Changing SNES media from cartridge to USB

[i8aNES]

Just wondering if its possible to replace the cartridge mechanism with a USB connector and use a USB thumb stick in replace of a cartridge. I wondering this because you could possibly run over 100 games from the one cartridge (USB drive) in theory anyways. Just an idea anyways.

If thats not an possibility maybe converting the cartidge itself to connect with a usb thumb stick??
What is everyones thought on this?

[kendrick]

I'm personally resistant to the idea of using USB storage, if only because there's such a wide variety of devices and interfaces. Being able to account for even the most common ones would require a lot of code. Unless you want to have a specific hardware requirement, it'd be more sensical to have a direct storage medium, like a compact flash card slot or a smart media slot. Also, I would lean hevaily towards a modified cartridge unit with some kind of boot loader and menu system already in place, rather than directly modifying the SNES unit (and therefore removing existing OEM cartridge functionality.)

If you're interested in creating something like this, you should look at the existing Honeybee and Bung units that store game images on floppy disks or on other removable media. They're obviously unofficial and completely unlicensed, but otherwise represent the gold standard for swappable game media on the SNES and the Genesis/Megadrive.

-KKC

[NFG]

The problem with USB is that it's a serial port, basically.  All data going in or out of a USB connection needs to be processed and sent out at a certain rate, following a fiendishly complicated protocol.

Then you need at least some RAM to store the data for the SNES, a microcontroller of some sort to handle the job, and the skill to program it all and wire it together, a PC program to shuffle data into the cart...

Better off to make a cart that transfers data from the flashcard into RAM for the SNES, and just use existing USB flashcard readers to do the transfers.  Then you only need to write the fiendishly complicated code to read the flashcard.  

[Aidan]

Using USB wouldn't be a bad idea, especially as most USB storage devices follow the mass storage profile, thus freeing the code from worrying about what kind of device it is. The hardware would still need to have suitable RAM buffering, as no mass storage device is fast enough to meet the exacting timings needed by DMA/instruction fetches/etc.

The device you'd end up with would be rather along the lines of the game copiers of old, where a mass storage device (CD-ROM/hard disk) would store the data, and then copy it to the working RAM in the unit.  

[Guest_i8aNES]

Yeh, i just thought of USb because it can hold alot of memory and it doesnt cost much to purchase. Basically i was playing with this idea so i could convert a SNES into a Emulator so to speak where i download all my roms on the USB and have a front loader which where i can choose a game to play and be able to play it on an original SNES. Snes games are never as good when their not played on the real thing.

[snes_doctor]

in which case why dont you hollow out  the snes shell put in a microtx board with memory etc and convert some snes pads to parallel or usb out, all ud need to do is work out a way to auto start the emulator or use something to allow you to use a snes pad as a mouse.

[downsouth420]

You know. The problem with emulation is that it's never as perfect as you'll want it to be. Believe me I have tried almost every emulator for SNES, tried every option and trick for graphics and sound, and even ran the emulator through my TV. And it still isn't right...

On the other hand, does anyone know where to get a ROM writing device. I want to empty out the roms on Super Famicom games and rewrite the roms with translated text and I have heard of devices that do that too. In fact, most import companies in the early days used to sell Super Famicom games with the text hacked into English.

[Vertigo]

You'd need to write your own protocol and OSD to get the SNES to recognise the drive, etc, etc, etc.
Tbh I know you want to do something fun and pretty, but decent back-up units run for about $50 upwards these days so...

"I want to empty out the roms on Super Famicom games and rewrite the roms with translated text and I have heard of devices that do that too. " Yeh, these are called ROM burners, you can get them from most electronics shops.

"In fact, most import companies in the early days used to sell Super Famicom games with the text hacked into English." Ehhh... not that I ever saw!

[NFG]

"In fact, most import companies in the early days used to sell Super Famicom games with the text hacked into English." Ehhh... not that I ever saw!

I think what he means is "In fact, most companies with the license to sell Japanese-made games in other countries paid programmers to convert all the text and had new games legally produced."

Everyone knows you can't 'hack' a PROM, it's a one-use chip, it can't be changed.  And everyone knows Nintendo sues the pants off anyone who messes with their IP.

[downsouth420]

Nintendo did sue those people that modified the ROMS on Super Famicom games. But if you look through the back of old issues of Gamefan you will see import companies advertise "All games come with translations."  My friend actually has a translated Rockman and Forte.

That stuff was short lived, though. But if companies don't want people to play imported games, then why not actually release the games here? I mean, where's my Tales of Phantasia? How come Hideo won't let Konami release Policenauts in America? Now if it were games that companies were planning on releasing in America, that would be a different story. (Screws up the economy for the American offices.)

Instead, they say stuff like, "It'll never work in America." Yet they still act angry when Americans import these games and reprimand the companies for not releasing the games in America. Do we want Namco X Capcom? Yes. Will it do well considering the fact that Nippon Ichi games that also follow the strategy RPG format do well? Yes. Will we ever get it? Probably not.

[Vertigo]

"All games with translations" probably referred to getting photocopied interpretations of menu screens, because I remember getting a menu explanation with a SFC copy of Pop'n Twinbee that I bought. I severely doubt they'd have gone to the hassle of translating an RPG.

And then you go on to ask questions that have obvious logistical answers.

[Yod@]

On the other hand, does anyone know where to get a ROM writing device.

Probably easiest to pick up one of the www.tototek.com SNES flash carts.

[Vertigo]

Ehhh I'm not sure that sort of conversation's allowed around here, coz this isn't really a piracy board.
There is a well-known and very resourceful one around, try that instead.

[Yod@]

Ehhh I'm not sure that sort of conversation's allowed around here, coz this isn't really a piracy board.

True. But I don't really see the difference between dumping ROMs onto a SNES flashcart and dumping ROMs onto a USB flash stick, as mentioned by Lawrence.

Still, it's your forum Lawrence. If I'm out of line then fair enough.