Playing Roms On a Console

[makaar]

Not as malicious as it sounds, actually...as you know I'm an avid collector of the hard-copy of the game, but there are some custom roms or even prototype roms that I will never in my life be able to afford or find (like the Starfox SNES beta or Mortal Kombat II for NES). My question is there a way to play roms through a console? I've seen those old Super UFO 8 bit disk drives you can attach onto the top of an SNES and play images through there, but I have never been able to get my hands on one, and I'm sure the snes rom formats aren't compatible. I realize there are SNES to USB controller adapters, which I will get if there is no other way, but was just curious if there was a way to do this. The consoles I'm mainly talking about are SNES, NES, and N64. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!~

[Sudo]

What you're looking for is a flash cart. You can buy one for the NES here. (http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=34) I know SNES flash carts exist, though I'm not sure where you'd get one.

[Gameguy]

Here's one for the SNES;
http://www.tototek.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_8_11&products_id=39

[Game Freak]

An alternative is if you have a Wii. You can get the Homebrew Channel using Twilight Hack, and there are converters you can find online which will convert the gamecube port to a SNES, NES, genesis, etc port. very helpful, especially for the virtual console!

[Flack]

Just to break it down, you need one of two things: a console copier for the original console, or an emulator for a newer console.

If you want to play on the original hardware, you'll want to pick up a console copier or a flashcart. The RetroZone NES Flashcart is probably the best NES choice. Remember with NES you are dealing with mappers (sometimes custom ones) so compatibility is always an issue. For the SNES you can either go Flashcart or just pick up a copier like you mentioned. The biggest problem with copiers at this point is that a lot of them weren't built great and they are starting to die. My favorite is still the Super Wildcard series. For the N64 there are three common copiers (Z64, CD64, V64) and one flashcart (V64 Jr.). The Z64 uses zip disks and the other two read roms from CD (I own all three). I don't own a V64 Jr. but I know it (and many of the other older flashcarts) requires a parallel port which can take some configuring to get working.

If you decide to go the emulator route, people have already done the work for you. Just stick a mod chip in your Xbox and download any of the dozens of emulators. I'm pretty sure anything from the Xbox/PS2 forward can emulate the NES/SNES with virtually no problems.

The one advantage that console copiers have over emulation is that the games are 100% because they are the original code running on the original hardware with the original controllers. If accuracy if your thing then that's a good route to take. The bottom has dropped out of the console copier market so it's a great time to pick one up.

[Xander]

Outside of copiers and emulation, there is also the route of cartmodding where you learn how to transform a cartridge into another one. Like transform NBA Hang Time (SNES) to get Front Mission (SNES). The cartridge is then 100% playable on the real hardware.

It's possible for a wide array of console, but I've never heard of anyone doing it for the 64. I know people doing it for the gb, gbc, NES, Genesis, SMS, Neo-Geo but never heard of anyone trying for the n64.

[Coleman]

The bottom has dropped out of the console copier market so it's a great time to pick one up.

What else can one of these items be used for, what should i expect to pay - and where can i find a console copier?

[Coleman]

The bottom has dropped out of the console copier market so it's a great time to pick one up.

What else can one of these items be used for, what should i expect to pay - and where can i find a console copier?

[EviLEd76]

Not as malicious as it sounds, actually...as you know I'm an avid collector of the hard-copy of the game, but there are some custom roms or even prototype roms that I will never in my life be able to afford or find (like the Starfox SNES beta or Mortal Kombat II for NES). My question is there a way to play roms through a console? I've seen those old Super UFO 8 bit disk drives you can attach onto the top of an SNES and play images through there, but I have never been able to get my hands on one, and I'm sure the snes rom formats aren't compatible. I realize there are SNES to USB controller adapters, which I will get if there is no other way, but was just curious if there was a way to do this. The consoles I'm mainly talking about are SNES, NES, and N64. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!~

The easiest way is to softmod your original xbox. Then you can run all the emulators you want. You can also make your own CD's with the emulators/roms and burn a disc for your dreamcast. There are already a handful of self-booting dreamcast ISO's out there that have all the roms and emulators on them. Same goes with the original xbox.

[Flippy8490]

It may not be the original console, but, the best way I have found to play oldschool emulators/roms is by using a Dreamcast. It didnt have CD burning protection so it can read homebrew's and burned disks. http://www.zophar.net/consoles/dreamcast.html

[makaar]

For me if I'm not going to use the original console then the PC is the easiest route for me. I have had friends that modded xboxes and loaded it full of roms and it just doesn't feel natural. Plus its cheaper to buy USB controller adapters than modding a console. The copier idea sounds like a good idea, thanks for the leads...I'll start looking into that route. It seems expensive but well worth it.

[MrSparkle]

All of these suggestions are far too simple and realistic I propose that you start an international thieves club and steal all of these rarities like a (or in this case quite literally) thief in the night!

[Flippy8490]

haha! I second that XD

[Diosoth]

The Retro USB NES flash cart is quite pricey. Plsu the guy's built them to be incompatible with clone systems, which seems like a total jerk move to me.

Most SNES flash carts only hold 1 game at a time. Probably the same for Genesis.

There are older GB/GBC flahs carts, I've been looking into them. Best I can find would cost $100 for the cart and linker device, though. They're old and no longer made.

The only carts in active production are DS flash cards. I'd suspect the GBA market is borderline dead, since most of the new stuff is made to work in conjunction with a DS flash card rather than on a GBA. But at least some of the better GBA flash carts are still available(I only paid $40 for my EZ-Flash IV).

[klausien]

The Atarimax Flash Cart for the Colecovision is truly ace. You can basically play the whole library on one cart using the real hardware (much like, well, a flash cart). The test cart function is also great considering how finicky the Coleco hardware tends to be. Love it.

The ability to play using the original hardware makes it totally worth it for me. I also find that I actually play with all the games MORE on one cart (most I've spoken with say the opposite for some reason, go figure). Not having to futz around with a pile of almost 30 year old cartridges is actually kind of nice. I'm considering getting the Cuttle Cart 3 for the INTV (still meditating on whether there are enough good games for the system to keep it - I don't do the adventure games from the period), or trading up to a VecFlash (have a Sean Kelly Multicart, want access to some of the later homebrews that are nigh impossible to get). The VB Flash Cart also looks enticing considering the climbing prices for the games.

The way you need to think of flash carts' somewhat high prices is in the context of what you are really getting. If one were to track down the entire Colecovision library for instance, if they even could, the price would be staggering. Or, you could just spend the $130 on the flash cart and be done with it. You are also supporting homebrewers in general; the people who keep classic gaming alive. The simple fact that someone has created a device that lets you stream disk images of Atari 8-Bit computer games to actual Atari 800 hardware for play from a PC or laptop is why items like flash carts are worth the their cost. Magnetic media from the 80's is slowly turning to dust; these tyes of homebrew hardware are preserving them. Consider it a donation to the cause.

[Diosoth]

The way you need to think of flash carts' somewhat high prices is in the context of what you are really getting.

Not really. Just because it's still cheaper doesn't mean it should cost that much.

The AceKard 2.1 for DS is about $10 right now. Even the GBA/DS combo packages are only around $20. The GBA EZ-Flash IV is about $30 or a bit more, but it'll also run nearly any game made, including Mother 3.

When I see comparable SD card-based flash options released for the odler consoles at $40 or less then I'll become interested. The high price on such carts right now is due to a lack of competition. They charge it because you have no choice.

[poloplayr]

I have to second the Wii option.

Currently enjoying perfect GB/GBC/NES/SNES/GEN/SMS/PCE emulation on my Wii/HD Projector. So sweet! And the Wii controllers (classic controller and the wiimote for 8 bit stuff) are perfect for it too.

[Flack]

Most SNES flash carts only hold 1 game at a time. Probably the same for Genesis.

This is not correct. Most SNES and Genesis flash carts come with a set amount of storage (64 meg seems to be pretty common) and you can copy as many ROMs as you want onto it. I have both the SNES and Genesis flash carts from Tototek and they have a built in menu system that allow you to choose any of the ROMs on the cart. The Genesis one also lets you play 32x games.


All of these suggestions are far too simple and realistic I propose that you start an international thieves club and steal all of these rarities like a (or in this case quite literally) thief in the night!

I'm a card carrying member, what can I say.


Plus its cheaper to buy USB controller adapters than modding a console.

Actually, modding an Xbox is free if you have the right games, and as someone previously mentioned the Dreamcast can play CD-Rs for free, too.

[boatofcar]

Not really. Just because it's still cheaper doesn't mean it should cost that much.

The AceKard 2.1 for DS is about $10 right now. Even the GBA/DS combo packages are only around $20. The GBA EZ-Flash IV is about $30 or a bit more, but it'll also run nearly any game made, including Mother 3.

When I see comparable SD card-based flash options released for the odler consoles at $40 or less then I'll become interested. The high price on such carts right now is due to a lack of competition. They charge it because you have no choice.

It's definitely not because it's the work of one or two people and all the work that's entailed by having such a small workforce, unlike the Chinese sweatshops that turn out R4 cards.

[Soviet Conscript]

once i found flash carts i never went back. i wanted to do 2 things

1) to be able to play my games on the origional console without dealing with constantly useing my origionals

2) wanted to play translated roms on the origional consoles

i just couldn't get into playing roms on my pc.

i started out trying various copier units. don't waste your time with copier units, there mostly cheap archaic units that are very UNuser friendly, they also hog anouther power outlet.

I have flash carts for the NES, SNES, SMS and genesis and they all work wonderfully. they are also reletivly easy to use (at least compaired to copier units)

[MarioMania]

I wish they have a flash cart for the Genesis & Master System that let's you put like 100 games on it

[boatofcar]

I have flash carts for the NES, SNES, SMS and genesis and they all work wonderfully. they are also reletivly easy to use (at least compaired to copier units)


I wish they have a flash cart for the Genesis & Master System that let's you put like 100 games on it

MarioMania, you continue to astound and amaze.

[Mason P.]

I suggest on getting a Xbox and mod it with a bigger hard drive. Get Slayer's Evo x 2.7

As for finding the emulators and skins for Slayers, that is a bit more difficult. I heard they have a xbox 360 skin for it, so the xbox fuctions like the 360 blade system. I want it can't find it. :(

[Jorpho]

Don't forget that not all SNES copiers support emulation of the custom chips used in Mario Kart, Star Fox, etc.

[Diosoth]

I used to have a Tototek SNES cartridge. Theoretically it can hold more than 1 game, but whenever I tried the cartridge would act weird. I had to stick to 1 game at a time.

And as for "small operation vs chinese factory", sorry but no, the Retro USB NES cart is not a good deal at the price. Add in the guy's a total jerk who insists in Paypal payments only(money orders are TOO SLOW, yet he can take up to 5 business days to mail orders), and he's designed the NES carts to not function on Yobo or other clones(which screams of whining elitism), I'd say it's just not worth the money. I'll wait for another manufacturer to release their own cartridge and force the prices down by competition. He has a monopoly on NES flash carts, beign the only source, and he's charging a fortune because of it.

[Jorpho]

a total jerk who insists in Paypal payments onlyZounds, what a wholly unreasonable and uncommon move for a merchant to make in this day and age. But not really.


He has a monopoly on NES flash carts, beign the only source, and he's charging a fortune because of it.Did you ever consider that maybe they're just that expensive simply because of the economies of scale?

I can't see a manufacturer trying to turn a profit on selling mass-produced NES flash carts, but I suppose it is a little surprising that we have yet to see an NES clone with its own built-in CF slot.