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@paktc.bsky.social
Fun and unexpected stuff related to 2000s retro games and computing. All content is in English.
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PAKTC
Website: https://paktc.markusmaal.ee
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PAKTC
Website: https://paktc.markusmaal.ee
I've been having fun finding some new cheat codes for Flipnic. It's a bit easier for me, since I have some understanding of how the game works internally.
They are PCSX2 .pnach files, I will release these eventually.
They are PCSX2 .pnach files, I will release these eventually.
December 17, 2025 at 11:49 AM
I've been having fun finding some new cheat codes for Flipnic. It's a bit easier for me, since I have some understanding of how the game works internally.
They are PCSX2 .pnach files, I will release these eventually.
They are PCSX2 .pnach files, I will release these eventually.
In Flipnic, FPD files are all sorts of fun (they define fixed paths for various things, e.g. enemy movement/coins/UFOs/etc.)
For example, you can do something like this:
For example, you can do something like this:
December 8, 2025 at 2:18 PM
In Flipnic, FPD files are all sorts of fun (they define fixed paths for various things, e.g. enemy movement/coins/UFOs/etc.)
For example, you can do something like this:
For example, you can do something like this:
This is a really early version of Pak, the official mascot of PAKTC!
It's a vector image made in Inkscape and looks kind of uncanny right now.
And he's got no nose, because you don't need to breathe if you live inside a computer program (yes, there is lore).
It's a vector image made in Inkscape and looks kind of uncanny right now.
And he's got no nose, because you don't need to breathe if you live inside a computer program (yes, there is lore).
November 27, 2025 at 12:33 PM
This is a really early version of Pak, the official mascot of PAKTC!
It's a vector image made in Inkscape and looks kind of uncanny right now.
And he's got no nose, because you don't need to breathe if you live inside a computer program (yes, there is lore).
It's a vector image made in Inkscape and looks kind of uncanny right now.
And he's got no nose, because you don't need to breathe if you live inside a computer program (yes, there is lore).
he's watching you
November 14, 2025 at 11:39 AM
he's watching you
I changed my profile picture! Here's a comparison between the two (left = before, right = after):
November 8, 2025 at 6:54 PM
I changed my profile picture! Here's a comparison between the two (left = before, right = after):
I found this is a cool project to restore the 2013-2016 YouTube UI called Rehike: github.com/Rehike/Rehike
It's basically a server you set up and route all YouTube trafiic through. It's still in development, but most stuff already works, except for live streams, which break in a funny way.
It's basically a server you set up and route all YouTube trafiic through. It's still in development, but most stuff already works, except for live streams, which break in a funny way.
October 19, 2025 at 8:26 AM
I found this is a cool project to restore the 2013-2016 YouTube UI called Rehike: github.com/Rehike/Rehike
It's basically a server you set up and route all YouTube trafiic through. It's still in development, but most stuff already works, except for live streams, which break in a funny way.
It's basically a server you set up and route all YouTube trafiic through. It's still in development, but most stuff already works, except for live streams, which break in a funny way.
flipnic main menu with dark buttons
October 12, 2025 at 3:14 PM
flipnic main menu with dark buttons
In case you were wondering: yes, it's possible to change the loading text Flipnic, but you are limited to 11 characters of text in UTF-8 encoding (stored inside the data section of the game executable).
October 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
In case you were wondering: yes, it's possible to change the loading text Flipnic, but you are limited to 11 characters of text in UTF-8 encoding (stored inside the data section of the game executable).
lol this works even in optics multiball
October 2, 2025 at 12:11 PM
lol this works even in optics multiball
I figured out the texture mapping! I have not yet added any normals, so there is no shading. Here are the same models with textures applied:
September 25, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I figured out the texture mapping! I have not yet added any normals, so there is no shading. Here are the same models with textures applied:
I've managed to decode some 3D models from Flipnic's LP4 files. It isn't perfect yet (I have yet to figure out how texture coordinates are stored), but some models already look kind of accurate.
September 21, 2025 at 4:18 PM
I've managed to decode some 3D models from Flipnic's LP4 files. It isn't perfect yet (I have yet to figure out how texture coordinates are stored), but some models already look kind of accurate.
Flipnic File Tools - a command-line tool for working with various files used by the game (with a GUI front-end available).
Here's what it can now v.s. what it could originally do 1 month ago when I started developing it:
The plan is to eventually support all file formats.
github.com/MarkusMaal/F...
Here's what it can now v.s. what it could originally do 1 month ago when I started developing it:
The plan is to eventually support all file formats.
github.com/MarkusMaal/F...
![Flipnic File Tools 2.1
Usage ./FlipnicFileTool [filename] [options]
--input File to open
--output File to write to
--help Display help
--simple Use output that is easy to parse for computer programs
--low-memory Reduces performance to save on memory usage
--magick-path Path to ImageMagick executable (may not be needed dep. on what you're trying to do)
--ffmpeg-path Path to FFmpeg (for audio/video conversion operations)
--msg-path Path to JA.MSG file (optional)
--png Use PNG instead of BMP (for transparency and smaller file sizes)
--version Displays the version number for FlipnicLib
⏵ Flipnic Camera sequences (*.FPC)
--show-fpc* Display data from .FPC file as human-readable text
--convert-fpc-to-xml Convert .FPC file to .XML
⏵ Stage information files (*.SST)
--show-sst-resources Display all resources referenced by SST file
--show-sst-toc* Display table of contents of the SST file
--show-gimmick [name] Display a gimmick (name from TOC)
--get-pseudo-code Transform stage event into something that's somewhat human-readable
⏵ Message file (JA.MSG)
--show-messages* Display all strings stored in the file
⏵ Interleaved audio/video stream (*.PSS)
--list-pss-streams* List all available streams in a .PSS file
--extract-pss-streams Demux a .PSS file to .IPU and .INT files (output = folder)
--convert-int Convert .INT file to .WAV
--convert-pss-mov Convert .PSS file directly to .MOV file with audio streams
--pal Force 25/50 frames per second when converting video files
⏵ Video files (*.IPU)
--show-ipu Display basic information about the IPU file
--convert-ipu Uses FFmpeg to convert .IPU file to .MOV
⏵ Blob files (*.BIN)
--list-files* List a…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bcwuunjzpvyeu7zovpiohkpg/bafkreiaxfqlyvheyfeqwmx33fgcvmx4d3yvmx3u7t3fu5zd4o7fe23popy@jpeg)
September 20, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Flipnic File Tools - a command-line tool for working with various files used by the game (with a GUI front-end available).
Here's what it can now v.s. what it could originally do 1 month ago when I started developing it:
The plan is to eventually support all file formats.
github.com/MarkusMaal/F...
Here's what it can now v.s. what it could originally do 1 month ago when I started developing it:
The plan is to eventually support all file formats.
github.com/MarkusMaal/F...
This is my best attempt so far at converting Flipnic's HD/BD (a.k.a. JAM) files to a standard soundfont (.SF2).
The best sounding one currently I think is SERIOUS.MID (especially the start/end is basically identical to direct rip, probably because it's a really simple track).
The best sounding one currently I think is SERIOUS.MID (especially the start/end is basically identical to direct rip, probably because it's a really simple track).
September 7, 2025 at 11:29 PM
This is my best attempt so far at converting Flipnic's HD/BD (a.k.a. JAM) files to a standard soundfont (.SF2).
The best sounding one currently I think is SERIOUS.MID (especially the start/end is basically identical to direct rip, probably because it's a really simple track).
The best sounding one currently I think is SERIOUS.MID (especially the start/end is basically identical to direct rip, probably because it's a really simple track).
Here are some screenshots of a wip open-source software program I've been working on - Flipnic file tools (supports Mac, Windows and Linux).
It does some of the same stuff as FlipnicBinExtractor, but it allows opening way more file formats used by the game and there's also a GUI front-end for it.
It does some of the same stuff as FlipnicBinExtractor, but it allows opening way more file formats used by the game and there's also a GUI front-end for it.
![CLI version displaying command syntax.
Usage: FlipnicFileTool [FileName] [options]
Specifying a FileName without any option will run an action corresponding file format below highlighted with an asterisk (*).
--input File to open
--output File to write to
--help Display help
--simple Use output that is easy to parse for computer programs
--low-memory Reduces performance to save on memory usage
--magick-path Path to ImageMagick executable (may not be needed dep. on what you're trying to do)
--ffmpeg-path Path to FFmpeg (for audio/video conversion operations)
--msg-path Path to JA.MSG file (optional)
--png Use PNG instead of BMP (for transparency and smaller file sizes)
Flipnic Camera sequences (*.FPC)
--show-fpc* Display data from .FPC file as human-readable text
--convert-fpc-to-xml Convert .FPC file to .XML
Stage information files (*.SST)
--show-sst-resources Display all resources referenced by SST file
--show-sst-toc* Display table of contents of the SST file
--show-gimmick [name] Display a gimmick (name from TOC)
--get-pseudo-code Transform stage event into something that's somewhat human-readable
Message file (JA.MSG)
--show-messages* Display all strings stored in the file
Interleaved audio/video stream (*.PSS)
--list-pss-streams* List all available streams in a .PSS file
--extract-pss-streams Demux a .PSS file to .IPU and .INT files (output = folder)
--convert-ipu Uses FFmpeg to convert .IPU file to .MOV
--convert-int Convert .INT file to .WAV
--convert-pss-mov Convert .PSS file directly to .MOV file with audio streams
--pal Force 25/50 frames per second when converting video files
Blob files (*.BIN)
--list-files* List all files inside this container file](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bcwuunjzpvyeu7zovpiohkpg/bafkreia354wljhf2bb62agzqdx6xuumxdwma7mhqsoxq2k62qpfxie75di@jpeg)
September 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Here are some screenshots of a wip open-source software program I've been working on - Flipnic file tools (supports Mac, Windows and Linux).
It does some of the same stuff as FlipnicBinExtractor, but it allows opening way more file formats used by the game and there's also a GUI front-end for it.
It does some of the same stuff as FlipnicBinExtractor, but it allows opening way more file formats used by the game and there's also a GUI front-end for it.
Here are some events of a specific stage in Flipnic (guess which one) partially translated to (somewhat) human-readable format. This gives you an idea of some of the stuff you can change in this game by just patching some bytes in .SST files, without touching the game code itself
![func START () @ 0x7530
nop
func GAME_EVENT (Balls: [5, 3, 3], Credits: [4, 1, 0]) @ 0x7570
GameEvent (SetMission, MASTER, Status::Started)
SequenceEvent (VideoEvent, Filename: SILVER_DROP.PSS, Randomize: false, RandomizerSeed: 0)
SequenceEvent (BgmEvent, Filename: SOUNDDATA\NATURE_0.MID)
0xD (0, 0, 0, 0)
GameEvent (5, ???: 0, ???: 0)
GameEvent (SetSpawn, AreaCode: 12160)
SequenceEvent (ScreenFade, FadeOut: false, Ticks: 60)
end
func RESET_EVENT () @ 0x77B0
nop
BallEvent (13, ???: 26, ???: 10)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bcwuunjzpvyeu7zovpiohkpg/bafkreibpeb64qhrmb6uxo7iyjqtszj36jdnehkimjomwkcgxxxopzvsoh4@jpeg)
![func EVENT_FLIES () @ 0x13830
nop
SequenceEvent (12, ???: 19, ???: 0)
BallEvent (19, ???: 39, ???: 2)
BallEvent (19, ???: 39, ???: 12)
BallEvent (19, ???: 8, ???: 2)
BallEvent (19, ???: 8, ???: 12)
func FLIES_SET_PARAM (0, 1, 0, 19, 11, 12, 17, 18) @ 0x139B0
GameEvent (1, ???: 0, ???: 19)
func BMP_B01__ (0, 8, 7, 0) @ 0x139F0
0x6 (0, 0, 0, 0)
func THIS (0, 1, 0, 0) @ 0x13A30
0xB (0, 0, 0, 0)
do
SequenceEvent (11, ???: 19, ???: 0)
func GAME_EVENT (Balls: [0, 0, 0], Credits: [14, 0, 0]) @ 0x13AF0
func THIS (0, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) @ 0x13B30
GameEvent (3, ???: 0, ???: 0)
func GAME_EVENT (Balls: [1, 0, 0], Credits: [14, 0, 0]) @ 0x13B70
func THIS (0, 3, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0) @ 0x13BB0
GameEvent (3, ???: 1, ???: 0)
0x5 (0, 0, 0, 0)
GameEvent (SetMission, "ZERO GRAVITY", Status::Started)
GameEvent (SetMission, MASTER, Status::Completed)
SequenceEvent (ScreenFade, FadeOut: true, Ticks: 60)
SequenceEvent (21, ???: 0, ???: 0)
GameEvent (SetSpawn, AreaCode: 19110)
BallEvent (19, ???: 39, ???: 0)
func FLIES (0, 1, 19, 39, 0, 0, 0, 0) @ 0x13DB0
GameEvent (1, ???: 19, ???: 39)
do
SequenceEvent (ScreenFade, FadeOut: false, Ticks: 60)
SequenceEvent (WonderfulSequence, DisplayText: false)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bcwuunjzpvyeu7zovpiohkpg/bafkreifvskvxrjopcptsky7sfl2tewkibv6q326ntflqibdql5sgpnxmjq@jpeg)
August 31, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Here are some events of a specific stage in Flipnic (guess which one) partially translated to (somewhat) human-readable format. This gives you an idea of some of the stuff you can change in this game by just patching some bytes in .SST files, without touching the game code itself
this sure is an interesting file format...
key:
cyan = volume/pan
magenta = notes/pitch
dark red = program chunk header
key:
cyan = volume/pan
magenta = notes/pitch
dark red = program chunk header
August 22, 2025 at 3:57 PM
this sure is an interesting file format...
key:
cyan = volume/pan
magenta = notes/pitch
dark red = program chunk header
key:
cyan = volume/pan
magenta = notes/pitch
dark red = program chunk header
only OGs remember this profile picture...
August 21, 2025 at 11:34 AM
only OGs remember this profile picture...
Here's a better preview of what it would look like:
August 19, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Here's a better preview of what it would look like:
More Flipnic stuff:
I made a tool to create a BMP preview of menu files (*.MLB), it isn't perfect, but you can see the general layout. It appears they intended to have a "New!!" text on the menu. There are also 12 of them, while the final game had 11 stages:
I made a tool to create a BMP preview of menu files (*.MLB), it isn't perfect, but you can see the general layout. It appears they intended to have a "New!!" text on the menu. There are also 12 of them, while the final game had 11 stages:
August 18, 2025 at 8:13 PM
More Flipnic stuff:
I made a tool to create a BMP preview of menu files (*.MLB), it isn't perfect, but you can see the general layout. It appears they intended to have a "New!!" text on the menu. There are also 12 of them, while the final game had 11 stages:
I made a tool to create a BMP preview of menu files (*.MLB), it isn't perfect, but you can see the general layout. It appears they intended to have a "New!!" text on the menu. There are also 12 of them, while the final game had 11 stages:
Despite being a cut mission, you still get a score multiplier if you get 1000 EXP points, it just doesn't get logged in the stage status menu.
There's also a placeholder image for Optics stage lying around for some reason...
There's also a placeholder image for Optics stage lying around for some reason...
August 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Despite being a cut mission, you still get a score multiplier if you get 1000 EXP points, it just doesn't get logged in the stage status menu.
There's also a placeholder image for Optics stage lying around for some reason...
There's also a placeholder image for Optics stage lying around for some reason...
So, an interesting fact about Flipnic.
There is actually a cut mission called "Total EXP Counts", which would have been like "Total Lane Counts", except you had to get 1000 EXP points. Instructions still exist in the stage status files, but untranslated. Here's what it looks like hacked in-game:
There is actually a cut mission called "Total EXP Counts", which would have been like "Total Lane Counts", except you had to get 1000 EXP points. Instructions still exist in the stage status files, but untranslated. Here's what it looks like hacked in-game:
August 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
So, an interesting fact about Flipnic.
There is actually a cut mission called "Total EXP Counts", which would have been like "Total Lane Counts", except you had to get 1000 EXP points. Instructions still exist in the stage status files, but untranslated. Here's what it looks like hacked in-game:
There is actually a cut mission called "Total EXP Counts", which would have been like "Total Lane Counts", except you had to get 1000 EXP points. Instructions still exist in the stage status files, but untranslated. Here's what it looks like hacked in-game: