A few questions!

[MX5]

Hey! I'm new to the forum and hacking/modding. I've used the No Mercy Rom in the past as well as HIW's Forever Indy YEARS ago. Recently, I've become super interested in learning some basic stuff in regards to hacking and modding.

I started with dumping textures/replacing them with characters from NWO Revenge/WM2k/VPW2 and eventually just putting a couple characters into Vanilla No Mercy from Showdown 64 as CAWS (Just for practice). I've got the hang of dumping textures and replacing them. I'd like to take it to the next step and work on replacing arenas but I'm having trouble finding a good place to start, with a decent understanding of what I'm doing.

I came across M's guide to specific arenas but admittedly I had no clue what it actually meant. I understand that each arena will have to have textures replaced/has specific codes that need to be replaced, I'm just not sure the steps to do it in (if that makes sense)
( http://s4.zetaboards.com/Old_Skool_Reunion?topic=8361300/1/ )

I tried to install wolpac69's PWG Arena for practice but I couldn't get it to work. I added the textures to my hires_texture folder and then added the codes as: "PWG Arena\Ring Post's\1" etc. but when I went to play it only loaded the "Beginning" pictured in the thread. (Tried using the Glide64, Jabo Direct 3D8 1.6, and Rice mudlord 6.1.4)
( http://s4.zetaboards.com/Old_Skool_Reunion?topic=10496155/1/#new )

Another issue I've run into, unrelated to Arena's is when I play a match using 2 Textured caws in a tag match. (Example: The Young Bucks vs. The Dudley Boyz) The frame rate drops to around half what it should be, the best I could get was around 26 FPS. I tried several different settings but couldn't figure it out.

I'm using PJ64 1.6 / Glide64 Plugin for graphics. Sorry for the novel, just wanna be thorough. I also apologize if I sound like an idiot. I'd say I have a very basic understanding of what needs to be done I just need a place to start. Thanks for any advice!

 

[KWG]

I'd say get a hang of how hacks and hex values work with Costume Hacks and/or Move Hacks before getting into Arena hacking.

 

[Wolfpac_69]

The PWG Arena is Built on 2.1 it wont load on 1.6 as the texture are named differently you could re dump the textures that should make it work

My advice just focus on one aspect of the game at a time, each part required time a dedication some of us here have been doing this for years and are still learning

 

[KWG]

In the end, it's all about understanding the codes:

XXXXXXXX YYYY
Address Value

Address basically tells the where something is located (for example, the texture of the Ring mat) and sometimes when and how to activate a change (for an instance, with an activator I tell the game that the texture of the ring mat should change under circunstance X).
Value is what is located at that address, for an instance, lets say you find the XXXXXXXX address that is the ring mat, and the value there is 005C. if you change the value to 004D probably the texture will change.

A bit of info on the address headers, for when making a cheat:

80 is for when you want to edit only 2 bit (01 for example)
81 is for when you want to edit 4 bits (0001)
D0 is a 2 bit activator (When 80XXXXXX is 01 for example)
D1 is a 4 bit activator (When 80XXXXXX is 0001 for example)
D2 is a 2 bit activator for when the value is not XX (When 80XXXXXX is not 01 for example)
D3 is a 4 bit activator for when the value is not XXXX (When 80XXXXXX is not 0001 for example)

 

[MX5]

Thanks for the responses guys!

@KWG that actually helped me understand a little more. Looking forward to toying with it and learning more.

@wolfpac I'll try the arena on 2.1 (which is sick as hell by the way!) and don't worry, I'm not interested in rushing to make my own save or anything. I'm just looking to customize the original game to get some practice in. Just getting the hang of how things work/all the lingo that's used. I don't expect to learn everything overnight.

 

[Deleted User]

Basic rule for building codes.

DXXXXXXX XXXX
8XXXXXXX XXXX

The top line is an activator, the bottom a hex address.

The activator is the situation in which you want the code to be well... activated.

The addy is what exactly is being manipulated.

 

[MX5]

Awesome, thanks! I seem to be understanding more and more every time I go in and mess around with stuff and it's very exciting to say the least.

I've moved over to using 2.1 and the PWG arena looks amazing! One problem I'm having though is when 2 wrestlers go outside the ring, the game crashes. Any idea what's causing this?

 

[Deleted User]

I couldn't tell you because I don't have enough information. I don't know what your emu settings are, what codes you have selected, ect.

What I would do is the trial and error method. Turn cheats on and off until you find the culprit!

I know it sucks, and trust me, we've all been there, mang.

 

[Fizanko]

I remember there were a lot of freezing when outside of some of the arenas of Showdown64

Chukiepk found most of the sources of those freezing in the cheat codes :
http://s4.zetaboards.com/Old_Skool_Reunion/single/?p=10003391&t=10005574

http://s4.zetaboards.com/Old_Skool_Reunion/single/?p=10003624&t=10005574

Maybe that PWG arena freeze is similar to what was happening there.