MiSTer FPGA N64 Core Updates! Conker Freezing Fixed with a Patch

Summary

In this video, the creator discusses the development of a patch for the Nintendo 64 game 'Conker's Bad Fur Day' to eliminate freezing issues on the Mr. FJ console. The patch, developed by 'rule set', utilizes the memory expansion pack to provide additional RAM, preventing memory allocation errors that caused crashes. The video invites viewers to test the patch on Mr. Discord or Twitter, aiming to ensure a stable, uncrashable experience, bringing the community closer to a fully playable N64 library on Mr. FJ.

Takeaways

• 🕹️ The video discusses the Mr FJ d10 Nano project's progress on making the game 'Conker's Bad Fur Day' run smoothly without freezes on the platform.
• 🔍 The creator has been researching memory address allocation issues to achieve a freeze-free condition for the game on Mr FJ.
• 🎉 A patch for the retail version of 'Conker's Bad Fur Day' has been developed that prevents freezing on both turbo and stock cores.
• 🤓 The patch was developed by a Discord member named 'rule set', who found a simpler solution than the creator's initial plan.
• 💡 The solution involves using the memory expansion pack to provide the game with additional RAM, ensuring there's always free space for memory allocation.
• 📚 The creator had been working on rewriting parts of the game for better sequential memory address allocation but found 'rule set's approach more efficient.
• 🐝 A specific game scenario involving Mrs. B's Hive and Hornets was a common cause of freezes, which the patch successfully addressed.
• 📊 Crash data from the debug prototype version helped identify issues related to memory mapping and allocation.
• 🛠️ The patched version of 'Conker's Bad Fur Day' has been tested and found stable on the standard Nintendo 64 core.
• 📝 The patch does not alter gameplay or content, only the memory structure to prevent crashes.
• 🔗 The creator invites the community to test the patch and report any lingering issues, emphasizing the collaborative effort in achieving this result.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to introduce a patch for the retail version of the game 'Conker's Bad Fur Day' that prevents freezing issues on the Mr. FJ d10 Nano project, both on turbo and stock cores.

What was the initial approach to solving the freezing issue in the game?

The initial approach involved researching memory address allocation issues and rewriting parts of the game to ensure sequential memory address allocation with free blocks depending on the game's progress.

Who is 'rule set' and what did they contribute to the project?

'rule set' is a member of Mr. Discord who simplified the solution by adding access to the memory expansion pack, ensuring the game points towards free RAM in the additional four-megabyte block.

What specific game scenario was known to cause a freeze on the standard Nintendo 64 core?

The specific scenario known to cause a freeze was when Mrs. B's Hive was brought back and the Hornets tried to recover it.

How did the creator test the patched version of 'Conker's Bad Fur Day'?

The creator tested the patched version on the normal Nintendo 64 core and was unable to reproduce the freeze condition that occurred in the unpatched version.

What was the role of the crash Handler in the debug prototype version from October 2?

The crash Handler provided valuable data and insights into the memory mapping issues that were causing the game to crash.

What was the creator's original idea for addressing the memory allocation issue?

The creator's original idea was to rewrite parts of the game to change how it writes to the initial 4 megabytes of RAM, considering the use of the RAM expansion pack later on.

How does the patch change the memory structure of the game?

The patch changes the memory structure by allocating the game's memory usage to an additional 4 megabytes of RAM that the game wouldn't normally access, thus preventing conflicts with occupied memory spaces.

What was the second area in the game that was almost guaranteed to cause a crash?

The second area that was almost guaranteed to cause a crash was when the player hit a gargoyle with a frying pan.

What is the expected outcome of applying the patch on the retail release of 'Conker's Bad Fur Day'?

The expected outcome is that the game will be stable and uncrashable on both the normal and turbo cores, with no differences in gameplay or content from the original game.

How can viewers contribute to the testing of the patch?

Viewers can contribute to the testing by joining Mr. Discord or contacting the creator on Twitter to get the patch file and then play through 'Conker's Bad Fur Day' to check for any lingering crashes.

What is the creator's motivation for working on this project?

The creator's motivation is a dislike for the word 'no' and a desire to tackle a challenging project that goes beyond their usual area of expertise in hardware modding and arcade board development.