Energy meter

References

1. ^ abIn F-Zero X's US build, pressing B starts a boost only when no boost is running (boostTimer is 0), energy isn't exactly 0, and the machine has RACER_STATE_CAN_BOOST. The boost sets boostTimer to 100 (sInitialBoostTimer), and on each update while it runs, the machine pays boostEnergyUsage, 0.0015 of its maxEnergy, from energy; if that takes the energy below 0, it's set to 0 and the boost ends on that update. A whole boost costs 0.15 of the meter and lasts 100 updates, about 1.7 seconds at 60 updates a second, the rate the race clock counts (computed). In a multiplayer race with the VS handicap on, the cost falls with distance behind the leader, linearly to 0.1 of it at 2000 or more behind.Codeinspectredc/fzerox
   How we know

   3598    if ((buttonPressed & BTN_B) && (racer->boostTimer == 0) && (racer->energy != 0.0) &&
   3599        (racer->stateFlags & RACER_STATE_CAN_BOOST)) {
   ⋮
   3603        racer->boostTimer = sInitialBoostTimer;
   

   386s32 sInitialBoostTimer = 100;
   

   1661    racer->boostEnergyUsage = racer->maxEnergy * 0.0015f;
   

   4035    if (racer->boostTimer != 0) {
   4036        if (racer->stateFlags & RACER_STATE_DASH_PAD_BOOST) {
   ⋮
   4040        } else {
   ⋮
   4047                if ((gNumPlayers == 1) || (gSettingVsHandicap == 0)) {
   4048                    sp128 = racer->boostEnergyUsage;
   4049                } else {
   4050                    sp128 = (gRacersByPosition[0]->raceDistance - racer->raceDistance);
   4051                    sp128 /= D_800CE4D8;
   4052                    if (sp128 >= 1.0f) {
   4053                        sp128 = racer->boostEnergyUsage * 0.1f;
   4054                    } else {
   4055                        sp128 = (((1.0f - sp128) * 0.9f) + 0.1f) * racer->boostEnergyUsage;
   ⋮
   

   343f32 D_800CE4D8 = 2000.0f;
   

   4303                racer->unk_2A4++;
   4304#if OS_TV_TYPE == OS_TV_TYPE_NTSC
   4305                racer->raceTime = (s32) (racer->unk_2A4 * 50) / 3;
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

2. ^ abIn F-Zero X's US build, Racer_ReceiveDamage subtracts the damage it's given from energy, unless the machine is crashed or has finished (RACER_STATE_CRASHED, RACER_STATE_FINISHED). If that takes the energy below 0, a machine whose machineLod is 0 is set to 0.1 instead, and nothing else happens; Racer_Draw sets that field to 0 for a machine outside the camera's view (behind it, more than 2500 ahead, or off the screen's edges), and Racer_Update sets every machine's to 1 when more than one player is racing. Any other machine is set to 0 and, unless already crashed or spinning out, put into the state the decompilers name RACER_STATE_SPINNING_OUT. Racer_HitWall deals 0.7 times the machine's speed into the wall, when that speed is above 0.01, and a landmine (within 30 units of the machine) deals 12.5.Codeinspectredc/fzerox
   How we know

   2240    if (racer->stateFlags & (RACER_STATE_CRASHED | RACER_STATE_FINISHED)) {
   

   2292    } else {
   2293#if BUILD_REVISION >= REVISION_C
   ⋮
   2296            racer->energy -= damageStrength;
   2297#if BUILD_REVISION >= REVISION_C
   ⋮
   2301        if (racer->energy < 0.0f) {
   2302            if (racer->machineLod == 0) {
   2303                racer->energy = 0.1f;
   2304                return;
   ⋮
   2306            racer->energy = 0.0f;
   ⋮
   2315            if (!(racer->stateFlags & (RACER_STATE_CRASHED | RACER_STATE_SPINNING_OUT))) {
   2316                racer->stateFlags |= RACER_STATE_SPINNING_OUT;
   

   5609        for (racer = sLastRacer; racer >= gRacers; racer--) {
   5610            racer->machineLod = racer->unk_2B2 = racer->unk_2B3 = 0;
   5611            if (racer->stateFlags & RACER_STATE_ACTIVE) {
   ⋮
   5616                if ((temp_fa0 < 0.0f) || (temp_fa0 > 2500.0f)) {
   5617                    continue;
   

   5094    if (gNumPlayers != 1) {
   5095        for (racer = sLastRacer; racer >= gRacers; racer--) {
   5096            racer->machineLod = racer->unk_2B2 = racer->unk_2B3 = 1;
   

   2353    if (lateralVelocity * wallDirection > 0.01f) {
   ⋮
   2365        Racer_ReceiveDamage(racer, lateralVelocity * wallDirection * 0.7f);
   

   3641                if ((SQ(var_fs1) + SQ(var_fs0) + SQ(var_ft4)) < 900.0f) {
   ⋮
   3645                    racer->stateFlags |= RACER_STATE_TOUCHING_LANDMINE;
   3646                    Racer_ReceiveDamage(racer, 12.5f);
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

3. ^ abIn F-Zero X's US build, on each update that a machine is on a pit surface (COURSE_EFFECT_PIT) and isn't crashed, airborne, or spinning out, it gains energyIncrease, 0.008 of its maxEnergy (sEnergyRefillScale), up to the maximum. An empty meter refills in 125 updates, about 2.1 seconds at 60 updates a second (computed).Codeinspectredc/fzerox
   How we know

   387f32 sEnergyRefillScale = 0.008f;
   

   1666    racer->energyIncrease = racer->maxEnergy * sEnergyRefillScale;
   

   4482    if ((racer->stateFlags & (RACER_STATE_CRASHED | RACER_STATE_AIRBORNE | RACER_STATE_SPINNING_OUT |
   4483                              COURSE_EFFECT_MASK)) == COURSE_EFFECT_PIT) {
   4484        racer->energy += racer->energyIncrease;
   4485        if (racer->maxEnergy < racer->energy) {
   4486            racer->energy = racer->maxEnergy;
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

4. ^In F-Zero X's US build, Racer_InitRacer sets a machine's energy and maxEnergy from gBodyHealthValues by its body grade (BODY_STAT): 190 for grade A, 178 for B, 166 for C, 154 for D, and 142 for E, so a racer starts each race with a full meter. In Death Race (GAMEMODE_DEATH_RACE), Racer_Init then halves both values for every racer after gRacers[0], which holds player 1's machine, so the other machines run on half a meter (71 to 95).Codeinspectredc/fzerox
   How we know

   440f32 gBodyHealthValues[] = {
   441    190.0f, 178.0f, 166.0f, 154.0f, 142.0f,
   

   58typedef enum BodyStat {
   59    /* 0 */ BODY_A,
   ⋮
   63    /* 4 */ BODY_E,
   64} BodyStat;
   

   1660    racer->energy = racer->maxEnergy = gBodyHealthValues[machine->machineStats[BODY_STAT]];
   

   1823    if (gGameMode == GAMEMODE_DEATH_RACE) {
   1824        for (racer = sLastRacer; racer > gRacers; racer--) {
   1825            racer->energy *= 0.5f;
   1826            racer->maxEnergy *= 0.5f;
   

   862    for (i = gNumPlayers - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
   863        gPlayerCharacters[i] = gRacers[i].character;
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

5. ^In F-Zero X's US build, a machine starts the race without RACER_STATE_CAN_BOOST unless the race is the title demo, Practice, or Death Race, which set it from the start. A machine starts at lap 0 with lapsCompleted 1, and lap counts up at each crossing of the line; when it reaches one more than lapsCompleted (and no more than one past the last lap), the code records the lap and sets the flag. The first crossing, at the start, brings lap to 1 and doesn't set it; completing the first lap does, so in the Grand Prix and VS races boosting opens from the second lap (computed from the counters).Codeinspectredc/fzerox
   How we know

   1580    if ((gTitleDemoState != TITLE_DEMO_INACTIVE) || (gGameMode == GAMEMODE_PRACTICE) ||
   1581        (gGameMode == GAMEMODE_DEATH_RACE)) {
   ⋮
   1583    if ((gTitleDemoState != TITLE_DEMO_INACTIVE) || (gGameMode == GAMEMODE_PRACTICE) ||
   ⋮
   1586        racer->stateFlags =
   1587            RACER_STATE_ACTIVE | RACER_STATE_FLAGS_20000000 | RACER_STATE_CAN_BOOST | RACER_STATE_FLAGS_8000;
   1588    } else {
   1589        racer->stateFlags = RACER_STATE_ACTIVE | RACER_STATE_FLAGS_20000000 | RACER_STATE_FLAGS_8000;
   

   1614    racer->lapsCompletedDistance = -gCurrentCourseInfo->length;
   ⋮
   1619    racer->lapsCompleted = 1;
   ⋮
   1623        racer->bodyWhiteTimer = racer->spinOutTimer = racer->completedLapsTime = racer->raceTime = racer->lap =
   ⋮
   1625                racer->vibrationStrength = 0;
   

   4309                if (sCourseHalfLength < sp128) {
   4310                    racer->lapsCompletedDistance += gCurrentCourseInfo->length;
   4311                    racer->lap++;
   4312                    if ((racer->lap == racer->lapsCompleted + 1) && (racer->lap <= (gTotalLapCount + 1))) {
   4313                        racer->lapsCompleted = racer->lap;
   4314                        racer->stateFlags |= RACER_STATE_CAN_BOOST;
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Checked by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

6. ^In F-Zero X's US build, when two machines first touch and one belongs to a human player, the other records that player as its last contact (unk_28C) and resets a counter (unk_288) that counts up on each update while the machine isn't crashed, finished, or falling off the track, the race intro timer (gRaceIntroTimer) is under 40, and the mode isn't GAMEMODE_RECORDS. When damage puts a machine into its spin-out, func_8008DBB8 credits that player if the contact was no more than 60 updates before and the player isn't finished, retired, or spinning out: it adds to gRacersKOd (by the atlas's reading of the name, a count of knock-outs), and in the Grand Prix the fifth (gRacersKOd == 5) gives player 1 a life. The player gains an eighth of their maxEnergy (energyRegain), added on the next update they aren't crashed or spinning out, up to the maximum.Codeinspectredc/fzeroxrevised
   How we know

   5148                    if (!racerPair->areColliding) {
   5149                        if (racer->id < gNumPlayers) {
   5150                            racer2->unk_288 = 0;
   5151                            racer2->unk_28C = racer;
   ⋮
   5153                        if (racer2->id < gNumPlayers) {
   5154                            racer->unk_288 = 0;
   5155                            racer->unk_28C = racer2;
   

   4298            if (!(racer->stateFlags & (RACER_STATE_CRASHED | RACER_STATE_FINISHED | RACER_STATE_FALLING_OFF_TRACK)) &&
   4299                (gRaceIntroTimer < 40) && (gGameMode != GAMEMODE_RECORDS)) {
   ⋮
   4302                racer->unk_288++;
   

   2315            if (!(racer->stateFlags & (RACER_STATE_CRASHED | RACER_STATE_SPINNING_OUT))) {
   2316                racer->stateFlags |= RACER_STATE_SPINNING_OUT;
   ⋮
   2320                func_8008DBB8(racer, 60);
   

   2196void func_8008DBB8(Racer* arg0, s32 arg1) {
   ⋮
   2199    if (arg1 < arg0->unk_288) {
   2200        return;
   ⋮
   2203    temp_v0 = arg0->unk_28C;
   2204    if (temp_v0 == NULL) {
   2205        return;
   ⋮
   2207    if (temp_v0->stateFlags & (RACER_STATE_FINISHED | RACER_STATE_RETIRED | RACER_STATE_SPINNING_OUT)) {
   2208        return;
   ⋮
   2212    gRacersKOd++;
   2213    if ((gGameMode == GAMEMODE_GP_RACE) && (gRacersKOd == 5)) {
   2214        gPlayerLives[0]++;
   ⋮
   2221    temp_v0->energyRegain += temp_v0->maxEnergy * 0.125f;
   

   5085        if ((racer->energyRegain != 0.0f) && !(racer->stateFlags & (RACER_STATE_CRASHED | RACER_STATE_SPINNING_OUT))) {
   5086            racer->energy += racer->energyRegain;
   5087            if (racer->energy > racer->maxEnergy) {
   5088                racer->energy = racer->maxEnergy;
   ⋮
   5090            racer->energyRegain = 0.0f;
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger

7. ^In F-Zero X's US build, Machine_DrawBlueFalconLod1, by its name a draw routine for the Blue Falcon, reads the word at offset 0x510 of the cartridge ROM until it has read the same value three times in a row (the first read is compared with 0). If its lowest bit is set, it counts the call (D_800CE784), and from the 13th such call it sets all five gBodyHealthValues to 1.0, the maximum energy machines are given when a race is set up, and calls func_i2_801039BC. The atlas hasn't read what the word holds on a retail cartridge.Codeinspectredc/fzeroxrevised
   How we know

   4942Gfx* Machine_DrawBlueFalconLod1(Gfx* gfx) {
   ⋮
   4950    var_a0 = 0;
   ⋮
   4952    while (var_a0 < 2) {
   4953        while (IO_READ(PI_STATUS_REG) & (PI_STATUS_IO_BUSY | PI_STATUS_DMA_BUSY)) {}
   ⋮
   4955        temp_v1 = ROM_READ(0x510);
   4956        if (temp_v1 == var_a1) {
   4957            var_a0++;
   4958        } else {
   4959            var_a0 = 0;
   ⋮
   4961        var_a1 = temp_v1;
   ⋮
   4964    if (temp_v1 & 1) {
   4965        D_800CE784++;
   ⋮
   

   1660    racer->energy = racer->maxEnergy = gBodyHealthValues[machine->machineStats[BODY_STAT]];
   

   Checked against the evidence by its author, an AI model, 2026-10-22.

   Revised after a check by a second AI model, 2026-10-22.

   In the claim ledger