Re: Altered C64 Kernals: what is the best way to test them?

> Depends. But I'd probably drop RS first. IIRC they weren't that useful 
> and good communication software used their own anyway? Anybody correct 
> me if I am wrong on that.
>

I have never used the RS232 routines, but I still load some tapes 
(streamed from 1541u2 but it still needs the kernal tape routines). I 
imagine that is similar to 99% of c64 users, so if you can keep tape 
routines then it's better.

If you can't keep the tape routines then of course it's something that 
people would have to live with if they wanted the extra functionality. 
An intelligent rom switch that can allow using a larger rom would be 
nice as well. i.e. enable another bank if a specific set of rom accesses 
occurs that is deemed so unlikely that it could never be a false 
positive as then you only need enough space in the rom to trigger that. 
Bonus marks if you're replacing existing functionality and you can 
detect the rom accesses in the original code as being the trigger.

The ms pacman arcade game uses a similar method to overlay it's code 
onto the original pacman code. It started as an unlicensed upgrade kit 
and shipping with pacman code in rom would have allowed them to be sued, 
it became semi-official when it was licensed by midway in the US and the 
technique was kept (to prevent people just burning ms pacman roms and 
putting them on a pacman board without paying for the upgrade).


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