Homebrew NEO·DS Conversion Guide

TheSpade

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WARNING: It has been brought to my attention that MAMEDEV, the team that is owed thanks for the wonderful emulator, has been updating the NEO·GEO sets in recent updates. So, if your MAME ROMs are current, then you may find some games not working whatsoever. Hopefully, the upcoming v.2.1 (no date announced) will mirror those changes. Please heed this warning should you experience any non-working games.

Thought I'd toss a helpful guide on how to use NEO·DS in here, since it's been asked before, and the tutorials that I've found do not really show much. Here's how it goes. Also, do NOT ask where to acquire any ROMs. This act alone violates GBATemp's policies. As with DS and GBA ROMs, they too are protected by copyright laws. Thefefore, you may not legally possess any ROMs unless you physically possess the MVS cartridge(s) of the games that you wish to run using NEO·DS.

1. Download and extract the NEO·DS download somewhere you can remember. You can get the latest version (v.2.0 at the time of writing this guide) here.
2. You need to have the latest and complete MAME ROM set(s) in zipped form. Make certain that they are named correctly beforehand by the official build of MAME's standards, not NeoRAGEx or another emulator's compatible set.
3. In the folder, /NeoDS/NeoDSConvert/, copy the neogeo.zip within and leave it there. Do not decompress.
4. Copy the ROM you want to convert into the same folder. Again, do not decompress.
5. Using Command Prompt, navigate to the directory and type the following:

neodsconvert -biosX romname

Example: neodsconvert -bios3 cyberlip

X is the variable for which region you want the ROM to be. Here's what they are:

0 = Europe MVS (Ver. 2)
1 = Europe MVS (Ver. 1)
2 = US MVS (Ver. 2?)
3 = US MVS (Ver. 1)
4 = Asia MVS (Ver. 3)
5 = Japan MVS (Ver. 3)
6 = Japan MVS (Ver. 2)
7 = Japan MVS (Ver. 1)
8 = Universe Bios*
9 = Debug MVS*
10 = Asia AES*
11 = Japan AES*

NOTE: Not all BIOS files, such as the Universe BIOS, are in the official MAME's neogeo.zip. You will have to look elsewhere for those files should you wish to use them. You will need to add them into the neogeo.zip prior to converting.

NOTE: If you are trying to convert a title that is a clone (different version, bootleg, hack) of a game (ex. SNK vs. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS Super Plus (bootleg)), you need to have both the parent ROM (svc.zip) and the clone (svcsplus.zip) in the directory. To find out which are parents and clones, go here.

6. A new file, romname.neo will have been created.
7. Repeat as you deem fit for other games.
8. When done converting, copy the file, neods.ds and the .neo file(s) to the root of your flash memory.

NOTE: If your flash card does not possess automatic DLDI patching, do so before you copy neods.ds onto your memory.

9. Play!

NOTE: Not all games are running perfectly, as the author has stated this before. Also, if a game isn't working after conversion, try a different BIOS setting.

I hope this helps anyone having issues with conversion and operation.
 
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Cykoduck

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Nice guide.
Very noob friendly
biggrin.gif
 

carterman

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I have to recommend using the Universe bios because of its configuration and cheat options, it's very useful. Is it ok to link to the Universe BIOS download page?
 

kobykaan

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nice guide but ... there's several GUI programs out there that take all the hard work out of doing things the hard way

one being NDspeed Convertor GUI

neoyt0.jpg


link

1) click path containing ESSENTIAL FILES point it to your neogeo bios zip file

2) click patch containing GAME ROM

3) choose bios to use from the dropdown

4) click the big button in the bottom right hand corner that says NEO GEO to convert
smile.gif
 

TheSpade

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This NDspeed Convertor GUI is not a bad tool, but it seems a bit rigid and could use a bit of work. The BIOS settings only state their numbers rather than their labels. It could use a bit more work on being English-friendly as well. Regardless, it is interesting. The guide is still useful to most.
 

kobykaan

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TheSpade said:
This NDspeed Convertor GUI is not a bad tool, but it seems a bit rigid and could use a bit of work. The BIOS settings only state their numbers rather than their labels. It could use a bit more work on being English-friendly as well. Regardless, it is interesting. The guide is still useful to most.


agreed but it works
smile.gif



... theres a batch file that does a similar thing kicking about somewhere too
smile.gif
 

Killermech

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kobykaan said:
TheSpade said:
This NDspeed Convertor GUI is not a bad tool, but it seems a bit rigid and could use a bit of work. The BIOS settings only state their numbers rather than their labels. It could use a bit more work on being English-friendly as well. Regardless, it is interesting. The guide is still useful to most.


agreed but it works
smile.gif



... theres a batch file that does a similar thing kicking about somewhere too
smile.gif




There are like 2 or 3 of those that I know of.. including the one I made. For anyone that's interested, here's the quote from the one I made.

QUOTE(Killermech @ May 12 2008, 09:31 PM)
Updated my patcher to 1.1 for anyone that's interested

Changelog 1.1

- Added all the bios formats in the menu. Since most just tell which bios number to use rather than its name.
- Added the option to delete all .zip files (except for neogeo.zip) or .neo files in folder. I have my games in a different folder, so I use it to clean up instead of selecting and deleting in for example explorer.
- Auto detects if NeoDsConvert.exe or neogeo.zip is in the folder
- Now uses pretty chroma green (lol)

screen1kh9.png


screen2vw4.png


Download here:
http://files.filefront.com/NeoDSpatcher11r...;/fileinfo.html

Or here:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HSDJDJCJ
 

Blackiris

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I suggest adding this to the first post: the fact that the Uni-BIOS will make the ROM access Console Mode instead of Arcade Mode...it makes the ROM feel more like a real portable game and not a portable arcade IMO
happy.gif
(tried on KoF 98, DS Lite, original R4 v1.18)

EDIT: As a side note, this emulator is simply unbelievably incredible...it really makes me wonder just how the heck a MAME ROM could work on a 4 MB RAM DS XD
 

philly_icon

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this is the only emulator i cant seem to get to work. im following your steps and when i open the NeoDS i dont see a neogeo.zip file in it..... i see:

arm 7
Cyclone2
NeoDs
readme
arm9
NeoDsConvert
NeoDs.sln
common
Makefile
NeoDs.vcproj

2nd question: what is "5. Using Command Prompt"
 

Spidey_BR

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I'm willing to patch neodsconverter for the newest mame romset, .129, but I can't manage to compile the current sourcecode. I've discovered I need all the source contained in the sourcecode of neods plus some files from mame, but the newest mame doesn't contain all files required.

Anyone willing to help me compile neodsconverter (the windows app, not the ds one) on Visual Studio 2008 or cygwin?
 

psywolf

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I just figured everything out and got a few games for this

1 question though

theres a save function that seems to work

however however i have no idea how to load the save file

is there a way?
 

Spidey_BR

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The save function saves the emulator configuration, not game status. And it's automatically loaded when you load ANY rom.
 

psywolf

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Spidey_BR said:
The save function saves the emulator configuration, not game status. And it's automatically loaded when you load ANY rom.


damn i was hoping it was save states cross swords and magician lord is pretty fun
 

Cantido

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I'd like for someplace to actually tell me how to dldi patch the NeoDs.nds file.I'm using an Acekard2i(on a DSi,if it matters),it boots the emulator but the roms don't play after I load them.I see the 57 then 60 on the bottom screen then nothing happens.----->3:52pm 6/12/09< I patched it and it still doesn't work
sleep.gif
 

Rayder

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Hopefully in 2.1 we will be able to put all the NEOGEO converted roms in a folder instead of running them in the root of the card, because that just looks messy. Also hope when 2.1 does get released we get a front page news article about it. I want to check out 2.1 as soon as possible.

I remember getting all games I tried to work, but no matter what I did, I could never get Strikers 1945 to show the scores and stuff along both sides of the screen, even though people said it was possible and showed me a tutorial on how to convert that game correctly (docs were on Pocket Heaven, of course
cry.gif
), it never worked for me. I could play the game fine, just no scores or other text data on-screen. And I even have a compatible slot2 card for extra memory (M3 Perfect), but that only helped games run faster, didn't fix any graphical glitches.

I did find a place that has most NeoDS roms already converted, but its Stikers 1945 is bit-for-bit the very same file I converted manually.....and no score overlay......
frown.gif


Maybe I'll check out one of those GUI converters......make life easier with my screwing around.

Anyway, thanks for the nice write-up on how to convert NeoGeo roms for play on NeoDS! I'm sure it will help many people.
 

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