Mini Games Patcher - BETA release

[Indra]

(from another thread) This crash is similar to the ChocoboCrash. It's caused by accessing memory which isn't available for the process to read. The main difference is: It's random if it crashes or not, since the pointer which causes crashing is calculated in real-time and it can be valid (if you're lucky ). Although it's possible to get this crash in every single mode (quarter/fullscreen, software/hardware) it's also possible to never encounter this crash. If you're using Win98, you're free to go. If you're using NT-based system, better cross your fingers.

does MGP fix this?

I can't seem to get past the snowboard crash, tried everything I've found written about it in this forum.. anyone else still have the same problem?

[EmperorSteele]

No, MPG just enables a frame limiter.

Actually...


If you read the first post, Dziugo talks about a "hijack" option, which, if i understand his explanation correctly, will set the snowboard game to use a different memory address.  However, I don't have any clue what memory address you should try and use.

I'm not quite sure how much that would help you anyway.

DZUIGO: I have a suggestion.  I'd like to post this patch on my website; however, the zip does not contain adaquate usage instructions, and, i'd hate to have to answer shitloads of e-mails asking me for help, and i'd have to link them all to this thread anyways... SO, I'd like it if you'd include instructions (maybe a change log, also?  Nah...) in the zip.  If you're short on time, that's something even -I- can do (I've had to do it a few times anyway =P), in which case I'd like to ask your permission so that I may write a readme, stuff it in the zip, and toss it on my website.

(There's something grammatically atrocious about that last sentance, but, i can't be buggered to figure out how to fix it)

[dziugo]

No, MPG just enables a frame limiter.

...and fixes the mentioned bug in snowboard minigame. I just don't know if that's the only problem...

If you read the first post, Dziugo talks about a "hijack" option, which, if i understand his explanation correctly, will set the snowboard game to use a different memory address.

That's true as far as I understand it .

And... I'm a big fan of "don't-write-tutorial-by-yourself-if-you're-an-author-of-the-program" (hmm... that doesn't sound good). There are just so many things that are trivial to you, and could be a BIG problem for others to solve, so... I'd be happy if you wrote the missing information. In conclusion:

I'd like to ask your permission so that I may write a readme, stuff it in the zip, and toss it on my website

Go ahead. And thank you

DZUIGO(...)

And who's that guy?

dziugo

[EmperorSteele]

hah, oops, ii kant spel.

Anyways, here's the readme as it is right now; I'm open to suggestions =)

MINI GAMES PATCHER -  BETA release. 11/27/2k5

Program by DZIUGO ([email protected])
Readme by EmperorSteele ([email protected])

All info based on content from this thread: http://forums.qhimm.com/viewtopic.php?t=4554
If you have any concerns not addressed in this readme, please consult that URL and ask =)

===

Files in this Archive:

patch.exe
MGP README.txt (this file)

===

USAGE: This program will enable a frame limiter for the Bike and Snowboarding Minigames in FF7PC,
allowing them to run at normal, manageable speeds on mid-to-high-end systems.  It can also do
a few other things...

INSTRUCTIONS:

Note that this is a COMMAND-LINE program.  As such, simply double-clicking it will *NOT* do.

First, extract "patch.exe" to your main FF7 directory
(C:\Program files\Squaresoft,inc\final fantasy 7\  by default) from this RAR archive.

Assuming you are running Windows, hit START, then RUN.  BROWSE to your FF7 directory
and find "patch.exe" and double-click it.

Now, we need to set some parameters.  Next to "patch.exe", type in "-decfrhigh X -decfrsnow Y",
(without the quotes) where X and Y are the FPS (or how fast, rather) you wish for the minigames to run.
Between 30-40 is good for the Highway Bike game, and 40-45 is good for the snowboard game.  A lower
number is slower than a higher number.

So it should look something like this:

*your ff7 directory*\patch.exe -decfrhigh 35 -decfrsnow 40

Hit OK.

(There are also other variables you can use here, but we'll get to those later, as they are not as
vital to the completion of this patching process.)

A DOS prompt will appear on screen, and ask you to hit any key to continue. So, hit any key!
After a moment, the DOS prompt will dissappear.

Now, find your FF7 directory (if it's not already open) and find "ff7.exe" and "patched_ff7.exe".
Rename "ff7.exe" into something like "ff7.exe.BAK", and change "patched_ff7.exe" into "ff7.exe".

-note: You may not see the .exe file extensions.  If this is the case, find "Tools" in the
upper part of the window, and hit "options", and click the "view" tab.  Uncheck the
"hide extensions of known file types" box (Its set this way in WinXP... in earlier versions
of windows, you may have to check off a box labeled "show file extensions")

Anyways, Now you have a patched version of FF7.  Insert a disk, double click FF7 and see if
it works =)

NOTE: If anything went wrong, you SHOULD get an error message, otherwise, everything should
have gone smoothly.

IMPORTANT: If you ever wish to change the FPS again, do NOT re-patch a previously patched ff7.exe!
Revert ff7.exe.BAK into ff7.exe, and patch that instead.

===

ADVANCED USAGE:

There are a few more "switches" which can be used with this tool that, while not vital
to its primary functionality, can be helpful for more advanced users.  These would be placed
along with the FPS variables in the "RUN" command box.

-debug [0/1] (Default 0, or "off"): When set to 1, "patch.exe" will display debug information
while patching is in-progress.  Useful if something keeps going wrong.  In addition,
add > C:\Debug.txt to have the patcher make a text file of the debug information.

-errors [0/1] (Default 1, or "on"): Will display error information in the event of an error.  You
have the option to turn this off, if you wish.

-in [input_file_name] (Default "ff7.exe"): This is the file that patch.exe will attempt to alter, in
case you want to patch a differently named file other than ff7.exe (So if you want to patch
ff7backup.exe or something)

-out [output_file_name] (default "patched_ff7.exe"): This will change the name of the finished,
patched executable.  You can change this to, say, "ff7.exe" if you don't want to be arsed with
renaming "patched_ff7.exe" when you're done.

-nopause: Will get rid of the "Press any key to continue" DOS prompt.

-hijack [hex digit]: This seems to allow the minigames to work with a different memory address,
hopefully to circumvent a crash (The basic reason that the chocobo races will not work in winXP
w/out a patch: It tries to access a restricted memory address.  Sometimes, other minigames will
do this, as well).  However, I do no know which hex variables are safe to use with this function,
so I recommend leaving it alone.

===

Copyrights + pimpage:

FF7 Is copyright Square-Enix.  The Minigames patcher is the work of Dziugo.  This readme
was compiled by EmperorSteele, though most info was copied verbatum from
http://forums.qhimm.com/viewtopic.php?t=4554

Feel free to distribute this patch, as long as you do not modify any of its contents.  All
credit goes to Dziugo for his hard work.

qhimm.com
ff7-universe.com

So, yeah, and if anyone sees any typos, please point them out, as well =)

[Indra]

Great work

Some notes I thought off:

Patch.exe does work even if you only double-click it (or at least I think it does) what happens is simply that all variables get the defaulted values, no?

Also, I'm not sure if everyone likes it that way, but I'd like to see a very short part that comes first in the whole thing that simply states the
full purpose of the patch. something like: "Purpose: Limit the fps in the bike and snowboard minigames. May also fix a crash when starting the snowboard minigame(I'm unsure as to what other things MGP can do)"

This patch is probably what those who has the snowboard crash will find when they try to fix their problem.. so a lil info about that could be nice. Something like the common causes for the crash and what may solve their problem if MGP doesn't. (run on win98, ensure ff7\minigame\snowboard-us.lgp on the CD is readable, and what else might be done)

[Chrisu]

Since ihave this patch, the motorbike race works perfectly, but i cant play underwater and snowboard anymore,  :weep:  can u help me?

[EmperorSteele]

...Did they work to begin with?

Try uninstalling, and reinstalling ff7 for a normal, clean version.  See if the games work.  Then apply 1.02, and see if the games work.  Then apply the high-res patch (if you use it) and see if they work.  Then any other mods you may have, and see if the games work.  Then finally, do the MGP (make sure to use the latest version).  The thing is, MPG doesnt touch any code not related to either the snowboard mini game or bike mini game, so, it shouldn't be causing that your problems (then again, it also had a conflict with the high res patch and cait sith's slots, so, ya never know).

Though i'll play around; i dont think i've tried the sub mini game, either, so, i cant say for certain that it's unaffected.

Indra: I wasn't aware that it fixed the snowboarding crash, heh.  I'll have to add that in.  Though, as Grisu said, he's now having problems with the snowbaoridng, so, maybe that fucntion isn't 100% implimented...?

And ah yes, alternate fix information.  Good idea =)

[Indra]

Some ppl have had their crash fixed. If I've understood it correctly, this is if their crash was (and only) due to the memory read exception. Mine still crashes, I need to try reapplying everything, and see if and how I can get it to work. However, I guess the problem is that some .lgp files seems unreadable on CD2..

[dziugo]

Grisu's problem has been investigated, and a fix sent to him... We'll know soon if it helped him.

I wasn't aware that it fixed the snowboarding crash, heh. I'll have to add that in. Though, as Grisu said, he's now having problems with the snowbaoridng, so, maybe that fucntion isn't 100% implimented...?

I'd say, that it is 100% implemented. A few changes were done in .data block (let's just say, that Square/Eidos guys can't count to 10 properly ).

Some ppl have had their crash fixed. If I've understood it correctly, this is if their crash was (and only) due to the memory read exception. Mine still crashes, I need to try reapplying everything, and see if and how I can get it to work. However, I guess the problem is that some .lgp files seems unreadable on CD2..

100% true.

And that readme looks really nice .

dziugo

[EmperorSteele]

(let's just say, that Square/Eidos guys can't count to 10 properly ).

Is that a binary joke?  Would that mean they can't count to 2? =P

Ok, fixed up a few things in the readme and will throw this bad boy out to the wolves as soon as i update my site (which is hardly ever, btw, hehe)

[sheep]

Am i just really bad and slow or is the roller coaster minigame in the speed square unnaturally fast? every time i look for help on how the hell i am supposed to get 5000 pts i'm told it's a piece of cake, but i can't get the target to move less than a quarter of the screen when i press the button... is there some way to slow down this game to? or shall i flounder in a pool of sorrow at my incompetence in game with fast rides and flashy lights?

[dziugo]

It's done. Expect an update in next year (or, if you want a raw-code, PM me).

dziugo

[Wuz]

just set the limit to 30 on both highway and snowboard
only unlocked highway on my current save game so i went to golden saucer to check it, it worked a treat!

Thank you very much for this patch.

[dziugo]

Even if it runs at manageable speed (which is not mgp's "fault" ), moves of the sight aren't precise enough. As I said, the mod is ready, but I need some time to rewrite, test and release it...

dziugo

[sheep]

i don't follow... there is an update that can fix my problem, it will be out in 9 months... or do i just set both games to 30 fps?

[dziugo]

there is an update that can fix my problem, it will be out in 9 months...

...or sooner.

dziugo

[Blackura67]

When ever Cloud went past Icicle Town to snowboard down to the base of Gaea's Cliff, the game would consistently crash before starting. I read before that sometimes it will crash on its own but sometimes it will run just fine. So I restarted the game about five times but it always crashed in the same way. So I came here, downloaded the BETA (saving both saved games, old ff7.exe file, and the config file) and installing it without any real worry (hey, I'm not going to get any further in the game anyway so what's the worst that could happen?). I installed it according to the instructions and on the first try the snowboarding game ran seamlessly.

Mega-Thanks for this modification!! 

[Blackura67]

When ever Cloud went past Icicle Town to snowboard down to the base of Gaea's Cliff, the game would consistently crash before starting. I read before that sometimes it will crash on its own but sometimes it will run just fine. So I restarted the game about five times but it always crashed in the same way. So I came here, downloaded the BETA (saving both saved games, old ff7.exe file, and the config file) and installing it without any real worry (hey, I'm not going to get any further in the game anyway so what's the worst that could happen?). I installed it according to the instructions and on the first try the snowboarding game ran seamlessly.

Mega-Thanks for this modification!! 

[dziugo]

Well, that's what it's for For further record, here is the updated version.