RNG

RNG or Random Number Generation is the game's method of generating a random short. By doing this, the game can make things like dust movement seem random.

Technical description

The RNG variable is a short, which is a number from 0 to 65535 inclusive. When an object, snow, or something else wants to call RNG, it takes the current RNG value and runs it through the RNG function, below. It uses the result in its own calculations and also stores the result to the RNG variable. Thus, the RNG variable is equal to the last used RNG value.

The RNG function

unsigned short rng_function (unsigned short input) {
    if (input == 0x560A) input = 0;
    unsigned short S0 = (unsigned char)input << 8;
    S0 = S0 ^ input;
    input = ((S0 & 0xFF) << 8) | ((S0 & 0xFF00) >> 8);
    S0 = ((unsigned char)S0 << 1) ^ input;
    short S1 = (S0 >> 1) ^ 0xFF80;
    if ((S0 & 1) == 0) {
        if (S1 == 0xAA55) input = 0;
        else input = S1 ^ 0x1FF4;
    }
    else input = S1 ^ 0x8180;
    return (unsigned short)input;
}

Description

The function

Objects that call RNG

• Dust calls RNG to determine its resultant angle and horizontal speed. Note that the dust itself calls RNG, not the dust spawner.
• Goombas call RNG to determine which direction to move when they do not see Mario.
• Bob-ombs call RNG almost every frame to determine whether to blink.
• Although not an object, snow also calls RNG.
• Coins from Bob-ombs, Goombas, Big Cork Boxes, Cork Boxes, Piranha Plants, Bullies, Chuckyas, Fly Guys, Snowmen, etc... you name it, it calls RNG to determine angle, horizontal speed, and vertical speed.