Help with Xenon 2

Total Eclipse · 01 June 2005, 13:32

This is my first post here (but hopefully the first of many

)

I've been wanting to get hold of the sprites and tiles from Xenon2 for ages, to use in a GBA project (I'm teaching myself programming on the GBA).

I've tried extracting images using GfxRip, but I'm not getting anywhere - I can see a few images in the 2 colour mode, but can't figure out how to get a 4 bitplane sprite - there's loads of garbage over the graphics.

I've tried ripping from a UAE snapshot, and also a WHDLoad disk image. In both cases I can see stuff, but don't know how to get a clean image.

So far, I've been having to take screen grabs, then clean up the image (remove ships, bullets, backgrounds etc) in PSP

Total Eclipse · 02 June 2005, 14:34

A quick update - I can extract certain images (like the font), and can sort of see the ship sprite, but can't get a clean image of it.

The font was nice and easy (though I still need to get the palette for it) - the rest is a nightmare!

BippyM · 02 June 2005, 17:25

Well I got the following out a while ago..

I'll have another look soon, but if I remember correctly the game is in sprite mode and you'll need to grab the pallette with PSP

Joe Maroni · 02 June 2005, 20:57

and if you like to have the whole gamemaps ask me and i will have a look...

good luck with your GBA project...

Total Eclipse · 03 June 2005, 11:02

bippym - Nice one. If you can give me some pointers to getting the rest of the sprites, I'll be a very happy man. I'll post things here as I extract them

x_to - Do you mean the map layouts, or the tiles used to build the maps? I'll be loading all the tiles into a map maker before importing them into the GBA. Copying the original map design isn't a problem, because I'll be taking screen grabs from UAE. What I need is the original tiles used to make the level.

Using GxfRip on disk 2 of Xenon2's WHDload file shows loads of data, I'm just not sure how to get at it properly.

BippyM · 03 June 2005, 11:59

Okay all the gfx are rippable but you'll need a LOT of patience as they are stored at different sizes so generally you'll have to rip 1 at a time

Anyway the sprites are in ST mode and are in 5 bitplanes (this is weird tho as Xenon2 is only a 16 col game I think)

Anyway have a look as they are easily found once you know where to look

...

Next stage is getting the colours right.. grab a screenshot and use PSP to copy colours etc..

Total Eclipse · 03 June 2005, 12:16

5 bitplanes? That'd explain the corruption I was seeing over the sprites then. You're dead right, it's only a 16 colour game. I'd figured that the graphics were in ST mode from when I grabbed the font.

Patience is one thing I have - producing the map above took ages

BippyM · 03 June 2005, 20:08

I think the 5th image in each is a mask, so you'll probs need to use the offset keys to get the images looking right!!!

Tomcat or maybe evn x-to would know more

Joe Maroni · 03 June 2005, 21:25

ok,

first of all post a screenshot where you have problems and put a savestate to the zone so i can have a look...

even map data is possible to rip with this utility...

BippyM · 03 June 2005, 22:11

The problem is getting the gfx to rip properly!

The game is clearly in 16 colours yet the sprites are in ST format with 5 planes (yes 5 so thats 32 cols)

I think one must be a mask!!!

Joe Maroni · 04 June 2005, 23:18

skip each pic with 16 bytes and you should have no problems...

05 June 2005, 21:13

bippym is right. The 5th is a mask which was used by the blitter during the copy process over the background.

One trick. Try to get Action Replay. Search for the gfx using one bitplane only. When you get the sprites, complete the gfx (you are lucky because Xenon doesn't seem to use rasters so both background & sprites use the same colors) in skipping the 5th bitplane (the mask).

To save a large amount of sprites at once, use the screen copy function (on the misc menu).

I think the tiles are stored in 16 colors (don't need any mask).

Have fun

gifgit · 05 June 2005, 22:47

I have the action replay rom,wich I will put in the zone for others to try but I cant get a decent scan of the manual,so I am trying to remember how I used to rip gfx using it on my old Amiga 500.

Could you please give a few simple instructions on how to rip Xenon 2 using the action replay.

EDIT: Action replay mk 3 rom in the zone

mr_0rga5m · 05 June 2005, 23:18

I've put a pdf of the AR3 manual in the zone for ya gifgit.

gifgit · 06 June 2005, 00:15

Thanx

Total Eclipse · 06 June 2005, 10:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_to

ok,

first of all post a screenshot where you have problems and put a savestate to the zone so i can have a look...

Done - there's a UAE savestate for level one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by x_to

even map data is possible to rip with this utility...

Tell me more.....

Total Eclipse · 09 June 2005, 17:29

X_to - I've just been finding my way around the EAB site, and have stumbled across your map ripper. Can you post it into The Zone again, as I'd like to take a closer look at this

Joe Maroni · 09 June 2005, 22:01

Hi,

sorry for that but i think this tool will be released never...

maybe you don´t know how much work it is to create such a tool...
every game must be ripped individually...it could be that some games use the same technology...

such as Yo Joe and Traps n Treasures..

but if you like i could have a look at Xenon 2...or you could help me...with the maptiles...

rip them from each level...i could create a levelripper for it...

the only main problem is to know if the sprites are organized on x axis or y axis...

if you know anything about the game technology tell it me...it could be very helpful...

Total Eclipse · 10 June 2005, 16:18

x_to - PM me the details of what you want to know, and I'll see what I can find.

I'm still not getting much joy with this. I can rip the ship data, the same as in bippym's posting, but cannot get the palette, even when I take a screen shot and get PSP to copy the palette. The colour registers look all wrong - is the bitplane order wrong?

16 June 2005, 17:13

Hi,

Could you explain a bit more how you rip ? After reading your post I tried to rip one of the enemies. You can see the result in the attached picture.

I didn't have your problem. Could you tell me which emulator do you use ? I did the rip using Action Replay MK III & WinUAE.

Remember that you must not add the completely white bitmap because it is a mask, the gfx are in 16 colors which means 4 bitplanes and not 5.

About the tiles : they are stored vertically but the bitplanes are put horizontally. Unfortunately they seem to be stored with differents modulos as if they were of differents widths. If I'm right, the only way to get them is to rip them manually...

01 June 2005, 13:32	#1
Total Eclipse Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atherstone / UK Age: 49 Posts: 161	Help with Xenon 2 This is my first post here (but hopefully the first of many ) I've been wanting to get hold of the sprites and tiles from Xenon2 for ages, to use in a GBA project (I'm teaching myself programming on the GBA). I've tried extracting images using GfxRip, but I'm not getting anywhere - I can see a few images in the 2 colour mode, but can't figure out how to get a 4 bitplane sprite - there's loads of garbage over the graphics. I've tried ripping from a UAE snapshot, and also a WHDLoad disk image. In both cases I can see stuff, but don't know how to get a clean image. So far, I've been having to take screen grabs, then clean up the image (remove ships, bullets, backgrounds etc) in PSP Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Total Eclipse; 02 June 2005 at 10:12. Reason: Adding link to background image.

02 June 2005, 14:34	#2
Total Eclipse Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atherstone / UK Age: 49 Posts: 161	A quick update - I can extract certain images (like the font), and can sort of see the ship sprite, but can't get a clean image of it. The font was nice and easy (though I still need to get the palette for it) - the rest is a nightmare! Attached Thumbnails

02 June 2005, 17:25	#3
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 48 Posts: 9,355	Well I got the following out a while ago.. I'll have another look soon, but if I remember correctly the game is in sprite mode and you'll need to grab the pallette with PSP Last edited by BippyM; 10 July 2013 at 22:55.

05 June 2005, 22:47	#13
gifgit Retarded and dribbling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Immingham Age: 50 Posts: 443	I have the action replay rom,wich I will put in the zone for others to try but I cant get a decent scan of the manual,so I am trying to remember how I used to rip gfx using it on my old Amiga 500. Could you please give a few simple instructions on how to rip Xenon 2 using the action replay. EDIT: Action replay mk 3 rom in the zone Last edited by gifgit; 05 June 2005 at 22:53.

10 June 2005, 16:18	#19
Total Eclipse Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atherstone / UK Age: 49 Posts: 161	x_to - PM me the details of what you want to know, and I'll see what I can find. I'm still not getting much joy with this. I can rip the ship data, the same as in bippym's posting, but cannot get the palette, even when I take a screen shot and get PSP to copy the palette. The colour registers look all wrong - is the bitplane order wrong? Attached Thumbnails

02 June 2005, 20:57	#4
Joe Maroni Moderator Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Germany Age: 44 Posts: 1,303	and if you like to have the whole gamemaps ask me and i will have a look... good luck with your GBA project...

03 June 2005, 11:02	#5
Total Eclipse Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atherstone / UK Age: 49 Posts: 161	bippym - Nice one. If you can give me some pointers to getting the rest of the sprites, I'll be a very happy man. I'll post things here as I extract them x_to - Do you mean the map layouts, or the tiles used to build the maps? I'll be loading all the tiles into a map maker before importing them into the GBA. Copying the original map design isn't a problem, because I'll be taking screen grabs from UAE. What I need is the original tiles used to make the level. Using GxfRip on disk 2 of Xenon2's WHDload file shows loads of data, I'm just not sure how to get at it properly.

03 June 2005, 11:59	#6
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 48 Posts: 9,355	Okay all the gfx are rippable but you'll need a LOT of patience as they are stored at different sizes so generally you'll have to rip 1 at a time Anyway the sprites are in ST mode and are in 5 bitplanes (this is weird tho as Xenon2 is only a 16 col game I think) Anyway have a look as they are easily found once you know where to look ... Next stage is getting the colours right.. grab a screenshot and use PSP to copy colours etc..

03 June 2005, 12:16	#7
Total Eclipse Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atherstone / UK Age: 49 Posts: 161	5 bitplanes? That'd explain the corruption I was seeing over the sprites then. You're dead right, it's only a 16 colour game. I'd figured that the graphics were in ST mode from when I grabbed the font. Patience is one thing I have - producing the map above took ages

03 June 2005, 20:08	#8
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 48 Posts: 9,355	I think the 5th image in each is a mask, so you'll probs need to use the offset keys to get the images looking right!!! Tomcat or maybe evn x-to would know more

03 June 2005, 21:25	#9
Joe Maroni Moderator Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Germany Age: 44 Posts: 1,303	ok, first of all post a screenshot where you have problems and put a savestate to the zone so i can have a look... even map data is possible to rip with this utility...

03 June 2005, 22:11	#10
BippyM Global Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Derby, UK Age: 48 Posts: 9,355	The problem is getting the gfx to rip properly! The game is clearly in 16 colours yet the sprites are in ST format with 5 planes (yes 5 so thats 32 cols) I think one must be a mask!!!

04 June 2005, 23:18	#11
Joe Maroni Moderator Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Germany Age: 44 Posts: 1,303	skip each pic with 16 bytes and you should have no problems...

05 June 2005, 21:13	#12
chrisr Posts: n/a	bippym is right. The 5th is a mask which was used by the blitter during the copy process over the background. One trick. Try to get Action Replay. Search for the gfx using one bitplane only. When you get the sprites, complete the gfx (you are lucky because Xenon doesn't seem to use rasters so both background & sprites use the same colors) in skipping the 5th bitplane (the mask). To save a large amount of sprites at once, use the screen copy function (on the misc menu). I think the tiles are stored in 16 colors (don't need any mask). Have fun

05 June 2005, 23:18	#14
mr_0rga5m Tik Gora :D Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Round yo momma's Posts: 1,273	I've put a pdf of the AR3 manual in the zone for ya gifgit.

06 June 2005, 00:15	#15
gifgit Retarded and dribbling Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Immingham Age: 50 Posts: 443	Thanx

09 June 2005, 17:29	#17
Total Eclipse Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atherstone / UK Age: 49 Posts: 161	X_to - I've just been finding my way around the EAB site, and have stumbled across your map ripper. Can you post it into The Zone again, as I'd like to take a closer look at this

09 June 2005, 22:01	#18
Joe Maroni Moderator Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Germany Age: 44 Posts: 1,303	Hi, sorry for that but i think this tool will be released never... maybe you don´t know how much work it is to create such a tool... every game must be ripped individually...it could be that some games use the same technology... such as Yo Joe and Traps n Treasures.. but if you like i could have a look at Xenon 2...or you could help me...with the maptiles... rip them from each level...i could create a levelripper for it... the only main problem is to know if the sprites are organized on x axis or y axis... if you know anything about the game technology tell it me...it could be very helpful...

16 June 2005, 17:13	#20
chrisr Posts: n/a	Ripping Xenon2 sprites Hi, Could you explain a bit more how you rip ? After reading your post I tried to rip one of the enemies. You can see the result in the attached picture. I didn't have your problem. Could you tell me which emulator do you use ? I did the rip using Action Replay MK III & WinUAE. Remember that you must not add the completely white bitmap because it is a mask, the gfx are in 16 colors which means 4 bitplanes and not 5. About the tiles : they are stored vertically but the bitplanes are put horizontally. Unfortunately they seem to be stored with differents modulos as if they were of differents widths. If I'm right, the only way to get them is to rip them manually... Attached Thumbnails

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