Learning to make repro games

Learning to make repro games
by faramith on 2008-04-20 (#32832)

Hi, im new to this forum, I reacently got interested in making repro NES games of translated nes roms, I didn't knew this was possible, I got my NES fixed and been buying old games. I have some dupe nes titles I would use as Donor boards, and I would like to know if there is a step by step tutorial on how to build a repro cartridge from scratch. I would need to buy all the materials including the solder. I always wanted to do soldering projects and I learn fast

I would preffer to do this myself instead of buying them, its more fun. I saw a site selling nes flash cart but I preffer building individually. they also sell some boards and chips.

So any help will be appreciated! thanks!

by Bregalad on 2008-04-20 (#32839)

Oh, this will sound like self-publicity, but I've made a step-by-step tutorial for Contra repro (but it also sets the basic for general-purpose cartridge transforming) here : http://jonathan.microclub.ch/contra

by faramith on 2008-04-20 (#32841)

Thanks, seems I'm gonna need to find a donor board off ebay, but first ill need to buy the blank EPROMS and the EPROM Programmer, where can i get these? Also I noticed you had the game divided in 2 files the CHR and the PRG is there a program that I can use to divide a .NES game into those 2 .BIN files? many thanks

by MottZilla on 2008-04-20 (#32842)

You use a hex editor to split NES files.

You can find EPROM programmers alot of places. But be careful when choosing one. Make sure it'll work with your system and the type of eprom you have.

If you are just interested in playing the games though I recommend you get a PowerPAK.

by Celius on 2008-04-20 (#32855)

Yeah, the EPROM programmer I got says that it successfully copies data to the EPROMs, but I've never got them to work in my NES. My soldering skills weren't a problem, I think it was the EPROMs. I've taken chips out, put mine in, they didn't work, and I put the originals back in, which worked with my soldering job. It might have something to do with the fact that it's a USB powered programmer, and doesn't require an adapter, which I heard is a big problem. So be careful when purchasing one; you probably want one that comes with an adapter.

EPROMS
by Lloyd Gordon on 2008-04-20 (#32859)

I have some spare EPROMS if you want.

by tokumaru on 2008-04-21 (#32869)

Celius wrote:
It might have something to do with the fact that it's a USB powered programmer, and doesn't require an adapter, which I heard is a big problem.

It seems to be a problem only with EPROMs, it works fine with FlashROMs and EEPROMs. Mine is like that, maybe this is your case too? Anyway, there should be a function to read the data back from the chip after you've burnt it, so you'd know if the data was sucessfully written or not.

Quote:
So be careful when purchasing one; you probably want one that comes with an adapter.

It should also be possible to purchase one separatelly, adapters are not that hard to find.

by faramith on 2008-04-21 (#32871)

Heya! thanks for the replies, I just placed an order on a HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER to be the donor cart for the Contra project. Today I'm going to buy soldering equipment at radio shack to start practicing soldering and de-soldering on some old motherboards I have round here.

Now im looking at some auctions for a EPROM programmer and I saw this one:

[EPROM Programmer on ebay

It says it can program the following:

27C16、27C32、27C64、27C128、27C256、27C512、27C010、27C020、27C040、27C1001, M27C1001、M27C2001、M27C4001
27C080，M27C801，M87C257, 2716(Vpp25V)、2732、2764、27128、27256、27512、27010, Vpp12.5V (21Vpp Modify Circuit)

It this one a good programmer? Im new to this, sorry if I ask so much, Im running windows XP pro also my hardware is a Intel core 2 duo with 2GB ram on an Intel BadAxe 1 Motherboard here is the technical information of my motherboard, I don't know if this programmer is compatible with it:

http://download.intel.com/design/motherbd/bx/D3611001US.pdf

Thanks for the help!

by faramith on 2008-04-21 (#32872)

MottZilla wrote:
You use a hex editor to split NES files.

You can find EPROM programmers alot of places. But be careful when choosing one. Make sure it'll work with your system and the type of eprom you have.

If you are just interested in playing the games though I recommend you get a PowerPAK.

I downloaded a program called CAJONES I read it can split the NES roms into CHR and PRG files, going to test it today, would this be a good way to get those 2 files?

thanks

Lloyd Gordon wrote:
I have some spare EPROMS if you want.

hi! since I'm going to work on this project for learning I dont know what type of EPROMS i'll need but the ones mentioned by Bregalad on his project are 2x27C1001, how much would 4 of this cost? just in case I damage some ;p

thanks

by Celius on 2008-04-21 (#32878)

tokumaru wrote:
Celius wrote:
It might have something to do with the fact that it's a USB powered programmer, and doesn't require an adapter, which I heard is a big problem.

It seems to be a problem only with EPROMs, it works fine with FlashROMs and EEPROMs. Mine is like that, maybe this is your case too? Anyway, there should be a function to read the data back from the chip after you've burnt it, so you'd know if the data was sucessfully written or not.

Quote:
So be careful when purchasing one; you probably want one that comes with an adapter.

It should also be possible to purchase one separatelly, adapters are not that hard to find.

I did the whole comparison thing, and it says that the data successfully was copied to the chip... It could be my settings for the parallel port or something. I never knew what everyone was talking about with that.

These are the steps to doing it, correct?

1. Get the right size chip
2. Split the PRG and CHR data and remove the header
3. Copy the PRG/CHR to the appropriate chips
4. Install them into the board considering the differences in pinouts between the EPROMs and the original chips

Well next time I'll probably get those things where you can just stick the chip right into the board instead of having to solder it in.

You know, I really am starting to think it's with my parallel port, because my CopyNES didn't work either...

by MottZilla on 2008-04-21 (#32885)

If you actually see the data you programmed on the chip when you read it back, it should be fine. You may want to check your board wiring instead.

Before buying that Willem you should check and make sure it looks like/is an authentic Willem and not a clone.

by faramith on 2008-04-24 (#32983)

Im having trouble deciding wich Eprom Programmer to buy, since the willem contains a lot of switches to set up I might wanna look for something more simple, anyone knows if this is a good programmer and a reliable company?

http://www.futurlec.com/EPROMProg.shtml

it program only 27cXX

thanks

by tokumaru on 2008-04-24 (#32984)

But the Willem can do so much more, and costs less... You should not fear the switches. The store sends you a sheet explaining all the different jumper settings for the different chips (there are not that many jumper settings), and the software will tell you how to setup the switches when you select the type of chip you want to program. There is no way to get it wrong if you pay attention.

The only serious problem I can see about the Willem is the use of the parallel port, some people seem to have trouble with that. My Willem has worked fine on my 2 previous PCs, I haven't tested it on my new one though. I program mostly FlashROMs, and sometimes EEPROMs, and the USB power cable works fine, but it really seems like you need an actual power adapter if you plan on programming EPROMs.

by faramith on 2008-04-24 (#32985)

Okay Tokumaru, I will order a Willem board 5.0 on ebay, I will test it on my main PC and if I have trouble I can build a PC from spare parts here and install either DOS 6.22 or Windows 95 and test it there.

Willem
by Batwings21 on 2008-04-24 (#32986)

The Willem 5.0 dual power off of Ebay works good. I bought one from Kee Electronics, and have had no issue burning 27c010 eprom's and other dip32 flash and eeproms. Its easy to use, the software tells you how to set the dip switches and jumpers for the chips you are programming. I am using a Win98se laptop and have no issues, but for the eproms you need the external 12vdc power supply to get the right Vpp.

by faramith on 2008-05-01 (#33180)

Got my willem!, I also ordered 2 repropak to make a goonies repro and maybe a Chorus of mysteries one. The Willem came with a M27C256B-12F1 UV Eprom, is this eprom too slow? whats the lowest ns an eprom should have to work on a nes cart?

thanks!

Re: Willem
by faramith on 2008-05-01 (#33181)

Batwings21 wrote:
The Willem 5.0 dual power off of Ebay works good. I bought one from Kee Electronics, and have had no issue burning 27c010 eprom's and other dip32 flash and eeproms. Its easy to use, the software tells you how to set the dip switches and jumpers for the chips you are programming. I am using a Win98se laptop and have no issues, but for the eproms you need the external 12vdc power supply to get the right Vpp.

Where can I get one 12vcd power supply compatible with my willem?
thanks

by MottZilla on 2008-05-01 (#33186)

NS is Nano Seconds. The lower the NS, the faster the ROM. You should probably go with nothing slower than 200ns but that's just a guess based off the SNES, in which SlowROM was 200ns, and FastROM was 120ns.

So your EPROM should be fast enough. For a power supply, perhaps your local RadioShack or electronics part store will have a suitable model.

by Lloyd Gordon on 2008-05-01 (#33188)

I used 200 and they worked fine in NES. For a power supply, just get a cheap wall wart that measures say 15-18 volts (it will likely say it is 12V) maybe ~ .5 amps. Then use a 7805 or a LM317 IC and a few passive parts. You can find all the information on the datasheets.

by faramith on 2008-05-01 (#33190)

Lloyd Gordon wrote:
Then use a 7805 or a LM317 IC and a few passive parts. You can find all the information on the datasheets.

You lost me there ;p