Wiki source code of Getting Started

Version 3.2 by sabre230 on 2023/01/10 21:37
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1 This page contains all the details you need to know to get started with playing Dinosaur Planet, including where to find the ROM, how to play on an emulator, and how to play on a real Nintendo 64 console with a flash cart.
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3 {{toc start="2"/}}
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5
6 == Downloading the ROM ==
7
8 The ROM for Dinosaur Planet can be found on the [[Internet Archive>>https://archive.org/details/dino_20210220]]. Download the zip file on the right side listed under **Download Options** and extract it. Inside, you will find several files:
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10 * {{code language="none"}}rom{{/code}}
11 * {{code language="none"}}rom_crack.z64{{/code}}
12 * {{code language="none"}}normpnt.rom{{/code}}
13 * {{code language="none"}}normslp.rom{{/code}}
14 * {{code language="none"}}readme.txt{{/code}}
15
16 Check out {{code language="none"}}readme.txt{{/code}} for more information on these files and the origin of the ROM. In short, the {{code language="none"}}rom{{/code}} file is the unmodified dump, but contains numerous security protections that make it unplayable. The {{code language="none"}}rom_crack.z64{{/code}} file is a modified version of the ROM that allows it to work on emulators as well as flash carts on a real Nintendo 64.
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18
19 = Updating the ROM =
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21 Even with cheats, the game on its own is nigh unplayable. Fortunately, the community has been working together to bring performance and stability patches to the game, as well as restoring content that was in the game but unable to be accessed by normal means. You can find the latest [[xdelta>>http://xdelta.org/]] patches in the [[#patches-and-fixes>>https://discord.com/channels/827608544555171850/969700298987819020]] channel at the [[Dinosaur Planet Community Discord>>https://www.discord.gg/dinosaurplanet]]. There are a few methods of updating your game found below, sorted by ease of use.
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23
24 == DinoLauncher ==
25
26 //If you like things to be easy...//
27
28 * Download DinoLauncher from the DinoLauncher releases page on GitHub and place it in a safe location
29 * Open DinoLauncher.exe
30 * Select your update branch based on your preferences
31 * Click "Browse..." to look for your "rom_crack.z64" file
32 * Click Check for Updates to check for the latest patch
33 ** You can also enable HQ player models at the cost of performance
34 * Once the patch is complete, the folder with the patched game will open and the launcher will give you the option to launch the game with your system's default application for handling Z64 files
35
36
37 == xdelta UI ==
38
39 If you like things easy but prefer doing things your own way...
40
41 * Download [[xdelta UI>>https://www.romhacking.net/utilities/598/]] from romhacking.net or your choice of file host
42 * Make sure you have the "Apply Patch" tab selected
43 * Click "Open..." next to the Patch input field to browse for the latest xdelta patch you've downloaded
44 * Click "Open..." next to the Source File input field to browse for your "rom_crazk.z64"
45 * Click "..." next to the Output File input field to browse for a directory for your patched rom to be placed
46 * Click "Patch" and xdelta UI will patch your file for you, placing it in the directory you assigned in the previous step
47 * Run it in your favorite N64 emulator and enjoy!
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49
50 == Xdelta3 ==
51
52 //If you prefer doing things your own way...//
53
54 * Download **xdelta3.exe** either from one of the many mirrors online, or build it yourself from its GitHub page.
55 * Place the xdelta executable and the rom_crack.z64 in the same directory
56 * Open a command prompt window in this location and run the following command
57 ** {{code language="none"}}xdelta3.exe -d fs rom_crack.z64 name-of-dinoplanet-patch.xdelta dinosaurplanet.z64{{/code}}
58 ** //Keep in mind, you may need to change the name of "xdelta3.exe" in the command to match your own copy//
59 * A new file should appear in the directory that says "dinosaurplanet.z64"
60 * Run it in your favorite N64 emulator and enjoy!