I figured I'd give this one a bump, since it's been a month since the last post and even longer since the last update.  It'd be a shame to see this one die after all the work we saw the boys put into it.   

-Rob

Hey all, I'm really sorry I've been absent for so long. I took a little break from ROM hacking. It wasn't really planned, it just sorta happened, otherwise I'd have given you guyz some sort of heads up. (I got pretty deep into a web realated project of mine and then revived work on my OS project, so SMBS just sort of got neglected.)

I'm going through the thread now too see what I've missed. Hopefully I can get the outstanding bugs fixed soon. You can get the latest patch here. Unless there where unrealeased code changes that I don't remember, the only change is that this version uses the latest (three month old, my bad) level updates from frantik.

Once again, so sorry for the unexplained absence. I still want to work on this project.

Please don't try to pressure him.

Well, we're very close to the point where I'd be willing to do an official release. There's the timing hack which is only one (or was it two) bytes which should definetly go in and there's the vine bug that needs to be fixed. Are there any other outstanding bugs or minor changes to be made?

While the major changes (new enemies, new power-ups, SMBS style credits sequence) will take some time, I'd like to fix any outstanding bugs (at least) before we release anything official.

Well, it basically depends on how complicated the changes are. I'd want to hold off on anything overly invasive for now. Here's my estimates.


This might be as simple as changing a few constants. However, there is the issue of points. Depending on how the flagpole points routine works, making everything work correctly (i.e. proper values at the top and bottom) could get complicated.


Should be pretty simple. All it proabably requires is changing a few constants.


This really depends on bowser's AI routines (which, as I recall are kinda involved). It could be as simple as tweaking a few values, in which case I'd say go for it. Or it could involve substantial editing, in which case I'd say hold off.


This is solved, I just need to add the value you derived into the code base. I'll do it next time dig into the code. (Should be soon, perhaps tomorrow if I have some free time.)


This needs some research done. I've never really investigated the vine routines, so I don't know what exactly it will entail. However, as a bug, rather than a new feature, it's gotta be taken care of.

I'll look into all of these and give you some more definite answers. All of your suggestions are things that should ultimately be done, but when depends on the size of the changes. I'll incorporate the game clock change and see what I can do about the vine bug. Once those are done I'll look into the other changes you've suggested.

Good night and keep upt the good work. Hopefully I'll release another patch soon.

Yes, as in, I should be commited for spending so much of my free time on this ... he he he.

You can get the latest patch off my website. The changes in this version are rather minor. The level data is the same as the last patch. I (finally) implemented the timer speed increase. I've also fixed the bug with the vine in 4-3.

As a side effect of the vine bug fix, vines that start below a certain point don't reach the top of the sceen. However, none of the vines in SMBS are effected. (This behavior is present in the original SMB code, just at a different height.)

Now I'm off to investigate some other stuff.

Um, what now? Sorry, but if you explained this before, please do so again, I must have forgotten. What exactly is wrong in world 4-2? (If you have already explained it in detail, just point me to the post number or somethin`.)