Weird SNES problem involving sprites (hard to explain)

[d4s]

Sounds like a RAM issue in some kind of video frame buffer. Since that type of memory is written to but never read back from, the game keeps truckin along without crashing but parts of the screen are missing.

just FYI: the snes doesnt have something like a framebuffer.
it renders the images per scanline.

your video ram guess was a good shot, though.
i'd say the oam ram is faulty.

i had a similar error, but with cgram(thats where the colours are stored)

i fixed it by replacing both video ram chips.
you can find them in different carts, such as vortex, yoshis island and such.
however, id say a barebone snes system costs less than two of these carts and is guaranteed to work.
i had some of these carts lying about, replacing the vram was cheaper for me.
besides, it was fun.

[omnedon]

Thanks for the info d4s! Practicality aside, by posting it, you've etched it onto the accumualted data that is this forum.

Great stuff!

[Duncan]

More reasons why I love this forum. Awesome investigation, everyone.