Creating a Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS) Bot for Super Mario World in BizHawk

make a TAS bot for Super Mario World with lua code in bizhawk emulator

Creating a Tool-Assisted Speedrun (TAS) bot for Super Mario World using Lua in the BizHawk emulator involves scripting to automate gameplay. Below is a basic example of how you might start such a project. This script will make Mario move to the right continuously. Note that creating a full TAS bot is a complex task that requires a deep understanding of the game mechanics, memory addresses, and the Lua API provided by BizHawk.

1. Install BizHawk: Ensure you have BizHawk installed and configured properly.
2. Load Super Mario World ROM: Load the Super Mario World ROM in BizHawk.
3. Open Lua Console: In BizHawk, go to Tools -> Lua Console to open the Lua scripting interface.

Here is a simple Lua script to get you started:

-- Simple TAS bot for Super Mario World in BizHawk
-- This script makes Mario move to the right continuously

-- Function to press a button
function pressButton(button)
    local inputTable = {}
    inputTable[button] = true
    joypad.set(1, inputTable)
end

-- Main loop
while true do
    -- Press the right button
    pressButton("right")
    
    -- Advance the frame
    emu.frameadvance()
end

Steps to Run the Script:

1. Open Lua Console: In BizHawk, go to Tools -> Lua Console.
2. Load Script: Click on Script -> Open Script and select the Lua script file you created.
3. Run Script: The script will start running, and you should see Mario moving to the right continuously.

Explanation:

• pressButton Function: This function takes a button name as an argument and simulates pressing that button.
• Main Loop: The while true do loop runs indefinitely, pressing the right button and advancing the frame on each iteration.

Enhancements:

To create a more sophisticated TAS bot, you would need to:

1. Read Memory Values: Use memory.readbyte or memory.readword to read game state values.
2. Conditional Logic: Implement logic to make decisions based on the game state.
3. Complex Movements: Script more complex movements and actions, such as jumping, avoiding obstacles, and interacting with objects.

Here is an example of reading Mario's X position:

-- Function to get Mario's X position
function getMarioX()
    return memory.readword(0x94)
end

-- Main loop
while true do
    local marioX = getMarioX()
    print("Mario's X position: " .. marioX)
    
    -- Press the right button
    pressButton("right")
    
    -- Advance the frame
    emu.frameadvance()
end

Important Memory Addresses:

• Mario's X Position: 0x94
• Mario's Y Position: 0x96
• Mario's State: 0x71

Note:

Creating a full-fledged TAS bot requires a lot of trial and error, as well as a deep understanding of the game's mechanics and memory layout. The above examples are just starting points to help you get familiar with Lua scripting in BizHawk.