If I wanna make a NES repro cart, how do I figure out...

[REPO Man]

what donor cart to use and how much memory to use?

The last one sounds kinda dumb to ask, but the first part is very important, since most carts are very different.

A few of the repro carts I wanna make are Rockboard and Space Sheriff Gavan (which is a pretty good Metroid-style game).

[eSPy]

never tried it myself, but this looks like a pretty good guide for what you are after
http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/nes ... art_en.php

[REPO Man]

never tried it myself, but this looks like a pretty good guide for what you are after
http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/nes ... art_en.php

Thanks, but that doesn't answer my question.

I know how to make a cart, but what I don't know is how to figure out which donor cart to use. I mean, is there like some kind of list or something?

[Ziggy]

You have to use a donor cart that is the same mapper as the game you're making. As far as which memory to use, you just have to use the size that the CHR and PRG are. I'm unfamiliar with NES ROM sizes, but lets say one of the files are 256Kbits. Use a 256Kbit EPROM for it! Not sure what the name of that size EPROM is called? Just Google "256Kbit EPROM" and you'll find it. Even easier, use eBay. Search for "256 EPROM" and you'll easily find the answer.

Also, I recommend using these instead of donor carts....

http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.ph ... ucts_id=42

or

http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.ph ... ucts_id=43

The site even sells cases (in different colors) and lockout chips. There's many benefits to using one of these boards versus a real NES cart as a donor. For starters, you wont have to 'sacrifice' an NES game to make a repro.

Secondly, and this is probably the best part, those boards will take a standard EPROM pinout. You don't have to mess around rewiring pins that don't line up. Just drop the EPROMs in and solder, a million times easier!

You also don't have to worry about finding the correct donor game (which mapper to use). Just find out which mapper the game you're making uses and set the board to that mapper. I believe the boards use jumpers to set the different mappers.

[REPO Man]

Actually, I already know about the ones from RetroUSB, but they only support 4 different mappers, and both Rockboard and Galivan use different mappers (4 and 1 respectively, according to info from NEStopia).

Though I will, assumimg I get that far, use their cases. And if the game uses the right mappers and a donor isn't cheaper, I'll use the RetroUSB ones.

[REPO Man]

Update: turns out that Rockboard, which uses mapper 4 and doesn't use a battery save, can be made from a copy of Super Mario Bros 2, among a few others. I did some basic research. I checked http://www.nesreproductions.com and went to their page listing mapper 4 carts and SMB2, as well as SMB3, are on that list.

Though IDK if I wanna either use the cart's case or buy a new one.

But... I don't have a printer right now. At least not one with ink, anyway.

[PsoPhreak]

Sorry that I am unable to aid you in your quest. I am curious as to what field of science this relates to in a college route. Is this knowledge acquired by computer engineers?

[Ziggy]

This tool was newly posted on RHDN...

http://www.romhacking.net/utils/683/

Looks like a great tool for making NES carts. It will read the header for mapper info and whatnot (so you can choose a donor cart or know which mapper to use on a Retro Zone NES PCB). It will also remove the header and split the ROM for you, ready for burning.

I haven't used it yet, but it sounds wonderful.

edit: I just used it briefly. When you analyze a ROM, a little text box will give you a list of games that are of the same specs (could be used as donor carts) which is extremely useful.

It is super easy to use, I like it a lot. One thing worth noting: Unlike SNES Tool, this program will leave your original ROM intact. When you use SNES Tool to split a ROM (or add/delete header or whatever you're doing) it will destroy the original copy of the ROM (so usually you always have to make a copy of the ROM before using SNES Tool). With this program, it will leave your original ROM intact so you don't have to worry about making a copy or overwriting the original.

[jeffro11]

Cool link Ziggy! I'm currently using uCon64 with the frontend, it tells me all the info as well, but not what I can use as donors! Thanks!.

[Ziggy]

Again, I would like to suggest using the new NES PCBs from retrousb.com over using donor carts for a few reasons. For starters, you don't have to destroy a NES game to make a repro. Also, your cart will be brand new (new pins). Probably the best thing is that the pinout will match an EPROM so you it's a direct drop in. You don't have to mess around with rewiring pins.