Anyone Interested in Doing "SMB Special" for NES?

[TRIFORCE89]

Oh, I didn't know. I mainly played Triforce99's version, and assumed that was the latest one. Sorry about that misunderstanding.

My understanding, based on the above, is original release was ultimately revised to little fanfare.

But the source code release did not reflect that. The X1 release was likely based off that source, and then my graphic patch was further on top of that.

That aside, yay icicles! Really impressed and looking forward to playing this. Thank you for revisiting this project.

[PowerPanda]

Oh, it probably goes without saying, but I'd beta test this in a heartbeat.

[frantik]

My understanding, based on the above, is original release was ultimately revised to little fanfare.

But the source code release did not reflect that. The X1 release was likely based off that source, and then my graphic patch was further on top of that.

Yeah, my final bug fix is dated March 2010, but the final version of the levels in the source are dated from late 2008 and early 2009.  I don't recall the release history but the update may have gone unnoticed.  It is for sure a shame the fixes didn't make it into the X1 edition.  No matter, all will be sorted soon enough.

Oh, it probably goes without saying, but I'd beta test this in a heartbeat.

Right on, I was hoping you guys would be interested in testing.  Really would like to have a test version ready for you guys by the end of the month, if not sooner. 

Got sideways pipes going.. I think I'm gonna add in some trees in levels where they seem to be placed more deliberately vs just random background elements.  Then I should be done with all the background changes.

Still need to add in the hammer power up.

also want to explore having mario exit from pipes at different heights, there's a few spots where this causes some big changes, like especially in 4-4

[niuus]

Yeah, gonna put out two patches, one with NES colors, one with X1 colors.  Personally I think the X1 colors & dithering look terrible but apparently people like it

Right now I'm thinking the final rom will feature a choice between two options.

The "Enhanced NES Version"

* Will use NES colors
* Enable the exit pipe in the trap room in 4-3.  I read somewhere that the developers didn't intend for that to be a trap

The other softlock area I may leave since the fix Power Panda put in changed the way that whole area works


The "X1" version

* incorporate graphics/color changes from Messatu
* leave in all level design bugs


Both will have the full title screen and be the most legit versions possible

Sounds great, more power to the player! I also dig the X1 colors, too.

Looking great!

[frantik]

Please Hammer, don't hurt em!

[Googie]

Please Hammer, don't hurt em!

Now that's gangsta.

[mahou]

Ohh!
Perfect!!

[ShadowOne333]

Wow! Hammer hype!
It's looking great and better each time. Can't wait for this!

[Dracula X]

That looks cool and fun to play! There is a way to get Mario to swim in the air. I always wonder what all of this stuff from SMBS would look or be like on the NES version.

[mahou]

Are there plans to implement the graphics for the small clouds and small shrubbery?

[frantik]

Are there plans to implement the graphics for the small clouds and small shrubbery?

That random small cloud in 1-3 is unlikely to be added but maybe.. not sure what you meant but the small shrubbery.  Besides the trees I don't really feel like messing with the background much.





(looks like i need to fix one tree)



I still want to explore trying to have mario come out of various height pipes and also maybe try to work out a solution to having two power ups on screen at a time.. the two power ups might be trickier or more work than I feel like putting in though, but we'll see.  Getting real close to a beta test release though

[mahou]

that screenshot looks great,(height of the tree is different)

I'm excited to see everything exclusive to the special version on Nes

I'm not totally sure but I think one of them appears on the 1st / 2nd screen of level 1-3 (small shrubbery)

[frantik]

I'm not totally sure but I think one of them appears on the 1st / 2nd screen of level 1-3 (small shrubbery)

ah i see that.. maybe i will put them in.. and I already fixed that one tree 

In other news my exploration with multiple power ups has proven successful! 

[mahou]

Excellent!! 
every update you give are good news,
hope you have luck for the pipelines

[shanem]

Great job, frantik!

Will the source code be available for those interested in addition to a patch?

[frantik]

Variable pipe exit heights done.. need to apply the pipe changes to the second half of the game, do the title screen and other odds and ends and hopefully be done.  I never hacked by working directly with the game source code vs hex editor before, it almost feels like cheating

[mahou]

Variable pipe exit done 
looks pretty good!
Would it be very difficult to add the exclusive final screens of this version along with the credits to the hack?

[MathUser2929]

looks good. what extra scenes?

[Vanya]

This is fantastic work!
I'll totally do some play testing if it'll help!

[frantik]

Would it be very difficult to add the exclusive final screens of this version along with the credits to the hack?

Yes I was thinking I would include the "Congrats" screen and credits..

looks good. what extra scenes?

at the end of the game there's a credits sequence


I started experimenting with the Sharp X1 look and decided to NOT use any of the dithered tiles, they just look too horrible on NES with composite output.  The Sharp X1 only has 8 colors, so there's a lot of dithering to try to make new colors.  NES has slightly better color capabilities, though it has its own limits with only 4 colors allowed per sprite.  Having looked at a bunch of Sharp X1 screens though, the red/blue aspect of them seems to be the dominate charateristic, so I feel like that can be brought over.  I'm ending up with a kind of "hybrid" scheme that looks good on NES but still is reminiscient of the X1.  I will probably offer the option to switch to the regular NES SMB palette, but before I was thinking of making the option more prominent, now it might be more of an "easter egg" or just a button option that is mentioned in the manual (vs an on screen menu or whatever)




(bonus: some enemies allowed to show up on the first screen of the level)

And I also decided this hack needs a title screen that makes it stand out from the other ones.. recreating the X1 title screen looks too much like existing hacks




I hope to have a version ready for play testing soon.. just wanna get the credit sequence done and maybe some other minor stuff