Basic Questions and Answers Thread

http://sonicresearch.org/forums/index.php?app=forums&module=extras&section=boardrulesHow about you read these too whilst you're at it? One word posts don't fly here along with your quality of typing.

 

about the music? how do i add that to sonic 1?.

 

Maybe is a stupid question but I'm tired of editing tile by tile


Is possible to load the Sonic emblem of the title screen of Sonic 1 in SonMapEd?

 

You could load the art at the very least, the problem is, the mappings are for the Mega Drive's "Plane A" display, not for sprites, SonMapEd is designed for sprite map editing and not plane map editing, you should consider checking out this nifty tool:


http://info.sonicretro.org/PlaneED


For information on the plane mapping format, check out:


http://sonicresearch...?showtopic=2199

 

Thanks Markey! I didn't thought about plane A. Good info.

 

I've been trying do add some code from the Jman PCM driver tutorial to my hack in order to make the PCM table more readable, but it seems that the macro assembler doesn't support some of the macros.


I'm using the Sonic 2 disassembly by Xenowhirl.

Code:

; ===========================================================================

PCM:	macro   Pitch, Location

	    dc.w	(((((Location&$000000FF)<<$08)+((Location&$00007F00)>>$08))!$0080)&$FFFF)

	    dc.w	(((((((Location_End-$02)-Location)&$000000FF)<<$08)+((((Location_End-$02)-Location)&$00007F00)>>$08))/$02)&$FFFF)

		dc.b	Pitch

		dc.b	((Location&$00008000)>>$08)

		dc.b	((Location&$003F0000)>>$10)

		dc.b	$00

		even

				endm

; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

incpcm: macro   File

File:		   binclude  "sound/DAC/File.bin"

   			 dc.b	$80,$80

File_End:	   even

   	 endm

NULL:

NULL_End:

; ===========================================================================



PCM_Table:

		   	 PCM	 $19, BassDrum						   ; 81



; ===========================================================================



		   	 incpcm  BassDrum

When trying to build it, I errors about BASSDRUM_End not being defined, so including the file works. It is correct that there are no backslashes, btw. The macro assmebler doesn't need them.

It works perfectly, if I add

Code:

BassDrum_End:

after the incpcm command, but that's not the intention of the incpcm macro.


So I know that it fails to convert the label File_End to BassDrum_End in the incpcm macro. It works however in the PCM macro.


Any ideas how I could get this to work correctly?


If nothing works, I'll make a workaround and add an additional argument to the incpcm macro. (like incpcm BassDrum, BassDrum_End)

 

The reason why asm68k needed the backwards slashes was so that it knew it was suppose to print the passed word as a "string of characters" rather than a "pointer to an address", the point in the macro was to make it easier to include a wav file into the source whilst removing the header, and making sure it's aligned and kept within the 8000 byte banks jman's driver insists on limiting to.


As your samples don't have a header, and as it seems you do not require keeping them in banks, it seems that the macro for the "incpcm" has virtually no use at all, I mean... writing out:

Code:

SampleTwo	binclude	"Filename"

SampleTwo_End:

Is no difficult that writing out:

Code:

   	 incpcm		Filename

The "PCM" macro is also to no use, due to lack of backwards slashes, again, they were needed, an example:

Code:

   	 dc.w	Location_End

The word Location will be replaced with the string of the sample's name, so if the sample were called "SampleTwo", the assembler would convert it to:

Code:

   	 dc.l	SampleTwo_End

Before assembling, without the backward slashes, it would assume that it's just words to be assembled and nothing more:

Code:

   	 dc.l	Location_End

Unless you "add" a Location_End to the macro:

Code:

PCM:	macro   Pitch, Location, Location_End

And pass the end location as well.

 

I understood what the backslashes are supposed to do.


And the PCM macro is of use. It correctly converts Location_End to BassDrum_End in dc.x commands, even without backslashes, else I would get an error about Location_End not being defined. (not about BASSDRUM_End)


I just surprised me that it works in the dc.b/w commands, but not when defining a label.


Thanks anyway.


After some fiddling around (and reading the manual), I figured it out how it works:

Code:

incpcm:         macro   File

File:           LABEL *

                        binclude  "sound/DAC/File.dec"

                        dc.b    $80,$80

File_End:       LABEL *

                        even

                endm

In AS labels in macros are local by default. LABEL * makes them global.


btw: AS has no filesize() function, so I can't have use it anyway.

 

Hacking Sonic 4 EP 2.


Can anyone link me to a good .aax converter? (The one on Sonic Retro was on MegaUpload)

 

well this will be a first timer for me posting in this thread. anywho currently i am trying to make the HUD to where when the level loads after the title card sequence, the entire hud itself scrolls as well. kind of like in Bro-Tro for example how the HUD on that scrolled into place as the level starts. so exatly how would i be able to make a simple one?

 

I don't remember what it looks like in bro-tro, but the principle is simple: Change the original coordinates of the hud object (object 21), add a routine to the object to make it move until it reached the coordinates you want, make the object use that routine after it's been initialized, set the routine counter to the normal routine (flash) when it's done.

 

and exactly where would the coordinates for the hud be in this case? Im a bit confused on where to find them

 

The x coordinates in screen mode are in 8 and the y coordinates in A. If I remember correctly, the original x coordinate is 90 (in hex).

 

Code:

Obj21_Main:				; XREF: Obj21_Main

		addq.b	#2,$24(a0)

		move.w	#$90,8(a0)		; X position

		move.w	#$108,$A(a0)		; Y position

		move.l	#Map_obj21,4(a0)

		move.w	#$6CA,2(a0)

		move.b	#0,1(a0)

		move.b	#0,$18(a0)

The X position is 0090 and the Y position is 0108, because this object presents sprites using the raw positions of the VDP, 0080 will be the very left/top of the screen, you'll need to start the hud to somewhere lower in order to shift it up and left out of the screen further.

 

Ok so I tried it out and it worked when you said to change the coordinates. the only thing im trying to figure out now is exactly what line or routine do I have to add to make it actually move into place? I tried using parts of how the title card text moves into place but it didn't work for me. I know this is a bit much but I never tampered with this before so please bare with me if I am Asking a bit too much.

 

Code:

        addq.w    #$01,$08(a0)

To increase the hud right.

Code:

        subq.w    #$01,$08(a0)

To decrease the hud left.

Code:

        addq.w    #$01,$0A(a0)

To increase the hud down.

Code:

        subq.w    #$01,$0A(a0)

To decrease the hud up.


The number #$01 is the number of pixels it will move each frame, now understand that this is all simple mathematics, if the X position starts at 0080, addq.w #$01, will increase it by 1, making it 0081, then the next frame, it'll increase it by 1, making it 0082, etc, slowly, each frame moving it right.

 

Well at least I understand this part now. so pretty much i can just put this anywhere in Obj21_Main: or do i have to add it in a specific part of it like in the beggining or right under the X position line?

 

I would personaly put a small rotuine labed Obj21_move: at least after the main where it loads the file and what not, and put the moving code there. Either put it where the main routine can access it automatically or put a jmp somewhere so that it goes to your routine. If you want it to stop moving at somepoint you'll need a check as well to check the x-pos or y-pos and halt all movement when the object meets at the correct position.


E..g:



Obj21_Move:
addq.w #$01,$08(a0)


cmpi.w #$XX,$08(a0) ; has item rechead the value XX?


beq.s HaltMovement ; if yes, halt movment


jmp DisplaySprite ; Display object


HaltMovement:


move.w #$XX,$08(a0) ; same as the stop position in case it doesn't stop

 

So I got it to somewhat scroll but it keeps scrolling and won't stop. maybe this would be more easier if i just post what i have edited so far. here it is if you need to see it:




Obj21_Main: ; XREF: Obj21_Main


addq.b #2,$24(a0)


move.w #$0,8(a0)


move.w #$108,$A(a0)


move.l #Map_obj21,4(a0)


move.w #$6CA,2(a0)


move.b #0,1(a0)


move.b #0,$18(a0)


Obj21_Move:


addq.w #$01,$08(a0)


cmpi.w #$90,$08(a0) ; has item rechead the value XX?


beq.s Obj21_HaltMovement ; if yes, halt movment


jmp DisplaySprite ; Display object


Obj21_HaltMovement:


move.b #$90,$08(a0) ; same as the stop position in case it doesn't stop


jsr Obj21_Flash


Obj21_Flash: ; XREF: Obj21_Main


tst.w ($FFFFFE20).w ; do you have any rings?


beq.s Obj21_Flash2 ; if not, branch


clr.b $1A(a0) ; make all counters yellow


jmp DisplaySprite


; ===========================================================================


Obj21_Flash2:


moveq #0,d0


btst #3,($FFFFFE05).w


bne.s Obj21_Display


addq.w #1,d0 ; make ring counter flash red


cmpi.b #9,($FFFFFE23).w ; have 9 minutes elapsed?


bne.s Obj21_Display ; if not, branch


addq.w #2,d0 ; make time counter flash red


Obj21_Display:


move.b d0,$1A(a0)


jmp DisplaySprite

 

Try this instead:

Code:

; ===========================================================================

; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

; Object 21 - SCORE, TIME, RINGS

; ---------------------------------------------------------------------------



Obj21:					; XREF: Obj_Index

		moveq	#0,d0

		move.b	$24(a0),d0

		move.w	Obj21_Index(pc,d0.w),d1

		jmp	Obj21_Index(pc,d1.w)

; ===========================================================================

Obj21_Index:	dc.w Obj21_Main-Obj21_Index

		dc.w Obj21_Flash-Obj21_Index

; ===========================================================================



Obj21_Main:				; XREF: Obj21_Main

		addq.b	#2,$24(a0)

		move.w	#$00,8(a0)			; MJ: changed to 00 from 90

		move.w	#$108,$A(a0)

		move.l	#Map_obj21,4(a0)

		move.w	#$6CA,2(a0)

		move.b	#0,1(a0)

		move.b	#0,$18(a0)



Obj21_Flash:				; XREF: Obj21_Main

		moveq	#$06,d0				; MJ: prepare +8

		add.w	$08(a0),d0			; MJ: load X position and increase it by 8

		cmpi.w	#$0090,d0			; MJ: has it reached the end?

		blt	Obj21_NoMove			; MJ: if not, branch

		move.w	#$0090,d0			; MJ: set directly at end



Obj21_NoMove:

		move.w	d0,$08(a0)			; MJ: save new X position

		tst.w	($FFFFFE20).w	; do you have any rings?

		beq.s	Obj21_Flash2	; if not, branch

		clr.b	$1A(a0)		; make all counters yellow

		jmp	DisplaySprite

; ===========================================================================

The routine "Obj21_Main:" is the start off routine, this will only be run through once, after it "Obj21_Flash:" is ran, and it continues to be ran every frame. So here's what I've done:

1. In "Obj21_Main:" I've changed the "move.w #$90,8(a0)" to "move.w #$00,8(a0)", so it starts on the X position outside the left of the screen.
   
2. "moveq #$06,d0" and "add.w $08(a0),d0" will load the X position to d0, and increase it by 6.
   
3. "cmpi.w #$0090,d0" and "blt Obj21_NoMove" will check if d0 is lower than 0090, or if it's 0090 or higher, if it is lower than 0090, it will jump over to "Obj21_NoMove" and continue, if it is 0090 or higher, it will not jump, and it will move to "move.w #$0090,d0", which will keep it at 0090, preventing it from moving further and then continue to "Obj21_NoMove".
   
4. "move.w d0,$08(a0)" will save the new X position of the hud that we've had in d0 and have been changing.
   

Every frame it'll keep increasing it by 6, and then checking if it has reached the end, if it has not, it'll save the new position + 6 (moving it right by 6 pixels), so every frame the hud will move right 6 pixels, moving it closer and closer to it's destination each frame, once it reaches 0090 or maybe even higher, it'll move it back to the position 0090 and save it, preventing it from going any further, so no matter how much it increases, it'll remain at 0090.