romdevtools 0.28.0 → 0.29.0

package/examples/snes/templates/platformer.c

@@ -1,186 +1,607 @@
-/* ── platformer.c — SNES PVSnesLib SIDE-SCROLLING platformer scaffold
+/* ── platformer.c — SNES side-scrolling platformer (complete example game) ───
  *
- * A horizontally scrolling platformer: gravity + jump physics with
- * land-on-top collision against a static platform list spread across a
- * 512-px world. A camera follows the player; the BG scrolls in hardware
- * via bgSetScroll(0, camX, 0) and the player sprite draws in SCREEN
- * space (worldX - camX). Mirrors the GB/Genesis side-scroller scaffolds.
+ * CRAG CAPER — a COMPLETE, working game: title screen, 1P mode and 2P
+ * ALTERNATING-TURNS mode (arcade-classic: players swap on death; each player
+ * has their own score and own 3 lives; player 2 plays on CONTROLLER 2),
+ * coins + distance scoring, persistent hi-score (battery SRAM), SPC music +
+ * SFX, and the SNES's answer to the fixed-HUD-over-scrolling-field problem:
+ * the HUD is simply ANOTHER BACKGROUND LAYER with its own scroll register.
  *
- * Physics is fixed-point: x/y in 1/16-pixel subpixel units for sub-pixel
- * acceleration.
+ * THIS FILE IS MEANT TO BE FORKED AND MODIFIED into your own game — even a
+ * very different one. The markers tell you what's what:
+ *   HARDWARE IDIOM (load-bearing) — dodges a documented SNES footgun; reshape
+ *     your gameplay around it (see TROUBLESHOOTING before changing).
+ *   GAME LOGIC (clay) — level layout, physics tuning, scoring, art: reshape
+ *     freely.
  *
- * NOTE ON VISUALS: this scaffold uses the PVSnesLib console (text) BG,
- * which has no tiled platform art — so as you scroll you see the on-BG
- * text slide (proof the hardware scroll register is moving) while the
- * player stays screen-centered. For visible tiled platforms across a
- * wide world, build a real tileset with gfx2snes + bgInitTileSet on a
- * 64-wide map and stream tilemap columns into VRAM during vblank as the
- * camera advances. See the SNES MENTAL_MODEL.md "Horizontal scrolling".
+ * What depends on what:
+ *   data.asm — font + sprite/level tiles, sram_read16/write16 (battery SRAM
+ *     needs 24-bit addressing tcc can't emit), and the bank-$7E telem block.
+ *     Load-bearing.
+ *   hdr.asm — THIS PROJECT OVERRIDES the stock header to declare battery
+ *     SRAM (CARTRIDGETYPE $02 + SRAMSIZE $01). Delete that file and saves
+ *     silently stop existing — the build still succeeds.
+ *   snes_sfx.{h,c} + snes_sfx_data.asm + apu_blob.bin — the SPC700 sound
+ *     driver (music + 2 one-shot samples). #include'd, not separately built.
+ *
+ * ── THE TWO-LAYER SPLIT (the SNES bonus this example teaches) ───────────────
+ * Mode 1 gives three independent background layers, EACH with its own
+ * H/V scroll registers. So a fixed HUD over a scrolling playfield is just:
+ *   BG0 (text console) — HUD + all menu text. Its scroll stays (0,0). Ever.
+ *   BG1 — the level. One register write per frame (bgSetScroll) moves it.
+ * Zero raster tricks, zero CPU. Contrast the NES platformer example (this
+ * game's direct ancestor): the NES has ONE scroll for the WHOLE frame, so
+ * its fixed HUD costs a sprite-0-hit polling spin — ~35 scanlines of CPU
+ * burned EVERY frame waiting for the beam to clear the HUD before rewriting
+ * PPUSCROLL mid-frame. On SNES you only reach for that kind of mid-frame
+ * machinery (HDMA) when one layer must be two things at once — see the
+ * racing example's Mode 1/Mode 7 split.
+ *
+ * The level itself: a 256-px-wide COLUMN MAP (ground height + one-way
+ * platforms + pits) painted once into a 32x32 tilemap. 256 px is exactly
+ * the map's width, so a uint8 scroll wraps seamlessly — an endless looping
+ * run of pits, platforms, coins and spikes. Coins/spikes are sprites that
+ * drift with the scroll (world-anchored while on screen, respawning at the
+ * right edge).
  */
 
 #include <snes.h>
 #include "snes_sfx.c"
 
-extern char tilfont, palfont;
-extern char tilsprite, palsprite;
-extern char tilbg, palbg;       /* wallpaper tile + palette (data.asm) */
+/* The title screen renders this — examples({op:'fork'}) stamps your game's
+ * name here automatically. Keep it ≤16 chars of A-Z 0-9 space dash. */
+#define GAME_TITLE "CRAG CAPER"
+
+extern char tilfont, palfont;          /* HUD font + text palette (data.asm)  */
+extern char tilsprite, palsprite;      /* player/coin/spike tiles + palette   */
+extern char tilbg, palbg;              /* level tiles + sky/dirt/grass colours*/
 
 /* consoleVblank() copies the dirty text tilemap to VRAM during VBlank.
  * No public prototype in console.h, so declare it; call once per frame. */
 extern void consoleVblank(void);
 
-/* BG1 wallpaper map: a full 32x32 screen of the 4-colour tile so the
- * playfield reads as a real backdrop, not flat blank. Filled at runtime. */
-static u16 bg_map[32 * 32];
-
-typedef struct { s16 x, y, w, h; } Rect;
-
-#define WORLD_W  256   /* = the 32x32 console map width, so platforms are drawable */
-#define SCREEN_W 256
-
-/* Platforms in WORLD coords. The world is 256 px — exactly the 32x32
- * console map — so every platform can be DRAWN on the text layer and
- * scrolls 1:1 with the physics. (The old 512-px world only existed as
- * invisible collision rects: the 32-col map can't show cols 32-63, so
- * the player appeared to stand and jump on nothing.) */
-static const Rect platforms[] = {
-    {   0, 200, 256,  24 }, /* floor spans the world */
-    {  24, 168,  56,   8 },
-    { 104, 144,  64,   8 },
-    { 184, 112,  48,   8 },
-    {  48,  96,  40,   8 },
-    { 208,  72,  40,   8 },
+/* data.asm exports — battery SRAM accessors ($70:0000 long addressing) and
+ * the bank-$7E telemetry block a headless test can find by scanning. */
+extern u16 sram_read16(u16 offset);
+extern void sram_write16(u16 offset, u16 value);
+extern u8 telem[];
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay — reshape freely) ──────────────────────────────────────
+ * VRAM budget (word addresses):
+ *   $0000 OBJ tiles, $2000 level tiles, $3000 HUD font,
+ *   $4000 level map (BG1), $6800 HUD/console text map (BG0).
+ * Sprite tile numbers + the level tile numbers the map painter uses. */
+#define TILE_IDLE  0
+#define TILE_JUMP  1
+#define TILE_COIN  2
+#define TILE_SPIKE 3
+#define BG_CLOUD   1
+#define BG_DIRT    2
+#define BG_GRASS   3   /* also used for floating platforms (grass slabs)    */
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — the level ───────────────────────────────────────────
+ * A 32-column map; world x = (screen x + scroll) mod 256.
+ *   ground_row[c] — tilemap row of the ground's grass top, 0xFF = pit.
+ *   plat_row[c]   — row of a one-way floating platform, 0 = none.
+ * Rows are tilemap rows (y = row*8). The SNES screen shows rows 0-27. */
+#define NO_GROUND 0xFF
+static const u8 ground_row[32] = {
+  26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26,                  /* start runway        */
+  26, NO_GROUND, NO_GROUND, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26,    /* pit 1 (16 px)       */
+  26, 26, 26, 26, NO_GROUND, NO_GROUND, NO_GROUND, /* pit 2 (24 px)       */
+  26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26, 26,
 };
-#define N_PLATFORMS (sizeof(platforms) / sizeof(platforms[0]))
-
-#define GRAVITY    12
-#define MOVE_SPEED 24
-#define JUMP_VEL   -200
-#define MAX_FALL   320
-
-static u8 on_platform(s16 px, s16 py) {
-    u16 i;
-    const Rect* p;
-    for (i = 0; i < N_PLATFORMS; i++) {
-        p = &platforms[i];
-        if (py + 8 == p->y && px + 8 > p->x && px < p->x + p->w) return 1;
+static const u8 plat_row[32] = {
+  0, 0, 0, 0, 21, 21, 21, 0,                       /* slab before pit 1   */
+  0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 20, 20,                        /* slab mid-level      */
+  20, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0,
+  0, 21, 21, 21, 0, 0, 0, 0,                       /* slab near the loop  */
+};
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — physics + tuning ── */
+#define GRAVITY_Q44    1    /* +1/16 px per frame per frame                */
+#define JUMP_VEL_Q44 (-40)  /* launch vy (Q4.4) → ~50 px / ~6 tile apex    */
+#define MAX_VY_Q44    80    /* terminal velocity, 5 px/frame — MUST stay   *
+                             * under 6: the landing probe's 6-px window    *
+                             * can't catch a faster fall (tunnelling)      */
+#define MOVE_SPEED     2    /* px/frame walk + scroll speed                */
+#define SCROLL_WALL  112    /* px: past this the world scrolls, not you    */
+#define GROUND_TOP   208    /* ground_row 26 * 8                           */
+#define SPIKE_Y      200    /* spikes stand on the ground                  */
+#define NUM_COINS      3
+#define NUM_SPIKES     2
+#define START_LIVES    3
+
+/* SRAM layout: [0]=magic "CG", [2]=hi-score, [4]=hi ^ 0x5AC3.
+ * Magic is written LAST in hi_save so a torn write never validates. */
+#define SRAM_MAGIC 0x4743u
+
+/* Game states — the shell every example shares: title → play → game over. */
+#define ST_TITLE 0
+#define ST_PLAY  1
+#define ST_OVER  2
+
+static u8  state;
+static u8  px;                 /* player screen x                          */
+static u16 py_q44;             /* player y, Q4.4 fixed point — gravity adds
+                                * <1 px/frame near the jump apex, so we
+                                * need sub-pixel precision                 */
+static s8  vy_q44;
+static u8  on_ground;
+static u8  scroll_x;           /* level scroll — u8 wraps at 256 = exactly *
+                                * one level loop (seamless)                */
+static u8  dist_sub;           /* sub-counter: 64 px scrolled = +1 pt      */
+static u8  coin_x[NUM_COINS], coin_y[NUM_COINS];
+static u8  spike_x[NUM_SPIKES], spike_active[NUM_SPIKES];
+
+/* Players: index 0 = P1 (controller 1), 1 = P2 (controller 2 — alternating
+ * turns, arcade-classic style). Each has own score + own lives; the HUD
+ * shows the CURRENT player's numbers. */
+static u8  two_player;
+static u8  cur_player;
+static u8  p_lives[2];
+static u16 p_score[2];
+static u16 hiscore;
+static u8  turn_pause;         /* freeze frames after a turn change        */
+static u8  sound_ok;
+static u16 rng = 0xC0DE;
+static u16 prev_pad0, prev_padP;
+static u8  attract_sub;        /* title attract: scroll every 2nd frame    */
+static char tbuf[8];           /* 5-digit score formatter output           */
+
+static u16 bg_map[32 * 32];    /* level tilemap staging (DMA'd at boot)    */
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — xorshift16 PRNG (~tens of cycles per call) ── */
+static u8 random8(void) {
+  u16 r = rng;
+  r ^= r << 7;
+  r ^= r >> 9;
+  r ^= r << 8;
+  rng = r;
+  return (u8)r;
+}
+
+static u8 dist8(u8 a, u8 b) {
+  return (a > b) ? (u8)(a - b) : (u8)(b - a);
+}
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — battery SRAM hi-score (see sram_* in data.asm) ───── */
+static u16 hi_load(void) {
+  u16 v;
+  if (sram_read16(0) != SRAM_MAGIC) return 0;
+  v = sram_read16(2);
+  if (sram_read16(4) != (u16)(v ^ 0x5AC3u)) return 0;
+  return v;
+}
+
+static void hi_save(u16 v) {
+  sram_write16(2, v);
+  sram_write16(4, (u16)(v ^ 0x5AC3u));
+  sram_write16(0, SRAM_MAGIC);      /* magic LAST — torn write = no record */
+}
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — text helpers ──────────────────────────────────────── */
+static void fmt_u16(u16 v) {        /* 5 right-aligned digits into tbuf */
+  u8 i;
+  for (i = 0; i < 5; i++) { tbuf[4 - i] = (char)('0' + v % 10); v /= 10; }
+  tbuf[5] = 0;
+}
+
+static void clear_row(u16 y) {
+  consoleDrawText(0, y, "                                ");
+}
+
+static void clear_rows(u16 a, u16 b) {
+  u16 y;
+  for (y = a; y <= b; y++) clear_row(y);
+}
+
+/* HUD row 1, on BG0 — fixed because BG0's scroll never moves (see the
+ * two-layer split note up top). Layout: "P1 L3 SC 00000 HI 00000". */
+static void draw_hud(void) {
+  consoleDrawText(1, 1, cur_player ? "P2" : "P1");
+  tbuf[0] = 'L'; tbuf[1] = (char)('0' + p_lives[cur_player]); tbuf[2] = 0;
+  consoleDrawText(4, 1, tbuf);
+  fmt_u16(p_score[cur_player]);
+  consoleDrawText(10, 1, tbuf);
+}
+
+static void draw_hud_labels(void) {
+  consoleDrawText(7, 1, "SC");
+  consoleDrawText(17, 1, "HI");
+  fmt_u16(hiscore);
+  consoleDrawText(20, 1, tbuf);
+}
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — paint the level from the column map ─────────────────
+ * Composed once in WRAM and DMA'd to VRAM at boot (bgInitMapSet). The level
+ * is static; only the scroll register moves it. Rows 0-2 stay sky so the
+ * HUD text floats over clean backdrop. Map entries are plain tile numbers
+ * (palette block 0, no flips, no priority). */
+static void paint_level(void) {
+  u8 r, c, g;
+  u16 t;
+  for (r = 0; r < 32; r++) {
+    for (c = 0; c < 32; c++) {
+      g = ground_row[c];
+      t = 0;                                       /* sky backdrop        */
+      if (plat_row[c] && r == plat_row[c]) t = BG_GRASS;  /* floating slab */
+      else if (g != NO_GROUND) {
+        if (r == g) t = BG_GRASS;                  /* ground surface      */
+        else if (r > g) t = BG_DIRT;               /* ground body         */
+      }
+      if (t == 0 && r >= 14 && r <= 18) {          /* sparse cloud band   */
+        if (((r * 7 + c * 5) & 15) == 0) t = BG_CLOUD;
+      }
+      bg_map[(u16)(r << 5) + c] = t;
     }
-    return 0;
+  }
 }
 
-int main(void) {
-    s32 px = 32 << 4, py = 100 << 4;
-    s32 vx = 0,       vy = 0;
-    s32 np;
-    s16 ipx, ipy, npy, camX = 0;
-    u8 grounded;
-    u16 i, pad, prev = 0;
-    const Rect* p;
-
-    consoleSetTextMapPtr(0x6800);
-    consoleSetTextGfxPtr(0x3000);
-    consoleSetTextOffset(0x0000);   /* tile index = (char-0x20); font is at the BG char base */
-    consoleInitText(0, 16 * 2, &tilfont, &palfont);
-    setMode(BG_MODE1, 0);
-    /* consoleInitText DMAs the font but does NOT set the PPU BG base
-     * registers — point BG0 at the same font ($3000) + map ($6800). */
-    bgSetGfxPtr(0, 0x3000);
-    bgSetMapPtr(0, 0x6800, SC_32x32);
-
-    /* BG1 = full-screen wallpaper so the playfield never reads as blank.
-     * Tiles -> VRAM $2000, map -> VRAM $4000 (clear of sprites $0000 and
-     * the console gfx $3000 / map $6800). Map entries use palette block 1
-     * (0x0400) so the wallpaper palette doesn't disturb the console font
-     * palette in block 0 (HUD text stays legible). */
-    bgInitTileSet(1, (u8 *)&tilbg, (u8 *)&palbg, 1,
-                  32, 32, BG_16COLORS, 0x2000);
-
-    /* Per-genre backdrop tint — every SNES scaffold used to ship the same
-     * blue checkered wallpaper ('no variety'). Recolor the wallpaper's
-     * CGRAM entries (block 1 = entries 16+) to a sky blue scheme. */
-    setPaletteColor(0, RGB5(10,18,28));
-    setPaletteColor(17, RGB5(13,21,29));
-    setPaletteColor(18, RGB5(8,15,26));
-    for (i = 0; i < 32 * 32; i++) bg_map[i] = 0x0400;
-    bgInitMapSet(1, (u8 *)bg_map, sizeof(bg_map), SC_32x32, 0x4000);
-    bgSetEnable(1);
-    bgSetDisable(2);
-
-    oamInitGfxSet(&tilsprite, 32, &palsprite, 32, 0, 0x0000, OBJ_SIZE8_L16);
-
-    consoleDrawText(2, 1, "D-PAD MOVE   A JUMP");
-    /* Column markers across the BG so the hardware scroll is visible as
-     * you move (the console map is 32 cells / 256 px and wraps). */
-    /* Draw every platform as a row of '=' on the (scrolling) text layer
-     * so the player can SEE what they're standing on. */
-    {
-        char buf[33];
-        u16 pi, k, cols;
-        for (pi = 0; pi < N_PLATFORMS; pi++) {
-            cols = platforms[pi].w / 8;
-            if (cols > 32) cols = 32;
-            for (k = 0; k < cols; k++) buf[k] = '=';
-            buf[cols] = 0;
-            consoleDrawText(platforms[pi].x / 8, platforms[pi].y / 8, buf);
-        }
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — coins + spikes (sprite objects in the world) ── */
+static const u8 coin_heights[4] = { 184, 160, 128, 152 };
+static void respawn_coin(u8 i) {
+  coin_x[i] = (u8)(232 + (random8() & 15));        /* enter at the right  */
+  coin_y[i] = coin_heights[random8() & 3];
+}
+
+static void try_spawn_spike(u8 i) {
+  /* Anchor only over ground: an inactive spike rolls a low per-frame
+   * chance, and only spawns if the level column entering at the right
+   * edge has ground under it (never floats over a pit). */
+  u8 c = (u8)(248 + scroll_x) >> 3;
+  if (ground_row[c] == NO_GROUND) return;
+  if (random8() > 4) return;
+  spike_x[i] = 248;
+  spike_active[i] = 1;
+}
+
+/* Hide every gameplay sprite (OAM ids 0,4,..,20 = player, 3 coins, 2 spikes). */
+static void hide_actors(void) {
+  u8 i;
+  for (i = 0; i < 24; i += 4) oamSetVisible(i, OBJ_HIDE);
+}
+
+/* ── HARDWARE IDIOM (load-bearing — reshape gameplay around this; see TROUBLESHOOTING) ──
+ * Stage ALL sprites BEFORE WaitForVBlank. PVSnesLib's NMI handler DMAs the
+ * shadow OAM to the real OAM every vblank (on channel 7 — never park HDMA
+ * there), copying whatever the shadow holds AT THAT MOMENT. Stage-then-wait;
+ * flipping it shows stale/empty sprites. oamSet rewrites x/y, which is also
+ * what un-hides a sprite after OBJ_HIDE (hide just parks it off-screen). */
+static void stage_actors(void) {
+  u8 i, y8;
+  y8 = (u8)(py_q44 >> 4);
+  /* Blink the player during the turn-change breather. */
+  if (turn_pause == 0 || (turn_pause & 4))
+    oamSet(0, px, y8, 3, 0, 0, on_ground ? TILE_IDLE : TILE_JUMP, 0);
+  else
+    oamSetVisible(0, OBJ_HIDE);
+  for (i = 0; i < NUM_COINS; i++)
+    oamSet((u16)(4 + (i << 2)), coin_x[i], coin_y[i], 3, 0, 0, TILE_COIN, 0);
+  for (i = 0; i < NUM_SPIKES; i++) {
+    if (spike_active[i])
+      oamSet((u16)(16 + (i << 2)), spike_x[i], SPIKE_Y, 3, 0, 0, TILE_SPIKE, 0);
+    else
+      oamSetVisible((u16)(16 + (i << 2)), OBJ_HIDE);
+  }
+}
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — state entries ─────────────────────────────────────── */
+static void title_enter(void) {
+  bgSetEnable(1);                /* the level scrolls behind the title      */
+  hide_actors();
+  clear_rows(0, 27);
+  consoleDrawText(11, 3, GAME_TITLE);
+  consoleDrawText(10, 6, "A - 1P GAME");
+  consoleDrawText(10, 7, "B - 2P TURNS");
+  consoleDrawText(11, 9, "HI");
+  fmt_u16(hiscore);
+  consoleDrawText(14, 9, tbuf);
+  state = ST_TITLE;
+}
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — start a turn / a run ── */
+static void begin_turn(void) {
+  px = 24;
+  py_q44 = (u16)(GROUND_TOP - 8) << 4;
+  vy_q44 = 0;
+  on_ground = 1;
+  scroll_x = 0;
+  dist_sub = 0;
+  coin_x[0] =  88; coin_y[0] = 184;
+  coin_x[1] = 152; coin_y[1] = 160;
+  coin_x[2] = 216; coin_y[2] = 128;
+  spike_x[0] = 136; spike_active[0] = 1;   /* both anchored on ground at  */
+  spike_x[1] = 224; spike_active[1] = 1;   /* scroll 0 — see ground_row   */
+  turn_pause = 48;                         /* "P1/P2 GO" breather         */
+  prev_padP = 0xFFFF;  /* swallow held buttons across the turn change —
+                        * without this the A that picked 1P on the title
+                        * instantly jumps (classic edge-detect reuse bug) */
+  draw_hud();
+  if (two_player)
+    consoleDrawText(11, 4, cur_player ? "PLAYER 2 GO" : "PLAYER 1 GO");
+}
+
+static void start_game(u8 players) {
+  u8 i;
+  two_player = players;
+  cur_player = 0;
+  p_score[0] = p_score[1] = 0;
+  p_lives[0] = START_LIVES;
+  p_lives[1] = players ? START_LIVES : 0;
+  clear_rows(0, 27);
+  draw_hud_labels();
+  for (i = 0; i < 24; i += 4) oamSetEx(i, OBJ_SMALL, OBJ_SHOW);
+  begin_turn();
+  if (sound_ok) sfx_play(1);               /* start blip                  */
+  state = ST_PLAY;
+}
+
+static void game_over(void) {
+  u16 best = p_score[0];
+  if (two_player && p_score[1] > best) best = p_score[1];
+  if (best > hiscore) { hiscore = best; hi_save(hiscore); }
+  bgSetDisable(1);               /* clean card: sky backdrop + text only   */
+  hide_actors();
+  clear_rows(0, 27);
+  consoleDrawText(11, 6, "GAME OVER");
+  consoleDrawText(9, 10, "P1");
+  fmt_u16(p_score[0]); consoleDrawText(15, 10, tbuf);
+  if (two_player) {
+    consoleDrawText(9, 12, "P2");
+    fmt_u16(p_score[1]); consoleDrawText(15, 12, tbuf);
+  }
+  consoleDrawText(9, 15, "HI");
+  fmt_u16(hiscore); consoleDrawText(15, 15, tbuf);
+  consoleDrawText(9, 20, "START - TITLE");
+  if (sound_ok) sfx_play(2);               /* game-over thud              */
+  state = ST_OVER;
+}
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — death + alternating-turn handoff ── */
+static void kill_player(void) {
+  u8 other;
+  if (sound_ok) sfx_play(2);
+  if (p_lives[cur_player] > 0) --p_lives[cur_player];
+  if (two_player) {
+    other = cur_player ^ 1;
+    if (p_lives[other] > 0) cur_player = other;          /* swap turns   */
+    else if (p_lives[cur_player] == 0) { game_over(); return; }
+  } else if (p_lives[0] == 0) {
+    game_over();
+    return;
+  }
+  begin_turn();
+}
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — landing probe against the column map ──────────────
+ * One-way platforms, classic style: only catch the player while FALLING
+ * through a narrow window at the surface. The window is 6 px tall —
+ * top-1 (the standing snap parks feet at top, and gravity's sub-pixel
+ * trickle doesn't move the integer Y every frame; without the -1 slack the
+ * player "stands" with on_ground=0 most frames, so jumps only register on
+ * lucky frames and the idle/jump sprite flickers) through top+4 (so a
+ * 5 px/frame terminal-velocity fall can't step over it). */
+static u8 land_top(u8 c, u8 feet) {
+  u8 r, top;
+  r = plat_row[c];
+  if (r) {
+    top = (u8)(r << 3);
+    if ((u8)(feet + 1) >= top && feet <= (u8)(top + 4)) return top;
+  }
+  r = ground_row[c];
+  if (r != NO_GROUND) {
+    top = (u8)(r << 3);
+    if ((u8)(feet + 1) >= top && feet <= (u8)(top + 4)) return top;
+  }
+  return 0;
+}
+
+/* ── GAME LOGIC (clay) — one frame of gameplay ─────────────────────────────── */
+static void play_update(void) {
+  u16 pad;
+  u8 i, delta, y8, feet, c0, c1, top, killed;
+
+  if (turn_pause) {              /* freeze gameplay, keep the frame honest */
+    --turn_pause;
+    if (turn_pause == 0) clear_row(4);     /* drop the "Pn GO" banner     */
+    stage_actors();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  /* Input — the CURRENT player's controller (alternating turns: P2 is on
+   * controller 2 — padsCurrent(1); that one index IS the 2P wiring). Past
+   * SCROLL_WALL the world scrolls instead of the player (the camera never
+   * scrolls back — the classic one-way camera). */
+  pad = padsCurrent(cur_player);
+  delta = 0;
+  if (pad & KEY_RIGHT) {
+    if (px < SCROLL_WALL) px += MOVE_SPEED;
+    else { scroll_x += MOVE_SPEED; delta = MOVE_SPEED; }
+  }
+  if ((pad & KEY_LEFT) && px > 8) px -= MOVE_SPEED;
+  if ((pad & (KEY_B | KEY_A)) && !(prev_padP & (KEY_B | KEY_A)) && on_ground) {
+    vy_q44 = JUMP_VEL_Q44;
+    on_ground = 0;
+    if (sound_ok) sfx_play(1);                       /* jump blip         */
+  }
+  prev_padP = pad;
+
+  /* World objects drift left as the level scrolls (world-anchored). */
+  if (delta) {
+    dist_sub += delta;
+    if (dist_sub >= 64) {                            /* distance pay      */
+      dist_sub -= 64;
+      ++p_score[cur_player];
+      draw_hud();
+    }
+    for (i = 0; i < NUM_COINS; i++) {
+      if (coin_x[i] < 16 + delta) respawn_coin(i);
+      else coin_x[i] -= delta;
+    }
+    for (i = 0; i < NUM_SPIKES; i++) {
+      if (!spike_active[i]) continue;
+      if (spike_x[i] < 16 + delta) spike_active[i] = 0;
+      else spike_x[i] -= delta;
     }
+  }
+  for (i = 0; i < NUM_SPIKES; i++)
+    if (!spike_active[i]) try_spawn_spike(i);
+
+  /* Physics: gravity + sub-pixel Y. */
+  if (vy_q44 < MAX_VY_Q44) vy_q44 += GRAVITY_Q44;
+  py_q44 += vy_q44;
+  y8 = (u8)(py_q44 >> 4);
+
+  /* Fell into a pit (below the screen) → lose the turn. */
+  if (y8 >= 232) {
+    kill_player();
+    return;
+  }
 
-    oamSet(0, 32, 100, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0);
-    /* Screen ON first, THEN sound. sfx_init() must run AFTER setScreenOn()
-     * (snes_sfx.h:63) — if the SPC stalls before the screen is on you get a
-     * black/forced-blank screen forever. */
-    setScreenOn();
-    sfx_init();
-
-    while (1) {
-        pad = padsCurrent(0);
-        vx = 0;
-        if (pad & KEY_LEFT)  vx = -MOVE_SPEED;
-        if (pad & KEY_RIGHT) vx =  MOVE_SPEED;
-
-        ipx = px >> 4;
-        ipy = py >> 4;
-        grounded = on_platform(ipx, ipy);
-        if ((pad & KEY_A) && !(prev & KEY_A) && grounded) { vy = JUMP_VEL; sfx_play(1); }
-        prev = pad;
-
-        vy += GRAVITY;
-        if (vy > MAX_FALL) vy = MAX_FALL;
-        if (grounded && vy > 0) vy = 0;
-
-        px += vx;
-        if (px < 0) px = 0;
-        if (px > (WORLD_W - 8) << 4) px = (WORLD_W - 8) << 4;
-
-        np = py + vy;
-        npy = np >> 4;
-        if (vy > 0) {
-            for (i = 0; i < N_PLATFORMS; i++) {
-                p = &platforms[i];
-                if (ipy + 8 <= p->y && npy + 8 >= p->y
-                    && ipx + 8 > p->x && ipx < p->x + p->w) {
-                    py = (p->y - 8) << 4;
-                    vy = 0;
-                    goto done;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        py = np;
-        if (py > 224 << 4) { py = 0; vy = 0; }
-done:   ;
-
-        /* Camera follows the player, centered, clamped to the world.
-         * bgSetScroll moves the BG in hardware; the player draws in
-         * SCREEN space (worldX - camX). */
-        camX = (px >> 4) - (SCREEN_W / 2 - 4);
-        if (camX < 0) camX = 0;
-        if (camX > WORLD_W - SCREEN_W) camX = WORLD_W - SCREEN_W;
-        bgSetScroll(0, camX, 0);
-
-        oamSetXY(0, (px >> 4) - camX, py >> 4);
-        oamUpdate();
-        WaitForVBlank();
-        consoleVblank();
+  /* Landing — probe the two level columns under the player's feet. */
+  if (vy_q44 >= 0) {
+    feet = (u8)(y8 + 8);
+    c0 = (u8)(px + scroll_x) >> 3;
+    c1 = (u8)(px + scroll_x + 7) >> 3;
+    top = land_top(c0, feet);
+    if (top == 0) top = land_top(c1, feet);
+    if (top) {
+      py_q44 = (u16)(top - 8) << 4;
+      vy_q44 = 0;
+      on_ground = 1;
+    } else {
+      on_ground = 0;                                 /* walked off        */
     }
-    return 0;
+  }
+
+  /* Coins (collect) + spikes (death). */
+  for (i = 0; i < NUM_COINS; i++) {
+    if (dist8(coin_x[i], px) < 8 && dist8(coin_y[i], y8) < 8) {
+      p_score[cur_player] += 10;
+      if (sound_ok) sfx_play(1);                     /* coin ping         */
+      draw_hud();
+      respawn_coin(i);
+    }
+  }
+  killed = 0;
+  for (i = 0; i < NUM_SPIKES; i++) {
+    if (!spike_active[i]) continue;
+    if (dist8(spike_x[i], px) < 7 && dist8(SPIKE_Y, y8) < 7) {
+      killed = 1;
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+  if (killed) { kill_player(); return; }
+
+  stage_actors();
+}
+
+/* Headless-test telemetry — written once per frame into the bank-$7E telem
+ * block (data.asm). A test harness finds it by scanning WRAM for the
+ * "CG"+0xBD signature, then plays the game from real state instead of
+ * parsing pixels. spike_x is always even (spawns at 248, drifts by 2), so
+ * its bit 0 carries the active flag. Costs ~20 byte-writes; delete freely. */
+static void telem_update(void) {
+  telem[0] = 'C'; telem[1] = 'G'; telem[2] = 0xBD;
+  telem[3] = state;
+  telem[4] = (u8)((sound_ok << 7) | (two_player << 1) | cur_player);
+  telem[5] = p_lives[0];
+  telem[6] = p_lives[1];
+  telem[7] = px;
+  telem[8] = (u8)(py_q44 >> 4);
+  telem[9] = scroll_x;
+  telem[10] = on_ground;
+  telem[11] = (u8)p_score[0]; telem[12] = (u8)(p_score[0] >> 8);
+  telem[13] = (u8)p_score[1]; telem[14] = (u8)(p_score[1] >> 8);
+  telem[15] = turn_pause;
+  telem[16] = (u8)(spike_x[0] | spike_active[0]);
+  telem[17] = (u8)(spike_x[1] | spike_active[1]);
+}
+
+int main(void) {
+  u16 pad;
+
+  /* ── HARDWARE IDIOM (load-bearing — see TROUBLESHOOTING) ──
+   * Init order: console text pointers FIRST, then mode, then VRAM uploads
+   * while the screen is still off (forced blank — VRAM DMA during active
+   * display is lost or corrupts). consoleInitText DMAs the font but does
+   * NOT set the PPU BG base registers — bgSetGfxPtr/bgSetMapPtr must agree
+   * with the console pointers or text renders as garbage tiles. */
+  consoleSetTextMapPtr(0x6800);
+  consoleSetTextGfxPtr(0x3000);
+  consoleSetTextOffset(0x0000);
+  consoleInitText(0, 16 * 2, &tilfont, &palfont);
+  setMode(BG_MODE1, 0);
+  bgSetGfxPtr(0, 0x3000);
+  bgSetMapPtr(0, 0x6800, SC_32x32);
+
+  /* ── HARDWARE IDIOM (load-bearing — reshape gameplay around this; see TROUBLESHOOTING) ──
+   * The two-layer split (see the header essay): BG0 = HUD/text, scroll
+   * pinned at (0,0); BG1 = the level, moved by one bgSetScroll per frame.
+   * palbg loads into CGRAM block 0 AFTER the font palette and is a superset
+   * of it (colour 1 stays white) — so HUD ink and level tiles share the
+   * block without fighting. BG2 carries power-on garbage in Mode 1 — keep
+   * it disabled. */
+  paint_level();
+  bgInitTileSet(1, (u8 *)&tilbg, (u8 *)&palbg, 0, 4 * 32, 32, BG_16COLORS, 0x2000);
+  bgInitMapSet(1, (u8 *)bg_map, sizeof(bg_map), SC_32x32, 0x4000);
+  bgSetEnable(1);
+  bgSetDisable(2);
+
+  /* OBJ: 8x8 sprites (player, coins, spikes) at VRAM $0000. */
+  oamInitGfxSet(&tilsprite, 4 * 32, &palsprite, 32, 0, 0x0000, OBJ_SIZE8_L16);
+
+  setScreenOn();
+
+  /* ── HARDWARE IDIOM (load-bearing) — sfx_init AFTER setScreenOn, and CHECK
+   * the return: a wedged SPC700 must not take the video down with it. ── */
+  sound_ok = (sfx_init() == 0);
+  /* ── HARDWARE IDIOM (load-bearing) — one frame between init and the first
+   * command. sfx_init returns the instant the SPC echoes the jump command,
+   * but the driver then spends ~50 port writes initialising the DSP BEFORE
+   * it seeds its command edge-detector from $2140. Send a command in that
+   * window and the seed swallows it — music silently never starts. A
+   * WaitForVBlank is thousands of SPC cycles — deterministic cure. ── */
+  WaitForVBlank();
+  if (sound_ok) sfx_music_play();
+
+  hiscore = hi_load();              /* battery SRAM — 0 on first boot */
+  prev_pad0 = prev_padP = 0;
+  title_enter();
+
+  while (1) {
+    pad = padsCurrent(0);
+
+    if (state == ST_TITLE) {
+      /* attract: the level drifts by under the title — the scroll register
+       * demo, and the first thing a fork breaks if the layers get swapped */
+      attract_sub ^= 1;
+      if (attract_sub) scroll_x++;
+      if ((pad & KEY_A && !(prev_pad0 & KEY_A)) ||
+          (pad & KEY_START && !(prev_pad0 & KEY_START))) {
+        start_game(0);
+      } else if (pad & KEY_B && !(prev_pad0 & KEY_B)) {
+        start_game(1);
+      }
+    } else if (state == ST_PLAY) {
+      play_update();
+    } else { /* ST_OVER */
+      if ((pad & (KEY_START | KEY_A)) && !(prev_pad0 & (KEY_START | KEY_A)))
+        title_enter();
+    }
+    prev_pad0 = pad;
+    telem_update();
+    oamUpdate();
+
+    WaitForVBlank();
+    /* ── HARDWARE IDIOM (load-bearing) — scroll + text commits in vblank.
+     * bgSetScroll writes the BG1 scroll registers directly; mid-frame the
+     * beam would render the top of the frame with the old value and the
+     * bottom with the new (a shear). BG0 gets NO scroll write, ever —
+     * that's the whole fixed-HUD trick. ── */
+    bgSetScroll(1, scroll_x, 0);
+    consoleVblank();
+  }
+  return 0;
 }