[Overlord]

saxman, on Feb 16 2009, 03:14 PM, said:

TmEE, on Feb 16 2009, 09:30 AM, said:

You can burn several ROMs onto the cart either from PC (through LPT port and linker board) or from MD+MCD off a CD. You cannot back up a regular MD cart, the linker device is only for the Megacart (or MD-Pro). To dump your games using minimal DIY, you need a MCD and a LPT cable and some soft on both sides... oh, and a piece of tape :P

Yeah I've heard of that method before. I think it was Mask of Destiny that came up with the method wasn't it? It always seemed a bit of work to me, and I figured just having a device do it would be the easiest route. That, and the fact that both my Sega CD systems don't even work... the light doesn't even come on on either of them. I'm sad T_T

It was MoD, yeah. I remember reading about his MCD and his transfer cable on Sonic CulT - hell, I think I even have the EU ISO for his utility disc somewhere.

Did he ever join Retro? I know he's on SegaDev...

[Iron Sonic]

I believe MoD joined here, but hasn't been active here in forever. It would be neat to see him come back, though.

[Maxd]

He's on here, just not really at all. Ever. And like Stealth, sometimes he seems to be unappreciated or ignored, even though both of them have done fantastic things for the Sonic hacking community, let alone the Sega hacking community. Anyhoo, the last time I found him online was posting on Pelican Parts (a car forum)... yesterday.

MoD's profile on Pelican Parts

[Epsilonsama]

I have a question, is it possible to create a backup carts similar to the DS flash cards but for the Mega Drive, I always wondered why there isnt anything like that.

[Diablohead]

Not popular enough to spend money on development I guess, the DS is a huge selling portable too.

[TmEE]

Backupcart in what manner ?

[Overlord]

Presumably gamesaves. The problem there (if it is that) is that there's no set save format for the few games that do have it...


...if he just means a dumping utility set, that's what MoD's cable is for.

[Sik]

I think he means a dump utility, but dumping directly to a flashcart instead of sending the ROM to a computer.

[Overlord]

Sik, on Feb 18 2009, 08:23 PM, said:

I think he means a dump utility, but dumping directly to a flashcart instead of sending the ROM to a computer.

Oh. In that case, I'm not aware of one that exists. Stop being so lazy and use your PC =P

[mdawgmike]

Hmm, the MegaCart definitely seems to be the more attractive bargain. $90 with shipping to get everything (including cables) is definitely worth it for me. I just have a couple things to clarify for those who own one:

1) We can flash pretty much any .bin ROM(s) we like, as long as the total file size is less than 3MB? Including hacks? This would be the primary reason that I would get it.
2) They say "you must own the original game." Is this simply a legal disclaimer, or is there some sort of DRM present which checks?
3) The whole Sega CD part. The CD doesn't have to be present to just play the games on the cart, right? From what I see we can flash the cart while it's in the Genesis with a ROM on a CD? This would be awesome to not have to worry about going to my computer to get more ROMS...to just pull them from a library on a CD would be super sick.

I could care less about backing up my games, seeing as I can find all of them online. That plus, when has a cartridge ever failed to work? It's all solid state so it should last (in a practical sense) forever. I've never had an issue with any of my 25+ Genesis games for the 15 years I've owned them, other than having to clean the contacts every once in a while. The one thing I'd like to do is make a backup of some of my CD games. Has anybody found a successful way to make a perfect copy Sonic CD, or any of the other titles? I just did a simple CD copy with my computer, but there's long pauses before any music plays in the levels (not quite the same experience).

[shana]

mdawgmike, on Feb 18 2009, 10:45 PM, said:

2) They say "you must own the original game." Is this simply a legal disclaimer, or is there some sort of DRM present which checks?

There can't be any DRM and there isn't.

[Sik]

mdawgmike, on Feb 18 2009, 06:45 PM, said:

2) They say "you must own the original game." Is this simply a legal disclaimer, or is there some sort of DRM present which checks?

Legal disclaimer.

Stupid question, does anybody know if there was even a try to make a flashcart that works with USB? It's fucking annoying having to get an old computer just to be able to dump to a flashcart. Also TmEE says that then it'd take too long to flash the entire cart... but when I use flash drives I definitely can write 4MB in some 10-20 seconds, so honestly that arguement is flawed (and we all know he loves DOS and LPT =P).

[Nemesis]

Quote

Stupid question, does anybody know if there was even a try to make a flashcart that works with USB? It's fucking annoying having to get an old computer just to be able to dump to a flashcart. Also TmEE says that then it'd take too long to flash the entire cart... but when I use flash drives I definitely can write 4MB in some 10-20 seconds, so honestly that arguement is flawed (and we all know he loves DOS and LPT =P).

It's not a stupid question at all, and a lot of people have been asking for one for a long time now. This one was expected to come out several years ago, and I think most people have given up on waiting (although if by some miracle it does come out tomorrow, I'll buy it). There's also this one which came up recently, it's just apparently a major pain to send money to Russia. I've already sold my soul, now I just have to sacrifice my first-born, and I should finally be able to pay the guy, so I'll let everyone know how it goes when/if I get my hands on it.

As for speed, well, the type of flash memory they have to use in order for it to function on the Mega Drive is much slower than what you have in your USB flash drive.

[Sik]

Nemesis, on Feb 19 2009, 02:56 AM, said:

This one was expected to come out several years ago, and I think most people have given up on waiting (although if by some miracle it does come out tomorrow, I'll buy it).

Um, those specs seem overkill. Sorry, but I honestly wouldn't trust that so much... though at least it comes in a cart and not just the board (the cart makes it easier not to break it =P).

Nemesis, on Feb 19 2009, 02:56 AM, said:

There's also this one which came up recently, it's just apparently a major pain to send money to Russia. I've already sold my soul, now I just have to sacrifice my first-born, and I should finally be able to pay the guy, so I'll let everyone know how it goes when/if I get my hands on it.

If you do tell me, maybe we can send both money together and save some trouble =P (or maybe it introduces more... gah)

Nemesis, on Feb 19 2009, 02:56 AM, said:

As for speed, well, the type of flash memory they have to use in order for it to function on the Mega Drive is much slower than what you have in your USB flash drive.

Well, that's what I don't get. If you put a ROM that has a very fast response time for the MD, shouldn't it still work? As far as I know the cap is the slower response time, not the fastest. I don't think the situation is any different for Flash or for any kind of directly addressable memory for the matter. Or am I missing something?

[TmEE]

Things are behind how the memory works... the memories you need for MD are give address get a word type, no multiplexing or anything else. Other cheap memories are working more like in sector fashion and sequentially and this proposes lot of limitations how the memory could be used. I need to examine a datasheet of some NAND flash to see if what I said is not total nonsense :P