Disassemble a 16k bin

[bcprs1]

I've seen a few topics on disassebling 2k, 4k and 8k bins, but I'm curious if anyone has ever done a 16k bin? I know only a handful of games were done in 16k, but would love to see some of the source code for games like Solaris, Commando, Secret Quest, etc.

Thanks

[Rybags]

Disassembly in itself is simple enough. Distinguish between code and data areas is somewhat more complex but can be partly automated.

What complicates things is multiple banks. A reference from inside the fixed bank could be directed to any of 2, 4, <whatever> bank.

 

But even the best disassemblers only do so much, even on a fixed block of code without the banking. It's then up to the programmer to get in there and put some documentation and change some of the labelling to be meaninful.

[Omegamatrix]

The method most often used is to split the rom into 4K chunks, use Distella to disassemble each bank, and then merge it all together. A lot of the effort goes into getting all the references between banks right.

 

 

Most of the 16k games have been disassembled in some capacity by various people. Here is a link for the original source code for Solaris. Here is another for a Commando disassembly. I'm sure someone has disassembled Secret Quest before as I seem to recall a thread about its room layout.