SMILE version 0.40

[Jathys]

SMILE is now at version 0.40 . . . Here's what's new:
-set bomb timer
-set maximum # of bombs, beams, or missiles Samus can use at once
-easier handling of music control/track
-barrier tiles (you go through them, enemies don't)
-create/load/save enemy palettes to/from Tile Layer

That last one is pretty nice, if I do say so myself. I know SMILE handles palette changes already, but you can't directly see how it's affecting your critter. This helps you visualize the enemy in TLP (correct palettes do that) and also allows you to change palettes knowing exactly what the end results are going to be ahead of time. Save them with TLP, then load them back into SMILE:
http://jathys.zophar.net/images/croc.gif

Alliance:
Still working on things, just slowly. Beam splitter code is 1/3 done. Lots of ideas are surfacing due to research I've done in the past week.

[Blade556]

Nice work Jathys, I'm liking the looks of it already <img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif> Keep up the good work <img src=smilies/thumb.gif>

[Chill Penguin]

WOW! So that's what's possible with SMILE combined with TLP (probably CHR-YY also). Heh, I actually saw your stuff on four different boards, but this is the only one to have the screenshot.

Once again, good job. I'm amazed at how far this project has gone.

[Jathys]

> WOW! So that's what's possible with SMILE combined with TLP
> (probably CHR-YY also).

Not unless CHR-YY can read TLP palettes (I had to include the header) . . . If it doesn't, but there's enough demand for it, I'll make it CHR-YY compatible too.

Two things to show off:
http://jathys.zophar.net/images/pb1.gif
Note: the multi-pb's do not all work.

http://jathys.zophar.net/images/pb2.gif
Note: the shot does work, but currently only goes one direction.

[Insomnia DMX]

While downloading this I noticed that it took Jathys less than one month to make a new update to SMILE, that's pretty fast and consistant. Also two features here will be very helpful in the future! <img src=smilies/thumb.gif>

[Murray]

> While downloading this I noticed that it took Jathys less
> than one month to make a new update to SMILE, that's pretty
> fast and consistant. Also two features here will be very
> helpful in the future!
>

If my ROM hadn't been corrupted when using the previous version...

[king killa]

> If my ROM hadn't been corrupted when using the previous
> version...
>

weren't you banned back when you started bitching about this site giving you a trojan?

[Insomnia DMX]

You have two options if you still have the rom.

1. Remove the intro if it's not already removed.
2. Use the compare rom feature, compare the hack to the original.

That is, if you still have it...

[The 9th Sage]

re the super missle in maru mari form

Hahah, nice. <img src=smilies/thumb.gif> That's kinda great. :D

[Fla Flash]

You, my friend, rock....if this gets any better I'll probably have a minor heart attack.

[Jathys]

> If my ROM hadn't been corrupted when using the previous
> version...

1) The readme file tells you to back-up.
2) Common sense tells you to back-up.
3) I'm sure you'll find another one.
4) As Insom pointed out, there's a (slow) file comparer that can help me FIX the program if people contact me after errors like that happen. What a novel idea.

[Jathys]

> You, my friend, rock....if this gets any better I'll
> probably have a minor heart attack.

http://jathys.zophar.net/images/delay.gif

[king killa]

Not only that, but this guy should have been banned back when he made the posts in suggestions.

[Jathys]

> > You, my friend, rock....if this gets any better I'll
> > probably have a minor heart attack.

http://jathys.zophar.net/images/met_inv.gif

[Insomnia DMX]

I always wanted a "ball shot,"
A cheat in MZM, "no suit," used not long after you get the morph ball will let you do this.

C:ServerxampphtdocszopharoldwwwthreadsattachmentsM ZM Screen.bmp

[CROcOp]

> weren't you banned back when you started bitching about this
> site giving you a trojan?
>
Whaaat???<img src=smilies/retard.gif>

[pipes]

> > weren't you banned back when you started bitching about
> this
> > site giving you a trojan?
> >
> Whaaat???

I don't know if I should bring it up... ,but I will anywayhttp://www.zophar.net/wwwthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Board=suggest&Number=240138&page=&view=&sb=&o=
<img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif></a>

[CROcOp]

Not really a Metroid, huh?
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v736/CROcOp/castroid.gif
Should I call this a Castroid or Metrovania?

[AkaneJones]

> Not really a Metroid, huh?
>
> Should I call this a Castroid or Metrovania?
>
No no no Akumu no Metroidula

[CROcOp]

> No no no Akumu no Metroidula
>
Maybe I could go with that...

[Jathys]

Believe it or not, I'm getting ready for another release:
-I've already fixed the bug that reads hex for music controls but saves as changes as decimal.
-Adding an option to the ini file to allow the user to choose between TLP palette format or YY-Char format. Also adding support for loading/saving level palettes
-The graphics editor (ie- decompress with SMILE, edit in your own tile editor, recompress to SMILE) will be made available
-Miscellaneous game behavior properties will be added (such as delay between bombs, speed of jumps, etc...)

This will be a sizable release, as you can see . . . Anyone have any suggestions for things that should be added?

[MonsieurSirhan]

> This will be a sizable release, as you can see . . . Anyone
> have any suggestions for things that should be added?
>

Charging Missiles?

Simultaneous 8-direction laser shot when being a ball.

[Chill Penguin]

I listed a few at TEK, but I thougt of another one.

Adding some of those created PLMs (don't know how it would be accomplished though). Oh great, are we going to have something along the lines of Super Metroid ASM workshop available for download?

Oh, I have a great one! "Create hack" button, but actually do something, like corrupt the rom or randomly change bytes within all the screens to look like total garbage.

Eh, but a more likely possibility along those lines, a "default generator" button that only works on the current room. That way, if you think you've corrupted your rom, you can have it fix that room. Like we actually need that <img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif>. That's more for the n00bs that don't know the limitations of the original Super Metroid.

[Fx3]

The enemy data is a problem. We have no freedom to change the enemy data - limited to bear with the stuff the address posses, or changing it. Meh. Why no way to add/delete a few more types of enemies in a room (or corridor)?

Plus, the map. I think the map editor is... hard to use. It's a couple of rooms linked each other through the doors... as pointers. Can't you add a feature to link the rooms when scrolling up/down/left/right? I mean... if scrolling up, change to room (offset number here); else, if scrolling down, change to room (another offset here) and so on.

Hmm... There's an issue with the doors when placed mid-level, but not to get the screen scrolled - just to separate two regions of a same room. The two right blocks of an horizontal door are "transparent/air", and not solid.

[Fx3]

> Charging Missiles?
>
> Simultaneous 8-direction laser shot when being a ball.

Nope. This would require ASM programming, dude.

[Jathys]

Alliance is not dead, just letting people know. What better way to let people know than a screenshot? I call this one "Magnet Ball" . . . It will be similar to Spider Ball, only you may not be able to use it on walls (ie- only the ceiling). As of right now, I've only made it so that gravity reverses itself when you are morphed. $17 bytes of ASM so far . . . Expecting the total code to be upwards of around $80 bytes when finished.

http://jathys.zophar.net/images/magnetball.gif

BTW- Yes, I know that Samus isn't actually touching the ceiling in the screenshot. She's still falling towards the ceiling. To have her "land" on it completely, I'll need to reverse collision detection for magnet ball . . . Some of those $60 or so bytes I'll be adding.

[Murray]

> 2. Use the compare rom feature, compare the hack to the
> original.
I WOULD use the compare rom feature, but SMILE won't open my rom to let me do so! "Protected ROM, you cheater!"

[CROcOp]

> Nope. This would require ASM programming, dude.
>
Is this an ASM hack or what?

[Jathys]

> Is this an ASM hack or what?

Alliance is an ASM hack, yes. SMILE isn't though (and that's mainly what I'm asking for suggestions on). I just wish there were a way to bridge the gap . . . Some of my ASM hacks have properties that should be editable with SMILE.

In any case, I'll take what suggestions I can get:
As for missile charging . . . This could be a nice way to use super missiles. It'd prevent the player from shooting them too quickly. It'd also open up a space in the FX3 menu for a new item.

As for shooting 6 directional lasers from morph form . . . That's quite all right. I think it's enough that I intend on allowing you to shoot in morph anyway.

[king killa]

> > 2. Use the compare rom feature, compare the hack to the
> > original.
> I WOULD use the compare rom feature, but SMILE won't open my
> rom to let me do so! "Protected ROM, you cheater!"
>

It's still your fault. Backup your roms.

[Fx3]

Good job. ;)
Well, I'm not a fan of Metroid II, neither of Spider Ball argument on it. I just think that Metroid Prime's Spider Ball track is... better than... magneticING anywhere... :D Anyways, it's a welcome feature.

[Fx3]

> use super missiles. It'd prevent the player from shooting
> them too quickly. It'd also open up a space in the FX3 menu
> for a new item.

<img src=smilies/puke.gif>W...What do you mean by... 'FX3 menu', huh? <img src=smilies/retard.gif>

[Jathys]

> Well, I'm not a fan of Metroid II

Neither am I.
> I just think that Metroid Prime's Spider Ball track is... better
>than... magneticING anywhere... :D

I just want to be able to roll and whatnot on ceilings . . . Bombing might dislodge you, but will likely bounce you down, then you'd fall back up. Not allowing walls for 2 reasons:
1) Spiderball made things too easy because of the walls
2) It would be a bitch to code.

Just because it'll work on any ceiling surface *type* does not mean you'll be able to do it anywhere. I plan on finding limits for it . . . Certain areas/rooms with some visible difference about them maybe (ie- heat rooms of Norfair could be magnetic, for instance) . . . It has been suggested to me that only certain tile types be allowed, but this would make it harder to code for slopes.

All I can say is, don't worry, it won't be corny.

[Jathys]

> W...What do you mean by... 'FX3 menu', huh?

Sorry. Meant Layer 3 menu (ie- the one at the top of the screen during normal play).

[Fx3]

> Norfair could be magnetic, for instance) . . . It has been
> suggested to me that only certain tile types be allowed, but
> this would make it harder to code for slopes.

OKay. A hack is always better when ASM resources are used. ;) I don't disagree about SpiderBall though...
<img src=smilies/director.gif>

[Insomnia DMX]

I recreated some things from Metroid Prime, they aren't too shabby.

[Murray]

It is NOT my fault!

Anyway, this all started when I tried to add an item to where the hatchling used to be(the broken capsule room in Ceres)<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Murray on 06/09/05 02:29 AM.</FONT></P>

[Jathys]

> OKay. A hack is always better when ASM resources are used.

I've decided to give into peer pressure and limit the types of blocks this can be done with (though there will be LOTS of areas to use it on though). I don't want to make it so I can say, "Cool, look at this thing you can play without." I don't want to make it so it can be used once or twice then forgotten. It will be integral, but will not make things quite as easy/accessible as that cheap ass spider ball did.

Besides, coding some more things into it, the code is actually coming quite easily to me now.

[Isildur]

> It is NOT my fault!
>

[response in kind]

Is TOO!!!!111

[/response in kind, i.e. annoying immature whining]

<img src=smilies/upeyes.gif>

Learn some common sense. Learn to accept responsibility for your own mistakes. (Not making a backup of a ROM you plan to hack is stupid. Period. End of Story. And anyone with half a brain can just find another copy.) Here's a tip: Blaming other people for your own incompetence is rarely a good tactic for getting assistance from them.

Once you've learned all that, then maybe try tackling ROM hacking.

[Jathys]

> It is NOT my fault!
>
> Anyway, this all started when I tried to add an item to
> where the hatchling used to be(the broken capsule room in
> Ceres)

The text and rtf files that come with smile say two basic things . . . 1) Back up your rom. 2) If it looks icky in smile, don't mess with it.

I'm making the thing and I don't even trust the program.

[Murray]

It was NOT my incompetence, you MORON!

[king killa]

> It was NOT my incompetence, you MORON!
>

okay, seriously. someone ban this 10 year old asshat. Swamp, when you banned me a couple years ago, it was the best thing that had ever happened to me. Do this kid a favor.

[Insomnia DMX]

> It was NOT my incompetence, you MORON!

When you retort, here, you make it worth the other person's while to read. You shouldn't use all caps anyway... And it wasn't your incompetence, it was your immatureness, if that's even a word...

[Lenophis]

<blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr>

And it wasn't your incompetence, it was your immatureness, if that's even a word...

<hr></blockquote>
I don't think that's a word, but I do know that stupidity is a word. <img src=smilies/magbiggrin.gif> Murray, it's nobody's fault but your own that your hack was messed up. Nobody infected your machine, you weren't hacked, and the CIA isn't looking to stop this from happening. Just remember to make backups, and you'll be fine.