Making a SNES Reproduction Cart?

[Zevin_Mars]

Ok, So I'm interested in making reproduction carts of the following games that will run on my NTSC SNES. Yes, I know about Flash Carts or whatever, this is more about an OCD need having a physical copy of the game sitting in it's appropriate spot in my alphabetized collection than anything else... and partially because it's something I'm interested in learning how to do for some close friends of mine, but can't find any straight forward tutorials on it.

Ok, so the games I want to make repro copies of are:

• Terranigma
• Final Fantasy V*
• Live A Live*
• Seiken Densetsu 3*
• Fire Emblem: Genealogy of Holy-War*
• Fire Emblem: Thracia 776*

* Using the English Fan Translation

So...

1. Is this possible, are any of these games problematic? I know getting PAL copies of Terranigma to play on the NTSC SNES is kind of a finicky job that requires a lot of hoop jumping and such, is this something that would carry over onto my Reprocart?

2. Donor carts? What donor carts would these games need, how do I find this information out? Is this even a concern on the SNES? I know it is on the. NES

3. What is the process of putting the game on the cart, what sort of things do I need to buy up to do this?

4. How do I get labels made for my games? I've seen a Terranigma reproduction in the past that had a label designed to look like the style used on US games, despite there never being a US release, I'd something like that if possible. I'm sure I'd have to find someone with the graphic design know-how to whip these up, but once I get them made, how do I print them in a way that looks official and presentable?

Also, if I'm making a total ass out of myself and asking questions that don't make any sense, I'm sorry, I'm pretty green to the subject, but I'm genuinely interested in using this to bolster my personal library/collection in directions that aren't traditionally available.

Cheers,
Zevin

[Ziggy]

I am now against the use of donor carts. What I suggest to you is to get the Super Famicom carts of those games and put the English translations onto them. That way you don't have to destroy a game (the donor cart) to create the game you want. The PAL Terranigma cart is kinda expensive, but if you have the ability, getting the SFC cart and putting the NTSC-U hacked ROM on it would be cheaper.

Yes, if you're using donor carts, you do have to worry about which cart to get. Things like which mapper the game uses, if it uses SRAM and if so how much, etc. But if you get the SFC version of the repro you wanna make, you don't have to worry about any of this. You also don't have to worry about making any labels since the SFC will already have the appropriate label.

If you have to ask what the basic process is, then I'm assuming to don't have the necessary skills and/or equipment to do it. Do you know how to solder? If you don't, I wouldn't even attempt this until you get good at soldering. For the same reason I'm against the use of donor carts. If you care about these retro video games, then you should care about preserving them. That being the case, you don't want people using donor carts. And you don't want people making an attempt at a cart with no prior soldering skills (they'd likely ruin it). Sorry if this sounds insulting, that's not my intentions. So, do you know how to solder?

[Zevin_Mars]

I am now against the use of donor carts. What I suggest to you is to get the Super Famicom carts of those games and put the English translations onto them. That way you don't have to destroy a game (the donor cart) to create the game you want. The PAL Terranigma cart is kinda expensive, but if you have the ability, getting the SFC cart and putting the NTSC-U hacked ROM on it would be cheaper.

Yes, if you're using donor carts, you do have to worry about which cart to get. Things like which mapper the game uses, if it uses SRAM and if so how much, etc. But if you get the SFC version of the repro you wanna make, you don't have to worry about any of this. You also don't have to worry about making any labels since the SFC will already have the appropriate label.

If you have to ask what the basic process is, then I'm assuming to don't have the necessary skills and/or equipment to do it. Do you know how to solder? If you don't, I wouldn't even attempt this until you get good at soldering. For the same reason I'm against the use of donor carts. If you care about these retro video games, then you should care about preserving them. That being the case, you don't want people using donor carts. And you don't want people making an attempt at a cart with no prior soldering skills (they'd likely ruin it). Sorry if this sounds insulting, that's not my intentions. So, do you know how to solder?

No worries, and yes, I know how to Solder.

Getting an SFC Terranigma is a sinch though, so I may just put the NTSC-U hacked ROM on it like you said. Same for Final Fantasy V and Live A Live it seems. But at the same time, I don't know how to do that stuff either but I'm interested in learning if you can help, or point me in the direction of a good tutorial.

The two Fire Emblems were really pricey last I checked, I'm pretty sure Thracia 776 is still a hot item among collectors of that series. So cannibalizing a donor cart might be necessary on those two.

[Ziggy]

Ah, good. I just get worried when some one wants to start making repros and they have no prior experience with soldering. I have people admit to me that they threw out a cart because they screwed it up so bad. I cringe at the thought of that!

Yeah, the SFC Terranigma cart will be a lot easier for you. Last I checked, it goes for a lot cheaper than the PAL cart, and it will have the correct lockout chip on it already. With the PAL cart, you'll have to either modify your system with a 50/60Hz switch and a CIC off switch, or modify the cart. So the SFC cart ends up being easier to work with (unless your console is already modified and you don't mind spending the money).

And yes, FF5 and Live a Live were pretty cheap last time I checked (I'm actually about to pick up a FF5 cart myself). Most SFC carts are pretty cheap, actually. But as for the Fire Emblem games, I'm unaware of how much they go for. If they're expensive though, that doesn't exactly justify using a donor cart. Earthbound, for example, is an expensive SNES cart. But if I were to make a repro of it, it would be a pirate bootleg cart. Most people will frown upon this, especially collectors. I'm not here to tell you that you're wrong or anything though, just something to think about. If I have persuaded you to use authentic SFC carts for FF5, Live A Live and Terranigma instead of using donor carts, then I'll be a happy person.

Anyways, if you have a SFC and you wanna put the English translation on it, it's pretty simple in a nutshell. The game data (referred to as ROM) will be on one chip (a mask ROM). There are examples were the ROM will be split up between 2 or 3 mask ROMs, but to keep it simple for now, let's assume all the game data is on a single mask ROM. Basically, all you have to do is remove the mask ROM and replace it with memory that you programmed the translated version onto. There's a variety of what type of memory you can use, or have to use. Mainly, EPROM(s) or flash memory.

In order to program the memory, you'll need a programmer or have some one program them for you. Programmers can be affordable, or expensive. For example, you can get the Willem programmer for $20-50 (depending on where you get it from). I guess it depends if you plan on using it a lot, if it justifies investing in it.

[Zevin_Mars]

Ah, good. I just get worried when some one wants to start making repros and they have no prior experience with soldering. I have people admit to me that they threw out a cart because they screwed it up so bad. I cringe at the thought of that!

I got all my bad soldering out of me on Do-It-Yourself AM/FM radio kits back in high school!

Yeah, the SFC Terranigma cart will be a lot easier for you. Last I checked, it goes for a lot cheaper than the PAL cart, and it will have the correct lockout chip on it already. With the PAL cart, you'll have to either modify your system with a 50/60Hz switch and a CIC off switch, or modify the cart. So the SFC cart ends up being easier to work with (unless your console is already modified and you don't mind spending the money).

And yes, FF5 and Live a Live were pretty cheap last time I checked (I'm actually about to pick up a FF5 cart myself). Most SFC carts are pretty cheap, actually. But as for the Fire Emblem games, I'm unaware of how much they go for. If they're expensive though, that doesn't exactly justify using a donor cart. Earthbound, for example, is an expensive SNES cart. But if I were to make a repro of it, it would be a pirate bootleg cart. Most people will frown upon this, especially collectors. I'm not here to tell you that you're wrong or anything though, just something to think about. If I have persuaded you to use authentic SFC carts for FF5, Live A Live and Terranigma instead of using donor carts, then I'll be a happy person.

I guess I don't have the same ethical qualms about making an NTSC-U Reproduction of a game that never got a release outside of Japan that I do about making about making one of a game that got a wide English release. Different strokes I guess.

Anyways, if you have a SFC and you wanna put the English translation on it, it's pretty simple in a nutshell. The game data (referred to as ROM) will be on one chip (a mask ROM). There are examples were the ROM will be split up between 2 or 3 mask ROMs, but to keep it simple for now, let's assume all the game data is on a single mask ROM. Basically, all you have to do is remove the mask ROM and replace it with memory that you programmed the translated version onto. There's a variety of what type of memory you can use, or have to use. Mainly, EPROM(s) or flash memory.

In order to program the memory, you'll need a programmer or have some one program them for you. Programmers can be affordable, or expensive. For example, you can get the Willem programmer for $20-50 (depending on where you get it from). I guess it depends if you plan on using it a lot, if it justifies investing in it.

I only really plan on doing it for those 5 games for sure, some of my friends have expressed interest in it, but nothing concrete, so I may just pass on buying a programmer for now and just get someone else to do it for me one by one as I get a hold of the games, unless something changes.

[Ziggy]

If you have the soldering skills, you might wanna invest in a programmer. I mean, since you know how to solder, I assume you would be willing to make/hack other things that interest you. There's tons of projects that can require a burned IC. Like the hacked Saturn or Dreamcast BIOS. Or you can burn your own PS1 mod chip. Or the new mod chip for the SNES. Tons of stuff.

[driph]

Dredging up an old thread for relevance.

Is anyone making repro carts these days using all new materials, rather than gutting donor games?

[Atmapalazzo]

I too have a question about making a SNES Repro.

I was wondering if there was a guide on how to create reproduction carts like the FF5 cart currently being auctioned on the site. While I have the know how to do simple things like solder I am completely in the dark as to what materials I need and the process itself. Thanks ahead of time for any advice you can give me.

[darkcat]

Dredging up an old thread for relevance.

Is anyone making repro carts these days using all new materials, rather than gutting donor games?

retrousb does http://www.retrousb.com/ prices aren't too bad ether