AppSignature

From MSX Game Library

Revision as of 00:47, 25 January 2023 by Aoineko (talk | contribs)

This Build tool option allow to add an application signature to binary data (right after the header). The signature format is inspired by the meta-data that Konami used to identify its cartridges and add cross-game options.

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

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

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

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

  • 2 bytes for the creator/group/company code name (a 2-character string),
  • 2 bytes for the application number (any value between 0 and 65535).

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

  • 2-character string ("MX", "a7" for example),
  • 16-bits decimal unsigned number (1234 for example),
  • 16-bits hexadecimal number starting with 0x (0x0750 for example).

Application signature is put just after the binary header:

  • At ROM start address +0010h,
  • At Basic binary start address +0007h (should be 8007h),
  • At DOS binary start address +0002h (should be 0102h).

C label's g_AppSignature give the signature address.

You can also add extra data using AppExtra option. WIP

Code name

Some creator's code are already reserved:

Code Rel Creator's name
0x00?? Reserved
"AB" ✔️ Konami (Boxing and Football)
"CD" ✔️ Konami (many games)
"EF" ✔️ Konami (Pennant Race and Knightmare 3)
"JP" Johan de Punder
"GH" Reserved
"GL" ✔️ MSXgl (samples)
"PP" Pixel Phenix
"RC" Reserved
"TL" Tele-Line
"YZ" ✔️ Konami (Game Master 2)
"WD" Wim Dewijngaert
"XX" Reserved
0xFF?? Reserved

Come on Discord to reserve your own name.

Code names are only definitively assigned when an application is published with this code.