[net.micro.cbm] Novaload

goodenough@vogon.DEC (Jeff Goodenough, IPG Reading DEC-UK) (02/28/86)

Bubba Pearson asks about Novaload.  It is a turbo tape loader widely used
in the UK, maybe also in the US, by games suppliers.  Commodore themselves,
US Gold, and Jeff Minter (don't know if he sells in the US) are among users
of the system.  It appears to be supplied under licence, as a unique number
(the licence number?) is displayed on the Novaload announcement screen.

It is highly sophisticated, and provides the following facilities during
loading:

	- a static bitmapped title screen (game supplier's design)
	- countdown display of blocks remaining to load
	- music (supplier's composition)
	- a horizontally scrolling line of text, which seems to repeat
	  after 256 characters, where the supplier can advertise other
	  products, etc.

And it's fast.

Jeff.