Dynamic Z

Dynamic Z is a patch for Super Mario World that allows performing a variety of actions during V-Blank. It was made by anonimzwx. Dynamic Z is meant to be a replacement for DSX as both allow coding dynamic sprites.

Features

• Dynamic Sprite Support: Sprites that uploads their graphics to the VRAM when they need allowing unlimited number of frames.
• Shared Dynamic Sprite Support: Dynamic Sprites but each copy of the sprite shares graphics then doesn't have limitation of number.
• Semi Dynamic Sprite Support: Regular Sprites that uploads all their graphics to the VRAM when they are spawned on the level, each copy of the sprite use the same space in VRAM.
• Giant Dynamic Sprite Support: Very Big Dynamic Sprites. Any that fits in 48 16x16 tiles or less.
• Graphics Change on the fly: Can change GFXs in game by code.
• Tilemap Change on the fly: Can change Tilemaps of any layer in game by code.
• Color Palette Change on the fly: Can change color palettes in game by code.
• Block Changer: Allows to change several blocks, this allows to modify terrain of Layer 1 or Layer 2.
• DMA Mirror: Includes a Ram Address that mirrors register $420B and can be used to do DMA transfers.
• SA1's Widescreen: Makes easier to use the widescreen of SA1 pack, every 6~7 scanlines killed Dynamic Z allows 8 16x16 tiles more to use in Dynamic sprites or Graphics Change. Only Available if ROM uses SA1.

Optional Features

• Player Features: Can change graphics or color palettes of player on the fly, allowing Custom Players, the size is defined by the user but bigger player = less dynamic sprites. Also in vanilla case optimize player routine to save a lot of cycles during NMI. Not Compatible with resources that change things of the player like 8x8 tiles DMAer or 32x32 player (New version will be compatible with LX5's Custom Power Ups).
• 50% More Mode: if it is activate, status bar, podoboos and most of minor DMA, then is possible to send 50% more data by DMA, that means 50% more Dynamic Sprites or graphics changes. Not compatible with resources that changes things with Status Bar.

Dynamic Z vs DSX

	DSX	Dynamic Z
Number of Dynamic Sprites	4 of 32x32, 1 of 64x64	Any number of sprites while it fits on the designed space. By default allows 32 16x16 tiles.
Frame Rate	60 FPS	30 or 60 FPS, if you use 30 FPS sprites you can use more dynamic sprites.
Performance	Requires a buffer to sort the data before transfer it to VRAM wasting a lot of cycles.	Send data directly to VRAM and only transfer data when is needed saving a lot of cycles on NMI, It doesn't require a buffer then doesn't waste cycles fitting graphics on the buffer.
Sizes	32x32 or 64x64, do others sizes is possible but harder.	Any if it fits on the designed space.
VRAM Options	Only allows to fit Dynamic Sprites on SP4 Second Half	User can define where fit Dynamic Sprites, Default address can be changed on the patch, address can be changed in game by code.
Shared Dynamic Sprites	No	Allows Dynamic Sprites that shares graphics on VRAM, Shared Dynamic Sprites doesn't have limitations of number.
Semi-Dynamic Sprites	No	Normal sprites that when are spawned on the stage, they upload all their graphics to VRAM.
Giant-Dynamic Sprites	No	Very Big Dynamic Sprite, (Max Size any that use a space in vram of 48 tiles).
Auto-Defragmentation of VRAM	No	When a Dynamic sprite is spawned, it clears reserved space of unused slots and compress space on VRAM.

Instalation

Without SA-1

1. Insert Dynamic Z as any other patch.

With SA-1

1. Open a Clear ROM with Lunar Magic.
2. Expand Rom (if you want to use a lot of Dynamic Sprites i recommend 4mb)
3. Open "sa1.asm" and change this to 0:

   !DSX		= 1				; Put 0 if you want to turn off legacy (Dynamic Sprites) patch support.
   						; (as anoni's Dynamic Z should obsolete it soon.)
   

4. Insert SA-1.
5. Insert Dynamic Z as any other Patch.

Installing Dynamic Z's Library and Defines

Pixi

1. Run "Dynamic Z Pixi Installer.exe". This will generate a define file in "./asm/ExtraDefines", that can be used by any other Dynamic Sprite. If you want to do it manually, just copy the file "DynamicZDefines.asm" and put it on "./asm/ExtraDefines".

Uber asm patch

Under Construction

Uber asm Tool

Under Construction

GPS

Under Construction

Overworld Sprite Tool

Under Construction

Inserting Graphics and Tilemaps

Dynamic Z includes a tool to insert graphics or tilemaps on the ROM using freedata and allows to resources get them with just a macro. This system is specially useful for resources that uses more than 1 BNK, I recommend use it always for any resource because freecode is better keep them just for code and freedata for graphics and tilemaps.

1. Put graphics or tilemaps on DynamicExGFX folder.
2. Open "resourcelist.txt". It will look like this:

   PIXI:
   .Normal
   .Cluster
   .Extended
   OTHER:
   

   For Normal, Clusters or Extended Sprites, write the name of the sprite on the correct label.

   Example:

   PIXI:
   .Normal
   klaptrap
   klump
   piranha plant
   .Cluster
   DKC butterfly
   DKC fish
   .Extended
   OTHER:
   

   For other resources write the complete path after label OTHER.

   Example:

   PIXI:
   .Normal
   klaptrap
   klump
   piranha plant
   .Cluster
   DKC butterfly
   DKC fish
   .Extended
   OTHER:
   ./blocks/block that change GFX when is touched.asm
   ./level/awesome uberasm.asm
   

3. Run "GFX and Tilemap Inserter.exe".
4. Insert resources.

Using Normal Dynamic Sprites with the New System

if the sprite is 60FPS, it must be inserted on lunar magic as any other sprite. if the sprite is 30FPS, The higher 2 bits of Extra Byte 1 requires on of this 3 values.

• 00: Automatically assign if It uploads graphics to vram on even or odd frames.
• 01: It uploads graphics to VRAM only in odd frames.
• 02: It uploads graphics to VRAM only in even frames.

By default use always 00 for this, 01 and 02 are used if you want to do GFX or Tilemap Changes and use Dynamic Sprites without flickering, for that you can do that dynamic sprites use only odd frames and upload GFX or Tilemaps in Even Frames.

Library

Dynamic Z includes severals routines and macros to help development. Some of them can be used on any resource and others are exclusive for Dynamic Sprites.

Global Library

Routines

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Macros

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Dynamic Sprites

Routines

!ClearSlot

Clear slots of Dynamic Sprites that are not used and start VRAM Defragmentation to use less space. It is recommended to use when a Dynamic Sprite dies.

Macros

Macro	Description	Parameters	Return
FindSpace	Check if the VRAM space assigned to the sprite is valid or not, also if is required moves the sprite to other VRAM space to defragment their graphics.	DSSlotUsed : Must be a DZ.DSLocUS<Sprite Type>,x for example if you use a normal sprite use %FindSpace("DZ.DSLocUSNormal,x").	Carry Set if VRAM space assigned to the sprite is valid.
CheckSlot	Use !ClearSlot and then find a valid slot and assign it to the sprite, also assign its VRAM space.	FrameRateMode : 00 Automatically assign if Sprite uploads graphics in odd or even frames, 01 Sprite uploads graphics in odd frames, 02 Sprite uploads graphics in even frames and 03 Sprite can upload graphics in any frame. NumberOf16x16Tiles : Number of tiles of 16x16 that the sprite needs to reserve in VRAM. SpriteNumber : For Cluster Sprites use !ClusterSpriteNumber, for Extended Sprites use !ExtendedSpriteNumber and for Overworld Sprites use !OWSpriteNumber. SpriteTypeAndSlot : it have formar stt sssss, s => 0 Dynamic Sprite and 1 Shared Dynamic Sprite, tt => 00 Normal Sprite, 01 Cluster Sprite, 10 Extended Sprite and 11 Overworld Sprite, sssss = Current Slot of the Sprite. SpriteUsedSlot : Must be a DZ.DSLocUS<Sprite Type>,x for example if you use a cluster sprite use "DZ.DSLocUSCluster".	Carry Set if it found a valid slot.