Super Mario 64 Online

Many people have asked me why Tarek701 (the main developer of SM64O) calls SM64O “firmware”. In fact that is because it is a kind of core for SM64. SM64O has gone through so many transformations that it is now a pretty special project that is no longer just a “classic” hack, but an almost stand-alone program that performs the tasks to make SM64 run normally in online mode. This included a lot of technical work, also the synchronization of objects, characters, and much more. However, this could not all be incorporated into a simple SM64 hack. So instead we decided to implement SM64O together with a heavily modified Project64. So a lot of the work is done by the emulator (which isn’t really an universal emulator anymore, since it will only start SM64O), while the actual SM64 hack (which is called SM64O) contains essential modifications that add to the overall experience of the online game (like extending the ObjSpawn limit, etc).

Although this might somehow seem reasonable, we still decided to drop the name “firmware” when the v6.00 release became available because I personally think it’s not quite fitting and confuses too many people.

The History of SM64O

Now, back in 2007, Tarek701 had the idea of creating Super Mario 64 “online”. Following on from Super Mario 64 DS, in which the Nintendo developers made a Versus mode available via DS Download Play, so that you could play with four players (but unfortunately no Co-Op), he had the idea of developing an SM64 hack that would enable an online mode for SM64. This goal was certainly not easy, because unlike the Nintendo DS, the Nintendo 64 had no online function and also the N64 emulators implemented Netplay only barely or rather half-heartedly. So he put together a team and started to work on the biggest project for him until today. We first modified SM64 and wrote some assembly code, and made a good foundation for the online function (e.g. optimizations for loading/unloading objects near Mario, removal of limitations of the ObjSpawn function, etc.). Later we heavily modified the source code of the Project64 emulator (v1.4) and implemented an online function (we abandoned Kaillera and developed our own strategy), developed a kind of pseudo-homebrew that runs a master server and then loads the corresponding server list via the online function in the emulator, set nicknames, administrator/moderator rights to keep its server clean from trolls, etc. Over time many useful features have been added.

Beta is closed now, no one can access the beta master server anymore, you notice if you start-up your Game again(if you are beta tester) then it will make a rollback to SM64O Classic v9.53.

Im thanking everyone for testing, now im going and take some developers and coding a bit around with the new Engine, that could take some days. SM64O Classic v9.55 will be released before 3th december 2011.

While we develope, there will be no great updates for v9.53. Exploits, hacks etc. will be not fixed while in that. But im actually safe that the Security System(which will also be be updated) will kick or ban the player from the server.

Yes, im also going to update the Anti-Hack System:

SACS(Super Anti-Cheating System)

That System will do following if you hack:

• Your key will be revoked instantly, no recovery.
• You get banned from all servers, if you have another key.
• You get banned from my blog, the forums etc. No one wanna a hacker in the forums that is disagreeing he was hacking.

All this goes same for using Aimbot, No-Clip cheating etc. all these illegal things will make your life even worse. Don’t hack, don’t cheat and you will be safe and have no problems.Just to know:

“Bypassing this system is impossible if you try it you risk a ban and are gone forever. The system uses a special function that detects changes on the client and server. If the connection between Server and client is manipulated then the same happens(Ban). This system was completly coded in C++ and Java and will be not available in the Source Code Pack, it will be automaticly downloaded if you authenticate with my Server as a .dat and .exe file.”

I wish you good luck with getting banned.