PGM High score saving and other modification suggestions

[austere]

yosai has recently informed me that my preliminary Daioujou Black Label patch works on real hardware, which is great news! After an interesting discussion, I went off to try and save (more like retain) high scores in NVRAM and it was fairly easy to do. This modification is primarily aimed at PCB owners who wish to retain their high scores between power cycles as a lot of people use save states in MAME which would stop it from functioning correctly. I won't distribute it just yet, since I still have to make it slightly more robust in the circumstance that the NVRAM's battery runs out (which might crash the PCB due to invalid entries, forcing you to use the genuine revision).

Anyway, I thought I'd compile a list of modifications as well as open a thread for people to suggest new ones. I won't necessarily work on them myself, but this thread can serve the purpose of gathering any data that can be used by anyone who wants to try their hand at it.

I realise the thought of modifying something as sacrilegious as these games can be disturbing but most of the modifications I have initially suggested are genuine improvements. Simulation mode is something I wouldn't really use (I don't even use continues), but a few people have pushed for it now and I think it'll make the PCB/emulated version at least as functional as Arika's port, so why not.

List of suggested modifications:

Dodonpachi Daioujou Black Label
Rank meters - [Partly done][Tested on PCB -- thanks yosai!]
Simulation mode - [In progress, needs a lot of work]
Fix 2P maximum hits - [No work yet, but duplicate variable issue known]
High score saving - [Almost done, making more robust][Tested on PCB -- thanks Yosai!]
Instant restart/invalidates score - [No work done yet] (Sumez)

Ketsui
Anti-empty lock mode - [A lot of work required, will be switchable in service mode]
Stage 5 music bug fix - [MAME Replay required] (See this thread, item 3.3)
Stage 1 boss chip count fix - [MAME Replay required] (See this thread, item 3.4)
Ketsui bomb glitch switchable in service menu - [MAME Replay required] (See this video)
Play full tracks in service mode - [Completed by trap15]
High score saving - [No work done yet]
Back label mode - [Mostly done, needs toggle in service menu]
Instant restart/invalidates score - [No work done yet] (Sumez)
Simulation mode - [No work done yet]
Add option to use 1st revision lock sound to service menu. - [No work done yet] (emphatic)

ESPGaluda
Play full tracks in service mode - [Completed by trap15]
High score saving - [No work done yet]
Add the missing button 4 to the input test menu (only button 1-3 are visible although the game uses button 4 for FULL AUTO) - [No work done yet] (emphatic)
Sound controls - [No work done yet] (yosai, emphatic)
Instant restart/invalidates score - [No work done yet] (Sumez)
Simulation mode - [No work done yet]

General
Arrange modes: emphatic
Arrange tracks recomposition

If there's enough demand, I can change the thread subject to encompass modifications (as suggested by this thread) for non-PGM games. Of course, since it's my thread, I'll decide whether a suggestion is good one or not, so not all of them will necessarily make it to the list. Don't let that stop you from posting though, it could spur an interesting discussion.

[cools]

Bugfixes and high score saving?

I'll have to pick up a board again

[captpain]

What is the "Ketsui bomb switchable in menu" line referring to?

Cool stuff, by the way.

[StarCreator]

I assume it'll work like the switch in the 5pb port, where the Ketsui Bomb glitch (where bombs fired sideways or downwards never explode unless they collide with an enemy) can be turned on or off.

[emphatic]

This is way cool! How about:

ESPGALUDA
Fix: Add the missing button 4 to the input test menu (only button 1-3 are visible although the game uses button 4 for FULL AUTO)
Addition : Visible hitbox ON/OFF in the system options (shown on high score table with a different colour)

KETSUI
Addition : Visible hitbox ON/OFF in the system options (shown on high score table with a different colour)

DDP-DOJ/BL
Addition : Visible hitbox ON/OFF in the system options (shown on high score table with a different colour)

[austere]

What is the "Ketsui bomb switchable in menu" line referring to?

In addition to what StarCreator said, apparently you have to lock on a target which is on the same horizontal position as you, fire a bomb, but kill the target before it is destroyed. There's a video of it here:

http://video.sina.com.cn/v/b/34553106-1435976970.html

You're basically invincible during the entire fight. It cracks me up every time I watch it. I'm going to grab this video and reupload it on youtube because there's none of them on there.

I'll also edit the description in the list to make it clearer, it's a bit vague as it is.

Fix: Add the missing button 4 to the input test menu (only button 1-3 are visible although the game uses button 4 for FULL AUTO)

Yeah this one's an easy fix I think, I'll add it to the list.

Addition : Visible hitbox ON/OFF in the system options (shown on high score table with a different colour)

This one is quite tough though! Keep in mind that these games work within strict sprite limits ... IKD really wasn't kidding when he said he was working with inferior hardware. Unless it is a graphic ROM modification as well as a program ROM modification, you cannot really do it reliably. Maybe someone can think of a way, I seriously cannot, without possibly pushing something out of the display list (big no no). The exception might be ESPGaluda, but I'll have to investigate how the instruction menu display the sprite (in Ketsui/DOJ's case, you'd have to get pretty lucky to find just the right bitset that represents the hitbox!).

[NzzpNzzp]

I'm going to grab this video and reupload it on youtube because there's none of them on there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTtSgko1Qac

[emphatic]

Fix: Add the missing button 4 to the input test menu (only button 1-3 are visible although the game uses button 4 for FULL AUTO)

Yeah this one's an easy fix I think, I'll add it to the list.

Great! While you're at it, is it possible to find out what the TEST MENU option for AUTO FIRE on/off actually does? We've discussed this here earlier, but the closest we've gotten is that the laser on A-button engages a bit quicker with the option set to "off" (this is just guesswork though). However, the D-button will ALWAYS have autofire (unless you use the button-switching trick of holding down buttons C+D while starting a new credit, putting FULL AUTO on C and BARRIER on D).

Addition : Visible hitbox ON/OFF in the system options (shown on high score table with a different colour)

This one is quite tough though! Keep in mind that these games work within strict sprite limits ... IKD really wasn't kidding when he said he was working with inferior hardware. Unless it is a graphic ROM modification as well as a program ROM modification, you cannot really do it reliably. Maybe someone can think of a way, I seriously cannot, without possibly pushing something out of the display list (big no no). The exception might be ESPGaluda, but I'll have to investigate how the instruction menu display the sprite (in Ketsui/DOJ's case, you'd have to get pretty lucky to find just the right bitset that represents the hitbox!).

I didn't expect it to be an easy addition, but I also didn't see the point in not suggesting it, as it would be pretty damn cool.

Edit: Here's another suggestion for Ketsui -> Add option to use 1.0 LOCK SOUND to TEST menu.

[austere]

When you're at it, is it possible to find out what the TEST MENU option for AUTO FIRE on/off actually does?

If I get around to reverse engineering ESPGaluda, I'll definitely check it out. I suspect it'll have almost identical service menu code to DOJ so it'll be a matter of searching where the memory locations are accessed, but it'll still require a few weeks of dusk till dawn work. Maybe mikeneko can help out?

I didn't expect it to be an easy addition, but I also didn't see the point in not suggesting it, as it would be pretty damn cool.

Don't get me wrong, I really liked the suggestion! I don't want to list it just yet though as it may not be possible with a PRGROM modification and I doubt many people would like to resolder/burn the graphics ROMs. I could be missing something though, so please by all means discuss this possibility if you understand the hardware. Once a possible route is suggested, it'll go up there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTtSgko1Qac

Thanks NzzpNzzp, I thought I saw that before. Well, now there's one on youtube with an English description...

[Lance Boyle]

Holy shit I am excited to play Ketsui without empty-lock / air shot.

Thanks for everything, Austere!

[Dave_K.]

+1 for HS saving. I'd put batteries back onto all my PGMs if this was available.

[cstle]

Can someone explain to me what empty lock is?

[NzzpNzzp]

When you switch to your lock shot from regular just as you kill an enemy. It makes the game give you the chips from killing them with your regular shot and the bonus chips from lock shotting them at the same time. It's mostly good for when you don't have a chain going, 'cause you can get a 5 and the lock shot chips at the same time.

You can see it happen in pretty much any replay, just look at how people kill the big silver planes after the very first powerup carrier. Like everyone does it there.

[Sumez]

I'm not sure how it would be doable (since it requires an interface, sort of like Unibios), but stage select on the PCB would be instant win for anyone who likes to practice on a real cab.
I assume there's a variable somewhere that can be changed simply to modify which stage is launched after selecting craft/character.

[emphatic]

I just don't get why the empty lock feature for Ketsui is needed? Won't it just mean that some high level scoring no longer can be performed?

How about adding a "back label" switch for Ketsui?

[austere]

I'm not sure how it would be doable (since it requires an interface, sort of like Unibios)

Piece of cake, trust me. Just gotta make it look nice.

I just don't get why the empty lock feature for Ketsui is needed?

Well, some people consider it an inelegant part of the scoring system. I'm not even sure if it was intentional, I guess we'll find out if trap15 or I get around to reverse engineering it. The scoring potential will be lowered, definitely, but then it's a totally different game. Could be interesting.

How about adding a "back label" switch for Ketsui? :lol:

Dammit, that was meant to be a surprise. Added. ;)

[Sumez]

Piece of cake, trust me. Just gotta make it look nice.

In that case, try to include a way to edit starting rank, counters/multiplyers etc. anything that could influence the way you play and scoring potential, and you'll be everyone's hero.
I don't have any PGM games myself, but if I did I would love a way to practice directly from the PCB. Wish I could do it with CPS2.
I guess most people on this forum aren't as anti-Mame as I am, though.

[emphatic]

How about adding a "back label" switch for Ketsui?

Dammit, that was meant to be a surprise. Added.

Added to my wishlist: If you start to reverse-engineer ESPGALUDA, please find out what triggers the first form of the stage 2 midboss (sometimes it appears in one form, sometimes in another, one of these will give you lots of points one will not).

[yosai]

Some really great work here austere. Thanks for putting your time, effort and knowledge in to something beneficial for the PCB owners.

I can't really think of anything else to add that's not already listed. Maybe adding a music on/off toggle to the service menu of EspGaluda.

[Sumez]

Instant stage restart, anyone?

[austere]

Added to my wishlist: If you start to reverse-engineer ESPGALUDA, please find out what triggers the first form of the stage 2 midboss (sometimes it appears in one form, sometimes in another, one of these will give you lots of points one will not).

Hmmm, I thought it had to do with the rank level you reach by staying in overdrive? I'll certainly check it out if I get around to it and post my findings in the strategy forum. Or, trap15 can do it (I think he really likes Espgaluda).

I can't really think of anything else to add that's not already listed. Maybe adding a music on/off toggle to the service menu of EspGaluda. :twisted:

Oh man! The soundtrack is pretty awful by Cave standards though I'd miss the last three tracks and the TLB track. I actually find it kind of hard to play STGs without the original music, I use it for timing. Espgaluda's music doesn't always match up with what's going on due to the player-controlled slowdown though. I'll add it to the list.

While we're on the subject isn't it amazing that the person who composed that soundtrack also composed this mindblowing FM track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsFVQJolzYs [EDIT: Oops that's just someone who wrote an arrange of Espgaluda ... no wonder, lol.]

Instant stage restart, anyone? :)

Another feature I think is detrimental to the immersive arcade atmosphere but it's definitely possible so I'll put it up there. Some people just throw their game anyway upon a tiny error, so I guess it'll save them a bit of time. Purists will stay away from it anyway. ;)

[trap15]

I have completed a patch for Ketsui which removes the fade-out of music in the test menu after a certain amount of time. Now you can listen to all the Ketsui music from the test menu with no problems.
I will be working on a similar patch for ESPGaluda in a few moments, and shouldn't take me long considering I now know how it works.

[austere]

Awesome dude. Updated. When you "fix" Espgaluda's sound menu, there's a special treat in store as well.

Can anyone reading this pull off the ketsui bomb trick in MAME (romset ket)? If so can you pass me an input file? I tried for a while, just can't get the timing right. It can be done anywhere as long as your lock shot is orthogonal to you right?

[trap15]

ESPGaluda sound test is now unlocked
Secret surprise upcoming!

[Despatche]

Dislike of Espgaluda's soundtrack (not mine) aside, the ability to turn music and/or sound effects off, and manipulate the volume level of each, is one of the greatest things about doujin shmups for me. To be able to properly do that in an arcade game would be amazing... Taito F3 is supposed to let you, but I've never gotten it to work.

[emphatic]

As one who actually LOVE the ESPGALUDA soundtrack, I would rather have an option for MUSIC + VOICE (the boss robotic voice) so my 2.1 system doesn't pump the player shots as a low rumble on top of everything. Looking forward to finding out what the secret bonus is as well.

[austere]

That's a good point emphatic, I'll change it to sound control. Not for ketsui/DOJ though, that would be vandalism.

Also, updated.

[emphatic]

For all PGM games: It would be extremely cool if you could record the last played credit's inputs so the demo sequence uses that instead of the actual demo. Of course, if no credit has been played, the default value has to stay.

[austere]

Yeah that would be awesome. I did think about it because it's not that hard to record the changes in input ... unfortunately the RAM available prohibits recordings of any useful length!

The format I would use is [player inputs (up, down, left right, A, B, C, D)][Frames (1-256)], 16-bit per "delta". The largest contiguous segment of memory I could find in DOJBL was around 136 bytes. If you include a 16-bit counter (no where near enough, but let's leave it at that), That's a maximum of 134/2=67 frame changes. That's a bit over a second at the low end of the spectrum and almost 5 minutes if you don't press anything, heh.

This idea and your other one are still possible in other hardware though, as part of a major project that we hope to unveil in the distant future...

[emphatic]

This idea and your other one are still possible in other hardware though, as part of a major project that we hope to unveil in the distant future...

Not too distant future I hope.