The Epyx Fast Load is a floppy diskfast loadercartridge made by American software company Epyx in 1984 for the Commodore 64home computer. It was programmed by Epyx employee Scott Nelson, who was originally a programmer for Starpath[1] and later designed the Epyx Vorpal fastloading system for the company's games.
The Epyx Fast Load cartridge was a bestseller for the C64.
Epyx Fast Load allows programs to load from the Commodore 1541 disk drive at 2,500 bytes per second, approximately five times faster than the normal speed.[2] Since it is stored on a cartridge, and thus provides instant access without requiring any hardware modification of the C64 or the disk drive, the Fast Load quickly became a very popular peripheral among C64 users.
In addition to disk acceleration, the cartridge also provides a built-in version of the Commodore DOS Wedge. This dramatically reduces the number of keystrokes needed to load or save files or perform disk operations, and makes the cartridge even more convenient.
Epyx Fast Load incorporates a machine language monitor. Although it does not include an assembler, as most "standard" C64 ML monitors do, it includes a wide array of powerful debugging tools. These include disassembly, single-stepping, and an automatic machine code relocator.
A crude disk editor is also included with the cartridge, which displays raw data from floppy disks in classical hex+ASCIIsplit screen mode. Among other things, the disk editor can be used to enter cheat codes and do the home computer equivalent of ROM hacking.
In the unusual case of software that doesn't work with the Fast Load, the cartridge can be disabled via a menu command, thus avoiding the need to physically remove and reinsert it.
While the original 1984 version of the Fast Load will not work with the SD2IEC floppy drive emulation system,[3] newer variants of the cartridge do support it.
Receptionedit
In a review of three Commodore 64 fast loaders, Ahoy! wrote that Fast Load "is surprisingly transparent to all the forms of commercial copy protection we have looked at ... In terms of greatest convenience and speed, we place our bets on" it.[4] A review of five fast loaders in Commodore Microcomputers found that "Fast Load performed well during testing" and approved of its ease of use and documentation. However, the table included in the article showed that the cartridge only significantly sped up loading times for four of nine applications and games, not benefiting the others.[5]
Referencesedit
^The Dot Eaters - Epyx | The Dot Eaters, Scott Nelson, one of the former Starpath programmers, had created a decathlon game for the Supercharger called Sweat!, but when the company merges with Epyx the project is shelved.
^Perry, Tekla S.; Wallich, Paul (March 1985). "Design case history: the Commodore 64" (PDF). IEEE Spectrum. 22 (3): 48–58. doi:10.1109/MSPEC.1985.6370590. ISSN 0018-9235. S2CID 11900865. Retrieved 2011-11-12.
^Murray, Mike (26 July 2017). "SD2IEC Manual (How to use the SD2IEC on the C64)". The Geek Pub. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
^Kevelson, Morton (May 1985). "Disk Spinners, Part II". Ahoy!. pp. 33–38. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
^Benford, Tom (September–October 1985). "The Fast-Loader Grand Prix". Commodore Microcomputers. pp. 26–28.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epyx Fast Load Cartridge.
Epyx Fast Load instruction manual from Project64
RUN MagazinIssue 56
Exploring Epyx Fast Load for the Commodore 64
December 15, 2023
epyx, fast, load, floppy, disk, fast, loader, cartridge, made, american, software, company, epyx, 1984, commodore, home, computer, programmed, epyx, employee, scott, nelson, originally, programmer, starpath, later, designed, epyx, vorpal, fastloading, system, . The Epyx Fast Load is a floppy disk fast loader cartridge made by American software company Epyx in 1984 for the Commodore 64 home computer It was programmed by Epyx employee Scott Nelson who was originally a programmer for Starpath 1 and later designed the Epyx Vorpal fastloading system for the company s games Contents 1 Description 2 Reception 3 References 4 External linksDescription edit nbsp The Epyx Fast Load cartridge was a bestseller for the C64 Epyx Fast Load allows programs to load from the Commodore 1541 disk drive at 2 500 bytes per second approximately five times faster than the normal speed 2 Since it is stored on a cartridge and thus provides instant access without requiring any hardware modification of the C64 or the disk drive the Fast Load quickly became a very popular peripheral among C64 users In addition to disk acceleration the cartridge also provides a built in version of the Commodore DOS Wedge This dramatically reduces the number of keystrokes needed to load or save files or perform disk operations and makes the cartridge even more convenient Epyx Fast Load incorporates a machine language monitor Although it does not include an assembler as most standard C64 ML monitors do it includes a wide array of powerful debugging tools These include disassembly single stepping and an automatic machine code relocator A crude disk editor is also included with the cartridge which displays raw data from floppy disks in classical hex ASCII split screen mode Among other things the disk editor can be used to enter cheat codes and do the home computer equivalent of ROM hacking In the unusual case of software that doesn t work with the Fast Load the cartridge can be disabled via a menu command thus avoiding the need to physically remove and reinsert it While the original 1984 version of the Fast Load will not work with the SD2IEC floppy drive emulation system 3 newer variants of the cartridge do support it Reception editIn a review of three Commodore 64 fast loaders Ahoy wrote that Fast Load is surprisingly transparent to all the forms of commercial copy protection we have looked at In terms of greatest convenience and speed we place our bets on it 4 A review of five fast loaders in Commodore Microcomputers found that Fast Load performed well during testing and approved of its ease of use and documentation However the table included in the article showed that the cartridge only significantly sped up loading times for four of nine applications and games not benefiting the others 5 References edit The Dot Eaters Epyx The Dot Eaters Scott Nelson one of the former Starpath programmers had created a decathlon game for the Supercharger called Sweat but when the company merges with Epyx the project is shelved Perry Tekla S Wallich Paul March 1985 Design case history the Commodore 64 PDF IEEE Spectrum 22 3 48 58 doi 10 1109 MSPEC 1985 6370590 ISSN 0018 9235 S2CID 11900865 Retrieved 2011 11 12 Murray Mike 26 July 2017 SD2IEC Manual How to use the SD2IEC on the C64 The Geek Pub Retrieved 16 August 2018 Kevelson Morton May 1985 Disk Spinners Part II Ahoy pp 33 38 Retrieved 16 October 2013 Benford Tom September October 1985 The Fast Loader Grand Prix Commodore Microcomputers pp 26 28 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Epyx Fast Load Cartridge Epyx Fast Load instruction manual from Project64 RUN MagazinIssue 56 Exploring Epyx Fast Load for the Commodore 64 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Epyx Fast Load amp oldid 1166589350, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
