Hacking EZ-FLASH Reform announced

FAST6191 · Oct 19, 2017

Searinox said:
Did they? Games like Pokemon use Flash and EEPROM for saving but I don't recall them ever using FRAM. Flash/EEP are considerably slower.

Yeah, PCB shots
http://gbatemp.net/threads/identifying-fake-gba-games-a-useful-faq.327354/page-9#post-7517797

Searinox · Oct 19, 2017

Interesting. I had no idea. If it's that old a thing, it's all the more disappointing from EZ team.

Tomy Sakazaki · Oct 19, 2017

Searinox said:
It's a confusing hybrid system. Since the cart takes microSD ROMs it either stores -all- its save files on battery-backed SRAM or only the current running title, and does some sort of dump on next restart or ROM change. Depending on how it's done, battery death will result in the loss of all saves, current ROM, or inability to further save on played titles. The battery life, if true, is also disappointing since original titles' batteries last some 20 years and we have smaller and less power demanding chips nowadays, the tech is old and I'd expect efficiency.

In contrast, FRAM-based savechips keep the speed of SRAM chips while being non-volatile and so requiring no power source. And have become widely available. Some flashcarts already use them. To see an old-time professional flashcart maker opt out of such an opportunity disappoints me.

Most flashcards that relies on SRAM will hold only 1 save per time on SRAM. Routine on most flahscards when powering on a console:
1 - Check if last ran game uses SRAM, if yes, dump the SRAM contents to sav file pertaining said last loaded ROM.
2 - If you will run the same game, nothing to do here, most flashcards will just assume that SRAM is working properly (and that the battery is OK) and will use the data loaded there, if it's a new game, load ROM, check if it uses a save system, if yes load sav file content (or create a new one if missing) to SRAM chip, discarding the data from last game from said chip.

Even flashcards like EzIV that can hold multiple games on internal memory (NOR memory) will rely on loading/saving one save file at a time from the external memory when loading each game.

slaphappygamer · Oct 19, 2017

Todderbert said:
yeah for games like Pokemon My Ass... , but seriously I still play my GBA and love having a collection of games on one cart. There are so many good games for the GBA. Using an original SP AGS101 is the best experience vs any other devices or emulators imho. I'm actually going to replay Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga after playing out the 3DS one..and get into the fan translated Fire Emblem Six, Binding Blade title. There's the remastered Final Fantasy games I have to try out also.

Remastered final fantasy games? I had no clue.

megabug7 · Oct 19, 2017

My old one (it's quite old) doesn't work on Windows 7/10 so I am looking for a replacement.

DarthDub · Oct 20, 2017

Anything to replace my supercard mini will be greatly appreciated.

Mark2333 · Oct 20, 2017

Bought an EZ3IN1 card from 3ds-flashcard store, they told me 3in1 was not in stock and introduced me this card, should I change order or not?

Metoroid0 · Oct 20, 2017

I dont see a need for 32GB of space, but micro SD is great compared to my mini SD... but it still works though...also, i got 2GB memory for GBA games, and i put a ton of games there and i gave 500 mb free of space, so i cant see benefit from 32GB card...

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Mark2333 said:
Bought an EZ3IN1 card from 3ds-flashcard store, they told me 3in1 was not in stock and introduced me this card, should I change order or not?

I have EZ3in1 and its a great card,

ertaboy356b · Oct 20, 2017

Can EZFlash be used in transferring pokemon Gen 3 to Gen 4?

Ulieq · Oct 21, 2017

omfg time to buy back a gameboy advance sp 2

KidIce · Oct 21, 2017

Mark2333 said:
Bought an EZ3IN1 card from 3ds-flashcard store, they told me 3in1 was not in stock and introduced me this card, should I change order or not?

I would. I bought a 3in1 (even though I had an EZ2, 3 and 4), mostly so I could use Opera. When I found out how painful web browsing was on the DS, I quit using the 3in1 pretty much wholesale.

There are a couple homebrew programs that take advantage of the browser RAM, IIRC (eg the Quake port, I believe) and it has a rumble feature (which, like what, 3 DS games use?)... Those are the only things I would consider advantages for the 3in1 and are in no way "worth it", IMO. In every other respect the EZ4 (which this appears to be just that w/ a spare case) is a far better choice.

Mr Skinner · Oct 21, 2017

@EZ-Flash2 @FAST6191
Does the product contain customizable skins in its default interface? Do you think about running a skins contest for the new product, in the same way as it did in 2007?

Glyptofane · Oct 21, 2017

Mark2333 said:
Bought an EZ3IN1 card from 3ds-flashcard store, they told me 3in1 was not in stock and introduced me this card, should I change order or not?

3in1 is okay if you have everything ready to support it (supported DS flash cart/extra software, etc), but the rumble and extra ram are mostly useless. The best thing about it is sitting flush in a DS lite which the EZ Reform also has. I'd get the new card and may do so anyway despite already having a 3in1 and old miniSD EZ4.

Metoroid0 · Oct 21, 2017

Ulieq said:
omfg time to buy back a gameboy advance sp 2

AGS-101

FAST6191 · Oct 21, 2017

Mr Skinner said:
@EZ-Flash2 @FAST6191
Does the product contain customizable skins in its default interface? Do you think about running a skins contest for the new product, in the same way as it did in 2007?

I am just a guy on the forums and know nothing beyond what has been said here.

Still as mentioned this looks like an EZ4 with a battery holder swapped in and a couple of cases to fit either the standard GBA slot or the reduced size DS lite one -- they have both styles in their back catalogue after all. I imagine if they had radically redone anything they would have said. To that end I would be surprised if I can not be skinned as all the current kernels and models can still be done.
I don't necessarily have the authority to OK a contest here but if the EZTeam or a stockist of them wanted to put up a few of them for such a contest we have done such things in the past. I can relay/start conversations if needs be but if they want to speak to T-hug or Shaunj66 ( http://gbatemp.net/staff/ ) then those are the ones to do this sort of thing.

mikefor20 · Oct 21, 2017

So, EZ 3in1 or this new card? Whats better for NDS Lite? The browser sucks and I am not worried about homebrew or rumble so I assume the Reform makes more sense? I have a browser ram pack anyway. Any thoughts?

FAST6191 · Oct 22, 2017

They will both be able to play the exact same games with the exact same limitations ( http://gbatemp.net/threads/buying-a-gba-flash-cart-in-2013.341203/page-18#post-4756995 , though I think they added a few token patches for the anti piracy and such in the newer EZ4 kernels), your storage limits will be a microSDHC either way. The 3 in 1 is managed from DS slot and is not so independent (you can flash a single game and stick it in something unmanaged if you wanted), the EZ4/reform is a standalone cart though. Theoretically the EZ4/reform can be managed from the DS slot but nobody has yet made a reliable (as in bricks if you are unlucky) means of doing it. Money wise I doubt there is a lot in it (I have not checked but it is not like the other is 3 times the price or anything).

I have not pulled one apart or seen enough to make a guess but I doubt the newer one will be super low quality.

So yeah if the money is not an issue this new one is a good bet.

KidIce · Oct 22, 2017

mikefor20 said:
So, EZ 3in1 or this new card? Whats better for NDS Lite? The browser sucks and I am not worried about homebrew or rumble so I assume the Reform makes more sense? I have a browser ram pack anyway. Any thoughts?

If I was unclear in my response to Mark2333, the EZ4 is the way to go, not the 3in1 (I think they are calling it the "Trinity" these days, BTW). The tiny amount of homebrew that supports the browser RAM in the 3in1 sees insignificant gains, even if you did care about DS homebrew I still wouldn't bother. Also, as you say, Opera on DS sucks, and rumble is not exactly a must have feature. The 3in1 is probably something that really should never had existed, IMO. I get why they made it (hell, I bought one), but it is still an albatross even next to their own products.

The Reform appears to be an EZ4 (w/ a spare case and replaceable battery), I would recommend an EZ4 over the 3in1 to pretty much any user.

Mr Skinner · Oct 22, 2017

FAST6191 said:
I am just a guy on the forums and know nothing beyond what has been said here.

Thank you for the informations.

Believe me when I say that since I bought my first Ez-flash (Ezflash II -512mbit) I've always seen you, Fast, as a fixed member of the ezflash official forum staff. I always thought that you and MBMAX (another user from there) were also.

It's kind of sad, because I always had you as a reference of the ez-flash team.

slaphappygamer · Oct 23, 2017

Mr Skinner said:
Thank you for the informations.

Believe me when I say that since I bought my first Ez-flash (Ezflash II -512mbit) I've always seen you, Fast, as a fixed member of the ezflash official forum staff. I always thought that you and MBMAX (another user from there) were also.

It's kind of sad, because I always had you as a reference of the ez-flash team.

Lol. I thought the same thing. Also, mr. skinner, I remember seeing you around the sosuke forums as well. I still visit them from time to time.

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