Super Monkey Ball Jr [USA] - fix for EZ Flash Omega addons

[metroid maniac]

When you try to boot Super Monkey Ball Jr on an EZ Flash Omega with addons enabled, the game crashes to a white screen.
This patch fixes this issue. With this patch you can enjoy sleep mode, reset-to-menu and save state functionality in Super Monkey Ball Jr.
Enjoy!

EDIT: If you are aware of any other games which are not compatible with addons, or if there is a such a compatibility list, please let me know!

 

[hippy dave]

Oh good skills! I've come across a couple such games but can't remember what they were will let you know if I find any.

 

[metroid maniac]

I have discovered that Grand Theft Auto Advance is another game which is incompatible with EZ Flash Omega addons. I have developed a patch for this game too.

As my auto batteryless program uses the same technique as EZ Flash Omega addons, these fixes are also relevant to this program.

 

[flanter21]

Hi thank you for the patch. I don't have an EZ-flash omega but your monkey ball patch fixes the game on the SuperCard SD. Could I ask what you did to fix it? It might also be nice to have a EUR version of the patch but really the game is playable as is so thank you very much.

 

[metroid maniac]

Hi thank you for the patch. I don't have an EZ-flash omega but your monkey ball patch fixes the game on the SuperCard SD. Could I ask what you did to fix it? It might also be nice to have a EUR version of the patch but really the game is playable as is so thank you very much.

These incompatible ROMs clear the IRQ handler address at 0x03007FFC, which is where flashcart patches like to hook. These fixes prevent clearing that address.

 

[moon_rabbit]

void IWRAM_CODE PatchInternal(u32* Data,int iSize,u32 offset)
{
  u32 search_size=iSize/4;
  g_Offset = offset/4;
  if(offset==0)
  {
      EA_offset = Data[0] & 0xFFFFFF;
  }
 
  for(u32 ii=0;ii<search_size;ii++)
  {
    switch(Data[ii])
    {
      case 0x3007FFC: // IRQ handler
        {
          Add2(ii, 0x3007FF4);//0x3007FFC的位置
        }
        break;
    }
  }
}

https://github.com/ez-flash/omega-kernel/blob/master/source/GBApatch.c


Isn't it possible if I modify this code or make an exception for a particular game?
Looks better than modifying every game.

 

[metroid maniac]

Isn't it possible if I modify this code or make an exception for a particular game?
Looks better than modifying every game.

No, the address of 0x03007FFC is hardcoded by the BIOS. The vblank handler hook must be installed here by the kernel. Overwriting this address later is done on a game-specific basis, so game-specific patches are needed.

 

[moon_rabbit]

No, the address of 0x03007FFC is hardcoded by the BIOS. The vblank handler hook must be installed here by the kernel. Overwriting this address later is done on a game-specific basis, so game-specific patches are needed.

Interesting.

It would be nice to have a list of games that need to be patched.

 

[Jumpman_DK]

Glad I've found this thread! Thanks a lot metroid maniac for these two patches!
Instead of an EZ-Flash Omega I have the ol' EZ-Flash IV with a dead battery. So, in order to being able to save I depend on being able to go back into the flashcart's menu. Your patches make that possible!

While I've been trying the complete EUR+USA romset, I have taken notes of all the games that didn't work properly. I assume, the list will be identical oder almost identical for the EZ-Flash Omega. Here it is:

007 - Everything or Nothing
2 Games in One! - Paperboy + Rampage [no save feature]
All-Star Baseball 2003
All-Star Baseball 2004
Babar to the Rescue
Backyard Skateboarding
Barbie Groovy Games [no save feature]
Beyblade G-Revolution
Bookworm
Broken Sword - The Shadow of the Templars
Capcom Classics Mini Mix [no save feature]
Dragon Ball Z - Taiketsu
Dragon Ball Z - The Legacy of Goku 1
Droopy's Tennis Open [no save feature]
Global Star - Sudoku Fever
Grand Theft Auto Advance
Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, The
Harlem Globetrotters - World Tour [no save feature]
International Karate Advanced [no save feature]
Land Before Time, The - Into the Mysterious Beyond
Lara Croft Tomb Raider - Legend
LEGO Star Wars 1 - The Video Game
LEGO Star Wars 2 - The Original Trilogy
Lemony Snickets A Series of Unfortunate Events
Mario Party Advance
Monopoly [no save feature]
Morning Adventure, The [no save feature]
Motoracer Advance
Ms. Pac-Man - Maze Madness
Pac-Man World 1
Pac-Man World 2 [no save feature]
Paws & Claws - Best Friends - Dogs & Cats // Best Friends - Hunde & Katzen
Payback
Pinball Challenge Deluxe
Polly Pocket! - Super Splash Island [no save feature]
Racing Gears Advance
Revenge of the Smurfs, The [no save feature]
Rock'em Sock'em Robots [no save feature]
Santa Claus Jr. Advance
Secret Agent Barbie - Royal Jewels Mission [no save feature]
Starsky & Hutch
Strawberry Shortcake - Summertime Adventure [no save feature]
Stuart Little 2 [no save feature]
Super Army War // Essence of War - Glory Days [no save feature]
Super Hornet FA 18F [no save feature]
Super Monkey Ball Jr.
Ultimate Puzzle Games


Now, if you could have a look into these, metroid maniac, that would be awesome! Hope I'm not too late to the party

 

[metroid maniac]

Glad I've found this thread! Thanks a lot metroid maniac for these two patches!
Instead of an EZ-Flash Omega I have the ol' EZ-Flash IV with a dead battery. So, in order to being able to save I depend on being able to go back into the flashcart's menu. Your patches make that possible!

While I've been trying the complete EUR+USA romset, I have taken notes of all the games that didn't work properly. I assume, the list will be identical oder almost identical for the EZ-Flash Omega. Here it is:

...

Now, if you could have a look into these, metroid maniac, that would be awesome! Hope I'm not too late to the party

That's a long list of games. Which of these games are actually good enough to be worth taking a look at?

 

[Jumpman_DK]

If I had to pick two out of these, I'd go for "Pinball Challenge Deluxe" and "Ms. Pac-Man - Maze Madness". But it's a matter of taste, for sure.

Also, I have added remarks to those games that don't have a built-in save feature - for these don't necessarily require to be able to go back to the flashcart's menu in order to keep the game progress.

 

[metroid maniac]

No promises, but I'll take a look if I have any free time. I'm looking at a lot of different things lately.

Also, I have added remarks to those games that don't have a built-in save feature - for these don't necessarily require to be able to go back to the flashcart's menu in order to keep the game progress.

That only means there's even more justification to have access to the Real Time Save feature, no?

 

[Jumpman_DK]

True. Haven't thought about that... maybe because the Real Time Save feature isn't available on the EZ-Flash IV
Anyway, thanks a lot so far!

 

[metroid maniac]

If I had to pick two out of these, I'd go for "Pinball Challenge Deluxe" and "Ms. Pac-Man - Maze Madness". But it's a matter of taste, for sure.

Hot off the press. Let me know if they work for you, and if there are any other titles to prioritize.

EDIT: broken attachment deleted.

 

[Jumpman_DK]

Whoa, thanks a heap!
Pinball Challenge works fine now!! But, unfortunatley Ms. Pac-Man only ends up in a white screen (which turns into a black screen after a few seconds). Well, at least over at my end.

 

[metroid maniac]

Whoa, thanks a heap!
Pinball Challenge works fine now!! But, unfortunatley Ms. Pac-Man only ends up in a white screen (which turns into a black screen after a few seconds). Well, at least over at my end.

You're right I screwed up, try this one instead.

 

[Jumpman_DK]

Yeah, thank you!! This one works. At first I thought, that the sound might be broken, but it seems you have to turn it on manually in the options menu. Weird

So, it's another game to cross off the list now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, that you might find the time to fix the others, too. Like I said, for me personally the ones WITH save feature would be more important.

 

[metroid maniac]

Made a few more patches. Tested all of them on my EZΩ. These weren't difficult to create.

I had a look at some other interesting games like Payback, Lara Croft Tomb Raider Legend and Moto Racer Advance. Those ones would be a lot more work though.

 

[Jumpman_DK]

All five confirmed working.
Great work!

 

[metroid maniac]

Couple more.