Data resetting

This page describes a mechanic specific to the 1992 Microsoft port of Chip's Challenge (and anything that emulates it). It may not exist in any other Chip's Challenge game.

Data resetting is a glitch in MSCC allowing data stored on a virtual 32nd row of the grid to affect gameplay. It is commonly an element of insane levels. Data resetting is currently not emulated by Tile World, and does not exist in Lynx or in Chip's Challenge 2.

The map of each level has coordinates from (0, 0) to (31, 31). However, due to MSCC not checking array bounds, various data can be thought of as stored in an invisible row just off of the map bottom, namely row 32. This row is not visible in the level and is not intended to be modified at all during the course of gameplay. Nevertheless, the data in this row can be accessed by creating a clone connection that targets a square of the form (x, 32) with the necessary conditions.

Specific data stored in row 32

Each pair of coordinates (x, 32) and (x+1, 32) (where x is an even number less than 32) corresponds to a short of information. A short can store any number from -32,768 to 32,767, however as each tile represents a single byte the short is split across 2 tiles (x and x+1), with (x, 32) storing the low-order byte and (x+1, 32) storing the high-order byte.

However, most data pieces only require a single byte of storage, which means that (x+1, 32) will usually be empty, as such those tiles will be skipped over in the next section.

The specific pieces of information stored in each square in row 32 are as follows:

• (0, 32) and (1, 32) store the level number.
• (2, 32) and (3, 32) store the number of levels in the set.
• (4, 32) and (5, 32) store the time limit of the level.
• (6, 32) and (7, 32) store the number of chips required in the level.

Note that the above data, with the exception of the level number, are initial values; resetting them does not change the actual value during gameplay. The exception is level number; in this case, resetting it will cause the "Next Level" command to go to level 1.

• (8, 32) and (10, 32) store the x- and y-coordinates of Chip.
• (12, 32) stores Chip's sliding state: 1 if he is on any sliding tile and 0 if he is not.
• (14, 32) stores the current keystroke's buffer state: 1 if a keystroke is in buffer (more than one keystroke has been attempted within one turn) and 0 if it is not.
• (18, 32) and (20, 32) store the x- and y-directions of the keystroke. Note that one of these must always be zero.
• (22, 32) stores Chip's autopsy report (of note is that this requires very strict timings and usually only works with a north clone block since they clone instantaneously):
  • 0. Alive
  • 1. Drowned
  • 2. Burned
  • 3. Bombed
  • 4. Killed by a block
  • 5. Killed by a monster
  • 6. Time limit expired
• (24, 32) and (26, 32) store Chip's x- and y-directions when he is sliding. One of these is always zero, and both are zero when Chip is not sliding.
• (28, 32) stores the amount of monsters in the monster list before the player starts playing the level.
• (30, 32) and (31, 32) store the coordinates of the initial position of the first monster in the monster list.

Necessary configuration

In order to reset data stored in a square (x, 32):

• There must be a buried north clone-able object, most commonly clone blocks, at (x, 0).
• A clone connection must be made from a red button to (x, 32).
• The square at (x, 31) must be free for an object to clone there.

When the red button is pressed, the following will occur:

• The buried north object will move north, wrapping around the map, and appear at (x, 31) as a normal object of the type that was buried.
• The data stored at (x, 32) will be reset to 0.
• The buried tile in the lower layer of (x, 0) will be replaced with a tile with the index equal to the data formerly occupying (x, 32). This index is written in the infobox on the respective tile's page, (it is possible to create tiles outside the normal range, however most of these tiles have no graphics and all act as walls).

Uses

When these resets are triggered, there can be very interesting effects, altering the very nature of tiles and doing impossible things, such as stopping sliding objects on ice and creating objects out of thin air.

Resetting the data at (0, 32) will cause Chip's Challenge to read the current level as level the first multiple of 256 before the actual level number. If the actual level number is less than 256, then the current level will be read as 0. In this situation, no level bonus is awarded on completion, the next level is read as level 1 on completion or moving forwards, and attempting to restart or going back a level will cause the Termination Glitch, as Chip's Challenge cannot load a level 0 or -1. This type of level is known as a warp station, and was developed as a substitute for a dummy level.

Resetting (8, 32) will make Chip warp to the left side of the screen, and with (10, 32) he will warp to the top of the screen. Resetting (12, 32) will make Chip stop sliding, even on ice, though some other object will have to trigger the red button. Resetting (22, 32) will make Chip invincible for the next turn, allowing him to pass through destructive obstacles.

The result of such behaviour also includes changing the tile itself, to create items out of nowhere. If Chip's x-coordinate was 21 and the data at (8, 32) is reset, an exit will be buried at (8, 0). Note that most data resets are limited, as they only reach up to one. The level number and Chip's coordinates are generally the most useful.

49

A peculiar effect occurs when performing data resetting where the value being reset equals 49 as 49 is the index of a clone machine. Therefore any time the value being reset is 49, it means the tile effectively 'stores' a clone machine. Performing the steps to reset said data will in fact not reset the data as it normally would. It will instead clone the object to (0, 31) as if there were a clone machine underneath the buried object. This effect can be utilized by level designers by ensuring that some data piece will always have a value of 49 (ex. the level number) in order to have a "wrapping" clone machine that can continuously clone into the bottom row.

Technical Explanation

The underlying cause of data resetting is the same as the Wraparound Glitch, namely unchecked clone connections that can point beyond the map. Every clone (or trap) connection in MSCC can be converted into an offset into the memory for the level grid using the formula (32*y + x). An issue arises however when the y-coordinate is beyond 31, it points outside of the normal map's memory range and into the first row of the bottom layer of the map. As such when a monster or block is buried in a (x, 32) tile and cloned, it moves "up" back into normal map memory, which is the bottom of the map. However whenever an object without a clone machine under it is cloned it pops the tile beneath it. So when a monster buried in the first row is cloned it tries to pop the tile underneath the bottom layer, which the game calculates as current tile memory address + 1024 (the size of the grid). However since the game is already in the bottom layer this calculation actually moves outside the map data and into other data stored below, and since its popping the tile it takes whatever tile it thinks is there, moves it to the bottom layer in the x position and sets that memory address to 0.

The reason this doesn't work with objects buried in the second row and a clone connection set to (x, 33) or similar is because MSCC does check that a creature's move/attempted clone is within the top layer map, however due to an object buried on the first row wrapping into the bottom row on the first layer being considered in bounds the move succeeds.

Data Setting

It's possible to set the values stored in the resettable areas, and even areas past that, to values other than 0. If a level designer can setup the level data within the Game State structure so that the data that wants to be set has the value of either a teeth or a tank. If the designer then creates a monster list entry for that data piece, the game treats it as if there was a teeth or tank actually present there. As such the monster will move/turn as the monster normally does, and when it does it will write its tile value to that area of memory overwriting whatever value was there prior. This only works with teeth and tanks because they're the only monsters who can update their tile when unable to move.

Famous levels using data resetting

• David Stolp's the most insane level ever!
• ccexplore's superChip
• Evan Dummit's the most inane level ever!, the right place, part 1-4, and counting
• Mike Lask's The Most Insane Level... in This Set
• ChipHome5's Delivery Ship
• Tyler Sontag's Block Factory II
• Icy001's Icysanity.dat