Building a ROM Dumper - The Open Source Cartridge Reader
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ย. 2023
- In this video, I'll show you how to build your own ROM dumper for under $40, by using the Open-Source Cartridge Reader (OSCR) project. This is a standalone device that will let you make backups of over 30 different types of classic video game cartridges. I’ll take you through the end-to-end build process and explain how the device works along the way.
I’ll also be testing its saved game features and see if it’s possible for me to inject a saved game from my Analogue Pocket handheld FPGA into a real game cartridge.
🛍️ Cart Reader Auctions:
- Urban Grey: www.ebay.com/itm/115980328635
- Galaxy Black: www.ebay.com/itm/115980332398
- Signal White: www.ebay.com/itm/115980322463
- Jet Black: www.ebay.com/itm/115980335298
🔗 Links Mentioned in this Video:
- Open Source Cartridge Reader Project: github.com/sanni/cartreader
- OSCR Parts List: github.com/sanni/cartreader/w...
- List of Games that Use SNES Enhancement Chips: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
- TL866-II Programmer: www.amazon.com/Universal-Prog...
- RetroArch: www.retroarch.com
- JLCPCB: jlcpcb.com
- PCBWay: www.pcbway.com
- ATMega 2560 MCU (the one that I used, which works with undervolting): www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
- Fully Enclosed OSCR Case: www.printables.com/model/4099...
#RetroGaming #OpenSource #GamingHardware - เกม
Projects like this are important for archiving these games. Someday in the future the cartridges will have failed or been destroyed but digital copies will allow them to live on.
Especially those with battery-backed save states. Those batteries are already at the point where their lifecycle is ending, and using a device like this is the only way to backup your saved game before they completely die. I bought a bunch of broken Super Famicom games a couple of years ago, and the main fix on the majority of them was to replace the memory battery, so it's definitely an issue these days.
Why not control the voltage through the choice of cartridge in the menu? Preferably with a safety button to enable the power to the cartridge and lock the cartridge selection at the same time to avoid voltage mishaps.
I lost a Pokemon save once from a power failure... This could have saved me! Thanks for the walkthrough and I will be building this once I get the parts! Thanks Ken!
I like how you avoided saying "How about copying games from friends and ROM sites?"
Amazing work, Ken. Was a pleasure to meet you and chat at VCF East (thank you Claire!); now I fully see the product of the work you described in production. Also, proud to have clicked the 500th 'like'. Got here just in time : ). Stay well. (Michael)
A tip for cutting down pin headers: Instead of pulling a pin and cutting through the empty header, you can just cut the header with sharp flush or angle cutters. The plastic will break and the pin will fall out. Then you can smooth over or trim the edges.
For removing small SMT components like the fuse, applying some flux then bridging the two terminals of the component with solder makes it really easy to lift both sides at once. A big chisel tip loaded with solder is often all you need to get the component off. You'll also want tweezers on hand in case the component sticks to the soldering iron. Alternatively, you can use soldering tweezers or the forbidden dual soldering iron technique.
Oh, and if anyone finds themselves with only single headers, not dual row, you can use two single row headers. Socket a dual row device into the headers before soldering to hold them in alignment. Just be aware that if you really overdo the heat and solder, you can damage the component you were using as a guide.
I love everything about this channel. Keep making awesome videos like this!
I want to get into soldering and this might be my first project.
The “extra long” pin headers are also called wire wrapping posts.
Interesting... I guess that makes sense. You're a wealth of knowledge! I think I learn something new every time you leave a comment :)
Thank you for the amazing video, Ken. I've been using this as my build guide as I built my own reader. It came out great!
Awesome - really glad it helped!
In 1999 I was doing this with hardware like Doctor V64, Professor SF2, Doctor GB Card, etc… in addition to things like an EEPROM programmer/dumper. ;)
I also use Adaptoid + N64 Transfer Pak for Game Boy and GameShark Pro for N64. Fun times!
Very nice - I'd like to research some of those older dumping devices at some point
WOW! This was extremely informative! I've always wondered how ROM data from cartridges was made into ROM files for emulators and now I know...well, I sort of know. This is obviously very technical and complicated, but still very entertaining!
Very impressive your knowledge on how to build the device as well as know which circuits do what. Not to mention the excellent soldering
Thanks! Whenever I build any project, I always take the time to read through the schematics and the source code so I can understand what it's doing. Learning how these things work is a huge part of the fun for me.
I WON! Got the white unit, glad to support the channel.
Yay!😊 I'll be shipping them out tomorrow - the latest version of the firmware just dropped, so I'm going to upgrade them tonight and retest them on the new firmware before getting them out the door tomorrow. I hope you enjoy it!
@@whatskenmaking Fantastic!
Great video, super informative. Love the channel!
Found this channel with the software v FPGAs and just realized it has criminally low followers. I'm excited to see this channel grow. Great narration and video! Keep up the great work!
you just got a sub because of this video, now i need to stop myself from "wasting" $50 on 1 of these
Thanks! It's not a waste if you get some use out of it 😁
Ok…so owning a US SNES and not having played it for years I’ve dug it out of the loft and am ordering the parts to make this device so I can keep a backup…..however I’ve only just bought my first soldering iron since school…..that’s about as long ago as when I first got the SNES…..this could take me a while! What a fun looking and practical project though. I’m kinda excited.
That's awesome! Make sure you order a few extra parts, just in case - especially since the cart connectors are coming from a faraway land and replacements might take a while to get to you if you accidently ruin one (I know I certainly have!) Have lots of patience with those pins and don't forget to use a fume extractor. You can do it!
@@whatskenmaking I’ve ordered extras and a couple of practice boards too. Let’s see how this goes! I actually found an old Spider-Man UK snes cartridge I barely remembered owning that I never got to play having a US snes. Maybe I’ll get the chance to play it now.
great vid mate. glad the algorithm gave me you...now i have another half finished project me ADD brain can enjoy. :D
Thanks! Just pile them all up in the corner under your workbench, like I do 😂
This was really nice. Thank you very much, for this nice content
As always, your videos are the chef's kiss. Well done.
I concur.
I really appreciate you saying that... Thanks for the encouragement!
Fantastic! Just placed a bid, hope ALL your auctions go well and generate the desired revenue for your channel.
Thanks! I always end up with a bunch of extra parts that I never use, so I thought the auctions would be a good way to get rid of them and help with the cost of my next project. If everything goes smoothly with that process, I may do it again for other builds. I appreciate the support and the well wishes!
Wow what a cool video and concept!
I'm building one of these for my battery changing side hustle as I've run into a number of people that know that the batteries are going to die soon but they don't want to lose their saves so they don't have those carts changed, it's a bit of an investment but I'll be able to upsell that childhood saves can be saved as long as the battery is still somewhat working and that will bring some extra income, might even be able to charge more for that service. been watching a ton of build guides for this to make sure I know what I am doing cause I have never soldered this much for one thing lol
What a great idea for a side business! It’s definitely a lot of soldering; make sure you use a fume extractor. By the time I was done building the extras that I auctioned off on eBay, I had it down to about 2 hours per build. Good luck!
awesome editing
wow ultra amazing!!!!!!!!
hey, how exactly are those adaptors for other systems that you show in the begining?
its a diferent pcp for each system?
😂
These are gonna sell like hotcakes if the video gains traction. I know I put my bid down. May the highest bidders win.
Nice work, but building this without the automatic voltage selection seems like begging for disaster. I would certainly not trust myself to remember to change that when switching cart types.
I may go back and add the voltage selection in, but I think you'd have to feed a 3.3v cartridge 5v for quite a while before there would be any damage, if at all - depends on the voltage tolerance of the chips used. I accidently had 5v turned on with 3.3v carts plugged in a couple of times, and those cartridges were fine.
I'm curious if this could be used to load roms, like if you made your own NES indie game, or would that be a different type of device?
I'd like to build one for Game Gear carts. I've got an X-Men game that I can't seem to find the exact same game anywhere and I'd love to play it without endangering my original hardware.
Game Gear dumping on it is pretty interesting - you can use Hyperkin's RetroN 3-in-1 adapter and dump it straight into the Genesis/MegaDrive port on the 6-in-1 adapter that I walked through in the video
Can this reader flash blank N64 flash carts or reflash N64 repro carts?
BTW, what a great video!!!🎉🎉🎉
Thanks! Yes, it does - I haven't tried it myself, but I've seen others flashing repro carts with it
For the Cartridge slots could you use the ones from a system? I have a few systems that no longer work and was wondering if the Cartridge slots from them would work.
Does this thing have all the different mappers built in for NES and SNES cartridges? This is the problem I am facing with a select few games with one of the original USB type units.
It does have mappers built into the firmware and attempts to automatically detect the correct one. I don't know how comprehensive the mapper database is, but it does look like mappers are regularly updated during firmware releases.
Can something like this be done for the raspberry pi? Where i stick a game cartridge in and it launches from the cartridge.
Take a look at the GBOperator - www.epilogue.co/product/gb-operator. I’m not sure if it will work with a pi, but there is a Linux version of their software
teria um simulador de cartucho pro atari2600 ?
Might be a trick of the light but your solder joints look kinda dull, matte. Maybe your iron temperature is too high?