User:Callum/Sonic Robo Blast 2

SRB2Wii
General
Author(s)	Sonic Team Jr.
Ported by	Callum Dickinson
Type	Platform game
Version	1.3.0
License	GPL
Links
Discussion
Source
Peripherals

SRB2Wii is an unofficial port of the 3D platformer fangame Sonic Robo Blast 2 to the Wii. The PowerPC Linux version of SRB2 runs under a tiny Linux distribution loaded from an image. SRB2Wii is under ongoing development, the series of releases so far have only been test releases, SRB2Wii doesn't work properly yet. There are a couple of problems with SRB2Wii as of this writing: the controls don't seem to work, and some of SRB2's levels seem to have trouble keeping steady in framerate without an explanation, while both of those is being worked on, they are what is stopping SRB2Wii from working properly.

As of 24 August, 2009, there are two versions that can be downloaded:

An IOS version for people loading SRB2Wii through IOS/Homebrew Channel.

A mini version for people loading SRB2Wii through the BootMii loader and mini. Make sure /bootmii/ppcboot.elf is vacant. NOTE: The mini version is currently broken. You may download it if you wish, but it will not start correctly.

Network configuration files for people wanting to use the networking on SRB2Wii. Read the instructions in /linux/README. Wi-Fi networking only through mini.

Extended swap file (less than 1KB compressed, 128MB extracted) for people who can spare the space on their SD cards to have the ability to load much larger levels. Just extract onto your SD card and SRB2Wii will pick it up and load it automatically.

Changelog

Long-overdue announcement: Hey guys, sorry for not keeping you guys in the loop. I've had other things on my plate these past few weeks, namely school exams, girl troubles and I'm going to Japan to go stay with a host family at the end of next week, so I've been really busy. I haven't had the time to write an announcement for you guys, but if you have been checking the link Logan provided in his post, there has been quite a bit of activity behind the scenes on SRB2Wii's SVN branch. Let me list a few of them:

A brand new SRB2Wii launcher is being developed, and is nearing completion. It will allow you to configure everything about SRB2Wii, SRB2 and the options it uses to load (WAD files, binaries it uses, etc), system settings (such as network configuration (currently useless as netplay is disabled in the PowerPC builds of SRB2 anyway =P), accessing the Linux system itself and deleting configuration files, stuff like that). It even plays a little jingle that plays in the background. =)

SRB2Wii/mini now works fully, including the controls and SRB2 itself.

More improvements behind the scenes make tiny improvements in speed, responsiveness, stability and ease of use. Since SRB2Wii is now on the SVN as well, its easier than ever to check out the source and have a field day. =P

Alright, thats all I have time for, for now. You can be sure that I will have a new SRB2Wii release before September 25, 2009 at the latest (thats the day before I leave for Japan).

SRB2Wii v1.3.0 has been released: Here are the changes:

- SRB2WII FINALLY GOES INGAME! Oogaland's fixes to the Software renderer have proved wonderful for SRB2Wii, as even though the controls still don't work (wminput problem), SRB2Wii can and will go ingame, fully working, no screwed up text, no crashes (there is still lag in some (aka most) of the levels though, this will be sorted as I go). =)

- Redesigned portions of SRB2Wii, including the boot process, the filesystem itself and how swap space is handled. There is now a separate swap file for SRB2Wii. In the normal SRB2Wii archive is a 32MB swap file, this can be extended to 128MB (for people who have the space on their SD cards) by downloading swap.tar.bz2 and extracting it onto your SD card (don't worry its literally a 338 byte download =)). SRB2Wii now loads faster, SRB2 itself loads much faster. SRB2Wii also uses less disk space and is smaller to download.

- Made it easier for people who like to play with source to do just that with SRB2Wii =P

- You can now change the parameters SRB2 uses to load yourself by editing /srb2wii/srb2 on your SD card. I like to use it to warp to levels manually to try them out =)

- The mini version has been tinkered with as much as possible, the stupid /dev/mmcblk0p1 error comes up for some reason, but once that error is dealt with SRB2Wii/mini will probably work properly =)

I still haven't tested the networking support. Anyone who has a Wii LAN Adapter that is known to work with Wii Linux can you please report to me that it works? Thanks =)

Enjoy, everyone.

SRB2Wii v1.2.1 has been released! Here are the changes:

- Fixed several behind the scenes issues caused by my late night development. If you had a look at my abomination, trust me, you wouldn't be happy. =)

- Partially fixed SRB2Wii/mini, it now starts correctly but it complains that there is no such block device called /dev/mmcblk0p1 during booting even though there is and drops you to a shell which weirdly enough won't accept any input at all.

News 24/8/2009:

Don't try the mini version, I've just found out how tired I was last night. I've made a huge amount of mistakes, fixing them now. I've also managed to get BootMii installed properly, so I can actually test everything.

SRB2Wii v1.2.0 has been released! Here are the changes:

- Upgraded the Linux kernel to MIKE p3. This brings forth several enhancements.

- SRB2Wii now supports booting from mini via the BootMii menu. This brings SEVERAL advantanges, including 11MB more RAM than SRB2Wii from the Homebrew Channel/IOS, working internal Wi-Fi networking (experimental), USB 2.0 support, and USB bandwidth improvements. SRB2 will be able to load faster and load more sophisticated levels under mini.

- SRB2Wii now has experimental networking support, the Wii LAN Adapter and Wi-Fi work when running under mini, and the Wii LAN Adapter only when running under IOS from the Homebrew Channel. Check /linux/README in network.tar.bz2.

- Wii Remote configuration interface has been greatly simplified (behind the scenes improvement), the Wii Remote now acts as a keyboard, and this will become obvious once you press some buttons while SRB2 is loading =) Nunchuk, Wii Remote accelerometer and Classic Controller support has been added. Once the controls work in SRB2, you can use the Wii Remote sideways, use the Nunchuk and Wii Remote together (and use the Wii Remote for mouselook), or the Classic Controller. GameCube Controller support will come soon.

If you plan on running SRB2Wii from the Homebrew Channel, download srb2wii-ios.tar.bz2. If you want to try SRB2Wii from mini/BootMii menu (just make sure there isn't any other homebew taking up /bootmii/ppcboot.elf, because SRB2Wii NEEDS to execute from there), download srb2wii-mini.tar.bz2. If you want to get networking running, download network.tar.bz2, extract onto your SD card, and follow the instructions in /linux/README.

Whoever tries SRB2Wii through mini hopefully can report to me that it works, unfortunately I haven't had much luck installing BootMii on my Wii, so I have not been able to test it. Thanks. I subsequently also haven't been able to test that the networking interface works either, so I ask people with a Wii Linux-compatible Wii LAN Adapter and people on Wi-Fi with mini report to me that everything works. Thanks.

News 23/8/2009: I have redesigned the Wii Remote configure interface. The Wii Remote is now set up as a keyboard and I can confirm it to be working, that seems to point to an issue with SRB2 as to why the input isn't working.

SRB2Wii v1.1.2 has been released! Here are the changes:

- Installed Python2.6 and Tcl, now SRB2Python works with SRB2Wii (Go check the SRB2Python thread for binaries for SRB2Wii).

- More cleanup to make building and messing around with SRB2Wii easier for the curious =)

With this release, the source is now available for people who want to compile their own SRB2Wii. Well, its not technically source code, but there is a patch for modifications to the Linux kernel. Just read the README file when you download it. Can only be built on a Linux system, if your not using it, go get a REAL development platform =P (I use Ubuntu to compile SRB2Wii since its the easiest to cross-compile on).

SRB2Wii v1.1.1 has been released! Here are the changes:

- Fixed the error with "ln" when Linux boots.

- Cleanup to make the filesize smaller.

Its functionally identical to the old version. As before, if you have v1.0.1 or older on your SD card, please remove it before installing this version.

SRB2Wii v1.1.0 has been released! Here are the changes:

- Upgraded the Linux kernel to 2.6.30.

- Has a lot more RAM to use.

- Both Linux and SRB2 load MUCH, MUCH faster! This is due to the new kernel, the extra RAM, and other small tweaks.

- SDHC card support for folks on SDHC cards.

- The console now has overscan compensation for people on older TVs.

- When it reboots, it now takes you back to the Homebrew Channel rather than restart the whole console.

I've changed the file structure in this version. If you have v1.0.1 or older, you need to delete your current SRB2Wii installation off of your SD card and then extract this one, and your data files into /apps/srb2wii/data.

1.0.1 is out! Here are the changes:

- Installed ncurses and Perl for the new launcher to work when its eventually included.

- Several other behind the scenes fixes that might also fix segmentation faults some people have been reporting.

1.0.0

- Inital release.