custom firmware for sega flashback 2018

[spanner]

I was thinking about... this can only run one core, and was wondering if you could make a script in it that would swap the cores round by pressing 2 buttons on the controller, it would have to restart every time...?

I noticed in the cfw update img file the pico core is called Genesis Plus GX, I guess to fool it into thinking it that core when its not, it the pico core.

I think this would be a good way of swapping cores then you would not need to update the console to swap cores.

This idea came from PCUAE, THEC64 and adding evtest event keys to it like CTRL-1 loads the VICE C64 emulator, yes you can run VICE on THEC64 Mini or Maxi now..

 

[spanner]

Another idea would be you could overmount the core file with the one on the SD Card and use a script to switch between them,
using a Bind Mount to mount over the core file over the top of the one in the firmware.
I have been doing this on PCUAE(its a mod for THEC64 Mini/Maxi and THEVIC20)... https://thec64community.online/thread/501/project-carousel-usb
but I don't know how to connect this to a UART any info on it...?
I have my THEVIC20 connected to a UART so I can see what its doing in the background when running PCUAE.

I noticed in the updated file it has a menu_launcher.sh script, is that executed every time you run the machine..? if so then I could put the over mount line in there but I need to know where the core is and what partition..?
then to change the core all you do is change the core file on the SD Card and it will load that core on boot up.

 

[spanner]

Yes, it's possible to that but it's not so easy as this device is running Linux (no ADB support) and the partitions as read-only:
1) You will need to create your own rom partition and update file, or flash it using AndroidTool
2) The partition is SquashFS, this is a compressed read-only format for Linux. You will need to have a Linux machine or install the Linux subsystem for Windows 10 to create a new partition using mksquashfs
3) The new partition should not exceed 60MB. Since it's a compressed format, it may be larger, but the .img file to create the upload for flash should not exceed 60MB (61,440KB). If the partition is larger, it will break the 'next' partition, which is the /emulator, soft-bricking the device. You can fix it flashing back the original rom and emulator partitions using the right parameters
4) Add or remove games is quite simple. There is a all-games.ini file, you only need to edit it

This is only an overview of the process but it's not that difficult to do if you have the tools and some patience.

Replying @D-an-W and @kublai:
This device has several partitions, being the following the most significant:
/rootfs -> Base OS files (14MB). It's the same for all consoles (Genesis FB, MD FB, Legends FB)
/rom -> Where the ROMs, box arts and gamelist are stored (60MB)
/emulator -> Menu (retromenu), Emulator (retroplayer) and cores are stored in this partition (8MB in Genesis FB/MD FB, 10MB in Legends FB). My custom firmware replaces this partition. It has a change in retromenu to read all extensions, and/or replace Genesis Plus GX core with Picodrive from ModMyClassic
/data -> Has control files (retroplayer.ini, bgm_config.ini, play-data-recent.ini and sdcard_config.ini) and save states/sram files. Atgames update replaces this partition, writing a new sdcard_config.ini to enable SD Card. This partition is the same for Genesis /MD FB. The size for this partition should be around 160MB but it looks like Atgames made it smaller inside the OS; The explanation is that the OS creates a /tempfs partition for temporary cache. I didn't see the actual size in Genesis / MD FB but in Legends FB this partition has only 4MB and the rest of the NAND space is available as 'tempfs' to decompress the ROMs.

This thread have the links for the EU/UK firmware. I edited the other thread with all links but I will do the same with the post in this thread as well.

Sorry for the lengthy post.

If the emulator partition is 60 MB why is the sega_update.img 138 MB...?

 

[spanner]

Well this is my idea, overmounting the core file with a file called core.so thats on the SD Card so all you do to change cores is replace the file with a different core so you do not need to flash the device everytime.
This is what's in menu_launcher.sh file...
See what I have added...

mount --bind /media/usbhd-mmcblk0p1/core.so /emulator/genesis_plus_gx_libretro.so

It will not see any different because the file is over mounted, so will see it as if the file is on the firmware.
what would be a good idea is get it to use evtest and getting it to use 2 Buttons on the controller to switch between cores, I do a lot of overmounting in PCUAE to get it to do what I want.

#!/bin/sh
if [ -e /media/usbhd-mmcblk0p1/mount_sd.ini ]
then
    su -
    umount /rom
    mount /media/usbhd-mmcblk0p1/rom /rom
    mount --bind /media/usbhd-mmcblk0p1/core.so /emulator/genesis_plus_gx_libretro.so
fi

if [ -e /media/usbhd-mmcblk0p1/retroplayer.ini ]
then
    cp -f /media/usbhd-mmcblk0p1/retroplayer.ini /data/retroplayer.ini
fi

while :
do
    cd /emulator
    startx ./retromenu
done

 

[spanner]

It works... I mangage to make the sega_update.img file and add my mount blind line in it and it overmounted the Genesis Plus GX with Picodrive so if I want to play a Game Gear game or 32X game I just swap cores on the sd card...

 

[DoctorEvil8]

It works... I mangage to make the sega_update.img file and add my mount blind line in it and it overmounted the Genesis Plus GX with Picodrive so if I want to play a Game Gear game or 32X game I just swap cores on the sd card...

Very cool. Can you provide instructions on what a simpleton like me would need to do to get this going?

 

[Wesley0]

When it updates, every time you reboot, it will ask to update. again Say no. It's likely because the update file is still on the SD card. Once the update is done, take the SD card back to your PC and delete the update file.

I'm not getting that option. Just keeps updating over and over again.

 

[spanner]

Very cool. Can you provide instructions on what a simpleton like me would need to do to get this going?

Info is here... on how to edit the sega_update.img file... http://atgamesgenesis.wikidot.com/wiki:hardware-genesis-flashback-2018, I have added stuff there from this forum and how I edited the sega_update.img file.

I post more info on the emulator core idea, once I am finished and share my sega_update.img.

 

[spanner]

Does anyone know where the music is kept on the console, the music file that is playing in the background...?

 

[rrifonas]

Does anyone know where the music is kept on the console, the music file that is playing in the background...?

/emulator/res/audio/SegaBGM.ogg

 

[valdeadz]

Hey, I'm late to the party and seems like I missed the latest Sega Flashback HD 2018 firmware update that allows the use of the SD card...can anyone share this file?
Thanks!

 

[valdeadz]

Found one - look for Official Reign's YouTube channel, this video: "How to add Firmware Update/Sega Genesis Flashback HD 2018".
Scroll down to the comments, expand the correct comment thread and you'll have a link to the img file.
Awesome.

 

[Blasphmort]

Hey, I've searched all over the internet and couldn't find any solution for my problem.
Few days ago i bought from local auction site a mega drive flashback with 85 games and a SD slot. The problem is that after AtGames logo screen was goin black. after flashing it with cfw system finally booted... but the problem is that even if i take out SD card... there's no build in games at all. It seems that previous owner somehow wiped it out completly. The question is, is it possible to get from somewhere md firmware that would contain all the missing files? sorry for my noob question but I honestly have no idea how does it work and if it's even possible to get them back in a build in memory. Thanks in advance for any kind of help.

 

[The Beatle]

Atgames released a new update for the Genesis Flashback HD 2018 last week (v20190226).
The issue with PAL games seems fixed (I've only tested Sonic 2 for Master System and Sonic CD) and the games are running even better in my opinion. The scanline filter is much better than the older version. The core was not changed but they've implemented the improvements from the latest update for the Legends Flashback emulator.

I've made a custom firmware based on this new update in case anyone want to try it.
Features:
-> Genesis Plus GX to load Genesis, Master System, Game Gear and Sega CD games from SD Card OR Picodrive to load Genesis, Master System, Sega CD and 32x
-> Support to mount the games from the SD Card
-> Game Genie support won't work with this update as Atgames changes the emulator and most of the settings for retroplayer.ini are now being read from a read-only file in the /emulator partition
-> The European Firmware is based on the US version but I've replaced the assets, the "About" section will not be displayed as it's the US firmware
-> This update replaces the data partition. Save states stored in the console will be deleted. Backup them to the SD Card before starting the update

Genesis Flashback HD 2018 - custom firmware based on FB3680_v2.0.1

Genesis Flashback HD 2018 - custom firmware based on FB3680_v2.0.1 (Picodrive)
Mega Drive Flashback HD 2018 - custom firmware based on the US FB3680_v.2.01
Mega Drive Flashback HD 2018 - custom firmware based on the US FB3680_v.2.01 (Picodrive)​

If the controllers stop responding, you may need to pair them again:
-> Turn off the console and the controller
-> Press A+UP and turn on the controller; The blue light will start blinking
-> Turn on the console, the controller will sync

To mount the rom partition in the SD Card:
-> Create a file mount_sd.ini in the root of the SD Card
-> Copy the backup from your 'rom' partition a 'rom' folder in the root of the SD Card
-> Removing the SD Card and rebooting the device will revert to the original partition
-> Renaming/deleting mount_sd.ini will also revert to the original partition

EDIT: Added firmware with Picodrive replacing Genesis Plus GX

In order for the roms to work, do they still need to be in bin format??? not md, smd, gg or sms format???

 

[leroyman]

Hi there folks, ive just picked up the at games mage drive flashback with sd slot, at games seem to have removed the firmware download for this version from their website, could anyone point me in the right direction for a firmware update to allow the sd card to be visible in the menu. Im running the Eu version if that make a difference now.

Thank you all for any pointers

 

[maxgi76]

I think you are only using the .bin file (1st track) so device is not finding the .cue file or the audio tracks. It's important to notice that Genesis Plus GX only support .bin+.cue or .chd files. If your audio tracks are in mp3 format, they will not work.
For Sonic CD, the "Past" music is PCM, they don't use Audio CD tracks.

Hi, could you suggest me where to find the right megacd bios files to insert with the custom firmware version picodrive in order to run the megacd games?

 

[hossbags2]

Info is here... on how to edit the sega_update.img file... http://atgamesgenesis.wikidot.com/wiki:hardware-genesis-flashback-2018, I have added stuff there from this forum and how I edited the sega_update.img file.

I post more info on the emulator core idea, once I am finished and share my sega_update.img.

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

Did you update and share your image file.....thanks...also can retroarchbbe updated to play Demons of Asteborg

 

[Rehpyc]

Dear people in here,

I've just been guided by MicroNut99 to this thread and hope that in here I might find the answer to a question I posted back in May over in that other thread. So here is my original question:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear all,

I'd like to back up the Nand of my 2019 Flashback Mega Drive, which I just got.
I see this has been achieved by WD_GASTER2 very early on, but how so eludes me.

I do not want to change the firmware of my device, which seems to be the actual main topic in this thread.

From the various comments in this thread, I've already gathered that my project may involve the use of rockchip-tools (but which ones?), the use of linux and potential soldering of the board.
But how this all comes together, I unfortunately fail to puzzle out ...

Would be great if you could help me out there or at least steer in the right direction!

P.S.: Had to remove all relevant links due to me being new to to the boards and not yet having access to such features. Sorry!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[VirgileVILE]

it's been a long time, but I wanted to come back to this weird lag with the sound ... After playing for a long time on the console, the impression I have is that this lag is settling in a progressive way: rewinding allows you to "reinitiate" this lag, but after a few minutes of playing we start to feel it a little more again. On the other hand, I don't really feel that enabling or disabling some options is really a big impact.

(I use the 2019 GX custom firmware by the way, thanks for this rrifonas.)

 

[Boden2409]

Can someone please help me. I've got a sega megadive flashback 2018 and ice tried to upgrade to the custom firmware. Evertime I start the console up it asks if I want to upgrade I press left to upgrade but it only gets about 3 quarters then goes back to the menu asking if I want to upgrade. I've tried this several times and I can't get it to work. Can anyone help me with this.