Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree

To do:

Regional differences (graphical changes; English, Spanish and French text differences between the US and EU versions).
There's a mention for loading timeStampP_xx.txt? The commands in WSR and WFP's docs do not work for it, did they use a new combo/method?
XLS documents?
Apparently, in the NTSC version some voice sounds like the ones used in the hallways do not appear in French and Spanish. But it seems that they are present in the corresponding BRSAR file. Check if they are not leftovers from the European version of the languages and why it happens.

Train your brain! Get a degree in Wii!

Development Leftovers#

BMC Files#

The game has color table files for each localization but are entirely unused in the game, it contains the following colors than 0xFFFFFFFF for the rest:

#000000ff
#ff0000ff
#00ff00ff
#0000ffff
#ffff00ff
#ff00ffff
#ffffffff
#6883e6ff
#e668acff

User directory#

The entire user folder is chock-full of tests, early versions of minigames, and of course, unused graphics, most likely from an internal developer wiki.

user\kiuchi\cuttingPuzzle\layout.arc has graphics of various pixelated things leftover from the DS game.

There's also some silhouettes of various objects.

This is my jam. Who's that Pokémon?

In user\kiuchi\shooting, there's what seems to be an early version of Speed Spotting, with many pictures. A few remain in the final, but many are only found here.

In user\masuda\NandTest, there seems to be graphics left-over from a NAND memory test. The text corresponds to the filenames of the images.

Bbawd_cursor0.tpl.png
Bbawd_on.tpl.png
Bbawd_off.tpl.png
Bbawd_read.tpl.png
Read (読み込み)

Write (書き込み)

Bbawd_teststart.tpl.png
Test Start (テスト開始)

WARNING: Load with caution!
Bbawd_loading02.tpl.png

In user\masuda\NigaoeTest, there's something involving using books from all angles, possibly a portrait test judging by the filename (Nigaoe (似顔絵)).

In user\masuda\SaveBanner, there's a early version of the save banner, along with a little drawing of Dr. Lobe.

In user\ogawa\layout_test, there's a bunch of numbers and... space.

The Japanese text translates to "Total" (合計), suggesting that this is from some sort of calculator.

In user\ogawa\ogawaTest, there are buttons and a very strange picture of an aquarium that looks like it's from the DS "prequel". user\waken\buttonTest also has these exact same files.

In user\ogawa\test\designer.arc along with some other places, there's some early graphics.

The first graphic is present in losehakari.bti and shows Dr. Lobe with a tear in his eye and a white flag in his hand.

The second graphic is present in winhakari.bti and shows Dr. Lobe with a trophy in his hand.

The third graphic is present in winlosehakari.bti and is similar to the second graphic, but the trophy Dr. Lobe is holding in this graphic is shinier.

user\ogawa\sample has two TXT files. test.txt

hogehoge

The other one is in director.arc. aaa.txt

sample data

Present in user/kando/dbController/layout.arc/layout.brlyt is a debug controller.

Excel Spreadsheets#

5 spreadsheets are left on the disc. They're all identical to the final game, except for one.

FaceThrough_Difficulty061214.xls#

To do:
Diff with final game.

Early parameters for the Face Case minigame. Note it uses a parameter called SameFaceNumOnTrain which isn't in the final game.

    Pattern0    Pattern1    Pattern2    all
easy                
QuestionRate    6   2   2   
DifferentPartsNum   3   4   4   
FaceBase    same    different   different   
Eye different   different   different   
Nose    different   different   different   
Mouth   different   different   different   
Speed               600
SameFaceNumOnTrain              0
                
normal              
QuestionRate    4   1   5   
DifferentPartsNum   2   2   4   
FaceBase    same    different   different   
Eye undefined   undefined   different   
Nose    undefined   undefined   different   
Mouth   undefined   undefined   different   
Speed               600
SameFaceNumOnTrain              1
                
hard                
QuestionRate    3   1   6   
DifferentPartsNum   1   1   3   
FaceBase    same    different   same    
Eye undefined   same    different   
Nose    undefined   same    different   
Mouth   undefined   same    different   
Speed               600
SameFaceNumOnTrain              1
                
expert              
QuestionRate    1   1   8   
DifferentPartsNum   1   1   2   
FaceBase    same    different   same    
Eye undefined   same    undefined   
Nose    undefined   same    undefined   
Mouth   undefined   same    undefined   
Speed               600
SameFaceNumOnTrain              2

Alternative Game Configurations#

To do:
There are more in the Korean version.

Four alternative configurations for the game are left on the disc.

#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#
#   gameConfig.ini
#
#   コメントの前はスペースを空ける必要がある
#
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
{
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    firstSection        nawabari    #起動時のセクション指定:title/morimura/kando/ito
    hostIO          1       #HostI/Oを使うかどうか:使わない場合は 0 にしないと動きません
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #   Console Print スイッチ
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    sysPrint        0
    masudaPrint     0
    kandoPrint      0
    kiuchiPrint     0
    wakenPrint      0
    ogawaPrint      0
    itoPrint        0
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #   カンファレンス用
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    controllerIdleMin   1.0

    disableSectionMenu  1       # 1:"-"ボタンメニュー封印
    publicity       1       # 1:余計な表示をＯＦＦ

    courseFlag      0x20        # コース封印用フラグ
                        #   cCOURSE_SHODAN      = 0x0001,
                        #   cCOURSE_STRETCH     = 0x0002,
                        #   cCOURSE_RACE        = 0x0004,
                        #   cCOURSE_SURVIVAL    = 0x0008,
                        #   cCOURSE_PANEL       = 0x0010,
                        #   cCOURSE_OFFICE      = 0x0020,
                        #   cCOURSE_GRAPH       = 0x0040

    MarikuraMonitor     0       # マリクラモニター
    GDC         1       # GDC用
    RYUTU           1       # 流通説明用
    RENTAL          0       # 部外貸出用
    FILM            0       # 撮影版
    showVersion0914     0
    showMode        0

    end         # タグの終わり
}

#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#
#   gameConfig.ini(MC)
#
#   コメントの前はスペースを空ける必要がある
#
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
{
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    bootSection     eGameOpeningSection #起動時のセクション指定:eTitleSection/eGameOpeningSection/...
    hostIO          1           #HostI/Oを使うかどうか:使わない場合は 0 にしないと動きません
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #   Console Print スイッチ
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    sysPrint        0
    masudaPrint     0
    kandoPrint      0
    kiuchiPrint     0
    wakenPrint      0
    ogawaPrint      0
    itoPrint        0
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #   カンファレンス用
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    controllerIdleMin   1.0

    disableSectionMenu  1       # 1:"-"ボタンメニュー封印
    publicity       1       # 1:余計な表示をＯＦＦ
    EraseData       0       # 1:必ずデータ消去

    courseFlag      0x7F        # コース封印用フラグ
                        #   cCOURSE_SHODAN      = 0x0001,
                        #   cCOURSE_STRETCH     = 0x0002,
                        #   cCOURSE_RACE        = 0x0004,
                        #   cCOURSE_SURVIVAL    = 0x0008,
                        #   cCOURSE_PANEL       = 0x0010,
                        #   cCOURSE_OFFICE      = 0x0020,
                        #   cCOURSE_GRAPH       = 0x0040
    DebugCommand        1       # デバッグコマンド
    MarikuraMonitor     1       # マリクラモニター用
    DebugKey        1       # デバッグ用リモコン表示 (0:off 1:on)

    GDC         0       # ＧＤＣ用
    RYUTU           0       # 流通説明用
    RENTAL          0       # 部外貸出用
    FILM            0       # 撮影版
    showVersion0914     0
    showMode        0

    panelPrint      0
    panelPrintDeep      0
    nigaoePrint     0
    nigaoePrintDeep     0
    messageWindowPrint  0
    messageWindowPrintDeep  0
    textSpeachPrint     0
    textSpeachPrintDeep 0

    end         # タグの終わり
}

#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#
#   gameConfig.ini(MC_D)
#
#   コメントの前はスペースを空ける必要がある
#
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
{
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    bootSection     eGameOpeningSection #起動時のセクション指定:eTitleSection/eGameOpeningSection/...
    hostIO          1           #HostI/Oを使うかどうか:使わない場合は 0 にしないと動きません
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #   Console Print スイッチ
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    sysPrint        0
    masudaPrint     0
    kandoPrint      0
    kiuchiPrint     0
    wakenPrint      0
    ogawaPrint      0
    itoPrint        0
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #   カンファレンス用
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    controllerIdleMin   1.0

    disableSectionMenu  0       # 1:"-"ボタンメニュー封印
    publicity       1       # 1:余計な表示をＯＦＦ
    EraseData       0       # 1:必ずデータ消去

    courseFlag      0x7F        # コース封印用フラグ
                        #   cCOURSE_SHODAN      = 0x0001,
                        #   cCOURSE_STRETCH     = 0x0002,
                        #   cCOURSE_RACE        = 0x0004,
                        #   cCOURSE_SURVIVAL    = 0x0008,
                        #   cCOURSE_PANEL       = 0x0010,
                        #   cCOURSE_OFFICE      = 0x0020,
                        #   cCOURSE_GRAPH       = 0x0040
    DebugCommand        1       # デバッグコマンド
    MarikuraMonitor     1       # マリクラモニター用
    DebugKey        1       # デバッグ用リモコン表示 (0:off 1:on)

    GDC         0       # ＧＤＣ用
    RYUTU           0       # 流通説明用
    RENTAL          0       # 部外貸出用
    FILM            0       # 撮影版
    showVersion0914     0
    showMode        0

    panelPrint      0
    panelPrintDeep      0
    nigaoePrint     0
    nigaoePrintDeep     0
    messageWindowPrint  0
    messageWindowPrintDeep  0
    textSpeachPrint     0
    textSpeachPrintDeep 0

    end         # タグの終わり
}

#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
#
#   gameConfig.ini
#
#   コメントの前はスペースを空ける必要がある
#
#--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
{
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    bootSection     eGameOpeningSection #起動時のセクション指定:eTitleSection/eGameOpeningSection/...
    hostIO          1           #HostI/Oを使うかどうか:使わない場合は 0 にしないと動きません
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #   Console Print スイッチ
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    sysPrint        0
    masudaPrint     0
    kandoPrint      0
    kiuchiPrint     0
    wakenPrint      0
    ogawaPrint      0
    itoPrint        0
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    #   カンファレンス用
    #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
    controllerIdleMin   1.0

    disableSectionMenu  1       # 1:"-"ボタンメニュー封印
    publicity       1       # 1:余計な表示をＯＦＦ
    EraseData       0       # 1:必ずデータ消去

    courseFlag      0x7F        # コース封印用フラグ
                        #   cCOURSE_SHODAN      = 0x0001,
                        #   cCOURSE_STRETCH     = 0x0002,
                        #   cCOURSE_RACE        = 0x0004,
                        #   cCOURSE_SURVIVAL    = 0x0008,
                        #   cCOURSE_PANEL       = 0x0010,
                        #   cCOURSE_OFFICE      = 0x0020,
                        #   cCOURSE_GRAPH       = 0x0040
    DebugCommand        1       # デバッグコマンド
    MarikuraMonitor     1       # マリクラモニター用
    DebugKey        1       # デバッグ用リモコン表示 (0:off 1:on)

    GDC         0       # ＧＤＣ用
    RYUTU           0       # 流通説明用
    RENTAL          0       # 部外貸出用
    FILM            0       # 撮影版
    showVersion0914     0
    showMode        0

    panelPrint      0
    panelPrintDeep      0
    nigaoePrint     0
    nigaoePrintDeep     0
    messageWindowPrint  0
    messageWindowPrintDeep  0
    textSpeachPrint     0
    textSpeachPrintDeep 0

    end         # タグの終わり
}

Symbol Maps#

The folder map has symbol maps for almost all development builds of the game from all regions excluding Japan. Some symbol maps are different across regions. Over 167MB of the disc is consumed off them!

Download Big Brain Academy Wii symbol maps (Japan)

File: BBAcademySymbolMaps_JP.zip (? KB) (info)

Download Big Brain Academy Wii symbol maps (Europe)

File: BBAcademySymbolMaps_EU.zip (? KB) (info)

Download Big Brain Academy Wii symbol maps (North America)

File: BBAcademySymbolMaps_US.zip (? KB) (info)

Download Big Brain Academy Wii symbol maps (All regions)

File: BBAcademySymbolMaps_AllRegions.zip (6,826 KB) (info)

Build Date#

To do:
Other versions.

USA

TimeStampD_EU.txt (Debug EU)	TimeStampD_JP.txt (Debug JP)	TimeStampD_US.txt (Debug US)	TimeStampD.txt (Debug, no region)
`Mar.22.2007 19:06:18`	`Mar.31.2007 23:19:02`	`Mar.22.2007 19:01:11`	`Feb.22.2007 10:35:34`
TimeStampP_EU.txt (Product, EU)	TimeStampP_JP.txt (Product, JP)	TimeStampP_US.txt (Product, US)	TimeStampP.txt (Product, no region)
`Apr.27.2007 17:17:20`	`Apr.04.2007 20:30:21`	`Apr.27.2007 17:16:05`	`TimeStamp`
TimeStampR_EU.txt (Release, EU)	TimeStampR_JP.txt (Release, JP)	TimeStampR_US.txt (Release, US)	TimeStampR.txt (Release, no region)
`Apr.27.2007 17:16:44`	`Apr.27.2007 12:54:45`	`Apr.27.2007 17:15:28`	`Feb.19.2007 19:10:45`
TimeStampV_EU.txt (Develop, EU)	TimeStampV_JP.txt (Develop, JP)	TimeStampV_US.txt (Develop, US)	TimeStampV.txt (Develop, no region)
`Mar.22.2007 19:06:42`	`Apr.26.2007 21:37:33`	`Mar.22.2007 19:02:44`	`Feb.24.2007 13:23:39`

All of the build dates that are presented above can be found at the root of the game's files.

It's notable that

TimeStampP.txt

says

TimeStamp

on it instead of an actual build date.

Internal Project Name#

The internal name of the game is Yawaraka, given by many mentions of Yawa and the full term in the game's files and executable. Yawaraka is present in the Japanese name of the game.

Regional Differences#

Title Screen#

Japanese	South Korea	North America	Europe

Save Banner#

Japanese	South Korea	North America	Europe

Correct/Incorrect#

In the Japanese and Korean versions, a red maru (circle) is used to indicate correct, and a blue batsu (cross) for incorrect. These have been changed to a green check mark (or tick) and a red cross respectively in international versions.

Exception Handler#

The NintendoWare exception handler is present in the code. Unlike most titles that feature this handler, it automatically displays on the television screen when the game crashes and does not require a button combination to activate. The D-Pad can be used to scroll through the output.

(Source: Tanline666)