Just to save someone some time I've located the routine which updates the OAM data (X/Y Location, etc) and it can be found by setting a breakpoint at 08066892(this is where the original X value is loaded into).

In this routine R4 is where the Y-Loc is stored and R5 is where the X-Loc is stored

EDIT: Ok, I was bored so i took another look and tracked down the exact offset for where it sets the character width and it is located here 08065360 ( mov r0, 0Ch )

Didn't get around to it , but Normatt seems to have it covered off. What you'll want to do is replace the bit where it adds the fixed offset to the X-location (the mov opcode @ 08065360) with a branch to your own routine that looks up a width table.

If you haven't used Goldroad before and/or aren't too familiar with THUMB then you might struggle a bit, but I think it would make a good first project. Sing out if you have any difficulties.

Okay.... so not a good start. Any programming experience at all? THUMB is pretty easy to jump into. If not, (and unless anyone's done it already), I'll take this as an opportunity to write up some documentation on how to get a VWF into these types of games.

I know Visual Basic, that's about it.

I was bored and wanted to try implementing a VWF font for this game so I went and tried. There was almost no empty space in the ROM so I had to make a really complicated jumping routine (any tips on this for the future labmaster?). So I have that part of the code relocated. The only problem, one I realized by setting a breakpoint on my code, is that it that part of the code sets the width for the entire string displayed on that page, not each character.

My only idea on how to fix it is this: The code stores 0C in two locations. Find the code where it loads from that location for each character and change that to loading from the width table.

I'm going to work on finding and doing that, Rhys if you read this could you PM me with a patch for the font and width table you want to use?

Edit: I found the place where it loads it (0806688C). Now it's time to program the VWF. Oh, and I also found that it is also setting the height. I know it would be completely pointless to have a VHF, but if you want a different height, it is possible.

I think I've almost got it working. I found the place it loads the width from, all I have to do is make it load it from a width table. I'll post my source code when I'm done so you can see how I did it. Here's the code I use to jump to my routine (probably could be better *cough labmaster cough tips? cough*):


Edit: I'm trying to find the RAM location the current character is stored. Have you found this Normmatt?

I found it! 2036EAC.

And just an idea for Rhys, since the game uses 2-byte characters, you could hack the text routine (once you get some experience) to only use one byte and have plenty of space to put in the English script. And I'm going to make the VWF only care about the first byte, or the width table would be REALLY big.

Edit: I kind of got the VWF working, it loads from a width table and all. The only problem is the game redraws ALL the characters after each new one is added, and the value I've been modifying is the width for ALL these characters. So I'll need to find a different value to modify.

Edit Again: I've almost got the VWF working completely, I just need to fix one small problem and then it should work. Once it's finished I'll upload an IPS.

Actually that was one thing I was hoping you would make. Also if you wouldn't mind making the width table. Just one byte with the width of every character (with padding I think).