SNES Powerpak is now available

[Kiddo]

Ha, I was looking through some things, and I actually found a multicart (used in this hotel system called the Super Famicom Box) which had Super Mario Collection, Super Mario Kart and StarFox on it:

I recall reading about that a bit ago. I got the impression that the game ROMs were separated from the Box BIOs, which would mean it's not really that functional as a multicart at all....

This vid was upped to Youtube, if that helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPj6lG9vsV4

[Shou]

Have yet to receive mine yet but very disappointing that he didn't test the product on the various official hardware variations (ie SNES1/2 NTSC and PAL, SFC/SFCjr) before selling it.

[Icarus Moonsight]

Well, mappers were (still are a bit) the hurdle for the NES PowerPak... Looks like the SNES hurdle is going to be the myriad versions of PPUs.

[skaar]

Mine's shipped. And apparently might not work with a Model 2 SNES. No biggie for me.

[klausien]

Mine too is on it's way (!), but I only had an S-Video modded SNES 2. I parted with my original SNES about a decade ago. Argh. Had to pick up an original this week (thanks Joe!).

The one crappy thing is that I can't play with it until Sunday. I'm going away for the weekend tomorrow night, and I bet it'll be waiting for me tomorrow afternoon. Oh well.

[Cauterize]

A note arrived through the door today saying I need to go down to the sorting office and pay a customs charge (I swear customs hate me). BUt it can only mean one thing, this weekend is SNES PowerPak time!!! Wooohooo

[akgameboy]

Mine arrived today and it works great! I've been having lots of fun playing hacks and translations.
There is just one thing: I can't figure out this whole save game thing. I put a folder on the Compact card full of empty save files that I downloaded from the SNES Powerpak page. So when I select a game, like Super Metroid, on the actual console, I go to the Load Battery Ram and go to the folder of save files. But there is nothing there... I tried playing Super Metroid all the way up to a save point. After the save point, I held in reset for 5 secs and it goes to the Save ram to CF Card screen. I select yes, but it won't allow me to save it anywhere. I can't figure it out.

What's even more annoying is that if I play Super Mario World and turn the system off and go back to Super Mario World, my game is saved without me having to do anything. I'm lost. Help anyone?

[klausien]

Mine arrived today and it works great! I've been having lots of fun playing hacks and translations.
There is just one thing: I can't figure out this whole save game thing. I put a folder on the Compact card full of empty save files that I downloaded from the SNES Powerpak page. So when I select a game, like Super Metroid, on the actual console, I go to the Load Battery Ram and go to the folder of save files. But there is nothing there... I tried playing Super Metroid all the way up to a save point. After the save point, I held in reset for 5 secs and it goes to the Save ram to CF Card screen. I select yes, but it won't allow me to save it anywhere. I can't figure it out.

What's even more annoying is that if I play Super Mario World and turn the system off and go back to Super Mario World, my game is saved without me having to do anything. I'm lost. Help anyone?

I believe you need to change the name of the file extension to .srm instead of .sav.

Oh, and mine totally came today as expected. It's a great piece of kit. The fact that I can play 90% of the games I would want to import, like say, Jaki Crush, on real hardware is completely ace. Can't wait to put some serious time in when I get home on Sunday.

[akgameboy]

I can't believe I didn't think of that. Man I fail at computers.

[eastbayarb]

I got mine, and for some reason, it gives me an error when I try to use my 8gb (Format error) and asks me to format either with FAT16 or FAT32 (I chose FAT32). My card is an ADATA (which worked fine in my Z64).

Also, can this card use .SAV files from emulators, or how about save files from copiers like the Super Wildcard DX2?

[Cauterize]

EDIT: FIXED! Found another CF Card which it works fine with.
Avoid the Lexar Media 256MB CF Card unless you want problems.
Funny thing is though, thats the card ive used in my NES PowerPak all along with no problems!

Just about to email RetroZone, but can anyone explain why Im getting errors like this?
I have a standard PAL SNES which it says its compatible with...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../powerpak1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3.../powerpak2.jpg

Im yet to actually play a game too. Every single game ive tried has either give errors like this, awful fuzzy sound or a black screen.
Im going to test it on another SNES and another CF card.

[Mitch]

I got my SNES PowerPak yesterday and am loving it. Played a bunch of games with no problem. Today my brother comes over and is playing with it for a while and one of the games he tried was Jeopardy. Unfortunately, a lot of the in game graphics are messed up. Jeopardy Deluxe and Jeopardy Sports both play fine though. Anyone else have this issue or do I have a bad dump?

Mitch

[badinsults]

I got my SNES PowerPak yesterday and am loving it. Played a bunch of games with no problem. Today my brother comes over and is playing with it for a while and one of the games he tried was Jeopardy. Unfortunately, a lot of the in game graphics are messed up. Jeopardy Deluxe and Jeopardy Sports both play fine though. Anyone else have this issue or do I have a bad dump?

Mitch

Perhaps you are playing a PAL version? Playing PAL games in an NTSC SNES can lead to glitches.

[Troglodyte]

I sent him a PM about a recommendation on where to acquire a known good copy.
I don't have a SNES PowerPak yet though (darn unemployment) :/
Maybe an expensive Christmas present? lol

[Mitch]

Perhaps you are playing a PAL version? Playing PAL games in an NTSC SNES can lead to glitches.

Well the title is "Jeopardy! (U).smc" so presumably it's the US version.

Mitch

[badinsults]

Could be a bad ROM. Have you checked it with NSRT?

[Troglodyte]

I already checked it and all my ROMS a few years back with some ROM collection utility I don't recall the name of, but I decided to check it with NSRT and it checked out fine as you can see. Definitly yet another compatibility issue with the SNES PowerPak.

---------------------Internal ROM Info----------------------
       File: Jeopardy! (U).smc
       Name: JEOPARDY             
    Company: Take 2/GameTek
     Header: SWC
       Bank: LoROM
Interleaved: None
       SRAM: 0 Kb
       Type: Normal
        ROM: 4 Mb
    Country: USA
      Video: NTSC
  ROM Speed: 200ns (SlowROM)
   Revision: 1.0
   Checksum: Good 0x06D8
  Game Code: 
---------------------------Hashes---------------------------
      CRC32: 65BF3A7E
        MD5: AF5AAF6FEC949AEAB8E2CA1A7DE96721
--------------------------Database--------------------------
       Name: Jeopardy!
    Country: USA
   Revision: 1.0
     Port 1: Gamepad
     Port 2: Gamepad
    Genre 1: Game Show
    Genre 2: None

[Mitch]

I already checked it and all my ROMS a few years back with some ROM collection utility I don't recall the name of, but I decided to check it with NSRT and it checked out fine as you can see. Definitly yet another compatibility issue with the SNES PowerPak.

---------------------Internal ROM Info----------------------
       File: Jeopardy! (U).smc
       Name: JEOPARDY             
    Company: Take 2/GameTek
     Header: SWC
       Bank: LoROM
Interleaved: None
       SRAM: 0 Kb
       Type: Normal
        ROM: 4 Mb
    Country: USA
      Video: NTSC
  ROM Speed: 200ns (SlowROM)
   Revision: 1.0
   Checksum: Good 0x06D8
  Game Code: 
---------------------------Hashes---------------------------
      CRC32: 65BF3A7E
        MD5: AF5AAF6FEC949AEAB8E2CA1A7DE96721
--------------------------Database--------------------------
       Name: Jeopardy!
    Country: USA
   Revision: 1.0
     Port 1: Gamepad
     Port 2: Gamepad
    Genre 1: Game Show
    Genre 2: None

Yeah, that's the same CRC32 checksum that mine has.

Mitch

[schnuth]

I just got a e-mail saying that my SNES Powerpak has shipped. I can't wait to play with this over the long weekend!

[klausien]

I can't believe I didn't think of that. Man I fail at computers.

Yeah, they really should change that download to an 8k .srm file instead of .sav (which is what's used for the NES Powerpak). It's not super clear in the manual either. There are definite pluses and minuses to the save system, but the backup ability and unlimited nature of the save files is a huge win.

I am thoroughly enjoying both Powerpaks and hope the next step is a move over to Sega and the Genesis for RetroUSB. A Master System Powerpak would also be much welcomed, as it could allow for easier playing of the Ys & Phantasy Star English language FM hacks on real hardware. The other flashcarts out there, outside of the excellent Cuttle Cart 3 & AtariMax ones, seem to have serious drawbacks.