What's Left...

It took some modifcations to the ROM reading code, but I can now dump roms.. =] So.. this is not me playing a ROM from the internet.. I actually dumped this off of a REAL game catridge :) MY next plan is to hack the cartridge so I can upload code to it...

YESSS. It is WORKING!

(Cart Flasher reading ROM header of SNES cart)

: D

SNES Cart Connector Wired to Gameboy Cart

I know its ugly.. but not as ugly as you!!! lol jk

The MBC5 capability is not plugged in yet.. First I will test communication with SNES carts by reading ROM header.

Updates...

For the first time I have reassembled the firmware. It took a lot of effort but it is working. I added a MODE feature to the unit which can set the flasher for Gameboy or SNES, for different operations when reading/writing ROM/RAM...

You may also notice the "Disk Path" button.. this is also new. Actually, I wonder why this wasn't implemented before lol. When you click this you can set and save the base directory from which you would like GBFlasher to operate. -> where you save and load files from.. :)

Moving on.. I have soldered the SNES Connector as well as approx. 30 wires.. For the connector I had to saw off sides of the perfboard so that it would fit between the brackets, allowing the connector to sit closer to the board..

The following pics are my AVR programmer programming the new firmware with SNES mode capability, ensuring that my re-assembled and 'hacked' firmware is functioning correctly; 

The 2nd pic is the SNES connector with "CrAzY wIrEs" , which I have begun attaching to the MBC5 cartridge. 

I am using an MBC5 catridge because the Atmega8515 doesnt have enough i/o to do the job. there are 35 i/o on atmega8515, gameboy connector uses 32 i/o, atmega uses about 29/30 for the gameboy. well out of those 32 io, only A0-A15 are assigned, we still need A16-A21!!! So.. We use the MBC5 like a gameboy does, and instead of sending the MBC5 to ROM, we forward it to SNES address lines.. (which are gonna go to SNES Cart ROM/RAM)...

WTF is GBFlasher to SNES

I am working on this project I call GBFlasher to SNES.. and if you have no idea what I am talking about, but you are interested, Reeed on..

first you gotta know what a GBFLASHER is ..

^^^^ you need to hack a gameboy cartridge... I had Kirby's Dreamland 2..
I just ripped out the Black chip that holds the GAME DATA, then put in a NEW ONE that can be reprogrammed!!



<-My GBFlasher is here on the left. You plug in the cartridge and read/write ROM (Game) or Save data.

The Parts are IN!

Check this out!

These are the key components I will be using in my project :)
In other news, I have been hacking the GB flasher and have a test firmware assembled. This firmware simply tests if the new SNES mode functionality is working between the computer software and the GB flasher.. IF it is working, I can begin writing the code to Read the SNES Rom Header, and I must then do a major portion of the project -> Wire an MBC5 Cartridge to the SNES Cart connector to interface a SNES Cart over to GB Flasher..

WHY do I want to do this? Because Gameboy connector only uses 15 address lines. SNES uses more. The MBC5 Memory Bank controller should help :)

Then when I read / write Flash ROM, I will simply use GB Flasher's methods of accessing ROM in a MBC5 type cartridge :)

it's beautiful... it really is

Fun with Gameboy Camera + Photoshop =]

praise the randomness

What's more is that I have started College classes again.. wooop,
I am sitting next to my favorite kids in my Japanese class, so I am pumped!!! Looks like I need major refreshing in Calc I for Calc II :/


Programming in C should be a breeze.. Linear Algebra as long as I pay attention will be A+ 


and japanese is my SHIT!!! So really it's CALC II. God help me with CALC II. A+ baby A+!!!


Also in getting my other home-based projects.. Here is the agenda for where I am at..

1. Mapping Gameboy Cart Connector -> ATmega I/O Lines PA-PD -> SNES Cart Connector. Learn how GB Flasher gets to high address lines.. 
2. Add in SNES Flashing / ROM Reading functionality.
3. TSOP Adaptors... Whenever they come in the mail...
4. Fixing ISP programmer.. i have been soldering wires directly to AVR pins, i am using ribbon cable plug now =]

I've been using this program called AVR Simulator IDE. It really is great =] Real-time debug / simulation.. Only problem is that the hardware UART can only send a byte at a time..

I am debating getting this really awesome looking dev unit called the AVR Dragon, but it is expensive for me and idk if I would use it all that much... So probably not..

Well.. toodaloo

Secret to Singing

I discovered the secret when singing WAR, HUHA, GOOD GOD YALL, WHAT IS IT GOOD FOR??

NOTHIN

SNES Memory Mapping..Address Decoding

Super Mario World

Address Decoder 74LS139 Spec. (two independent decoders in chip) 

                            __  __ 
                       1G  |01\/16| +5V 
                       1A  |02  15| 2G 
                       1B  |03  14| 2A 
                       1Y0 |04  13| 2B 
                       1Y1 |05  12| 2Y0 
                       1Y2 |06  11| 2Y1 
                       1Y3 |07  10| 2Y2 
                       GND |08  09| 2Y3 
                            ------ 

-------------------------------------- 
|      INPUTS      |     OUTPUTS     | 
|  ENABLE | SELECT |                 | 
|    G    | A   B  | Y0  Y1  Y2  Y3  | 
-------------------------------------- 
|    H    | X   X  | H   H   H   H   | 
|    L    | L   L  | L   H   H   H   | 
|    L    | H   L  | H   L   H   H   | 
|    L    | L   H  | H   H   L   H   | 
|    L    | H   H  | H   H   H   L   | 
-------------------------------------- 
Datasheet - 74LS139

USB->LPT and SNES Copiers....

God... I prototyped this -> http://www-user.tu-chemnitz.de/~heha/bastelecke/Rund%20um%20den%20PC/USB2LPT/ul-khs.htm .. didn't work, ended hacking the hell out of a win2000 install for compatibility.. still doesnt work... >_<

I'm doing this so I can get my SNES Copiers to work!!! They use old-ass parallel ports and my laptop does not have that shiz.

So.. I'm beginning to abandon this project.. Besides, the LPT->USB would have been MAD SLOW....

So now something dawned on me..... I saw this

Look kind of familiar??? Someone made a TSOP adapter similar to my own, except this is perfect for dropping into a SNES DIP36 ROM.

Well,  since I already ordered 3 PCBS of my adaptor, I am going to plan on using another 1 of them for this. And hopefully, I can even use my GB cart flasher to flash these chips!!

Future work

---------------------

1) Get a SNES Cart connector. Find an eagle Board layout that uses it..

2) Route GB Cart connector to SNES connector. Use a gameboy Cart and wire all pads -> SNES

GB Flash Cart AM29F032B-90EC TSOP Adapter

I did it. I figured out how to work with Cadsoft Eagle and now I have a pcb design :D

I AM going to order some sweet purple pcb's from a website I found -- http://dorkbotpdx.org/wiki/pcb_order -- word!!

 now, I need to get me some more flash memory! Pokemon Pinball is going to get PizOWNED 8)

How to Make an IC Adapter in Cadsoft Eagle

IT'S SO EASY GUYS.... ..

Expanding Gameboy Cart SRAM

It's not that hard actually..

I found a chip on digikey, ISSI IS62C256AL-45ULI, $2 - I was able to solder every single pin to the same spot on the cart except for 1 pin, and then connect the new address lines to the memory mapper.. (MBC1-MBC5)

Here is the process I performed in expanding my Kirby's Dreamland 2 Flash cart from its normal 8KB RAM to an added 32KB RAM.........

Ok here's the old Cart loook

FAIL... then hope.

Well I was bending the pins to make it easier to solder...

But the TSOP pins are soo effiinn weak... I already lost 2 of them just because the wires were moving after I soldered them!! so I said fack, the -90SD chip is hard to find... 

But then I found this on the web..

I can totally make a pcb like this and order another TSOP!! WOOT I just got to figure out how to design the pcb.. I've never used the software and such...

Pokemon Pinball flashcart is not over with yet!!!

Other TO-DO

---

Write Gameboy ROM that proves My RAM expansion to KBL2 flash cart is working...

And So It Begins...

I said ;fack; cause the f032b is much wider than the MX chip.. First I thought I would have to solder wires to the pads!! heLL NO... but there's plenty of traces and I'm using almost all of them!! 4 more wires to trace and then we can trim teh wires and get the bad boy Flash chip hooked up.. 

Q:... I added the RAM chip to PokeMon Pinball for 32 KB RAM. 2 more address lines.. Do I need to connect these address lines from the flash rom to the RAM?? I am guessing YES.?>?

A:????

Q:Also, there was 2 CE lines in the old ram chip, only one on the new one.. is this neglectable?

A: Bridge the old CE to the new 1..

GB Cart Flasher Software 1.3 for MAC OSX (SNOW LEOPARD)

TO-DO

PokeMON Pinball Cart Mod--
1) Map pins from MX ROM chip to AMD Flash chip..

2) Figure out what to do with address line going to Rumble feature.. leave battery out? make switch between extra rom / rumble??' Actually, looking at my cart, it looks like I'll only be using AA13+14, leavingg 15+16 unused and rumble feature intact :]

3) Adding RAM

this will be the easiest part.. practically a drop-in!! :D

For my SNES Gear...
ATMEGA LPT->USB
1) Create Prototype on perf board / PCB breadboard....
2) Test in WINDOWS.. figure out flashing of ATMEGA..

Gameboy Cart Flasher~~

yay, I made a Gameboy Cart Flasher!!
I hacked my Kirby's Dreamland 2 cartridge to also make a custom Flash cart!!! woot watch the vid

and heres a sick pic I took with my gameboy CAMERA!!