I've released an IPS patch GUI for 32bit Windows platforms. It uses an (embedded) temporary executable UIPS, which is also used by the ipsXP user interface, and extended to return error codes in addition to messages.

Compared to ipsXP some things have changed:

• The interface look is restored to neutral. It's fully controlled by the theme system.
• Filters for MSX filetypes are added. IPS patches weren't that common yet on MSX.
• Applying a list of IPS patches onto a target file in any given order is added.
• The target file can now be saved in a different location.

Filetypes can be added, modified and removed with the built in editor. There is a history for several inputs.

WinIPS is available in the tools directory in the archive of BiFi's Home Page.

Psycho World has 4 play modes you can cycle through when you press F4. It's undocumented but can give extra enjoyment. They are:

• Normal Mode
• Maxup Mode
• Power Mode
• Extra Mode

The game starts in Normal Mode.

Extra Mode is identical to Normal Mode, with the difference that it allows access to Talk Mode by pressing F5.
In Talk Mode conversations are started. Normal Mode has a few texts which are extended in Talk Mode.

Maxup Mode is a strange mode. It'll increase the H.P and ESP bars beyond the visible part. It will also decrease your protection against the environment. Your H.P will decrease much more, so be careful.

Power Mode is very much like a cheat mode. It'll activate the number keys on the keyboard (not the numeric pad) to restore H.P and ESP, or power up one of the ESP powers. The numbers are like:

7 2 6
5 1 3
8 4 9


0 = refill H.P and ESP
1 = power up Psy-Cannon
2 = power up Hydro Wave
3 = power up Burning-Bullet
4 = power up Cooling-Down
5 = power up Ultra-Sonic
6 = increase Levitation count
7 = increase Teleportation count
8 = increase Explorsion count
9 = increase Shield/Exchange count

Full playthroughs can be found in the Psycho World YouTube Playlist.

Today I released a new version of ROMLOAD. New in this version are:

• Fixed bug causing a file not found to be (unintended) generation of ROM image too large error
• Start ROM in SCREEN1 for compatibility
• Added support for DAC for 2 Konami titles. This is a requirement for Hai No Majutsushi
• Made the hotkey configurable

The DAC support includes playing the sample data through the PlaySoniq DAC. This is as an addition to the PSQTOOLS toolset for the PlaySoniq module I released last weekend. It currently contains PSQSET - a tool to configure the PlaySoniq module and DUALVDP - a tool to display the MSX1 screen on both the MSX VDP and Sega VDP. This tool is available here as a TNI product.

The English translation of Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake is updated. Changes:

• extended explanation of Natasha's brooch.
  Reported by Ricardo Sánchez-Sáez, the explanation now matches the original japanese version
• retranslated the story demo.
  The story demo now contains the complete translation in the font which is used in the game

Of course the demo version is also updated with the new story demo. Both translations are released as IPS patches.

(Fixed an unexpected bug. If you already have downloaded the IPS patches, please redownload.)

Info, screenshots and downloads are available on the Metal Gear 2 Solid Snake English translation website.

Today I did some work on the archive. The following changes were done:

• fixed ending bug in Metal Gear single version 1.9 English translation
• added Contra text improvement patch, stage names now match japanese translation, properly centered and duplicate spaces are removed
• added Konami Game Collection Volume #1 King's Valley stage 9 patch (disk 2)
• added Konami Game Collection Volume #3 diskstop fix patch
• added Konami Game Collection Special Compilation menu palette fix patch. The palette was only changed on MSX2. On MSX2+ the palette was default again
• added Konami Game Collection Special Compilation Road Fighter fix patch. It adds the extra fuel pickup in stage 5 of level B