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#41
Mapping Tips/Guides / Re: What map-making feature wo...
Last post by mechaskrom - October 09, 2026, 12:32:47 PMPretty much what everyone have already said, but I just wanted to add one feature that I REALLY want in an emulator for mapping and that's scripting. It's extremely useful for automating the screenshot+stitch process and saves a lot of time and work. Sadly, very few emulators have script-support. BizHawk is one of the few that does, which is why it's my goto emulator for mapping games. Plus it has many other excellent features/tools.
https://tasvideos.org/Bizhawk/LuaFunctions
Some other emulators with scripting that I know of is FCEUX, Lsnes and Snes9X Rerecording (snes9x rr).
Scripting exposes an API to the emulator so you get great control of the emulated game. My scripts usually just use the memory read/write functions to change the camera position in the emulated game and then the take screenshot function.
Something BizHawk lacks in its scripting and I would like to see is an in memory drawing canvas that you can blit copy a rectangular part of the current screen to. The canvas could then be used to stitch together the map into and then saved to file. Currently I have to call an external tool that takes a txt-file with blit commands from the BizHawk script that stitches together all taken screenshot files. It works, but it would be nicer if this could be done entirely inside the script.
BizHawk has a canvas (LuaCanvas object), but it's a GUI desktop window and as far as I know it's not possible to close or hide it which is annoying. Especially when stitching a really big map. Plus you cannot copy from the screen to the canvas, only from image files.
https://tasvideos.org/Bizhawk/LuaFunctions
Some other emulators with scripting that I know of is FCEUX, Lsnes and Snes9X Rerecording (snes9x rr).
Scripting exposes an API to the emulator so you get great control of the emulated game. My scripts usually just use the memory read/write functions to change the camera position in the emulated game and then the take screenshot function.
Something BizHawk lacks in its scripting and I would like to see is an in memory drawing canvas that you can blit copy a rectangular part of the current screen to. The canvas could then be used to stitch together the map into and then saved to file. Currently I have to call an external tool that takes a txt-file with blit commands from the BizHawk script that stitches together all taken screenshot files. It works, but it would be nicer if this could be done entirely inside the script.
BizHawk has a canvas (LuaCanvas object), but it's a GUI desktop window and as far as I know it's not possible to close or hide it which is annoying. Especially when stitching a really big map. Plus you cannot copy from the screen to the canvas, only from image files.
#42
Map Requests / Color Coding Progress
Last post by Cyartog959 - October 08, 2026, 09:21:51 PMOK, I've come up with a tracking method for any games that aren't yet mapped, or are already mapped. Here it is...
GREEN - Completed!
YELLOW - In progress.
GREY - Paused/On Hold until able to resume.
RED - Not yet mapped.
What do you think?
If there are any mappers on the task, be it from my requests or anyone else's, I'll be sure to color the games' names focused on progression updates.
GREEN - Completed!
YELLOW - In progress.
GREY - Paused/On Hold until able to resume.
RED - Not yet mapped.
What do you think?
If there are any mappers on the task, be it from my requests or anyone else's, I'll be sure to color the games' names focused on progression updates.
#43
Maps In Progress / Re: Keith Courage in Alpha Zon...
Last post by JonLeung - October 08, 2026, 09:02:11 PMThanks, they're up now:
https://vgmaps.com/Atlas/TG16/index.htm#KeithCourageInAlphaZones
I thank you further here:
https://www.vgmaps.com/forums/index.php?topic=2478.msg24361#msg24361
https://vgmaps.com/Atlas/TG16/index.htm#KeithCourageInAlphaZones
I thank you further here:
https://www.vgmaps.com/forums/index.php?topic=2478.msg24361#msg24361
#44
Map Requests / Re: JonLeung's Requests
Last post by JonLeung - October 08, 2026, 08:57:53 PMThe other request fulfillment that is also a big deal today is that newcomer TimbreWulf mapped out the TurboGrafx 16 game, Keith Courage In Alpha Zones!
I mean, come on, it's a launch game, a pack-in game, for a retro console, in the same era as the popular NES, Super NES, and Sega Genesis! Anyone the least bit familiar with the TurboGrafx 16 is likely to know of this game!
Here's the updated infographic of my wishlist I made on VGMaps.com's 24-year anniversary, hoping to get more of these mapped before the 25th. Fifth game in five months since, that's like one a month. Gonna have to almost triple that rate (19 games in seven months!) to get them all done by then!
Thanks, TimbreWulf!
I mean, come on, it's a launch game, a pack-in game, for a retro console, in the same era as the popular NES, Super NES, and Sega Genesis! Anyone the least bit familiar with the TurboGrafx 16 is likely to know of this game!
Here's the updated infographic of my wishlist I made on VGMaps.com's 24-year anniversary, hoping to get more of these mapped before the 25th. Fifth game in five months since, that's like one a month. Gonna have to almost triple that rate (19 games in seven months!) to get them all done by then!
Thanks, TimbreWulf!
#45
Map Requests / Re: JonLeung's Requests
Last post by JonLeung - October 08, 2026, 08:50:30 PMzagato blackfist came through with another one of my NES requests, this time for Parasol Stars: The Story Of Bubble Bobble III (E)!
It's yet another confusing Bubble Bobble sequel... the box says "Parasol Stars: Rainbow Islands II" or "Parasol Stars: Rainbow Islands 2" - I'm still not sure if both are actually legit or if certain European countries got one or the other - and then the in-game title (which VGMaps.com usually goes with) is "Parasol Stars: The Story Of Bubble Bobble III" (since Rainbow Islands is a sequel to Bubble Bobble, though there are two different Rainbow Islands games on the NES, and neither one is "Bubble Bobble: Part 2", yet another sequel also on the NES...) What a mess...
I requested it since there are still new Bubble Bobble games made to this day, and now that this is mapped I think we (probably) now have every NES game featuring currently active video game characters!
Thanks again, zagato blackfist!
It's yet another confusing Bubble Bobble sequel... the box says "Parasol Stars: Rainbow Islands II" or "Parasol Stars: Rainbow Islands 2" - I'm still not sure if both are actually legit or if certain European countries got one or the other - and then the in-game title (which VGMaps.com usually goes with) is "Parasol Stars: The Story Of Bubble Bobble III" (since Rainbow Islands is a sequel to Bubble Bobble, though there are two different Rainbow Islands games on the NES, and neither one is "Bubble Bobble: Part 2", yet another sequel also on the NES...) What a mess...
I requested it since there are still new Bubble Bobble games made to this day, and now that this is mapped I think we (probably) now have every NES game featuring currently active video game characters!
Thanks again, zagato blackfist!
#46
Maps In Progress / Re: Keith Courage in Alpha Zon...
Last post by TimbreWulf - October 08, 2026, 02:11:16 AMLast part.
#47
Maps In Progress / Re: Keith Courage in Alpha Zon...
Last post by TimbreWulf - October 08, 2026, 02:09:57 AMPart 3:
#48
Maps In Progress / Re: Keith Courage in Alpha Zon...
Last post by TimbreWulf - October 08, 2026, 02:08:52 AMPart 2:
#49
Maps In Progress / Keith Courage in Alpha Zones [...
Last post by TimbreWulf - October 08, 2026, 02:06:48 AMI worked with the US version since that's the one I'm familiar with. I remember some old magazines had maps for some of the stages (forgot which one) but was surprised it's not available online.
I mapped each stage over the last couple of days.
I'm not familiar with the submission process.
Since it won't let me upload a zip, I'll post them here.
I mapped each stage over the last couple of days.
I'm not familiar with the submission process.
Since it won't let me upload a zip, I'll post them here.
#50
Mapping Tips/Guides / Re: Any advice on how to get s...
Last post by Cyartog959 - October 07, 2026, 09:08:25 PMA nice lowdown on doing maps for any newcomer to mapping, mechaskrom, but there are loads of 2D PC games not ran on an emulator, and that's slightly a different story.
For one, I've had quite a couple of difficult times getting through some confusing sections in the whole Blaster Master Zero trilogy, such as Nora Satellite's confusing wormhole warp path in BMZ3 and the final labyrinthine enemy filled room-to-room path to Goez(the villain's actual name from Metafight, according to Kane Gardner) in BMZ1's Area 8, and I still don't know how large their areas' sizes are, because they all haven't been mapped yet.
Seriously, people. In BMZ3's 4th Area, it's very hard to tell which goes where, because all the wormholes look the same; no differentiation of which path is correct and which paths are wrong, even on the minimap, and no green straight lines to tell. Fortunately, I was able to unlock a shortcut warp to avoid that after going through the first time.
It is still hard to remember where to go or how long/large they are when such games aren't mapped.
For such when recreating them, even with screenshots at their pixel perfect native resolutions, there's Tiled, the map editor for placing tiles and creating maps. The Mummy: Demastered's maps were made that way, and it was rather quite swift. Eishiya used that to smooth the process, as I recall, and I was impressed with how that mapper did it. Surely, the same can be done for already released numerous pixel art made games.
Of course, Kayato, if you want some more details in them for additional guidance, yes, an image editor does the job, but ripping sprites, which also uses emulators and tools, for many things are needed to put them in their boundaries, like items, bosses' put together big screen-filling bodies that are oftentimes tough for using emulators, but you can place the bosses themselves out of the maps' boundaries, a bit close to their arenas they're fought in, and make unmarked maps for those just wanting to see them clear and clean.
Kayato, remember one thing. Just make sure you clear out the frontmost layers that obscure the foregrounds and backgrounds when mapping out certain areas that occupy the viewing field.
For one, I've had quite a couple of difficult times getting through some confusing sections in the whole Blaster Master Zero trilogy, such as Nora Satellite's confusing wormhole warp path in BMZ3 and the final labyrinthine enemy filled room-to-room path to Goez(the villain's actual name from Metafight, according to Kane Gardner) in BMZ1's Area 8, and I still don't know how large their areas' sizes are, because they all haven't been mapped yet.
Seriously, people. In BMZ3's 4th Area, it's very hard to tell which goes where, because all the wormholes look the same; no differentiation of which path is correct and which paths are wrong, even on the minimap, and no green straight lines to tell. Fortunately, I was able to unlock a shortcut warp to avoid that after going through the first time.
It is still hard to remember where to go or how long/large they are when such games aren't mapped.
For such when recreating them, even with screenshots at their pixel perfect native resolutions, there's Tiled, the map editor for placing tiles and creating maps. The Mummy: Demastered's maps were made that way, and it was rather quite swift. Eishiya used that to smooth the process, as I recall, and I was impressed with how that mapper did it. Surely, the same can be done for already released numerous pixel art made games.
Of course, Kayato, if you want some more details in them for additional guidance, yes, an image editor does the job, but ripping sprites, which also uses emulators and tools, for many things are needed to put them in their boundaries, like items, bosses' put together big screen-filling bodies that are oftentimes tough for using emulators, but you can place the bosses themselves out of the maps' boundaries, a bit close to their arenas they're fought in, and make unmarked maps for those just wanting to see them clear and clean.
Kayato, remember one thing. Just make sure you clear out the frontmost layers that obscure the foregrounds and backgrounds when mapping out certain areas that occupy the viewing field.