Network Protocol/RACEHEADER_2

This article describes the record type RACEHEADER_2 of the Network Protocol. This record is not sent during live view, and its contents depend on the game mode.

Race Packet Sections
Name	Amount	Size	Description
SLOT	0-1	0x08	Only used for redirected data via a proxy. The record identifies the original client by its slot number.
HEADER	1	0x10	A header for a race packet.
RACEHEADER_1	1	0x28	A record with basic race data.
RACEHEADER_2	0-1	0x28	A record with game-mode specific race data (not present in live view).
ROOM	0-1	0x04	A record containing a friend room message (not present outside friend room lobbies).
SELECT	0-1	0x38	A record containing data to set up a match (not present during races).
RACEDATA	1-2	0x40	A record containing race data for each player, such as positions or inputs.
USER	0-1	0xC0	A record containing user data such as Miis and friend codes.
ITEM	1-2	0x08	A record containing information about players' items.
EVENT	1	≥ 0x18	A record transmitting item events.

VS Race Structure

Offset	Size	Description
0x00	13 bits	Players who have finished the race (1 bit per player + 1).
0x01.5	13 bits	Players who are participating in the race (1 bit per player + 1).
0x03.2	13 bits	Players who have disconnected (1 bit per player + 1).
0x04.7	2 bits	Local player count.
0x05.1	4 bits	Client slot for Player 1.
0x05.5	22 bits	Finishing time for Player 1 (6 bits for minutes, 6 for seconds and 10 for milliseconds).
0x08.3	13 bits	Players who are ahead of Player 1 (1 bit per player + 1).
0x0A	4 bits	Client slot for Player 2.
0x0A.4	22 bits	Finishing time for Player 2 (6 bits for minutes, 6 for seconds and 10 for milliseconds).
0x0D.2	13 bits	Players who are ahead of Player 2 (1 bit per player + 1).
0x0F	1 byte	Padding.
0x10	2 bytes	Unused. Local client slots.
0x12	1 byte	Unused. Incomplete client slots bitfield.
0x13	1 byte	Unused. Local player count.
0x14	4 bytes	Time since the race leader finished (in frames).
0x18	4 bytes	Minimum time before the race can time out (in frames). The value for each Nintendo track can be found at 0x808903A4 PAL.
0x1C	1 byte	Marks the player as disconnected if set to 1.
0x1D	1 byte	Padding.
0x1E	4 bytes	Time (in frames) since each local player last moved faster than 30km/h. Caps at 300 (5 seconds).
0x22	4 bytes	Time (in frames) since each countdown value maxed out. Caps at 3600 (1 minute), after which the player is disconnected if in a public room.
0x26	2 bytes	Padding.

Balloon Battle Structure

Unlike the VS race structure, this packet has variable content that depends on the local (L) and total (N) player count.

Size	Description
1 byte	Player slot for each local player (4 bits each). Value is 0xC if a guest is not present.
14 bits	Battle score for each local player (7 bits each) Value is 0 if a guest is not present.
N * 5 bits	Unknown. A 2-bit value followed by a 3-bit value for each player.
4 bits	Players who have disconnected (1 bit per player). The game keeps track of all players but cuts the bitfield off when sending it.
L * 10 bits	Balloon colors for each local player (2 bits each): 0: No balloon 1: Red balloon 2: Blue balloon
7 bits	Battle event count (1 bit per event).
C * 27 bits	C battle events. See below for the event structure.

Battle Event Structure

Offset	Size	Description
0x00	4 bits	Event type: 0: None (no event) 1: Player stole a balloon from another 2: Player fell off the course 3: Player hit another with an item 4: Player lost all their balloons 5: Player hit an obstacle 6: Unknown, but not unused 7: Player disconnected 8: Player's battle timer ran out
0x00.4	15 bits	Unknown. Seems to be some sort of time value.
0x02.3	4 bits	First player value, with different usage based on event type: Events 1-7: Player who performed the action Event 8: Value set to 0xC and ignored by the parsing code
0x02.7	4 bits	Second player value, with different usage based on event type: Events 1 and 3: Player that was hit/stolen from Event 7: Guest of the player who disconnected (or 0xC) Other event types: Value set to 0xC and ignored by the parsing code