Would anyone be willing to make me a repro of an N64 game? [Archive]

goatse

09-21-2011, 06:51 PM

I'll pay for the service of course.
I would like to put the Ocarina of Time Master Quest (Japanese version) on a cart so I can play it on my N64. Doesn't matter which kind of cart you use for it since I have both region consoles.
If anyone can do this for me please let me know. Sorry if this is the wrong forum to post this in.

Leo_A

09-21-2011, 07:16 PM

I can't help any, but I'm curious, why the Japanese version?

The rom has been extracted from the North America GameCube release if you'd like one in English.

buzz_n64

09-21-2011, 07:24 PM

Repros of N64 carts are not common. Even bootlegs are hard to come by. I don't know for a facet, but I imagine it might be cheaper just to buy the Ever64 to play the "game" or the N64 Myth, but both will set you back about $100-$200 each.

theclaw

09-21-2011, 09:25 PM

I'm not sure too many modders would like the idea of using a game like OOT as a repro donor. hmm...

nesrepro

09-21-2011, 10:04 PM

Sorry man N64 is pretty hard to do and using OOT is just... wrong. If you like Zelda though I do a fantastic version of Outlands. CIB sealed :)

www.timewalkgames.com

madman77

09-22-2011, 10:54 AM

Even if this were possible with a direct chip swap (it isn't), you wouldn't need to use OOT as a donor cart. Any cart with the same CIC would work. However, none of that matters as it simply isn't possible to do unless you create a custom PCB and put way more effort and time into this than it is worth. Buying a flash cart is the only reasonable solution.

Ludwig

09-22-2011, 11:13 AM

Let me re-ask for the OP since i guess you got this one a little wrong:
How would you go about playing the japanese version of this game in the US or EU?

(I expect this is not about dumping a rom and making repros, i guess he just thought it may be the easiest way to play it on his N64)

SparTonberry

09-22-2011, 12:30 PM

Pretty much the same "lockout" as the SNES.
If you mod the cart slot, NTSC consoles can play either US or Japanese games. (judging by my Japanese carts, the tabs are probably more conveniently placed in the middle in a Japanese console, though Nintendo sold a hell of a lot more US consoles than Japanese. In a US console, they're in the corners and hard to reach.)
It appears Japanese and PAL carts have the same tabs, but PAL carts/consoles use incompatible CICs.

theclaw

09-22-2011, 12:34 PM

buzz_n64

09-22-2011, 01:30 PM

N64 like SNES kept the same region code between US and JPN. For N64 games take off a mere two screws, then swap the back off some unwanted sports game, it's instant US-JP shape conversion.

Yup. All those copies of Madden at the thrift shop aren't useless after all. :)

The guy says he has both regions of consoles Japan/US. The Master Quest was created for the Gamecube. I suppose someone made a hack of Ocarina of Time similar to Master Quest, and he wants it on the N64 to play.

Leo_A

09-22-2011, 02:20 PM

The guy says he has both regions of consoles Japan/US. The Master Quest was created for the Gamecube. I suppose someone made a hack of Ocarina of Time similar to Master Quest, and he wants it on the N64 to play.

Like I already said, both the Japanese and English NTSC versions come from the Master Quest disc given away to people preording Wind Waker back in 2003. That GameCube release used a Nintendo 64 emulating running N64 code and that's where any Master Quest rom you locate has been extracted from. No need for a hack.

I'm puzzled why he'd want a version that he most likely couldn't understand any of the story and dialogue. I'm unaware of any differences between the US and Japanese versions that would make the Japan version somehow more desirable, unless you're Japanese and want everything in Japanese...

N64 like SNES kept the same region code between US and JPN.

There's region coding on the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64?

I believe the only region locking here is by physically making it impossible for one cartridge to be inserted into another system from a different region without modding, swapping the backs of cartridges, or using a passthrough device.

And because both Japan and the US follow the NTSC video standard and the consoles internally are basically identical, software is compatible between the two when you eliminate the physical barrier I just mentioned.

Has nothing to do with Nintendo designating both regions as the same.

Singletriad

09-22-2011, 03:28 PM

theclaw

09-22-2011, 03:50 PM

Like I already said, both the Japanese and English NTSC versions come from the Master Quest disc given away to people preording Wind Waker back in 2003. That GameCube release used a Nintendo 64 emulating running N64 code and that's where any Master Quest rom you locate has been extracted from. No need for a hack.

Well is Master Quest glitchy on original hardware? Like many rom hacks, Nintendo might not have necessarily programmed the GC version with real hardware in mind. I don't know.

There's region coding on the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64?

I believe the only region locking here is by physically making it impossible for one cartridge to be inserted into another system from a different region without modding, swapping the backs of cartridges, or using a passthrough device.

And because both Japan and the US follow the NTSC video standard and the consoles internally are basically identical, software is compatible between the two when you eliminate the physical barrier I just mentioned.

Has nothing to do with Nintendo designating both regions as the same.

I believe it was intentional. Not that we'll ever quite know why. It's not like Genesis where some games block English or Japanese system mode. If Nintendo had wanted Super Nintendo and N64 to do that, they would've implemented the same check.

Leo_A

09-22-2011, 04:32 PM

Well is Master Quest glitchy on original hardware? Like many rom hacks, Nintendo might not have necessarily programmed the GC version with real hardware in mind. I don't know.

Runs just fine on real hardware, which it was originally programmed for (Remember that this was programmed to be an expansion for Ocarina of Time to offer a second quest via the disk drive attachment, hence it had to be able to run on real hardware). It's essentially the same game as the released version. Even the rom size is identical to the released version on the Nintendo 64. Just a few minor edits to change up how you progress through the dungeons and the types of enemies you encounter were implimented.

I believe it was intentional. Not that we'll ever quite know why. It's not like Genesis where some games block English or Japanese system mode. If Nintendo had wanted Super Nintendo and N64 to do that, they would've implemented the same check.

What was intentional? They blocked North American games from running on Japanese hardware and Japanese games from running on North American hardware with both the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. They just used physical methods to impliment their region locking rather than doing it via software.

theclaw

09-22-2011, 06:08 PM

What was intentional? They blocked North American games from running on Japanese hardware and Japanese games from running on North American hardware with both the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64. They just used physical methods to impliment their region locking rather than doing it via software.

We're in agreement here. We both suggested the decision to use physical methods was intentional. My phrasing was just so bad it didn't come off as making sense.

substantial_snake

09-22-2011, 07:13 PM

Whats wrong with using an oot as a donor anyways? It's not like its a rare game, its just a popular game. not only that, but it's also going to be pretty much the same game. It's not like it's turning into... frogger... or something

I'll echo this since more then one person thought this was a bad idea. I get that people love Oot but there were millions of copies made along with several re-releases at this point. I've also heard of people using the original Zelda NES cart as a doner with no one bashing them for it. Is this some sort of gaming taboo that I am unaware of?

madman77

09-22-2011, 10:39 PM

Arguing about using OOT as a donor cart is pointless as it cannot be done in any case.

Leo_A

09-22-2011, 10:41 PM

Arguing about using OOT as a donor cart is pointless as it cannot be done in any case.

Why not?

madman77

09-23-2011, 12:07 AM

There is no user programmable 256mbit chip that is a direct pin for pin replacement for the mask ROM. It's not like popping a couple EPROMs in a NES or SNES cart.

It's not possible to create a repro without designing a custom PCB and hardware. This is why N64 development carts are physically so large. Even with the appropriate knowledge of how to create such a cart, the time, effort and money involved would far exceed simply purchasing a readily available flash cart.

Leo_A

09-23-2011, 12:34 AM

I'm aware of the complexity thanks to sites like the NESDev forums. But I also could swear that I've seen a couple of labor intensive reproductions of this by various individuals since the rom was extracted from the GCN release, although an internet search just now didn't help uncover anything to prove that

Although maybe I'm just remembering people playing it on PC emulators or flash carts on real hardware and I'm remembering it incorrectly now.

Seems like an Ocarina of Time donor cart would be as good a place as any to start with if someone were to bother with this and could cram everything they needed to inside of the cartridge casing.

But I agree that something like the Everdrive 64 is the way to go.

goatse

09-23-2011, 12:00 PM

Like I already said, both the Japanese and English NTSC versions come from the Master Quest disc given away to people preording Wind Waker back in 2003. That GameCube release used a Nintendo 64 emulating running N64 code and that's where any Master Quest rom you locate has been extracted from. No need for a hack.

I'm puzzled why he'd want a version that he most likely couldn't understand any of the story and dialogue. I'm unaware of any differences between the US and Japanese versions that would make the Japan version somehow more desirable, unless you're Japanese and want everything in Japanese...

There's region coding on the Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64?

I believe the only region locking here is by physically making it impossible for one cartridge to be inserted into another system from a different region without modding, swapping the backs of cartridges, or using a passthrough device.

And because both Japan and the US follow the NTSC video standard and the consoles internally are basically identical, software is compatible between the two when you eliminate the physical barrier I just mentioned.

Has nothing to do with Nintendo designating both regions as the same.

This may sound strange and magical to you, but I'm fluent in Japanese. I also want to play it using an N64 controller, that's why I want an N64 version.
Anyway, looks like repros are out of the question so I'll be using the 64drive to play this game, thanks for the replies everyone.

Leo_A

09-23-2011, 01:48 PM

This may sound strange and magical to you, but I'm fluent in Japanese. I also want to play it using an N64 controller, that's why I want an N64 version.
Anyway, looks like repros are out of the question so I'll be using the 64drive to play this game, thanks for the replies everyone.

If you understand Japanese, then I suppose it makes sense although I still don't understand why you'd go for it over the same thing in your native language.

And while it's hardly magical, it's usually a pretty safe assumption to make that someone doesn't understand that language. And considering that the English version has been extracted from the North American GameCube release just like the Japanese version has, it seemed reasonable and helpful to point out that there's an English language version playable on real hardware as well.

And if not for you, than perhaps for someone else down the road that finds this thread and has an interest in playing Master Quest on real hardware. It wouldn't be a large leap to make for such an individual to assume that only a Japanese version must be available to play on real hardware after reading your topic. By mentioning it, now they'll know that an English NTSC rom is available as well for them to download to their flash cart or play via their favorite emulator.

goatse

09-23-2011, 04:46 PM

If you understand Japanese, than it makes sense.

It's usually a pretty safe assumption to make that someone doesn't understand the language. And considering that the English version has been extracted from the North American GameCube release just like the Japanese version has, it seemed reasonable and helpful to point out that there's an English language version playable on real hardware as well.

Only a japanophile idiot would play an RPG, or any text heavy video game (dating sims, deep strategy games, etc) for that matter without knowing the language it was written in. I always find it funny when I see some retard on a website knocking a really fantastic game or giving it a bad score essentially because it's not "English friendly" enough (i.e. they bought a game and they couldn't understand how to play, so they get mad at their own incompetence.) The guy on segagga domain is particularly guilty of this, and hilariously enough he also nitpicks at any game that wasn't made in japan.

Aussie2B

09-23-2011, 05:07 PM

Only a japanophile idiot would play an RPG, or any text heavy video game (dating sims, deep strategy games, etc) for that matter without knowing the language it was written in.

:roll:

Well then call me a Japanophile idiot extraordinaire for loving countless text-heavy games that are only available in Japanese because they are easy enough to figure out on my own or with a FAQ and are still enjoyable without knowing every detail of the story.

goatse

09-23-2011, 06:07 PM

:roll:

Well then call me a Japanophile idiot extraordinaire for loving countless text-heavy games that are only available in Japanese because they are easy enough to figure out on my own or with a FAQ and are still enjoyable without knowing every detail of the story.

Yeah you are lol.