PCjs Machines
Home of the original IBM PC emulator for browsers.
Nine Princes in Amber (1985)
On initial startup (or reset) of the machine below, a PCjs machine script will automatically load “Nine Princes in Amber” disks A and B into floppy drives A: and B: and then start the game.
[PCjs Machine "ibm5160-npia"]
Waiting for machine "ibm5160-npia" to load....
Preservation Notes
The A and B diskettes are from my private collection, but shortly after purchasing the game in 1985, I
modified their contents. For starters, I had patched AMB.EXE on disk A to circumvent its copy-protection:
push cx
push ds
xor dx, dx
mov ds, dx
mov ah, 0
pushf ; patched with NOP
call dword ptr ds:4Ch ; patched with NOP, NOP, NOP, NOP
mov ax, 401h
mov cx, 0Ah
pushf ; patched with CLC
call dword ptr ds:4Ch ; patched with NOP, NOP, NOP, NOP
pop ds
pop cx
The copy-protection check was fairly simple: in addition to the usual sectors 1-9 on the first track of disk
A, it expected a sector 10 as well, and to obfuscate the sector request, it used a PUSHF, CALL DWORD PTR DS:[004Ch]
instruction sequence instead of INT 13h. In addition to the patch, it appears I also reformatted the diskettes and
rearranged some of the files, so the original contents of the diskettes, as well as the contents of sector 10, are unknown.
I was able to restore AMB.EXE to its unpatched state, and I’ve included a fake sector 10 on the first track of disk A,
so the copy-protection check runs and passes. However, it’s still possible that the disk contents may not be quite right,
so if you run into problems, try running the game from a hard disk.
Need hints? You’re in luck, because I also saved the notes I made while playing the game back 1985/1986.
Online References
I also scanned all the printed materials that came with the game and uploaded the PDF to the Internet Archive.
Directory of Nine Princes in Amber (Disk A)
Volume in drive A is AMBER-1
Directory of A:\
AMB <DIR> 1-15-23 10:31p
AMBER BAT 24 1-15-23 3:09p
2 file(s) 24 bytes
Directory of A:\AMB
. <DIR> 1-15-23 10:31p
.. <DIR> 1-15-23 10:31p
AMB 2605 9-12-85 4:27p
AMB DIB 708 9-04-85 4:10p
AMB EXE 49528 1-06-87 4:41p
AMB T 921 9-12-85 8:48p
AMB TOK 991 8-14-85 1:58p
AMB V 4501 9-12-85 4:37p
AMBBLEYS IB 133 8-09-85 7:18p
AMBCAR IB 249 8-13-85 11:04a
AMBCLOSE IB 183 8-09-85 7:10p
AMBDEAD1 IB 58 8-09-85 7:18p
AMBDEAD1 JR 87 8-14-85 11:52a
AMBDEAD2 IB 68 8-09-85 7:02p
AMBDEAD2 JR 80 8-14-85 11:53a
AMBDEAD3 IB 67 8-09-85 7:03p
AMBDEAD4 IB 63 8-09-85 7:03p
AMBDEAD4 JR 108 8-14-85 11:55a
AMBDEIRD IB 166 8-09-85 7:06p
AMBDEMO1 IB 95 7-09-85 4:42p
AMBDEMO1 JR 185 7-09-85 4:48p
AMBDEMO2 IB 914 7-12-85 4:54p
AMBDEMO2 JR 1880 7-12-85 5:27p
AMBDEMO3 IB 533 7-09-85 4:42p
AMBDEMO3 JR 1183 7-10-85 10:51a
AMBDEMO4 IB 166 7-10-85 9:53a
AMBDEMO4 JR 166 7-10-85 9:58a
AMBDEMO5 IB 349 7-09-85 4:43p
AMBDEMO5 JR 639 7-09-85 4:54p
AMBERIC IB 439 8-09-85 7:07p
AMBFENCE IB 50 8-13-85 11:06a
AMBFLORA IB 145 8-09-85 7:07p
AMBGLOB 4411 9-15-85 3:56p
AMBHORN IB 43 8-13-85 11:07a
AMBINIT 339 9-13-85 4:40p
AMBJULIA IB 236 8-09-85 7:08p
AMBLLEWE IB 206 8-09-85 7:09p
AMBOPEN 5215 9-18-85 10:43a
AMBPAT1 IB 179 8-13-85 11:08a
AMBPAT2 IB 136 8-13-85 11:08a
AMBPAT3 IB 284 8-13-85 11:09a
AMBPAT4 IB 197 8-13-85 11:09a
AMBPAT5 IB 307 8-20-85 5:59p
AMBPHONE IB 380 8-15-85 11:15a
AMBRANDO IB 277 8-09-85 7:09p
AMBRANDO JR 413 8-14-85 12:09p
AMBRAZZ IB 48 8-13-85 11:11a
AMBRESCU IB 162 8-13-85 11:05a
AMBSTAR IB 90 8-13-85 11:10a
AMBTAROT IB 151 8-13-85 11:05a
AMBWHIST IB 65 9-18-85 6:28p
ARDEN1 2352 9-12-85 5:25p
ARDEN2 6577 9-14-85 11:01p
BCON 3980 9-17-85 1:42a
BED 402 9-04-85 9:35a
BLTRUMP 1232 8-18-85 12:41p
BORDER 668 9-13-85 4:41p
CAR 2792 8-18-85 12:43p
CARDPIX 708 9-06-85 5:32a
CARDS 1922 9-07-85 6:16p
CARRIDE 6834 9-14-85 11:45p
CENTER 1310 9-12-85 5:59p
CLIFF 2527 9-17-85 5:29p
DEFAULTS 3564 9-12-85 5:05p
DETRUMP 867 8-18-85 12:45p
ERICFIGH 4631 9-17-85 4:38p
ERICMEET 4114 9-17-85 3:23p
ERICMERC 5226 9-13-85 7:27p
ERLIB 2499 9-11-85 3:33p
ERMEET 1131 8-18-85 12:47p
ERTRUMP 1002 8-18-85 12:47p
FEET 504 9-11-85 3:33p
FLLIB 2931 9-17-85 5:08p
FLMEET 1278 9-05-85 11:46a
FLORAS 5973 9-17-85 9:02p
FLTRUMP 1143 8-18-85 12:50p
GERMEET 1391 9-12-85 5:39p
GETRUMP 1314 8-18-85 12:52p
GLADE 3940 9-14-85 5:49p
HOSPITAL 4467 9-14-85 10:52p
HOSPTL 1460 8-18-85 12:53p
INITFLOR 6440 9-17-85 8:59p
JULFIGHT 4418 9-17-85 1:53a
JULIB 2771 9-16-85 4:49p
JUTRUMP 1238 8-18-85 12:54p
LIBRARY 2083 9-13-85 4:33p
LIB_ALLY 2283 9-14-85 10:37p
LIB_ENEM 2295 9-15-85 6:48p
LLTRUMP 1356 8-18-85 12:57p
MAID 1140 8-18-85 1:01p
MORG 1488 8-18-85 1:02p
M_COURT 5415 9-12-85 5:53p
NEWDATA 1366 9-18-85 10:50p
NTRUMPS 69 9-11-85 3:35p
OPENING 3804 8-18-85 1:03p
PATTERN 2952 9-17-85 3:27p
PATT_GAM 5883 9-17-85 8:53p
RANDANGR 4747 9-17-85 3:25p
RANDCON2 3261 9-12-85 5:20p
RANDENTE 5870 9-17-85 9:05p
RATRUMP 1215 8-18-85 1:04p
RCON 1591 9-12-85 6:11p
REBCORT 1590 8-18-85 1:04p
REBHALL 998 8-18-85 1:05p
REBMA 3570 9-16-85 4:53p
REBMA2 2819 9-15-85 4:43p
RESCUE 4985 9-17-85 5:28p
ROAD 1985 8-18-85 1:06p
STAIRS 2606 8-18-85 1:07p
STAKE 2019 8-18-85 1:08p
STREET 4406 9-12-85 5:16p
TELARIUM IB 196 9-04-85 3:15p
TRUMPS 83 9-11-85 3:36p
VOLT 3 9-15-85 12:04a
114 file(s) 246083 bytes
Total files listed:
116 file(s) 246107 bytes
40960 bytes free
Directory of Nine Princes in Amber (Disk B)
Volume in drive A is AMBER-2
Directory of A:\
AMB <DIR> 1-15-23 10:31p
1 file(s) 0 bytes
Directory of A:\AMB
. <DIR> 1-15-23 10:31p
.. <DIR> 1-15-23 10:31p
A 7824 1-20-86 2:24p
AMBATTLE IB 289 8-13-85 11:06a
AMBATTLE JR 567 8-14-85 5:27p
AMBBENED IB 346 8-09-85 7:04p
AMBBENED JR 465 8-14-85 11:57a
AMBBLEYS JR 277 8-14-85 1:57p
AMBBRAND IB 190 8-09-85 7:05p
AMBBRAND JR 353 8-14-85 11:59a
AMBCAINE IB 60 8-09-85 7:05p
AMBCAINE JR 92 8-14-85 12:00p
AMBCAR JR 658 8-14-85 5:24p
AMBCATS IB 219 8-13-85 11:03a
AMBCATS JR 498 8-14-85 5:23p
AMBCHARG IB 204 8-13-85 11:02a
AMBCHARG JR 438 8-14-85 5:22p
AMBCLOSE JR 313 8-14-85 12:11p
AMBDCIRC IB 112 8-13-85 11:13a
AMBDCIRC JR 136 8-14-85 5:41p
AMBDEAD3 JR 93 8-14-85 1:33p
AMBDEIRD JR 166 8-14-85 12:01p
AMBDWORK IB 224 8-13-85 11:01a
AMBDWORK JR 224 8-14-85 5:20p
AMBER 4077 8-18-85 12:39p
AMBERIC JR 688 8-14-85 12:03p
AMBFAIR IB 178 8-09-85 7:11p
AMBFAIR JR 253 8-14-85 12:15p
AMBFENCE JR 74 8-14-85 5:28p
AMBFIONA IB 114 8-09-85 7:07p
AMBFIONA JR 148 8-14-85 12:04p
AMBFLORA JR 190 8-14-85 12:05p
AMBGANEL IB 54 8-13-85 11:01a
AMBGANEL JR 100 8-14-85 5:19p
AMBGERAR IB 244 8-09-85 7:08p
AMBGERAR JR 436 8-14-85 12:06p
AMBGOOD IB 194 8-09-85 7:11p
AMBGOOD JR 417 8-14-85 12:14p
AMBHORN JR 43 8-14-85 5:31p
AMBJULIA JR 516 8-14-85 12:07p
AMBLANCE IB 136 8-13-85 11:02a
AMBLANCE JR 288 8-14-85 5:21p
AMBLLEWE JR 284 8-14-85 12:08p
AMBLOSE IB 44 8-09-85 7:18p
AMBLOSE JR 58 8-14-85 1:59p
AMBMETAM IB 154 8-13-85 11:06a
AMBMETAM JR 337 8-14-85 5:29p
AMBPAT1 JR 302 8-14-85 5:33p
AMBPAT2 JR 175 8-14-85 5:34p
AMBPAT3 JR 376 8-14-85 5:35p
AMBPAT4 JR 328 8-14-85 5:36p
AMBPAT5 JR 412 8-14-85 5:37p
AMBPHONE JR 380 8-14-85 5:47p
AMBRAZZ JR 92 8-14-85 5:39p
AMBRESCU JR 428 8-14-85 5:26p
AMBSHIP IB 103 9-11-85 4:47p
AMBSHIP JR 146 9-11-85 4:55p
AMBSSSSS IB 255 8-13-85 11:07a
AMBSSSSS JR 462 8-14-85 5:31p
AMBSTAR JR 196 8-14-85 5:38p
AMBTAROT JR 286 8-14-85 5:25p
AMBWHIST JR 65 9-18-85 6:28p
AMBWIN1 IB 206 8-09-85 7:10p
AMBWIN1 JR 437 8-14-85 12:45p
AMBWIN2 IB 630 8-09-85 7:10p
AMBWIN2 JR 1560 8-14-85 12:12p
BATTLE 6077 9-16-85 11:51p
BATTLE2 4082 9-18-85 3:11p
BEMEET 1694 9-04-85 9:36a
BENEMEET 6512 9-17-85 4:11p
BENESTAY 3546 9-14-85 11:40p
BETRUMP 1139 8-18-85 12:40p
BLEYSWON 4312 9-12-85 6:23p
BLMEET 1338 8-18-85 12:41p
BRAND FEN 1344 8-22-85 1:15p
BRANDFIG 4651 9-13-85 1:18p
BRANDTAL 4690 9-14-85 9:02p
BRMEET 1916 8-18-85 12:42p
BRTRUMP 1376 8-18-85 12:43p
CABRA 6222 9-16-85 6:33p
CAMP 2628 9-17-85 1:37a
CATMEET 3632 9-12-85 6:41p
CATRUMP 1142 8-18-85 12:44p
CATS 764 8-18-85 12:44p
CELL 9944 9-16-85 7:36p
DESERT 7246 9-17-85 12:56a
DMEET 5046 9-16-85 11:24p
DWLIB 2235 8-18-85 12:45p
DWTRUMP 1835 8-18-85 12:46p
ERIC FEN 1344 7-11-85 3:02p
ERICKILL 1019 9-12-85 6:21p
FAMEET_B 8400 9-17-85 4:00p
FAMEET_C 7515 9-17-85 3:49p
FAMENTER 6108 9-17-85 4:03p
FIONACON 2682 9-17-85 3:54p
FITRUMP 1083 8-18-85 12:48p
FULLBLK 324 8-18-85 12:50p
GANELON 1052 8-18-85 12:51p
GEMEET 1467 8-18-85 12:51p
GERSHIP 6211 9-18-85 12:08p
HALFBLK 150 8-18-85 12:52p
JOPIN 1652 8-18-85 12:53p
JULCON 2371 9-14-85 11:30p
JULIAN FEN 1344 9-13-85 11:28a
KEEP 4833 9-17-85 4:26p
KEEP2 7919 9-17-85 6:29p
KEEPIC 2898 8-18-85 12:55p
LAHORSE 1724 8-18-85 12:55p
LANCE FEN 1344 8-05-85 10:09a
LANCE2 4492 9-17-85 4:23p
LANCEFIG 4223 9-12-85 6:39p
LANCEMEE 6145 9-12-85 6:34p
LAWOUND 2084 9-04-85 9:39a
LHOUSE 1950 8-18-85 12:57p
MINDFIGH 4758 9-17-85 3:56p
MTOWR 1644 8-19-85 11:12a
RANDCON 3811 9-17-85 5:21p
SANDS 3422 8-18-85 1:06p
SAVED 324 1-20-86 2:24p
STUDY 6040 9-16-85 6:30p
TELARIUM JR 188 9-04-85 3:25p
TENT 2490 9-14-85 9:00p
THRONE 1290 8-18-85 1:13p
TOWER 6286 9-17-85 1:24a
TOWR 804 8-19-85 11:13a
VENGERIC 3006 9-14-85 10:39p
VOLT 3 1-15-23 4:01p
127 file(s) 227385 bytes
Total files listed:
128 file(s) 227385 bytes
50176 bytes free
Copy-Protection Information (Disk A)
MFM Sector
Sector ID:010
Track ID:000 - Side ID:000
Size:00128 (ID:0x00)
DataMark:0xFB
Head CRC:0xAC0C (Ok)
Data CRC:0x2BF6 (Ok)
0000| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0008| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0010| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0018| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0020| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0028| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0030| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0038| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0040| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0048| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0050| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0058| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0060| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0068| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0070| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........
0078| F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 F6 | ........