Want to play TGM3 PC (downloadable from some Chinese site if you don't need all the musics. If you need all musics try google with "Tetris the grand master 3 TX1") but runs too speedy?
There is a way to fix it: Limit the framerate (FPS) by using an external tool.
There are several FPS limiter tools in the world, but most of them are incompatible with TGM3.
But luckily, there is a FPS limiter that CAN work with TGM3, "GSD - BBS reader"!
The site of GSD - BBS reader: http://mosax.sakura.ne.jp/fswiki.cgi?page=GSD+-+BBS+reader
I'm using Ver.0.7.9: GSD_BBSreader079.zip (2008/07/12) in this guide.
This tool doesn't require install, but the GUI is entiretly written in Japanese, so I'll explain how to use this tool.
GUI overview
Execute the BBSreader.exe, and this GUI will show up:
設定(O) (Config): Brings up the config window.
FPS制限 (FPS Limit): FPS limit. Enter 0 to disable it. Normally you want 60 here.
不透明度 (Opacity): Enter 0 here to disable "[停止中]" message that displayed at top-left-corner of the screen.
適用 (Apply changes): Apply FPS Limit and Opacity settings. Don't forget to click it when you change settings.
If you click the 設定(O) (Config), the config window will appear:
フレームレート表示 (Show FPS): Uncheck it to hide FPS that displayed at top-right-corner of the screen.
OK: Click this button to apply changes from this window.
Step by step guide to run TGM3 in 60FPS
- Execute the BBSreader.exe, and the GUI will show up.
- FPS制限 (FPS Limit) to 60, and 不透明度 (Opacity) to 0.
- Click 適用 (Apply changes) to apply changes.
- Launch TGM3 by executing TGM3.bat or TGM3.exe directly from the explorer! If you launch TGM3 from anywhere else, the FPS limiter may not work!
- If you see the yellow 60 on top-right-corner of the screen, congrats! Enjoy the game in playable speed!
Hey, I don't need FPS display. How do I disable it?
In the main GUI, click 設定(O) (Config) from the menubar.
The config window will show up.
In the config window, uncheck フレームレート表示 (Show FPS), then click OK button.
Changing the save file location
By default, the save files are created under D:\TGM3, which is an inconvenient location for most users.
If the D drive is not writable, the save file won't be created at all.
Luckily, you can change the location to inside the TGM3's game files folder.
Open game.exe with a hex editor. Go to position 0x6A0AC and change byte there from 0x44 to 0x00. Save the file.
A folder named "TGM3" will automatically be created inside your TGM3's folder. The save files will be created there.
Have fun!
PS. I tried to force TGM3 in windowed mode, but I can't find any tool that works with TGM3. If you know any way to run TGM3 in windowed mode, please tell me.
EDIT: Thanks Wojtek! It worked perfectly!