What is a good emulator to hack Colecovision games

[+grips03]

What is a good emulator to hack Colecovision games to give unlimited lives, power ups, etc. I would make changes in a hex editor, but the emulator would point me to where to make the changes via a debug mode or single stepping through the code. i.e. normally lose a life, then life counter decrements in RAM, but I modify the code so this does not occur. Like Game Genie, but for Colecovision.

 

Also once the changes are made to the code does one have to update a CRC check or anything? I'm guessing not from other threads I've seen.

[youki]

I use BlueMSX for that.

[nanochess]

Also once the changes are made to the code does one have to update a CRC check or anything? I'm guessing not from other threads I've seen.

Colecovision games doesn't include CRC check, so you can change any byte without problems. Of course, don't mess with headers at ROM start or it will not boot.

[+grips03]

what is the name of the menu option to access to enable this view in real time?

[nanochess]

BlueMSX doesn't offer currently a way to see the memory in real time, you have to pause the emulator to see the memory.

[+grips03]

BlueMSX doesn't offer currently a way to see the memory in real time, you have to pause the emulator to see the memory.

 

that isn't going to be that friendly then. For Genesis and SMS games I was able to get a real time view (different emulator) and cause the event (lose life, get power up, etc) and then see the RAM change in real time. Perhaps I could single step through the code? Does BlueMSX support that? Is there a better method for this?

[nanochess]

that isn't going to be that friendly then. For Genesis and SMS games I was able to get a real time view (different emulator) and cause the event (lose life, get power up, etc) and then see the RAM change in real time. Perhaps I could single step through the code? Does BlueMSX support that? Is there a better method for this?

You can single step through the code and insert breakpoints so you can run the game at normal speed until it triggers a breakpoint that stops it.

[Kiwi]

There's only 1024 bytes to go through to see the RAM, and that is mirrored either 4 or 8 times(I don't remember). Usually games starts off with 5 lives and have 3 bytes to hold the score. Maybe looking for the number 5 and change that number will increase or decrease lives. I don't think the graphic for the lives will change until you die. I done some RAM change with Atari 2600 emulator. It'll should fun poking and changing things in RAM and see what happens.