top shelf

Shame it's not NHL24!

I would highly recommend this as a really enjoyable watch. Mark Lesser gives a few interesting insights into the programming of the game such as passing attributes and how one-timers were done. Also, interesting that more animations were done for fighting in 94 such as pulling jerseys over heads, before fighting had to be ripped out. That I would have loved to see! My only complaint is not enough about Jim Simmons apart from a few mentions (for us that think NHL93 is better). It's also interesting that Lesser said Jim Simmons dumped the code on him and he didn't have time to start from scratch (like he wanted to) but only developed the code. Over the years he said he ripped out more and more of the code which may explain why the game went downhill after 94. If it ain't broke don't fix it. It kind of leaves me wondering if maybe Simmons had continued developing the game how good it could have been?

I am definitely in the 93 camp. Let’s be honest you can’t have hockey without fighting. I hate one-timers as I think it spoilt the game by making it too easy to score from them and to difficult to score with a normal shot –not realistic. Anything +94 as stated above was too fast and unrealistic + you could only score by using the one-timer. I also don’t like SNES 94 – not realistic why did they not make it like Gens 94?? I will stick up for SNES 93 as I spent a lot of time playing it. It is a bit basic and the player movement sucks but there are certain things which I love on it. One big thing that I like which is on no other game is that when the puck is in the offensive zone the D men stay inside the blue line which is great for shots from the point (especially good on the PP). I find it annoying that on all other later games they drift in and out all the time even if the puck is in deep. It’s funny nobody mentions this issue as it’s a major part of hockey!!! Hitting I find is the better than any other game + I like the range of shooting - you can aim anywhere and score anywhere. I also find the goalie difficult to beat but not impossible on breakaways which is what you want. On Gens 93 it is way too easy. I think if you could add these things to Gens 93 it would be almost perfect. Of course adding a fourth line would help.

http://gendev.spritesmind.net/page-nhl94.html The link for 6 button support for NHL 94. I guess it's possible to add this for NHLPA93 on Genesis for someone who has the knowledge and a lot of time.

Yes I'd go for: SC1 - as your 4th line SC2 - as your second line CHK - as your checking line PP1 - as your top line and top pp unit. PP2 - your 2nd PP line PK1/PK2 - the same As long as you have access to Sc1, SC2 CHK and PP1 at the same time there shouldn't be any problems apart from not forgetting SC1 is your 4th line. This would also allow minimal editing of data on roms already created. This is the easy part. Is the only way to achive this to programme in another button?

Totally agree. A 4th line would be great on NHLPA 93 as all the tough guys would be on this line with your best defensive players on the chk line. Would make it much more realistic.

Here is the link for adding 6 buttons support for Gens. Doesn't look that easy to me but maybe I'm daft http://gendev.spritesmind.net/page-nhl94.html

This would be good. The fact that it is much easier to score on a one-timer rather than a regular shot is one of the main things that spoils the game for me. I would also like a better balance on Sega 93/94 for shooting as it much too easy to score high far post over other areas. I like SNES 93 because you have an equal chance in scoring in any part of the net.

I don't think you could use the PP line as a 4th line as without adding a button. I found an article on reprogramming/adding a button and it looked pretty highend stuff. You say it isn't that difficult? Do you have any information on this? If so please post it.

Anyone remember this great game? Definitely up there with NHL 93/94. I played all the NHL games on PC and still think this was the best ever. Plus was one of the few games that was better on PC than PS. Although you could edit players/lines/uniforms it would be great to hack the gameplay someday??

I did both these awhile ago + plus the info you supplied for the SNES 30 team+ rom was very helpful. I think there needs to be a list of what hacks are needed + that are possible. To me though the only hack worth doing would be adding a 4th line (on the SNES) but is probably too hard as would involve reprogramming the buttons.

I tried this and it runs through but then crashes!! Is there anything else to change? Tried 18 but this missed the blurbs out then crashed after the goalie bit??

No it doesn't it crashes at Ron Barr screen. I copied the data from a .bin file. as already had OD at the end. However the data is longer than your 64 team data so the 'Welcome to' is now at 9470D and is #24 rather than #65

Smoz, can I change the location of the "Hi Welcome to [Cityname]. I'm Ron Barr for EASN." because I only want a rom with 23 teams, so need it to be the 24th instead of the 64th? Is there a quick way of doing this?

Ooops done

adding a fourth line - I know I asked this before and you said its possible but a lot of hard work but I guess so was the 30 team SNES rom Would you ever have a go at this in the future? waving off icing if a player is near - would be good but hard I guess. Getting the goalies to stop moving when they get the puck behind the net(in 93 only) line changes without having to dump to puck - is a great shout also. Also will your "assist bug fix" work on SNES I thinks its only for Sega at the moment?

Have tried to see what else I can do regarding the strip hack. Think I have now reached the limit without a bigger palette. Tried making the Islanders, Pittsburgh and Anaheim more realistic by adding lower arms. Looks quite good (see pic) but you lose the colours except one on the waist and socks plus the goalie masks are very similar to the helmet colour. What do ye think - more realistic or not?

Yeh sorry I kinda hijacked it a bit

Do we no anything about the buttons? Found one topic that mentions it: http://forum.nhl94.com/index.php?showtopic=3080

Thought it would be easy Interesting that it may be possible (for SNES anyway). I wonder why they never created the original games with 4 lines – a real shame. Would be cool to roll 4 lines especially on 93 where all the tough guys/fighters could be put on the fourth line. I’m guessing you wouldn’t need the graphic (although it would look better) as long as you know the hack is there?

This is a good idea. Actually, while you are in a hacking mood. Is it possible to add a 4th line to any of these games? I know it’s going to be hard because there’s quite a bit to factor in. Is it actually possible? I think this was brought up before but nobody seemed sure. Sorry for posting this here but thought you are probably the only one who could answer this after your SNES hacking exploits.

Sorry might of missed something but is it possible to apply this only to certain players all the time? So rather than all the players being either hot or cold it could just be applied to inconsistent players e.g. Petr Klima etc

Are you sure the rink tiles are uncompressed?? They are on the Sega version but not on the SNES unless I'm being very blind. I managed to change the rink tiles on the penalty box screen but nowhere else. The tiles will be shared but isn't too hard to do once you get used to it. It think the rink is fairly generic so I should be able to just copy my Sega rink hacks over to SNES - hence why I was asking about making the rink editable. The puck and nets are editable (managed to remove the nets). All the player sprites are editable except those on the bench - or I can't find those either. I have pretty much finished my striphack for this game where all of the jersey/helmets are seperate. Looks pretty good apart from the players on the bench which are different because I can't edit them.

Wow - this is amazing. To be able to edit the banners is really cool. Can't wait to have a proper look. I know you said your finished for now but was just wondering how easy it would be to make the rink editable? Also are the players on the bench editable??