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An old thread about this topic: viewtopic.php?t=7120&highlight=

The difficulty with these modes is that they are time released after some weeks of use. There are codes to speed this up (can be found at CPS-2 Shock, in the game list), but these require F3 to be used for resetting, which is not recorded in an inp. But it is stored in NVRAM

I made NVRAM files using these codes and write-protected them. If there was a link to a Zip file containing these files in the special rules there would be no problem recording or playing back these Inps because the files are write protected and MAME can't change them.

The difficulty with these modes is that they are time released after some weeks of use. There are codes to speed this up (can be found at CPS-2 Shock, in the game list), but these require F3 to be used for resetting, which is not recorded in an inp. But it is stored in NVRAM

I made NVRAM files using these codes and write-protected them. If there was a link to a Zip file containing these files in the special rules there would be no problem recording or playing back these Inps because the files are write protected and MAME can't change them.[/quote]


Well... I frown on NVram... as it just means I gotta make that $%^%$ directory and then pray I remember to delete it and replace the dummy file when I was done... but thanks for doing this... now it's to be seen if it will be accepted.


Kelly

Just put them in a seperate folder, and use the -nvram_directory switch when you want to use it. Couldn't be simpler.

mahlemiut wrote:Just put them in a seperate folder, and use the -nvram_directory switch when you want to use it. Couldn't be simpler.

[Blinks]

Crikee! I never even thought of that! (*,)


Kelly

I wouldnt mind seeing a split. Some of the new modes are quite fun to play. The only problem I see is that the players would have to use nvram. Maybe mahlemiut could give his opinion on this.

To ban nvram and then make it a requirement in some cases is a bit confusing, especially for newbies.

A better solution would be if mame, or perhaps just alphamame, could record the F3-key. This would make it possible to use the different key sequences to enable these modes instead of having to use a special nvram file which is not allowed when recording an ordinary game.

It doesn't sound like a difficult task, but I haven't looked at the source since 0.35, so what do I know.

The only problem I see is that the players would have to use nvram.

There is no problem. You put the NVRAM files in a folder called "sfa3" and start your recording with "-nvram_directory sfa3". You can keep your NVRAM file that blocks MAME from creating the NVRAM folder. The sfa3 NVRAM files are read-only so MAME won't be able to change them.

To ban nvram and then make it a requirement in some cases is a bit confusing, especially for newbies.

Confusing? This is the only case. People wanting to play or watch SFA3 survival mode will have to read the special rules. No big deal.

Newbies? Just because a newbie might be confused is no reason not to do this. I'll write the special rules if you want and everybody with common sense will be able to understand what's going on.

From the rules page:

d) NVRAM, including the default NVRAM, is prohibited, with the exception of extraordinary circumstances.

This would make it possible to use the different key sequences to enable these modes

Have you looked at the codes? Nobody would want to enter them before each game. It takes way too long.

Well, this is the thread in which I hoped we could discuss and solve this issue without a poll. So please give me reasons why we shouldn't play SFA3 survival mode with NVRAM.

..cuz of precedents of special nvram alllowed polls that failed to pass for other games.

New discussion on this shuld really be in that poll thread. As mentioned by Alex in the poll thread, how can you vote to allow use of nvram in this case but not for other games like the recent case of Hyper Sports?

I can understand possiblity wanting to play a different mode of the game....

...but there are several games that can play quite differently if you set dip switches to certain values etc. or if a nvram file exists with certain settings.

I have not tried this game...but does it have a service mode? For many games if you press F2 to enter service mode then F2 to exist service mode again the game resets.

F2 IS recorded in inp files. I have used it in the past in inps and they playback showing the use of service mode etc. just fine.

If this game has this support then you might be able to get around the lack of F3 being recorded to the inp file(which I also don't understand) to get your special mode without needing a nvram file.

You can find the codes at CPS2Shock (http://www.cps2shock.com/). The problem with using them though, is that they require the machine to be reset after each code is entered. Resets aren't usually a game input, and thus aren't recorded in the inp. The only other way is to either hack the NVRAM file - which Pat has expressly forbidden - or have inps running for a month or so while waiting for the time locks to pass.

LN2 wrote:..cuz of precedents of special nvram alllowed polls that failed to pass for other games.

There was one poll about this issue where people wanted to get a higher score in Hyper Sports. That has nothing to do with playing SFA3's survival mode at MARP.

New discussion on this shuld really be in that poll thread.

Well, I never wanted to start a poll about this and I still hope that this can be solved with a discussion.

As mentioned by Alex in the poll thread, how can you vote to allow use of nvram in this case but not for other games like the recent case of Hyper Sports?

This is a different case. That's why. Like Barry said:

mahlemiut wrote:How can it even be compared? All allowing NVRAM for Hyper Sports does is give more points. Whoopdeedo.

I can understand possiblity wanting to play a different mode of the game....

...but there are several games that can play quite differently if you set dip switches to certain values etc. or if a nvram file exists with certain settings.

We have survival mode competitions in Garou and Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha. SFA3 has a survival mode as well so we should have that one at MARP too regardless of NVRAM.

I have not tried this game...but does it have a service mode? For many games if you press F2 to enter service mode then F2 to exist service mode again the game resets.

F2 IS recorded in inp files. I have used it in the past in inps and they playback showing the use of service mode etc. just fine.

If this game has this support then you might be able to get around the lack of F3 being recorded to the inp file(which I also don't understand) to get your special mode without needing a nvram file.

That is explained in the first post of this thread.

mahlemiut wrote:The only other way is to either hack the NVRAM file - which Pat has expressly forbidden - or have inps running for a month or so while waiting for the time locks to pass.

The NVRAM files attached to the first post are not hacked.

those are all good points for survival mode but what about the interface to have users use the nvram files, most users proly delete their nvram files so to play these files back they have to do a lot of work. My playback script automatically checks for an nv in the zip and uses it if it exists, but the script is so bashed together it's not usable by everyone. I'm guessing it would be too much of a pain for most to actually use the nvram files for certain games and no the nvram files for others. That's why i don't like nvrams.

Chad wrote:those are all good points for survival mode but what about the interface to have users use the nvram files,

Won't be a problem. Read on.

most users proly delete their nvram files so to play these files back they have to do a lot of work.

No, they have to do very little work and they only have to do it once and never again.

My playback script automatically checks for an nv in the zip and uses it if it exists, but the script is so bashed together it's not usable by everyone.

That's ok. Nobody will have to use it in this case.

I'm guessing it would be too much of a pain for most to actually use the nvram files for certain games and no the nvram files for others.

In this case using the NVRAM files is totally free of pain.


How to record and play back SFA3 survival mode recordings

1. Create a directory called "sfa3" in your MAME directory.
2. Download this file and unzip the contents into your sfa3 directory. (The files are write-protected so MAME will never be able to change them.)

Recording

mame.exe sfa3 -record sfa3 -nvram_directory sfa3


Playback

mame.exe -pb sfa3 -nvram_directory sfa3


That's it. Steps 1. and 2. have to be done only once. All you have to do when recording or playing back is adding "nvram_directory sfa3" to your command line.

Edit: Typo

Chad wrote:My playback script automatically checks for an nv in the zip

The NVRAM files in this case will not be distributed with the recordings. If you want to record or watch an SFA3 survival mode recording you only have to download the files I created once.

The simple instructions and a link to the files will be put into the special rules and everybody will understand what to do.