "Tandy Invaders". Or vice-versa. Any further info on that?
@AndrewJens
9 years ago
Perhaps the programmers were needed for the Super-80 port? :-)
@tezzaNZ
9 years ago
No, I don't know the origin if the game. It was certainly under a Dick Smith brand. A lot of space invader games were very similar. Given that the look and feel of them all were basically the same I imagine it wouldn't have taken too much to simply write a space invader clone. It seems like it was written with the System 80 in mind as it doesn't use the arrow keys for moving the gun. The first variant of the System 80 was missing the right arrow key.
@markmcdougall2406
9 years ago
Terry Stewart Definitely a hacked Tandy Invaders IMHO. The graphics are the same, the intro is the same. Different text and different keys - simple hacks. I remember wondering how Dick Smith could get away with such a blatant rip-off... or perhaps it was a licensed "port"? Would be interested to know the full story, but I suspect we never will.
@markmcdougall2406
9 years ago
Mark McDougall DAMMIT! Know I need to know... which means digging out both and looking through with a disassembler... stay tuned!
EDIT: OK playing the video (Dick Smith INVADERS) and TANDY INVADERS on an emulator side-by-side, I can tell you I'm 100% certain it's the same game. Oh and the graphics have been hacked slightly as well (the invaders). IMHO the Tandy version looks better (closer to the original) and would suggest that DS is the hack. But a disassembly would provide proof.
@markmcdougall2406
9 years ago
Andrew Jens I guess we'll never know, since it seems most Super-80 users simply ended up throwing their machine in the bin. :(
@AndrewJens
9 years ago
Throwing the Super-80 away was the only way to break the enchanting and all-encompassing spell it cast on its owner. :-)
@markmcdougall2406
9 years ago
Mark McDougall I've taken a look at the Tandy and Dick Smith version of INVADERS. There is absolutely no doubt that the DSE version is a hack of the Tandy version. There are only 189 bytes different between the two, the "DICK SMITH ELECT." text has clearly been truncated to replace "TANDY ELECTRONICS", and the copyright message is a year later. This begs the question - how were they allowed to get away with it? If it were a licensed variation, then surely the source would've been re-compiled with more fitting text? Otherwise to knock off something sold by Tandy themselves was a bold move!?! FTR I would count Tandy Invaders as my favourite Space Invaders game for the TRS-80. AI's Space Intruders was also a great game, but by the time I acquired a copy I was pretty much over Space Invaders, so I never played a lot of it. On an unrelated note: whoever chose the "2" & "0" keys for left-right movement on the DSE version needs a good smack around the ears - that's just plain awful, and detracts from an otherwise flawless game! (Maybe that's why Tandy didn't pursue a lawsuit - they figured it was practically unplayable with that key combination!)
@tezzaNZ
9 years ago
Mark McDougall That's interesting. That explains something else I've always been curious about. The "missiles" the invaders shoot at the base can be one of three characters. In the System 80 it is a star, a "V" and a "\". A star and a V I could understand but why use a "\"? Then I got a lowercase upgrade which included a new character set, one which had the four arrow symbols the Model 1 had (In the original Sys80 character set these were [ \ ] ^ ). Suddenly I had a down arrow as a missile rather than a "\".
I could never figure out WHY Dick Smith would get a program written for the System 80 that used the ASCII code for the down arrow when that code mapped to a character than looks nothing like an arrow i.e. a "\"? But this ties in with your finding. The Space Invaders was almost an exact copy of the TRS-80 one?
Did Dick Smith get permission for a port or was it sold illegally? Who knows. If the latter it would have been very cheeky. There were lots of Radio Shack stores in Australia. If the game looked exactly the same as the Tandy version and wasn't an approved port I'm sure Tandy would have come knocking.
@markmcdougall2406
9 years ago
Yeah, it was a particularly lazy hack if they couldn't be bothered changing the (non-existent) down-arrow.
I can't imagine Tandy giving permission for their (Australian) arch-nemesis to run their software on another machine. I also find it hard to imagine that Tandy would sign a deal with a game developer that gave them rights to re-sell to said nemesis... and as I mentioned, it's clearly a hack rather than a customise-and-re-assemble job. Hence the reason I can only conclude it was, as you suggest, 'very cheeky'.
Guessing we'll never know. Even if the person who was responsible was still around and could be found, it's possible they won't remember either. :(
@AndrewJens
9 years ago
Why not ask Dick Smith himself? He might enjoy a (legally-incriminating) trip down memory lane. :-)
@markmcdougall2406
9 years ago
I doubt that Dick had any part in the transaction... we was too busy trying to clone vegemite!
@behindthepixel555
9 years ago
It must have been wonderful live in those days :)
@vwestlife
9 years ago
The business version with the keypad was sold here in the USA as the PMC-81, but TRS-80 clones never sold well here, because even if the real TRS-80s cost more, people liked the ability to walk into any Radio Shack store for service and support. And that Dick Smith monitor is quite obviously just a TV set with the tuner removed, although it's nice that they gave you a built-in speaker and audio input, unlike the TRS-80 Model I monitor.
@tezzaNZ
9 years ago
Yes, it is a Korean TV with the tuner removed. I've seen inside (-: , The ability to use the amplifier for sound input was a welcome mod.
I agree. At that time in computing support was important and "down under" Dick Smith not only had the stores but also gave the support. I think Personal Micro Computers (selling the PMC-80/81) was mostly mail order, yes? The Tandy lawsuit also put it under a cloud in the USA I imagine.
@Jer0tube
3 weeks ago
Great videos Terry, very concise.
@tezzaNZ
3 weeks ago
Thanks!
@raej2413
1 month ago
I am so grateful to have found this video! I began searching for PET information as I started unpacking my old PET 2001-N with the intentions of setting it up and getting it up and running again. I was in high school at the time we got this PET. That was a long time ago now and my old memory needed a refresher! I have the full system that was kept in excellent condition over the years. It was never basement or garage kept. It’s the full system with the external cassette, dot matrix printer, many manuals, and a variety of other books including VisiCalc…spreadsheets! Maybe I’m getting nostalgic with memories of anxiously fighting over the new releases of computing magazines to see new programs. I have all the discs of programs we would save to them. Now I am really dating myself! Lol! Great video and much appreciated! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
@tezzaNZ
3 weeks ago
Thanks for the comments, although I'm not sure if you meant to post them after my PET video rather than this System 80 one?
@baza0
3 months ago
Kids today don't spend enough time in front of screens - thanks to Dick Smith in 1981 I was spending 35 hours a week in front of screens.
@tezzaNZ
3 weeks ago
Hahaha. True!
@allgood6760
10 months ago
I had a Dick Smith System 80..thanks for this
🇳🇿
@nilesoien7867
11 months ago
I had one of these - I remember the Big Five software games!
@HouseholdDog
1 year ago
First computer for me too.
@davechristian7543
1 year ago
I had one back in 83 or 84 i think i was hehe
@greatsource5405
1 year ago
Your videos are very relaxing and yet interesting at the same time, especially how you bring in your personal feelings and memories about it. I wish I could see all your computers. You should give in person tours of your collection.
@tezzaNZ
1 year ago
Thanks for the support!
@miked4377
1 year ago
what a cool computer! very cool...
@urinater
1 year ago
We all have a Dick Smith inside us
@thekingofthepotatopeople5218
2 years ago
This guy has a lot in his clissic computer colliction.
@JustWasted3HoursHere
2 years ago
I'm always amazed at how many old cassette games still work after so many decades. I tried several on my old C64 years ago and about 50% of them didn't work anymore. :( Luckily the internet comes to the rescue and I was able to re-record them to tape!
@CRAZYHORSE19682003
2 years ago
As a tip, you can always rerecord them onto a blank tape if you have a device with two cassette decks. Back in the 80's when I had a tape go bad for my Atari 800, I would just dub a new one.
That's usually more an issue with the Datasette than the tapes itself. I have a lot of eighties era spectrum tapes and they are surprisingly hardy.
@JustWasted3HoursHere
1 month ago
@cygil1
The microtapes or whatever they were called for the Sincalir QL were notoriously unreliable from what I hear.
@cygil1
1 month ago
@JustWasted3HoursHere
Microdrive casettes, but that's a different issue. The ordinary casettes are very reliable, I don't have a single unplayable casette in my collection all recorded 30-40 years ago.
@JustWasted3HoursHere
1 month ago
@cygil1
Yep, that's what they're called. Thanks. My Datasette cassettes may have been exposed to a magnetic field or something over the years.
@aa-au
3 years ago
In the early 80's I used to go into an electronics store in Melbourne Australia and used to play a game on a Dick Smith System 80. It was a game similar to Berzerk, and all I could remember was the voice synthesiser stating "Player 1" and "Player 2" when the game started, and then at the end "Game Over - Player 1" - I still have this voice inside my head from all those years ago! If anyone can name the game let me know...
@na5y
3 years ago
Thank you for the nostalgia trip! I worked in Dick Smith's in Australia in the mid-80s, I never had a system 80 but I did have one of Dick's Apple II clones the Cat computer. That's still back in Australia at my Mums house - no idea if it works or not! The power supply on those was always flakey. Thanks Again!
@beautifulsmall
3 years ago
used to go into Tandy and write a poke loop that wiped the screen then the os. oh heady days. dad bought the VG, and now a teensy 4.0 will sit in your hand. happy memories of typing Elisa from a magazine . now Alexa wont play the last two episodes of the infinite monkey cage, ( well its the bbc i know that) .
@CRAZYHORSE19682003
2 years ago
Whenever we were in the mall my computer nerd friends and I would play stump the Tandy guy. We would start asking a lot of technical questions about the hardware and enjoy watching the Tandy guy tap dance and try to sound like he knew what he was talking about. The simple pleasures of youth lol.
@07711774667
3 years ago
Wow first Uk o-level home pc for me
@billbaud
3 years ago
I wonder how many are actually left in the world?
@cjay2
3 years ago (edited)
My first computer. Bought and used it while I lived in Sydney, early 80s. Discovered that it would run an editor-assembler-debugger made for the TRS-80 model 1 by a tiny company called 'Microsoft', and created machine-language Z80 programs in assembler. The System 80 ran a 1MHz clock. Those were the days. Edit: I also became a Penetrator expert.
Love it. I think I had a second version because I don't remember any 32 column mode. That didn't stop me though, I had a local computer shop add arrow keys, speaker, and character ROMs for upper case. Eventually I got the expansion unit and two drives + STAR dot matrix printer as well. My monitor was a Phillips Three-in-One (TV + Radio + Casette). I did fanzines on it using LAZYWRITER and played games like SEADRAGON and ALIEN TAXI. But W.AI.T. (now Curtain Uni) had access to Oak Ridge disks full of software!
Loved that machine, but eventually moved on to an MSX Spectravideo and then an ATARI PC2 XT. Been on PCs ever since.
@Re-Tech
4 years ago
Another trip into my distance past. I remember these in my school before they replaced them with the BBC Micro. They were well built and put up with a lot of abuse from the kids at then time.
@alexcmchan
5 years ago
Wow!! This machine sold in Hong Kong named "Genie System". I owned this machine when I was 16. I got it by using second hand price, it was HK$3000 with monochrome monitor. It was a huge money in 1981. However, without this, I believe my life may quite different. I self learned programming language by using this. And after my secondary school, and went to job market, With luck and my past programming experience, I finally got into in I.T. related work in a shipping company, then started my almost 30 years I.T. career. Thanks Genie and my Dad, and also thanks to you, you bring me a wonderful memory.
@tezzaNZ
4 years ago
Thanks for the support!
@zahoorahmed8334
5 years ago
I also had this computer in Rochdale England, UK. and learned assembly language programming on it when i was 12 - 14 years old, got fond memories of it. My first computer was the zx81. I grew up in the retro years of the 80's. and have been involved with computers to present.
@mspenrice
5 years ago
Wow, that looks like some kind of all-in-one Hifi system, except the tuner and turntable have been replaced with a keyboard...
@SuperHaunts
6 years ago
Did they make any model after this one? Either the model 2 or model 3
My first computer was a Video Genie too. Seadragon was probably my all time favourite game. My dad took mine apart and installed 4164 RAM chips in it rather than piggybacking eight pairs of 4116's because they'd begun to drop in price. Unfortunately floppy disk drives were too expensive so I spent a lot of time loading from tapes and encountering checksum errors right near the end of loading. I probably had more enjoyment from that computer than this gaming PC that I built that I'm using today.
A couple of years ago I ended up chatting to Scott Adams on Facebook, he said I was forgiven for playing pirated versions all of his adventure games!
@tezzaNZ
6 years ago
LOL. Yea, those Scott Adams games. I loved playing them. Thanks for the memories.
@Vintuitive
6 years ago
My first computer was the Dick Smith Wizzard and you can see it's origins in the DS 80 - those wooden sides.
I am very impressed with your collection! You must have spent a lot of money :-)
@tezzaNZ
6 years ago
Not that much. Some have been donated. Sometime it's a matter of being patient. It's getting harder to specific models at a cheap price though.
@MoTown44240
6 years ago
I have seen this PC but I could never afford it. Paying 'Daycare' for my Son and later tuition for private Catholic School took all my spare money for many years until my Son entered public school, 7th grade, in 1991. By this time my TRS80 was packed and store in the attic. I was hooked on the Commodore C64 and C64C. I've heard of Dick Smith Electronics through my other hobby, amateur radio.
@raydionangy
7 years ago
Thanks for your video Terry. I worked for Dick Smith back in the early 80s and sold many of these computers. I owned a System 80 "Business Machine" which replaced the inbuilt tape drive for a numeric keyboard. I also had a green screen DSE monitor. Ahh the memories.... I still have a mint condition VZ300.
@tezzaNZ
7 years ago
I've always wanted one of those business System 80 models... (:
@billbaud
3 years ago
I worked there too!
@trainman071
7 years ago
these were fun to program damn good machine back in the day
@AlonsoRules
7 years ago
Now the company is defunct. Nice throwback though, I missed this stuff, was born 10 years later!!
@tezzaNZ
7 years ago
+Anthony Kernich Yes. Sad although given the direction they went in...inevitable.
@JackHorton
7 years ago
Considering the current state of the Dick Smith business, I think your computer is about to get a lot more collectable!
Edit: this is the first video where I've liked, shared AND commented! :D
@Ivy_meow_meow
7 years ago
This was my first computer at the age of 10 in 1984. Spent many hours playing sea dragon and two finger taping all the programs from the USA system 80 magazines. Thanks for the video Terry.
@bukster1
7 years ago
I tried turning on my old system 80 after many years in the shed. It goes, but I couldn't load any tapes. Perhaps I'll have another go later. I was pleased that it actually went.
@tezzaNZ
7 years ago
+bukster1 Good one!. Perhaps the tapes have degraded?
@bukster1
7 years ago
I think the inbuilt cassette player's had it. I might try loading from a data recorder if I can work out the pin configurations for the din plugs at the back. Same with using my old monochrome monitor.
@bukster1
7 years ago
+Terry Stewart I was able to get an external tape player to work. Cload games work, but not the system games. I see on your demo, you appear to enter a '\' character after the invaders game loads. I take it that runs the game. I'll try again, but use the \ after system game loads. I got one called Outhouse to work. That loaded fine and ran by itself.
@alekz1958
7 years ago
My first computer thanks for the memories
@JenniferBaulch
7 years ago
For those who had computers in the old days were very privileged! Think for those who never had one like me :-) , who had the pain of using the old manual typewriters on research studies! One mistake of letters on the typewriter you got to do it all over again and again (with basket full of crumpled papers)! And when we had our very first computer experience with DOS diskette was still a pain in university in 1997. We have to squeeze ourselves to use those PCs (one PC for 6 to 10 students) in applying the computer theories after one or two days lecture in another laboratory classroom. It was never hands on! :-)
@johneygd
7 years ago
The 80 system monitor looks more like an old tv from that era. If the builtin cassette recorder ditn't record and play data reliably, then it simply makes no sence to have it builtin, especialy since you could connect an external cassette tape to it,what a waste.
@tombates9122
7 years ago
Damn it Terry, you have to stop making your videos so interesting! I stop work to watch a video while I have a quick Coffee; the next thing I know, it's an hour later and I have to drag myself away from your page or I'd be there all day...
@tezzaNZ
7 years ago
+tom bates LOL. Thanks for the support Tom (:
@paulnegri8214
7 years ago
Hi there Tezza what was your second computer you ever owned?
@firebladex8586
8 years ago
I would have a blast writing some BASIC code on one of those machines.
@jeopardy60611
8 years ago
This was an interesting video on the System 80. I had the original Radio Shack Model I, and it's cool how this machine was made compatible to it and has so many differences in how it was made. The original TRS-80 did not have a "page" key or a hardware switch for 32 column mode. You had to PRINT CHR$(23) or hit shift-right-arrow to go to 32 columns, and you could only print in the even-numbered video memory cells.
@misternintendoking
9 years ago
Can you do home and handheld gaming consoles reviews? Here are examples: Atari 2600, NES, Super Nintendo, Sega Mega Drive (Genesis where I live), Playstation, Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Wii, Wii U, PS Vita, Xbox, gameboy, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS. We'd like to see you do those reviews along with the continuing computer.
@asgerms
9 years ago
I can't help noticing that the "1"-key is much larger than 2,3,4,... Almost as if the keyboard is from "some other system" having an "esc"-key in that position. Could easily imagine the development team being very pressed on money/time, grabbing the most affordable/available/usable keyboard around, tweaking it, living with the quirks and simply get the product launched. But, I'm totally guessing...
@tezzaNZ
9 years ago
Yes, I guess it's possible,. It was a very good robust keyboard to type on. Now that I have other computers to compare I find it better than the Kaypro and Obsorne, and even Apple II+/IIe.
@davidbrennan5
9 years ago
wow I have watched all your videos and enjoyed them all. I grew up in the 80's in Canada and I had computers in my classroom all the way through but none of the teachers knew how to operate them. I ended up with a Rockwell aim-65 computer then a Ibm 5160 and later a 386, 486sx25, 486dx2-66, Pentium 2 200 amd Athlon 64 3000plus and now amd Phenom 3.8ghz quadcore. I have found many old computers at the curbside including that 386 I had. I found a commodore vic 20 and a system much like your osborne1, I wish I would have kept that one. I have learned a lot from you and please keep the videos coming.
@electricadventures
9 years ago
So excellent that you still have all of the accessories and of course the main unit from your first computer. As I played with the TRS-80 machines at our local shopping centre a lot I also played with one of these at our Dick Smith store. It was in town though so did not get to go there as much as the Tandy store. I so wanted one of these for quite a long time, as I saw it as more achievable savings goal, than trying to get a TRS-80. I ended up with a 2nd hand TI-99/4 (the person was buying a TI-99/4a), with my Dad chucking in half the money though. Great video you can tell this system means a lot to you :)
@DavidAmmerlaan
9 years ago
Nice system. Didn't know about this one!
@TheFlyingScotsman
9 years ago
It's always good reflecting on one's first computer. Unfortunately I was born in 88, about when a lot of the really exciting stuff was headed for the landfill.
@tezzaNZ
9 years ago
Yes, and that would have been the time to grab it! (-:
@timmurphy2540
9 years ago
love your work tezza
@tezzaNZ
9 years ago
Thank you Tim
@randywatson8347
9 years ago
Nice video!
@tezzaNZ
9 years ago
Thank you Nik
@monotonehell
9 years ago
Hello from Adelaide. :)
I was going to ask you last week if you were to give the SYS80 some HD love, and here it is.
Also my first.
@tezzaNZ
9 years ago
Choice. Yes, I couldn't let that one languish in low definition. (-:
@monotonehell
9 years ago
Terry Stewart Or perhaps you should reshoot it in 128x48 resolution?
@tezzaNZ
9 years ago
***** LOL!
@QuaaludeCharlie
9 years ago
I enjoyed watching your video on the Dick Smith System 80 :) QC
I learned how to program BASIC and Z80 assembly on this machine, built an expansion unit, added a graphics card and even managed to run CP/M on it. Even today I enjoy building kit, programming stuff and working with computers. It all started with this machine.
Definitely a hacked Tandy Invaders IMHO. The graphics are the same, the intro is the same. Different text and different keys - simple hacks.
I remember wondering how Dick Smith could get away with such a blatant rip-off... or perhaps it was a licensed "port"? Would be interested to know the full story, but I suspect we never will.
DAMMIT! Know I need to know... which means digging out both and looking through with a disassembler... stay tuned!
EDIT: OK playing the video (Dick Smith INVADERS) and TANDY INVADERS on an emulator side-by-side, I can tell you I'm 100% certain it's the same game. Oh and the graphics have been hacked slightly as well (the invaders). IMHO the Tandy version looks better (closer to the original) and would suggest that DS is the hack. But a disassembly would provide proof.
I guess we'll never know, since it seems most Super-80 users simply ended up throwing their machine in the bin. :(
I've taken a look at the Tandy and Dick Smith version of INVADERS. There is absolutely no doubt that the DSE version is a hack of the Tandy version. There are only 189 bytes different between the two, the "DICK SMITH ELECT." text has clearly been truncated to replace "TANDY ELECTRONICS", and the copyright message is a year later.
This begs the question - how were they allowed to get away with it? If it were a licensed variation, then surely the source would've been re-compiled with more fitting text? Otherwise to knock off something sold by Tandy themselves was a bold move!?!
FTR I would count Tandy Invaders as my favourite Space Invaders game for the TRS-80. AI's Space Intruders was also a great game, but by the time I acquired a copy I was pretty much over Space Invaders, so I never played a lot of it.
On an unrelated note: whoever chose the "2" & "0" keys for left-right movement on the DSE version needs a good smack around the ears - that's just plain awful, and detracts from an otherwise flawless game! (Maybe that's why Tandy didn't pursue a lawsuit - they figured it was practically unplayable with that key combination!)
I could never figure out WHY Dick Smith would get a program written for the System 80 that used the ASCII code for the down arrow when that code mapped to a character than looks nothing like an arrow i.e. a "\"? But this ties in with your finding. The Space Invaders was almost an exact copy of the TRS-80 one?
Did Dick Smith get permission for a port or was it sold illegally? Who knows. If the latter it would have been very cheeky. There were lots of Radio Shack stores in Australia. If the game looked exactly the same as the Tandy version and wasn't an approved port I'm sure Tandy would have come knocking.
I can't imagine Tandy giving permission for their (Australian) arch-nemesis to run their software on another machine. I also find it hard to imagine that Tandy would sign a deal with a game developer that gave them rights to re-sell to said nemesis... and as I mentioned, it's clearly a hack rather than a customise-and-re-assemble job. Hence the reason I can only conclude it was, as you suggest, 'very cheeky'.
Guessing we'll never know. Even if the person who was responsible was still around and could be found, it's possible they won't remember either. :(
:-)
I agree. At that time in computing support was important and "down under" Dick Smith not only had the stores but also gave the support. I think Personal Micro Computers (selling the PMC-80/81) was mostly mail order, yes? The Tandy lawsuit also put it under a cloud in the USA I imagine.
Loved that machine, but eventually moved on to an MSX Spectravideo and then an ATARI PC2 XT. Been on PCs ever since.
A couple of years ago I ended up chatting to Scott Adams on Facebook, he said I was forgiven for playing pirated versions all of his adventure games!
Edit: this is the first video where I've liked, shared AND commented! :D
If the builtin cassette recorder ditn't record and play data reliably, then it simply makes no sence to have it builtin, especialy since you could connect an external cassette tape to it,what a waste.
As I played with the TRS-80 machines at our local shopping centre a lot I also played with one of these at our Dick Smith store. It was in town though so did not get to go there as much as the Tandy store.
I so wanted one of these for quite a long time, as I saw it as more achievable savings goal, than trying to get a TRS-80.
I ended up with a 2nd hand TI-99/4 (the person was buying a TI-99/4a), with my Dad chucking in half the money though.
Great video you can tell this system means a lot to you :)
I was going to ask you last week if you were to give the SYS80 some HD love, and here it is.
Also my first.