Pbobble2 (and others) Nvram Playback Issues
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2001 12:30 pm
I see there's a popular game in the latest pbobble release that has some nvram playback issues. I want to remind everyone that along with inflating the egos of the cool players here that they can score well: A major point of marp is to keep an archive of game recordings. This means for you as an recording uploader you have to ensure your recording can playback. For games with nvram issues, this means you have to either include the nvram file you recorded with in the zip or make sure you delete the nvram file before you record. The deletion method is prefered but not required.
<p>
Most of you recording pbobble are now includeing the state of the nvram files which is Great! but there are other new players (Sanna and Oakster) who are yet to feel the wrath of recording a game that can no longer playback because they forgot to copy the nvram file.
<p>
The following is an explanation of the problem nvram files cause for making recordings made with out nvram care not playbackable:
<p>
Ever since a late 36beta version, mame has used nvram files to store non volitile memory sometimes for the purpose of seeding random game play (e.g. if you get red bubbles to fire first or blue.) This means when you record/play pbobble2 for the first time, there will not be a nvram file and mame will seed your game so your first bubbles to fire will be red. Playing pbobble2 for the first time will also create a pbobble2.nv file in your nvram directory, when you stop mame.
<p>
Now, when you record/play pbobble2 for the second time, mame sees the pbobble2.nv file and decides to give you a blue bubble to fire first. This can foul things up greatly, since if someone playsback this recording with out the correct nvram file they will not be able to play it back because in their game a red or grey bubble with be lined up to fire first when you recorded the game to expect a blue bubble...
<p>
The moral of the story is Please remove nvram files (i.e. nvram\gamename.nv) before recording to make sure you can playback the recording in a nonvolitate memroy state that can always be repeatable.
--
churritz@cts.com
<p>
Most of you recording pbobble are now includeing the state of the nvram files which is Great! but there are other new players (Sanna and Oakster) who are yet to feel the wrath of recording a game that can no longer playback because they forgot to copy the nvram file.
<p>
The following is an explanation of the problem nvram files cause for making recordings made with out nvram care not playbackable:
<p>
Ever since a late 36beta version, mame has used nvram files to store non volitile memory sometimes for the purpose of seeding random game play (e.g. if you get red bubbles to fire first or blue.) This means when you record/play pbobble2 for the first time, there will not be a nvram file and mame will seed your game so your first bubbles to fire will be red. Playing pbobble2 for the first time will also create a pbobble2.nv file in your nvram directory, when you stop mame.
<p>
Now, when you record/play pbobble2 for the second time, mame sees the pbobble2.nv file and decides to give you a blue bubble to fire first. This can foul things up greatly, since if someone playsback this recording with out the correct nvram file they will not be able to play it back because in their game a red or grey bubble with be lined up to fire first when you recorded the game to expect a blue bubble...
<p>
The moral of the story is Please remove nvram files (i.e. nvram\gamename.nv) before recording to make sure you can playback the recording in a nonvolitate memroy state that can always be repeatable.
--
churritz@cts.com