Announcing the public release of the Sega SMS/GG Firmware v0.24. This firmware adds the ability to read and write SMS and GG saves (SRAM and EEPROM). I added improved SMS/GG cart recognition including proper Codemasters cart support. The SMS/GG Plugin needs to be modified for the Codemasters carts to work.
I've included a couple changes for Genesis/Megadrive carts: I added SRAM identification for carts that are missing the SRAM header data; and I fixed the large SRAM problem that affected Phantasy Star IV and other carts.
As part of the development, I made a working prototype Mark III Plugin. The plugin allows you to read Japanese Mark III carts and Sega Card/My Cards with a Card Catcher (see
http://forum.retrode.org/index.php/topic,368.msg2711.html#msg2711).
UPDATE (v0.24a): I found a bug in FW v0.24 relating to the Nintendo Power carts. The multi-game NP carts no longer cycle properly using the HWB button. I've disabled the display of the Flash Map files since the bug causes the Retrode to hang. If you want to see the NP Flash Map files, then use FW v0.22, v0.23 or v0.23a.
I decided to include a couple new features in the firmware update. I added the SSF2 mapper code to read Super Street Fighter 2 for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. I've also included XBAND modem support for both Genesis and SNES/SFC units.
To read the XBAND ROM and SRAM, the switch on the unit must be in the bottom position. A cart does NOT need to be attached to read out the XBAND unit. If anyone dumps an XBAND unit that still contains valid SRAM data, then I'd love to get a copy of the dump.
Here's a summary:
v0.24a (2018-05-12)
- Changes by skaman:
-- SEGA SMS and GG Fixes!
-- DISABLED SNES NINTENDO POWER FLASH MAP FILE DISPLAY
DUE TO v0.24 BUG PREVENTING MULTI-GAME SWITCHING.
THIS BUG EXISTS ONLY IN THE FW v0.24 RELEASE.
USE FW v0.22, v0.23, OR v0.23a TO SEE THE FLASH MAP FILES.
-- Added Sega Genesis/Megadrive Super Street Fighter 2
detection and mapping.
-- Added Sega XBAND Modem detection and SRAM save support.
-- Added SNES XBAND Modem detection and SRAM save support.
NOTE: To read the XBAND ROM and SRAM, the switch on the
unit must be in the bottom position. A cart does NOT
need to be attached to read the XBAND ROM and SRAM.
v0.24 (2018-03-14)
- Changes by skaman:
-- SEGA SMS and GG Saves!
-- Fixed SMS SRAM read support.
-- Added SMS SRAM write support.
-- SMS SRAM carts should be identified by Product Code
and display the .SAV file. The .SAV file can be read
and written.
-- Corrected the ROM size identification for Mega,
Two-Mega, and Four-Mega carts.
-- Fixed Product Code identification.
-- Fixed identification of SMS Monopoly (U) to output
the proper ROM and SRAM save file.
-- Fixed identification of SMS Wonder Boy in Monster
World (EK) and SMS New Zealand Story (E) to output the
proper ROM file.
-- Added code to improve handing carts with bad headers.
A small number of games will still require using the
[forceSystem] setting in the Config file due to
missing ASCII text at the start of the header.
-- Added identification of SMS Ys (J) save file.
-- Added identification of SMS Haja no Fuuin (J) save file.
-- Added GG SRAM save support.
-- GG SRAM carts should be identified by Product Code
and display the .SAV file. The .SAV file can be read
and written.
-- Added GG EEPROM save support.
-- GG EEPROM carts should be identified by Product Code
and display the .SAV file. The .SAV file can be read
and written.
-- Corrected GG Nomo's World Series Baseball from EEPROM
to SRAM. The cart uses the BR6265 SRAM chip with
battery.
-- Removed GG Pro Yakyuu GG League '94 from EEPROM list.
-- Added identification of GG Pro Yakyuu '91 (J).
-- Fixed GG ROM size "0" identification. ROM size "0"
is 256KB, however, carts may be 256KB, 512KB, or 1MB.
-- Fixed SMS Codemasters cart detection.
-- Added GG Codemasters cart support.
-- WARNING: Codemasters carts require modification of the
SMS/GG Plugin. The CLOCK connection must be made from
both slots to the plugin edge (pin B9). In addition,
SMS Codemasters carts require the /MREQ pin to be
connected to the /CE pin.
-- Moved SMS/GG cart detection ahead of NGP cart detection.
Some SMS carts were incorrectly detected as NGP.
-- Changed the SMS/GG SRAM save extension to ".SAV".
This appears to be the extension expected by most
SEGA emulators.
-- Added identification of Genesis/Megadrive carts with
missing SRAM save data in the header.
-- Fixed Genesis/Megadrive SRAM code. Fixes Phantasy
Star IV and other large SRAM (16KB or larger) saves.The v0.24 firmware is available here:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/oqhx2ad7l3l3wlt/Retrode-v0.24.zipThe updated v0.24a firmware is available here:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/uzij95yjx1kkmhr/Retrode-v0.24a.zip
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