AppSignature

This Build tool option allow to add an application signature to binary data (right after the header).

The MSXgl signature format is directly inspired by the meta-data used by Konami to identify their cartridges and add cross-games options.

Definition

Application's signature is 4 bytes long and composed of:

• AppCompany: 2 bytes for the creator ID (reserve yours!),
• AppID: 2 bytes for the product ID (the numbering of the applications is up to each creator).

//-- Add application signature to binary data (boolean)
AppSignature = true;

//-- Application creator ID. Can be 2 character string or 16-bits integer (0~65535)
AppCompany = "GL";

//-- Application product ID. Can be 2 character string or 16-bits integer (0~65535)
AppID = 0;

If 2-character string is recommended for creator ID and integer for product ID, in fact, both of those parameters can be any of:

• 2-character string ("MX", "a7" for example),
• 16-bits decimal unsigned number (12345 for example),
• 16-bits hexadecimal number starting with 0x (0x0750 for example).

For example, the header first 2 words of Konami's Penguin Adventure are "CD", 0x4307. "CD" is one of the signature used by Konami to mark there ROM (see next section) and 0x4307 show in binary viewer the number 0743... the serial number of Penguin Adventure (RC743).

You can also add extra data using AppExtra option. WIP

Programming

If AppSignature is set to TRUE in Build tool configuration, then APPSIGN is defined in your C program.

Application signature is put just after the binary header:

• At ROM header address +0x0010 (should be 0x4010 or 0x8010),
• At Basic binary header address +0x0007 (should be 0x8007),
• At DOS binary start address +0x0002 (should be 0x0102).

Define an external variable as g_AppSignature if you need to access the data from your program. It can be defined in several ways depending on your needs. For example:

extern const u16 g_AppSignature[2];

extern const u8 g_AppSignature[4];

Keep in mind than MSX store data as Less significant byte first (Little endian).

Note: For ROM targets, if a ROM type signature is present at offset +0010h, then the application signature is placed just after (header +0x0018)

Creator ID

Some creators' ID are already reserved:

ID	Rel	Creator's name
0x00??		Reserved
"AB"	✔️	Konami (Boxing and Football)
"B5"	✔️	Bik5 (J. Bikker)
"CC"	✔️	Casper Croes
"CD"	✔️	Konami (many games)
"EF"	✔️	Konami (Pennant Race and Knightmare 3)
"FD"		FutureDisk
"JP"		Johan de Punder
"GH"		Reserved
"GL"	✔️	MSXgl (samples)
"NB"		Nicola "8bit"
"PH"		Pixel Phenix
"PP"	✔️	Pixel Phenix (obsolete)
"RC"		Reserved
"RO"		Reserved for ROM type signature
"RS"	✔️	RoboSoft
"TL"		Tele-Line
"TT"	✔️	Thomas ‘Totta’ Lundgren
"YZ"	✔️	Konami (Game Master 2)
"WD"		Wim Dewijngaert
"XX"		Reserved
0xFF??		Reserved

Note:

• Come on Discord to reserve your own creator ID.
• Creator ID are only definitively assigned when an application is published with this code.

Known signed applications

List of released applications that contain compatible signature.

C	App	Author	Application
"B5"	"EM"	Bik5 (J. Bikker)	Eggy's Maze
"CC"	"PC"	Casper Croes	Phenix Corrupta
"PP"	"CR"	Pixel Phenix	Crawlers (MSXdev'23)
"PH"	001	Pixel Phenix	Crawlers (cartridge)
"PH"	002	Pixel Phenix	Final Smash
"RS"	"PE"	RoboSoft	Attack of the Petscii Robots
"TT"	"TP"	Thomas ‘Totta’ Lundgren	Tetpuz
"GL"	?	MSXgl	(samples)
"AB"	?	Konami	(Boxing and Football)
"CD"	?	Konami	(many games)
"EF"	?	Konami	(Pennant Race and Knightmare 3)
"YZ"	?	Konami	(Game Master 2)