Hotspot
Hotspots are scalable, configurable regions on the map used to trigger events. In EarthBound's engine, only two hotspots can be active simultaneously, as they occupy one of two available slots. They can be resized to suit various purposes, though the game engine might have limitations with extreme sizes, so be mindful of how considerate EarthBound's engine is willing to be. (e.g., the oversized hotspot in Threed).
By themselves, hotspots have no intrinsic functionality. They require activation and scripting via CCScript to define their purpose. When activated, hotspots become associated with a slot and a script that triggers upon the player's interaction:
- If the player steps into an active hotspot, the associated script runs.
- If the player is already inside the hotspot at activation, the script executes when they exit.
Example Scenario:
In the Dalaam sequence, speaking to Poo's master activates the Mu Training hotspot. If the player bypasses the sequence through glitches or cheats, the hotspot won't function because it hasn't been activated.
Use the following command to activate hotspots in CCScript:
hotspot_on(slot, hotspot, target)
hotspot_on(1, 54, ExampleText)
ExampleText:
window_open(1)
"@Remember that time the Mach Pizza guy delivered zombie paper?" next
"@That was pretty funny." wait
window_closeall eob
This script displays the specified text when the player steps into the hotspot in Threed, unless another script has already occupied slot 1.
Important: Always deactivate hotspots when they're no longer needed using hotspot_off(hotspot).
In the map editor, hotspots can be modified by:
- Selecting: Click on the hotspot to edit its properties.
-
Adjusting: Move or resize it by dragging the edges. Hotspot dimensions align to an
8x8grid. - Adding Notes: Annotate each hotspot to clarify its purpose.
- Customizing Appearance: Change its color to differentiate it from other hotspots.
Hotspots can also be activated through control codes:
[1F 66 SS HH TT TT TT TT]
- SS: Slot number (0 or 1)
- HH: Hotspot number in hexadecimal
- TT: Pointer to the text to execute when triggered (Little Endian format)
Example:
[1F 66 01 04 4F 9B C8 00]
This activates hotspot 4 in slot 1, loading text from l_0xc89b4f when the player steps in.
Here is a list of the game's hotspots, including unused ones:
| ID | Vanilla Hotspot |
|---|---|
| 1. | Mu Training |
| 2. | UNUSED (Near Star Master at Mu Training) |
| 3. | Take the Runaway Tour Bus from Twoson to Threed |
| 4. | Take the Runaway Tour Bus from Fourside to Threed ("heh, there's no reason to wait") |
| 5. | Tony goes to the Boarding School gate to boost Jeff |
| 6. | Desert traffic jam ends |
| 7. | Enables hotspot #8 when triggered |
| 8. | Phase Distorter v3 appears in Cave of the Present |
| 9. | Dungeon Man gets caught in palm trees |
| 10. | Paula gets kidnapped in the Fourside Department Store. Enables hotspot #12 |
| 11. | Enables hotspot #10 when triggered |
| 12. | "Ness, Customer Ness, please hurry to Paula...". Enables hotspot #13 |
| 13. | "Ness, Customer Ness..." |
| 14. | Pokey appears at Devil's Machine |
| 15. | Buzz Buzz rises from the Meteorite |
| 16. | Star Master takes Poo away at the Pyramid |
| 17. | UNUSED Photograph with Frank, never set up and actually unlocks photo from the "Onett scam house." Although unused in the actual game, it can be activated by selecting event #46 in the debug menu. |
| 18. | UNUSED In front of Paula's house |
| 19. | UNUSED In front of Paula's house |
| 20. | Ness escorts Paula home |
| 21. | UNUSED Twoson PSI Teleport landing strip |
| 22. | Ness takes Paula to his house |
| 23. | UNUSED Onett PSI Teleport landing strip |
| 24. | Giant Step sanctuary melody |
| 25. | Lilliput Steps sanctuary melody |
| 26. | Rainy Circle sanctuary melody |
| 27. | Milky Well sanctuary melody |
| 28. | Magnet Hill sanctuary melody |
| 29. | Pink Cloud sanctuary melody |
| 30. | Lumine Hall sanctuary melody |
| 31. | Fire Spring sanctuary melody |
| 32. | Moonside Invisible Man dialogue 1. Enables hotspot #33 |
| 33. | Moonside Invisible Man dialogue 2. Enables hotspot #34 |
| 34. | Moonside Invisible Man dialogue 3. Enables hotspots #35 and #36 |
| 35. | Moonside Invisible Man dialogue 4. Enables hotspot #37 |
| 36. | Moonside Invisible Man dialogue 5. Enables hotspot #38 |
| 37. | Moonside Invisible Man dialogue 6 |
| 38. | Moonside Invisible Man dialogue 6 (same dialogue as hotspot #37) |
| 39. | Lake Tess stops being windy |
| 40. | Trying to enter the Dinosaur Museum without paying |
| 41. | Star Master teaches Starstorm Omega |
| 42. | Buzz Buzz's final words |
| 43. | Starman Junior appears |
| 44. | UNUSED Tiny spot in the sea in the Magicant spiral |
| 45. | UNUSED In front of Giant Step's actual hotspot |
| 46. | UNUSED In front of Lilliput Steps's actual hotspot |
| 47. | UNUSED As you approach Carpainter |
| 48. | Bubble Monkey chews gum and Tessie emerges |
| 49. | Cultural Museum guy gives you the Hieroglyph Copy |
| 50. | Trying to enter the Cultural Museum without paying |
| 51. | Apple Kid calls about inventing a Phase Distorter |
| 52. | Orange Kid calls about changing boiled eggs into raw eggs |
| 53. | UNUSED Overlapping Tony's phone call door in Summers |
| 54. | Apple Kid calls about the delivery of the Zombie Paper |
| 55. | UNUSED Top left corner of the map |