Hacking Custom Frodo for C64 VC Injection

[gundalf]

I have tryed now with HowardCs version and it works.
But the Icon is just white, it doesnt even show me the C64 Logo.
And if i open the Channel, it has no Sound :-/

If i compare the size of the icon/banner/sound.bin with an wad for SNES, then i see that the C64 one are much smaller.
So it looks like that the icon, banner and sound.bin are all compresed.
I think with LZ77 because in the Hex of the 00.app says something with LZ77.
At least is the Banner working, so are only the icon.bin and sound.bin making problems.

edit
current 00.app -> 715kb
original 00.app -> 201kb

Well i have no idea how i can make the icon work.

 

[FGOD]

i don't know either, i was trying that when i broke my last wii

i had one with black screen but the game worked and the next one bricked my wii... where can i download gally's tools? i wanne try those too...

 

[RadioShadow]

^ Those two problems can be fixed.

At the moment, HowardC's tool doesn't play compressed sound.bin data. For now, just replace it with the uncompressed sound.bin file. If you want it, I can upload it for you.


As for the save banner problem, the banner needs to be compressed with the GBA Style LZ77 compression. Simple do this:

1 - Download 'VC Icon8.0'.
2 - Delete 'gbalzss'.
3 - Make your 'Commodore 64' banner. Ignore the error about the compression.
4 - Download GBADecomp.
5 - Compress the created banner using GBADecomp using LZ77.
6 - Place the file in the 05.app.

That problem is also known but I'm trying to locate the tool that works in Command Prompt.

 

[gundalf]

but the banner is in the 00.app.
So it looks like that i have to compres every single tpl from the banner.bin

 

[FGOD]

@gundalf, i think he ment the save file which is in 5.app if i'm correct...

 

[gundalf]

The Savefile i got to work and he knows that, because he has showed me before in HowadC's Thread.

Gallys Tools you get here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?mc7dtt3zl1v

btw
@wiicrazy
The strings for the Imet is Author info.
For International Karate is the Author Jackie Bailey@J and the RVL stuff is the root folder of the Wii SDK.

@RadioShadow
I am not sure but maybe is Lunar Compres any good?

 

[FGOD]

thx :-) i'll try to make a duotris banner later ;-) i hope i get the compression right, cause i think it went wrong there last time...

 

[gundalf]

Good luck, one day i want to make an Channel for VBA Gx =)

edit
I tryed now the version packed with gallys tools and i have working Sound

Now only the icons from the icon.bin has to be fixed :-/

 

[WiiCrazy]

btw
@wiicrazy
The strings for the Imet is Author info.
For International Karate is the Author Jackie Bailey@J and the RVL stuff is the root folder of the Wii SDK.

Well thanks for the info... With a bricked wii at this time all my reverse engineering interest in the banner stuff is almost gone

I'll carry on after unbricking my wii.

 

[WiiCrazy]

Update!
Uploaded the sources,
download from : http://www.tepetaklak.com/data/FrodoSrc.rar

Changes
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
07/10/2008 : Source release (Sound working, vic state enchanced(?))
Tweaked to work in Visual Studio 2008 hence it's a bit deviated from original source,
original can be downloaded from http://frodo.cebix.net/
You need to have directx sdk installed or have the necessary libraries from directx sdk
and set those in vs ide.

 

[gundalf]

Hooray i got now all stuff work. I even removed the Manual

I will upload morning an Youtube vid^^

@wiicrazy
So with this we can make even better iks files?

 

[WiiCrazy]

Hooray i good now all stuff work. I even removed the Manual

I will upload morning an Youtube vid^^

@wiicrazy
So with this we can make even better iks files?

Well I don't remember exactly what I fixed actually

It's been a month maybe, just packaged the source with the binaries so if anyone interested can enhance it
these things can be added, I may work on them if I find time but at the moment I'll possibly invest my time into my undergraduate thesis

- multi file game support
- automatically creating banners/icons from the in game graphics
- automatic wad packaging

 

[gundalf]

That sounds sweet. I wish i would have programing skills :-/

Well for now would be multigame support interesting.
The rest could be done by hand.

 

[FGOD]

we'll need to investigate the world games wad for that which was multigame... can you make a tutorial for the banner making for C64? so people can make them theirself?

 

[gundalf]

Yes i will do all that stuff, no worry

 

[gundalf]

Can someone from you get Alley Cat to work?
The Cat jumps and runs to the left. From alone! And the Title Screen get jumpel automatic.

 

[FGOD]

can you send me the d64 file or the tape tape file? i'll try to get it too work then...

 

[WiiCrazy]

Can someone from you get Alley Cat to work?
The Cat jumps and runs to the left. From alone! And the Title Screen get jumpel automatic.

Well you can try taking the snapshot just after game is loaded if it's a state issue... it may as well be an issue with the emulator.

 

[gundalf]

Attention - This Tutorial requires basic knwoledge in making Custom Banners!
Attention - Dont ask for WAD's or Rom's!
NOTE - This Tutorial is based on Internatiol Karate as host WAD!


Banner Editing

Spoiler

First download my C64 00.app template
Download via megaupload
Download via mediafire
Download via rapidshare

Basically it works the same way like other Systems.

If you forgott how to do, check this tutorial -> Link

Save Banner Editing

Spoiler

For this you will need GBADecomp
Download via megaupload
Download via romhacking.net

Copy your selfmade Save Banner to the GBADecmp Folder.
Put after the name of your Banner an ".gba" ending.
This is important, because the Program can handle only .gba files.

- Compress your Banner to LZ77
1. Select under Input your Banner
2. Select under Output where you want to have your compressed file.
Give it as name "LZ77_banner.tpl"
3. Mark under Recompress "LZ77Comp"
4. Press Go!

Now you will have an "LZ77_banner.tpl.gba" file.
Just Remove the the ".gba" and you are done.

Edit the Save Name

Spoiler

Open the 01.app with an Hexeditor and search for:
0062616E6E65722E64617400002F62616E6E65722E62696E00

I use for this Hex Workshop, other Editors should work fine as well.

C64 Game Injection

Spoiler

Download this Easy Pack (Contains Wiicrazy's CustomFrodo)
Download via megaupload
Download via rapidshare
Download via mediafire

For this Tutorial i will take the Game "Monty on the Run" as Example.

- get the ik.fss from the LZ77_snapshot.bin
1. Go the 05.app Folder
2. Copy the LZ77_snapshot.bin and paste it in the GBA LZSS Folder
3. Now start the unpack.bat and you get the ik.fss file

- Configure Frodo
1. Copy the ik.fss File in to the Frodo Folder
2. Open Frodo and go under Tools to the Preferences
3. Select under "Device 8" your Game (for this Tutorial it will be "monty.d64".)
4. Press Ok!

- The C64 prompt
1. Type

LOAD"$",8

Press Enter on your Keyboard
2. Type

LOAD"MONTY",8

Press Enter on your Keyboard
3. Type

RUN

Press Enter on your Keyboard (after some seconds the Game should start)

Notice for Step 2.:
Sometimes you have to put the file type ending as well, for Giana Sister it looks like:

LOAD"GIANA.PRG",8

- Make an Snaphsot
1. Go to Tools and select "Patch and Save Snapshot"
2. Out the name "ik.fss" and Save it
3. Now you have in the Frodo folder the ik.fss
4. Copy the ik.fss file and paste it in the GBA LZSS Folder
5. Start the packer.bat
6. copy the LZ77_snapshot.bin to the 05.app Folder

Note: The Snapshot should normaly done on the Title Screen of the Game.

If you have done all steps correct, then it should look like this:

 

[FGOD]

nice done, they should add this to the banner maker topic!

the sound.bin doens't need to be changed? or should i replace it with the one they used on the banner making topic?