Posted: 12/27/2010 8:55 PM
Post subject: FCEUX - Trying to figure out how the TAS tools work.
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Thelas
Joined: 12/27/2010
Posts: 2
So I opened up SMB (not what I plan to work on if I actually get around to a real TAS, but I know the game well enough it should be good for trying to figure out how the engine works.) After playing through 1-1 a few times without tools, I decide to get started. This probably is the wrong thing to try first, but I try to use the Memory Search and the instructions I've found on this site to find Mario's X position. After getting it down to about 20 variables, I notice it's listed in the 'how to use Memory search' as 0400, so I set a watch on that. I then discover, weirdly, that the value at 0400 seems to move between multiples of 0x10 when I move left or right, but without real correlation to my actual position on the screen... So. a) What am I doing wrong with memory search? b) What should be the first thing I try to figure out how to use after that? edit: In case it isn't obvious, "not what I plan to work on if I actually get around to a real TAS" was just referring to how over-played and thus how optimized (I assume) SMB1 is.
Posted: 12/27/2010 9:04 PM
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adelikat
He/Him
Emulator Coder, Site Developer, Site Owner, Expert player (3571)
Joined: 11/3/2004
Posts: 4754
Location: Tennessee
TASer of 2010 NES TASer of 2010 DS TASer of 2010 Arcade TAS of 2010 NES TASer of 2008 NES TAS of 2008 Funny TAS of 2008 TASer of 2007 NES TASer of 2007 Funny TAS of 2007
First of all, $0400 is Mario's sub-pixel not pixel position. For references see the bottom of this page. 0086 is Mario's position. So you are using Memory searching and watching tools fine it seems. I also like the approach you are taking. While SMB is very unlikely to be improved it is a great game for learning the ropes and getting used to the tools.
It's hard to look this good. My TAS projects
Posted: 12/27/2010 9:35 PM
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Thelas
Joined: 12/27/2010
Posts: 2
That makes sense now... Thanks. Okay, next thing I need to figure out. Should I be using the "TAS edit" thing in the Tools menu? If so, how does that work? The help file is sadly lacking:
TAS Edit is an overhaul in very logic of creating TAS movies (see Tool Assisted Speedruns). It is a powerful new design that takes movie making from less of a "recording" concept to a "creating an input file" way of thinking. The traditional savestates are not used and is replaced with a list of frames and input. Clicking on a frame sends the emulator to that frame. As of the 2.0 release this is an unfinished tool and therefore much of the features are not implemented.
No idea how to use it or anything...
Posted: 12/27/2010 9:36 PM
Quote
adelikat
He/Him
Emulator Coder, Site Developer, Site Owner, Expert player (3571)
Joined: 11/3/2004
Posts: 4754
Location: Tennessee
TASer of 2010 NES TASer of 2010 DS TASer of 2010 Arcade TAS of 2010 NES TASer of 2008 NES TAS of 2008 Funny TAS of 2008 TASer of 2007 NES TASer of 2007 Funny TAS of 2007
Don't use TASEdit
It's hard to look this good. My TAS projects
Posted: 1/1/2011 10:44 PM
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feos
Site Admin, Skilled player (1250)
Joined: 4/17/2010
Posts: 11475
Location: Lake Char­gogg­a­gogg­man­chaugg­a­gogg­chau­bun­a­gung­a­maugg
NES TAS of 2011
Wow, coder of TASEdit forbids to use it :) Thelas, see that thread & this page to learn about TASEdit. Also here you can find how to search & watch RAM: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/8547343
Warning: When making decisions, I try to collect as much data as possible before actually deciding. I try to abstract away and see the principles behind real world events and people's opinions. I try to generalize them and turn into something clear and reusable. I hate depending on unpredictable and having to make lottery guesses. Any problem can be solved by systems thinking and acting.