The Cover Project

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Hesch on September 11, 2017, 08:22:14 AM

Title: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Hesch on September 11, 2017, 08:22:14 AM
I've been tossing around the idea of getting one of those english patched Secret of Mana 2 carts. Has anyone gotten one of those or have any recommendations on that? I know there's a ton of repro and custom carts, but I've never looked into any of them so I have no idea what to expect. I know the quality can be hit or miss like most custom made items.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: breakmanexe on September 11, 2017, 08:43:02 AM
My understanding is that repros are like Fight Club around here: even if you know about them, you're not allowed to talk about them (or at least, you're not allowed to mention where you got them) in the open. That being said, I have a couple of suggestions for you that I will send via PM.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Tech13 on September 11, 2017, 08:49:36 AM
Try Etsy
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Hesch on September 11, 2017, 08:50:34 AM
Well I'm less interested in repros, I just knew that was part of the same subject. I'd really just like to maybe find some english patched carts and haven't looked at these before. If that falls under the same 'frowned upon' list, my bad
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Megatron on September 11, 2017, 09:01:20 AM
You can talk about them, you just can't post any links to websites selling them. That stuff needs to be done via p.m.  that said, I have Secret of Mana 2 Repro cart and I love it. I have several Japanese to English reproduction carts for games not released here.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Hesch on September 11, 2017, 09:04:14 AM
Thanks for the Etsy suggestion. Found a nice looking fully boxed cart that comes with map and everything. Seems to be getting good reviews from people
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: TDIRunner on September 11, 2017, 09:04:20 AM
Is owning a cart version important to you?  If not, I would just stick with a flash cart, or if you don't mind emulation, that opens up several more options.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Hesch on September 11, 2017, 09:10:33 AM
I'd love to have an SNES flash cart. They're just so expensive if you want good compatibility with the custom chips.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Arseen on September 11, 2017, 11:15:15 AM
One legal way is Retron 5.

Insert genuine Japanese cart and SD-card containing the translation patch and Retron 5 can combine them.
This way you can also add the 3-player patch.

And for example on Super Mario World you can patch the Return to Dinosaur Island and have completely redone game.

There are limits to what Retron 5 can patch but basic and bit advanced stuff is possible.

Oh and I own Secret of Mana 2 cart with 3 players enabled.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Hesch on September 11, 2017, 11:16:41 AM
Now that's an interesting option. Wouldn't have considered that. I'm not a fan of Retron for several reasons...but maybe it's worth to have one just for things like that.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: SegaNomadman on September 11, 2017, 11:25:11 AM
One legal way is Retron 5.

Insert genuine Japanese cart and SD-card containing the translation patch and Retron 5 can combine them.
This way you can also add the 3-player patch.


This is what I used my Retron 5 for, but it ate my Star Fox cart and mangled the SNES slot pins. I still need to get around to replacing that connector.  :-[
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Hesch on September 11, 2017, 11:27:27 AM
Now that I think about it, all of this may be made moot by the SNES Classic.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: SegaNomadman on September 11, 2017, 11:37:25 AM
That sort of depends on if:
a) It's able to be modified like the NES Classic was and

b) If you can get a hold of one. ;D
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Hesch on September 11, 2017, 11:46:24 AM
I'd bet very good money that it gets hacked.

I don't have it preordered yet, but I managed to sneak in an NES Classic without a preorder...Hopeful that this "increased production" means I can grab one even easier.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: breakmanexe on September 11, 2017, 12:26:39 PM
My concern for the SNES Classic isn't whether or not it can be hacked (because I'm pretty sure it will be), but whether or not Mega Man X2 and X3 will be supported. The presence of Star Fox 2 on the machine implies Super FX 2 support, but this doesn't mean CX4 (or any other custom chip) will run properly. There were some patched ROMs I ran into this problem with on the NES Classic too; pretty disappointing. But most normal translation patches I ran on NES Classic worked fine.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: Hesch on September 11, 2017, 12:28:41 PM
Good point. Really curious to see how this turns out
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: TDIRunner on September 11, 2017, 01:17:17 PM
That sort of depends on if:
a) It's able to be modified like the NES Classic was and

b) If you can get a hold of one. ;D


a)  Highly likely (like 99.99% chance)

b)  Hard to say, but I'm betting money that they will be easy to get (maybe not on release day, but before they end production)
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: wiggy on September 11, 2017, 02:42:32 PM
I really doubt that they'll be easy to get, but obviously only time will tell...
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: TDIRunner on September 11, 2017, 03:35:26 PM
I really doubt that they'll be easy to get, but obviously only time will tell...

My prediction is that they will be as easy to get as a Switch.  In other words, no guarantee that you get on on release day, but as long as you put in minimal effort, you will have one before production ends without dealing with a scalper. 

Again, that's just my prediction.  I have my pre-order just in case I'm wrong.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: BadChad on September 11, 2017, 04:03:09 PM
My concern for the SNES Classic isn't whether or not it can be hacked (because I'm pretty sure it will be), but whether or not Mega Man X2 and X3 will be supported. The presence of Star Fox 2 on the machine implies Super FX 2 support, but this doesn't mean CX4 (or any other custom chip) will run properly. There were some patched ROMs I ran into this problem with on the NES Classic too; pretty disappointing. But most normal translation patches I ran on NES Classic worked fine.

I don't think this will be a concern at all. There was a bunch of mappers that weren't supported by the NES Classic (which there a lot more compared to the very few the SNES has) and support for those mappers were added in once the NES Classic was hacked. If the SNES Classic does get hacked (which I'm sure will only be a matter of time), any games running on a special chip that isn't supported by default will more than likely get hacked in.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: breakmanexe on September 11, 2017, 07:26:44 PM
I don't think this will be a concern at all. There was a bunch of mappers that weren't supported by the NES Classic (which there a lot more compared to the very few the SNES has) and support for those mappers were added in once the NES Classic was hacked. If the SNES Classic does get hacked (which I'm sure will only be a matter of time), any games running on a special chip that isn't supported by default will more than likely get hacked in.

Ohhhhh... THAT'S why I'd want to install Retroarch instead of loading everything under the default Nintendo-packed emulator. Correct? Now I feel silly. Gonna fix this over the weekend. Thanks for poking my brain with your words.
Title: Re: Repro/patched rom carts
Post by: BadChad on September 11, 2017, 07:35:22 PM
I don't think this will be a concern at all. There was a bunch of mappers that weren't supported by the NES Classic (which there a lot more compared to the very few the SNES has) and support for those mappers were added in once the NES Classic was hacked. If the SNES Classic does get hacked (which I'm sure will only be a matter of time), any games running on a special chip that isn't supported by default will more than likely get hacked in.

Ohhhhh... THAT'S why I'd want to install Retroarch instead of loading everything under the default Nintendo-packed emulator. Correct? Now I feel silly. Gonna fix this over the weekend. Thanks for poking my brain with your words.

Exactly! And no problem! ;D