Hacking EZ-FLASH Junior Kernel 1.03 and Firmware 3 released

[EZ-Flash2]

http:/www.ezflash.cn/download

This is the most stable and compatible version so far. All users are recommended to upgrade

Changelog

FW3 K1.03
Improved game compatibility
Added the support of MBC1M Multicart

K1.02
Fixed some logical error in last played game.

FW2 K1.01
Fixed some game compatibility
Optimize the limited number of files and directories
Fixed some file display issues
Added a Reading interface
Added a Loading interface
Added the support of MBC30 64KB SAVE
Added AUTO SAVE in SET tab
Checked = Backup the save to SD every time automatically when kernel booting up
Unchecked = Kernel will ask every time when kernel booting up, cancel backup may cause you to lose the last play record

Added last played game Press START in file browser to activate, Press A to launch, B to cancel.

 

[mariotaotao]

Thanks for the updates!
Is there a way to fast reset current loading game? I found it has to press the hard reset button on EZJ to reading the cartridge on SGB，the problem is when pressing the button, the cartridge do a full reset and the SGB cannot recognize the game if it has SGB extend stuff, like the artwork frames or enhance color, some multicart cartridge or flashcart can do it by pressing the reset button on SFC. I hope you can understand what I mean, it's not a bug anyway, just hoping the cartridge could run on other consoles with full compatibility. Thanks again for the hardwork

 

[EZ-Flash2]

Thanks for the updates!
Is there a way to fast reset current loading game? I found it has to press the hard reset button on EZJ to reading the cartridge on SGB，the problem is when pressing the button, the cartridge do a full reset and the SGB cannot recognize the game if it has SGB extend stuff, like the artwork frames or enhance color, some multicart cartridge or flashcart can do it by pressing the reset button on SFC. I hope you can understand what I mean, it's not a bug anyway, just hoping the cartridge could run on other consoles with full compatibility. Thanks again for the hardwork

you have to wait us to get a working sgb/2 set. it is too rare to find in China. the exist are holding in the collector's hand. anyway, just wait.

 

[Localhorst86]

Are there any plans to improve the menu speed? The menu feels rather slow and when scrolling pages, you can notice that the menu takes quite some while to populate the new page compared to other flashcards on the market which list the content pretty much instanteneous.

Are there any plans to include future feature enhancements like cheats or possibly even savestates?

 

[SmellyGhost]

Are there any plans to add support 4MB MBC30?

Unofficially MBC30 is capable of addressing 4MB of ROM similar to how it is capable of addressing 64KB of RAM. I can't say for certain if or when it would happen but I've heard talks of 4MB ROM hacks of games like Pokemon Crystal as double the ROM space would allow for quite a bit of expansion.

See this video for an example of 4MB MBC30:



Thanks!

 

[EZ-Flash2]

Are there any plans to add support 4MB MBC30?

Did I forget write it in the changelog?

 

[makho]

Did I forget write it in the changelog?

I tested it and 4MB MBC30 (MBC3) ROMs don't seem to work still, even on the newest firmware.

 

[SmellyGhost]

I tested it and 4MB MBC30 (MBC3) ROMs don't seem to work still, even on the newest firmware.

Like makho said the 4MB MBC30 test ROM does not pass even on the newest firmware.

Here is the result on the current firmware as you can see the upper half of banks cannot be addressed.

Here's the ROM file and its source code if you're interested in looking.

https://github.com/EricKirschenmann/MBC3-Tester-gb/releases/tag/v1.0

All it does is try to address 256 banks and draws a check mark for pass and an F for fail on the specific bank.

Thanks!

 

[EZ-Flash2]

I tested it and 4MB MBC30 (MBC3) ROMs don't seem to work still, even on the newest firmware.

where and what is this 4MB MBC30 game？ is it an official one? do other flashcards support it?

 

[makho]

where and what is this 4MB MBC30 game？ is it an official one? do other flashcards support it?

There are no games yet. The test file is linked above in Smelly-Ghost's post. The ROM works on actual hardware (MBC30 based flash cart with MBM29F033C "ROM" chip) but so far not on any flash carts. I've only tested carts with RTC since an equivalent MBC5 ROM should work fine. Everdrive X7 also fails.

 

[lore1190]

Hello, I have some problems with a game boy pocket. Most of the times it loops between the nintendo logo screen and the os init screen. The number of times it loops is variable, once it looped 6 times. Sometimes the nintendo logo is corrupted. I can upload a video showing the issue if needed.

 

[makho]

Hello, I have some problems with a game boy pocket. Most of the times it loops between the nintendo logo screen and the os init screen. The number of times it loops is variable, once it looped 6 times. Sometimes the nintendo logo is corrupted. I can upload a video showing the issue if needed.

That's a common issue with all Game Boy Pockets. You need to use fresh alkaline batteries (not NiMh) and the problem should go away (for a few hours). The problem is that the batteries in MGB consoles cannot keep up.

 

[roxas855tw]

That's a common issue with all Game Boy Pockets. You need to use fresh alkaline batteries (not NiMh) and the problem should go away (for a few hours). The problem is that the batteries in MGB consoles cannot keep up.

Yep , i have a Original Game Boy Color and encountered this issue.
I tried with akaline batteries and the problem solved

 

[D2DEZEL]

hello, why the borders of the super game boy does not work?

 

[kerobscure]

The menu is too slow and many times I receive the error "2 file system error", is there any plan to launch an update faster in the menus and better compatibility with the names?

 

[EZ-Flash2]

The menu is too slow and many times I receive the error "2 file system error", is there any plan to launch an update faster in the menus and better compatibility with the names?

a short filename will resolve both issues.
the menu browse feel slow because the interface is drawn line by line. a short filename line draws faster than a long filename line.

a short filename such as "口袋妖怪水晶.gbc", it just needs to draw SIX characters. but the "Pokemon Crystal.gbc" needs to draw FOURTEEN characters. it will cost two times time draw a single line.

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

hello, why the borders of the super game boy does not work?

Super gameboy full support is not listed in the production feature list for now. it will be added by future firmware upgrade.

 

[kerobscure]

a short filename will resolve both issues.
the menu browse feel slow because the interface is drawn line by line. a short filename line draws faster than a long filename line.

a short filename such as "口袋妖怪水晶.gbc", it just needs to draw SIX characters. but the "Pokemon Crystal.gbc" needs to draw FOURTEEN characters. it will cost two times time draw a single line.

The chinese copy of Everdrive GB don't have this problem (has other problems) and it's to much old than Ez-Flash Jr.

I think it's something to improve since not everyone uses Chinese characters.

 

[nashismo]

a short filename will resolve both issues.
the menu browse feel slow because the interface is drawn line by line. a short filename line draws faster than a long filename line.

a short filename such as "口袋妖怪水晶.gbc", it just needs to draw SIX characters. but the "Pokemon Crystal.gbc" needs to draw FOURTEEN characters. it will cost two times time draw a single line.

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



Super gameboy full support is not listed in the production feature list for now. it will be added by future firmware upgrade.

I am eagerly waiting for Super Gameboy Support!! Borders don't work and SGB enhanced palettes don't work either. Also, to make it work, I have to reset the Flash Junior 2 times.

Thank you very much, the rest of features work very good for me! Super Gameboy is the most important thing that needs to be seen

Also, don't waste too much time adding compatibility for GBC CPU revisions A,B,C, they are known to have problems with original games. Nintendo fixed these issues on CPU revisions D and E. Many games have bad sound (try Gargoyle's Quest) with revision A,B or C, and it is not an issue with Omega Junior Flashcart.

 

[DrunkenMonk]

Pretty specific issue I have here, how does the RTC emu work? As there's a particular issue with the RTC specifically with Pokemon Prism. It only occurs when the game is saving and it appears that the RTC is being wrapped upon saving, maybe due to some access problem whilst writing? As I'm unable to replicate the problem with an emulator. Or perhaps the RTC is truncated and doesn't work 1:1 like the original? Other games that use RTC appear to be fine, though they also don't use month/year like Prism.

 

[crymes]

I, too am seeing this RTC issue with Prism. Still happening on 1.04 FW4. The RTC functionality of this card is a big incentive for Prism players, so it would be great if we could get to the bottom of it.
Is there any good way to debug this from our end besides trying different emulators? This quirk appears to be unique only to Prism + EZ Flash Jr.