NES Way of the Exploding Fist [Archive] - Page 2

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DreamTR

05-30-2006, 05:34 PM

Or you can just sell the cart to me and the copyright police can come after me!

Andrew Davie

05-30-2006, 05:53 PM

I completely believe Andrew, but for all you folks who initially didn't believe, he could have easily proven he is the real deal by explaining parts of the game in detail that are not in the pics initially posted. Having intimate knowledge of the programming of the game, he could do that.

Anyway, Andrew, the glitches mentioned in the game....were those in the game when you owned it? Were those just bugs that weren't worked out yet?
I'm glad you're posting here, as you might be the only dude that could clear all that up.

-Rob

The game switches character sets on 10 consecutive character lines. Each line, therefore, has 256 characters available to hold all of the characters required for all of the player lines of frames required on that particular line. I wrote a tool to pack all the frames down in this fashion. Players are drawn with characters only, and this is how they are so huge (by NES standards). The character bankswitching was very time-critical, and this is probably the reason for the glitching shown in the images. I expect it's a NTSC/PAL issue -- but if not, all that would be required would be to jig the timing on each character line.

These glitches were not bugs, and there's no way I would have sent out a prototype with that sort of problem.

Cheers
A

Mayhem

07-10-2006, 08:34 AM

Andrew Davie

07-10-2006, 09:03 AM

Right, I know some of you might be interested in these now heh... got an NTSC CopyNES in the mail, and after managing to find a power supply in my possession that fit the bugger, I was able to fire the game up...!

http://www.mayhem64.co.uk/misc/fist1.jpg
http://www.mayhem64.co.uk/misc/fist2.jpg
http://www.mayhem64.co.uk/misc/fist3.jpg

Hopefully it will be dumped very shortly :)

Awesome, thanks :) Been so long I forgot that I had 3 players onscreen. For a NES, three players this size, totally flicker free... was unusual.

PS: I have just discovered a floppy labeled "Days of Thunder backup" in the garage! No idea what's on it, as I don't have a 5" drive anymore.

poloplayr

07-10-2006, 09:24 AM

Very cool stuff.

Mayhem

07-10-2006, 12:31 PM

totally flicker free

Almost. There's some flicker with the legs when someone is knocked on their back, but apart from that, yes, it's pretty much all clean from what I saw :)

Andrew Davie

07-11-2006, 07:04 AM

totally flicker free

Almost. There's some flicker with the legs when someone is knocked on their back, but apart from that, yes, it's pretty much all clean from what I saw :)

I've really forgotten all about it, but on reflection, I probably used a sprite matrix for one player, and a playfield for each of the others. The one sprite player will consistently flicker in certain moves (when the stars are present, possibly).

Cheers
A

idrougge

07-11-2006, 09:26 PM

Andrew Davie

07-12-2006, 10:13 AM

PS: I have just discovered a floppy labeled "Days of Thunder backup" in the garage! No idea what's on it, as I don't have a 5" drive anymore.

Tell me (or someone close to you) if you need it to be dumped.

I have found someone with a machine with a 5.25" drive, so will have a look at it, and the other disks, tomorrow.

There are a couple of disks labeled Bigfoot (this will be the NES version, and will have probably only the source code for the scroll system for that game, which I wrote).

There is one disk labeled Days of Thunder. I don't know why I should have this, as I did not write this game. This, too, is a NES game.

There is one disk labeled Cubie. This is almost certainly the source code and binary from my 1983 game Qb, for the Atari 800. If so, the only source code left in existance. This will be for an Atari 800 disk format.

Nice little find; I hope some of this stuff loads (some is over 20 years old now!!!)

Cheers
A

Mayhem

07-12-2006, 05:06 PM

Well... I guess this means success. I hope. I have what appears to be a working ROM image in my possession :)

And here's some footage to show off...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yASMeL-OJ0Y

Andrew Davie

07-17-2006, 06:38 AM

PS: I have just discovered a floppy labeled "Days of Thunder backup" in the garage! No idea what's on it, as I don't have a 5" drive anymore.

Tell me (or someone close to you) if you need it to be dumped.

All the disks were readable -- which is quite remarkable since they've been sitting in an open garage in a disk box for most of 10 years, and for another 5 years or so just basically sitting in boxes befor that.

The disks' contents were a surprise to me. Here's what was onboard...

1) very first prototype playfield display of MechWarriror (SNES) that was sent to JVC to demonstrate the 3D technology to be used for the game. Dated 7/Oct/1991

2) SNES NBA Basketball ROM submission dated 21/Jul/1992. A late prototype, probably.

3) ROM named T2DMG dated 21/July/1992. This is probably a Terminator 2 prototype for Gameboy? No idea how this got into my hands.

4) A letter (*note, not email -- we didn't have those back then*) to HiTech expressions listing the cheat codes I'd put in to Hunt for Red October (NES). Don't know if these were ever released.

5) Full source code to SNES MechWarrior dated 9/May/1992.

6) Full source code and GROM to NES Bigfoot, dated 29/Nov/1989. This was a work-in-progress, I'd been working on the scroll system on this one... so it's a prototype. It included this gem of correspondence from yours truly...

"I haven't done anything about the problem with the truck scrolling backwards. You took out my debugging code. I asked you not to. I've already put it in twice, I'm not going to waste my time putting it all in again - you're on your own on this one."

I wonder if I've mellowed over the years.

7) Interestingly, there's a minor bit of correspondence about the music for Way of the Exploding Fist, so these disks were saved at roughly the time the prototype mentioned in this thread was being finished.

Cheers
A

rbudrick

07-17-2006, 11:53 AM

Congrats on recovering those disks, Andrew! That's awesome. Any word on if the 800 disk came through ok?

-Rob

TheRedEye

07-17-2006, 03:54 PM

4) A letter (*note, not email -- we didn't have those back then*) to HiTech expressions listing the cheat codes I'd put in to Hunt for Red October (NES). Don't know if these were ever released.

That sounds like a fun blog post for GameSetWatch (http://www.gamesetwatch.com)! Let me know if you're willing to share.

Andrew Davie

07-17-2006, 06:17 PM

Congrats on recovering those disks, Andrew! That's awesome. Any word on if the 800 disk came through ok?

-Rob

I haven't checked that disk, as I have no way of getting its contents onto PC. Any volunteers?

Cheers
A

greedostick

07-17-2006, 07:16 PM

So what I want to know is if the game is fun or not?

Andrew Davie

07-17-2006, 07:26 PM

So what I want to know is if the game is fun or not?

No, it's not.

Mayhem

07-17-2006, 10:33 PM

It's not bad. A bit easy though...

flicky

09-02-2006, 09:46 PM

Hi everyone

I thought I'd let you know what I'm going to do with the Exploding Fist cartridge.

The game will be on display for the first time at a convention I'm co-organising here in the UK, Eurocon 2006 (www.sincil.co.uk/eurocon2006)

After this, the ROM will be made generally available (Mayhem has managed to dump it).

Now for the big news: I intend to sell the cartridge - but on the condition that I keep it until Eurocon has ended, and the ROM has been released.

The main reason I am doing this is that I have always wanted to get a classic arcade machine, and I see this find as enabling me to raise the cash to finally afford one. I would ideally like a cocktail cabinet from before 1985 or so.

The best scenario for me would be to agree a sale before Eurocon, enabling me to get hold of an arcade machine BEFORE Eurocon 2006 takes place, so I can take it along to the convention.

I am announcing this now, as I am open to offers for the Exploding Fist cart from today onwards (please send these privately).

I'm not going to set a deadline on this at this stage. However, any offers which will in any way make it easier for me to get hold of an arcade machine within the next 2 months will get preference. A trade or part exchange would be particularly welcome!

Please LMK if you have any questions about any of this.

Cheers
Jon

idrougge

09-02-2006, 10:24 PM

Widar

10-21-2006, 03:05 PM

I just found this amazingthread, been reading for the last 30 minutes. I'm speechless.

What have happened to the prototype since the last posts? Any good offers?

Cheers,

Parpunk

10-22-2006, 12:02 AM

I just found this amazingthread, been reading for the last 30 minutes. I'm speechless.

What have happened to the prototype since the last posts? Any good offers?

Cheers,

Me too first time i have seen this too. any news??

Maxx

10-22-2006, 01:00 AM

I just read all 4 pages. I want to know how much it sold for.

TheRedEye

10-22-2006, 03:11 AM

I just read all 4 pages. I want to know how much it sold for.

I'd like to know where you guys read that it was ever for sale.

TheRedEye

10-22-2006, 03:12 AM

I just read all 4 pages. I want to know how much it sold for.

I'd like to know where you guys read that it was ever for sale.

oh, duh, he said it a few posts up. I guess I haven't been keeping up!

Can we have edit back please?

Mayhem

10-22-2006, 02:13 PM

I actually don't know if Jon's found a buyer yet or not. I do know he's already spent the money he wants to get from it on a cab for Eurocon LOL

NESaholic

10-30-2006, 10:28 AM

I actually don't know if Jon's found a buyer yet or not. I do know he's already spent the money he wants to get from it on a cab for Eurocon LOL
Well you know now right? LOL

Mayhem

10-30-2006, 05:25 PM

For anyone unsure, Nes-a-holic bought the proto so that will be nestling in his collection from now on.

Haven't sorted anything out yet about where the proto will be hosted for download, but that will be done in due course.

Andrew Davie

01-17-2007, 08:01 AM

I hope someday to get a copy of the ROM, for private use only of course.
Cheers
A

Fantastic_Duck

01-17-2007, 11:09 AM

I hope someday to get a copy of the ROM, for private use only of course.
Cheers
A

good luck, as we all know that WOTEF is now drenched in greasy, rancid butter

Poofta!

01-17-2007, 03:13 PM

id like to contribute a sum of money for having a cart made for Andrew Davie and shipped to him. how much would this cost? pm me please.

aaron7

01-17-2007, 03:36 PM

Damn, after reading all this... and then seeing that it was finally for sale... only to see it was sold... what a letdown! I figured this would be my big proto purchase lol

I'd love a copy of the ROM, with Andrew's persmission of course! Let the game live on!

DreamTR

01-17-2007, 06:32 PM

I thought it was kind of strange, not one really got to make offers, it was only sold it person in Europe *shrug*

aaron7

01-17-2007, 08:03 PM

Yah, I'm sure you and me would have fought over it quite nicely :p

Mayhem

01-18-2007, 07:18 AM

I guess both of you missed this B/S thread then by the owner of the cart (Jon)...

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=90806

Because he got no takers online, he sold it in person at Eurocon.

TheRedEye

01-18-2007, 12:10 PM

Do we know the status of the ROM? I paid money to ship my CopyNES to you with the understanding that we'd have the ROM right after the show.

Mayhem

01-18-2007, 02:24 PM

aaron7

01-18-2007, 02:27 PM

Yah because I really... really want one.

TheRedEye

01-18-2007, 03:49 PM

I actually sent the ROM via email to you before the show took place. Twice in fact. If you didn't receive it, PM me a working email address and I'll send it again :)

(speaking of which I should ask Jon what we're doing about distributing it formerly to the masses)

Oh, I have it, I just meant for public distribution! From what I remember, it was meant to be released soon after the show.

DreamTR

01-23-2007, 01:55 AM

Mayhem: Got no takers? I was on top of trying to buy it from him since day 1, he wanted enough money for an arcade cabinet, but was super wishy washy about selling the thing and even stated he would contact me when he was ready. Yeah.

Mayhem

01-23-2007, 06:06 AM

Well I can only speak for what I saw and heard. Jon is a really busy person sadly between work, life, and two young children. As I've been to his place a couple of times, it's chaos incarnate usually. If you were discussing buying it, then I can only think Jon forgot about it in the turmoil of everyday life.

Speaking of which, I'll send him a mail about what we're doing with the ROM... if anything, maybe I'll just post it here for people to grab...

Andrew Davie

02-11-2007, 10:48 PM

id like to contribute a sum of money for having a cart made for Andrew Davie and shipped to him. how much would this cost? pm me please.

A very nice offer, but not necessary thanks.
It has been nearly 20 years, though, since I saw the game. It would be nice to see it again! Sometime... soon.....
Cheers
A

Mayhem

02-12-2007, 07:03 AM

In between random bouts of being up to my eyeballs in stuff, I'm working on something to get the ROM out there for people to download, along with some text. Andrew, if you have time, would it be possible for you to send me a bunch of thoughts about the development of the game, its history, Beam Software etc to go in the article? :)

(email link in my profile!)

coinheaven

04-19-2007, 09:17 AM

has this been dumped?

Mayhem

04-19-2007, 03:02 PM

Yeah it got dumped, though the only people with it currently are myself, Jon and Frank. I'm still working on putting a small article together for publication on GTW so everyone else can grab it... just been very busy between last post and now. And it still will be until about August for me! But I promise to try and get it sorted fairly soon...

coinheaven

12-10-2007, 12:53 PM

anything ever happen with this?

TwinTurbo

12-10-2007, 02:05 PM

half hour of my life completely unwasted reading this. amazing find...thanks for resurrecting this thread!

Mayhem

12-10-2007, 03:57 PM

I'm planning on writing something and having the ROM made publically available, I just keep getting busy, sidetracked and forgetting! Soon... I hope!

marvelus10

06-25-2011, 02:57 PM

Was this ROM ever released to the public, I know the cart was finally reproduced. Unfortunately I missed that opportunity.

Mayhem

06-25-2011, 06:21 PM

I don't believe it has yet, I could be wrong. I think it was going to be after all the repros were sold, and that hasn't quite happened yet.