SHB's Last bit of Stuff

Tweaker · Nov 28, 2005

But before that time, I need to share a last thing before I totally
leave for several months. I was going to share this two little pieces
of information I found myself two weeks ago, when such events appeared.
I consider these informations as the most important for hackers in huge
level editing and assembly programming. I don't know if somebody
already found that before, because strangely enough, no one speaks
about them:

- The first thing, some hackers may already know it, but keep that for
themselves for any reason I ignore. Strangely enough, no one seems to
speak about this. This thing, it's a subroutine, located right before
the Nemesis decompression algorithm. It's at $144E and is labelled
unknown in the Sonic 2 Disassembly. This subroutine is the easiest way
to load graphics in VRAM and display them immediately on screen. It's a
gateway to program the VDP without knowing nothing about VDP
programming. And the reloading time is damn fast, because it uses this
time between the display phases, as Aurochs said in a topic. Everytime
in the game, call this subroutine with a bsr or jsr to $144E, with the
following parameters:

The register D1 must contain the absolute pointer (4 bytes) of your
uncompressed graphics.
The register D2 must contain the VRAM address where to load your
graphics: C000 XXXX.
The register D3, at last, must contain the exact number of words to
load at this VRAM position.

Then, the next frame, all your loaded graphics will display on screen
(even if it's the whole VRAM, even if it's a sprite or any kind of
animated object), without any slowdown, and without knowing any VDP
programming.

- The second thing, it's again the same thing: I don't know why nobody
speaks about this. It's a major routine coded in Sonic 2, one of the
most useful I have ever see with the one mentionned before. Something
absolutely important to make level modifications, and again labelled
unknown in the disassembly for some reason. This thing, it's only a
flag in RAM, located at $F72C. At any time, write a 01 byte here, at
$F72C, and the routine located at $DAAE will activate once and reset
the RAM value to 00. This routine, it's the way to reload all your
mapping and/or level layout dynamically. You can write another mapping
in your RAM, another piece of level layout at the right place for
example. By writing 01 at $F72C in RAM, all that you have modified in
RAM related to 16x16 mapping, 128x128 mapping and/or level layout, will
display instantly on your screen. It's the way the level layout
dynamically change in Wing Fortress zone while destroying the cork to
enter the base, before fighting the boss at the end. It's the way used
at the end of Casino Night zone act 2 too, after destroying the boss to
make the wall disappear instantly.

Tweaker, you are in charge to post this two little things on the
forums, with the appropriate credits. I have confidence. Post this as
you wish, as it's the last thing I will ever contribute to the Sonic
Hacking Community for months...
Click to expand...

And that's it. Credit goes to him for finding it.

I'd also like to add that you people fucking sicken me for chasing out one of the best members of the community that there will ever be. Learn to grow up, suck your shit up and act like a god damned community. This isn't supposed to be a fucking popularity contest.

And I swear to god if ANYONE tries to say that this is old (LOst especially) I will fucking smack you. I will track you down, find your fucking address and smack the living fuck out of you. Enjoy. I'm dead serious, btw.

Psydan · Nov 28, 2005

I know I'm only a semi-lurker, but I agree whole-heartedly. It's a shame that we might not see the results of SHB's hard work for a very long time - if ever.

Kama · Nov 28, 2005

This is a tragic turn of events. I certainly hope SHB returns, for his hack clearly showed me how much of a great game Sonic 2 was and what it could've become.

Farewell for now Hachelle-Bee, you will be missed dearly by this one. :cry:

The Mighty Boosh · Nov 28, 2005

He really left? I don't see why he left just 'cause of a teensy little disagreement in one thread. (unless there's anything going on behind the scenes)

Either way, thank him for me if you can, Tweaker. This information will be inevitably useful for me being as my hack is S2 based.

Varion Icaria · Nov 28, 2005

Wow That's awesome, SHB Great work. This definately will be useful for the object I'm going to attempt to program.

Ultima · Nov 28, 2005

You're right. Good luck in future everyone =P

StephenUK · Nov 28, 2005

Ultima said:

You're right. Good luck in future everyone =P
Click to expand...

Same from me. See ya around everyone.

The Mighty Boosh · Nov 28, 2005

More people going now? o___o

SGR · Nov 28, 2005

It's a shame to see such a friendly member like him leave. His contributions are really quite priceless to us hackers in the community.

Aurochs · Nov 28, 2005

Tweaker said:

And the reloading time is damn fast, because it uses this
time between the display phases, as Aurochs said in a topic.
Click to expand...

I don't remember saying anything like that...

Anyway, I'll be sure to label those routines in the next S2 disassembly release.

stormislandgal · Nov 28, 2005

What the hell everyone's leaving... We've only got a few good hackers left now(who I won't name). Well, this'll help, if I decide to hack Sonic 2.

cosbish69 · Nov 28, 2005

Man...that's tragic. He was my idol. He never fought or gave shit to anyone, and his hack was incredible. I checked his site each day just to see if he had updated or made progress on his subroutine. This is going to be a real loss.

Flame · Nov 29, 2005

This is so fucking lame. SHB was one of the best around, he created one of the best hacks (which happens to be my favorite), and he always seemed to give good feedback on others hacks. It's a real damn shame.

Rika Chou · Nov 29, 2005

Why did he leave? What did I miss?

Guifrog · Nov 29, 2005

Click and you'll see... SHB's decision was weird.

TweeterMan · Nov 29, 2005

What the fuck did you all do to them?

Heran Bago · Nov 29, 2005

I'd also like to add that you people fucking sicken me for chasing out one of the best members of the community that there will ever be. Learn to grow up, suck your shit up and act like a god damned community. This isn't supposed to be a fucking popularity contest.
Click to expand...

Umm, sorry. I didn't know I was doing anything. =(
SHB was one of the greatest hackers this community has ever seen. And he used a mac.

Varion Icaria · Nov 29, 2005

For one I don't even understand what the hell went on in my topic. It wasn't caused by me but I don't know who caused it but he didn't have to take anything personal. I wish he didn't leave as he was one of the greatest reknown hackers. [SHB]

Stephen I know alot of people have pressured him for help at times so I can understand why he's leaving for the time being as he'd rather be working on his own projects then to have many other people bug him immensely.

Though all in all they are 2 great hackers and I hope they return soon.

LOst · Nov 29, 2005

Tweaker said:

And I swear to god if ANYONE tries to say that this is old (LOst especially) I will fucking smack you. I will track you down, find your fucking address and smack the living fuck out of you. Enjoy. I'm dead serious, btw.
Click to expand...

Sorry, but I have used this routine many times in my hacks. If you don't believe me, disassemble Eggman in Sonic 1, or Emerald Power.

It existed already in Sonic 1.

Tweaker · Nov 29, 2005

StephenUK said:

Ultima said:

You're right. Good luck in future everyone =P
Click to expand...

Same from me. See ya around everyone.
Click to expand...

Oh fuck no. You get back here RIGHT NOW. I'll be next on the list if you don't.

LOst said:

Sorry, but I have used this routine many times in my hacks. If you don't believe me, disassemble Eggman in Sonic 1, or Emerald Power.

It existed already in Sonic 1.
Click to expand...

Right, I'm asking Fiz for your address. IF YOU KNOW ABOUT SHIT LIKE THIS, YOU POST IT. DO YOU NOT KNOW THE DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY? God, it's shit like this that really puts me off from this place.

Tell me how to use it in Sonic 1 plz.

SHB's Last bit of Stuff

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