Nukey Shay Posted July 19, 2005 Share Posted July 19, 2005 (edited) Picked at this game a bit...and it's almost working. Hold the button down in-game to move at double speed. There's still a slight problem due to the way that display scrolling is handled. It's executed apart from the normal movement routine...and then only when it has enough free time to do so. So adding double-speed to the player sprite might cause the display to lag behind a little on occasion (generally when moving Jr. upward...be careful not to let him cross the upper edge of the playfield). Test version+assembly: Jr.PacMan_throttle_.zip Edited July 19, 2005 by Nukey Shay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted July 20, 2005 Author Share Posted July 20, 2005 Hack corrected. Instead of doing the whole routine twice to scroll the display...I found that all I needed to do was perform the addition/subtraction to the screen pointers (I'm mistakenly thought that the pointer ram was shared...in which case I wouldn't have been able to do so). Works like a charm now Still mapping out the disassembly file so that more radical additions can be possible (like blue monster point values being shown or adding in a "plus" mode). Current assembly builds seperate NTSC and PAL versions. Jr.PacMan_throttle_.zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Atarius Maximus Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Turbo Pac-Man...this is a cool idea. I'm going to try this one out when I get home from work tonight, can't wait! I like the idea of the monster point values being shown...what other ideas do you have brewing for this hack? AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Atarius Maximus Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 (edited) I just played a few rounds. This hack makes this game much more fun for me than the original...it's the first time I've ever cleared the first maze! It's pretty hard to turn when you're at the faster speed, I found myself slowing down when I need to make several tight turns in a row. Great Job Nukey, this hack rocks! AM Edited July 21, 2005 by Atarius Maximus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercat Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 I just played a few rounds. This hack makes this game much more fun for me than the original...it's the first time I've ever cleared the first maze! It's pretty hard to turn when you're at the faster speed, I found myself slowing down when I need to make several tight turns in a row. Great Job Nukey, this hack rocks! 895441[/snapback] Agreed. Before this, the game was too hard and tedious to be any fun. The hack doesn't exactly makes it easy, but does make it more satisfying. Now if only the monsters would stay blue longer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdub_bobby Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 I just played a few rounds. This hack makes this game much more fun for me than the original...it's the first time I've ever cleared the first maze! It's pretty hard to turn when you're at the faster speed, I found myself slowing down when I need to make several tight turns in a row. Great Job Nukey, this hack rocks! 895441[/snapback] Agreed. Before this, the game was too hard and tedious to be any fun. The hack doesn't exactly makes it easy, but does make it more satisfying. Now if only the monsters would stay blue longer... 895451[/snapback] I dunno - the difficulty makes the game for me. I don't like Ms. Pac-Man (2600) as much because it takes too long to get hard. But if you are going to change other things about Jr. Pac-Man...how about that awful first level color? Yucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrizzLee Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 .....I don't like Ms. Pac-Man (2600) as much because it takes too long to get hard.... 895735[/snapback] Maybe you should try real porn. Ok I'm outta here...... -Lee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PacManPlus Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 I was waiting to see how long it would take for someone to make a comment about that statement Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vdub_bobby Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Oh man... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimefighter Posted July 22, 2005 Share Posted July 22, 2005 The speed up chip on the arcade machines makes Pac-Man move at 4x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted July 30, 2005 Author Share Posted July 30, 2005 The speed up chip on the arcade machines makes Pac-Man move at 4x. 896508[/snapback] Yup...that applies to PacMan and Ms. as well (in addition to hacks, etc.). But IMO that's too fast. The existing program can handle up to 3x just by adding an additional byte into the "which object to move?" table...but I think that 2x is just fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted July 30, 2005 Author Share Posted July 30, 2005 I just played a few rounds. This hack makes this game much more fun for me than the original...it's the first time I've ever cleared the first maze! It's pretty hard to turn when you're at the faster speed, I found myself slowing down when I need to make several tight turns in a row. Great Job Nukey, this hack rocks! 895441[/snapback] Agreed. Before this, the game was too hard and tedious to be any fun. The hack doesn't exactly makes it easy, but does make it more satisfying. Now if only the monsters would stay blue longer... 895451[/snapback] That would be simple to do...perhaps add it as a difficulty switch option I dunno - the difficulty makes the game for me. I don't like Ms. Pac-Man (2600) as much because it takes too long to get hard. But if you are going to change other things about Jr. Pac-Man...how about that awful first level color? Yucky. 895735[/snapback] That's also a good thought...since this hack was basically just trying to retain as much of the original while adding in the new options. I did alter the brightness of the colors a bit already to make a few routines shorter (like the maze flash routine). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WildBillTX Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 (edited) I like it! When I was going to college (in Northern Oklahoma) a lot of the Pac-Man's and Ms.Pac Man's at the local convenience stores and arcades had that speed chip. Many of them were converted non-successful or older games with bootleg romkits. Could the mazes and Pac Jr. be hacked to make scrolling screen versions of Ms. Pac Man or Pac Man? Edited July 31, 2005 by WildBillTX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted September 21, 2005 Author Share Posted September 21, 2005 Sure...but since there's no practical way of actually producing a cartridge of superchip games, it would be a lot of work for little gain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 Sure...but since there's no practical way of actually producing a cartridge of superchip games, it would be a lot of work for little gain 935929[/snapback] So is this Jr pac hack a superchip game? As in no cheap 27128 chips allowed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted November 5, 2005 Author Share Posted November 5, 2005 http://www.tripoint.org/kevtris/files/sizes.txt The hack doesn't change the bankswitching/chip type. Additional ram is still required for the game to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 http://www.tripoint.org/kevtris/files/sizes.txt The hack doesn't change the bankswitching/chip type. Additional ram is still required for the game to work. 960802[/snapback] Any chance you can make it a non-superchip game? As in not need the extra RAM or is that a pipe dream of mine that is impossible\too much work for what it's worth? I really like this hack it spices up PACMAN JR and actually makes me what to play it more often but I prefer carts not emulators. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercat Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 Any chance you can make it a non-superchip game? As in not need the extra RAM or is that a pipe dream of mine that is impossible\too much work for what it's worth? I really like this hack it spices up PACMAN JR and actually makes me what to play it more often but I prefer carts not emulators. 963018[/snapback] I think there are too many dots. Every eight dots take up a byte of RAM, and the Atari 2600 only has 128 bytes to start with. Add to that the RAM required to track monster positions, perform sprite multiplexing, etc. and there's just no way the 128 bytes of the Atari will be enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted November 10, 2005 Share Posted November 10, 2005 Any chance you can make it a non-superchip game? As in not need the extra RAM or is that a pipe dream of mine that is impossible\too much work for what it's worth? I really like this hack it spices up PACMAN JR and actually makes me what to play it more often but I prefer carts not emulators. 963018[/snapback] I think there are too many dots. Every eight dots take up a byte of RAM, and the Atari 2600 only has 128 bytes to start with. Add to that the RAM required to track monster positions, perform sprite multiplexing, etc. and there's just no way the 128 bytes of the Atari will be enough. 963036[/snapback] Shitty buzz. But thanks for the info none the less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted November 12, 2005 Author Share Posted November 12, 2005 Note: I think that each dot in Jr. takes 2 bits of ram...since any of them can be large or small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercat Posted November 12, 2005 Share Posted November 12, 2005 Note: I think that each dot in Jr. takes 2 bits of ram...since any of them can be large or small. 964357[/snapback] I'd neglected to consider that, but it might be interesting to examine the kernel to see. Packing five dots per byte would complicate the kernel slightly (versus using two bits per, or 4 per byte) but probably not unreasonably. It would complicate 'eating' more, but that only needs to be done at most once per frame. Further, things could probably be packed more than that given that the dots are not independent. Indeed, for a group of seven dots in a row, with walls above and below, there are only 239 possible arrangements of dots: ------- O------ OO----- OOO---- OOOO--- OOOOO-- OOOOOO- OOOOOOO o------ oO----- oOO---- oOOO--- oOOOO-- oOOOOO- oOOOOOO oo----- ooO---- ooOO--- ooOOO-- ooOOOO- ooOOOOO ooo---- oooO--- oooOO-- oooOOO- oooOOOO oooo--- ooooO-- ooooOO- ooooOOO ooooo-- oooooO- oooooOO oooooo- ooooooO ooooooo Oo----- OoO---- OoOO--- OoOOO-- OoOOOO- OoOOOOO Ooo---- OooO--- OooOO-- OooOOO- OooOOOO Oooo--- OoooO-- OoooOO- OoooOOO Ooooo-- OooooO- OooooOO Oooooo- OoooooO Ooooooo OOo---- OOoO--- OOoOO-- OOoOOO- OOoOOOO OOoo--- OOooO-- OOooOO- OOooOOO OOooo-- OOoooO- OOoooOO OOoooo- OOooooO OOooooo OOOo--- OOOoO-- OOOoOO- OOOoOOO OOOoo-- OOOooO- OOOooOO OOOooo- OOOoooO OOOoooo OOOOo-- OOOOoO- OOOOoOO OOOOoo- OOOOooO OOOOooo OOOOOo- OOOOOoO OOOOOoo OOOOOOo -O----- -OO---- -OOO--- -OOOO-- -OOOOO- -OOOOOO -o----- -oO---- -oOO--- -oOOO-- -oOOOO- -oOOOOO -oo---- -ooO--- -ooOO-- -ooOOO- -ooOOOO -ooo--- -oooO-- -oooOO- -oooOOO -oooo-- -ooooO- -ooooOO -ooooo- -oooooO -oooooo -Oo---- -OoO--- -OoOO-- -OoOOO- -OoOOOO -Ooo--- -OooO-- -OooOO- -OooOOO -Oooo-- -OoooO- -OoooOO -Ooooo- -OooooO -Oooooo -OOo--- -OOoO-- -OOoOO- -OOoOOO -OOoo-- -OOooO- -OOooOO -OOooo- -OOoooO -OOoooo -OOOo-- -OOOoO- -OOOoOO -OOOoo- -OOOooO -OOOooo -OOOOo- -OOOOoO -OOOOoo -OOOOOo --O---- --OO--- --OOO-- --OOOO- --OOOOO --o---- --oO--- --oOO-- --oOOO- --oOOOO --oo--- --ooO-- --ooOO- --ooOOO --ooo-- --oooO- --oooOO --oooo- --ooooO --ooooo --Oo--- --OoO-- --OoOO- --OoOOO --Ooo-- --OooO- --OooOO --Oooo- --OoooO --Ooooo --OOo-- --OOoO- --OOoOO --OOoo- --OOooO --OOooo --OOOo- --OOOoO --OOOoo --OOOOo ---O--- ---OO-- ---OOO- ---OOOO ---o--- ---oO-- ---oOO- ---oOOO ---oo-- ---ooO- ---ooOO ---ooo- ---oooO ---oooo ---Oo-- ---OoO- ---OoOO ---Ooo- ---OooO ---Oooo ---OOo- ---OOoO ---OOoo ---OOOo ----O-- ----OO- ----OOO ----o-- ----oO- ----oOO ----oo- ----ooO ----ooo ----Oo- ----OoO ----Ooo ----OOo -----O- -----OO -----o- -----oO -----oo -----Oo ------O ------o 239 I doubt Atari does so, but it would be possible to use lookup tables to unpack such a coding (each byte stores seven dots, at least for certain parts of the maze) on the fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted November 26, 2005 Author Share Posted November 26, 2005 Um...7 bits that can be either on or off yields 128 combinations in just a regular Pac Man game. Jr complicates matters since each bit or dot has 3 frames...large, small, and eaten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supercat Posted November 27, 2005 Share Posted November 27, 2005 Um...7 bits that can be either on or off yields 128 combinations in just a regular Pac Man game. Jr complicates matters since each bit or dot has 3 frames...large, small, and eaten. 972203[/snapback] Seven dots in a row, without any means of entering or exiting top and bottom, can only exist in one of 29 states: ooooooo -oooooo --ooooo ---oooo ----ooo -----oo ------o ------- oooooo- -ooooo- --oooo- ---ooo- ----oo- -----o- ooooo-- -oooo-- --ooo-- ---oo-- ----o-- oooo--- -ooo--- --oo--- ---o--- ooo---- -oo---- --o---- oo----- -o----- o------ If Pac Man may enter into the middle of a group of dots, then other combinations become possible. But if the only way to eat middle dots is to eat end dots first, then only the combinations above exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nukey Shay Posted November 29, 2005 Author Share Posted November 29, 2005 Kinda limits the maze variations a bit...but it still wouldn't matter because the "fruit" object doesn't clear dots as it moves over them, it just makes them larger (and it could begin/end at any point in a row of dots...say if you were killed while it was wandering around). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dinoboy38 Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 Personaly, I do remember playing and having the Jr. Pac-man for Atari2600. IT was the only decent version of Pac-man for the 2600 in my opinion. If you really wanted to improve the game, they should've made mini movie intermisisons just like the arcade version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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