Hi there guys.
How acurate is the NGPC database ? Who did dump those carts ?
I'm redumping my 15 NGPC games, using a Pocket Linker but seems very few of my dumps match current ones in DAT file, no matter how many times i dump them.
All of my dumps are playable on emulators, but as i said, just a few of them match current ones.
I'll try redumping them all again tomorrow on another computer to see if there is something wrong here.
Any ideas to get perfect NGPC dumps?
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ Yakushi~Kabuto on 16th April 2008, 04:55 wrote:
The NGPC database is simply 0% verified.
When you dump several times, do you remove the cartridge from programmer and re-insert it? Because if you don't, you're likely to redump the same bad dump 1000 times.
Did you also check your dumps in goodngpx, it might recognize different formats...
If you did thought, then your dumps are probably correct and those in the dat or goodngpx are bad.
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ ElBarto on 16th April 2008, 15:34 wrote:
I think that the pocketlinker dumps the saves part too, check that or clean the dump.
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ geezup on 17th April 2008, 22:58 wrote:
Well, seems i finally got this working correctly, but results are not different than the other day, maybe a couple games that gave me different CRCs now are ok. Seems contacts were a bit dirty.
All contacts cleaned, all carts have been dumped 4 times, pluging and unplugging them from the pocket linker between dumps.
At least, all CRCs for all dumps, matches. Gonna check them against current dumps in database to see if they match or not.
ElBarto, can you ellaborate more on what you said ? How to check for savestates in the dumps and how to fix them ? I've no clue. Thanks.
Ok, to make it shorter, here is a modified SFV generated file with CRCs for all dumps.
CRC - TITLE --> denotes current CRC in DAT file, and rom name.
The rest is the CRC list for my dumps.
DUMP1 CRC1
DUMP2 CRC2
DUMP3 CRC3
DUMP4 CRC4
<font color="black">DUMP INFO STARTS HERE
94B63A97 doesn't match SNK vs. Capcom - Card Fighters' Clash - SNK Version (UE)
Card Fighter's Clash_SNK_Ver.ngp D029DAA7
Card Fighter's Clash_SNK_Ver_2.ngp D029DAA7
Card Fighter's Clash_SNK_Ver_3.ngp D029DAA7
Card Fighter's Clash_SNK_Ver_4.ngp D029DAA7
6F353F34 doesn't match Dark Arms - Beast Buster 1999 (JUE) (M2)
Dark Arms.ngp 8BD9C11F
Dark Arms_2.ngp 8BD9C11F
Dark Arms_3.ngp 8BD9C11F
Dark Arms_4.ngp 8BD9C11F
D5CED9E9 - doesn't match Densha de Go! 2 on Neo Geo Pocket (J)
Densha De Go 2.ngp 7B74C520
Densha De Go 2_2.ngp 7B74C520
Densha De Go 2_3.ngp 7B74C520
Densha De Go 2_4.ngp 7B74C520
83DB5772 - MATCHES Dive Alert - Becky's Version (UE)!
Dive Alert - Becky's Version.ngp 83DB5772
Dive Alert - Becky's Version_2.ngp 83DB5772
Dive Alert - Becky's Version_3.ngp 83DB5772
Dive Alert - Becky's Version_4.ngp 83DB5772
A9119B5A - MATCHES Fatal Fury F-Contact (JUE) (M2) !
Fatal Fury First Contact.ngp A9119B5A
Fatal Fury First Contact_2.ngp A9119B5A
Fatal Fury First Contact_3.ngp A9119B5A
Fatal Fury First Contact_4.ngp A9119B5A
47E490A2 - MATCHES King of Fighters R-2 (JUE) (M2) !
King of Fighters R-2.ngp 47E490A2
King of Fighters R-2_2.ngp 47E490A2
King of Fighters R-2_3.ngp 47E490A2
King of Fighters R-2_4.ngp 47E490A2
4FF91807 - doesn't match Metal Slug - 1st Mission (JUE) (M2)
Metal Slug - 1s Mission.ngp F8B1C5FE
Metal Slug - 1s Mission_2.ngp F8B1C5FE
Metal Slug - 1s Mission_3.ngp F8B1C5FE
Metal Slug - 1s Mission_4.ngp F8B1C5FE
317A66D2 - doesn't match Neo Turf Masters (JUE) (M2)
Neo Turf Masters.ngp 452F94AF
Neo Turf Masters_2.ngp 452F94AF
Neo Turf Masters_3.ngp 452F94AF
Neo Turf Masters_4.ngp 452F94AF
8A88C50F - MATCHES Pachi-Slot Aruze Oukoku Pocket - Oohanabi (J) !
Pachi-Slot Aruze Oukoku Pocket - Daihanabi.ngp 8A88C50F
Pachi-Slot Aruze Oukoku Pocket - Daihanabi_2.ngp 8A88C50F
Pachi-Slot Aruze Oukoku Pocket - Daihanabi_3.ngp 8A88C50F
Pachi-Slot Aruze Oukoku Pocket - Daihanabi_4.ngp 8A88C50F
21E8CC15 - Doesn't match Pac-Man (JUE) (M2)
Pac-Man.ngp 4BC781BE
Pac-Man_2.ngp 4BC781BE
Pac-Man_3.ngp 4BC781BE
Pac-Man_4.ngp 4BC781BE
D8590B96 - MATCHES Pocket Tennis Color - Pocket Sports Series (JUE) (M2) !
Pocket Tennis Color.ngp D8590B96
Pocket Tennis Color_2.ngp D8590B96
Pocket Tennis Color_3.ngp D8590B96
Pocket Tennis Color_4.ngp D8590B96
C94B173A, E69EAE3E - Doesn't match Puzzle Bobble Mini (JE) (v1.09) neither Puzzle Bobble Mini (JE) (v1.10)
Puzzle Bobble Mini.ngp 55CBBB10
Puzzle Bobble Mini_2.ngp 55CBBB10
Puzzle Bobble Mini_3.ngp 55CBBB10
Puzzle Bobble Mini_4.ngp 55CBBB10
E2A09BB7 - doesn't match Puzzle Link 2 (UE)
Puzzle Link 2.ngp 6BDDC9C2
Puzzle Link 2_2.ngp 6BDDC9C2
Puzzle Link 2_3.ngp 6BDDC9C2
Puzzle Link 2_4.ngp 6BDDC9C2
FE95938C - doesn't match Puzzle Link (E)
Puzzle Link.ngp 812025DE
Puzzle Link_2.ngp 812025DE
Puzzle Link_3.ngp 812025DE
Puzzle Link_4.ngp 812025DE
4F7FB156 - Doesn't match Samurai Shodown! 2 - Pocket Fighting Series (JUE) (M2)
Samurai Showdown 2.ngp 423C2D5C
Samurai Showdown 2_2.ngp 423C2D5C
Samurai Showdown 2_3.ngp 423C2D5C
Samurai Showdown 2_4.ngp 423C2D5C
356F0849 - MATCHES Sonic the Hedgehog - Pocket Adventure (JUE) !
Sonic Pocket Adventure.ngp 356F0849
Sonic Pocket Adventure_2.ngp 356F0849
Sonic Pocket Adventure_3.ngp 356F0849
Sonic Pocket Adventure_4.ngp 356F0849
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ geezup on 17th April 2008, 23:46 wrote:
GoodNGPx results:
===============================================You have 8 of 241 known SNK NeoGeo Pocket/Pocket Color (1.00) ROMS
Dark Arms - Beast Buster 1999 (JUE) [h1]
Dive Alert - Becky's Version (UE)
Fatal Fury F-Contact (JUE) [!] King of Fighters R-2 (JUE) [a1][!]
Metal Slug - 1st Mission (JUE) [a2]
Pachisuro Aruze Oogoku Ohanabi (J) [!]
Pocket Tennis Color (JUE) [!]
Sonic the Hedgehog - Pocket Adventure (JUE) [!]
Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ Yakushi~Kabuto on 18th April 2008, 05:54 wrote:
Are you sure about this? Does is dump saves separately or along with the rom? Do NGPX carts use ROMs or EPROM/FLASH,etc?I think that the pocketlinker dumps the saves part too, check that or clean the dump.
At any rate I'd advice geezup to NEVER edit the dumps, or they won't be good anymore. I'd rather analyse the code myself and find out the difference. But from the looks of it, it's just cowering database is total crap.
@geezup, could you make a scan of a NGP PCB (one game with save support) so we can see if it uses SRAM?
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ geezup on 18th April 2008, 10:54 wrote:
Ok, we got it. ElBarto is right.
Check Dark Arms CRCs with saved game, and initialized. The initialized one, now matches the one in GoodCrap. I'll redump the rest later after initializing them from options menu.
DARK ARMS INITIALIZED.ngp 6F353F34
DARK ARMS INITIALIZED_2.ngp 6F353F34
DARK ARMS INITIALIZED_3.ngp 6F353F34
DARK ARMS INITIALIZED_4.ngp 6F353F34
DARK ARMS INITIALIZED_5.ngp 6F353F34
DARK ARMS INITIALIZED_6.ngp 6F353F34
DARK ARMS WITH SAVED GAME.ngp F2D54359 --> BAD
DARK ARMS WITH SAVED GAME_2.ngp FD70EB3A
DARK ARMS WITH SAVED GAME_3.ngp FD70EB3A
DARK ARMS WITH SAVED GAME_4.ngp FD70EB3A
DARK ARMS WITH SAVED GAME_5.ngp FD70EB3A
DARK ARMS WITH SAVED GAME_6.ngp FD70EB3A
See pic of PCB attached.
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ Yakushi~Kabuto on 18th April 2008, 12:01 wrote:
Hummm :s
Seems to be flash memory, so the save is likely flashed into it.
Now the question is: Is initialized rom image identical to factory sealed image?
The only way to know that is to buy some factory sealed carts of course.
For instance I know an initialized FDS disk image is NOT 1:1 identical to factory sealed disk image.
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ geezup on 18th April 2008, 12:39 wrote:
yep... unfortunately i don't have any sealed game
But i guess it could be the same. Disks are always more susceptible to changes than flash memory. Unless there is some data initially in that flash. If it comes blank, there should be no difference.
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ kazumi213 on 18th April 2008, 15:08 wrote:
I don't know anything about NGPx ROMs, but if your specific save data was causing the problem, how is it possible that your first dump matched
Dark Arms - Beast Buster 1999 (JUE) [h1]
according to GoodNGPx? Both dumps had *exactly* same save data?
(This seems to be happening to "Metal Slug - 1st Mission (JUE) [a2]" too)
Also, I would like to know how the dump is being "initialized": is there a clear block of data becoming padded to 00s or FFs after initializing? Could the dump work with such block removed? Can you find the block (if any) in the initially matching dumps? Is it due to them not having user save data?
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ geezup on 18th April 2008, 17:36 wrote:
Something interesting about Metal Slug:
METAL_SLUG_CHANGED_OPTIONS.ngp B286B1D6 -> seems bad
METAL_SLUG_CHANGED_OPTIONS_2.ngp 3A0284B7
METAL_SLUG_CHANGED_OPTIONS_3.ngp 3A0284B7
METAL_SLUG_CHANGED_OPTIONS_4.ngp 3A0284B7
Previous ones were :
Metal Slug - 1s Mission.ngp F8B1C5FE
Metal Slug - 1s Mission_2.ngp F8B1C5FE
Metal Slug - 1s Mission_3.ngp F8B1C5FE
Metal Slug - 1s Mission_4.ngp F8B1C5FE
What i changed were the game options: difficulty leves, lives and music
MS doesn't have an initialize option, and "remembers" settings, so they are saved somewhere.
So i would say, all [aX] in GoodNGPx are crap. We can get a ton of different Metal Slug dumps by simply playing around with game options. I would say all games that have the "initialize" option will match factory sealed ones, but not the rest, like Metal Slug (who knows what were the initial options for the game)
Just tried Metal Slug with NeoPop, and keeps the changes i made correctly.
About Dark Arms - Beast Buster 1999 (JUE) [h1] matching my initial dump, it can be caused by choosing the default character name. There is a skull where you can save at the very begining, so, there are many chances that everything was like that I don't remember. As you see, with the new changes, using my nick for the character name, it doesn't match anymore.
See attached pics to see all diffs in both files for Mslug and Dark Arms (note my nik in the saved gamed in this one):
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ Yakushi~Kabuto on 18th April 2008, 20:33 wrote:
I agree, they're bad dumps with random settings saved back into flash memory.So i would say, all [aX] in GoodNGPx are crap. We can get a ton of different Metal Slug dumps by simply playing around with game options.
I wouldn't be too sure. I am too lazy to search right now, but I posted somewhere the small byte differences between an initialized "zelda 1" disk (FDS) and a factory sealed disk. The difference is very small but it does exist. Chances are it could happen for NGP too, the only way to tell for sure is thro trial, by dumping factory sealed carts , the only dumps that will be sure to be correct are those who don't write back into memory, if any exists.I would say all games that have the "initialize" option will match factory sealed ones, but not the rest, like Metal Slug (who knows what were the initial options for the game)
BTW, should we make this public? Maybe some people out there can help on the matter.
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ michal99 on 18th April 2008, 20:59 wrote:
The NGP carts cost a few $ and are new and sealed last time I saw some on Play-asia.com. I think that should not be a problem, the only problem is the dumper unit.I agree, they're bad dumps with random settings saved back into flash memory.
I wouldn't be too sure. I am too lazy to search right now, but I posted somewhere the small byte differences between an initialized "zelda 1" disk (FDS) and a factory sealed disk. The difference is very small but it does exist. Chances are it could happen for NGP too, the only way to tell for sure is thro trial, by dumping factory sealed carts , the only dumps that will be sure to be correct are those who don't write back into memory, if any exists.
BTW, should we make this public? Maybe some people out there can help on the matter.
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ geezup on 18th April 2008, 21:49 wrote:
I have the dumper (costed 110GBP shipped :O)...
BTW, if you are interested in getting one of those brand new SWCDX2 + Disk Dual, FFE stills sell them Brand new boxed... works great !
I'm still waiting a parcel with 10 NGPC games i bought from that seller back in Christmas. Luckily i got my cash back from paypal. So beware... after examining their feedback, tons of negatives from foreigners. So i would say it's only secure in the U.S. Has other nicks, so stay away from sellers from Tittusville, Florida.
Same seller: videogameswholesale, gameliquidation, maybe more
I would make it public. Maybe someone is willing to donate some sealed carts ? Or maybe there is someone else out there with the dumper and luckily one of my 15 games, but factory sealed. We have nothing to lose.
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Re: Help with Neo Geo Pocket Color REDUMPS \ geezup on 18th April 2008, 22:00 wrote:
i'm zeroing and FFing those setting on Mslug and trying them on emu.
Zeriong sets options to kids level, 0 lives, and music 0... doesn't look like that would be the default settings FFing, inserts trash for those values but they can be changed to good ones from the options menu.