ROM Hack M3 Spirit Tracks Thread

[Ryufushichou]

I am staring this thread as i think i have found the problem for m3, its in the ARM7 file. But i dont know if this is correct this thread is for those who have M3's and are going to help! (not winge and moan) us find a way around this.


Turns out our ARM7 is the whole reason it doesnt work, once patched you cant save, if you stick in a new ARM7 the game loads, you just cant see a thing. even when unpatched game loads but you cant see a thing. current theory is about to be tested will post results when i haz them.

Didnt work anyone else got ideas?

 

[CannonFoddr]

I'm afraid I'm not much of a programmer but I have used DSLazy and (Arm7Fix in the past to 'patch' some games that failed to make a save file'

Would it be possible to Patch the game with a ARM7 that works, THEN Crack it ??
(I've tried but the crack expects the file size to be 134217728 bytes long)

I've tried Arm7Fix (with SimCity J as the 'doner') and got pass the nintendo screen - but then I get 2 black screens

EDIT: I vaguely remember that ther use to be a program that 'adds' bytes to the end of a game ROM - but can't remember where I saw it.
Perhaps if I can find it, I could try extending the 'patched' ROM to the right size for the 'Crack' to work

 

[Shardnax]

M3 will probably have an update for the firmware in a couple days, after all, it's a Zelda game. I'm going to see if it runs when I get the chance to get it on my cart. though. I will let you know.

 

[Subtle Demise]

I'm afraid I'm not much of a programmer but I have used DSLazy and (Arm7Fix in the past to 'patch' some games that failed to make a save file'

Would it be possible to Patch the game with a ARM7 that works, THEN Crack it ??
(I've tried but the crack expects the file size to be 134217728 bytes long)

I've tried Arm7Fix (with SimCity J as the 'doner') and got pass the nintendo screen - but then I get 2 black screens

EDIT: I vaguely remember that ther use to be a program that 'adds' bytes to the end of a game ROM - but can't remember where I saw it.
Perhaps if I can find it, I could try extending the 'patched' ROM to the right size for the 'Crack' to work

That could work, but I think you'd still get the no video output error. =\

Also, you're basically looking for a program that's the opposite of a trimmer...Couldn't you do that with a hex editor? It would probably be a little more complicated but it would do essentially the same thing.

 

[blacksheep998]

Vincent, from your comment it sounds like you can actually run the game, but can't save.

How did you manage that? Myself and almost everyone I've spoken to with an M3 is still stuck on the nintendo screen.

And you can use filechop to increase the size of the rom. When it asks what size you want to cut the file to just enter 134217728 or whatever the size of the official rom is. Since that's larger than the current filesize it will add blank bytes onto the end of the file until it reaches the specified size.

 

[CannonFoddr]

And you can use filechop to increase the size of the rom. When it asks what size you want to cut the file to just enter 134217728 or whatever the size of the official rom is. Since that's larger than the current filesize it will add blank bytes onto the end of the file until it reaches the specified size.

Where do you find 'filechop' (can you provide a link) - I've done a Google & found something called 'filechop' which is a command line program - only problem is when I use 'filechop.exe fixed.nds 134217728' nothing happens (fixed.nds' is the name of the 'Arm7 patched file')

As for using a Hex editor to pad-it-out.
I've tried that (with 'HxD') & got the file EXACTLY the same size as a clean ROM (134,217,728 bytes) - yet when using the crack, although I end up with a 'Cracked' version I also get 'checksum errors' showing while it's cracking it - & of course trying to run it , & nothing changes

 

[Subtle Demise]

Yeah that's exactly what I did, and it just froze at the Xenophobia screen. It was worth a try though I guess.

Vincent, from your comment it sounds like you can actually run the game, but can't save.

How did you manage that? Myself and almost everyone I've spoken to with an M3 is still stuck on the nintendo screen.

What he means is that you can bypass the logo freeze with an arm7 swap but the video will cut out while all the sounds and buttons and stylus work. Basically, the game works, but the screens are black.

 

[CannonFoddr]

Yeah that's exactly what I did, and it just froze at the Xenophobia screen. It was worth a try though I guess.

Vincent, from your comment it sounds like you can actually run the game, but can't save.

How did you manage that? Myself and almost everyone I've spoken to with an M3 is still stuck on the nintendo screen.

What he means is that you can bypass the logo freeze with an arm7 swap but the video will cut out while all the sounds and buttons and stylus work. Basically, the game works, but the screens are black.

Hmm - I wonder what arm7 swap he used ?? - I've tried some other Arm7 & STILL can't get pass the Nintendo screen (he he I've even tried Zelda - Phantom hourglass as a 'doner')

EDIT: I think I've found a reason for 'lock-ups', but I need confirmation on it just to prove it's not a fluke
I have managed to get the Unpatched game to run on DSi (1.4E) & M3i0 with the lateset Firmware [Sakura 1.44 & 4.6X], but unfortunately the SAVES still don't work

I've found out it won't work on SDHC cards (I've got an 8Gb) but for a weird reason it WILL work on standard MicroSD cards (2Gb or less)

If possible - can other M3 users try it out (if possible) on standard SD cards & report back if it works or not

 

[Subtle Demise]

Mine is a regular 2 GB SD card. Doesn't work.

 

[Subtle Demise]

I found the solution! The game creates a save file that's too big for the card and apparently freezes trying to load a corrupted one. http://www.mediafire.com/?yd2jtmymemz

 

[crazyace]

tried the save and ,so far so good my game saves lets just cross our fingers from hear on out

 

[hyjacked]

Yesssss.......Just to confirm, DSv1.4u m3i0 with latest update(sakura)+xpa patch+save file from this thread....working 100% I'm an hour into it and havn't had one glitch, saving and all. thanks

 

[Ryufushichou]

Great job, nice work Subtle.

 

[Melly Pix]

i confirm that this process all works out ^^
we have the save file link and i hope this helps you out without need for searching
http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=89197
link to the thread for the latest m3 sakura/touchpod firmware
and the xpa patch link is in the op of that thread as well

OP needs to be changed in this thread ^^
overall process works, i use an 8gb micro sdhc card

 

[EverlongNDS]

great job!works like a charm

 

[EntityMaster]

m3ds sakura with 4GB SDHC card works well. Everything is fine.

 

[Raiven]

Hmm :/ mine still freezes when trying to ride the train. also, I don't think I got the save-file working..
Could someone make a little nub tutorial for me?

 

[Ryufushichou]

You need to use the XPA crack then Rename the rom and the save to the same thing.

 

[Juanmatron]

Everybody read the thread of TFDELTA: http://gbatemp.net/index.php?showtopic=194422

There´s the solution for M3/M3i.

 

[CannonFoddr]

Congrates to all those who manage to figure it all out

Justr got back from shopping & found it's been solved

I can confirm it fully works on a M3i0 + Dsi + 8Gb SDHC card (Traind Controls & Save works)
[Just would LOVE to not have the 'Xeno' splash screen

]