I finally got the serial link option working on Xtreme Racing for the first time in the 19 years I've had the game! It seems to work only on the Version 1 of the game (no Data Disk install with 4-player adapter support etc). This limits me to 4-player joystick/gamepad play but 2 players on each machine is probably the best way to do multiplayer. The 060 can handle 1x1 pixel mode in full screen with all the effects and the 030 at 1x1 pixels with a slightly smaller screen and limited dust effects.

I really thought this mode was too buggy to get working but it is possible. Baud rate should be set to 19200. The only other thing to note is that when you do the whole 'Master' & 'Slave' handshaking, the link is successful if it returns to the Link-Up menu after attempting to connect, i.e. there is no 'link successful' message! You then start the game as normal and select the number of players you want to be playing on that particular machine. Player 1 controls default to the keyboard when the game is first installed so you have to change the controller setup first! I guess to avoid conflicts the number of computer controlled cars for a 4 player human controlled game should be 4 so that the total is 8. It is common for the link to be broken between games but if you get past the '3,2,1 Go' animation then you can normally finish the race with no issues.

A great game just got a whole let better for me This and Blitz Bomber 8-player link up are the best party games on the Amiga bar none. I'm also partial to 2-player Knights of the Sky (WW1 flight sim) and of course Alien Breed 3D despite the blockiness.

Edit: Obviously Knight of the Sky should read Knights of the Sky in the poll.

Last edited by BigD on 16-Sep-2016 at 12:21 PM.

_________________
"Art challenges technology. Technology inspires the art."
John Lasseter, Co-Founder of Pixar Animation Studios

@BigD

Well done!


I never playes via serial link, but my old dream is to try Populous 2 on two Amiga computers (and defeat my brother!).

Last edited by pavlor on 16-Sep-2016 at 03:58 PM.

@pavlor

Great fun (linked Populous2), even if it meant my Amiga was hijacked for days on end by friends playing it.

As for the poll question, Lotus2 was great with 4 players.
Other fun linked games that spring to mind are Napalm and Earth2140.

@fishy_fis

Quote:

Other fun linked games that spring to mind are Napalm and Earth2140.

I should have included Napalm in the poll! I love that game and used to play my sister!

_________________
"Art challenges technology. Technology inspires the art."
John Lasseter, Co-Founder of Pixar Animation Studios

@BigD

Not a typical brother vs. sister type game. :)

I used to try to play Skid marks against my sister, but she always struggled with left and right on the joystick rotating the car left and right. For no reasonable reason this used to frustrate the heck out of me and I'd grumble at her. :)
With hindsight I feel bad about it.... was a bit of a bully towards my sister when it came to video games.

@fishy_fis

Yeah, the whole remote control control scheme was confusing for some people at first

Here is a good resource for 2-player serial game info:

Amiga.org - Games that can be played with two linked amigas?

_________________
"Art challenges technology. Technology inspires the art."
John Lasseter, Co-Founder of Pixar Animation Studios

@Thread

I just set up my serial null modem setup after a house move and thought I'd try the Xtreme Data Disk tracks with the original version of the game. Sadly the tracks don't work and although they are recognised in the menu it doesn't load when you select them and reverts to the main menu

Why is the Data Disk version so buggy with the null modem connection? Why was it never patched?

I'm now presented with the option of playing the extra tracks with 4-players on one machine with 4-player joystick adapter or 4-players; 2 on each machine null modem link with the original tracks only (4 player adapter not supported)! Not ideal and 8-player is a distant dream

_________________
"Art challenges technology. Technology inspires the art."
John Lasseter, Co-Founder of Pixar Animation Studios