Hardware [RELEASE] ezgba v0.1.0a - an EZ4 compatible ROM patcher

suloku

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There are some games (eg. Top Gun, Breath of Fire) that require specialized patches, but ezgba doesn't detect/apply them. gbata and the official client will handle (some of (?)) them, but ezgba relies on user to apply the appropriate IPS patch. Could be you have one of these - there's a list of these games in README.md.
I used gbata's SRAM patches as base, since there was already a thread on it. When I was experimenting with the official EZ client, it had the same SRAM patches as gbata, but in different locations (ie. the first occurrence of the pattern would be patched instead of the last, etc). I'd be surprised if they were completely different though. What ROM did you test with?

I think all my tests where with Yoshi's Island, EUR version, but I'm not sure right now about comparing the patching. I don't have access to my computer right now, so I can't really test again since my binay comparision tools are detected as virus in this computer and I don't have admin rights to disable/ignore it. I'll look for another one that isn't detected as virus.

About the saver: the name I was using is this "0624 - Yoshi's Island - Super Mario Advance 3 (E)(Menace)", so the filename limit isn't at play.
I tested a 128kB file and saving and loading worked fine, but the file kept being 128kB size, so ezIV 1.72 writes to the file directly, overwriting its contents, that's why a 0 byte file will corrupt the card: the eziv will writte outside the allocated space for the file.

So, what I'm thinking is to have a dummy file with a magic header at after each of the savegames, something like "IFICANREADTHISTHESAVEHASFINISHED", then the tool loads a savegame, checks for that header after each of the known savesizes and when it finds it the file is trimmed down to the real savesize. Put that program and a batch file on the saver folder and run it whenever you need to get the saves out of the ezIV to get correct sized saves.

It's a 2 step solution, but ensures always having the correct filesize for the save, and the games seem to work fine with 128kB saves even if they aren't supposed to have that size (I guess they just access the needed addresses in SRAM, then ezIV just dumps/restores it all?)

EDIT: this is strange, I tried a 1 byte file and it got correctly written and resized to the needed savesize. I'll check a 0 byte file again :S

EDIT2: a 0 byte file corrupted the card, so the trick is to use a blank 1 byte file.

EDIT 3: after cheking the readme, the one with patching differences might have been mother 3 (I read the game had problems running and was testing if it ran OK), but the save seemed to work (unless the correct save size isn't 64kB)
 
Last edited by suloku,

foobar_

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Magic string in dummy file sounds like a great idea.
If a one-byte dummy prevents corruption, I'm wondering if I actually used echo > save.sav instead of touch during my testing; I'll give this a try sometime.
 

suloku

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That would in fact produce a 21 byte savefile (at least in my system) which would serve the same purpose, since all of it would be overwritten and resized to correct filesize.

Here's the batch for standard ezIV patching and auto creating these save files, given the SAVER folder and a dumy.sav (1 byte) are present:

Code:
for /r %%v in (*.gba) do  (
ezgba-cli.exe -i "%%v" --in-place
copy "dummy.sav" "SAVER\%%~nv.sav"
)
I attached the batch and the dummy.sav file for those who don't know how to make them.
 

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foobar_

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Good stuff, linked to it in first post.
I'm always using MSYS2 though. I can't stand cmd.exe. Every time I have to use it, I feel my brain cells committing suicide one by one.
 

dragongc

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this is awesome! I'm looking forward to trying this.

any reason for not using github for development? would be interesting to see the changes you make to fix certain bugs or to add features.
 

kenjamin

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Thanks for this! Very timely release. Just got my EZ Flash IV after a bout of nostalgia and buying a GBA SP on a whim. Very glad I can use my macbook for this. Worked great @foobar_
 
D

Deleted-236924

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nice work!

does it include the software reset patch?

and the ability to create blank save files would be nice, since I'm stuck on firmware 1.74, later versions doesn't work.
http://filetrip.net/gba-downloads/tools-utilities/download-kuwangers-sleephack-1-0-f33302.html

Kuwanger's sleephack (modification of Dwedit's) which adds soft-reset functionality along with sleep mode.
I haven't really run into any problems using this patch.

ezgba + this sleephack is probably everything you could need for EZFlash 4.
 
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codezer0

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I only just heard this existed.

However, when I try to run it, even after installing the GTK (x86) runtime, all I get is this stupid error box. http://ctrlv.in/653562 Need I remind, this is AFTER installing the GTK runtime as directed, so I don't know what the crap it's whining about.

Please tell me how I can fix this.
 

Localhorst86

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I only just heard this existed.

However, when I try to run it, even after installing the GTK (x86) runtime, all I get is this stupid error box. http://ctrlv.in/653562 Need I remind, this is AFTER installing the GTK runtime as directed, so I don't know what the crap it's whining about.

Please tell me how I can fix this.

have you installed the correct version for your OS? Did you download the 32 or 64 bit version of the gtkd runtime?
Also, did you check the "add gtk to system path"? That's important. Also, make sure to installl It as administrator.
 

codezer0

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The instructions said "install 32-bit regardless". I'm running 64-bit Windows 7.

I did select to add gtk to system path. And I am the only user, so it's gotta be administrator. Further, it refused to download at all on SRWare Iron (fork of Chrome). I had to get it with Firefox.

Update... went and installed the 64-bit runtime, and now the GUI one starts. By chance, is it possible to batch process with the GUI version?

So I guess I need to batch the sleephack, and with this app. At least if it keeps the original filenames, I shoudln't have a problem with files trying to overwrite each other, like I did with the original EZclient and the different regional versions of Pokemon.

Problem is, I really hate the command line,a nd I don't know how to bunch everything together so that it will actually do all of the files in a directory. Help!
 
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suloku

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The instructions said "install 32-bit regardless". I'm running 64-bit Windows 7.

I did select to add gtk to system path. And I am the only user, so it's gotta be administrator. Further, it refused to download at all on SRWare Iron (fork of Chrome). I had to get it with Firefox.

Update... went and installed the 64-bit runtime, and now the GUI one starts. By chance, is it possible to batch process with the GUI version?

So I guess I need to batch the sleephack, and with this app. At least if it keeps the original filenames, I shoudln't have a problem with files trying to overwrite each other, like I did with the original EZclient and the different regional versions of Pokemon.

Problem is, I really hate the command line,a nd I don't know how to bunch everything together so that it will actually do all of the files in a directory. Help!
You have already made batch files in the first post.
 

codezer0

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You have already made batch files in the first post.
Huh? Where? all I see it go is link to another post with some scripting, but I don't know where or how to enter that in Windows' command line thing to be able to output it.

Also, between kuwanger's sleephack version and ezgba, which should I apply first?
 
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tvoretz

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Uh, Chrome claimed this as malicious and blocked the download...
Did you uncheck "Use our download manager and get recommended downloads" before hitting the download button? If not, there's the problem. (Never mind that there a million and seven more reputable file sharing services than the one foobar's using...)
 

eightbitminiboss

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Did you uncheck "Use our download manager and get recommended downloads" before hitting the download button? If not, there's the problem. (Never mind that there a million and seven more reputable file sharing services than the one foobar's using...)

Yep, I unchecked it as the OP says.

Edit: Well I tried it again, did nothing different and this time Chrome didn't complain. No idea why it worked now.
 
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codezer0

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Sorry to say, but command line stuff is my absolute weakest point admittedly, if only because I just have an irritation toward it. I never liked the DOS era of PC's, if that is any indication.

Further, is there a recommended order to applying sleephack and ezgba? Using so far with kuwanger's sleephack + ezgba, I am finding neither Mario Kart Advance (J) nor (U) will even start up. Would it be recommended to try the patched roms in VBA first before applying them to the SD? because I need a faster way of testing and doing this. :wacko:
 

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I've never had any problems getting Mario Kart to run, though I don't use sleephack. Can you try the Mario Kart ROM from the No-Intro romset?
Sleephack causes problems with some games. Could be that Mario Kart is just one of them.
I haven't read kuwanger's source code so I couldn't tell you for sure, but theoretically, SRAM patching should be done before sleephack.
 

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