Hacks and Upgrades

Hacks, Upgrades and Trainers

On release, Chuckie Egg quickly became a software chart success. It didn't take long for small software companies and hackers to realise there was a new market for Chuckie Egg variants that offered new features and alternatives to the original eight levels which could become repetitive for the experienced Chuckie Egg Professional. Documented below are the Chuckie Egg upgrades and hacks which have been traced and are currently supplied with The Chuckie Egg Professional's Resource Kit.
If you know of any other disks or tapes containing alternative hacks or upgrades, get in touch.

Designing your own custom level layouts

It is possible to design your own custom BBC 32K, DRAGON, SPECTRUM 48K and ELECTRON level layouts, using some of the hacks described below. For the BBC 32K or ELECTRON releases, you can use the Chuckie Egg 2009 level editor package for the Electron. The level data is interchangable between these releases, so the end result can be adapted fairly easily for use with the BBC 32K. Finally, DRAGON and SPECTRUM 48K users are also supplied with complete level designers courtesy of Paul Burgin and P&M Software, respectively.

BBC 32K

Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft (Nick E. "Nik" Johnson & Martyn S. "Marts" Lovell)
Distributed with the kind permission of Martyn Lovell. All rights reserved. © 1984 Crystalsoft
Disk image: Chuckie Egg - Egg, The Upgrade (19xx)(A&F-Crystalsoft)[t +2][UPGRADE start].ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: CHAIN "UPGRADE"
Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 1 Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 2 Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 3
Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 4 Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 5 Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 6
Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 7 Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 8 Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 9
Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 10 Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 11 Egg - The Upgrade from Crystalsoft Screenshot 12
This offering from Nick and Martyn at Crystalsoft adds the most obvious omission to Chuckie Egg - joystick support. It also supplies the usual upgrade settings to specify the starting level and number of lives, and provides eight alternative levels.
Before release, Crystalsoft called Bit Twiddlers who had already produced a similar extension package for a different game to ask them if they'd had any legal issues. Bit Twiddlers said they hadn't and even went on to release their own upgrade for Chuckie Egg, detailed below. Crystalsoft fortunately had no legal issues either and Egg - The Upgrade went on to sell somewhere between fifty and a hundred copies, which was a decent amount of money for the pair at the time. Full-game follow ups were planned and both a platform game and a text adventure were partially implemented but neither were complete enough to sell given the pressure of exams and other school commitments; eventually, in the late 80s, Martyn bought out Nick's half of Crystalsoft.
 
CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS (S.D.Ellington)
Disk image: Chuckie Egg - Chukee (19xx)(A&F)[h TSTH - Bit Twiddlers][t +4 Bit Twiddlers][bootfile].ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: CHAIN "CHKE"
CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS Screenshot 1 CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS Screenshot 2 CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS Screenshot 3
CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS Screenshot 4 CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS Screenshot 5 CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS Screenshot 6
CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS Screenshot 7 CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS Screenshot 8 CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS Screenshot 9
One of the most well-remembered hacks, this BIT TWIDDLERS release developed by S.D.Ellington adds the option from the COMMODORE 64 release to choose from three game speeds. It also provides the obligatory upgrade setting to change the starting level, along with the option to play either the original eight levels or eight new CHUKEE alternatives. The new levels are supplied as documented DATA statements in a BASIC loader program - listed below - which can be modified, acting as a crude levelset compiler. The ELECTRON release of Chuckie Egg stores its levels in the exact same format as the BBC 32K version, so this upgrade has been designed to support the compiling of levels into either the ELECTRON or BBC 32K releases. The final, unique feature included is a Variable Extended Jump which can be used after level 9 by pressing up and jump simultaneously. This is further extended from level 17, by pressing down, up and jump together at the same time. This Variable Extended Jump feature was popular enough to be included as an option in Mike Elson's DirectX Chuckie Egg retro remake.
860REM The screen data structure consists of:-
870REM A header of 5 bytes defining the number of walls, number of ladders,
880REM a conveyor present flag, number of seeds and initial number of geese.
890REM The wall coordinates of 3 bytes each (Y,Xstart,Xend).
900REM The ladder coordinates of 3 bytes each (X,Ystart,Yend).
910REM The elevator X coordinate of 1 byte if header flag is set.
920REM The 12 egg coordinates of 2 bytes each (X,Y).
930REM The seed coordinates of 2 bytes each (X,Y).
940REM The 5 geese coordinates, 2 bytes each (X,Y) and 1 byte &FF end of scene
950 
960REM Scene 1
970DATA 16,9,0,9,2
980REM Walls
990DATA 1,0,18, 6,1,2, 6,9,10, 10,2,9 11,2,9, 16,3,4, 16,7,8, 20,4,7, 21,4,7, 16,10,12,
17,11,11, 15,11,11, 11,14,16, 10,14,16, 20,14,18, 21,14,18
1000REM Ladders
1010DATA 1,1,7, 10,1,7, 14,1,21, 2,5,12,9,5,12 3,9,17, 8,9,17, 4,16,21, 7,16,21
1020REM No elevator
1030REM Eggs
1040DATA 2,2, 9,2, 4,13, 7,13, 6,22, 15,12, 17,10, 5,22, 17,22, 19,1, 10,17, 12,17
1050REM Seeds
1060DATA 1,8, 10,8, 16,12, 2,13, 9,13,  11,18, 3,18, 8,18, 18,22
1070REM Ostriches
1080DATA 2,2, 18,2 6,12, 6,22, 16,22,&FF
1090:
 
CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE by The Caretaker
Disk image: Chuckie Egg 2 (1983)(A&F)[h TSTH][t +2][bootfile].ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: CHAIN "LOADER"
CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 1 CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 2 CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 3
CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 4 CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 5 CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 6
CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 7 CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 8 CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 9
CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 10 CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 11 CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE Screenshot 12
This upgrade was put together by "The Caretaker", who is consequently somewhat shrouded in mystery. It probably never received a commercial release but, along with the obligatory upgrade settings to change the starting level and number of lives, it does provide another interesting set of eight alternative levels - although, unlike the commercial hacks, there's no option to play the original level layouts.
 
CHUCK-3
Disk image: Chuckie Egg (19xx)(A&F)[h Caretaker][CHUCK-3 start].ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: CHAIN "CHUCKIE"
This is a straight-forward, anonymous modification of the original BBC 32K Chuckie Egg release, with the original eight levels being replaced by copies of the alternate screens supplied with the CHUCKIE EGG 2 UPGRADE by The Caretaker, detailed above with all eight CHUCKIE EGG 2 level layouts.
 
CH-EGG4
Disk image: Chuckie Egg (19xx)(A&F)[h][CH-EGG4 start].ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: CHAIN "CH_EGG4"
CH-EGG4 Screenshot 1 CH-EGG4 Screenshot 2 CH-EGG4 Screenshot 3
CH-EGG4 Screenshot 4 CH-EGG4 Screenshot 5 CH-EGG4 Screenshot 6
CH-EGG4 Screenshot 7 CH-EGG4 Screenshot 8
This is a straight-forward, anonymous modification of the original BBC 32K Chuckie Egg release with some modified levels based originally on the eight levels supplied with CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS, detailed above.
 
CHT_ChuckieEgg-Invulnerability.zip from the Stairway to Hell
Disk image: Chuckie Egg (1983)(A&F)[h TSTH][t][bootfile-invulnerability].ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: *EXEC !BOOT
This is a simple modification of the original BBC 32K Chuckie Egg release, with the infinite lives & invulnerability to hens poke built-in.
 
Extra Colours Loader by Rich Talbot-Watkins
Disk image: Chuckie Egg (1983)(A&F)[h TCEPRK][a][bootfile-extracoloursloader].ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: *EXEC !BOOT
Spectrum Colours Loader Screenshot 1 Spectrum Colours Loader Screenshot 2
This is a great modification of the original BBC 32K Chuckie Egg release, which takes full advantage of the BBC Micro's MODE 2 palette by increasing the number of colours on-screen, mimicking the more colourful SPECTRUM 48K and AMSTRAD releases. Rich detailed the inner workings of his loader patch on The BBC Micro Mailing List in May 2005 and in a thread on the Stairway To Hell forums. This disc image was made up for inclusion with The Chuckie Egg Professional's Resource Kit in May 2005 and includes all the usual pokes including invincibility, infinite lives and set start level etc.
 
Chuckie Egg XT by Rich Talbot-Watkins, Pitfall Jones and Samwise
Disk image: ChuckieEggXT.ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: *EXEC !BOOT
Chuckie Egg XT Title Screenshot Chuckie Egg XT In-game Screenshot
This is an eXTended edition of Chuckie Egg based on patches from Rich Talbot-Watkins and Pitfall Jones which builds in the best modern features directly into the original bug-fixed BBC 32K Chuckie Egg release executable. Specifically, this version defaults the keys to the more typical BBC Micro keys z, x, :, / and RETURN. It also includes Rich's extra colours modification, mimicking the more colourful SPECTRUM 48K and AMSTRAD releases, and PJ's joystick support. This is probably the purest way to explore the original BBC 32K Chuckie Egg - every CE Pro should have it.
 

ELECTRON

 
CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS
Disk image: MISSING!
CHUKEE from BIT TWIDDLERS ELECTRON Packaging
One of the most well-remembered hacks, this BIT TWIDDLERS release adds the option from the COMMODORE 64 release to choose from three game speeds. It also provides the obligatory upgrade setting to change the starting level, along with the option to play either the original eight levels or eight new CHUKEE alternatives. The new levels are supplied as documented DATA statements in a BASIC loader program which, if the user hits Escape to interrupt it whilst it's running, can be modified - acting as a crude levelset compiler. The ELECTRON release of Chuckie Egg stores it's levels in the exact same format as the BBC 32K version, so these DATA statements can be interchanged with the BIT TWIDDLERS BBC 32K CHUKEE hack which is essentially based off this same program, takes level DATA in the same form and similarly compiles levels and patches the BBC 32K version of Chuckie Egg. The final, unique feature included is a Variable Extended Jump which can be used after level 9 by pressing up and jump simultaneously. This is further extended from level 17, by pressing down, up and jump together at the same time. This Variable Extended Jump feature was popular enough to be included as an option in Mike Elson's DirectX Chuckie Egg retro remake.
 
CHUCK-2
Disk image: Chuckie Egg (19xx)(A&F)[h2][CHUCK-2 start].ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: CHAIN "CHUCK_2"
CHUCK-2 Screenshot 1
This is a straight-forward, anonymous modification of the original ELECTRON Chuckie Egg release, with the original eight levels being replaced by copies of the alternate screens supplied with the CHUKEE upgrade from BIT TWIDDLERS, detailed above with all eight CHUKEE level layouts. It is likely this is a hack which was made from the ELECTRON release of CHUKEE described above, but with all the menus and extra upgrade options removed. The alternative level designs are stored in the CHUCK_2 BASIC program, in the same format and with the same explanatory comments as those found in the BBC 32K and ELECTRON CHUKEE upgrades, allowing the user to re-design the level layouts and swap them between the BBC 32K and ELECTRON releases.
 
Chuckie Egg Cheat, Electron tape (10 Computer Hits vol 1) version, from M. Ford for Electron User Group EUG #21, July 1995
Disk image: Chuckie Egg - Electron Version (1984)(A&F)[h EUG21][t +4 M. Ford][bootfile].ssd
Command to load from BASIC prompt: *EXEC !BOOT
This is a simple loader for the original ELECTRON Chuckie Egg release, offering basic pokes for infinite lives, invinciblity to hens and the option to set the initial level and number of lives.
 
Chuckie Egg 2009 by Dave E, The Organ Grinder's Monkey
URL: Chuckie Egg 2009 at Acorn Electron World
Disk image: D-CNEW.ssd (available on the Acorn Electron World DVD)
Command to load from BASIC prompt: *EXEC !BOOT
Chuckie Egg 2009 Screenshot 1 Chuckie Egg 2009 Screenshot 2 Chuckie Egg 2009 Screenshot 3 Chuckie Egg 2009 Screenshot 4
This release was announced on the Stairway To Hell forums in time for a premiere at the Acorn World show, 12 - 13 September 2009. This filled the gaping hole in the ELECTRON release's arsenal - the long-craved level editor! Supplied here is a BASIC editor which generates DATA statements into the format required by the CHUKEE upgrade from BIT TWIDDLERS. The package allows you to work on a set of levels, testing them with the ELECTRON engine as you go and then, when your levels are complete and meet the game's memory requirements, allows you to generate a custom-patched version of the main ELECTRON CH_EGG binary, which can be *RUN as usual. If that wasn't enough, the level editor is also supplied with a brand new set of eight levels you can edit, or play with the custom-patched version of ELECTRON Chuckie Egg. It is designed around the ELECTRON, and intended to be run on an Electron with a DFS that sets PAGE to &E00. The resultant levels can be adapted for use with the BBC 32K release though, and the package will run without modification on a BBC Master 128K that also sets PAGE to &E00.
 

DRAGON

Chuckie Egg+ by Paul Burgin
Cassette image: Chuckie Egg Plus (1983)(Paul Burgin).cas
CH-EGG+ by Paul Burgin Screenshot 1 CH-EGG+ by Paul Burgin Screenshot 2
To use this cassette image with MESS, you will need to remove the ddos10.rom file from the dragon32.zip bios file. When run MESS will display a warning regarding the missing file, but will then run as Dragon 32 without a disk interface - required to allow this image to load correctly.
"Chuckie Egg+" by A&F Software and Paul Burgin
==============================================
Extra menu keys:
  L             Load set of screens
  T             Toggle title screen tune enable/disable
  E             Edit screens (unless locked)

Keys For Screen Editor
======================
Base element keys:
  E             Egg
  S             Seed
  W             Wall
  L             Half ladder
  I             Half wall/ladder intersection
  F             Lift shaft
  Space         Erase

Chicken keys:  
  1 to 5        Move chicken 1 to 5
  @             Draw man and initial chickens
  ,             Fewer initial chickens
  .             More initial chickens
  D             Draw man and all chickens

Control keys:
  Cursor keys   Move cursor
  C             Erase screen layout (not chickens)
  R             Restore screen layout (not chickens)
  T             Autotrail on/off
  /             Repeat last key
  Break (Esc)   Goto next screen
  Clear (Home)  Exit screen editor
  Enter (Ret)   Cassette menu

Cassette menu:
  L             Load single or set of screens
  S             Save set of screens (unlocked)
  K             Save set of screens (locked)
  1             Save single screen

Errors:
  LADDERS       There are no ladders
                  or  Ladder halves are not arranged into pairs
                  or  Not all intersections have two rows above them
  EGGS          Number of eggs is not exactly 12
  SEEDS         Number of seeds is not between 1 and 19
  CHICKENS      One or more chickens are not aligned with a wall or a ladder
      
 

SPECTRUM 48K

None of the Spectrum level editors to date allow you to change the number of eggs from a dozen or move the lifts around. An anonymous member of the World of Spectrum forums has provided a code snippet after experimentation with Dan Smith's editor to allow these functions. So far these have not been integrated into either of the editors, but contact us if you can provided an extended version.
Chuckie Designer from Mark Whatling and Peter Webb, P&M Software
Memory snapshot: Chuckie Egg - Designer (1984)(P&M Software).z80
CHUCKIE DESIGNER from P&M Software Screenshot 1 CHUCKIE DESIGNER from P&M Software Screenshot 2 CHUCKIE DESIGNER from P&M Software Screenshot 3
 
CHUCKIE EGG EDITOR from Daniel Smith, Mercury Software
Cassette image: ChuckieEggEditorv2.zip
CHUCKIE EGG EDITOR from Daniel Smith, Mercury Software Screenshot 1 CHUCKIE EGG EDITOR from Daniel Smith, Mercury Software Screenshot 2 CHUCKIE EGG EDITOR from Daniel Smith, Mercury Software Screenshot 3
Dan Smith wrote this Chuckie Egg Editor in 1985, but apart from copying it for a few friends at school it was never released until he submitted it to the World of Spectrum archive in December 2004. Note that MESS does not currently support cassette images, so this editor will require a more complete ZX Spectrum emulator.
 
Chuckie Egg Editor Pack based on Chuckie Designer from P&M Software, modified and extended by Mulder
Cassette images: CHUCED1.TAP, CHUCED2.TAP, CHUCED3.TAP and CHUCGRAP.TAP.
Chuckie Egg Editor Pack from Mulder Screenshot 1 Chuckie Egg Editor Pack from Mulder Screenshot 2 Chuckie Egg Editor Pack from Mulder Screenshot 3
Chuckie Designer from P&M Software has had a couple of features added to it by Mulder, so that you don't have to get and put the objects anymore, but can simply place them using the number keys 1 - 6. You can no longer play the game from this modified editor but you can using his Editor 2, written in Spectrum BASIC. It allows you to edit the text on the front screen so that you can rename your version of Chuckie Egg and give yourself credit for graphics and level design. You can also merge in your levels and play them from within the editor, or save out the full game. You can also load in level graphics designed in Editor 3, which is a UDG program that has been adapted to only edit / load / save the Chuckie Egg level graphics. Once edited, save them to tape or tap file and merge them with the game code in Editor 2 to enjoy new graphics for the ladders, platforms, eggs and seed. Note that MESS does not currently support cassette images, so these editors will require a more complete ZX Spectrum emulator. Take a look at the supplied README.TXT file for full usage instructions.