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Posted on 10-22-11, 08:29 pm (rev. 8 by  Dirbaio on 05-01-13, 05:49 am)
Roy Koopa


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Since: 06-26-11
The Ultimate Mario vs Luigi Hacking Guide!

Welcome to the Ultimate Mario vs Luigi Hacking Guide! In this Tutorial I'll show you many things you should know when editing the Multiplayer-Levels. I'll also show you the files in the archives of the Multiplayer mode. I hope you'll learn much! Enjoy!



CHAPTER 1 - The archives
In this first Chapter, I'll give you a overview of the archives for MvsL. They are very limited, but it's still enough, so dont be afraid.

At first, I try to explain what these archives are. The DS uses many archives. I think the most popular are .carc/.narc archives. New Super Mario Bros. uses .narc archives. In these .narc's are files which the DS is using. The Multiplayer Mode uses these, too. When starting DS Download-Play, the DS without the NSMB Game-Card, is downloading the .narcs form the other DS, so both can play.

Here's a list of all MvsL .narc's in NSMB:
- Dat_2D.narc
- Dat_Basement.narc
- Dat_enemy.narc
- Dat_Field.narc
- Dat_Fort.narc
- Dat_Ice.narc
- Dat_Init.narc
- Dat_Pipe.narc

You can find them if you open your NSMB ROM with the NSMB editor and go to File Browser -> root -> ARCHIVE


Each .narc contains other things. I'll explain here now, what files the archives contain.
The Dat_2D.narc contains mostly palletes, main graphics (Touchscreen etc.) and the koopa. Dont ask me, why the Goombas is not there, too.
If you want to edit the .ncg files there, see this tutorial: tutorial Editing .ncg files with NSMBe 5.2

The Dat_enemy.narc contains all enemie files (.nsbtx's, .nsbmd's and .nsbca's)
For a list off all enemies, see this: sprites MvsL Hacking

The Dat_Init.narc cotains Player-Models, Graphics for gameplay and other game files. There's also the Goomba.

The Dat_Field/Basement/Ice/Pipe/Fort.narcs contain the Level-Files. There you can also edit the Tileset or the Background.
For making good Backgrounds, see this Tutorial (by  Dirbaio): BG Editing How-To

This was all I can tell you about the archives of MvsL. I hope you understand and will have fun editing the files Let's go ahead to the next Chapter.



CHAPTER 2 - Editing the levels
Now I'll tell you, what you can do so you get no crashes/freezes. There are some cool and some silly things, but hey! Its Multiplayer and the possibilities are enough, trust me! And perhaps we are able to create new stuff in the future

Let's start with the Graphical-Stuff. I recommend to use NSMB editor 5.2 for this now. See this Guide for getting it (by  Dirbaio]): tutorial How to compile NSMBe 5.2 Beta or just download the latest revisions here!
You should use Version 5.2, because only this version can create the .narc patch. It will modify the archives so people can play together if both have the same ROM. Ok, let's begin with the Tilesets! You are able to change the Tilesets trough the Level Configuration -> Graphics -> Tileset.

There you can change it. But you can also import you own Tileset-Image and create your own blocks with the "Edit Tilest" button.


Now we continue with the BG's (Backgrounds). You can chage the Backgrounds or import a own BG in the Level Configurations, too. But before importing a HD/Very good image, you should pay attention to this Tutorial for BG editing (by  Dirbaio): BG Editing How-To


Ok, that was all about the Graphical-Stuff. Let's switch to the Sprites.
This is the silliest thing in MvsL, because Nintendo insterted only a few sprites for Multiplayer.
You can see the list here: sprites MvsL Hacking
 Freeze tested some things. He founded out, that all Sprites are usable in every level. Also the sounds will work!


Next, the Views. For now I have only tested, that you are able to change the size and camera settings of the view. I dont know if Music Changing works, but probably not. I'll edit it here, when I have tested it. And also the 3D lightning is unknown. IMPORTANT: The view width divided by 256 hast to be 2, 4, 8...! If you can test it, write it down here! Thank you


Now, the Paths. You can use the Progess Paths like you want. That's no problem, but the Normal Paths can only be used to create Connected Pipes.


Let's talk about Entrances!
Yes, you CAN add as many entrances as you want! But you CAN NOT add a Midway entrance, because the start entrance of the second player IS the Midway entrance. I still have not tested all Entrances, but I can say without testing, the Door entrance will not work, because the door uses a image AND a 3D model.

Here's a list of all working entrances I know:
- Normal
- Tile Behavior of Boss doors with normal entrance in the middle (Looks like door)


That was nearly all what I could say. But there are still some things you should know. So I made a small list. Look:
- You can warp to all the other Multiplayer Levels while playing (Credit to  Tana~)
- You can create very big levels
- You can increase the Numbers of Stars
- You can use ?-Blocks which contain Starman/Mega-Mushroom
- You can use Vines, Slopes and Ice
- You can use Custom Music, but the MvsL mode is still limited to the 2 songs (Thanks to  Shadey for testing)
- Zones will cause a freeze!
- All Sprites which are not listed here: sprites MvsL Hacking can NOT be used!
- Some Background will cause a crash!
- Water/Lava Tile-Behavior will cause a freeze!

I have not tested the Rope Tile Behavior, the Log Tile Behavior or the Cliff Tile Behavior yet. I'll edit it here then. And I'll also continue the list if I figure out more.



CHAPTER 3 - Start playing
This is the last part of the Tutorial, read it carefully. If you will not, you probably can't play with your friends

Ok then. If you want to play all that now, then go in the Editor Menu to the Tools tab. Here click on Multiplayer NARC Patch (Map) and Multiplayer NARC Patch (Tex + BG). Then you're done, you can close the editor.

There are three different ways to play your edited levels. Recommended one is placing the exact same ROM on two flashcards. For more details see tutorial How to get MvsL hacks to work. Multicart and Download Play.


Last words
Here's the end of the Guide. I hope you enjoyed and learned much. It took me much time, so create some nice Multiplayer levels! Thanks to TheJackiMonster, my friend, for testing all that with me. Without his help this Guide would not exist.
And also thanks to Dirbaio, Piranhaplant and Treeki for this very nice NSMB editor!

Thank you for reading!
~ray
_________________________
See a lots of creative DS Hacking here
If you want to support me, you might check out my Patreon Page : )
Posted on 10-22-11, 08:44 pm
Super Mario
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Nice

Some things you could improve:

- You can tell users to simply download NSMBe 5.2 instead of compiling it themselves.

- Changing music will probably not work

- You should tell users that there are 3 ways of playing.
1: Multicart - Have the exact same ROM on two flashcards
2: Download Play with firmware.nds. Download this, run it on one DS, and download the hack from the other.
3: Download Play with FlashMe. One DS needs to be flashed with FlashMe. Boot the hack and download from the other one.

There's NO (reliable) way to play hacked MvsL levels over Download Play with the normal firmware.
Posted on 10-22-11, 08:47 pm
Roy Koopa


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Ok. I'll edit it now, but what is FlashMe? Otherwise, cool that there are more than one way for playing it
_________________________
See a lots of creative DS Hacking here
If you want to support me, you might check out my Patreon Page : )
Posted on 10-22-11, 08:58 pm


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Posts: 586/2112
Since: 06-28-11
Really nice guide.
FlashMe is used to flash a Nintendo DS. I have never done it and I don't know what a flashed DS can do.
Posted on 10-22-11, 08:59 pm
Roy Koopa


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Posts: 890/2722
Since: 06-26-11
Thank you very much I dont think a flashed DS can do something special
_________________________
See a lots of creative DS Hacking here
If you want to support me, you might check out my Patreon Page : )
Posted on 10-22-11, 09:04 pm
Super Mario
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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FlashMe is used for basically 2 things:

-> Booting Slot-2 Flashcards without anything in Slot-1
-> Allows anything to be downloaded over Download Play. Including hacked games.
Posted on 10-22-11, 11:18 pm
Flurry


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Since: 10-14-11
great guide alot of stuff i didnt know
i used r116 in the past so which revision is recommended to use now?
Posted on 10-22-11, 11:19 pm
Roy Koopa


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Since: 06-26-11
Thank you
You should use r234
_________________________
See a lots of creative DS Hacking here
If you want to support me, you might check out my Patreon Page : )
Posted on 10-22-11, 11:33 pm
Flurry


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Since: 10-14-11
Posted by ray
Thank you
You should use r234


no problem
when i use r234 for some reason it doesnt load , even when i load the firmware.nds. But when i use r116 the levels work fine without the firmware.nds. why is that?
Posted on 10-22-11, 11:35 pm
Roy Koopa


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Since: 06-26-11
Huh, I dont know. I always use 234 and I also create the Narc patches with 234... But my friend and I are always playing with the same ROM. We've never used the firmware.nds Perhaps dirbaio can help you there
_________________________
See a lots of creative DS Hacking here
If you want to support me, you might check out my Patreon Page : )
Posted on 10-23-11, 05:54 am


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Since: 06-28-11
ray, he wants to make a Download Play level. And for that r116 was used. It modifies the header of NSMB, so download play works on SOME flashcarts.

I don't know what revision to use now. But I think it is still r116.
Posted on 10-23-11, 08:57 am
Roy Koopa


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Posts: 897/2722
Since: 06-26-11
Lol? I dont get it
_________________________
See a lots of creative DS Hacking here
If you want to support me, you might check out my Patreon Page : )
Posted on 10-23-11, 09:39 am


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Since: 06-28-11
Posted by ray
Lol? I dont get it

Just forget it. r116 only works on SOME flashcarts. On the newer revisions you can't get download play to work.
Posted on 10-23-11, 09:51 am
Roy Koopa


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Since: 06-26-11
Oh OK I did not know this
_________________________
See a lots of creative DS Hacking here
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Posted on 10-23-11, 03:20 pm (rev. 1)
Banned for being a complete idiot.

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Since: 07-09-11
Posted by ray
- You can run this firmware on one DS and use Download play (If the other person has the hack)

Umm dead link...

Anyways, you can say this on how to get 5.2:
To get NSMBe 5.2, you can get it here or here. You can also compile it on your own.

OR

Go here for more info on getting NSMBe 5.2.
Posted on 10-23-11, 03:28 pm
Roy Koopa


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Since: 06-26-11
Lol, Always when I try to put the broken link into a tag, it wont work. As a normal link it works :( And at 5.2: No I think mine is ok :P
_________________________
See a lots of creative DS Hacking here
If you want to support me, you might check out my Patreon Page : )
Posted on 10-23-11, 03:29 pm
Banned for being a complete idiot.

Karma: 529
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Since: 07-09-11
But you should at least say the compiling guide is by ELMario.
Posted on 10-23-11, 03:30 pm
Roy Koopa


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Since: 06-26-11
But there's no link to your guide. Only to dirbaios thread and there he says that the compiling guide is from you (Less work )
_________________________
See a lots of creative DS Hacking here
If you want to support me, you might check out my Patreon Page : )
Posted on 10-23-11, 03:32 pm
Banned for being a complete idiot.

Karma: 529
Posts: 511/987
Since: 07-09-11
There is a link to my guide... unless I'm misunderstanding you.
Posted on 10-23-11, 03:32 pm
Super Mario
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

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Posted by ELMario
But you should at least say the compiling guide is by ELMario.


*facepalm*

The guide itself already says it's by you. Calm down plz.
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