Earthbound 3 for N64/DD64

[ASSEMbler]

I've gotten some questions from people and was wondering if people had leads on this, as I am completely ignorant of the series.

Attainable?

[Calpis]

About as attainable as Final Fantasy 64.

[madhatter256]

About as attainable as Final Fantasy 64.

Yet the pictures of Earthboun64/ Mother3 were, in fact, actual gameplay footage running on the hardware. Its looked up somewhere in Nintendo I think. We will never know.

[Greatsaintlouis]

Yeah, definately more attainable than FF64, as this was actually worked on in both cart and 64DD form. I've never seen it surface, but it is supposed to be about 30% complete or so.

So a little less attainable than BH 1.5, methinks.

[ASSEMbler]

I would say I'll put out an offer of $3000 for either EB3 or FF64

[Calpis]

Earthbound was like Doshin, it was going to be on cartridge then cancelled at the last moment (well Doshin was moved to DD), I even saw posters in Funcoland for Earthbound. How the hell is one going to turn up? One won't. You'll have to get into some elite Japanese collector circles to get information on that kind of stuff.

[neomatrix]

Unreleased N64 dd64 game footage
hey assembler
they have Unreleased N64 dd64 Acclaim Sports Soccer" Promo Video look nice

http://www.64dd.net/board/viewtopic.php?p=458#458

[ASSEMbler]

Wow, that sure is a page named after one obscure peripheral.

Too bad that vid is of a sports game, sports games don't age too well.

[Greatsaintlouis]

Earthbound 64/Mother 3 started with 64DD, then as it quickly faded out was moved to a normal N64 cart release. The playable version shown at Spaceworld 1999 was from the cart version, I believe, but I'm not certain.

It's one of those things that could be either or - Ape is a fairly big developer on the Nintendo team, but not quite as big as Intelligent Systems or whatever the hell R&D1 has become nowadays, so there's either the chance that a proto could slip like with Echo Delta from Marigul, or it could be locked down tight like the original Zelda 64DD. I'd love to see one surface... then again, I'd like to see Ape or whoever's in charge of it now get their act together and put the new Mother 3 out on Gamecube or DS! :angry

And while I'm wishing, I'd like Giftpia to come stateside too... :smt009

[neomatrix]

I have beta Zelda 64DD only work video display but when I start the games only I black screen
I have u.s.a nintendo 64 and z-64 japanese dd4

[kammedo]

I would say I'll put out an offer of $3000 for either EB3 or FF64
$3000 bucks??? Holy Sh*t!!! :prayer: :smt030

[Flyinghigh]

I have beta Zelda 64DD only work video display but when I start the games only I black screen
I have u.s.a nintendo 64 and z-64 japanese dd4
you have a beta version of Zelda 64 for the DD???

[drummy]

I have beta Zelda 64DD only work video display but when I start the games only I black screen
I have u.s.a nintendo 64 and z-64 japanese dd4
you have a beta version of Zelda 64 for the DD???
YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE SAID!? :smt043 :smt042

Just kidding.

[Taemos]

I have an article on Earthbound 64, but it's not even a full page. It does have some screenshots, though. I think it was Purge that actually played the game at Spaceworld '99 (maybe not, I can't remember too well)?

[Flyinghigh]

no i only saw some strange english :smt043

[Shiggsy]

He was probably talking about the planned 64dd zelda that was similar to OoT....what was it called....Ura zelda? the one that they included on a gamecube disc. someone extracted it from a gamecube disc and you could then play it on your N64 with a backup unit.

Shiggsy

[the_steadster]

Wasnt the actual Zelda DD going to be everything miyamoto wanted in OOT - like when you chop off a sign it stays chopped down - A full consequence system

[Greatsaintlouis]

Yeah, I think Zelda was originally slated to be released on the 64DD, but because of delays it got bumped up to a cart release, and Miyamoto started working on Zelda 64DD, which was supposedly the way he wanted it to be in the first place - a persistant world where everything you did was reflected throughout the game - such as chopping down signs. He had some other lofty ideals for it as well, but I can't remember what they were, but just like with the signs, they never made it into what we got on the Zelda collector's disc that was released as the "Master Quest". I thought I was even reading somewhere that Master Quest is NOT the 64DD Zelda add-on that was in development, but I'm not quite sure.

[CJPC]

I WISH i could get ahold of ZeldaDD, was COMPLETED, but never released :/

[sayin999]

From an interview gamespot posted around wind wakers release, miyamoto expressed how master guest(ura) was really ment more of an add on,however he did say some features from the 64dd version had to be cut, but he didnt say what they were.As for the early verrsion that everone has seen, that version was fully scrapped, however it is been said from many sources that that version is still in nintendos main headquarters, however it was never finshed. I was reading igns take on it in their hyrule times artical and they said that the reason why that version never got finished was that the world with in it was too big, so the game got cut a bit to fit on a cartrdge, which included changing the story so aruptly thourgh development. Also its know that miyamoto even said they were experimenting with stuff in the game alot durring development. Still i would have love to play the orignal dd version that was in development, i bet it was a bit longer.

[ryangassxx]

I thought it was "obtainable"..

[arsenal]

Earthbound was like Doshin, it was going to be on cartridge then cancelled at the last moment (well Doshin was moved to DD), I even saw posters in Funcoland for Earthbound. How the hell is one going to turn up? One won't. You'll have to get into some elite Japanese collector circles to get information on that kind of stuff.

"elite Japanese collector circles?"

I think the key word is Japanese

[Calpis]

You think just any Japanese collector knows about this stuff? Rare gamestuff in Japan can mean business, there are specific people to go to...

[kammedo]

I have beta Zelda 64DD only work video display but when I start the games only I black screen
I have u.s.a nintendo 64 and z-64 japanese dd4
you have a beta version of Zelda 64 for the DD???
YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE SAID!? :smt043 :smt042

Just kidding.
HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE SAID????
HOLY SH*T
:smt030 :smt030

[CJPC]

I have beta Zelda 64DD only work video display but when I start the games only I black screen
I have u.s.a nintendo 64 and z-64 japanese dd4
you have a beta version of Zelda 64 for the DD???
YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE SAID!? :smt043 :smt042

Just kidding.
HE UNDERSTOOD WHAT HE SAID????
HOLY SH*T
:smt030 :smt030

Only if it was real! If so, SEND!

[Mr. Sound-About]

There's a big, huge, over-the-top EarthBound website called starmen.net (http://www.starmen.net/) which tackles all sorts of "EarthBoundy" issues. They have written and mailed several petitions to Nintendo of America (and Nintendo of Japan, I believe) over things such as Mother 3, Mother on Gameboy Color, etc.

You can find their Mother 3 (EarthBound 64) information section via the rather convenient link below...

Mother 3 (EarthBound 64) information @ starmen.net (http://www.starmen.net/mother3/)

They don't have any leads (per se) on the EarthBound 64 game, but if you're looking for the most solid info on this unreleased beauty, here's your spot to check.

[ddp72984]

wait, all joking aside, does that guy really have a 64dd zelda?

[CJPC]

Prob just the damn GC "master quest", they say its the same, but its not!

[cahaz]

wait, all joking aside, does that guy really have a 64dd zelda?

he surely doesn't have a 64dd zelda, he probally just have a rom of master quest, wich is pretty common. The OOT and Master quest in the collector ed. of TWW are both roms, with an n64 emulator that ninty made themselves.

as for the ff64 prototype, if you're talking about the ff64 as we all know (the ff6 in 3d), then it is unaccessable, it wasn't even made on\for real n64 hardware, so..
there's some rumors about another ff64 project that was never finished, but i highly doubt about it, square never shown interest in nintendo's n64 and switched to the 32bit platform quickly with the PSX. There's no more info about this suposed ''ff64'' project or anything, only this rumor, wich is pretty weak. Still, some claims ff7 blocky characters where from an early n64 project made by square, the mythic ff64.

to return to URA zelda, i think we'll never know what it actually was. Miyato spoke about a very pre-Fable-eske style of game, with alot of add-ons, new side quests and system, ... and when you see the ''results'' in the ''final and finished'' ura in the Bonus disc, you can clearly see it doesn't fit at all what miyato talked about back in '98. So much that you can't say Miyato's claims where to hype the game, because it would fail into ridiculousness. Still, am i disapointed in MQ? not really, it's a great game (well, in fact, it is oot) and a great challenge, it's like the 2nd quest in the fist zelda, wich is pretty cool and it's an item no collectors should miss,

I wish the day were someone will find the real URA DD disk will come sooner or later. i don't care if he\she (\it?) doesn't want to dump it, at lest only some images could do, just to know this piece of collection isn't in nintendo headquarters anymore.
:smt083

oh, and all this time i was in off-topic-ness! I don't think Earthbound 64 would be inaccessible, it's at least as innaccesible as the RE0 64 proto (and we all know an anonymous member here owns it ;-) ) that was show as demo to the ''public''
just like earthbound 64. but earthbound 64 dd is another thing.

[CJPC]

Well i a few days ago did alot of reading!

Half the sites said it was COMPLETE, but never released

Others say it was complete, and released, but only 20,000pcs were made, and VERRRY few were rls'd

[Calpis]

No way was it released :\ One can always hope for a EB64 but unless you know something I (we) don't, you're more likely to find a completely new Nintendo RPG.

[HI_Ricky]

i have see before in square dev meeting they show FF64 only source in indeo 2 with N64 dev board..

64dd zelda.....it a few pcs in japan 64DD order member

[kammedo]

i have see before in square dev meeting they show FF64 only source in indeo 2 with N64 dev board..

64dd zelda.....it a few pcs in japan 64DD order member

You mean FF64 running on a U64 board? Wow. That would be a lovely piece to run on mines :-D

[ProjectJ]

Here's everything you'll ever need to know about Mother3.

http://starmen.net/mother3/

The site is loaded with pictures, translated interviews, video of the Spaceworld '99 demo, etc.
~Enjoy.

**************************
You'd drop $3000? I'd give up a testicle for this one. :)

[coreycorey2000]

Guess what I just recieved in the mail yesterday? 4 N64DD Disks labelled M3. They were sold to me as Mother 3 Disks. From a reliable source. Well he hasn't let me down yet. That is the only n64dd game released and unreleased that could be labelled M3 correct? How would I go about looking at them? I recieved a Complete almost unused N64dd Development kit with them. However the cartridge is unopened and I don't want to open it. Does anyone know how to hook up a N64dd or development system to play Dev disks? I could buy a used kit if necessary. This was the most expensive game I have ever bought. And I'm not even garaunteed that it is the game I want it to be or how complete it is. But I would really like to take a look at it. As I bet many other people would aswell.

I know that very few people would believe my story. I am rather new here and have very little in the way of development hardware or prototypes. My small collection now consists of a GBC development kit, Dreamcast development kit and a n64dd development kit. Which none of them are running yet. I own two betas and 4 M3 N64dd blue disks. I am willing to take pictures of them if anyone is interested.

If anyone would be willing to explain to me/link me to a site that explains how to set up a n64dd dev system it would be much appreciated. Even if I get it hooked up is it possible to play/look at the code of the game?

$3000 has me tempted thats for sure. Is that offer for the N644dd one or for the cartridge? I want to figure out what's on these disks regardless. But $3000 would pay for my schooling this year.

Thanks

And how would one go about dumping a n64dd blue disk?

[ddp72984]

I'm sure that people would pay 3000 just to dump it yet alone buy it

[olivieryuyu]

I trust you about the M3 disks :smt045.

all the problem is here : how to boot a 64dd game ?

according to me you need a cart with in it the dev dedicated ipl rom and i think they are not generic: each games have its own dev dedicated ipl rom. So having the 64dd dev disk is not enough to boot the game.

Do not confuse the ipl rom cart and the dev dedicated ipl rom (a program on flash rom (the cart) or coming from PC streaming to the N64 memory)

May be you have the flash rom with on it the dev dedicated ipl rom.

But i don't think so because the ipl rom is certainly coming from PC during development and you don't have it.

Also you can make a search on the web you'll find a part of the N64 manual where it's explained how to boot 64dd dev games (need a flash rom or a partner 'll send the dev dedicated ipl rom).

that's why i prefer long N64 proto carts, as the two carts i have currently at home and with very cool things on it and i'm able to play them :smt042


May be i'm wrong and the games 'll boot at once, who knows ?

:)

ddp72984:

a dump ? how on earth is it possible to do a 64dd rom ? if you know let me know :p

[Blur2040]

Wow, just wow. I hope this is what everyone hopes it is. I'm sure nobody doubts that you have four 64DD Blue disks labeled M3...but we still don't have any way of knowing what's on them yet...

Somebody around here probably knows how to get this working.

[coreycorey2000]

Exactly that is a big problem. I've heard of this IPL Rom cartridge. I sure hope they are generic. The kit came with a cartridge labelled N64 Disk (or something similar) however it is still sealed. So that wouldn't be the one. What does an IPL Rom cartridge look like? A picture would be great. I would assume that the sealed cartridge I recieved would be the IPL Rom cartridge. Because this kit is supposed to be complete so if it is necessary it should be there. Wait a second... I should take a closer look at what I recieved. I may have recieved another cartridge. I recieved two attachments that were in pink bubble wrap. Is it possible that one of them is an IPL Rom cart without casing? This lot came with the N64dd dev manual. I haven't had a chance to look through it yet. I will be sure to when I get home tonight.

I'm also going to email the seller and see if he has any IPL Rom carts. Chances are he will. I just hope he hasn't sold it to someone else.

Thanks!

[olivieryuyu]

Exactly that is a big problem. I've heard of this IPL Rom cartridge. I sure hope they are generic. The kit came with a cartridge labelled N64 Disk (or something similar) however it is still sealed. So that wouldn't be the one. What does an IPL Rom cartridge look like? A picture would be great. I would assume that the sealed cartridge I recieved would be the IPL Rom cartridge. Because this kit is supposed to be complete so if it is necessary it should be there. Wait a second... I should take a closer look at what I recieved. I may have recieved another cartridge. I recieved two attachments that were in pink bubble wrap. Is it possible that one of them is an IPL Rom cart without casing? This lot came with the N64dd dev manual. I haven't had a chance to look through it yet. I will be sure to when I get home tonight.

I'm also going to email the seller and see if he has any IPL Rom carts. Chances are he will. I just hope he hasn't sold it to someone else.

Thanks!

the ipl rom cart is not sufficient. you need the ipl rom program and it was certainly coming from the dev PC. PC now certainly unfoundable. Good luck and if you succeeded please give us screenshots !!!!

:)

[coreycorey2000]

So I need to find out if any PCs were purchased from the same place he originally got the disks (I'll add that to my list). I am prepared to make a lot of calls and emails to find the original computer if I must. Even though it may be impossible. I'll still give it a try. Has anyone ever got a N64dd Dev disk to play on anything? Would it have to be the original PC or any PC with an IPL Rom program? It may be possible to track down a PC that was used for N64dd development. But finding the exact one that this was hooked up to may be impossible.

Is there any other game that this could be? If it isn't Mother3 it probably won't be worth the effort I'm going to invest in this project.

[madhatter256]

Shit... Who in the world sold or gave you that?

[dbwhicker]

Wow. I really hope its what we all want it to be...

Good luck with the project.

*crosses fingers*

[sayin999]

any chance of pics of this?

[coreycorey2000]

Of course there is a chance for pics. I have a digital camera. However it is 12:30AM and I'm at work. I'll be home at 2-2:30 but that doesn't do me much good. I can hopefully take some pics tomorrow. You do realize it will just be a pic of the disks right? I might take a pic of the stuff that came with the dev kit so someone can hopefully tell me if anything is missing. I've had somoene ask for pics of it "in action" but that isn't possible at this time. If people help me it may be possible though. If anyone has heard of someone booting n64dd dev disks I'd greatly appreciate it if they could forward me.

[sayin999]

well id be curious to see what the labels and such look like, and no one mines aditional pics of what has already been shown.

[g_sepp]

same here

[zidapi]

Not to burst anyones bubble, but i'm fairly certain 'm3' is a dev company. Although i may be wrong, it sounds familier to me. My fingers are still crossed that i'm wrong and these 3 disks turn out to be Mother 3 beta though.

Can't wait to see those pics!

[olivieryuyu]

So I need to find out if any PCs were purchased from the same place he originally got the disks (I'll add that to my list). I am prepared to make a lot of calls and emails to find the original computer if I must. Even though it may be impossible. I'll still give it a try. Has anyone ever got a N64dd Dev disk to play on anything? Would it have to be the original PC or any PC with an IPL Rom program? It may be possible to track down a PC that was used for N64dd development. But finding the exact one that this was hooked up to may be impossible.

Is there any other game that this could be? If it isn't Mother3 it probably won't be worth the effort I'm going to invest in this project.

you're going to understand why i 'm very sceptical about one day booting the game, whatever it's.i hope i'm wrong.


:smt1231

[KR155E]

Here's a link that explains how to use a DD dev kit: http://members.xoom.virgilio.it/slaanesh79/dev/dev_hardware.html
Good luck with getting the discs to work!

[olivieryuyu]

Here's a link that explains how to use a DD dev kit: http://members.xoom.virgilio.it/slaanesh79/dev/dev_hardware.html
Good luck with getting the discs to work!

it's a part of the N64 manual

and you can see that you need the dedicated ipl rom with is in the flash rom or the PC. If you don't have the PC or the flash rom as i think they change for every games, the M3 disk are unuseable.

But i 'll try to help as much as i can, even if i doubt it's possible.

:(

[kammedo]

He was probably talking about the planned 64dd zelda that was similar to OoT....what was it called....Ura zelda? the one that they included on a gamecube disc. someone extracted it from a gamecube disc and you could then play it on your N64 with a backup unit.

Shiggsy

Uhm..i thought Ura-Zelda was actually released for the 64dd??

[zidapi]

Uhm..i thought Ura-Zelda was actually released for the 64dd??

It was cancelled at the eleventh hour when Nintendo realized the DD was doomed. It was moved to cartridge and the rest is history. The 64DD version was close to completion, if not actually completed when it was scrapped. So there is almost certainly a copy floating around NCL, but like Mother 3 it is somewhat of a holy grail among collectors that may never see the light of day.

[olivieryuyu]

released ? it was to be on 64dd.

What is called Ura by Shiggsy is in fact the japanese version of Master Quest :)

[Importaku]

Well your sort of correct but the version that was put onto the gamecube bonus disk wasnt the true ura zelda.

The true ura zelda had new areas to acess, remember the fenced off area in kakariko village or the underwater passage in the waterfall area. These were meant to be unocked when ura zelda was connected to the original.

The game was also meant to use the internal clock of the 64DD to allow seasons to change in hyrule. & there were meant to be 2 new weapons the fire & ice rods.

[Borman]

And other little details, like signs not returning (though im not sure if that was cut or not)

[zidapi]

heh, what the hell was i thinking i just gave him the rundown of the original Zelda 64 noy Ura... just realised.

Oh well, Importaku filled brought you up to speed in the end anyway.

[Gilgamesh]

http://n64.icequake.net/doc/n64intro/kantan/step4/index.html

[olivieryuyu]

yes same things that just above. part of the n64 manual. DDROM is a better word to understand what i mean for dedicated ipl rom program in fact

:)

i have some ideas to get it boot. We 'll see:ramen

[Greatsaintlouis]

I'd definitely love to see pics of the setup you got, when you get a chance! :-D

[Borman]

yes same things that just above. part of the n64 manual. DDROM is a better word to understand what i mean for dedicated ipl rom program in fact

:)

i have some ideas to get it boot. We 'll see:ramen

lets hope you dont corrupt what's on the disk

*Knocks on wood*

[olivieryuyu]

lets hope you dont corrupt what's on the disk

*Knocks on wood*


why do you think trying to boot a 64dd dev game 'll erase it ?

anyway if he don't try to boot it all he bought is a bit useless, isn't it ?

:D

[madhatter256]

If he bought it, then it should have come with the IPL rom and all other neccessary stuff, otherwise he got ripped and is probly not what he thinks it is.

[coreycorey2000]

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/2548/img02178oi.th.jpg (http://img367.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img02178oi.jpg)

I've been busy getting ready and selling stuff at a local flea market. Haven't done much searching yet. Except I read the manula a little. It says it was supposed to come with an IPL ROM cart. Aswell as a DCC somethin or other. I have the DCC and it came with another chip that may be the IPL ROM cart? I think this one is unused though. I took a picture but it takes forever for it to load with dial up.

[Mark30001]

Dial-up. Arrggghhhh, the memories... :D

Anyway, thanks for the pics!

[madhatter256]

I'm going to go out on a limb here but don't get your hopes up.

The game was to have seasons that affected the gameplay, so they had to have 4 versions of the game in each season... you have 4 disks.... However, the KM in the middle throws me off. It could be thats its just part of the game thats on those disks in 4 different seasons or something entirely different. I know for a fact that they did label their disks with M3, thats why I acted like I did in my first post in this topic :-).

[olivieryuyu]

good luck so

[Greatsaintlouis]

why do you think trying to boot a 64dd dev game 'll erase it ?

anyway if he don't try to boot it all he bought is a bit useless, isn't it ?

:D

Well, there's the precaution that's stated in the Dev 64DD manual to never try and mix dev disks and retail systems, or vice-versa for fear of disc corruption - always a good thing to keep owners of potentially unreleased material mindful of, in my opinion.

Have you tried asking anyone at Starmen.net for advice on this, coreycorey? I think they had a member or two that were trying to get their hands on a 64DD dev system for this sort of thing as well. Another website to go to for advice is http://web20.emedian.net/64ddnet/, as they're dedicated to the 64DD itself - not sure if they really deal in the dev side of things, though. I think KR155E is a mod there, or the founder, or SOME position of authority.

[sayin999]

damn, what strikes me as odd is how these disks got leaked, still i hope there is a way to get the game to boot some how, since sadly no one has been able to dump dd games due to the way they are formated. Im guessing this is why they didnt use zip disks.

[olivieryuyu]

there is already a thread for that in 64dd.net forum

http://web20.emedian.net/64ddnet/board/viewtopic.php?t=251#1933

he needs a partner for sure (or a flashrom) but i think (my opinion) that it'll miss the specific ddrom (as i think it's not generic). May be i'm wrong on that point. and i hope i'm wrong.

good luck

[madhatter256]

Assembler has a Partner flash carts, even partner systems (different bios than retail n64) and that he's selling. However, I'm not sure he has the flash cart up for sale. If thats what you need, then try to get your hands on them. And if you are able to boot them, try to dump them :).

[coreycorey2000]

I have no clue what the KM stands for either. I haven't had time to do much looking around on the net yet. Hopefully I can do some more at work tonight.

No I haven't asked anyone at Starmen.net yet. I will try to contact someone tonight. I've read most of the topics about the 64dd on 64dd.net I didn't find anything really useful. I think the key to this may be the n64dd dev manual. I wish I had a scanner so I could post it for everyone.

I know assembler has some stuff for sale. I've tried talking to him about a few things. However since I am new it appears I get tossed aside. If I need something I am deinitley going to try to get it.

Something new that I noticed:
I have something called a N64Joint. I didn't see mention of it in the dev manual. I took a closer look at it. It connects the DCC board to the N64.

I just talked to someone who is interested in selling me other 64dd dev disks and an ipl4rom cart. If anyone else is in discussion with him about this please leave them alone unless you are also trying to get a system up and running. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am devoted to this even if I am really really busy.

I should post everything th emanual says I need
64DD dev system:
64dd drive with blue disk slot (HAVE)
5 dev disks (HAVE)
Memory Pak (I think this is just a regular memory pack)
Jumper Pack Ejector (shouldn't be necessary)
IPL ROM Pak (I need to find this hopefully I can get one from lingjr or my other source) (I have a cartridge that has a fatory label that says Disk on it) I figure it's either a flash cart or an IPLRom cart.
DCC board (HAVE)
N64Joint (not listed but HAVE)

Software N64 Developer OS/Library 2.0H (Lingjr has it for sale)

Partner N64NW or Partner64PC
refers to Partner N64 debuggers

If anyone has access or knows where I can find anything that I don't have please let me know.

Thanks everybody

[Flyinghigh]

damn, what strikes me as odd is how these disks got leaked, still i hope there is a way to get the game to boot some how, since sadly no one has been able to dump dd games due to the way they are formated. Im guessing this is why they didnt use zip disks.

Thats not true!
It is possible to dump DD games.
LaC one of the coder of the N64 Emulator NEMU64 did it but obviously he dont want to release them.
I know that because he was asking for a DD Drive and Games on the NEMU Page to do it.
I was stupid enough to sent my whole DD collection to him!
HE NEVER GAVE IT BACK TO ME UNTIL NOW!!!
thats over 2 Years ago. I lost 650 EUROS because of him.
Half year ago he made a post in the dextrose forum that he was sending it back and iam a Liar but the he is the Liar!

[Paulo]

Now thats silly! Never lend strangers your stuff...

[olivieryuyu]

i don't think that Lac dumped 64dd games.

Anyway i heard that 64dd story. i'm sorry for you.

[sayin999]

damn you nintendo for making such a low print run of the dd. In fact did any U.S. importers actually carry the dd, i remember when it came out the only ones i saw that had any were european importers.Its too bad a former 64 developer or any developer that has worked with a dd can help us out.

[coreycorey2000]

I'm not sure if Assembler wanted me to keep adding to this topic or start a new one. He said he'd sticky it for me! I feel special now. Anyways I started a topic at Starmen.net like someone suggested. Sounds like they are really interested in helping out. Or maybe they just want to buy it from me. You never know.

Here are links to the discussions on other boards.
http://forum.starmen.net/?t=msg&th=16292
http://web20.emedian.net/64ddnet/board/viewtopic.php?t=251

[ASSEMbler]

I have a 64DD setup, but before I go ahead an build a pc with isa, config all the dev software, etc. I have extreme doubts about the game being on so many discs.

It would seem to me that they would not use four entire dd disks for the game.

[sayin999]

its still worth a check, hell it could be multiple copies for testing, its worth a shot,if worse comes to worse its another unreleased game that never was anounced. Of course hopefully this doesn turn into the fiasco that re0 did on 64.

[madhatter256]

Could be multiple copies or one copy set at a certain part of the game for quick debugging a certain area, but I could definitely be wrong.

[coreycorey2000]

You are right it surprised me to find it on 4 disks aswell. Assembler could you please post a pic of the IPLROM cart? I'd really like to know if the one i have is IPLROM or a flash cart. You wouldn't have an extra set of software would you? Do you know how to set up a system to boot this game? If so you can walk me through it. I have the mone yto pick up the pieces that I odn't have.
Thanks again

[Flyinghigh]

i hope the disks are not empty...

[ASSEMbler]

My ipl carts are the size of a normal n64 cart, the flash cart is about twice as long.

[coreycorey2000]

My cart is the size of a regular N64 cart. However it is labelled with a factory label. It says N64 Disk on it. I haven't seen an IPLROM cart with a label on it yet. I've seen a couple posted online with no label or markings whatsoever. I can pick up a Flash cart right now.

[TheRedEye]

I'll post something on the Lost Levels front page, but for the sake of making sure I have all the facts straight, what have we narrowed it down to? What exactly are you looking for/what do you need to know?

[sayin999]

wow this is so big the red eye himself has come to speak, baisicly he is seeing if he has all necessary tools to boot the disks up, that way he can find out for sure what is on it.

[Taemos]

wow this is so big the red eye himself has come to speak, baisicly he is seeing if he has all necessary tools to boot the disks up, that way he can find out for sure what is on it.

TheRedEye has been posting every so often for a few months now ;). Hopefully, though, someone will have the resources to get this thing going.

[TheRedEye]

Wow, neat, I'm Big. I always wanted to be Big.

EDIT: I really really hope you're not confusing me with that thieving bastard RedEye from Edge Magazine. People confuse me for him all the time, especially considering I've written for Edge myself.

[coreycorey2000]

I think we've narrowed it down to needing:
1. Partner64 Complete if possible. Definitely need the floppies.
2. Flash Cartridge (I'd prefer it to be empty to begin with).
3. Software for the 64dd
4. NU64 gangwriter (needed to put ipl4rom on flash cart?)
? 5. Wintel box or a rare SGI Indy (with Ultra64 board) system

I may have a chance at some of this stuff. I have to check my email from home.

Things I'd like to know:
1. Why 4 disks? Is it because of the 4 seasons? If so will they boot one by one?
2. Was there a cartridge to go with them?
3. Why was there no label used on the disks?
4. Has anyone succesfully played a 64dd dev disk?
5. Has anyone succesfully set up a 64dd dev kit?

There should be many more questions I just need to think of them. There are two large discussions going on here and at starmen.net. Also emails and pms I have to go through.

So far I have
N64dd Dev Console
N64 DCC and Joint
IPL ROM cart with label
N64DD Dev Manual
5 Blank Blue Dev Disks
4 Blue Dev Disks labelled Ms-KM-01 and -02 and -03 and -4 with a little s on the right side.

That would be great if you could post something at Lost Levels.

Thanks

[Blur2040]

I half hope it isn't real. For a brief while, he'll be on top of the world, be the guy who owns Mother 3. But if he decides he doesn't want to dump it, he'll instantly become a "greedy selfish asshole" to every moron who for some reason feels entitled to play it.

Ok, I do hope it's real...because I want to see it...but you know how people are...

[TheRedEye]

I dunno, I got the impression that he'd dump it if he could. And the "if he could" is the real kicker here, seeing as how no 64DD games have ever been dumped, let alone any dev carts.

[Blur2040]

I dunno, I got the impression that he'd dump it if he could. And the "if he could" is the real kicker here, seeing as how no 64DD games have ever been dumped, let alone any dev carts.

Yeah, it is a big if with regards to whether or not he could dump it. I don't think that coreycorey would keep it to himself just to be mean, but hey, it's his, and he just may not want to.

I just hate how some feel entitled to play certain games...have you read one of those Atariage threads where they complain about digitpress sitting on Atari protos?

Oh, PS, love The Lost Levels.

[sayin999]

Wow, neat, I'm Big. I always wanted to be Big.

EDIT: I really really hope you're not confusing me with that thieving bastard RedEye from Edge Magazine. People confuse me for him all the time, especially considering I've written for Edge myself.

Belive me i know your the one from lost levels, i never really read edge magazine, but i must say you guys do good work at lost levels, its nice to see that updates have recently returned.

[coreycorey2000]

You guys are right I'm not greedy. If someone helps me I help them. Now if you've been nasty to me in the past then not much you can do now haha. Hey even people who have constantly outbid me on ebay are willing to help me on this mission. The people who are really making an effort to help me won't go unrewarded. I've run into several people who live within a days drive of me. If I can get this to play they've been offered to visit and play it. It so far has been impossible to boot a dev disk letalone dump it. I've got to attempt the first before it is possible to do the second. If I get it to boot I definitely won't keep this from everyone.

And for the people who care. Some very nice people are helping me and I thank all of them. Some new information is going to be made public about everything in the near future ;)

If you are only reading things at assembler you are missing some info about this from starmen.net. The discussion about it at n64.net has died possibly because I haven't signed up for an account there yet. I think I'll do that right now.

Thanks again everyone

[TheRedEye]

I just hate how some feel entitled to play certain games...have you read one of those Atariage threads where they complain about digitpress sitting on Atari protos?

Those are especially retarded considering how very very little they're "sitting on" (such as data tapes they haven't successfully read in, tiny demos from the company THEY LEGALLY OWN [CommaVid], etc.).

A lot of people have this elitist need to be the only person able to play a game they had nothing to do with, some people have this weird belief that holding on to a one-of-a-kind game gives it this "legendary" status and makes it more "historically valuable" than it would be if others were able to play it, and still others just mouth off about how much they paid for the damned things and how they expect everyone to pay them back before they're allowed to play with it (and money for nothing is a sweet deal, let me tell you!). I don't agree with any of these beliefs, but really, they're no more crazy than Lost Levels spending (literally) thousands to get neat games on the internet out of the kindness of our hearts, so who am I to argue.

No one but the game's copyright holder is entitled to have a game that was never sold at the retail level, and that's that. The rest of us either have to rely on the kindness of strangers, or spend a hell of a lot of money in - let's face it, this is exactly what it is - the black market.

This rant doesn't really have a point. Thanks for the compliments guys, cheers!

[Blur2040]

Those are especially retarded considering how very very little they're "sitting on" (such as data tapes they haven't successfully read in, tiny demos from the company THEY LEGALLY OWN [CommaVid], etc.).

A lot of people have this elitist need to be the only person able to play a game they had nothing to do with, some people have this weird belief that holding on to a one-of-a-kind game gives it this "legendary" status and makes it more "historically valuable" than it would be if others were able to play it, and still others just mouth off about how much they paid for the damned things and how they expect everyone to pay them back before they're allowed to play with it (and money for nothing is a sweet deal, let me tell you!). I don't agree with any of these beliefs, but really, they're no more crazy than Lost Levels spending (literally) thousands to get neat games on the internet out of the kindness of our hearts, so who am I to argue.

No one but the game's copyright holder is entitled to have a game that was never sold at the retail level, and that's that. The rest of us either have to rely on the kindness of strangers, or spend a hell of a lot of money in - let's face it, this is exactly what it is - the black market.

This rant doesn't really have a point. Thanks for the compliments guys, cheers!

I think we're pretty much on the same page...it's a double ended sword.

Copyright owner still owns the game...so the screaming idiot who demands to play it is just as entitled to play as the guy who owns it...neither of them are really entitled, but it's a matter of who has access to it.

This is one of those topics which I've never been able to sort out in my mind...and I still don't know what I'd do if I owned some highly sought after unreleased game. I'd like to think that I'd be nice enough to release it...but why is anyone else entitled to play it...then why would I be entitled to play it instead of anybody else...and what about the load of money I'd spend on it.

Just thinking about it drives me nuts.

Edit: Almost forgot the most important part! Coreycorey, good luck! Glad to hear your finding the help you need. Keep us updated!

[ASSEMbler]

I think we've narrowed it down to needing:
1. Partner64 Complete if possible. Definitely need the floppies.
2. Flash Cartridge (I'd prefer it to be empty to begin with).
3. Software for the 64dd
4. NU64 gangwriter (needed to put ipl4rom on flash cart?)
? 5. Wintel box or a rare SGI Indy (with Ultra64 board) system

I may have a chance at some of this stuff. I have to check my email from home.

Things I'd like to know:
1. Why 4 disks? Is it because of the 4 seasons? If so will they boot one by one?
2. Was there a cartridge to go with them?
3. Why was there no label used on the disks?
4. Has anyone succesfully played a 64dd dev disk?
5. Has anyone succesfully set up a 64dd dev kit?

There should be many more questions I just need to think of them. There are two large discussions going on here and at starmen.net. Also emails and pms I have to go through.

So far I have
N64dd Dev Console
N64 DCC and Joint
IPL ROM cart with label
N64DD Dev Manual
5 Blank Blue Dev Disks
4 Blue Dev Disks labelled Ms-KM-01 and -02 and -03 and -4 with a little s on the right side.

That would be great if you could post something at Lost Levels.

Thanks

That is a load of questions.

I have a complete setup as far as 64 and DD.
There are MANY pitfalls to trying out DD disk, namely screwing up the disk. However , if the discs are what they are supposed to be, all of the problems have been solved just for them to get to master disc.

Which brings to light the question of if the game wasn't "finished" why are they making master disks?

I can load up a system and check the disks for you if you don't mind
1. Trusting me 2. Waiting the considerable time it takes for me to config the system here.
It takes a bit of work, I'll have to build a windows 95 environment machine.
And I haven't used the partner in along time since way before my "zero" problems. However, I am sure all the brains here can plough our way through the commands and if it's legit hack it for flash rom cart.
I can back up the disks, I have boxes of the blue disks here.

It also seems you have most of the parts. We just need to collect the correct apps for you.

To clear up what you need, I dug up this illustration from my docs which is probably stolen by now and on a half dozen web sites...



http://assemblergames.com/images/64DD/dd.gif

[sayin999]

coreycorey i must say you have been very generous to be taking on this task, my hat goes off to you and wish the best of luck.

[TheRedEye]

I'd like to think that I'd be nice enough to release it...but why is anyone else entitled to play it...

What does some false pretense of "entitlement" have to do with you just being a cool guy, sharing what you're fortunate enough to have, and making people happy? I really don't get this "I worked harder for it" mentality. To me, once I'm over the excitement of being Indiana Jones and discovering something special and new, I specifically want to see how other people react to it. Seeing people actively playing and discussing and enjoying the game I found is much more gratifying to me than being able to brag about having something you don't.

[Blur2040]

What does some false pretense of "entitlement" have to do with you just being a cool guy, sharing what you're fortunate enough to have, and making people happy? I really don't get this "I worked harder for it" mentality. To me, once I'm over the excitement of being Indiana Jones and discovering something special and new, I specifically want to see how other people react to it. Seeing people actively playing and discussing and enjoying the game I found is much more gratifying to me than being able to brag about having something you don't.

I'm not just speaking about my entitlement, I'm speaking about anyone's entitlement. I'd sit there looking at the game, and wonder if I should even have it let alone anyone else. I don't think I'd be more entitled to the game than anyone else. I would feel uneasy keeping a game to myself like that, but I would also feel uneasy putting out there to be sold on eBay on Rom discs...and whatever other bad things might happen to it...

I'd feel sort of fatherly about it, I'd want to give it away those who would appreciate it the most.

Edit: I just realized that the fatherly thing is a bit of bull...though someone might feel like they created something when they dug it up and discovered it...if it actually belongs to the copyright owner instead of Joe Collecter, he has no right to give it away. It's just a tough issue, and I'm sort of just weighing the sides here.

I think karma would win on my side, and I'd release it not with the mentality of doing something good for gamers, but with the belief that my life would be no better as the exclusive owner of a prototype, and therefore would be no different if I gave it away.

[TheRedEye]

I'm not just speaking about my entitlement, I'm speaking about anyone's entitlement. I'd sit there looking at the game, and wonder if I should even have it let alone anyone else. I don't think I'd be more entitled to the game than anyone else. I would feel uneasy keeping a game to myself like that, but I would also feel uneasy putting out there to be sold on eBay on Rom discs...and whatever other bad things might happen to it...

I'd feel sort of fatherly about it, I'd want to give it away those who would appreciate it the most.

Aha! So you have the "legendary status" mentality I mentioned before. To me, see, while it may be my hobby, at the end of the day I recognize that it's JUST A VIDEOGAME. I don't see how dirty booleggers and pirates, as rare as they are, are going to make the unreleased game I find any "less" unreleased, or any "less" special. I found it, I enjoyed screwing with it, I shared it with others, and that's that. Time to move on to the next conquest. I'm not "preserving" anything by keeping it safe in my closet. Quite the opposite, from the way I see it.

This is a good discussion, but we should probably stop cluttering up the thread!

[Blur2040]

This is a good discussion, but we should probably stop cluttering up the thread!

Haha. Agreed.

Long story short, I have no clue what I'd do with such a rare prototype as I feel that anything I did after obtaining it would tarnish it. So, it's probably good that I don't own any rare protos, as they might end up getting destroyed in a funeral pyre for maximum honor.:p

I'll shut up now.

[ASSEMbler]

The owner decides. He has no obligation to anyone for anything. He can light it on fire and toast mashmallows and he is still within his rights.

Move on, next step. Let's help him get his setup working.

[olivieryuyu]

The owner decides. He has no obligation to anyone for anything. He can light it on fire and toast mashmallows and he is still within his rights.

Move on, next step. Let's help him get his setup working.

i agree :D

[ddp72984]

no offense to anyone but I have a question: is it really possible to get an image of 64DD up and running? I know that may sound odd, but I have never heard of someone just downloading a 64dd image file (if theres a such thing) then playing it?

[dj898]

I've heard that someone claimed to dump 64DD games but never released for what ever reason... now I can't recall where I read that top of my head at the moment...

for playing img file I don't think anyone have N64 emulator with 64DD support as yet?

[TheRedEye]

Not yet, but if this is really Mother 3, I'm pretty sure a gigantic army would come out of the woodworks and sacrifice their lives to MAKE it work.

[RyanGamerGoneGrazy]

well, ive seen rom images od doshin the giant, which was originally released on the 64dd, but i also belive it was transfered to cart as well, cant be sure on those facts,

[the_steadster]

Doshin was released on PAL and JP cube, but never on cart. It's possible that the image was extracted from the cube, like one of the zelda bonus disks has been.

[RyanGamerGoneGrazy]

Doshin was released on PAL and JP cube, but never on cart. It's possible that the image was extracted from the cube, like one of the zelda bonus disks has been.

thats probably the case, though the screens sure did look like the 64 version....not the sharper gc version, oh well, is there any other way of telling if it is or not?

[madhatter256]

First thing first, lets find out if he does in fact found what we all think he found. It is up to him if he wants to try to dump it or keep it. I really don't care if he decides to keep it for himself completely, what do i have to lose if he makes that decision?

What does Assembler have to lose if he helps him in booting up the disk and he decides not to "scratch his back" in return?

[coreycorey2000]

Assembler

So you have booted dev disks before? That is wonderful news!

I know that you are trustworthy. That isn't an issue. However the postal service is an issue. I live in Canada for one thing. If I was convinced that the postal system was safe I'd still have to insure the disks. If I did that they would charge you taxes at customs... What value would I put on something like this? It may be irreplacable for any amount of money. I have lost parcels in the mail before. I do a fair amount of trading and I believe 6 parcels have went "missing".

Actually I have that diagram in the manual. From it I am missing a Partner 64 and a flash cart flashed with IPL4ROM. From those diagrams it appears the Partner PC is only necessary if the flashcart is missing. Is this incorrect? I was under the impression you only need a flash cart with IPL4rom OR the PC wich can stream IPL4rom.

Do you have a flash cart with IPL4rom on it? Can you make another if you do? Do you have an extra flash cart kicking around?

YOU CAN MAKE BACKUPS???? That is incredible. Then it will be possible to make this game available to people that live too far away from me to visit.

I still need to track down a Partner 64. If you have or can make a flash cart with iPL4rom on it then would it have to be a complete Partner64 or just the console?

I would really appreciate it if you could make a list of exactly what is necessary to set up a complete kit. Is the software necessary for example? If it is I may have to purchase the set LingJR is selling for $1000 and I'd really prefer not to. I do not expect this right away. I understnad that you are busy and have other things to attend to. I'll try to track down the hardware that I need.

If it comes down to me lending you the disks I would still want to play the game the way it was meant to be played. So I need to get a complete kit set up eventually.

Thank you very much for your comments.

[Paulo]

The post office wont insure the data on the discs. So dont bother.

[RyanGamerGoneGrazy]

so corey, maybe you should go on vacation soon,...i hear where assembler lives is an incredibly nice place to go, and i hear his n64 collection is worht the drive alone.....


i wish you the best of luck in your adventures, and btw what part of ontario are you in?

[coreycorey2000]

I was thinking about taking a vacation. With school and my new job I don't think it would be possible. Where is Assembler from? If NYC means New York I am within a days drive away. I'm about 4 hours from Toronto. Right on the border of Michigan. An hour from London if anyone actually lives around here.

[ASSEMbler]

Assembler

So you have booted dev disks before?
That is wonderful news!

I know that you are trustworthy. That isn't an issue. However the postal service is an issue. I live in Canada for one thing. If I was convinced that the postal system was safe I'd still have to insure the disks. If I did that they would charge you taxes at customs... What value would I put on something like this? It may be irreplacable for any amount of money. I have lost parcels in the mail before. I do a fair amount of trading and I believe 6 parcels have went "missing".

Actually I have that diagram in the manual. From it I am missing a Partner 64 and a flash cart flashed with IPL4ROM. From those diagrams it appears the Partner PC is only necessary if the flashcart is missing. Is this incorrect? I was under the impression you only need a flash cart with IPL4rom OR the PC wich can stream IPL4rom.

Do you have a flash cart with IPL4rom on it? Can you make another if you do? Do you have an extra flash cart kicking around?

YOU CAN MAKE BACKUPS???? That is incredible. Then it will be possible to make this game available to people that live too far away from me to visit.

I still need to track down a Partner 64. If you have or can make a flash cart with iPL4rom on it then would it have to be a complete Partner64 or just the console?

I would really appreciate it if you could make a list of exactly what is necessary to set up a complete kit. Is the software necessary for example? If it is I may have to purchase the set LingJR is selling for $1000 and I'd really prefer not to. I do not expect this right away. I understnad that you are busy and have other things to attend to. I'll try to track down the hardware that I need.

If it comes down to me lending you the disks I would still want to play the game the way it was meant to be played. So I need to get a complete kit set up eventually.

Thank you very much for your comments.

Again a lot of questions.

I can boot mastered disks. There is a util used to make the masters for sending to NOA. Ihave yet to try running the unit in anything past debug mode. I have not connected partner, 64, dd.

As far as shipping, I would only use fedex. You'd have to use a hard case and specify magnetic media , so they don't kill them.

What I will do this weekend is dig out all the 64 DD items I have. I will do inventory, and then break out the different setups I have. I will scan the 64DD docs and post them online. Partner is EISA, and I have to go and get a machine from the pawn shop, do a fresh install with Japanese OS, I have to track down Japanese win 95.

What I need is a set of the US 64DD tools. I had a working pc, but I had to send that back to "someone" but could keep my flash media , etc.
Sure I have an image, but it was a Japanese environment. If you remember 95/98, it doesn't like you dropping it in a new machine with different hardware. I would have to dig up my DOS/V disks (easy) and a version of win95 (US easy, need a Japanese version).

If we can find the US tools, it would speed things up.

I would also state to people that they should not expect instant results.

First actions would be to:
1. I would seek to do no harm to the media.
2. I would by methodical dump of media.
3. Secure return of original media, and then the process of
checking what we have.

It would be very much a group effort. I don't like n64 much, I haven't bothered messing with the setup I have too much. (probably sacrilege to some, but I digress.)

What I will do this week:
Build EISA system, load os and NOJ/NOA tools.
Load the 64DD tools
Connect the partner to the debug 64, the dd and run diagnostic.

[RyanGamerGoneGrazy]

i do believe he lives in NYC, so maybe a weekend trip?...drive up oh i dunno late friday night so you get there for 9 am saturday, stay all day sat/sun then drive home sunday night, thats what i would do, weather assembler is good for it i dunno, near london?...you say?...must go there one day, im from stoney creek(near hamilton, nearer to toronto) so its a helluva drive to anywhere....lol




thats awfully nice of you to be doing this for him(and everyone) assembler, my respect for you has grown more so

[Mark30001]

As far as we know, this is history in the making. :)

I hope well for your discoveries!

[olivieryuyu]

no news from this history event ?

:D

[Keiyentai]

If Assembler stils needs the Japanese version of Windows95 I could more then likely find a copy. I have ways. Also helping on a project like this would just plain rule. E-mail me at Keiyentai@comcast.net or PM me here or reply ect ect -_- If I can help I would love too

[dbwhicker]

Are there any updates on the progess of this?

[coreycorey2000]

Unfortunately there are no updates on my end. I've been extremely busy with work and school.

[coreycorey2000]

I'm curious to know if Assembler got anything accomplished.

[Keiyentai]

Ditto. I wana know whats on the Disks

[olivieryuyu]

Ditto. I wana know whats on the Disks

me too :smt082

[Mark30001]

me too :smt082

Me three! :smt030

[Zottan]

OMG , i want to see more or Mother3!!!!! these is cummie , this page is GOD

anyo update por this???

[kammedo]

Me three! :smt030
*arf, arf* :D:D

[Keiyentai]

OMG , i want to see more or Mother3!!!!! these is cummie , this page is GOD

anyo update por this???


um...ya....anyone else catch that?

I wish I could help out more man.

[coreycorey2000]

I had a new idea. If I can prove there is viewable mother 3 info on these disks then i have a lot of support from starmen.net. Nobody has come up with any other game that these could possibly be. But they might have little to no data on them. How often do you find development media with little to no info on them? My protos are all playable but some of you who know more than me might know. Also all 4 disks have a "S" on the bottom right corner of the disks. Does this mena something? Could it represent how far along the game is? Do any of you have 64dd protos? Do they have any strange markings on them?

Thanks again

[Keiyentai]

The only Proto stuff I have ever had where a couple unreleased 3DO games and an early demo of Gex but it's gone now :smt022. As far as the "s" it could be anything really. If I had the tools needed I would try to help you out man. Unfortunately I dont. Assembler where are are you!??! We need your almighty proto ripping mind! lol

[coreycorey2000]

That's the problem very few people have all the tools necessary. So I'm taking the easier approach until some people contact me again atleast. I'm trying to figure out what M3-KM-XX S means. If it is indeed Mother 3 then the KM could stnad for Kimaira no Mori which means Chimera's Forest. That might give me that little added push that I've needed lately.

[Keiyentai]

Ya. That is interesting. Maybe it was going to be a "Multi Disk" game like the Final Fantasy series for PS1. Cuase you can only put so much info on a cart. BTW what is the max limit for DD games? I dont know much about the system since it was canned for a US release >_> and finding info on it is a pain. Though the info Assembler has selfed out is awesome XD

[RyanGamerGoneGrazy]

http://64dd.net (http://64dd.net/) try it, learn it, love it



damm seems to be down now..anyone got sucess on it?

[coreycorey2000]

no it seems it's been down for a while now. There is a post about these there already. Not much discussion though unfortunately.

[reidman]

Hey folks. I should have read this thread a long time ago, but things have been busy over at Starmen.Net (and especially in real life) with other Mother 3 news (http://forum.starmen.net/?t=msg&th=16700) besides this stuff.

Anyway, I made this giganto topic (http://forum.starmen.net/?t=msg&th=16924) shortly before I came over here and read this topic, and realized that you guys pretty much beat me to the punch on everything ;(

One remaining question I have, however: if these development disks were NOT created in conjunction with a Flash ROM Game Pak, is it true that the PC (or at least the data from the PC) used to create the disks must be present in order to play the disks?

I'm pretty much wondering if we'll be able to play them considering that we don't have the Flash ROM Game Pak OR the PC used to create the disks...

Thanks in advance. It's cool to see our separate enthusiast communities intersect in such an interesting way :)

And by the way - TheRedEye, I'm not sure if it was you that I originally talked to, but I spoke to someone at TheLostLevels a long time ago about a secret project which could potentially be a very huge collaborative story for both of us. This is what I was talking about (http://starmen.net/stonehenge/index.php#resume) - feel free to contact me if you're still interested in doing a story, although it's going to be kinda pointless until we find out whether the disks are accessible, and if they are, whether or not they contain data pertaining to Mother 3.

[Keiyentai]

I think everyone is wanting to know what is on those 4 blue disks. Especialy Corey lol. I wish I could make a jurry rigged comp that would read them lol. damn you Nintnedo for making media so hard to crack.

[kelim]

hay guyz

I'm willing and ready to help.

[Topic Archive]

damn you Nintnedo for making media so hard to crack.


Thank you Nintendo for making media that deserves respect.

[liquitt]

Thank you Nintendo for making media that deserves respect.

Word!

PSX was just ridiculous...Insert, Burn, Play :D

[Keiyentai]

Thank you Nintendo for making media that deserves respect.

True, true. I was slightly out of line. Though it would be cool if they decided to make what DD systems that are probally shelfed some where Open source like the Jaguar. Would be interesting to see homebrew DD games. If they decided to release a home dev unit or something. Unlikely that would happen though :(

[babu]

coreycorey2000 >you've probably seen it already in the ebay thread but there is a debug n64 on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-N64-debugging-unit-Programmers-debug-tool_W0QQitemZ8222982644QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
don't know if that would help you just thought I mention :)

[AlbinoLove]

man you beat me to that one. I was just about to post this. If you got one of those dev dd's wth the blue border on the cart slot and this, wouldnt you be able to pull this off?

[kammedo]

Word!

PSX was just ridiculous...Insert, Burn, Play :D

Uhm..wasn't it "burn, insert, play?" ;)

[olivieryuyu]

anyway what's up about those M3 disks ?

Assembler got those, so now may be he could give use some information (please !!!!!!!!!) :D

[zappenduster]

Uhm..wasn't it "burn, insert, play?" ;)

yeah that was xbox plug in insert, burn poweramp, play firefighter :smt067

[liquitt]

Uhm..wasn't it "burn, insert, play?" ;)

Insert in PC, Burn, Insert in PSX, Play :D

[coreycorey2000]

Ummm Assembler doesn't have these.... Unless he found some I don't know about. But he said he was going to pull stuff out to set up a working dev system. He hasn't replied to me though. I figure he is too busy to be bothered right now.

[kammedo]

Ummm Assembler doesn't have these.... Unless he found some I don't know about. But he said he was going to pull stuff out to set up a working dev system. He hasn't replied to me though. I figure he is too busy to be bothered right now.

Does he have a 64dd dev kit? (why the hell am i asking obvious questions like that.. -_-;) I would be looking for one too..

[d4s]

coreycorey2000 >you've probably seen it already in the ebay thread but there is a debug n64 on ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-N64-debugging-unit-Programmers-debug-tool_W0QQitemZ8222982644QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
don't know if that would help you just thought I mention :)

if these disks arent mastered, the crucial part is getting the dedicated bootrom for these disks (referred to as ipl4rom), not a debug n64.

this is how it works for non-mastered disks imho:
1.) the n64 is booted using the ipl rom cartridge. this cartridge is the external bios
of the 64dd debug unit.

2.) after that, the dedicated bootrom is executed.
it doesnt matter if this bootrom was uploaded to a partner n64 cart using a pc uplink or if it is stored on a development flashcart.
it is very likely you could even upload it to a generic backup unit and plug that into the dcc board instead of a flashcart and expect it to work.

3.) the bootrom does its thing.
what it actually does is up to the developers, however.
it might just load the games program code from disk, then jump there and execute it.
however, from a debugging standpoint and in conjunction with a partner n64, it would be wiser to have the whole game program in that bootrom and just have game data like sound, graphics and such on the disks.
that way, you could test and debug your code in an actual 64dd environment(as opposed to using the emulator) without having to rewrite the disk every time you make changes.

no matter how you look at it, you need the dedicated bootrom for these disks if they arent mastered, else the data on them is more or less unuseable.


since cc2000 has the 64dd, the disks, the ipl rom and the dcc board, my guess would be that all he needs is:

-a dedicated bootrom for the disks.
-a way to load that bootrom into the n64.(flashcart or backup unit such as the v64jr.)

my point is: if the bootrom is dependant of the partner n64, you'd need the full setup for that, of course, but if you're able to obtain a bootrom that works off a flashcart, you dont need that expensive partner setup at all, just a ~$100 backup unit.

[olivieryuyu]

true but as i heard doesn't work :(

[kammedo]

3.) the bootrom does its thing.

Not to sound foolish, but...wasnt the game planned to be on disk AND cartridge?

[olivieryuyu]

Not to sound foolish, but...wasnt the game planned to be on disk AND cartridge?

M3 was to be canned on cart because 64dd failed

[kammedo]

M3 was to be canned on cart because 64dd failed
Uhm..so it actually WAS planned to be released on cart AND 64dd...? Because if its so, theres probably a cart lying somewhere around with the dedicated bios in it...

[coreycorey2000]

That Partner 64 isn't complete..... what do you people think should I pick it up anyways? If someone can put IPL4rom onto a flash cart for me then I don't think I need a complete Partner 64. If not then i need the disks it came with. I'm watching that auction. I would greatly appreciate it if people could back off if they aren't seriously interested in it. I doubt anyone would do this for me but it's worth a shot. I can make great use out of this! Just remember that before you bid haha.

[Ffish]

I just came here to lend support for Corey and the project. Keep on rocking, dude.

[kammedo]

That Partner 64 isn't complete..... what do you people think should I pick it up anyways? If someone can put IPL4rom onto a flash cart for me then I don't think I need a complete Partner 64. If not then i need the disks it came with. I'm watching that auction. I would greatly appreciate it if people could back off if they aren't seriously interested in it. I doubt anyone would do this for me but it's worth a shot. I can make great use out of this! Just remember that before you bid haha.

Uhm...which auction?

[Topic Archive]

Uhm...which auction?


I think he means the auction by ASSEMbler, he's auctioning this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-N64-debugging-unit-Programmers-debug-tool_W0QQitemZ8222982644QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[kammedo]

I think he means the auction by ASSEMbler, he's auctioning this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rare-N64-debugging-unit-Programmers-debug-tool_W0QQitemZ8222982644QQcategoryZ62054QQssPageNa meZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I fear you arent going to need a Debug N64 to debug DD games..you need the debug DD and the IPL rom (image), but it would still be an intresting catch ;)

[coreycorey2000]

I have the debug DD and the IPL Rom cart. I believe i still need a debug N64 and a flash cart with IPL4Rom on it.

[coreycorey2000]

I sure hope I can find a flash cart with IPL4rom on it already. I bought that n64 even though I most likely need a complete one. But I might get lucky. If anyone has IPL4rom please speak up. And if anyone has a flash cart I could really use one.
Thanks

[kammedo]

I have the debug DD and the IPL Rom cart. I believe i still need a debug N64 and a flash cart with IPL4Rom on it.
Uhm...there's no way to see what's on the disks, apart from testing them or?
Isnt there some sort of "64dd Writer" around?

[olivieryuyu]

I sure hope I can find a flash cart with IPL4rom on it already. I bought that n64 even though I most likely need a complete one. But I might get lucky. If anyone has IPL4rom please speak up. And if anyone has a flash cart I could really use one.
Thanks

still no way to get it boot ? well as i said already booting this stuff "ll be a hard task :death

:(

[kammedo]

http://img367.imageshack.us/img367/2548/img02178oi.th.jpg (http://img367.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img02178oi.jpg)

I've been busy getting ready and selling stuff at a local flea market. Haven't done much searching yet. Except I read the manula a little. It says it was supposed to come with an IPL ROM cart. Aswell as a DCC somethin or other. I have the DCC and it came with another chip that may be the IPL ROM cart? I think this one is unused though. I took a picture but it takes forever for it to load with dial up.
Uhm...could you post a pic of it maybe so we can get a clear idea of what's written and maybe we will be able to help?

[kammedo]

still no way to get it boot ? well as i said already booting this stuff "ll be a hard task :death

:(
Uhm...a "hard task" only or a dangerous "destroy task"?

[olivieryuyu]

Uhm...a "hard task" only or a dangerous "destroy task"?

hard task to boot those disk of course (why destroying them ?)

:D

[kammedo]

I sure hope I can find a flash cart with IPL4rom on it already. I bought that n64 even though I most likely need a complete one. But I might get lucky. If anyone has IPL4rom please speak up. And if anyone has a flash cart I could really use one.
Thanks
Uhm...its just an idea that blew through my mind (as many things do), but...what about writing your own ILP ROM? its houldn't be that hard, just to get a list of whats on the disks, should it? And if you have a flash cart with the programming tools, probably you already have something like that in the examples...

[olivieryuyu]

don't think so

:)

[kammedo]

don't think so

:)
Uhm...start if from scratch? :) I have an ultra64 board and an indy, but no 64dd....maybe we can get something together?

[coreycorey2000]

I'm waiting for SiliconValleyLiquidators to put a flash cart up for sale. He doesn't seem to respond to my messages though. I might only need a flash cart and the IPL4Rom program. If anyone knows of where to get these I would greatly appreciate it!

Unfortunately I've been really busy lately. School, work, opening a store.... but I'm still slowly trying to piece it all together. I think I was just offered a 5 digit sum for the disks! I'm wondering if this person possibly knows what's on them?

[Mark30001]

5 digits! Wow! I would sell em' only after knowing what would be in them! ;)

You could get a new Toyota with that! :D

[kammedo]

I'm waiting for SiliconValleyLiquidators to put a flash cart up for sale. He doesn't seem to respond to my messages though. I might only need a flash cart and the IPL4Rom program. If anyone knows of where to get these I would greatly appreciate it!

Unfortunately I've been really busy lately. School, work, opening a store.... but I'm still slowly trying to piece it all together. I think I was just offered a 5 digit sum for the disks! I'm wondering if this person possibly knows what's on them?

5 digit!!! Oh my! O_O But maaaaybe you should get a copy of whats on them first ;)

[kammedo]

I'm waiting for SiliconValleyLiquidators to put a flash cart up for sale. He doesn't seem to respond to my messages though. I might only need a flash cart and the IPL4Rom program. If anyone knows of where to get these I would greatly appreciate it!

Unfortunately I've been really busy lately. School, work, opening a store.... but I'm still slowly trying to piece it all together. I think I was just offered a 5 digit sum for the disks! I'm wondering if this person possibly knows what's on them?

Wasnt a Flash card for sale some time ago in the Sale/Trade forum?

[coreycorey2000]

I would definitely like to know waht is on them before I part with them. But if I know what's on them I might not want to part with them at all haha. I don't know the exact offer. He wants to discuss things.

I haven't seen a flash cart for sale in the forums anytime recently. I've seen some on ebay but they have games on them.

[kammedo]

I would definitely like to know waht is on them before I part with them. But if I know what's on them I might not want to part with them at all haha. I don't know the exact offer. He wants to discuss things.

I haven't seen a flash cart for sale in the forums anytime recently. I've seen some on ebay but they have games on them.
Uhm...i have the sgi OS 2.0K..maybe the IPL4ROM program is in there somewhere?
I have to look, but i wont be able to do so until friday...

[olivieryuyu]

well nothing to expect from those M3 disks i think

what a pity :(

[kammedo]

well nothing to expect from those M3 disks i think

what a pity :(

Who knows?

[Xeon3D]

Altough I'm a new member, I'm just as interested as anyone to find out how this stuff is going to end. C'mon Assembler give us some news :D

[kammedo]

*bump*
Hey Crissy, any news?

[Mark30001]

I have 3 Tape Disks labeled M2. IMATION DC 300XLP Data Cartridges. I have yet to find what are in them, as the data drives cost over $1,000, too much for me! :crying:

Sounds ironic though, 3 M3 N64DD disks, 3 M2 tapes... ahh, nevermind. :redface:

[kammedo]

I have 3 Tape Disks labeled M2. IMATION DC 300XLP Data Cartridges. I have yet to find what are in them, as the data drives cost over $1,000, too much for me! :crying:

Sounds ironic though, 3 M3 N64DD disks, 3 M2 tapes... ahh, nevermind. :redface:
tape disks??? picture, picture :D

[Sally]

Tape disks, eh? I have about a dozen different DAT tape readers laying around. I second the pictures request.

[Mark30001]

tape disks??? picture, picture :D

Tape disks, eh? I have about a dozen different DAT tape readers laying around. I second the pictures request.

Here:
http://assemblergames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7202

P.S. I didn't want to get the whole thread off topic. ;-)

[kammedo]

P.S. I didn't want to get the whole thread off topic. ;-)
Why off topic? Its still Mother (well at least probably) - and rare stuff related ;-)
Besides, did you ever get a chance to have a look on what's on them at all?

[Mark30001]

Why off topic? Its still Mother (well at least probably) - and rare stuff related ;-)
Besides, did you ever get a chance to have a look on what's on them at all?

I pretty much doubt it's Mother, but who knows? I don't have any hardware that could read the disks :crying:.

[kammedo]

I pretty much doubt it's Mother, but who knows? I don't have any hardware that could read the disks :crying:.
Uhm....ebay? Akihabara?

[Sally]

Huh, that kind of sucks... I have a reader for those, but it's locked up tight in my facility. Considering the nature of the business, i can't even take a floppy disk out of the area without filling out a bunch of paperwork. I can just see the look on their face

Me:"Uh, yes sir. I'm trying to see if these DAT tapes have the long rumored prototypes for Mother3."

Guard: "Is that one of our titles?"

Me: :rambo: matrix style....

Don't think i can help on this one

[rbudrick]

Hi everyone...rbudrick here. Long time lurker of Assemblergames, but I'm almost always on at the DP boards.

Since this seems to be the thread where any news would be posted and the starmen.net threads appear to be dead on this, where is this project right now?

Has any progress at all been made?

-Rob

[olivieryuyu]

i think nothing 'll come up. hope i'm wrong

:confused:

[rbudrick]

i think nothing 'll come up. hope i'm wrong

Ok...but why do you feel that way? Because of the lack of updates or was there a setback I didn't hear about?

-Rob

[coreycorey2000]

The lack of updates is due to several reasons. I can't find a blank Flash cart for sale. I thought I had one tracked down but he sold it to someone else without letting me have a chance. I also need to find a complete Partner 64 setup to make my own IPL4Rom cart or someone who can flash the cart for me.

Several of the people who I believe know what they are doing in this area will not respond to my inquiries. And the people who send me offers (who I assume know what they are doing) also aren't responding.

So until I get the remaining equipment or find someone who knows what they are doing there isn't much I can do.

[kammedo]

The lack of updates is due to several reasons. I can't find a blank Flash cart for sale. I thought I had one tracked down but he sold it to someone else without letting me have a chance. I also need to find a complete Partner 64 setup to make my own IPL4Rom cart or someone who can flash the cart for me.

Several of the people who I believe know what they are doing in this area will not respond to my inquiries. And the people who send me offers (who I assume know what they are doing) also aren't responding.

So until I get the remaining equipment or find someone who knows what they are doing there isn't much I can do.
Now that you tell me.....as far as i remember virtual alan was selling a "complete" (not sure on that tho) 64dd dev kit some time ago.....maybe you could get in contact with the buyer (if va, of course, agrees to tell you who it is...)?

[Mr.saturn]

Did Assembler ever dig out his dev stuff? Or was it not the equipment needed to read the disks?

[rbudrick]

Oh, gotcha, sorry to hear that, Corey. I thought you found these for some reason.

I wonder if someone at the digitpress.com forum would have these. The site is down today for some reason...

-Rob

[Mark30001]

Oh, gotcha, sorry to hear that, Corey. I thought you found these for some reason.

I wonder if someone at the digitpress.com forum would have these. The site is down today for some reason...

-Rob

The site has been down for over a week (I think) now. In fact, everytime I try to visit there, it's down, meaning I've never been there. :-(

[Borman]

Rumor is that they got hacked.

[rbudrick]

Well, it's only been two days. Yeah, they probably got hacked. There's a backup forum for DP, but I forget what the location is. Weird thing is, they got a major update recently that was supposed to make it extremely difficult for hackers...I guess not difficult enough.

-Rob

[coreycorey2000]

I do believe the kit that Virtual Allen sold is identical to what I have so far. The complete N64dd dev kit does not actually include everything necessary to crack these disks. I'm purchasing a NU64 Flash Gang Writer along with the disks that contain the IPL4rom program.

Does anyone know what exact SCSI card and cables I need to hook up the Flash Writer? I need to locate them. I doubt I'd be lucky enough that the ones for Dreamcast Dev would work. But maybe.

Also I need a Flash cart still. There is one on ebay that I could reflash. Hopefully it doens't go too high. Edit: I was a little slow on the Flash cart. Still need to find one!

I'm getting really close to having all the equipment necessary. I might have everything by the new year!

[kammedo]

I do believe the kit that Virtual Allen sold is identical to what I have so far. The complete N64dd dev kit does not actually include everything necessary to crack these disks. I'm purchasing a NU64 Flash Gang Writer along with the disks that contain the IPL4rom program.

Does anyone know what exact SCSI card and cables I need to hook up the Flash Writer? I need to locate them.

Uhm i cant tell because the kit i have is the indy one.....if im not wrong, SCSI is retro compatible...so it should be ok with a new one at least....



I doubt I'd be lucky enough that the ones for Dreamcast Dev would work. But maybe.

Also I need a Flash cart still. There is one on ebay that I could reflash. Hopefully it doens't go too high. Edit: I was a little slow on the Flash cart. Still need to find one!

I'm getting really close to having all the equipment necessary. I might have everything by the new year!

Let's hope so!! :D cant wait to get some exciting news!!

[rbudrick]

There are different types of scsi plugs...25, 50, 68, and 80 pin. Some of these come in centronics and mini varieties too, I think. The 50 pinners were sometimes on 3 rows, sometimes 2. The 68 pinners come in vhdci and lvd/ultrawide varieties on top of all this (possible the 80 too). Also, internal scsi connections are often different than the external ones! Old macs even used an odd 30 pin scsi at one time. Any idea which one it is?

Basically, yeah, they are retro compatible.....it will just run at the slower speed of the older device and the plugs have to match up. I hope Big N didn't use anything proprietary.

-Rob

[kammedo]

There are different types of scsi plugs...25, 50, 68, and 80 pin. Some of these come in centronics and mini varieties too, I think. The 50 pinners were sometimes on 3 rows, sometimes 2. The 68 pinners come in vhdci and lvd/ultrawide varieties on top of all this (possible the 80 too). Also, internal scsi connections are often different than the external ones! Old macs even used an odd 30 pin scsi at one time. Any idea which one it is?

Basically, yeah, they are retro compatible.....it will just run at the slower speed of the older device and the plugs have to match up. I hope Big N didn't use anything proprietary.

-Rob

Yep, to the speed of the controller....I dont think Big N used something proprietary...they already had a bad experience with the indy kit...

[coreycorey2000]

The nu64 Flash Gang Writer is definitely out of the way now.

I still need to find a flash cart! One cart and a few pieces of software away. I hear you can download the software for the Gang Writer from Intelligent Systems website? However it is in Japanese. Could someone possibly link me to the right spot? I'd greatly appreciate it.

I've only seen one set of software for 64dd dev..... Anybody hear freinds with Lingjr? He won't break up his package for me but maybe he will for someone else. I don't see the need to drop $1000 on stuff I already have. I just need the software.

[RyanGamerGoneGrazy]

i clicked and i clicked and i found this, it was buried under their older stuff, funny you cant find it on there american version site, only the japanese

i think its for the flash writer as it was a link from the flash writer page

http://www.intsys.co.jp/tools/agb/gangwriter/download.html

this page seems to be a link to more downloads for it

http://www.intsys.co.jp/tools/agb/gangwriter/index.html



these pages are just for other software and the main link
http://www.intsys.co.jp/tools/index.html



Ryan

[coreycorey2000]

Awesome thanks for the links!

Assembler- Did you ever dig out your 64dd dev stuff? Do you have any news?


Partner 64 has arrived. I can't get anything at all to happen without the flash cart apparently. Or something doesn't work...

[_skitzo_]

whhhaaaoooo sweet links man!!

[kammedo]

Exactly that is a big problem. I've heard of this IPL Rom cartridge. I sure hope they are generic. The kit came with a cartridge labelled N64 Disk (or something similar) however it is still sealed. So that wouldn't be the one. What does an IPL Rom cartridge look like? A picture would be great. I would assume that the sealed cartridge I recieved would be the IPL Rom cartridge. Because this kit is supposed to be complete so if it is necessary it should be there. Wait a second... I should take a closer look at what I recieved. I may have recieved another cartridge. I recieved two attachments that were in pink bubble wrap. Is it possible that one of them is an IPL Rom cart without casing? This lot came with the N64dd dev manual. I haven't had a chance to look through it yet. I will be sure to when I get home tonight.

I'm also going to email the seller and see if he has any IPL Rom carts. Chances are he will. I just hope he hasn't sold it to someone else.

Thanks!


WOWOWOWOWOWOW !! Pictures *arfarf* Pictures!!!!!
I would suggest to check the documentation that camed with the kit, there's surely something that advices you to the IPL.

[RyanGamerGoneGrazy]

whhhaaaoooo sweet links man!!

note, that if you visit the mainpage, they have more downloads for the older systems, though i don't believe you can download the newest stuff, coreycorey2000 i hope those links helped

[rbudrick]

I remember going to their site a long time ago...maybe the GBC era and you could download emulators and dev tools and such, but needed a login. Pretty interesting company...has done Big Ns dev stuff since at least the NES era, or just past it. Original GB era anyway.

-Rob

[coreycorey2000]

I haven't downloaded them yet because I have dial up..... But I did just buy a Flash Cart! That means I'll have everything. I do need to find the scsi cab;es etc to hook up the Flash writer though. I seem to have horrible luck buying scsi convertors and cables on ebay. They always turn out to be the wrong ones. If anyone knows where I can get the correct cab;e or a 68 to 50 convertor please let me know. I hope the Scsi card I bought for a Dreamcast setup will work. I had a hard enough time finding that.

[babu]

ah great news
I wish you the best of luck :)
keep us updated

[liquitt]

sounds great!! i hope for you and for the whole community that it works!

good luck!

[rbudrick]

I might be able to help you out if you want to give me a ring at work. I work at PCConnection (PCConnection.com). I wouldn't doubt if you get our junk mail catalog in the mail. I work in sales and I've got some scsi experts I can consult to figure this out. And hey, if you get the wrong cables, returns are easy indeed, and I'll give you the best discounts I can in an effort to help this project.

800 800 0014 x33882

-Rob Budrick

[kammedo]

I haven't downloaded them yet because I have dial up..... But I did just buy a Flash Cart! That means I'll have everything. I do need to find the scsi cab;es etc to hook up the Flash writer though. I seem to have horrible luck buying scsi convertors and cables on ebay. They always turn out to be the wrong ones. If anyone knows where I can get the correct cab;e or a 68 to 50 convertor please let me know. I hope the Scsi card I bought for a Dreamcast setup will work. I had a hard enough time finding that.

As far as i recall, SCSI 1-2 uses 50 pins, as SCSI-3 uses 68.
So all you need is a SCSI3 -> Scsi1-2 converter (1 or 2 is irrelevant)

Here you have a great link about SCSI connectors :
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/scsi_connecters.html

[babu]

I thought it was a while since last update.. so here we go:

any news on this? :D

[coreycorey2000]

Some generous person from Starmen.net might be donating me a scsi cable. Hopefully I have some exciting updates once it arrives!

[celebi23]

heard about this on Starmen.net. Good luck man. Keep us posted.

[Dyne]

Hey just wanted to tell you Goodluck and looking forward to seeing what you dig up!

[coreycorey2000]

Thanks for the support.

If someone would be as kind as to confirm that I need a SCSI HD50 to HD68 cable then I will go ahead and buy one on ebay. It doesn't seem like it will be donated after all. I've come up with a little spare cash so I will continue.
Thanks

[babu]

if it wasn't for me being in sweden and you in canada I would order a cable for you right this minute. =/
I hope some one else that lives closer to you can help you out so we finally get to know what's on those disks :)

[rbudrick]

If you could post pictures of these ports, I could probably tell you quite easily....even recommend some manufacturer's part numbers for the cable.

-Rob

[coreycorey2000]

I sure can post pictures. The port on the NU64 Flash Gang Writer is the same as the SCSI port on a Dreamcast Dev. The other port would be an adaptec 2940U SCSI card.

I need one end that will connect to the port labelled SCSI-B (It's not what I'm connecting it to, but it's the same connection)
http://assembler.roarvgm.com/Dreamcast_Developer_Unit/Dreamcast_Development _Unit_2/dreamcast_development_unit_2.html
I'm fairly certain it needs to be HD50 male

EDIT this one has disappeared. I'll look for a new one.
The other end has to connect to this (this is the same as my scsi card)
http://cgi.ebay.com/Adaptec-AHA-2940U2W-PCI-SCSI-Adapter-2940-2940U_W0QQite mZ8764743108QQcategoryZ39969QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I think it would be HD68 Male.

Thats what I posted on Starmen. If you could confirm this for me it would be great!
Thanks

[rbudrick]

Ok, just want to be clear...the adaptec 2940 card had a LOT of variations to it. So, if you are positive the aha-2940u2w like in that auction is the correct connector, then that it is known as a 68-pin High-Density Ultra2 SCSI. By the way, this model usually came in a kit with the following contents:

Card; EZ-SCSI 4.0; software drivers; User documentation and installation guide, & four internal cables: one 68-pin, one 50-pin, one 68-pin LVD, & one 50-pin internal to 50-pin HD external converter

Now, the other connector pic doesn't show up, as you mentioned. What is it again? Or did you have another pic of it? You mentioned it is HD 50 male. The connector is male, or the cable has to be male?

EDIT: I assume this is the pic you meant to post?

http://assembler.roarvgm.com/Dreamcast_Developer_Unit/Dreamcast_Development_Unit_2/dcdevbox-02.jpg

EDIT: OK, I did some diggin around. That 50 pin connector on that DC dev pic is actually a Centronics 50 pin connector. So, if you are sure about the connector on that card, here's some parts that would do it:

NumSKU Mfg. Part PCC Product Name Price
196912 S432-003 External Double Shielded SCSI Cable (HD68M-Cent50M), 3ft, S432-003 $33.95
196913 S432-006 External Double Shielded SCSI Cable (HD68M-Cent50M), 6ft, S432-006 $29.95

The 3 and 6 foot models are listed. The manufacturer's number and PCConnection.com's part numbers are there (I work at PC Connection). You can search around for a better price, if you'd like, but I'd surely give you a very good discount if you wanted to buy it from me, as there's some reasonably good margin I can play with on these cables. No pressure...please do buy it with whom you would feel most comfortable. Let me know if you need more info!

By the way, I am not certain whether or not you will also need a SCSI terminator.

-Rob

[Mr.saturn]

So has anything new been learned? Mother 3 is out for the gba now, and it would be great to be able and compare it with mother 64.

[coreycorey2000]

I wish I could say I've accomplished something. But I'm still far far away. I have a scsi cable coming that was mailed yesterday. Once I get that I can flash the flash cart with IPL4rom. Well after I acquire the program to do it. I was given the software but I had a friend download it.... then he reformatted his computer. I was on dial up so it wasn't possible for me to download it at that time.

If anyone has the Partner 64 floppies and could send me the contents/ or better yet send me a copy of the floppies/ sell me the original floppies it would be great. If not I will contact the person I downloaded them from. Hopefully he has time to send them again.

But from what I hear these two games won't be very similar at all.

[babu]

nice to hear something happening :)

[Barc0de]

run IPL4ROM in Project64, and see what happens ;) rename to .bin first

EDIT: Not entirely related to Earthbound/Mother 3, but fun nevertheless

I would also keep my reservations regarding these 4 DD disks, as further to the known format change, from 64DD to standard deck cartridge, I doubt that they would keep any test/debug versions on DD disks, and not on some computer's hard drive.

That said, I hope I'm wrong :)

[coreycorey2000]

It still isn't the right cable :(

I recieved a HD50 to HD50 scsi cable. It will connect to my Adaptec2940 SCSI card. However it will not connect to the NU64 Flash Gang Writer. The Flash Writer looks to maybe be a Centronics 50pin. The connector on the Flash Writer is the exact same size as an HD50 connector. But the pin layout is different.

Is a centronics 50 pin the same size (width and height) as a HD50 pin?

Or would it possibly be the mini centronics?

I'd really like to solve this.

Good news the HD50 to HD50 will work for my dreamcast dev kit :) So that gives me something to play around with for a while.

[babu]

your sure it's not some specially made connector made just for the n64 kit?

[coreycorey2000]

I'm starting to wonder if it may be a special connector. Sometimes Devkits do have them... Hopefully it's standard. But I have no clue

[kammedo]

It still isn't the right cable :(

I recieved a HD50 to HD50 scsi cable. It will connect to my Adaptec2940 SCSI card. However it will not connect to the NU64 Flash Gang Writer. The Flash Writer looks to maybe be a Centronics 50pin. The connector on the Flash Writer is the exact same size as an HD50 connector. But the pin layout is different.

Is a centronics 50 pin the same size (width and height) as a HD50 pin?

Or would it possibly be the mini centronics?

I'd really like to solve this.

Good news the HD50 to HD50 will work for my dreamcast dev kit :) So that gives me something to play around with for a while.

http://shiggsy.gbadev.org/gfx/nu64/n64gw2.jpg

You mean those two arent standard scsi connectors?

*Summons Assembler*

Could a similar do the job?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8805054360&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX

[Mark30001]

Hey coreycorey2000. Do you know if it is possible for you to take pics of the connectors and post them? I'm thinking if the connections are not round-ish then they are centronics.

I sure would like to finally be able to see what are in those disks!

[kammedo]

Hey coreycorey2000. Do you know if it is possible for you to take pics of the connectors and post them? I'm thinking if the connections are not round-ish then they are centronics.

I sure would like to finally be able to see what are in those disks!

Those are the connectors he's talking about methinks
http://shiggsy.gbadev.org/gfx/nu64/n64gw2.jpg

[Thiago_Simoes]

I'm just here to say I really hope everything ends well. Best of luck, coreycorey. :)

[coreycorey2000]

Yeah those are the connectors I'm talking about. I tried taking a picture with my digicam but they all came out blurry. I'm not much of a photgrapher I guess. I tried from different angles and with different lightning. But my pictures were less clear than the picture posted on Shiggsy's site.

[Mark30001]

If the connection size is similar to the HD50 pin connector on the end of the Adaptec 2940, then it looks like you would need a SCSI HD50 to Mini Centronics (Mini CX-50) cable then. I've looked up info and this is all I could find:

http://www.cablemakers.com/connector.html



http://www.scsicablesource.com/images/scsa-2041-mcx50m.jpg

[Mr.saturn]

Mother 3 may be seeing an english release in europe, atleast that's what official nintendo magazine says. Here's a scan...

http://forum.starmen.net/?t=getfile&id=15580

The game has much in common with the n64 version, would be nice to able and compare the two.

[coreycorey2000]

That looks like it! I was wondering if they made a mini centronics. Because it is the same size as an HD50 looks just like the picture. But a regular centronics connector is way too big. Thank you so much man. Now I just need to track one down!

[rbudrick]

Corey, are you saying the 3 and 6ft cables I mentioned are the wrong type? I got a pretty good look at those connectors and asked one of my tech experts to confirm.

Just wanted to be sure, as I was pretty positive they are they right ones based on the info you gave earlier. These cables are pretty rare nowadays.

-Rob

[coreycorey2000]

I can try to count the pins. But the connector is the exact same size as an HD50. I tried connecting the HD50 and compared them while doing so haha. The cables you mentioned are they mini centronics? Or are they regular centronics? Regular is definitely way too large. But you may be right, they might be 68 pins. I assumed they were 50 because they are the same size as an HD50.

[Mark30001]

If you had an Adaptec Wide Card then you'll just need a 50 pin (HD50) to 68 pin (HD68) cable. On the back of the DC Dev box there should be HD-50 SCSI ports.

[coreycorey2000]

I don't think I have an ultra wide card. Because an HD50 fits the card just fine. I was sent an HD50 to HD50 cable and it connects my dreamcast to the computer just fine. But the connector on the NU64 Flash Gnag Writed is not HD50. I thought it was because it is the same size. But unfortunately it is not.

[coreycorey2000]

Just found someone who can special order me the cable I need. Hopefully this is the right one because it took a lot of searching to find someone who has access to one of these.

If anyone else has a gang writer and needs a scsi cable let me know. I can give you the contact information for this person.

[Thiago_Simoes]

Just found someone who can special order me the cable I need. Hopefully this is the right one because it took a lot of searching to find someone who has access to one of these.

If anyone else has a gang writer and needs a scsi cable let me know. I can give you the contact information for this person.

Hey, great news! I hope now everything turns out fine. *crosses fingers*

[Twimfy]

Yeah good luck, although I have no real interest in the game itself I can't resist the lure of something unreleased and unseen.

[Barc0de]

Since the game has been ready for quite some time in N64 cart format , nintendo would be wise to release it on virtual console for 20 bucks and get it over with.

[Nintendomad]

Since the game has been ready for quite some time in N64 cart format , nintendo would be wise to release it on virtual console for 20 bucks and get it over with.

The game was not complete on cart format, maybe it got as far as 70% , but I know it definetly was not complete, they had too many problems porting the code over from the disk based code.Perhaps there is a more complete version for the 64dd complete though, glitches and bugs will definetly be prevalent though as the team had problems coding both 3d graphics and developing for the Nintendo 64 and 64dd overall.

[coreycorey2000]

I really need the contents of the partner 64 floppies. If anyone has them/knows where to find them please let me know.

Also if anyone could link me to the right spot on the Intelligent Systems website to download the software for the Nu64 Flash Gang Writer. I would greatly appreciate it.

[babu]

you got a pm.. :)

[Thiago_Simoes]

Uh... It has been quite some time since coreycorey posted something here... so... is there any news about the M3 disks?

[madhatter256]

No, other tahn him trying to acquire another item so that he can get them to work...