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NAOMI 2/Chihiro/Triforce Card Reader Emulator (Initial D3/WMMT/Mario Kart/F-ZERO AX)

Hello everyone,
I own World Club Champion Football WCCF from Sega. It is based on a central server which transmits the game to the 4 satellites (one NAOMI 2 each) via network/NetDIMM. Each satellite also has a SAXA HW 210 IC card reader, which is connected to NAOMI 2 via CN8. An IC card is also required, on which the number of games, team name, kit colours and a few statistics are stored.

Questions on my part:
What kind of IC card is this? Is this a known standard (such as Mifare Classic 1k cards) or is it a proprietary protocol? If it was Mifare Classic 1k, then the (password-protected) cards could be copied, right?
Is it possible to emulate this card reader/IC card?

Thanks a lot!
 
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MetalliC said:
pretty cool. isn't WMMT and MK uses same reader ?
about F-Zero - I guess the problems exists because you use simple hardcoded replies instead of real emulation. (also the reason why WMMT and MK needs different that way made scripts - results is different on different contexts)

in meanwhile I've finished RE/emulation of Saxa HW210 RFID card reader, mainly for NAOMI Dragon Treasure 2/3 and WCCF games. but it also was used in number of Lindbergh games (Virtua Tennis 3, Ghost Squad, etc). let me know if you interested to know details.
Click to expand...
Hi MetalliC,
would be very interested in the HW210 emulator as I have WCCF with 4 satellites. Would be fantastic if we could exchange ideas and I could test the emulator.
Thanks a lot!
 
So I recently purchased a WMMT3DX+ cab, that had a faulty card reader. After ordering a replacement that also turned out to be faulty. I found this awesome solution.
But there must be something obvious I'm missing. I can see rough pinouts for other systems in the thread but not WMMT3.
Can someone please explain to me how the wiring works, Specifically for WMMT3.
It looks like you run usb to serial from the computer. Then do you wire from serial to the plug that goes in the back of the card reader?
 
You run the cables from the main board to what ever device is running which ever emulator you decide to run. Completely bypassing the card reader.
 
Some pics from my repo that i need to restore/migrate. There is a "I/O cable" connector on the game itself that goes into force feedback and into card reader, you need to tap into card reader wires somewhere (either on machine side or card reader side, just disconnect the actual reader) The serial is just regular RS-232 over two wires (+ground), I don't remember the actual baudrate/parity, but i think emulator has proper defaults.

1717762226615.png
1717762246412.jpeg
1717762257595.png
 
hopeajonne said:
Some pics from my repo that i need to restore/migrate. There is a "I/O cable" connector on the game itself that goes into force feedback and into card reader, you need to tap into card reader wires somewhere (either on machine side or card reader side, just disconnect the actual reader) The serial is just regular RS-232 over two wires (+ground), I don't remember the actual baudrate/parity, but i think emulator has proper defaults.

1717762226615.png
1717762246412.jpeg
1717762257595.png
Click to expand...
Perfect. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you!
 
MetalliC said:
pretty cool. isn't WMMT and MK uses same reader ?
about F-Zero - I guess the problems exists because you use simple hardcoded replies instead of real emulation. (also the reason why WMMT and MK needs different that way made scripts - results is different on different contexts)

in meanwhile I've finished RE/emulation of Saxa HW210 RFID card reader, mainly for NAOMI Dragon Treasure 2/3 and WCCF games. but it also was used in number of Lindbergh games (Virtua Tennis 3, Ghost Squad, etc). let me know if you interested to know details.
Click to expand...
@MetalliC
I have the complete, working WCCF game with 4 satellites. Everything works, including the card reader, but the IC cards for this game can no longer be found :(
I have seen that you have developed an emulator for this? 8o I would be very interested in this, as it would massively extend the life of the game. :D
Looking forward to your reply and support. <3
 
sdargiewicz said:
Can't wait to try this out at the real arcade. If it doesn't work, it's probably because my card writer doesn't write the tracks with the expected distance and margins that the sanwa one does. If that's the case, I don't know if there's anything I can do to fix that. Fingers crossed i guess haha.
Click to expand...

Did you ever try this? I want to make bootleg Bahamut cards for F-Zero.
 
This thread is wild. I've definitely learned some things! Thanks to everyone that's contributed.

Coming soon to flycast....
std::vector<GameCard>
std::vector<InitialDCard>

Code for handling multiple cards for all games is done, initial D icons all mapped, and working on the graphical card selection now. It'll still need some polishing once I'm done, before I make a PR, but it's been fun to work on.

someone else may need to do the other naomi game cards, but they can follow what I'm leaving... unless I get bored. They should still be able to have multiple cards after this, but they wont be very descriptive...
 
I followed the pinout above to see if the serial port rewire was an easier option but given I'd like to preserve as much factory cable plugs it leads me to ask if there's anybody doing a plug->USB for these -

ID3 (P1) side of the card reader plug .. I haven't followed the wires yet but having a bit of a laugh given there are 11 & seems like only 6-8 on the Naomi2 in the threads pinouts.

card_reader_plug.jpg
 
Tyrith said:
I followed the pinout above to see if the serial port rewire was an easier option but given I'd like to preserve as much factory cable plugs it leads me to ask if there's anybody doing a plug->USB for these -
ID3 (P1) side of the card reader plug .. I haven't followed the wires yet but having a bit of a laugh given there are 11 & seems like only 6-8 on the Naomi2 in the threads pinouts.

card_reader_plug.jpg
Click to expand...

ah. I was thinking the same thing for my 2 ID3... but here's the thing: that connector has power for the card reader as well as the 5 required serial pins:

1734112034227.png


and since only the serial goes to CN8 on the noami, there really is no need to make that adapter if you already have JST connectors on hand to make the CN8 part.
You've already removed the real card reader/writer at the end of that connector so what's one more cable? :D

1734112089180.png
1734111763396.png


and hey, YOU can make that serial to CN8 cable pretty easily! you need a JST-NH 6, the pins, a null modem cable cut in half and a crimper.

the manual says
"I bought a straight through female serial connector cable, cut it in half and crimped a JST NH connector on the end"

so :
one of these https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/Adaptateur-broches-chipset-Prolific-supérieur/dp/B0753HBT12
one of https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/jst-sales-america-inc/H6P-SHF-AA/1885755
at least 5 of https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/jst-sales-america-inc/SHF-001T-0-8BS/527351
one of https://www.amazon.ca/-/fr/StarTech-com-Câble-modem-série-RS232/dp/B00QM8ZPZ4

and you're all set.
 
I've since found 1 or 2 "ghost cables" that go nowhere since my initial review, so I take your point ^^

I did map them out enough to take the adventure (Pins 1-6 were the power wires - 12V 1 & 2, 5V on 5 - and 7-12 being RTS, RXD, TXD, GND, CTS, GND) but think I'll concede and get the digikey hookup. I do have a crimper on my want list for stuff like the molex but I'd have to ask -- are those sort of connectors even available anymore outside of used harnesses? Still getting my feet wet on this stuff & thought I may have jumped in a bit deep on the initial cab opening
:D
 
Tyrith said:
the molex but I'd have to ask -- are those sort of connectors even available anymore outside of used harnesses?
Click to expand...
Absolutely:

it's this one https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/molex/0003062122/61228
or that one
https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/detail/molex/0003092121/61312

Check the datasheets of each on that page to confirm the dimension and spacing / pitch

you'll find the mating product at the bottom and in the "associated products" you find the pins for it :)
have fun!
 
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Sorry to come out of left field and re-direct the train, @whatnot is there any interest to add CRP-1231 AR-10 support to YACardEMU at all? This was the reader that worked with the early versions of DOC. In the beginning pages of this thread, @MetalliC was trying to figure out the communication layers and I was finally able to tap into this communication...see below in decimal:

1739032841358.png


The Japanese version of DOC2000 version 2 gets hung up at machine start and the naomi spams the card reader with an error that is translated on screen to read "please pull out the card", it won't accept the fact that a BR card reader is connected to it.

Any ideas on a command I can send to it to try to get it past this screen? I think that is my first step to unlock the rest of the communication...
 
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