************************************************************************ How to use the SMC files for the SNES without spending 300 pounds on a copier with 16M of memory : ************************************************************************ Section 1 - How to hack new games into an old cartridge. Section 2 - Multi Game cartridge. Section 3 - Cheap copier ( under 100 pounds ) All of these options require no modifications or upgrades to the SNES. If this file is found on its own, or if you have any quetions, please leave a message for Bill Door @ Minders Den 0293 565393. Section 1 Crude but it's a start -------------------------------- This only works with 4M games and does rely on you having access to all sorts of electronics equipment and tools. One of the problems with copying games is that the memory devices used cost 8.50 pounds for each 4M. Although these devices can be re-used and provide permanent games cartridges. The basic idea is to take a cartridge to bits and swap to game ROM with your own EPROM as follows : 1) You will require, a 27C4001 EPROM and programmer, soldering equipment, several 32 pin IC sockets and a long pin 32 pin IC socket. 2) First open a suitable 4M cartridge. This should be one that contains a single 4M ROM. If you don't know what I'm talking about, stop now. To open the cartridge you should use a 'System Zero' screwdriver, but needle nose pliers work. 3) Now for the tricky bit. De-solder and remove the ROM from the cartridge PCB. The easiest way to do this is to find an expert. Just be very careful. Now solder a socket into the vacant holes; plug the ROM back into the socket and test that the game still works. The board should be plugged in with the component side towards the back of the SNES. 4) Next you need to program the SMC file into the 27C4001 EPROM. First the SMC file is converted to a binary file using the program provided. This file is then copied to your programmer and the EPROM programmed. The file should exactly fit the device ( 512K bytes ). 5) The next problem is that SNES use two different pinouts for their ROM's. A few are JEDEC compatible and the EPROM will plug directly into the socket in the cartridge. The remainder use a Japanese ROM pinout as follows : EPROM ROM ROM EPROM ------------------ A19 A17 : 1 \__/ 32 : VCC VCC A16 A18 : 2 31 : *OE A18 A15 A15 : 3 30 : A19 A17 A12 A12 : 4 29 : A14 A14 A7 A7 : 5 28 : A13 A13 A6 A6 : 6 27 : A8 A8 A5 A5 : 7 26 : A9 A9 A4 A4 : 8 25 : A11 A11 A3 A3 : 9 24 : A16 *OE A2 A2 : 10 23 : A10 A10 A1 A1 : 11 22 : *CE *CE A0 A0 : 12 21 : D7 D7 D0 D0 : 13 20 : D6 D6 D1 D1 : 14 19 : D5 D5 D2 D2 : 15 18 : D4 D4 GND GND : 16 17 : D3 D3 ------------------ So you need to build an adapter socket. This consists of a 32 pin socket with long legs, plugged into a normal socket. So that when finished you have the EPROM on top plugged into a long pin socket, this is plugged into a normal socket, which is in turn plugged into the socket in the cartridge. I would strongly recommend 'turned pin' sockets. Some of the legs on the long pin socket must now be cut and linked. Cut short legs 1,2,24,30 and 31. Link pins as follows : Pin 1 on top socket to pin 30 on lower socket. Pin 2 on top socket to pin 24 on lower socket. Pin 24 on top socket to pin 32 on lower socket. Pin 31 on top socket to pin 1 on lower socket. Pin 32 on top socket to pin 2 on lower socket. Now check back through what you have done. Plug the EPROM into the top socket and plug the whole thing into the cartridge. The cartridge will now work with the new game, which can be changed for anouther game at any time. Too much hassle ? Read the next section. Section 2 Multi Game Cartridge ------------------------------- This is a basic PCB which replaces the cartridge and can hold up to four programs, stored in EPROM's. So you will need the facilities to program EPROM's. The cartridge holds up to eight EPROM's of 1,2,4 or 8M each. There is also a battery backed up RAM with a separate section for each game. First you will need to get hold of one of these PCB's. As soon as I have the full details I will post the PCB layout, schematic and parts list. If it is sorted out in time, there will be an accompanying file with a contact address. First the SMC files have to be converted into binary files for programming the EPROM's. The accompanying program does this conversion and splits the game into a separate file for each EPROM required. The EPROM's are then plugged into the cartridge, making a permanent game. The games within the cartridge are cycled each time the reset is pressed. If you get bored with a game you can erase it and re-program. Section 3 The cheapo copier ---------------------------- Not a DIY kit, but the basic unit costs under 100 pounds. This is a simpler replacement for the SMC copier. It does not have its own disc drive, but communicates with a PC via its printer port. Games and RAM contents can be loaded and saved to disc on the PC. The unit is only slightly larger the a standard cartridge and does not require any extra power. The basic unit has 8M of RAM and can hold up to 64M, with 64K of backed up RAM. There is an expansion socket for reading cartridges. Once power is removed from the SNES the stored program will be lost. If it is sorted out in time, there will be an accompanying file with a contact address.  |-THiS FiLE PASSED THR0UGH --- /\ ---.------ /\ ---*--. FiDONET 2:200/600.34-| | . * . // \ . // \ . FUJiNeT 7:102/102 | | I.C.S Swedish HQ // \ + // \ . 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