Project D.I.R.E.


Special Thanks to the following individuals for their dedication and hard work. Without them this project would not be possible.

znxDomain -> firmware unlocker, tester, researcher
Lucky.peic -> firmware gui editor, tester, prototype, initial writeups, researcher
B47M4N -> firmware gui editor, tester, pcb and case creator, researcher, user guide writer
Bowman -> alt firmware, prototype tester
Mystic -> supplied test files, tester


Project D.I.R.E. (Disney Infinity Reverse Engineered) is a portal emulator for Disney Infinity, Lego Dimensions, and Skylanders. This replaces the original portal in place of a custom created one to inject your own character dumps without the need for the original characters, vehicles, or playsets.

This emulator originally started several years ago after a talented coder named obiima did not release his project to the public. Obiima created and demoed a console portal emulator for 3 games: Disney Infinity, Lego Dimensions, and Skylanders. Obiima never released his project into the wild and the project he did release privately was closed firmware meaning locked to the stm32 Bluepill. This project picks up where he left off.

The Firmware allows this device to select between games by holding one of the buttons during boot. Specific Button usage can be found in the User Guide. You have the option of using limited onboard memory or by using an SD card you can increase the character count in your base emulator. By adding your own character files known as bin files, you can inject them into the game without having to keep your original characters.

This emulator currently works on the Wii, Wii U, PS3, and PS4.
We CAN NOT confirm if this works on the PS5 or Nintendo Switch as we do not own those consoles with these games to test with.

We have been told Skylanders plays on the Nintendo Switch but does NOT use the Portal of Power.
We have also seen footage of Disney Infinity being played on a PS5 with a PS4 base.

XBOX 360 and XBOX One are Not Yet included in this release. There is a security chip required from an Activision portal to make this work and we have not yet discovered a simple method to allow these games to work on these specific consoles.

Some of the files are too large to fit in this forum post and have been attached via mediafire.
All files can be found here: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/9u87thpc42j9a/Release+Package​

 

[kokkie20]

Ok maybe someone here got a solution cause i am out of ideas.
One time the pcb will load up correct, and most of the times it won't.
Then it says: Windows doesn't recognize this usb device.
And all i get is a white screen on the pcb
Flashed it all, and same for the bank.
It doesn't recognize the sd card? Its a 4gb but used the 128.raw file to make it lower...

 

[Kfkboys]

Ok maybe someone here got a solution cause i am out of ideas.
One time the pcb will load up correct, and most of the times it won't.
Then it says: Windows doesn't recognize this usb device.
And all i get is a white screen on the pcb
Flashed it all, and same for the bank.
It doesn't recognize the sd card? Its a 4gb but used the 128.raw file to make it lower...

1. You should check all your solder joints.
2. Make sure the sd card is pushed all the way into the slot
3. Try a different USB cable
4. Reflash it using the st-link again only connecting the st-link and your bluepill
5. Double check your bluepill is 256k not 64k

 

[kokkie20]

1. You should check all your solder joints.
2. Make sure the sd card is pushed all the way into the slot
3. Try a different USB cable
4. Reflash it using the st-link again only connecting the st-link and your bluepill
5. Double check your bluepill is 256k not 64k

Thanks for reply. But i just got to wait for new parts sadly... I resoldered some parts and attached it with usb and suddenly a small part gave a smoke signal.. Kinda dead now the parts....
But still will reply:
1. I checked solder and all looked good.
2. I did till i heard a loud click, and couldnt push it further
3. Tried 4 cables, and only 1 did "work"
4. Tried that many times before to
5. The bat file said it was a 128 or 256k stm. So my guess it should be big enough to store the "firmware"?

Only got to wait now for new parts to arrive and going to try again...

 

[DarkCrudus]

anyone tried to emulate unreleased imaginators?

There were unreleased imaginators?

 

[1B51004]

anyone tried to emulate unreleased imaginators?

There were unreleased imaginators?

the only one unreleased figure i can think of on the top of my head is an easter variant of the deer sensei, Heartbreaker Buckshot

I don't think the reason was ever explained, but it's speculated that his red eyes may have creeped some kids out.
not sure if he's still in the games files though.

 

[DarkCrudus]

the only one unreleased figure i can think of on the top of my head is an easter variant of the deer sensei, Heartbreaker Buckshot

I don't think the reason was ever explained, but it's speculated that his red eyes may have creeped some kids out.
not sure if he's still in the games files though.

Oh that would have been cool. I have all of the skylanders and their in game variants except the OG chompy mage 😭💔

 

[Siggen]

So, this is a project I just have to try to see if I can make it. So sad the bins are so difficult to find, but I got some - Any idea how to convert .dump files back to .bin?
About the 3D case - on JLCPCB, the 3D-printing comes up with only natural white. No choice for color - am I doing something wrong? I guess white is better than nothing...

 

[1B51004]

We have been told Skylanders plays on the Nintendo Switch but does NOT use the Portal of Power.

not sure if this has been mentioned, (if it has, whoops.) but the switch version uses the amiibo stick on the left joycon, then saves it to the save game, so you dont have to constantly play with the left stick covered. Similar to how the skylanders 3DS games work

If you want to connect D.I.R.E to the switch, it might require some homebrew work, since i dont know if you can directly connect the device to the switch's USB ports.

 

[Siggen]

Ive built the prototype on the breadboard whilst i wait for the printed boards, (ive got spares if anyone needs any UK) but cant seem to get the button to go left to work. do you have a better picture of the top button would you ? also if anyone is in need of all the files for the 3 games in BIN format let me know (also includes the 5 imaginators variants orange chain,pink barbella etc that arnt on the standard sky zip files)

Oh my! I would be very happy to get all the bin files for the 3 games if you still have them. I already ordered all the parts for building this thing. Because I am a newbie on this site, I can not message you...

 

[SMFKRS]

Is anyone making these to sell? I would be interested in buying one (since I don't have any experience building stuff like this)

 

[markthemuppet]

This project is really cool and all games seem to work on PS3. The only thing is that the screen freezes with Disney infinity after a few minutes. I am able to select a game and characters for P1 and P2 and the game works. But when I would like to change my character the screen is blank and buttons are not responding anymore. So I have to unplug the device and then readd the game and characters again.

Anybody else having that issue and maybe a solution?

 

[Siggen]

Is anyone making these to sell? I would be interested in buying one (since I don't have any experience building stuff like this)

If I succeed making my own, I could consider make one for you too. I still waiting for the parts for starting my own project, so you would have to be very patience. When that said, I also still miss complete sets of the bin files, so this thing will be incomplete until I find them...

 

[ChopChopOP]

Hello, I built the D.I.R.E device and I am having an issue where I need to turn on the device in Skylander mode before starting Skylanders giants game on the Wii, otherwise It will not be recognized by the game. Also if the device is accidently turned off mid game it wont be recognized again until I restart the game.

Another small issue is that I cant seem to change the default mode, and I have tried holding button 3(select) and button 5(settings) at the same time while the device was powering up and currently on Disney infinity mode. I wanted to change the default to Skylanders mode but it always booted up in Disney infinity mode by default.

-I have checked the solder connection's.
-Flashed the board again.
-check if the usb cable is the problem(the usb cable is good).
-device runs perfect when it is recognized by the Wii .
-Display works perfectly.

 

[Kfkboys]

Hello, I built the D.I.R.E device and I am having an issue where I need to turn on the device in Skylander mode before starting Skylanders giants game on the Wii, otherwise It will not be recognized by the game. Also if the device is accidently turned off mid game it wont be recognized again until I restart the game.

Another small issue is that I cant seem to change the default mode, and I have tried holding button 3(select) and button 5(settings) at the same time while the device was powering up and currently on Disney infinity mode. I wanted to change the default to Skylanders mode but it always booted up in Disney infinity mode by default.

-I have checked the solder connection's.
-Flashed the board again.
-check if the usb cable is the problem(the usb cable is good).
-device runs perfect when it is recognized by the Wii .
-Display works perfectly.

View attachment 347613View attachment 347612

Does this still happen when you put it into skylanders mode by default? i.e. press the middle button and the right most button at the same time then plug it in? If you do that, then every time you plug it in it will always start in skylanders mode. You can easily change the modes by pressing the right most button as well as one of the left 3 buttons (1st button = DI, 2nd button = Lego, 3rd button = skylanders) but holding the right button with one of those when turning on allows you to start in a specific mode.

 

[Shrommygnome]

@1B51004

The reason Heartbreaker Buckshot got cancelled because of his red eyes was to scary is BS. He never got released because the game got cancelled.

 

[kokkie20]

The reason Heartbreaker Buckshot got cancelled because of his red eyes was to scary is BS. He never got released because the game got cancelled.

dude what have you been Smoking? no clue what you are talking about lol

 

[lwiz]

Thanks for sharing this here @Kfkboys ! Work in progress, still need to model and print the case. Went for bit different button config. On the left "select" under L/R and "setup" on top of the "clear" on the right.

 

[Shrommygnome]

@1B51004

Imaginators got cancelled. Thats why they never released the rest of the missing creation crystals aswell

 

[kokkie20]

Imaginators got cancelled. Thats why they never released the rest of the missing creation crystals aswell

still no clue why you are quoting me for this.....

 

[ppastry]

¿Alguien los está haciendo para vender? Me interesaría comprar uno (ya que no tengo experiencia en la construcción de cosas como esta)

Hello, are you still interested in buying one?

Post automatically merged: Jan 20, 2023

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