--------------------------------------------------------------------------- | o ___ _ _ __ ___ __ o | | / | || | `.| || `, | | | --| || | |_|| .-|| | | | | -- | ' | | | `-|| '. | | |___/ \__/|_| |___||_|_| | | __ __ ___ ____ _ ___ ____ ____ ___ ___ | | / \/ \ / \ | \ | | / \ | \ | \ / \ / \ | | | || || || || | | || || || | | | | | | || | || | || || | | | | || | || | || |__| | | | | | || | || | < | || | | | | < | | < | | | \_ \ | | | | | || || | || || | | | | || | || | ||` | | __ | | | | | || | || | || || | | | || | || || || | | | |__|__|__||__|__||__|__||_| \___/ |__|_/ |__|__| \___/ \___/ |__| | | , | | .;%%, . % | | 2 0 0 5 flamepanther ~ .%` %. %.%` | | .%` ,%` `%` | | .%` ,%` %`%. v2.0 | | -=%%%=~` %` `%. | | o ' `%. o | ---------------------------------------------------------------%----------- ` ` [SUPER MARIO BROTHERS DX patch version 2.0] This IPS patch is a graphics enhaccement for Super Mario Bros. for the NES and Famicom. You should use the version identified as "Super Mario Bros. (JU) (PRG0) [!].NES" Files: SMBDX11fix.IPS - Version 1.1 from 1999, now fixed to work on new emulators SMBDX20.IPS - version 2.0 SMBDX20.TXT - the file you're reading Long and Boring History: I started this project in September of 1997, when I was dissapointed with the quality of most of the SMB graphic improvement hacks out there, before there were many quality projects. It was originally done for my own amusement, but eventually it started to seem good enough for a release. The "final" version, and first public version of the project was released to Zophar's Domain on September 2, 1999. There was a small fix released later that year. Since that time, the hack has revieced a few very glowing comments, but not much visible attention. I became too busy with college to worry about further updates or finishing any of the other hacks I had started. I used to be a regular in the once thriving #romhack channel of efnet, but I soon dropped out of the emulation scene completely, let alone ROM hacking. A couple of years passed and I started recieving emails that my patch causes Super Mario Bros. to freeze up at the title screen under the newer and more accurate emulators. I wanted to fix it, but I simply didn't have the time to investigate. Another year or two and I completely forgot about the project again. In October of 2005, I recieved a very unexpected email about this long dead project from Thraxen of the Xbox-Scene message boards (forums.xbox-scene.com). A couple of members had been trying to get the patch to work on the Xbox port of FCE Ultra. Since I no longer have college sucking away all of my spare time, I decided to get with it and figure out the problem. While I was at it, I might as well make a few more graphical improvements. This new patch is the result. Many thanks to Thraxen and the other members of the X-S boards for motivating me and helping me track down the problems. Please note that when the old version was released, I was using the name "_Blues_". I am now going by "flamepanther" to match the email address I already had, as this makes life a bit easier. Different name, same guy. Features: -Sprite and BG tiles adapted from SMB 1 & 3 with significant improvements -Additional graphics from scratch, including higly detailed Bowser sprite -Custom palettes tailored to suit the new graphics New in 2.0 version: -NOW WORKS WITH FCEU and other newer emulators! -Several palettes updated to suit more accurate NES color emulation -SMB3 style bricks have been implemented -Koopa Troopa sprites improved -Completely new graphics for world 1-3 tree trunks. Woo. -Significant improvement to giant mushroom platforms -Several minor tweaks and changes. Bugs: The sprite for making a brick bounce doesn't work correctly in underground areas, and to my knowledge cannot be fixed with basic a hex editing. I've done my best to make it look okay. There is a similar problem with the half- brick under the springboards. If someone knows how to correct this, please contsct me. Distribution and Use: I don't know how popular the original version was, but I can see that it's gotten around. I've found copies in several ROM hack repositories and even fully patched ROMs on various NES ROM sites. I don't mind redistribution or reuse of this hack, but please DO NOT distribute it without this document. If you want to use this as the basis for another hack, or borrow any of my from-scratch graphics (Bowser, Bowser's fire breath, Mario's fireball explosions, floating platforms, and tree level platforms) just be sure to give credit. I'd like it even more if you tell me that you're using it. Thanks. SPECIAL THANKS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the original patch, when I was on efnet as _Blues_: -AsTrOcReEp 2000, for his advice and documentation on color editing -Sir_Kero, for locating some hex addresses for me, and for testing -Skeeve/L0kii, who helped me figure out the debug in Pasofami long ago -sl1me, for telling me where to find the cycling colors for the [?] boxes -SnowBro, for TileLayer, which I used later in development -Taichou, former maintainer of the Hacks page on Zophar's Domain. For this update: -law56ker of xbox-scene, for praising my old work his interest in fixing it -Thraxen of xbox-scene, for contacting me about the problem -AP, Googie and Hyperhacker at Acmlm's boards for technical help (board.acmlm.org) You can still contact me with questions or information at my original email address: flamepanther@hotmail.com Please enjoy!