Sonic Triple Trouble Master System Conversion

doc eggfan · Jun 6, 2008

I don't know if this has been discussed before or if anyone else has attempted it but I've been looking into this project for some time now, but I am limited by my lack of coding skills.

http://disgruntleddesigner.com/chrisc/sega...ing/gg2sms.html

Ever since I read about this, I've thought that all the Game Gear exclusive sonic games should be converted to master system, but Triple Trouble interests me the most. I don't mind a bit of colour approximation if it means we can get the games in full screen. Even other game gear exclusives should get the conversion treatment, like Gunstar Heroes. After reading the info provided, I have the illusion of understanding, but I'm just too green to tackle it on my own.

This is what I've got so far:

Identified Palettes:

Save States (Meka):
Palette 1: $1520
Palette 2 $606D

Rom Palettes:
$3b71c: Sega Screen 1 (32)
$3b79c: Title screen palette (64)
$3b8dc: Sega Screen 2 (32) (SPRITE)
$3ba5c: Intro 2 (32)
$3bbdc: Intro 1 (32)
$3bbfc: Intro 2 (Robotnik) (32)
$3b7dc: Character Select (Sonic Select) (32)
$3b7fc: Character Select (Tails Select) (32)
$3b81c: Character Select (Sonic Not select) (32)
$3b83c: Character Select (Tails Not Select) (32)
$3B4A3: Title Card (Great Turquoise) (8)
$3BDDC: Title Card 2 (32) (SPRITE)
$3BABC: Great Turquoise (32)
$3BE3C: Great Turquoise (water) (32)
$3BE5C: Great Turquoise water sprites (32)
$3B99C: Great Turquoise Boss sprite (32)
$589B: Great Turquoise Boss sprite (2)
$3BEFC: Signpost (32)
$3B89C: End of act results (64)
$3BBBC: Special Stage 1 (32)
$3BA9C: Special Stage Sprite 1 (32)
$5CA37: Chaos Emerald 1 (6)
$3BC5C: Special Stage 2 Sonic (32)
$3BC9C: Special Stage 2 Tails (32)
$3BCDC: Special Stage 2 sprite (32)
$9EA: Special Stage 2 BG (32 - every 2nd word)
$5CA3D: Chaos Emerald 2 (6)
$3B4AB: Title Card (Sunset Park) (8)
$3BADC: Sunset Park (32) ***Unknown Rotating Palette (0F00)***
$3B8FC: Sunset Park Sprite (32)
$3885C: Continue/Game Over (32)
$3BD9C: Special Stage 3 (32)
$5CA43: Chaos Emerald 3 (6)
$3BC7C: Special Stage 4 Sonic (32)
$3BCBC: Special Stage 4 Tails (32)
$3BCFC: Special Stage 4 Sprite (32)
$5CA49: Chaos Emerald 4 (6)
$3B4B3: Title Card (Meta Junglira) (8)
$3BAFC: Meta Junglira (32)
$3B91C: Meta Junglira Sprite (32)
$3B9DC: Meta Junglira Boss Sprite (32)
$589F: Meta Junglira Boss (2)
$3BA7C: Meta Junglira Knuckles Sprite (32)
$3BDBC: Special Stage 5 (32)
$5CA4F: Chaos Emerald 5 (6)
$3B4BB: Title Card (Robotnik Winter) (8)
$3BB1C: Robotnik Winter (32)
$3B93C: Robotnik Winter Sprite (32)
$3B9FC: Robotnik Winter Boss Sprite (32)
$58A1: Robotnik Winter Boss Sprite (2)
$3B4C3: Title Card (Tidal Plant) (8)
$3BB3C: Tidal Plant (32)
$3B95C: Tidal Plant Sprite (32)
$3BEBC: Tidal Plant Water (32)
$3BEDC: Tidal Plant Water Sprite (32)
$3BC1C: Tidal Plant Act 3 (32)
$3BA1C: Tidal Plant Act 3 Sprite (32)
$3B4CB: Title Card (Atomic Destroyer) (8)
$3BB5C: Atomic Destroyer Act 1 (32) *3 Unknown Rotating Palettes (DD0F, FF0D, 6202)
$3B97C: Atomic Destroyer Sprite (32)
$3BB7C: Atomic Destroyer Act 2 (32)
$3BB9C: Atomic Destroyer Act 3 (32)
$3BA3C: Atomic Destroyer Metal Sonic Sprite (32)
$3BC3C: Atomic Destroyer Fang Sprite (32)
$58A5: Atomic Destroyer Robotnik Boss Sprite (2)
$3BD5C: End Sequence 1 (64)
$3F007: End Sequence BG 1 (32 - Every second word)

End Sequence: $73A6C: 1
Click to expand...

The biggest hurdle I can see at the moment is modifying the palette fading routine. I've though about how this would be modified for the Master System format and I think it would go something like this:

Code (Text):

eg) Fade to Black

Start Loop

If byte >= 15, subtract 15

If byte >= 5, subtract 5

If byte <5, subtract 1

If byte = 0, stop loop

Now if someone could take the Game Gear rom, locate the palette fading routines and modify them to work with byte per colour palettes instead of word per colour palettes, we would be well under way to porting the game to the Master System. Even if we can just disable the routine to start with, and just flash the palettes up as is, it would be a start. Once this is done, it would be relatively easy to modify the palettes to the Master System format, and we might have a partially working conversion. Anyone up to the challenge?

Dark Sonic · Jun 6, 2008

I'm sorry to ask, but what was the real difference between the Master System and the Game Gear? I always thought they were kinda similar, but at the same time I noticed some changes in games between the two.

Polygon Jim · Jun 6, 2008

GG has way more colors, and smaller aspect ratio.

doc eggfan · Jun 6, 2008

Dark Sonic said:

I'm sorry to ask, but what was the real difference between the Master System and the Game Gear? I always thought they were kinda similar, but at the same time I noticed some changes in games between the two.
Click to expand...

From memory

Game Gear: 0000BBBB GGGGRRRR
Master System: 00BBGGRR

In binary, of course.

Hivebrain · Jun 6, 2008

Are palettes the only issue with porting a game? What happens if you load a GG ROM as if it's a Master System game?

doc eggfan · Jun 6, 2008

Hivebrain said:

Are palettes the only issue with porting a game? What happens if you load a GG ROM as if it's a Master System game?
Click to expand...

It partially works, at least in an emulator. I changed the palettes of the intro to sms format, but the fading routine screws them up. There will be other problems too, but sorting out the palettes will be one of the more significant hurdles.

P.P.A. · Jun 6, 2008

Some hacking guru should try to port Triple Trouble to the PC-Engine, that one has enough colours.

nineko · Jun 6, 2008

I think you can get some support here.

Cross-forum project anyone?

Dark Sonic · Jun 6, 2008

I'd rather see Triple Trouble remade from Sonic 2 or something

Shoemanbundy · Jun 6, 2008

I'd rather see it on a Genesis. I don't see the point in porting it to master system. It isn't like it's going to be mass-distributed on cartridges anytime soon, if at all. It'd only be a novelty knowing it's an MS rom or something. Really, what's the point?

PsychoSk8r · Jun 6, 2008

Well look at the Sonic 2 SMS and GG versions, on the GG, everything is huge, I'd like to be able to see more on screen. I'd like to see it ported to the SMS, even though I'd like it ported to the genesis too =P

Cinossu · Jun 6, 2008

Shoemanbundy said:

I don't see the point in porting it to master system. It isn't like it's going to be mass-distributed on cartridges anytime soon, if at all. It'd only be a novelty knowing it's an MS rom or something. Really, what's the point?
Click to expand...

If you don't see the point, why bother posting in a topic about porting it? Nobody cares that you don't care for it.

That being said, I'd love to see something like this. I always wanted Triple Trouble back when the Master System was still getting new games, and I didn't have a Game Gear.

Tweaker · Jun 6, 2008

The point, more than anything else, is the increased screen size. Triple Trouble is a bitch for me to play with such a small screen—a bigger one may actually make me want to play it more.

Remember that the Genesis and the Master System have roughly the same resolution. This would make things much easier to play.

doc eggfan · Jun 6, 2008

Conceivably, once it's ported to master system, you could have a Phantasy Star I type conversion from Master System to Mega Drive if you really wanted, but I don't see the point in that. You should have a power base converter if you want to use it on real hardware, and if you're emulating you have no problems. It's all about being able to play the games at a proper aspect ratio on the tv.

Shoemanbundy · Jun 7, 2008

Cinossu ´?` said:

Shoemanbundy said:

I don't see the point in porting it to master system. It isn't like it's going to be mass-distributed on cartridges anytime soon, if at all. It'd only be a novelty knowing it's an MS rom or something. Really, what's the point?
Click to expand...

If you don't see the point, why bother posting in a topic about porting it? Nobody cares that you don't care for it.

That being said, I'd love to see something like this. I always wanted Triple Trouble back when the Master System was still getting new games, and I didn't have a Game Gear.
Click to expand...

I didn't know about the Gamegear size issue. It was just a simple and I think valid question. I wasn't looking for people to care what I think, I was merely asking. If the only response anyone can get from the "higher ups" at this message board is "if you don't like it fug off" I can see why people come to this board kissing ass when they make their first post. No wonder I was always scared of this place...

The point, more than anything else, is the increased screen size. Triple Trouble is a bitch for me to play with such a small screen—a bigger one may actually make me want to play it more.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response

...forum drama :D

Tweaker · Jun 7, 2008

There's no drama, Marc is just a britfag and biased towards the 8-bit games. Ignore him. =P

Shoemanbundy · Jun 7, 2008

Heh. Well anyway, I wish you luck on getting this accomplished if it all possible doc eggfan. On the topic, I may be wrong, but didn't tectoy try porting this game to SMS once? I thought I remember hearing about that on this board once, but it could be my bad memory..

Rika Chou · Jun 7, 2008

Shoemanbundy said:

Heh. Well anyway, I wish you luck on getting this accomplished if it all possible doc eggfan. On the topic, I may be wrong, but didn't tectoy try porting this game to SMS once? I thought I remember hearing about that on this board once, but it could be my bad memory..
Click to expand...

That was Sonic Blast/G Sonic.

Cinossu · Jun 7, 2008

Tweaker said:

There's no drama, Marc is just a britfag and biased towards the 8-bit games. Ignore him. =P
Click to expand...

Damn right. :U The 8-bit games are pwnage.

Overlord · Jun 7, 2008

Tweaker said:

There's no drama, Marc is just a britfag and biased towards the 8-bit games. Ignore him. =P
Click to expand...

As a Britfag, I can assure you that the preference for the 8 bit titles is FAR from universal >=P

Sonic Triple Trouble Master System Conversion

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