4am
4am's Apple II Projects
Total Replay
Download URL: https://archive.org/details/TotalReplay
Latest Version Released: September 9, 2024 (v5.2)
Total Replay is 4am's flagship project - a 32MB ProDOS hard disk image containing hundreds of classic Apple II action games (484 games as of v5.0) all playable from a single bootable disk. The collection features a sophisticated graphical launcher with attract mode demos, search and browse capabilities, and automatic hardware detection that filters games based on your system's capabilities. Games have been carefully converted from their original DOS 3.3 or custom formats to ProDOS, with all copy protection removed while preserving original title screens and content. The frontend supports Super High-Res artwork display on Apple IIgs systems and includes comprehensive metadata for each game.
Total Replay II: Instant Replay
Download URL: https://archive.org/details/TotalReplay2
Source Code: https://github.com/a2-4am/4sports
Latest Version Released: November 2023 (v1.0-alpha.3)
Total Replay II is a companion volume to the original Total Replay, focusing specifically on sports and board games for the Apple II. This 32MB ProDOS disk image features 47 Apple II games in its current alpha release, using the same sophisticated launcher technology as the original Total Replay. The project represents a specialized collection that demonstrates 4am's continued commitment to preserving and presenting Apple II gaming history in an accessible, modern format while maintaining the authentic experience of the original games.
Pitch Dark
Download URL: https://archive.org/details/PitchDark
Source Code: https://github.com/a2-4am/pitch-dark
Latest Version Released: May 3, 2023 (revision 5)
Additional Notable Work
Pitch Dark is a comprehensive frontend for exploring and playing Infocom text adventures on the Apple II. The project includes a complete collection of Infocom games with a user-friendly browsing interface, global options settings, and support for save/restore functionality. Built around qkumba's "On Beyond Z-Machine!" interpreter ports, Pitch Dark requires a minimum of 128K RAM and an enhanced Apple //e, Apple //c, or Apple IIgs. The collection preserves the original Infocom experience while providing modern conveniences like a graphical game selection interface and consistent saved game management across all titles.
Passport
Download URL: https://archive.org/details/Passport4am
Source Code: https://github.com/a2-4am/passport
Latest Version Released: September 13, 2024
Passport is an automated verification and copy program for 5.25-inch Apple II floppy disks that can crack copy protection on hundreds of different disk formats. Unlike traditional bit copiers that required manual parameter setting, Passport works automatically - it either succeeds or fails with no user intervention required. The program represents a distillation of 4am's extensive cracking knowledge, incorporating techniques to handle over 400 different copy protection schemes. Passport has completely automated the disk preservation process, allowing 4am to focus on more complex protections and educational content rather than repetitive cracking tasks.
Anti-M
Download URL: https://github.com/a2-4am/anti-m/releases
Source Code: https://github.com/a2-4am/anti-m
Latest Version Released: September 18, 2023 (v2.0)
Anti-M is a boot utility that allows you to run Apple II software on any Apple II model, regardless of incompatibility issues. Many early Apple II games refuse to boot on later models due to aggressive copy protection that checksums the ROM, or fail due to differences between 6502 and 65c02 processors. Anti-M uses a modified boot PROM to bypass these checks and patch incompatible opcodes in memory, enabling games to run on hardware they were never designed for. The utility works by controlling the game's bootloader long enough to apply necessary patches while leaving the original disk unchanged.
Wozardry
Download URL: Not applicable (command-line tool)
Source Code: https://github.com/a2-4am/wozardry
Latest Version Released: Ongoing development (no formal releases)
Wozardry is a multi-purpose command-line tool for manipulating .woz disk images, the modern standard for accurate Apple II disk preservation. The tool can verify file structure and metadata, edit disk information and metadata fields, convert between .woz format versions, and manipulate various aspects of disk images including write protection and track data. Wozardry supports both WOZ 1.0 and 2.0 formats and includes features for adding or removing metadata, converting format versions, and ensuring the integrity of preserved disk images. It's an essential utility for anyone working with modern Apple II disk preservation.
Apple II Library: The 4am Collection - 4am has preserved and cracked over 1,600 Apple II software titles, all available through the Internet Archive. This massive preservation effort represents one of the most significant contributions to Apple II software preservation.
A Woz A Day - 4am maintains an archive of original disk images in the modern .woz format for accurate preservation of copy-protected software, contributing to the historical record of Apple II software as it originally existed.
Passport.py - A Python version of Passport for working with .woz disk images, extending the cracking capabilities to modern disk preservation formats.
These projects collectively represent 4am's comprehensive approach to Apple II preservation, combining automated tools for disk preservation, user-friendly frontends for accessing classic software, and utilities for maintaining the hardware ecosystem. The work spans from low-level disk format manipulation to high-level user interfaces, making classic Apple II software accessible to both enthusiasts and researchers.