Hacking VCFE Wip...

[HowardC]

If you inject the edited images into an archive that doesn't have distorted images when you install it (in other words an official archive) then the inject mode should cover the distortion issues. It would make the archvie structure identical, only with swapped out images. If you use pack then it won't help. If it doesn't work anyway then it's just another wierd issue as the inject mode is copying the structure 1:1.

 

[icefireicefire]

HowardC, the issue is that I can't make TPLs always be the same size (in WADder). So, I have to use pack mode.

Any idea of what causes this or a way to fix it? It happens in *every* banner/icon I pack, even those that have the original (previously working) images.

 

[HowardC]

HowardC, the issue is that I can't make TPLs always be the same size (in WADder). So, I have to use pack mode.

Any idea of what causes this or a way to fix it? It happens in *every* banner/icon I pack, even those that have the original (previously working) images.

Well there's your solution then... make the files the same size.


Yeah as I've said 20,000 times in this thread the issue involves the padding between files when the archive is packed. There isn't a way to fix this universally as there's no rhyme no reason as to how much padding (if any) is needed to fix the archive. That's what the inject mode is for. We know an untouched archive from a real game isn't corrupted, so we just touch it as little as possible.

 

[HowardC]

Just a quick update tonight.

I've finished the final tg-cd function so for all intensive purposes the rom manager is complete!

I still need to write up proper documentation and set it through it's paces though so it'll probably be later this week or this weekend before I release it. A word of warning before I release this though, this tool is NOT for the faint of heart. Even with me simplifying the process, rom swapping is tricky and requires good knowledge of the various rom formats and where they are stored and this app will NOT help you with that part. VCFE, when it is released, will do this bit for you, but for now experienced users only please.

 

[HowardC]

I figured while I was at it, I would start posting my notes in the thread as I keep losing them. A text file, fully explaining the tg/pce cd format has been posted on the first post. For any developer that wishes to make an app that deals with tg-cd conversion, this is the text file for you!

 

[marioxb]

I think there is a serious problem with the "inject" mode! Every time I try it I get an almost brick! When I go to the page on the wii where the wad is installed and you'd see the icon banner, the Wii freezes and makes a loud buzzing noise! What I had to do was click on a different channel to enlarge it and use the plus or minus button to navigate to the homebrew channel and delete the wad. Anyone else notice this?

 

[icefireicefire]

Never got this, but it doesn't work for me at all really.

btw, howardc, a few questions:
- Does the app pack the U8 differently for IMET and IMD5 settings? I wrote a IMET/IMD5 header adder and want to know if I can pack with your tool then add the headers myself?
- can you examine the difference between your tool's files and gally's and see where gally adds the extra padding to make it more compatible?
- Can I see the source code? I intend to write a U8 packer in standard cross-platform C, and it would be useful to have working code as a reference.

Thanks!

 

[marioxb]

I just purchased Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Dai Maikimura) from the Japanese shop for the Super Grafx. As expected, it's has the standard PC Engine banner, and Super Grafx mode is enabled by a simple flag in the ini file. I've confirmed this by getting the game running in a standard PC Engine wad.

Here is the 'config.ini'

NAME=N43800AL
ROM=/LZ77N43800AL.BIN
BACKUPRAM=0
MULTITAP=1
HDS=0
RASTER=0
POPULUS=0
SPRLINE=0
PAD5=0
NOFPA=1
SGENABLE=1

The last line there enables Super Grafx mode. LZ77N43800AL.BIN is the (compressed) rom. It's funny that there is also a second compressed rom, LZ77NC92003.BIN inside the game's 005.app! I uncompressed it and found out that it's Tower of Druaga!

Since there were only 7 games made for the Super Grafx, I went ahead and made wads of the other six. I also made custom banners and manuals in English with Super Grafx logos made as how they might appear should the system had been released in the US. Here are the games:

1. 1941: Counter Attack
2. Aldynes
3. Battle Ace
4. Darius Alpha
5. Darius Plus
6. Ghouls 'n Ghosts
7. Granzort

Granzort is actually called Madou Granzort or something like that, but I just dropped the first word for it's possible English title. The Darius games are actually normal TG16/PC Engine games that are enhanced when played on a Super Grafx. Here is a zip file containing all 7 custom English banners I made:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/yoggm32inyr/SGX.zip

And here is the custom manual for the 6 games besides Ghouls 'n Ghosts, which I just kept the original Japanese manual. The manual is very simple and only has a Super Grafx logo with two pages, button key, and suspending. I merely changed the title on each game.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/yoggm32inyr/SGX.zip

 

[RadioShadow]

Sorry to sound impatient HowardC, but weren't you planning on releasing the ROM Injector?

 

[FGOD]

i just reinstalled windows xp pro sp3 and for some reason i cannot start u8Tools anymore... it gives me a out of memory error :s i have no clue on why he is doing this, but if anybody has an idea i'll be glad to listen...

 

[DoctorWhosThat]

HowardC, I cannot pack either, banner.bin and icon.bin when creating wad banner injections with u8Tool/gbalzss as it looks for banner2.bin or icon2.bin instead of banner.bin or icon.bin.

Any chance of fixing this please?

Many thanks....

Also, have you had any luck cracking the "Majora Code" as yet? As in regards to LoZ: Majora's Mask

 

[HowardC]

That is NOT a bug. When compressing/decompressing a file the app first copies it to a dummy file and then compresses said dummy file, deletes the original and renames it back to use the real name.

That error means gbalzss is missing. Make sure it's there.

**edit**

Understand that I'm not ruling out the possibility of a bug, but right now I'm not working on u8tool and what you assumed to be the cause of the error wasn't really the cause.

I'll look into it in time, thanks for letting me know.

 

[dabotsonline]

Note: I know some of you can't access rapidshare links, but I use it because I can upload a file without an account with a single click and I don't have all the time in the world. Anyone wishing to add alternative links do so in the thread and I'll add them here.

If you upload your file on RapidSpread ( http://www.rapidspread.com ) then it should upload to multiple file-hosting services simultaneously. ShareBee ( http://www.sharebee.com ) offers a similar service but I feel that RapidSpread is superior because it uploads to MediaFire, who never delete links no matter how infrequently they are accessed.

These tools look interesting - I might check them out. Thanks!

 

[damingraham]

saved

 

[geocool]

I have been searching for hours but i can't find the solution...
I have the same error as this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAKaKHcsHr4
Run-Time Error '5'
I've tried u8tool on 3 different PC with windows xp.
Does anyone know the answer to my problem ???

 

[dritz]

I just purchased Ghouls 'n Ghosts (Dai Maikimura) from the Japanese shop for the Super Grafx. As expected, it's has the standard PC Engine banner, and Super Grafx mode is enabled by a simple flag in the ini file. I've confirmed this by getting the game running in a standard PC Engine wad.

Here is the 'config.ini'

NAME=N43800AL
ROM=/LZ77N43800AL.BIN
BACKUPRAM=0
MULTITAP=1
HDS=0
RASTER=0
POPULUS=0
SPRLINE=0
PAD5=0
NOFPA=1
SGENABLE=1

The last line there enables Super Grafx mode. LZ77N43800AL.BIN is the (compressed) rom. It's funny that there is also a second compressed rom, LZ77NC92003.BIN inside the game's 005.app! I uncompressed it and found out that it's Tower of Druaga!

Since there were only 7 games made for the Super Grafx, I went ahead and made wads of the other six. I also made custom banners and manuals in English with Super Grafx logos made as how they might appear should the system had been released in the US. Here are the games:

1. 1941: Counter Attack
2. Aldynes
3. Battle Ace
4. Darius Alpha
5. Darius Plus
6. Ghouls 'n Ghosts
7. Granzort

Granzort is actually called Madou Granzort or something like that, but I just dropped the first word for it's possible English title. The Darius games are actually normal TG16/PC Engine games that are enhanced when played on a Super Grafx. Here is a zip file containing all 7 custom English banners I made:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/yoggm32inyr/SGX.zip

And here is the custom manual for the 6 games besides Ghouls 'n Ghosts, which I just kept the original Japanese manual. The manual is very simple and only has a Super Grafx logo with two pages, button key, and suspending. I merely changed the title on each game.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/yoggm32inyr/SGX.zip

Great information. Thanks.

BTW do you have the 00000000.app from the original Ghouls 'n Ghosts. Because the icon are blurry in the remade ones you did and I would like to play around and try to fix them. Thanks




2nd
HowardC
Anything on the compressor for the iso files on turbo cds. I would like to play around with these also but can't get the compresion right. The rest I think I can figure out. Thanks

 

[marioxb]

Any news on the TG16CD injector?

 

[spotanjo3]

injecting roms to the virtual console?? thats not cool. I hate it! It can lead to confused to some people not knowing which is really original VC roms an injected roms. Thats not cool. I wish you would stop do that.

 

[Deleted-171178]

This sounds epic.

 

[Innovative1]

injecting roms to the virtual console?? thats not cool. I hate it! It can lead to confused to some people not knowing which is really original VC roms an injected roms. Thats not cool. I wish you would stop do that.

Shut the hell up. You do not know what you are talking about. The ones you buy from the shop are original VC games. Everything else is free game. Check some of the gaming sites like Gamestop to see if the pirated game that you are downloading has been released or not. Or ds-scene has all of the VC scene releases. Keep up with the releases and you will know whether or not it is injected. Telling him to stop!?!? Get real...