Hacking EZFlash Omega Skins

[Shadow#1]

@Shadow#1 i just downloaded the sources of the ezflash kernel and included the new version of goomba.
And it's not compatible currently.
For most games it just crashes and for others they crash if you try to leave the menu.

So probably you will just have to wait until the ezflash guys implement support for this goomba version.

Ofc the EZ-Flash team has to do it

 

[YourKitten]

Hello everybody
Can you test the kernel with new icons and updated graphics? Does the transparency of the icons and the dialog box work?
Thanks!

 

[rymanosaurus]

Does anyone know how to change the color of the unchecked boxes on the settings screen?

 

[stap]

Hello there,

i've uploaded the files to my own server. You can download the file and the tool there:
https://dl.t5b6.de/uvSkinner/

i've added the previous and current firmware support.

Could you please post an updated definitions.xml for the latest K1.06 FW7 unofficial that is mentioned here?

Or could you explain how to find correct offsets within a compiled .bin file and add those to definitions.xml with a correct CRC marker (specifically for some reason I cannot force the UniversalSkinner to load the definitions for the file mentioned above even though the UniversalSkinner shows its CRC as 933c8b75 and I have a definitions block with this CRC it still shows an error)?

Update: Never mind. Found offsets in hex-editor manually, comparing to old versions.
Forced layout using "Force layout" option in UniversalSkinner.
The only concern is Colors_Map offset, it seems not quite right.

If anyone needs the offsets for unofficial veikos1's build of Kernel K1.06 FW7:

 

[t5b6de]

Does anyone know how to change the color of the unchecked boxes on the settings screen?

didn't find a solution at all. sorry

 

[t5b6de]

sorry for 2nd post,

have to look for unofficial firmware. not much time last few weeks.

 

[stap]

Added offsets for unofficial firmware by veikkos (v2):
https://gbatemp.net/threads/unofficial-ez-flash-omega-kernel-by-veikkos.558011/
https://github.com/veikkos/omega-kernel/releases/tag/k1.06_fw7-veikkos2

Added offsets for unofficial firmware by veikkos (v3)

Added offsets for unofficial firmware by veikkos (v4)

 

[Manwichman44]

could anyone get the definitions of the custom veikkos firmware?

 

[stap]

could anyone get the definitions of the custom veikkos firmware?

Here you go.

 

[Daca619]

Hello guys, sorry to bother but I'm SUPER noob about modding. All this "process" doesn't seem to work for me, I've downloaded the skinner and the definitions (no problem), I have the kernel and I've opened it with the skinner (no problem), I've choose the images and I have saved (no problem) but when I copy the new kernel in the sd the graphic is still the same old one. Is there a passage I'm missing or a possible procedure error I should look for? Thank you

 

[Daca619]

Ops, I forgot to @ you in the previous post

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

If you have an Error Message like "Error loading File, no definitions found for file. Please create correct definition in definitions.xml or ask someone to create one. Alternate is using supported and defined files. Load file anyway to force a layout?"

Do NOT PROCEED as i mentioned in my first Post. Parts of the Firmware could be overwritten by image Data - you could Damage your Flas Cart!

In this case you do not have the current definitions.xml i posted several weeks ago for current firmware, or you are using a new and unknown Firmware.
If none of this is the fact, then i do not know what the problem is.
Sorting is integreated in a newer firmware. so sure you edited the new current 1.04 6.0 firmware?


And yes, you may have to edit your font with photoshop or another picture editing software.
If you good in programming you can write your own program to generate a char map.

Each Char (ascii map) is 8 by 12 pixels in Size.
The Unicode Char Map with Chinese Chars is doubled in Width (16x12 pixels per Char)

Ops, I forgot to @ you in the previous post

 

[stap]

Hello guys, sorry to bother but I'm SUPER noob about modding. All this "process" doesn't seem to work for me, I've downloaded the skinner and the definitions (no problem), I have the kernel and I've opened it with the skinner (no problem), I've choose the images and I have saved (no problem) but when I copy the new kernel in the sd the graphic is still the same old one. Is there a passage I'm missing or a possible procedure error I should look for? Thank you

Seems like you need to hold R-button while turning on the console and install the fw with updated graphics to your EZ-Flash Omega cart, not just copy it to sd-card. The name of file should be ezkernel.bin for it to be recognized properly.

 

[Daca619]

Seems like you need to hold R-button while turning on the console and install the fw with updated graphics to your EZ-Flash Omega cart, not just copy it to sd-card. The name of file should be ezkernel.bin for it to recognized properly.

Lol It worked! thank you so much!!

 

[Nona_Elexis]

Veikkos released a new version of his kernel veikkos v5, does anyone have the correct definitions.xml for this kernel?

 

[stap]

Veikkos released a new version of his kernel veikkos v5, does anyone have the correct definitions.xml for this kernel?

Sure, why not.

 

[Bruno Jenso]

Hi, I've a nice conditioned GB Micro on the way in the post, with a new EZ Omega and can't way to get going. I will carefully go through this thread an learn about definitions etc (haven't a clue what they means yet), but I wondered if I could ask a couple of things before delving deep:

1. Is Simple Light a better way to go? I kinda hope not because I don't like the supposedly better look of Simple Light really - so I'd end up trying to manually swap out the graphic on that anyway. But that thread suggests it's better software in general, with lots more emulators etc. So is it better - or do you recommend this route of skinning the official software?

2. Does this Skinner work well on the latest firmware?

3. Can the boot blue screen be changed too?

4. Are the extra emulators worth it (NGP, TG16 etc...) and installable on official (but skinned) software?

Any answers much appreciated in advance, and I promise I'll read everything very carefully once I know this is/isn't the way to go. Thanks, Bruno.

 

[stap]

Hi, I've a nice conditioned GB Micro on the way in the post, with a new EZ Omega and can't way to get going. I will carefully go through this thread an learn about definitions etc (haven't a clue what they means yet), but I wondered if I could ask a couple of things before delving deep:

1. Is Simple Light a better way to go? I kinda hope not because I don't like the supposedly better look of Simple Light really - so I'd end up trying to manually swap out the graphic on that anyway. But that thread suggests it's better software in general, with lots more emulators etc. So is it better - or do you recommend this route of skinning the official software?

2. Does this Skinner work well on the latest firmware?

3. Can the boot blue screen be changed too?

4. Are the extra emulators worth it (NGP, TG16 etc...) and installable on official (but skinned) software?

Any answers much appreciated in advance, and I promise I'll read everything very carefully once I know this is/isn't the way to go. Thanks, Bruno.

1. Me neither. I personally prefer a skin named "Clean". I think you can easily swap graphics on that fw by Stereophonick with UniversalSkinner. However you will need to find out its offsets first (these are the addresses, where image start is within the binary ezkernel.bin file).

For me it's simple enough to find new offsets if graphics is original. However in case of fw with modified graphics it is not that simple to do.

2. Yes for now it works, as long as you are talking about official 1.06_fw7 as well as any other firmware, offsets of which are known and injected in definitions.xml.

3. Boot screen depends on skin's colours which are represented by image named "ezkernel_Colors Map (until dialog is developed).png". This image consists of a column of 10 pixels of different colours. Some of those are responsible for the loading screen background and the text on it.

4. Technically, you could modify it yourself, as EZ Flash Omega fw is open source. However it is way easier, if you use a modified firmware with those functions and try to change its skin.

 

[Bruno Jenso]

1. Me neither. I personally prefer a skin named "Clean". I think you can easily swap graphics on that fw by Stereophonick with UniversalSkinner. However you will need to find out its offsets first (these are the addresses, where image start is within the binary ezkernel.bin file).

For me it's simple enough to find new offsets if graphics is original. However in case of fw with modified graphics it is not that simple to do.

2. Yes for now it works, as long as you are talking about official 1.06_fw7 as well as any other firmware, offsets of which are known and injected in definitions.xml.

3. Boot screen depends on skin's colours which are represented by image named "ezkernel_Colors Map (until dialog is developed).png". This image consists of a column of 10 pixels of different colours. Some of those are responsible for the loading screen background and the text on it.

4. Technically, you could modify it yourself, as EZ Flash Omega fw is open source. However it is way easier, if you use a modified firmware with those functions and try to change its skin.

Thank you @stap - great info and I love the 'Clean' Skin - definitely the sort of simple UI I was hoping for. Boot screen info is very interesting too. Do you know how the Theme text colours are determined, since the .zip file you just sent me is purely images?

 

[stap]

Thank you @stap - great info and I love the 'Clean' Skin - definitely the sort of simple UI I was hoping for. Boot screen info is very interesting too. Do you know how the Theme text colours are determined, since the .zip file you just sent me is purely images?

Presumably text colours and other elements are determined by "ezkernel_Colors Map (until dialog is developed).png". In other words, replacing the default image with a modified 1x10 column with altered colurs will change the skin elements colours as follows.

Each of 10 pixels are somehow used for text and selected menu colour, something like this top-down (default colour in brackets):

1st pixel (light blue): secondary font in settings menu, tickmark for settings, item icons background colour, game boot options selected text colour;
2nd pixel (white): Primary font colour; game boot options not selected font colour;
3rd pixel (blue): Menu selection colour
4th pixel (dark grey): n/a
5th pixel (pink): n/a
6th pixel (black): n/a
7th pixel (light grey): Not selected item in settings menu, game boot options unavailable item font and keys guide;
8th pixel (green): n/a
9th pixel (red): n/a
10th pixel (dark blue): Selected item in settings menu

Loading background and real-time saves screen background seems to be predetermined and not affected by color mapping.

 

[Bruno Jenso]

@stap that is so so helpful - thank you so much. I think I'm going to use 'Clean' as my base and use the info you've given me to tweak the colours to roughly match the Switch Dark Theme (I reckon I can get it quite similar in feel) - graphic design is my job.

Based on what I've read I think I'm better staying with stock firmware and this theme mod. I'd like to get some Gomba Colour action for a few GBC must plays like MGS, Zeldas and Wario games - but I've read scary things about quitting that emulator (instead of powering off after a few seconds) corrupting SD Cards (and therefore your whole GBA content).

So initially I fancied trying to play some GB/GBC, NGP and GG (even TG16 - but I can imagine how it handles the squishing of the graphics). But now I thinking to just enjoy it as a pure GBA playing Micro.

What do you think - have you bothered with other systems much?