If I remember, the unibios is writing to 0x2FFFxx and trigger a reset to game switch. If the patched MCU code is looking at the same address, this should game switch.
It would also be possible to "hack" the unibios to fix game list/address.
- Thread starter goguelnikov
- Start date
If I remember, the unibios is writing to 0x2FFFxx and trigger a reset to game switch. If the patched MCU code is looking at the same address, this should game switch.
It would also be possible to "hack" the unibios to fix game list/address.
This is amazing. I hope this is something we can accomplish and have it be something somewhat simple so non-hardware people like myself can modify the carts.
Unless someone were to end up providing modding them as a service, I guess?
Unless someone were to end up providing modding them as a service, I guess?
Could we use a external circuit to inject a similar reset? A small AVR/PIC for example?
On the cart you have access to the RESET line and this can be driven by any external circuit. The real painpoint for this circuit is to set a value in memory before this so you come back to menu instead of the last game.
A software option would be to always go back to menu on reset. This way, when you do a reset using unibios you go back to game selection.
A software option would be to always go back to menu on reset. This way, when you do a reset using unibios you go back to game selection.
mm that would be nice.. but that would needed to be implemented in unibios then? Dont think Raz works on it anymore?
Reset in unibios is already there.
But it would need that the "card ID" is reset too by software after first start or just before reset. It implies patching bios or game. Failing to do this will result in restarting the latest game.
But it would need that the "card ID" is reset too by software after first start or just before reset. It implies patching bios or game. Failing to do this will result in restarting the latest game.
GeorgeSpinner
Grand Master
If my memory is correct the 161 in 1 menu works by pointing at a memory address for each game.
If you have moved things around in memory (to add new games) those addresses are very likely going to change. If pick n mix is hard coded, that probably won't work.
I'd be interested in helping with this, I have a fair amount of experience hacking on the NeoGeo.
Can you provide some assembly of what it's doing? I'd like to understand this further.
Maybe hit me up on discord? I'm in the mame and finalburn neo chats.
Can you provide some assembly of what it's doing? I'd like to understand this further.
Maybe hit me up on discord? I'm in the mame and finalburn neo chats.
Thanks for all your work on this.
Looking over your spreadsheet, it shows SDA0/1 are only connected to the M1 flash chip. However those address lines also get used for picking which bank zone is having its latches updated with M1 rom bank switching, so I think its likely they are also connected to the CPLD.
It is WeAct studio based on the STM32H750. AliExpress.This dev board that you use, is it made by you or can I buy it anywhere?
Updates...
1. Since I got a real AES system, it was also decided to make a custom multi-game cartridge for it.
here you can find information on reverse engineering the AES V3 cartridge as well: link
2. I started compiling a set of games that will go into a custom cartridge. It was decided to take only original ROMS no Chinese +++ or other crap. A few good and stable bootlegs like Crossed Swords 2 (CD conversion) have also been added. I also added a couple of modern games like xenocrisis and teot as well as a 240p test suite.
3. I ran into a lack of space in the flash chips on one cartridge. Even if I throw out games that are unnecessary in my opinion, there is still not enough space for a full NEO GEO romset on one one cart. Therefore, it was decided to make TWO romsets. first - game-series like Metal Slug, KOF and Samurai Samurai Shodown. and second - everything else.
4. I programmed the P-ROM, S-ROM, and M-ROM, as well as the CPLD's, and started testing on real hardware. There is no sound and C-sprites yet, since I still can not program C-ROM and V-ROM (no PCB's). But the overall result is good.
Stay tuned.
1. Since I got a real AES system, it was also decided to make a custom multi-game cartridge for it.
here you can find information on reverse engineering the AES V3 cartridge as well: link
2. I started compiling a set of games that will go into a custom cartridge. It was decided to take only original ROMS no Chinese +++ or other crap. A few good and stable bootlegs like Crossed Swords 2 (CD conversion) have also been added. I also added a couple of modern games like xenocrisis and teot as well as a 240p test suite.
3. I ran into a lack of space in the flash chips on one cartridge. Even if I throw out games that are unnecessary in my opinion, there is still not enough space for a full NEO GEO romset on one one cart. Therefore, it was decided to make TWO romsets. first - game-series like Metal Slug, KOF and Samurai Samurai Shodown. and second - everything else.
4. I programmed the P-ROM, S-ROM, and M-ROM, as well as the CPLD's, and started testing on real hardware. There is no sound and C-sprites yet, since I still can not program C-ROM and V-ROM (no PCB's). But the overall result is good.
Stay tuned.
This is still crazy! I am excited when we get a guide to do this ourselves!
Ditto, unfortunately you know this will be stolen and resold as 161-in-1 v4 in a matter of weeks.
Butter Meister
Student
Well as much as the roms are "stolen"
. When it's on github anyone can do it if you have the hardware, or offer to do it for people.