Atari 2600 Hack Tips

[Uncle Duke]

I was wondering if anyone could post any good tips on hacking graphics.

[NE146]

Try doing a search for older posts that dealt with altering graphics as they can be helpful. I found:

 

http://www.atariage.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb...c&f=16&t=001366

 

and

 

http://www.atariage.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb...c&f=16&t=001701

[riki]

In addition to SHOWGFX/EDITGFX, there's also a DOS program out there called TLAYER. It's designed mainly to hack graphics in ROM images of Nintendo cartridges, but can be used to hack Atari 2600 ROM graphics as well. (just use "tlayer myhack.bin" or something, and it will go into 1 bit per pixel mode, perfect because most Atari 2600 graphics are encoded in 1 bit per pixel.)

 

However, note that the graphics displayed from the ROM image by either SHOWGFX or EDITGFX will appear upside down, and multicolor sprite graphics make take up a lot of work because the 1 bit per pixel graphics are actually monochromatic. Color assignments are stored elsewhere within the ROM. Good luck!

[riki]

BTW, TLayer is GUI-driven, so you can use the mouse to draw and even do cut-and-paste stuff.

[Uncle Duke]

Wow, where can I get the Tlayer program at?

[Thelen]

hi,

 

I/ve have written a program which let you edit the rom. you just put it in a map with the rom(s) you want to edit. start the program and you'l see a raster of 20*8 bit blocks.

 

then you can load a rom, save the rom under a name, goto a adress etc. and if you find the graphics in the rom you can click on it with your mouse to edit the graph, and save the rom and play it. works easy

 

for example if you want to edit berzerk:

start the program, press l (load) and give a filename : berzerk (ms-dos name)

then you can edit the rom where you want.

 

the graph of the player starts at adress 3500 (decimal) so press g (goto) and then give the adress : 3500 and you will see the players graphics.

press a to move a adress up and z to go down.

 

if you are interested mail me, or write down your e-mail adress so i could send it. (got still no site)

 

TheleN

 

e-mail : [email protected]

[Uncle Duke]

[email protected] you can email me there. It sounds interesting.

[Joel D. Park]

Hey,

 

Go here, there is a PDF document called, Changing atari graphics the easy way. Download it, it should tell you all you need to know.

http://atarihq.com/danb/a2600.html#devsystems

[Gregory DG]

quote:

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Originally posted by thelen:

if you are interested mail me, or write down your e-mail adress so i could send it. (got still no site)

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I'm sure I could find some space for it if you want.

 

Myself (and I'm sure others) would like to get a hold of it.