The Nintendo Gigaleak preserves a small but unusually useful F-Zero source archive under other/SFC/ソースデータ/FZERO.

This is not just a loose dump of assembly files. It preserves the main game code, a dated title page, multiple regional build variants, and a whole suite of C tools that converted maps, panels, characters, rivals, bombs, and perspective data into the formats the game actually used.

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At a Glance

This archive is especially useful because it preserves both halves of the project at once:

• the game-side 65C816 assembly for the shipped SNES codebase
• the PC-side asset pipeline used to build tracks, screen layouts, background data, and sprite graphics

It also preserves some genuinely nice historical details:

• TITLE.DOC dates the original program to 1 April 1989 - 1 September 1990
• the SNES revision is dated 27 February 1991 - 14 May 1991
• the credited programmers are Y. Nishida, M. Kimura, and S. Yamashiro
• most of the tools still identify the project by the older internal name CAR RACE
• the build scripts show a mixed regional codebase rather than a single clean PAL branch

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Root directory (SFC.7z/ソースデータ/FZERO)

When the Gigaleak SFC.7z archive is extracted it contains the source for several Super Famicom projects. This post covers everything in the FZERO directory.

This folder contains the following sub-directories:

That split is one of the best things about this leak. It means the page can show not only what the F-Zero source code looked like, but also how Nintendo’s team prepared the maps, screen data, sprite characters, and compressed background assets that fed into it.

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How Complete This Looks

This archive looks much closer to a real working source snapshot than a token sample.

The strongest signs in its favour are:

• the Game folder has the main program modules, headers, data files, regional variants, and makefiles
• the Tools folder preserves the PC-side content pipeline rather than just the final game code
• the makefiles name a coherent set of source modules and a standard build flow using as65c, link, load, and insp

That said, it is still safer to call this a near-complete source snapshot than a guaranteed fully self-contained rebuild package.

What is still missing or uncertain:

• the actual Nintendo assembler, linker, loader, and symbol tools are not included here
• the folder does not preserve built .rel, .map, .sym, or .hex outputs
• some SDK-level environment details may still have lived outside this copied folder

So the important distinction is: the archive appears to preserve most of the real F-Zero source and tooling, but the leak page should not claim with full confidence that every last dependency needed for a clean rebuild is present unless the code has actually been rebuilt successfully.

There is one extra provenance detail worth noting here. The same Game and Tools tree also survives under other/NEWS/FZERO, and that NEWS copy appears twice because the archive contains both NEWS/FZERO and NEWS/FZERO/FZERO.

Content-wise though, that does not currently change the picture. The NEWS Game and Tools folders match the other/SFC/ソースデータ/FZERO copy exactly, so it looks like a duplicated workstation-side copy of the same source snapshot rather than a separate branch with extra code.

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Game (/Game)

/Game

This folder contains the main 65C816 assembly source for F-Zero on the SNES. Internally the project is still often called CAR RACE, which makes the archive feel much closer to a live development tree than a cleaned-up release package.

What TITLE.DOC Reveals

TITLE.DOC is much better than a generic metadata note. It gives a compact project history for the codebase:

Field	Value
Title	F-ZERO
Author	Nintendo Co., Ltd.
Completion year	1990, 1991
Original program	April 01, 1989 - September 01, 1990
Revision for SNS	February 27, 1991 - May 14, 1991
Programmers	Y. Nishida, M. Kimura, S. Yamashiro

That is an unusually nice preservation detail because it shows the SNES release as a revision of an older codebase, not a project that simply appeared fully formed in 1991.

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How the SNES Build Works

The build scripts make the toolchain very clear. Both makefile and fzero_pal.make assemble every .asm file with as65c, then link the resulting .rel files with link, convert the linked image with load, and finally produce a symbol file with insp.

Output	Role
.rel	Assembled object output for each source file
.map	Linker map
.sym	Symbol file generated by insp
.hex	Final linked output image

The regional split is more interesting than the old page suggested. The main makefile produces fzero_usa2.hex, while fzero_pal.make produces fzero_pal.hex.

The PAL build is not a completely separate source tree. It mixes fzero_main.asm with play_main_pal.asm, but still pulls in several *_usa modules such as title_main_usa, calculate_usa, set_bg2_usa, and game_over_usa. That makes the archive look more like a branch stack of targeted patches than a set of fully isolated regional folders.

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Interesting Game-Side Details

Several files are much more revealing than their names make them sound:

• fzero_main.asm is the real entry module and main mode dispatcher, with a four-state Mode_vector for title, select, gameplay, and game-over flow
• fzero_main_usa2.asm contains an explicit BUG routine and extra bug-fix logic not present in the base file
• control_data.asm is a huge tuning/data file for car handling, speed, friction, damage, turbo jet positions, credits text, and prerecorded demo stick input
• data-5.asm is not just “track data” in the abstract - it explicitly lays out Course_address, Free_address, and Map_data_number tables for the main cups and free-run/ending sequences
• game_over.asm includes the full staff roll flow and reads directly from Staff_roll_data
• title_main.asm and play_main.asm still preserve commented debug code and developer-only scene-selection hooks

One especially neat detail is set_back. The folder contains both set_back.asm and a second older set_back file with no extension. The extensionless file still carries the older 1990 copyright block and only credits Y. Nishida, so it looks like an earlier source snapshot that was kept alongside the later SNES revision.

The files in this folder are described in the table below:

File Name	Extension	Description
ALPHA	N/A	Header/include file defining the encoded letter tokens used throughout text and credits data
ALPHA2	N/A	Secondary encoded text/character constants
ANK	N/A	ANK character font graphics in assembly format
ANK8	N/A	Additional text/character constants
BUFFER	N/A	Main runtime buffer definitions for gameplay state
RP5A22_	N/A	65C816 / SNES CPU register definitions
RP5C77_	N/A	SNES PPU register definitions
TITLE	.DOC	Full project title sheet with development dates and programmer credits
VARIABLE	N/A	Main gameplay variable definitions
WORK	N/A	Work RAM layout definitions
calculate	.asm	Scoring, lap, and prerecorded demo-stick logic
calculate_usa	.asm	Regional variant with a different Demo_stick_data location
car_control	.asm	Car movement, drift, and jump/control behaviour
control_data	.asm	Core tuning data: acceleration, top speed, grip, damage, credits text, and demo input tables
data-5	.asm	Course tables, start points, and cup/free-run map assignments
data-6	.asm	Rival and AI-related tuning data
effect	.asm	Visual effects such as shadows, lasers, and other race feedback
en-check	.asm	Enemy visibility and state checks
en-data-1	.asm	Enemy object/OAM data
en-data-2	.asm	Additional enemy object/OAM data
en-drive	.asm	Rival driving logic and AI speed/acceleration handling
en-init-1	.asm	Enemy initialization routines
en-init-3	.asm	Course/open-drive setup tied to Course_address
en-init-4	.asm	Additional enemy initialization routines
fzero_main	.asm	Main entry module and top-level mode dispatcher
fzero_main_pal	.asm	PAL startup variant with PPU mode changes
fzero_main_usa2	.asm	USA revision with explicit bug-fix code
fzero_pal	.make	PAL build script
game_over	.asm	Game-over flow, pause logic, and staff roll handling
game_over_usa	.asm	USA variant with changed roll data
makefile	N/A	Main USA2 build script
play_main	.asm	Gameplay state setup and main loop support
play_main_pal	.asm	PAL gameplay variant with 50 Hz timing adjustments
player	.asm	Player car logic including crashes and edge-case fixes
set-obj	.asm	Object setup routines for smoke, explosions, and race objects
set_back	N/A	Older no-extension copy of the background-screen setup module
set_back	.asm	Background and HUD/screen setup module
set_bg1	.asm	World/slit transfer and BG data handling
set_bg2	.asm	Perspective/background calculation
set_bg2_usa	.asm	USA variant with altered title/background data
sound	.asm	Race music and sound-effect logic
title_main	.asm	Title screen and car-select flow
title_main_usa	.asm	USA title-screen variant with changed cursor/title data

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Tools (/Tools)

/Tools

This folder is the real production pipeline for F-Zero. It contains the DOS-side C programs and helper assembly routines used to turn editable map, panel, screen, and graphics data into the game-ready formats consumed by the SNES code.

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What the Toolchain Shows

Nearly every tool still calls the project CAR RACE and most of them were written by Y. Nishida between 1989 and 1990. That makes this folder one of the clearest preserved examples of Nintendo’s early SNES content pipeline in the leak.

Tool	Version/date in source header	What it does
carmap.c	version 1.01 - May.18, 1989	Early map generator from .TBL and .SCR
chrar.c	version 1.01 - Mar.27, 1989	Character data archiver for CAR RACE II
enemy.c	version 1.02 - Jul.21, 1989	OBJ character archiver for enemy graphics
mkback.c	version 1.00 - Feb.08, 1990	Background-screen compressor
mkpers.c	version 1.00 - Feb.09, 1990	Demo perspective-data compressor
mkpanel.c	version 1.10 - Apr.10, 1990	Panel generator producing .PCK and .PNL
setbomb.c	version 1.21 - Apr.20, 1990	Bomb-placement generator from map/panel/slit/world data
mkmap.c	version 3.20 - May.10, 1990	Much later map generator for a 32*16 world
mkspchr.c	version 1.20 - May.21, 1990	OBJ character compressor
slitpress.c	version 1.00 - May.28, 1990	Slit-data compressor producing .SLT2
mkbgchr.c	Jun.06, 1989	Converts 8-bit source graphics into Mode 7-ready character data
armap.c	version 1.20 - Jun.25, 1990	Packs map data into archived output

That version spread is useful because it shows the tooling matured alongside the game. carmap.c is an early 1989 generator, while mkmap.c is a much later 1990 rework for a larger world layout.

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Likely Asset Pipeline

The file extensions make much more sense once the tools are viewed together as one workflow:

Extension	Likely role in the pipeline
.SCR	Per-screen source layout input
.TBL	Character/tile lookup or source-table input
.PCK	Packed panel data
.PNL	Panel-layout data
.WTB	World table input
.WLD	Generated world data output
.SLT	Slit data used by the perspective/road system
.SLT2	Compressed slit-data output
.MAP	Generated or archived map package
.CHR	Character/tile graphics
.OBJ	Object/sprite source graphics
.CGX	8-bit graphics source converted into SNES-ready character data

mkmap.c is especially revealing here. It reads a .PCK panel file and a .WTB world-table file, then generates .SLT and .WLD outputs. It even prints Map data generator for CAR RACE version 3.20 ( 32*16 world ), which is a very direct clue about the map format it expects.

The files in this folder are described in the table below:

File Name	Extension	Description
armap	.c	Map-data archiver that packs .MTB input into .MAP output
carmap	.c	Early map generator that reads .TBL and .SCR data and emits .MAP
chrar	.c	Character-data archiver used to pack CHR resources
cmpbuf	.s	Assembly source file containing an efficient buffer comparison routine
cmppnl	.s	Helper routine for comparing candidate panels against the panel buffer
enemy	.c	OBJ character-data archiver for enemy sprite graphics
mkback	.c	Background-screen compressor
mkbgchr	.c	Converts .CGX 8-bit source art into screen/Mode 7 .CHR data
mkenemy	.c	Enemy-car character-data archiver
mkmap	.c	Later map generator that turns .PCK and .WTB into .SLT and .WLD
mkpanel	.c	Panel generator that turns .TBL input into .PCK and .PNL
mkpers	.c	Demo perspective-data compressor
mkrival	.c	Rival-car character-data archiver
mkselect	.c	Car-select screen compressor
mkspchr	.c	OBJ character compressor that creates OBJECT.CHR
schpnl	.s	Panel-search helper used by the panel generation path
setbomb	.c	Bomb-placement generator using .PNL, .WLD, and .SLT
slitpress	.c	Slit-data compressor that turns .SLT into .SLT2

The cards below are easier to follow when grouped by role. Taken together they look like a rough production pipeline for building F-Zero’s race worlds and visual assets.

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Map and World Tools

These are the top-level world-building tools. They generate or archive the main race data, assemble world layouts, and place gameplay objects such as bombs.

armap.c

• unshort pointer[32]
• unshort length[32]
• int counter
• int address
• int datasize
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• set_mapname(char* ss)
• archive(char* fname, FILE wp)
• save_pointer(char* fname)

4

7

136

carmap.c

• arptr sltptr[MAXSLT]
• unchar pnlbuf[MAXPNL][4]
• unshort sltbuf[MAXSLT][16]
• unshort rombuf[MAXROM][16]
• unshort wldbuf[WLDLNY][WLDLNX]
• unshort sltofs[MAXSLT]
• int pnlcnt
• int sltcnt
• int romcnt
• int wldcnt
• int sltlen
• int clrcode
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• set_sname(char* ss)
• makemap(int nn, char fname)
• chkclr(unchar *buf)
• setpnl(unchar *pnl)
• setslt(unshort *slt)
• setroom(unshort *rom)
• setwld(unshort wld)
• memcmp(register unchar *s1, register unchar *s2, register intnn)
• memcpy(register unchar *dd, register unchar *ss, register int)
• arslit()
• fit_slit(int ln, int sc)
• int_slpt()
• st_slofs()
• genmap(char *fname)
• genpnl(FILE *wp, int ad)
• genslt(FILE *wp, int ad)
• genrom(FILE *wp, int ad)
• genwld(FILE *wp, int ad)

19

20

500

mkmap.c

• arptr sltptr[MAXSLT]
• unshort sltofs[MAXSLT]
• unshort pnlofs[MAXPNL]
• unchar pnlbuf[MAXPNL *4]
• unshort sltbuf[MAXSLT][16]
• unshort rombuf[MAXROM][16]
• unshort wldbuf[WLDLNY][WLDLNX]
• int pnlcnt
• int sltcnt
• int romcnt
• int wldcnt
• int pnllen
• int sltlen
• int errcnt
• int slttop
• int clrcode
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• set_sname(char* ss)
• int getaddr(char* str)
• readpnl(char* fname)
• makemap(int nn, char fname)
• chkclr(unchar *buf)
• chkpnl(unchar *pnl)
• setslt(unshort *slt)
• setroom(unshort *rom)
• setwld(unshort wld)
• prsslt()
• fit_slit(int ln, int sc)
• int_slpt()
• st_slofs()
• genmap(char* wld_name, char* slt_name)
• genslt(FILE *wp)
• genrom(FILE *wp)
• genwld(FILE *wp)

18

18

475

setbomb.c

• unchar pnlbuf[MAXPNL]
• unchar sltbuf[MAXSLT]
• unchar wldbuf[MAXWLD]
• unchar rombuf[MAXROM]
• struct STACK bomb[MAXBOMB]
• int bombct
• int romcnt
• int romptr
• int sltptr
• int pnlptr
• int sltofs
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• set_bomb()
• push_pos()
• search(int loc_x, int loc_y)
• sch_room(int loc_x, int loc_y)
• int getaddr(char *str)
• readpnl(char *fname)
• readwld(char *fname)
• readslt(char *fname)
• makewld(char *fname)

10

12

291

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Panel and Slit Processing

These are the bridge tools between raw screen data and the final world/map outputs. They handle packed panel data and compressed slit data for the road/perspective system.

mkpanel.c

• arptr pnlptr[MAXPNL]
• unshort pnlofs[MAXPNL]
• unchar pnlbuf[MAXPNL][4]
• int pnllen
• int pnlcnt
• int clrcode
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• set_sname(char* ss)
• mkpanel(int nn, char fname)
• chkclr(unchar *buf)
• setpnl(unchar *pnl)
• prspnl()
• fit_panel(int ln, int sc)
• int_pnpt()
• st_pnofs()
• genpck(char *fname)
• genpnl(char *fname)

11

8

325

slitpress.c

• main(int argc, char* argv)
• void press_slit(FILE *rp, FILE *wp)
• void fputw(int data, FILE fp)
• int fgetw(FILE *fp)

4

2

97

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Character and Sprite Tools

These are the asset-packaging tools for vehicles, objects, and SNES-ready character graphics.

chrar.c

• int chrlen[6]
• int chralc[6][40]
• char chrbuf[DSIZE][32]
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• archive(int mo,FILE *tp, FILE *wp)
• flip(unchar *dat, *buf, int len)
• getnum(FILE *fp)
• readchar(int argc,char **argv, buf)

5

7

156

enemy.c

• struct patndata pat[12]
• short patn00[24]
• short patn01[20]
• short patn02[12]
• short patn03[9]
• short patn04[6]
• short patn05[4]
• short patn06[2]
• short patn07[1]
• short patn08[12]
• short patn09[6]
• short patn10[4]
• short patn11[2]
• unchar chrbuf[DSIZE][32]
• int chrcnt
• int total
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• init_ptr()
• set_cname(char* ss)
• archive(FILE *wp, char dat)
• getnum(char* dat)
• readchar(char* fname)

6

18

221

mkbgchr.c

• unchar chrdat[DATSIZE]
• unchar chrbuf[BUFSIZE]
• main(int argc, char * argv)
• chread(char *fname,*buff, int size)
• chwrite(char *fname,*buff, int size)
• convert(unchar *data,int size)
• archive(unchar *data,*buff,int size)
• getbnk(unchar *data)

6

7

150

mkenemy.c

• struct patndata pat[10]
• short patn00[24]
• short patn01[15]
• short patn02[12]
• short patn03[6]
• short patn04[4]
• short patn05[1]
• short patn06[12]
• short patn07[6]
• short patn08[2]
• short patn09[9]
• unchar chrbuf[DSIZE][32]
• int chrcnt
• int total
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• init_ptr()
• set_cname(char* ss)
• archive(FILE *wp, char dat)
• getnum(char* dat)char *dat
• readchar(char* fname)

6

16

212

mkrival.c

• struct patndata pat[10]
• short patn00[24]
• short patn01[15]
• short patn02[12]
• short patn03[6]
• short patn04[4]
• short patn05[1]
• short patn06[12]
• short patn07[6]
• short patn08[2]
• short patn09[9]
• unchar chrbuf[DSIZE][32]
• int chrcnt
• int total
• main(int argc, char * argv)
• init_ptr()
• set_cname(char* ss)
• archive(FILE *wp, char dat)
• getnum(dat)char *dat
• readchar(fname)char *fname

6

16

209

mkspchr.c

• struct data header[34]
• unchar chrbuf[DSIZE][32]
• int chrcnt
• int bincnt
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• void make_data(FILE *fp)
• int make1(FILE *fp, int code, int cnum, int leng)
• int make2(FILE *fp,int code, int cnum, int leng)
• int make3(FILE *fp, int code,int cnum, int leng)
• int make4(FILE *fp, int code,int cnum, int leng)
• int wthalf(char *buff, FILE fp)
• int read_char(char* fname, int code, int size)

8

11

234

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Compression and Screen-Specific Tools

These are the smaller helper tools for particular presentation tasks such as background compression, demo perspective data, and the car-select screen.

mkback.c

• int bincnt
• int norcnt
• int comcnt2
• int comcnt3
• int nulcnt
• main(int argc, char * argv)
• void make_data(FILE *rp,*wp)
• write_data(int code, int cnt, FILE wp)

3

7

127

mkpers.c

• int bincnt
• main(int argc, char* argv)
• void make_data(FILE *rp,*wp)
• fgetnum(unshort *num, FILE rp)
• fputnum(int num, FILE wp)

4

4

98

mkselect.c

• int bincnt
• int norcnt
• int chrcnt
• int atrcnt
• main(argc,argv)int argc
• char * argv
• void make_data(FILE *rp,*wp)
• int write_char(FILE *wp, int len)
• int write_attr(FILE *wp, int len, unchar buf)

4

8

120