custom firmware for sega flashback 2018

[rrifonas]

@rrifonas How did you get in to the firmware to change it..? or did you get into the .img file. you said you can't debug the emulator cause of no shh,you mean no Uart right no shh,Putty shell..??.If a Uart is on the board the traces of it will go to its CPU.

Do you have TheC64 Mini...I have 2 of them. One is the
Pre-order model I got on 29 march 2018 and the other one I have has a working uart and I have put all the American games on that are missing from the UK model.it comes with 64 games but you can put 150 games on it.

They must of used a developing board to make the firmware before making the hardware,the C64 Mini use the A20-OLinuXino-LIME2
https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/A20/A20-OLinuXino-LIME2/open-source-hardware
They made the firmware first for theC64 Mini then made the hardware.

So dose the emulator have it own partition but it only 10 mb,one way of stopping hacking.. never heard of it before.TheC64 Mini has one partition and the games can be changed using its uart.

Unless they made a custom board for it first but you make the firmware first to see what works and what don't.
Whats the CPU,MMU and memory and that of the MD Console 2018...?

The device has an USB interface near the power port which can be used with the Rockchip tools. It's possible to dump the firmware, format the NAND and update the device. There is another set of pins in the board, but everyone that tried to use it says it's not the UART port either, so no debugging interface.
The Atgames Flashback 2018 uses a Rockchip RK3066 CPU (dual-core 1.5GHz), with 256MB RAM and a 256MB NAND. I've detailed the partitions in another post, but the OS partition has around 14MB and the emulator partition has 8MB in the Genesis Flashback and 10MB in the Legends Flashback so there is no room for improvements. The partitioning on these devices is very clever, allowing AtGames to only change the emulators and roms, keeping the OS partition intact. This is particularly good for updates, as it is almost impossible to brick the device - if the update fails, just run it again.

I don't that the C64 mini or any other mini 'home computer'. Only the mainstream devices (NES mini, SNES mini, PS Classic, Neo Geo Mini) and the Atgames devices as I'm a huge Sega fan.

 

[spanner]

I have found a development board... using the Rockchip RK3066.This has a Mali-400MP4 GPU but I don't know if the MD Flashback 2018 does or not maybe someone could answer that question.. what GPU does it have...?

https://www.hotmcu.com/marsboard-rockchip-rk3066-development-board-p-64.html

MarsBoard RK3066 contains CM-RK3066 and SOM-RK3066, SOM-RK3066 is OSHW and PCB files are available for study, learn, modification, re-production.

CM-RK3066 is System on Chip module, which contains Rockchip RK3066 Dual Core Cortex-A9 processor, Power managment Unit TPS659102, Ethernet PHY LAN8720A, 1GB DDR3 memory and 8GB NAND Flash. All RK3066 signals are available on 2 connectors x 100 pin and 1 connector x 40 pin with 1.27mm picth.

Features

• SoC – Rockchip RK3066 ARM Cortex A9 Dual-Core CPU @ 1.6GHz + Mali-400MP4 GPU
• System Memory – 1GB DDR3 DRAM
• Storage – 8GB Nand Flash
• Ethernet – 10/100 Mbps
• Connector - 2 connectors x 100pin, 1 connector x 40pin(No welding)
• Size - 70 x 58mm

SOM-RK3066 is evaluation board based on CM-RK3066 module and is routed on 2 layers only. SOM-RK3066 is done to explore all features of RK3066 but the files are available and customers can tailor it to their needs.

Reference design for SOM-RK3066 with HDMI, LCD, CTP, Audio Out, Camera, 10/100M Ethernet,USB-OTG,and 4 USB hosts is available with PADS9.5, Protel99SE, AD, PCB files, so everyone can modify and tailor to his needs.

Features

• Connectors to accomodate CM-RK3066
• 10/100M Ethernet connector
• USB hosts x 4
• USB-OTG
• LCD connector (remove U2) support HY050CTP(800x480), HY070CTP(800x480), HY070CTP-HD(1024x600 RGB interface only), HY101CTP (1024x600 RGB interface only)
• CTP, Capacitive touch
• HDMI connector supported 1080p@60Hz
• Camera connector
• Audio Out
• MIC input (No welding Microphones)
• IR Remote (No welding IR receiver)
• SD-MMC card connector
• 4 buttons for Android apps
• USB Debug terminal (USB to UART with CP2102)
• RTC Battery connector
• One UEXT connector
• Power supply 5V/2A input, 5.2mm(ext. diameter) x 2.1mm (int. diameter) barrel plug
• Size 105 x 78mm

 

[spanner]

I just found this on github,did you know about this...? https://github.com/StupidInvaders/AtGames-Genesis-Megadrive-SD-Mod

(I have found a development board... using the Rockchip RK3066.This has a Mali-400MP4 GPU but I don't know if the MD Flashback 2018 does or not maybe someone could answer that question.. what GPU does it have...? The c64 Mini has the same GPU Mali-400MP4.)

The OS (Linux) SegaMD2018 using is probably Buildroot... https://buildroot.org cause its partition is only 14Mb so it would make sense.

 

[WD_GASTER2]

rk3066 all use the same gpu. Hence the SOC term
before you ask, no the images for the marsboard can not be ported due to the lack of ram and storage.

 

[rrifonas]

I just found this on github,did you know about this...? https://github.com/StupidInvaders/AtGames-Genesis-Megadrive-SD-Mod

(I have found a development board... using the Rockchip RK3066.This has a Mali-400MP4 GPU but I don't know if the MD Flashback 2018 does or not maybe someone could answer that question.. what GPU does it have...? The c64 Mini has the same GPU Mali-400MP4.)

The OS (Linux) SegaMD2018 using is probably Buildroot... https://buildroot.org cause its partition is only 14Mb so it would make sense.

I've seen this github (first time) and it uses a different approach to read the roms from the SD Card. The author modded the rootfs partition and removed the mapping to /rom from fstab and created a link to the SD Card.
My custom firmware uses a different approach, I overmount the /rom partition to the SD Card using an existing script in the /emulator partition. The advantage of overmount is that I can control the behavior using a file, and you can revert it just deleting this file.

 

[Ryu82]

Hi there, is it possible to get a fullscreen with the flashback 2018 system? And lower the resoltion or add some blur filter? I think the graphics looks heavy pixaleted.

Thank you

 

[spanner]

ATGAMES stands for.. - "At the Top of our GAMES... really...

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

rk3066 all use the same gpu. Hence the SOC term
before you ask, no the images for the marsboard can not be ported due to the lack of ram and storage.

I know that.. its has the same size Nand 256MB as the C64 Mini the only different between them is the CPU, theC64 Mini is A7 and thats a A9 and the theC64 Mini Nand has 2 partition one for Uboot and the other for system and games and you can use Putty on it so its more open to modding.

Still don't understand why the emulator has it own partition,one way of stopping you from updating the emulator and putting other emulators on it and use it as a multi system,its not a RPI3 is it so why would I want too,all the Linux Mini's and Linux consoles I have I use them for what they are mean to be not make them play other systems.Like how you can play other systems on RetroArch on the PS1 Classic..I don't use it, I don't see the point.I got the PS1 to Play Playstation 1 games.

I have always thought that making a system that runs one emulator to replicate a retro system is a good idea, the old retro systems hardware will not be around or work forever it has to be replace eventually.

I don't get why Atgames added Master System and Game Gear games too when its a Mega Drive and the crappy Bonus games,this is hopefully is there last Genesis console.Make you thing there 85 Mega Drive games on it when there is not only about 45, its come from the MD Classic Console in 2009.
I feel sorry for Sega and what a stupid idiot they have been,we will see how many MD Minis sell if there rep has been damaged cause of Atgames.

Atgames is run like its a Chinese company, cheap low quality products but it would is CEO is Ping-Kang (PK) Hsiung, PhD. CEO and Founder.It was conceived in China and it Head office is in Los Angels to make it sound less connected to China. All its stuff is made in Shenzhen, China.
The connection Atgames has to Sega was that Ping-Kang was Senior Advisor to the Board of the Sega Corporation in Japan.

 

[spanner]

I noticed that if you save a Sega/Mega CD game with Picodrive it don't work, you try too run it and it goes be the menu screen,it works with all other systems, so dose saves work with Genesis Plus GX on Sega/Mega CD..?

 

[spanner]

I just tried to add a CHD game to MD2018 and its not running,I only added CHD only, its a copy of Batman Returns mega CD,do I need to add it to a cue file of something, trying to get Genesis Plus GX to work with them..?

I was thinking.. The Mega CD BIOS didn't come up only a notice... "Game is not working right, Press A to go back to menu" has Genesis Plus GX got the EU Mega CD BIOS..? if a US Sega CD works then no it don't..?????

This is how I converted the cue+bin to CHD go to 4 minutes in..

C:\Users\Nick\Desktop\CHD>for /R %i in (*.cue *.gdi) do chdman createcd -i "%i"
-o "%~ni.chd"

C:\Users\Nick\Desktop\CHD>chdman createcd -i "C:\Users\Nick\Desktop\CHD\
BATMANRETURNS.CUE" -o "BATMANRETURNS.chd"
chdman - MAME Compressed Hunks of Data (CHD) manager 0.205 (mame0205)
Output CHD: BATMANRETURNS.chd
Input file: C:\Users\Nick\Desktop\CHD\BATMANRETURNS.CUE
Input tracks: 21
Input length: 46:52:11
Compression: cdlz (CD LZMA), cdzl (CD Deflate), cdfl (CD FLAC)
Logical size: 311,031,348
Compression complete ... final ratio = 82.5%


You can use your SD card on the PS1 Classic,all you need is a SD card reader and plug it into USB port 2 and look for the Mega CD games in RetroArch and select on one to play it... I use my SD card like a USB Stick and it don't need a USB Hub. Its a 3.0 ANKER SD card Reader.

 

[DoctorEvil8]

I just tried to add a CHD game to MD2018 and its not running,I only added CHD only, its a copy of Batman Returns mega CD,do I need to add it to a cue file of something, trying to get Genesis Plus GX to work with them..?

I was thinking.. The Mega CD BIOS didn't come up only a notice... "Game is not working right, Press A to go back to menu" has Genesis Plus GX got the EU Mega CD BIOS..? if a US Sega CD works then no it don't..?????

This is how I converted the cue+bin to CHD go to 4 minutes in..

C:\Users\Nick\Desktop\CHD>for /R %i in (*.cue *.gdi) do chdman createcd -i "%i"
-o "%~ni.chd"

C:\Users\Nick\Desktop\CHD>chdman createcd -i "C:\Users\Nick\Desktop\CHD\
BATMANRETURNS.CUE" -o "BATMANRETURNS.chd"
chdman - MAME Compressed Hunks of Data (CHD) manager 0.205 (mame0205)
Output CHD: BATMANRETURNS.chd
Input file: C:\Users\Nick\Desktop\CHD\BATMANRETURNS.CUE
Input tracks: 21
Input length: 46:52:11
Compression: cdlz (CD LZMA), cdzl (CD Deflate), cdfl (CD FLAC)
Logical size: 311,031,348
Compression complete ... final ratio = 82.5%


You can use your SD card on the PS1 Classic,all you need is a SD card reader and plug it into USB port 2 and look for the Mega CD games in RetroArch and select on one to play it... I use my SD card like a USB Stick and it don't need a USB Hub. Its a 3.0 ANKER SD card Reader.

Genesis Plus needs the Bios files in the same folder location as the game. All my sega CD CHD games run.

--------------------- MERGED ---------------------------

Genesis Plus needs the Bios files in the same folder location as the game. All my sega CD CHD games run.

My bios files are named bios_CD_E.BIN bios_CD_J.BIN and bios_CD_U.BIN for Europe, Japan and US regions.

 

[spanner]

OK Thanks for replying.. I have them in Kega Fusion,I copy them from that,do it need the BIOS Roms for 32x too, I just tried Space Harrier 32X.bin and Doom 32X.bin and it didn't run them too..?

 

[spanner]

Just got the Sega/Mega CD games working with cue+bin,I thought Genesis Plus GX couldn't play them,its working fine here,still have the lag in PAL games. But you can save your game now.. On Picodrive you can't.

Just got Ground Zero Texas working and Disc 2 is working,I am able to swap discs..

 

[DoctorEvil8]

OK Thanks for replying.. I have them in Kega Fusion,I copy them from that,do it need the BIOS Roms for 32x too, I just tried Space Harrier 32X.bin and Doom 32X.bin and it didn't run them too..?

Genesis Plus won't run 32x, only Picodrive can.

 

[spanner]

Genesis Plus won't run 32x, only Picodrive can.

OK I did use Pico but you can't save Mega CD games,very odd you can't.don't know why,so I have to use GPGX so I can use saves in Mega CD games.

 

[spanner]

Genesis Plus GX don't have 32x emulation is because the Game Cube and Wii was not powerful enough to emulate it so its was never added.They never thought of it been ported to other platforms.

 

[spanner]

Is there a old update where the save works on Sega CD Picodrive..?

 

[ckzero1]

@rrifonas I've been watching and reading through this thread for quite some time now and I was wondering about some firmware statements (PAL delays and stuff) regarding the
original AT-Games firmware. Since I'm from Europe (Germany to be exact) the Retail of the Mega Drive Flashback HD 2019 (SD-Slot Version which comes along with 82 games due to
Rating-Restrictions) has been distributed by "Millenium2000" over here. However, they offer the original firmware upgrade (which also gives you SD-Card access) on their website.

(I can't post any links right now as I'm a new registered user...but I would if someone tells me how to share the link.)

(Use google and search for "millennium play flashback hd" -> it's the 3rd hit -> retro-spielekonsolen)

So here's the thing: Could this firmware (which I have already installed on my FB-HD) be slightly different from the ones you guys have discussed here before...???
For example: after installing this version, there still IS the original Mega-Drive-Logo (Not Genesis) attached and there is still NO "About-Section" being added to the Interface of the console.

So what I was thinking is: Maybe you can give a check on this firmware and compare it to the one you've built the custom firmware with...? Maybe there are some slight differences to it
which could help. I actually don't quite think so but still...it's worth a try as it seems to be a localized European (maybe therefore specifically compatible PAL games) upgrade.

That's just a guess...as I'm still all new to this kind of stuff you're doing here. (Sadly I still can't manage to get Sega CD-Games working on my FB-HD...a foolproof step-by-step tutorial would be awesome btw )

However, keep in touch with me, I'd really appreciate it!

 

[spanner]

This one..?? https://retro-spielkonsolen.de/sega-mega-drive-sd/

 

[rrifonas]

@rrifonas I've been watching and reading through this thread for quite some time now and I was wondering about some firmware statements (PAL delays and stuff) regarding the
original AT-Games firmware. Since I'm from Europe (Germany to be exact) the Retail of the Mega Drive Flashback HD 2019 (SD-Slot Version which comes along with 82 games due to
Rating-Restrictions) has been distributed by "Millenium2000" over here. However, they offer the original firmware upgrade (which also gives you SD-Card access) on their website.

(I can't post any links right now as I'm a new registered user...but I would if someone tells me how to share the link.)

(Use google and search for "millennium play flashback hd" -> it's the 3rd hit -> retro-spielekonsolen)

So here's the thing: Could this firmware (which I have already installed on my FB-HD) be slightly different from the ones you guys have discussed here before...???
For example: after installing this version, there still IS the original Mega-Drive-Logo (Not Genesis) attached and there is still NO "About-Section" being added to the Interface of the console.

So what I was thinking is: Maybe you can give a check on this firmware and compare it to the one you've built the custom firmware with...? Maybe there are some slight differences to it
which could help. I actually don't quite think so but still...it's worth a try as it seems to be a localized European (maybe therefore specifically compatible PAL games) upgrade.

That's just a guess...as I'm still all new to this kind of stuff you're doing here. (Sadly I still can't manage to get Sega CD-Games working on my FB-HD...a foolproof step-by-step tutorial would be awesome btw )

However, keep in touch with me, I'd really appreciate it!

This update is the same update atgames released last December., and it's intended to only unlock the SD Card option. This update replace "data" partition and modify one file to enable SD Card support. The emulator partition is not touched here.

I've released one custom firmware based on the original European firmware (I'm not sure if I removed it or not) and the issues with PAL games are worse than with the current firmware...

I think Sega CD support was discussed extensively on the 2 threads covering this model.
You need to have the BIOS files (bios_CD_E.bin, bios_CD_J.bin and bios_CD_U.bin) in the GAME folder, and the games need to be in .cue/.bin format with no spaces (you may need to confirm the filename in the cue file), and/or in .chd format if you are using the custom firmware with Genesis Plus GX (the original firmware can't see CHD files). The support for .cue/.bin is a collateral effect of the original firmware support to .bin files in the SD Card.

 

[ckzero1]

@spanner

Exactly, that's the website I was talking about.