Famicom World

Family Computer => Famicom / Disk System => Topic started by: famifan on May 08, 2012, 02:36:11 am

Title: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: famifan on May 08, 2012, 02:36:11 am
hi, does someone else making repros for yourself?

success story
for instance, i bought wholesale lot with famicom carts and now i have a couple of suitable donors. Already made 3 repros, but it's not so profitable, because eprom ic-s cost about 3-5$ (in my local stores) and usually 2 eproms needed for every repro.
Anyway this is cheaper than buying official loose cart for 25-40$.

Finally found 10x 27c020-90 for $1.7 USD each.
[close]

i'm asking your advices about what titles are eligible for reproing.

current list:
01) recca [x]
02) rockman [x]
03) raf world [x]
04) rockman6 [x]
05) moon crystal [x]
06) treasure master
07) new ghostbusters II
08) castlevania
09) castlevania II
10) hitler no fukkatsu [x]
11) buzz and waldog [x]
12) gimmick
13) Bad-apple demo!
14) FFIII
15) Battle Kid [x]
16) Just Breed (EN)
17) Akira (EN)
18) Rockman DEM
19) Rockman NC
20) SMB hacks: Adventure
21) SMB hacks: Unlimited
22) D-pad Hero (!!!)
23) D-pad Hero 2
24) Lemmings
25) Shadowgate (ENG)
26) FC Genjin
27) Rocketeer
28) Don doko don 2 [x]
29) Kid Icarus [x]

any titles to add?

thanks!
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: famifan on May 08, 2012, 03:44:08 am
Quote from: 80sFREAK on May 08, 2012, 02:58:16 am
Gimmick LOL ;D

good idea, but gimmick uses uncommon very hard to find mapper IC
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: L___E___T on May 08, 2012, 05:00:34 am
I think Batman (Joker's revenge?) is the only game with the same mapper and you won't get the extra sound channels anyway without a lot of work.

Best to grab a pirate from MWK (Pipe) and reshell it - simples.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: Drakon on May 08, 2012, 06:21:14 am
I converted a metal gear into rockman.  Really though it's only worth it for rare / ultra expensive stuff.  Most of the time the nes powerpak makes more sense.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: famifan on May 08, 2012, 08:49:42 am
Quote from: Drakon on May 08, 2012, 06:21:14 am
I converted a metal gear into rockman.  Really though it's only worth it for rare / ultra expensive stuff.  Most of the time the nes powerpak makes more sense.

okay, but
1) i don't have nes, wont use nes to famicom cartridge converter, etc.
2) powepak becomes a spof (single point of failure), if it dies i can't play any game.
3) ...
can provide a couple of another reasons that powerpak is not suitable for me, but won't do it
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: jpx72 on May 09, 2012, 12:08:57 am
Hi
I am having fun with repros myself (strict Famicom)! If you need advice, I think RAF world is nice :D and of course Bad-apple demo! FFIII, Battle Kid, Just Breed (EN), Akira (EN), Rockman DEM, Rockman NC...and of course SMB hacks (Adventure, Unlimited...)
Did a Gimmick repro too, if you don't mind the sound, it's fairly easy, but if you do, it's not so extremely hard too, when I did it, you can do it too ;D
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: michaelthegreat on May 09, 2012, 12:29:28 am
I find it more interesting to put the translation on original cart to make it playable for me--like putting the mother translation on a mother cart, etc.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: jpx72 on May 09, 2012, 12:34:28 am
Quote from: michaelthegreat on May 09, 2012, 12:29:28 am
I find it more interesting to put the translation on original cart to make it playable for me--like putting the mother translation on a mother cart, etc.

I don't like that. My mother (EN) is done on a cheap common red cart (exactly the same shape and color as the original) with my own label.  I hate modifying good carts (like the original Mother).
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: L___E___T on May 09, 2012, 02:27:17 am
Quote from: michaelthegreat on May 09, 2012, 12:29:28 am
I find it more interesting to put the translation on original cart to make it playable for me--like putting the mother translation on a mother cart, etc.


I'm with this, I plan on doing it for most good games with patches.  It seems a shame yes, but rather than destroying a Mother cart in this case I believe it's actually putting more love into it.  It can always be reflashed as well I might add.  The cart doesn't get destroyed, just a chip gets swapped out and they are just chips with a bit of Nintendo ink on in my eyes.

This way I can actually enjoy those games on real carts.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: VegaVegas on May 09, 2012, 05:51:15 am
The best choices are games which are impossible to buy (just don't exist):
Buzz & Waldog
D-pad Hero (!!!)
D-pad Hero 2
Lemmings
Shadowgate (ENG)

Do you pay 3-5$ for each IC?? Lol, I buy FLASH EPROMs for less than 1$ xD
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: famifan on May 09, 2012, 07:09:07 am
Quote from: MaarioS on May 09, 2012, 05:51:15 am
Do you pay 3-5$ for each IC?? Lol, I buy FLASH EPROMs for less than 1$ xD

and what type of flash eprom you are buying for less than 1$?

i have purchased DIP 27cXX eprom (27c010 - 27c040)
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: VegaVegas on May 09, 2012, 08:04:23 am
Quote from: famifan on May 09, 2012, 07:09:07 am
Quote from: MaarioS on May 09, 2012, 05:51:15 am
Do you pay 3-5$ for each IC?? Lol, I buy FLASH EPROMs for less than 1$ xD

and what type of flash eprom you are buying for less than 1$?


Miscellaneous, most often W29C010/020/040, 28F010/020, 29EE010/020 etc., all for the same price. There are also EPROMs 27C010/020 but buying them is pointless, I guess you know why. To be exact, they go for 2PLN (60-75US cents)
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: jpx72 on May 09, 2012, 01:00:44 pm
Hey MaarioS, I am sooo interested in 040s, any manufacturer, can you give me a tip where to buy them for so cheap? I am using eBay and the cheapest lots raise the price with shipping to 2-3USD. Would like to buy them cheaper. Some 080s even better!
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: VegaVegas on May 09, 2012, 01:25:12 pm
How many do you need?? I must say 040s are almost impossible to buy, well, maybe not PLCC chips but DIP. I bought a big set of DIP ones 1-2 years ago on one Polish auction site for a very reasonable price but never have seen them on a flea market for like 1$. I may sell you a few but I don't have many
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: Drakon on May 09, 2012, 07:29:03 pm
well if a powerpak dies all your stuff is saved on the compact flash card you can just buy another powerpak.  You can backup your compact flash card to your pc at any time.

Quote from: famifan on May 08, 2012, 08:49:42 am
Quote from: Drakon on May 08, 2012, 06:21:14 am
I converted a metal gear into rockman.  Really though it's only worth it for rare / ultra expensive stuff.  Most of the time the nes powerpak makes more sense.

okay, but
1) i don't have nes, wont use nes to famicom cartridge converter, etc.
2) powepak becomes a spof (single point of failure), if it dies i can't play any game.
3) ...
can provide a couple of another reasons that powerpak is not suitable for me, but won't do it
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: jpx72 on May 09, 2012, 10:07:24 pm
>quote the eprom selling stuff<
Thanks guys, so MaarioS - you are buying them from Poland? I have never seen them on auction here in Slovakia, and local shops sell 040s for cca 12eur/piece!!! I plan on buying a bigger lot of 040s or 080s in the near future, maybe I'll send you a PM later...
And 80's - great to know, when I'll be unsuccesfull in Poland, I'll definitely PM you!
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: VegaVegas on May 09, 2012, 11:51:38 pm
Yes, I buy them in Poland. If you mean 080s EPROMs, the price 12EUR for each doesn't really surprise me. They're very hard to find, let alone for a reasonable price. On-line Polish shop sells them for like 8€-10€ or more and the prices of shipping are insane for good measure. Actually, I found 1 shop (physical) selling them for like 5€ but if you buy more, the price is approx. 4€ per IC. Unfortunately, I bought one and that one wasn't erased.... but after all it worked after erasing and programming it. If you're also talking about 040s EPROMs, I also saw them but the price was pretty much the same, maybe a little bit lower, maybe 3€ each.

NOTE: that happened 1-2 years ago, they may have raised the prices
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: famifan on May 11, 2012, 01:04:53 pm
 :pacman: ordered 20pcs 27c020 on ebay for 1.7$ each shipped, hope they will work fine
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: famifan on May 19, 2012, 02:15:22 pm
expanded the list, thanks for you advices!

welcome if have anything to add! more games - more fun!

bump :fire:
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: FamicomFreak on May 19, 2012, 03:01:25 pm
Hmmm this is very interesting. I would love to learn the basics on creating repros...any advice?
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: famifan on May 19, 2012, 03:21:58 pm
Quote from: FamicomFreak on May 19, 2012, 03:01:25 pm
Hmmm this is very interesting. I would love to learn the basics on creating repros...any advice?

no problem...
nice tutorial http://callanbrown.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62
it's about nes, but the process making famicom's repro is quite the same.

good cart database where you can find suitable donor http://bootgod.dyndns.org:7777/
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: FamicomFreak on May 19, 2012, 03:43:54 pm
Oh wow so much info but I'm definitely going to try this out! I do need to develop my hobby and reach new heights! Thank you so much! Now to hunt for an Eprom programmer and Eprom eraser ^_^
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: famiac on May 19, 2012, 04:48:41 pm
Willem gq-3x from mcumall.com is the one i have.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: Drakon on May 19, 2012, 07:58:41 pm
Cutters?  I bought a radioshack desoldering iron and mastered the darn thing.  Now I can cleanly remove maskrom chips.  Also I bought some 70-80$ eprom programmer but it didn't work with certain eproms.  Yet my willem that's the cheapest thing money can buy works with everything, it's just not user friendly in the slightest.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: famifan on May 20, 2012, 02:18:10 am
if you can into 8bit AVR and have a breadboard and PC with serial port, a bunch of wires and some PSUs, you can build very cheap and handy eprom burner for 27Cxx (which can burn upto 27c080).

only two ICs are necessary - atmega16/atmega32 + max232n.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: jpx72 on May 20, 2012, 02:30:45 am
I used to erase eproms with sun tan lamp, it worked nicely, but the chips were quite hot ! :crazy: ... but better than spend money on a UV eraser when you have this lamp at home already.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: Drakon on May 20, 2012, 09:05:34 pm
Quote from: 80sFREAK on May 19, 2012, 10:40:44 pm
Quotedesoldering iron
I had one while ago - quite handy to use, but time is cruel :-[


cruel in what sense?  It got too old?  ???
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: jpx72 on May 21, 2012, 03:07:51 am
If anyone interested, I can desolder chips from cartridges for you, let's say $1 a rom piece :D
...but I cover the PCB with oil to save the rest of the contacts from the residual solder, so it will be oily and filthy, and I don't have the nerves to clean it :D at least not completely, so don't expect me to do it.
...and I leave the cart opening to you too :P
...AND I won't desolder the rom from a nice game, must be some shitty sport or something.... you know...
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: VegaVegas on May 21, 2012, 06:19:01 am
Quote from: jpx72 on May 21, 2012, 03:07:51 am
...AND I won't desolder the rom from a nice game, must be some shitty sport or something.... you know...


LOL, what's the matter?? What's the deal with that?? So will you desolder Castlevania for example?? :P No sh*t, this is just a pile of crap....
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: Drakon on May 21, 2012, 06:55:13 am
jesus 1$ is a cheap price.  Desoldering iron heads need fairly frequent replacement and they're not exactly cheap.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: jpx72 on May 21, 2012, 07:36:05 am
Quote from: Drakon on May 21, 2012, 06:55:13 am
Desoldering iron heads need fairly frequent replacement and they're not exactly cheap.

Well it is when you have home-made desoldering machine :D no need for head replacement. I'll try to make a photo of it sometime :D

And 2MaarioS: No, I won't desolder Castlevania, or Mother, or Gradius, or even Ninja Hattori Kun. That's my rule.
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: Drakon on May 21, 2012, 06:50:55 pm
I found a video of a guy desoldering a DSP1 snes chip in about 2 minutes using his gas stovetop and plyers.  My stove is electric otherwise I'd be all over that technique.

80sfreak....wd40 is highly flammable...that a good thing to put near a heat source?
Title: Re: About the making home-brew repros for yourself
Post by: jpx72 on May 28, 2012, 12:48:19 am
I promised some photos so here they are (missing the compressor part!)
(http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/5271/250520121753.jpg)
(http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/8572/250520121754.jpg)
(http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4259/250520121756.jpg)
My father construted it some 20 years ago.