Odd Neo Turf Masters (NGPC) Cartridge - Stats Maxed Out

[InsaneDavid]

I bought a loose US copy of Neo Turf Masters for the Neo Geo Pocket Color. When the game arrived I noticed that it had everything obtained and completed - full collection of all 55 clubs and all trophies won. The game also defaults to "Very Hard" as its default difficulty. Using the "Initialize" option to reset the data works as expected until the power is cycled - then it's back to everything being unlocked and Very Hard being the default difficulty selection. I've played a few full games on a fresh initialization to see if a new data write would clear out the data but upon next power cycle - back to everything unlocked.

Stats in the records are also really odd and are the same for every golfer. Some records of interest...

Best Score:
-- -- --

Average Score:
384.24

Handicap:
+1

Triple Crowns
35

Total Number of Rounds:
532

Course With Most Rounds:
--

Battle Results:
510 Wins, 510 Losses
26 Draws (100.00%)

Hole In One:
65532

Albatross:
65532

Rate of Under-Par:
0.00%

Rate of Par:
0.00%

Rate of Over-Par:
0.00%

(previous three stats are in agreement with a fresh format)

Driving Accuracy:
170.01%

Rate on Green at Par:
0.00%

Putting Average:
1.00


All character stats show them as being used 65535 times each, with the same Battle Results as above.

So what does Digital Press say? Most glitched copy of Neo Turf Masters ever? Some secret unlock in place I don't know of? Development copy? The label is the standard US release (ESRB rating).

[Tanooki]

Could be a developers copy meant for final testing or review purposes of the media so they can see it all. It seems odd that if it were a code why it wouldn't wipe with the save if you erase it meaning it's hard set in there.

[Blitzwing256]

reminds me of those memory cards for the ps1 and n64 that had hardwired saves, have you opened it up to determine if it was a legit production board or not?

[InsaneDavid]

reminds me of those memory cards for the ps1 and n64 that had hardwired saves, have you opened it up to determine if it was a legit production board or not?

I can't get to my security bits right now but plan on doing so tomorrow morning and will post back with pictures of the board and some pictures of the stat screens.

[InsaneDavid]

Alright gentlemen, curiosity got the best of me so I opened the cartridge. Looks completely stock to me.

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-001s.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-002s.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-003s.jpg

And the stat screens:

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-005s.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-006s.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-007s.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-008s.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-009s.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-010s.jpg

http://www.classicplastic.net/digitalpress/OddNGPC-011s.jpg

Aside from that it plays like a regular version of Neo Turf Masters. Even the power down / resume works like a stock game. It just always defaults to Very Hard with everything unlocked and all those crazy gameplay stats.

[Dangerboy]

There's a small hint of 'hacking' per se....

The stat that reads "65535" - that particular number is a common "max value" for hex using FFFF. You often saw this in GameShark codes, where the actual code ending in FFFF would produce that 65535 value in EXP points given, gold pieces given, etc.

I don't know of any known GameShark / GameGenie device for the Neo Geo Pocket, but it looks like if there was one used, they essentially used the 'max out value' code on any stat that could unlock things. Their futzing with the values may have unintentionally futzed the battery and reading / writing option.

See also: http://www.flashmasta.com/2011/02/24/reading-and-writing-neo-geo-pocket-color-cartridges/

Hope that helps!
Jason

[InsaneDavid]

There's a small hint of 'hacking' per se....

The stat that reads "65535" - that particular number is a common "max value" for hex using FFFF. You often saw this in GameShark codes, where the actual code ending in FFFF would produce that 65535 value in EXP points given, gold pieces given, etc.

I don't know of any known GameShark / GameGenie device for the Neo Geo Pocket, but it looks like if there was one used, they essentially used the 'max out value' code on any stat that could unlock things. Their futzing with the values may have unintentionally futzed the battery and reading / writing option.

See also: http://www.flashmasta.com/2011/02/24/reading-and-writing-neo-geo-pocket-color-cartridges/

Hope that helps!
Jason

Hmm, that makes a lot of sense. I figured it had to be some kind of blanket change to get all the values to be so crazy and similar. Thanks!

[Mayhem]

It's either hacking or the flash memory is screwed. There's a batch (quite substantial in size) of European copies of Puzzle Bobble for the NGPC where every stage is already unlocked, but you can't save any high scores or progress properly. Took me three copies of the game to find one working properly.

[InsaneDavid]

It's either hacking or the flash memory is screwed. There's a batch (quite substantial in size) of European copies of Puzzle Bobble for the NGPC where every stage is already unlocked, but you can't save any high scores or progress properly. Took me three copies of the game to find one working properly.

That makes a lot of sense as well. Thanks guys!

If anyone wants this cartridge, let me know as I don't really have any use for it. Cool to see everything unlocked in a game where I'll never be able to unlock everything, just the same. I'll probably toss it back on eBay this afternoon.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

I'm interested! Shoot me a pm please. I love my Neo-Geo Pocket and I dont have anything for it except for fighters.