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***                          Ultima IV Gold                          ***
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***              Cracked and trained by MagerValp/M&M                ***
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Ultima IV Gold is a crack of Ultima IV done from pristine images of the
original game. The game uses trivial copy protection (an error track),
so the effort has gone into improving the game experience instead. The
original comes on four disk sides, and uses a loader that's even slower
than the normal kernal file loader. This version comes with a fastloader
and fits on two 1541 disk sides, and there's no need to flip the disk
while playing. The game also supports larger drives, such as 1571, 1581
and CMD FD/HD. To finish it all off, there's a healthy selection of
trainers and a save game editor for those that like that kind of thing.


Features
--------

  * IFFL fastloader - the game can be file copied
  * No disk swapping when playing (but 1541 users have to flip once
    after the title screen)
  * Saving in dungeons (when in 3D view)
  * If you move outside the border of a towne, castle, or keep, the game
    asks if you want to exit to Britannia.
  * Music is not interrupted when walking around in Britannia
  * Support for most IEC drives
  * SuperCPU fixed
  * Joystick control
  * Extensive trainer, including unlimited magic, food, torches, and
    keys, avoiding combat, and teleportation
  * ...I've probably forgotten something


Known problems
--------------

There is one bug that I just didn't have the time to fix:

  * The IFFL scanner sometimes hangs when flipping disks in VICE (tested
    with 1.20). To avoid this, use the 1571 or 1581 version instead.


Supported Hardware
------------------

  * C64 or C128 (in C64 mode)
  * PAL and NTSC machines
  * SuperCPU (the game doesn't run too fast anymore, and is slightly
    more responsive)
  * The following drives:
    o 1541 (and compatible clones like Oceanic 118N and Excelerator+)
    o 1570
    o 1571 (both single and double sided mode)
    o 1581
    o CMD FD
    o CMD HD
  * DTV/DTV2 (conflicting reports: fails for one user, works for another)


Installation
------------

Ultima IV Gold comes in two versions, one for 1541 (and compatible)
drives where you have to flip the disk after loading, and one for
larger drives where all files fit on a single disk side or in a single
partition. For the 1541 version, there are two D64 images that you
can transfer using your favourite D64 utility. For the other drives
you can choose from a D71 image, a D81 image, or a ZIP archive. The
files inside can be copied to any supported drive (excluding 1541,
since they won't fit). You can unzip the archive using Errol Smith's
excellent Unzip64 and Unzip128:

  http://www.ros.com.au/~errol/unzip64v2.html


Starting the Game
-----------------

Load and run "ULTIMA IV" ("ULTIMA IV 1541" on side A for the 1541
version). After the intro and the trainer screen, the game should
detect your hardware and what drive you're using and proceed to scan
the game files. After that the game loads like the original (only
faster). 1541 users will be requested to flip to side B after
journeying onward or initiating a new game.


Trainers
--------

  * Unlimited Magic

    All spells are available, and you don't need reagents or MP to
    cast them.

  * Unlimited Food

    Did *anyone* think that limited food made the game more
    interesting?

  * Unlimited Torches

    Saves having to buy torches.

  * Unlimited Keys

    Open all locked doors.

  * Avoid Combat

    Tired of bridge trolls and random encounters? Have the game ask
    you every time.

  * Control Balloon

    After missing that one square in Serpent's Spine for the 10th time
    you'll love this.

  * Ingame Keys

    Enables a few hotkeys in the game:

      (T) - Teleport: teleports you to a location. Press another key
      to select what kind of place you want to go to:

	(T)owne		Press 1-8 to select which towne
	(D)ungeon	Press 1-8 to select which dungeon
	(S)hrine	Press 1-8 to select which shrine
	(L)ocation	Press 1-4 for castles or 5-8 for villages
	(C)oordinate	Enter a lat/long coordinate with A-P

      (B) - Create Transport: if you try to (B)oard a transport on an
      empty tile, the game will ask you if you want a (H)orse, a
      (S)hip, or a (B)alloon. Create ships next to a water tile, or
      you won't be able to go anywhere!


The Save Game Editor
--------------------

The save game editor lets you edit your party status. You can use it
to boost your character stats, add or remove party members, change
their classes, edit the inventory, and so on. You can also use it to
back up your save game to another drive.


Credits (in no particular order)
--------------------------------

Images of untouched original disks were provided by Christian Link.

The scan of the cloth map comes from Xe Dragon's High-Res Ultima Map
Project, http://www.dengler.net/xedragon/hrump/

The drive code was inspired by the works of Lasse rni, Marko Mkel,
and K.M/TABOO.

The drive detection code was borrowed from Dreamload by Doc Bacardi and
Ninja of the Dreams.

The intro music was composed by NE7/3AD.

The game files are compressed with Exomizer by Magnus Lind.

Krill/Plush spent countless hours helping me test and fix the loader.

Fungus/N0S/ONS helped me find a couple of nasty drive bugs, and
optimized the 1571 code.

Jason Compton, David Murray, Robin Harbron, Vanessa Dannenberg, Disc
Master I, and Enthusi tested and reported bugs.

A bunch of friendly souls let me test the loader on their setups at
St Lars.

The rest was done by me, MagerValp.

