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NSMB Level Format Documentation
Written by Treeki. Copyright 2007

BGDAT files:
10 bytes for each object.
A map:
2 = Tile type
2 = X
2 = Y
2 = Width
2 = Height
Each of these are encoded in 2 bytes.

Formula to convert 2 byte format to an integer:
((second byte * 256) + first byte)

Formula to convert integer to 2 byte format:
first byte = number mod 256
second byte = (number - (number mod 256)) / 256

All positions are in tiles, not in pixels. Each tile is 16x16 pixels.
Collisions are determined by the tile; you do not have to set them yourself.

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Normal level files:
-- To be updated as more is discovered --
Enemies are encoded in 12 bytes. I do not know how the area they start is delimited, though.

These values are encoded using the same 2 byte format described above:
0x74 = Time Limit
0x76 = Background Graphics Set
0x7C = Level Tileset Graphics Set (also, collision data)
0x82 = Background (Near Layer) Graphics Set
0xAA = Background Tile Layout (seems to also change some tiles like question block and brick to their appropiate level's palette)
0xAC = Background Palette

These I haven't tested, but am fairly sure of:
0xC0 = Level Tileset Palette
0xD2 = Background (Near Layer) Tile Layout
0xD4 = Background (Near Layer) Palette

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Posted by Tanks

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Your object tutorial works fine. I don't see why you haven't implemented it yet though... I'm currently making an object list... it will take a while but I've found things like possible beta collision blocks, the flag, and even check points. I even found a collision block of doom that kills you if you run into it . (It will only kill ou once and then it disappears...) I have yet to go farther but for now all I can do is keeping moving at a very slow pace...

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Posted by Reini

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Posted by Treeki

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Nah, I've decided to change it back to NSMB Editor 2.0.

Editor is almost done! Everything works, just need to design, code and test the Level Header dialog.

Here's a full list of stuff that will be changeable in this version:
+ Time limit
+ Mario's start position
+ Level tileset (GFX set, palette)
+ Level background (GFX set, palette, tile layout)
+ Parallax background (GFX set, palette, tile layout)

I do want to add more when I find the data.

Also, I'll be making a new thread for the new editor (I think this one's run its course) so keep an eye out for that when it's released!

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Will this work on any version of NSMB?'Cause when I tried one of them with your
editor,an error has been occured.

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Posted by Tanks

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Well I know how much work is needed to make a thurough object list since I've been tediously working... but I'll give it a try if I could get sonic's help.

I've just found out how to change Koopa Troopa colors too. I'll toss that in along with my documentation. I'm a bit hesitant to try this on paratroopas or even goombas but for the sake of documentation it shall be done!

As for the editor a name... I was thinking NSLM (New Super Lunar Magic) but you'd probably get in a heap of trouble for that... so how about NSME ('Nother Super Mario Editor)

PS 'nother as in another

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Posted by GuyPerfect

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He'll settle on OldHack. Tonight, a vision will come to him in a dream as to why it is crucial to use that name.

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Posted by AlexAR

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Wow, it all looks fantastic Treeki. Very very good job. But...how do we play our hacks? Do we have to load em up onto those flash cards thingamabobs that people use to play home brew games on their DS's? I know there are some DS emulators out there, but they area all terrible and you cant really play any DS games on em at any descent speed.

What do you suggest?

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Posted by GuyPerfect

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Ah, OldHack v0.2 is looking quite good!

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Posted by GuyPerfect

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Indubidibly.

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Posted by Tanks

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Treeki: I was wondering, what do you think the Big Coins are? Are they objects of some sort? I just want your take on this before I do something stupid AGAIN

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Posted by Tanks

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Pretty much what you can do when you put your mind to it

Since sonic's too lazy I'll post his vid too

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Posted by Squash Monster

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You should make your patcher go through all the files in the ROM, not just the levels. It shouldn't be any harder to code, and it'll help the scene out as a whole. The hacking scene needs a new patcher for the new systems anyway.

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Posted by Squash Monster

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I think the best approach would be to do IPS-style patching on each of the files. Though that's not quite so easy.

I don't think there's an easy way to insert in VB6. Just overwrite when you go past the limit of a file while storing an array of all the bites you've overwritten. Then when you're past the file treat that array like a queue - put the value you're about to overwrite on the end of the queue, write the value off the front of the queue, and keep going until you run out of file.

An alternative might be to break the game into its component files and have a build option to make a ROM file out of all the game files. This has the advantage of making it a lot easier for people who want to do stuff to the game that doesn't involve the level editor.

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Posted by Kyoufu Kawa

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And then he discovered XML a defining language with nested data.

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<objdef version='2.1'>
  <definitions scope='global'>
    <tile fbyte='10' sbyte='16'>
      <name>Ground top</name>
      <colour>11</colour>
    </tile>
  </definitions>
  <definitions scope='tileset' tileset='0'>
    <tile fbyte='42' sbyte='16'>
      <name>I forget</name>
      <colour>15</colour>
    </tile>
  </definitions>
</objdef>