Note: See adolif2's SNES-to-GBA level converter thread for more information relating to SMA3 hacking.

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wxEVA: Yakov's SMA3 level name editor

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Anyway, I decided to create a topic for Super Mario Advance 3 hacking, to avoid crowding the SMW2 Offsets thread with information irrelevant to hacking the SNES version.

(It should also prevent those topics of "Why can't I hack the GBA version?" that appear every so often.)

I'll be updating this post with anything I find.

By the way, I'm pretty sure I'm using "Super Mario Advance 3 - Yoshi's Island (U) [!].gba". Just in case there are multiple versions...

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Newest version of SNES/GBA info document:

YI info for editor.rtf (updated 2010-4-7)

This document contains information towards making a SNES/GBA editor, but it may also be useful in general.

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x1C1D54-x1EEE8B: Level data

x1C1D54: Level 38 (data looks entirely different from the other levels)
x1C1DA4: Level 39
x1C1F29: Level 0
x1C2265: Level 3A
x1C2320: Level 38 sprite data (blank)
x1C2324: Level 39 sprite data
x1C2354: Level 0 sprite data
x1C2434: Level 3A sprite data
x1C245C: Level 1
x1C264E: Level 3B
x1C2D70: Level 1 sprite data
x1C2E18: Level 3B sprite data
x1C2F00: Level 2
...
...
x1EED08: Level F5 sprite data
x1EED90: Level 36
x1EEDEF: Level 37
x1EEE5C: Level 36 sprite data
x1EEE70: Level 37 sprite data

The first 10 bytes of level data are the header. The sprite set now takes up 8 bits; as a result, some bits in the header have been shifted slightly from the SNES version.

If the SMW2 headers are:
BBBB BTTT TPPP PPII III2 2222 2333 333e eeee eSSS SSSS pppp OOOO Oxtt tEEE EEEE 2233 4mmm mMMx xxxx

Then the SMA3 headers are:
BBBB BTTT TPPP PPII III2 2222 2333 333e eeee eSSS SSSS Sxpp ppOO OOOx tttE EEEE EE22 334m mmmM Mxxx

Notes:
As the first bit of Eggvine's "music" value affects layer 3, not music, I labeled it "4" instead of "m".
Similarly, I only labeled the Midring bits that actually affect the Middle Rings, the rest being labeled "x".
"2" and "3" each refer to two different values, but it should be self-explanatory which is which if you're familiar with the SNES version's level headers.

I also decoded the headers for levels DE-F5, for reference:
SMA3 Level Headers (RTF file) (updated 2010-4-10)


Sprites are 4 bytes each; the first 3 bytes are the same as in the SNES; the 4th byte is always 00.

Objects are stored in the same manner as the SNES version.


Sprite data ends with FF FF FF FF. (Level 38's sprite data is only the FF FF FF FF.)

Object data appears to end with just FF.


Screen exits are stored in the same manner as the SNES version; however, they are 7 bytes each instead of 5. The two additional bytes are the same as those of the level entrances (see below).

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Objects/sprites that are different from the SNES version:
- The SNES version's S1D6 (Lock Horizontal Scroll) is now S1E0.
- The "Green Red Coins" (82, 83, 84, and X17) are normal red coins in the GBA version.

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x1EF1A4-x1EF57B: Pointers to level data (4 bytes each)
x1EF57C-x1EF953: Pointers to sprite data (4 bytes each)

Going by the number of pointers, the highest-numbered level is F5.

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About pointers (this applies to all pointers as far as I know):

Pointers are 4 bytes each, e.g. 29 1F 1C 08.

The first 3 bytes are the offset (bytes are in reverse order, so 29 1F 1C points to x1C1F29).
The 4th byte is always 08.

Note: The 4th byte is 09 if the offset is x1000000 or higher (the GBA ROM size limit is 32MiB, or x2000000). Considering that SMA3 is 0x400000 bytes, though, I find it unlikely that the ROM will need to be expanded to that size.

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x1EEE8C-x1EEFFF: Level entrances (6 bytes each)

If the pointers are unmodified, the order is:
1-1 to 1-8, 1-Extra, 2-1 to 2-8, 2-Extra, 3-1 ... 6-8, 6-Extra, level 38, Welcome, 1-Secret, 2-Secret ... 6-Secret

1st 4 bytes are the same as SMW2: level #, X position, Y position, icon to unlock

5th byte: unknown, but relates to the camera

6th byte: Scrolling settings

SMA3 Level Entrances.txt
I've copied all of the level entrances into a .txt file for convenience.

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x1EF08C-x1EF1A3: Pointers to level entrances (4 bytes each)
1-1 to 1-8, 1-Secret, 1-Extra, level 38, Welcome, 2-1 to 2-8, 2-Secret, 2-Extra, (8 bytes of 00s), 3-1 to 3-8, 3-Secret, 3-Extra, (8 bytes of 00s), ... 6-8, 6-Secret, 6-Extra

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x164184-x1643BB: Midway entrances (4 bytes each)

As far as I can tell, these are stored in exactly the same way as SMW2.
Level #, X position, Y position, entrance type (I assume the 4th byte is still entrance type-- it's always 00 in the original.)

New midway entrances are in
DE, F3,
E0, E1, E2,
E3, E4, E5, E6,
E7, E8, E9, EA,
EB, EC,
EF, EF, F0, F2.
(Double EF is explained in-game if you've ever died in Secret 6's spike shaft. And I doubt anyone who has played Secret 6 has not died in Secret 6's spike shaft.)

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x1643BC-x1644D3: Pointers to midway entrances (4 bytes each)
1-1 to 1-8, 1-Secret, 1-Extra, level 38, Welcome, 2-1 to 2-8, 2-Secret, 2-Extra, (8 bytes of 00s), 3-1 to 3-8, 3-Secret, 3-Extra, (8 bytes of 00s), ... 6-8, 6-Secret, 6-Extra

As the midway entrance pointers can point anywhere in the ROM, it is possible for every level to have a full 4 midway entrances...

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Text:

x2F215C-x2F5E11: Messages - Includes goal minigames, Bandit minigames, Welcome message, automated messages, message blocks, Kamek messages, and ending messages (in this order)

x2F90AC-x2F9880: Level names

x16B0EC-x16B745: Pre-title-screen text

x1994C0-x1995DE: File select screen text

x16CEE8-x16D47D: Credits

Text can be edited using the same table files as SMW2.

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x2F5E18-x2F6297: Pointers to message blocks (4 bytes per pointer, 16 bytes per map icon)
1-1 to 1-8, 1-Secret, 1-Extra, 1-Bonus, Welcome, 2-1 to 2-8, 2-Secret, 2-Extra, 2-Bonus, (16 bytes of 00s), 3-1 ... 6-8, 6-Secret, 6-Extra

Some of the Secret and Extra levels' pointers point to the various boss battle messages; I'm not sure if these are the actual pointers used in the boss battles or not.

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x2F629C-x2F62CB: Pointers to Bandit minigame messages (with some duplicates)

I wonder if these pointers are for the minigame huts, the LLBAR minigames, or both...

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Level list:

0-DD: These appear to be the same as SMW2.

DE: 1-Secret Entrance
DF: 1-Secret 2nd Area
E0: 2-Secret Entrance
E1: 2-Secret 2nd Area
E2: 2-Secret 3rd Area
E3: 3-Secret Entrance
E4: 3-Secret 2nd Area
E5: 3-Secret 3rd Area
E6: 3-Secret 4th Area
E7: 4-Secret Entrance
E8: 4-Secret 2nd Area
E9: 4-Secret 3rd Area
EA: 4-Secret 4th Area
EB: 5-Secret Jungle Areas
EC: 5-Secret Castle Areas
ED: 5-Secret Snowy Areas
EE: 6-Secret Entrance
EF: 6-Secret Castle Area
F0: 6-Secret Main Cave Area
F1: 6-Secret Super Star Cave
F2: 6-Secret Dark Forest with Welcome music
F3: 1-Secret 3rd Area
F4: 2-Secret Outside Area with goal
F5: 6-Secret Final Area

(See this post for more about the Bandit minigames.)
F6: Minigame: Throwing Balloons (1up)
F7: Minigame: Throwing Balloons (2up)
F8: Minigame: Throwing Balloons (3up)
F9: Minigame: (freeze)
FA: Minigame: Gather Coins
FB: Minigame: Popping Balloons
FC: Minigame: Popping Balloons
FD: Minigame: (freeze)
FE: Minigame: (freeze)
FF: Minigame: Seed-Spitting

I have no idea how 1-8's new room fits into this. (It's probably part of an existing sewer-tileset level.)

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So this is what I've found so far.

It appears the GBA version is almost a direct port of the original.

(By the way, there's already something I like about hacking the GBA version-- the pointers are much simpler!)

–=–=–=–=–=–=–
Alyssa's Unlikely Trap (demo 3)

I don't understand either... Maybe a glitch was discovered when there is a Shy-Guy-generating pipe near the water-spitting fish and/or the ghost platform?

Do you know if there are any other new rooms besides the 6 Secret levels and that one in 1-8?



Is the new autoscroll the one in Secret 6 or the one in Secret 4?

The translucent white platform could be a special effect of some kind.

As for the Welcome music, the programmers probably did something similar to what Mattrizzle did. (If I know which level that was, I would check the header. I suppose I should find out exactly which level numbers the secret levels are...)

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Alyssa's Unlikely Trap (demo 3)

I do not believe these are important enough to include in the first post, so I'm posting them here:

SMA3 level headers

DE x1C6724: C7 9F AD D3 14 03 00 00 01 40
DF x1C6A9E: C7 D7 AD D3 14 0A 00 00 01 48
E0 x1CE47C: A3 5F 20 30 8C 10 16 6A 40 40
E1 x1CEB4F: A3 5F 20 30 8C 18 16 6A 40 48
E2 x1CEF16: 03 5C C3 04 04 20 16 38 C8 50
E3 x1D4AB4: D1 08 41 02 14 28 84 08 02 20
E4 x1D4CB7: A1 08 41 02 14 30 04 08 02 28
E5 x1D4FAF: 03 A9 D7 46 E4 38 00 7B 7B 50
E6 x1D568F: E0 D2 16 53 0C 40 00 00 01 58
E7 x1DCB30: C9 8F 50 53 0C 48 00 00 01 40
E8 x1DCE28: E4 46 69 DB 6C 50 1E 10 0D 48
E9 x1DD352: C0 32 69 80 04 58 1E 11 4D 50
EA x1DD4D9: D1 8E AA D7 14 60 00 00 01 58
EB x1E4CD0: AB 9E 54 5D 0C 68 16 00 26 20
EC x1E507A: AB 66 8A 00 64 70 16 00 80 48
ED x1E55BD: DA 13 4A B4 94 7A 40 50 2A 30
EE x1ED058: 98 87 D1 D4 C4 80 0A 18 14 00
EF x1ED145: 03 6A 97 DB 5C 88 00 38 0C 48
F0 x1ED77D: B4 44 10 AA 6C 90 1E 64 CC 90
F1 x1EDBE7: C4 00 10 18 64 98 0A 04 FE 98
F2 x1EE1D7: 00 87 D1 84 04 A0 C0 00 00 20
F3 x1C6D62: C7 D7 AD D3 14 02 00 00 01 50
F4 x1CF31F: EB 5F 20 30 88 C0 16 6A 40 58
F5 x1EE595: EE 27 4A B6 9C AA 8A 58 0C 10

I'm currently decoding them.

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Edit:

SMA3 Level Headers (RTF file) (there was a link here to an older version of this document; the newest version can be found in the first post)

(This was based on the existing level header file.)

I see the programmers did not feel like searching through existing sprite sets for their needs, so they just created 21 more. :-)


Level F2 (the "dark forest" area of 6-Secret, which uses the welcome music) is interesting...

The music setting is 1 (jungle).

Also, the Middle Ring setting is 0, even though this room contains Middle Ring #3...

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Edit 2:

Does anyone have any ideas about the purpose of the 2 additional bytes in each level entrance?

I copied the hex data into a .txt file for convenience.

SMA3 Level Entrances

Edit 3: I have a feeling that the last 2 bytes are a single number... When byte 6 is 00, byte 5 is always in the range 26-2C.

–=–=–=–=–=–=–
Alyssa's Unlikely Trap (demo 3)

Depending on the way Eggvine is structured, it may be possible...

If it is possible, this is exactly what would need to be changed (as far as I know)...


Original SNES (for comparison):

- Sprites are 3 bytes each

- Pointer to level header and object data: xBF9C3 + 6 * (level number)
- Pointer to sprite data: add 0x3 to the object data
   - Alternately, xBF9C6 + 6 * (level number)
- Pointers have a strange method of interpretation (C7 81 16 means xB03C7)

- Level header: sprite set is 7 bits, sprite palette is 4 bits, Midring value contains the last 7 bits


GBA:

- Sprites are 4 bytes each (ignore the 4th byte)

- Pointer to level header and object data: x1EF1A4 + 4 * (level number)
- Pointer to sprite data: add 0x3D8 to the object data
   - Alternately, x1EF57C + 4 * (level number)
- Pointers are just a direct reversal of bytes (29 1F 1C means x1C1F29)

- Level header: sprite set is 8 bits, sprite palette can be interpreted as 5 bits, Midring value would only contain the last 5 bits
   - And, if this is relevant, all values after sprite palette are shifted two bits to the right
   - If it is possible to edit this, it would also be a good idea to transfer the first bit of "Music" to be part of Layer 3 position, for both the SNES and GBA versions

- Also, sprite data ends with 4 FFs on the GBA, as opposed to 2 FFs on the SNES, but 4 FFs contain 2 FFs, so that shouldn't be a problem.


Also, it would be helpful if the new version of Eggvine recognizes the .gba extension (and not the .smc extension), so you do not need to manually enter the ROM title when loading.


Changing it so Eggvine loads sprites every 4 bytes would be the most important, since as you can see here, the offsets could be entered manually. Also, the headers can be hex-edited without too much annoyance (rendering levels is most important)...

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Alyssa's Unlikely Trap (demo 3)

I think someone should make a new editor that doesn't crash like Eggvine does (and has entrance/midring/text editors built in), and make it compatible with both versions since they're nearly the same anyway.

However, as Eggvine already exists, I think I would prefer using it for the time being, if possible, as opposed to waiting for someone to make a new editor.

(Though if someone here decides to start a new editor, I'd like to help out-- though I have no experience with making user interfaces or anything like that.)

–=–=–=–=–=–=–
Alyssa's Unlikely Trap (demo 3)

The fourth byte does have a function (I listed it in the pointer section), but it certainly can be ignored, as it is irrelevant unless the ROM is more than 0x1000000 bytes (SMA3 is 0x400000).



If you make a version with every header edited (well, maybe not for some boss rooms), can you release an IPS patch? It would be nice to play SMA3 with some variety-- I need to create a 6000-point file anyway for my testing.

Edit: Actually, I'm almost done with my 6000-point playthrough, so no need to rush or anything.


All that I need to begin making a working version of "Eggvine Advance" is a hex-edit to tell Eggvine that sprites are 4 bytes instead of 3-- the rest I can work around. I have no idea how to go about finding it, though...

Can anyone more familiar with the structure of .exe files (or whatever file structure Eggvine is, as I assume there are many types of .exe files) help me?

–=–=–=–=–=–=–
Alyssa's Unlikely Trap (demo 3)