custom firmware for sega flashback 2018

broie

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I just picked up one of these randomly the other day I've yet to take it out of the box but I looked through this whole thread after finding it.

Was there ever any update from atgames about when a new firmware might hit or is that likely to never happen at this stage?

Is the audio/video desync really that bad of an issue with this on ntsc games or does it get to the point that some games are unplayable on it?
 

image45

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This has been discussed extensively in this thread.
The update from atgames website (20190226.img) is intended for the Genesis FB, so it has the Genesis logo/About tab.

The original emulator is Genesis Plus GX, so it runs Genesis/Master System/Game Gear/Sega CD games. The original firmware can only run Genesis and Sega CD games in .bin format.

If you want to try Picodrive, or run SMS/GG/Sega CD games from SD, you will need to go with the custom firmware. Picodrive runs Genesis/SMS/Sega CD/32x (Game Gear doesn't work).

You can read about the latest custom firmware in this post. There are different firmware for the US and EU models, and with Genesis Plus GX or Picodrive. The latest custom firmware is based on 20190226.img (so you have the About screen) but I included the assets (logos) from the Mega Drive Flash in the EU version.

Is the QR code in the screen shot from the About tab the one from your machine or actually generated by mine please?

The machine has your custom firmware thats based on 20190226.img with the assets (logos) from the Mega Drive Flash in the EU version.[
 

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Val9613

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So the Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 with the custom firmware can read 32GB SD cards. I am going to copy all of my roms onto a 32GB SD card and see if the SD card storage was the issue. Hope this fixes the problem I am facing.

I had recently purchased a 32GB SD card last week and I was able to copy all of my roms onto it. I inserted the 32GB SD card onto my AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 and after I tested several scenarios to make sure that everything worked properly, I am happy to say that the issue with the save states for my Sega CD roms has been fixed. I was able to create, overwrite, and delete any save states I created on my Sega CD roms. I picked a non-Sega CD rom (Sega Genesis, Master System, Game Gear, etc.) after playing one of my Sega CD roms, and the save states worked again. Thank you to those that tried to help me with my issue. If there are other issues regarding the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 that I encounter, I will report them to this thread whenever I can. Once again, thank you!
 

broie

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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

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

Can someone help with me this, I think the console may be bricked.
I used the Mega Drive Genesis Plus GX custom firmware in the post above and put it on a SD card.

Put the SD card in booted it up and it prompted me to update, then I got a message and progress bar for "Installing System Update"

After about 5-10 minutes the progress bar disappears and then it looks like the console reboots and goes straight back to "Installing System Update".

Every 5-10 minutes the console seems to reboot itself, I left it on for over and hour and the same thing just keeps happening.

Eventually I switched off the console and removed the SD card, if I try to start the console now without the SD card I just get a black screen that says 'error' and nothing else if I put the SD card back in it goes back to the same loop of "Installing System Update"

Is there anything I can do? I've attached a picture of the sticker at the bottom of my console if that helps
 

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Val9613

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Hello @rrifonas. I have a question regarding Sega CD roms on the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018. Is it possible to get multi-disc Sega CD roms (i.e. Night Trap, Slam City with Scottie Pippen, etc.) to work on the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 with the Genesis Plus GX custom firmware update installed? If so, how does it work? I would like to know.
 

Excalibur007

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Heads up for the 28 November 2019 firmware update. The website shows that it was just updated, but the download file name has 2.0.1. Does anyone know if it was actually updated, or if it's just something trivial like changing the file name on their server?
 
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Val9613

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Hello @rrifonas. Here is a question regarding the recent 2.0.1 update for the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018. If we download this new update, would we lose the ability to play Master System, Game Gear, Sega CD, SG-1000, Sega Pico, and 32X games? Do both custom firmware updates (for Genesis Plus GX and Picodrive) need to be updated in order to get those same changes that the official update contains without losing the ability to play Master System, Game Gear, Sega CD, SG-1000, Sega Pico, and 32X games?

This is what the new update contains according to the AtGames Firmware Update Portal in the "Release Notes" section:

SEGA GENESIS FLASHBACK (MODEL NO: FB3680)

2.0.1

## Highlights
- Add-on via SD card

## Miscellaneous
- Audio fixes
- UI changes
- General performance and stability improvements


Also, do you think this new update will fix the sound and performance issues that the Sega Genesis version of Virtua Racing had when played on the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018? As someone that has played the Sega Genesis version of Virtua Racing on the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018, I can tell you that the game has a lot of problems. The sound on that game was slow, the game will glitch up when you press and hold the Rewind button (or hold START+LEFT on the directional pad), and creating a save state will also glitch up the game once you load the save state. I heard that AtGames was working on fixing these issues for Virtua Racing. Hopefully this update resolves them.
 

rrifonas

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This is the same update released months ago, they just renamed it. The custom firmware IS this update with support for additional extensions.
If you install the Atgames update you will obviously lose all the changes, you will have the stock console.
 

Jaggred

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@broie , @rrifonas - do you manage to fix that console with update loop?
Ive got excactly same issue with mine.

When i start it without sd card ive got "Error!" only on screen. When i put card with any update, ive got update loop.
 

rrifonas

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@Jaggred, there are some pre-reqs

The first step is to either solder or create a jumper in a small bridge to allow USB data through the power port, or destroy an old USB cable and touch the test points. I've tried both methods and they work, The post below has a screenshot with the options:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/custom-firmware-for-sega-flashback-2018.523590/page-4#post-8471248

If you choose to only touch the wires in the test points, you still need to provide power to the device.

I will send the tools/Full flash in a PM. Is your device a Genesis Flashback or Mega Drive Flashback?
 

Val9613

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Hello @rrifonas. I just want to know if the custom firmware update allows the original SG-1000 and Sega Master System controllers to work on the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 version when inserted into the 9-pin controller ports? If so, will the SG-1000 and Master System roms work with them? Just like how the original Sega Genesis 3 button and 6 button controllers work on the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 version.
 

rrifonas

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@Val9613, the custom firmware is nothing 'magical' or 'special', it's basically a hack in the Atgames menu to allow other file extensions to be loaded. Some other changes are the support to load the rom partition from the SD Card or use PicoDrive instead of Genesis Plus GX.

The 'retroplayer', which is responsible to load the libretro core, detect and configure controllers, etc., is not not touched at all.

I can't tell you if other controllers will work, I assume they will not or the lack of buttons would cause issues. You can try by yourself if you have them.
The ROMs will likely work, Master System works with restrictions (PAL games have audio delay or don't play well), and I've never tried to run SG-1000 games.
 

Val9613

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@Val9613, the custom firmware is nothing 'magical' or 'special', it's basically a hack in the Atgames menu to allow other file extensions to be loaded. Some other changes are the support to load the rom partition from the SD Card or use PicoDrive instead of Genesis Plus GX.

The 'retroplayer', which is responsible to load the libretro core, detect and configure controllers, etc., is not not touched at all.

I can't tell you if other controllers will work, I assume they will not or the lack of buttons would cause issues. You can try by yourself if you have them.
The ROMs will likely work, Master System works with restrictions (PAL games have audio delay or don't play well), and I've never tried to run SG-1000 games.

Hello again @rrifonas. I did try to run SG-1000 games on the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 version and I can confirm that they work and run flawlessly. I was able to play Girl's Garden, and Star Jacker on my AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 version along with Sindbad Mystery, Ninja Princess, Sega Galaga, and The Black Onyx with no issues. All of the features such as rewinding the game, opening the Sega Genesis Flashback menu, and creating save states work as well. I loaded the save states I made and I was able to continue where I left off on the SG-1000 games I have on my SD card. The two fire buttons are mapped to the B and C buttons on the Genesis Flashback 6 button controller just like the Master System and Game Gear games. The START button pauses the game. To get SG-1000 games to run on the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 version, the SG-1000 roms on your SD card must be in either the .sg or .sms file extensions. If the rom is saved as a .sg file, the game will run using the SG-1000 color palette. If the rom is saved as a .sms file, the game will run using the Master System color palette (The game will appear with darker colors. It is the equivalent of playing an SG-1000 game on a Japanese Sega Master System). Some SG-1000 roms online are available as .sc files as they are SC-3000 roms. Unfortunately, .sc files will not run on the AtGames Sega Genesis Flashback 2018 version. So you have to convert the file extension from .sc to .sg or .sms to get the game to run on the Sega Genesis Flashback.
 
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Shulk95

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So I tried to install the picodrive custom firmware on my brother's genesis flashback 2018 and got the same installing update loop as @broie and @Jaggred. The console was stock and i just went to immediately installing the picodrive custom firmware.... Well next I decided I would try to mod my own 2018 genesis and installed the picodrive firmware on it and it worked perfect.... @rrifonas can you please pm me the tools and flash? I'd really appreciate it.
 
Last edited by Shulk95,

rrifonas

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@Shulk95, I can help you if you can run the pre-req from Post #453. Unfortunately if the device can't see the SD Card, the only way to recover it is enabling the data connection to plug the device to a PC.
 

image45

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The serial number is different for each device.

I noticed that a new firmware was released
SEGA GENESIS FLASHBACK
(MODEL NO: FB3680)
V. 2.0.1 (released on Nov 28, 2019)

Do you happen to know if this offers much improvement on the 26th Feb 2019 that you made custom versions of or is it still as advised before as being the same file as previous?

If not then not to worry, it just means rebranding to a sega Genesis if I installed it on my European machine.

Thanks
 
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