Amiga SWOS

Everyone knows that the Amiga incarnation of SWOS is by far the best version of the great game, and so this page is here as a tribute to it's greatness, and also also to help any Amiga owners out there squeeze another five years out of this god-like creation.

Here you will find information on how to update your copies of Amiga SWOS, and also loads of stuff explaining just why it was, and still is the best football game around.

10 Reasons why PC SWOS is crap compared to Amiga SWOS

1.) PC SWOS is either ridiculously fast (Windows) or annoyingly slow (DOS). Amiga SWOS is absolutely spot on.
2.) Partly due to the above problem, player stats are not accurately demonstrated on PC SWOS - on Amiga SWOS, you can easily tell a players strengths and weaknesses after playing with them for a few games.
3.) The graphics on the Amiga are better. The resolution on the PC is too low - the players look big and blocky, and the colours don't look right.
4.) Jonathan Pearce.
5.) There is something strangely compelling and mesmeric about the crowd constantly chanting "More goals!!!, More goals!!!"
6.) Differences between different classes of teams is much more obvious in Amiga SWOS.
7.) The sound was much more atmospheric and in stereo on the Amiga.
8.) The filght of the ball was much smoother, and more believable on the Amiga version.
9.) Neat, complicated, and stylish passing moves were easier to pull off, and looked much nicer on the Amiga.
10) It was just, simply, much more playable on the Amiga.

Updating your copies of Amiga SWOS

It really is very simple, especially now the "Amiga SWOS Network" is up and running. Simply go to the following site and you will find all you ever needed to keep your copy of Amiga SWOS up to date!

http://www.amigart.com/swos

Transferring PC- Files to your Amiga, and vice-versa!

Believe it or not, it is possible to transfer files from PC SWOS, to Amiga SWOS, including career files and team files. So, if you had started a stunning career on your Amiga, which is now gathering dust, and you wish to transfer the file to your PC (and vice vesa), or if you want to update your copies of Amiga SWOS but don't have the facilities on your Amiga to download updates, then read on, and all will be revealed!

(This may be a bit "techy" - I took it from a user manual for an Amiga Emulater - if anyone can offer me more simplistic instructions, don't hesitate to contact me!)

Using a null-modem cable, you can do a Zmodem transfer between an Amiga and a PC. Simply plug the cable into a serial port on each machine, load up a terminal package such as Terminus, NComm or Term on the Amiga, or Terminate, Telemate, Telix (or HyperTerminal for Windows 95 if you insist) on the PC, and initiate a Zmodem upload on the Amiga. If you have it configured correctly (automatic ZModem download at the recieving end should be enabled), the PC will automatically accept this upload, and will download the software onto your PC's hard disk.

For best results, obtain a copy of BaudBandit serial.device replacement for the Amiga, and set both ends to 57,600 Baud. BaudBandit should allow transfers of up to 5500cps to/from a 68000-based Amiga - it is available from AmiNET.

If you're one of those people with an AmigaOS 1.2/1.3 A500, with only one floppy drive, you could be in trouble.  Unless you have a Terminal package on a floppy disk which you can boot or use in a second drive, there's no way you can use a null-modem cable to talk to the PC (which is essential to actually get software like transdisk or transrom onto Amiga floppy). Your best bet would be to approach an Amiga user group, who may be able to supply you with such a disk, or if you're lucky, an Amiga shareware house/distributor in your area.

Note: Some Amigas permit you to lock the serial port at 115,200 baud. This largely depends on the machine, it's motherboard revision, and it's processor.  By locking the serial port at 115,200 baud on both the Amiga and the PC, you can effectively transfer files over a null-modem cable at over 10,100cps. 

If you don't have a null-modem cable, or don't particularly want to buy one, you can transfer the Amiga software over the PC using a 720k PC floppy disk. Workbench 2.1+ come bundled with CrossDOS, which is software which allows you to read PC 720k disks in your Amiga's floppy drive.  If you don't have CrossDOS (i.e., you don't have access to Workbench 2.1 or higher), you can also use MessyDOS which is located at on Aminet. Here's a step by step guide on how to transfer software by floppy:

i) Obtain a 720k PC diskette. Format it either on your PC, or on the Amiga using CrossDOS.

ii) Create either an .ADF file or Kickstart ROM image using the method described above.

iii) Archive this file using either LhA or Zip (Make sure you have these on the PC, so you can unarchive them when you take the  disk over).

iv) Copy the archive to the 720k diskette, using CrossDOS or MessyDOS.

v) Take the diskette over to the PC, copy the archive to the hard-disk, and unarchive it.  Copy the Kickstart ROM image or .ADF   file to the Fellow directory and you're ready to go!