gbadev.org forum archive

This is a read-only mirror of the content originally found on forum.gbadev.org (now offline), salvaged from Wayback machine copies. A new forum can be found here.

DS development > metroid romdump

#32320 - darkfader - Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:36 am

<deleted>

Last edited by darkfader on Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:40 pm; edited 1 time in total

#32321 - mike260 - Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:42 am

Nice!

#32322 - sgeos - Tue Dec 21, 2004 3:28 am

The whole thing lives in the data directory?

-Brendan

#32323 - netdroid9 - Tue Dec 21, 2004 3:32 am

Want to post a dump? I'd like a look at it.

I don't think it all lives in the data, only the images (Models, ETC.)

#32324 - sgeos - Tue Dec 21, 2004 3:37 am

netdroid9 wrote:
I don't think it all lives in the data, only the images (Models, ETC.)

That makes more sense. If there is only one game on the cart, it would make sense to have more than one directory in your root directory.

-Brendan

#32326 - ravuya - Tue Dec 21, 2004 3:50 am

netdroid9 wrote:
Want to post a dump? I'd like a look at it.


Might get dodgy along copyright grounds.

I wonder what kind of model and texture format they use...
_________________
Rav (Win/Mac/Linux games for free)

#32328 - PhoenixSoft - Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:02 am

Congratulations!

What size is the card? How big are the videos?

#32329 - netdroid9 - Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:02 am

True, Very True...

Try opening the data in something Winrar (ONLY the compressed stuff, not the executable dump data or the XOR encrypted stuff.)

I'd say a tile system could suffice. They're all binaries, so try and use the built in disassembler in VBA, as well as it's tile viewers and stuff.

#32332 - Darkain - Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:09 am

i have to admit, you just may win the "race" after all. ;)

great work!
_________________
-=- Darkain Dragoon -=-
http://www.darkain.com
DarkStar for Nintendo DS

#32337 - ravuya - Tue Dec 21, 2004 4:47 am

Darkain wrote:
i have to admit, you just may win the "race" after all. ;)

great work!


Ehhh.. homebrew isn't about a race. If it were, it'd be like Death Rally 2000 out there.
_________________
Rav (Win/Mac/Linux games for free)

#32340 - Darkain - Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:02 am

ravuya wrote:
Ehhh.. homebrew isn't about a race. If it were, it'd be like Death Rally 2000 out there.


it is too a race. ive seen it at such ever since day one. why do i consider it a race? it pushes both ends of the spectrum to work that much harder, while also sharing information back and forth to help each other out.

with rom dumps, we can reverse eng the code to help figure out the wireless protocols... with the WMB dumps, we can reverse eng those dumps to help figure out the cart interface.

basically, in the end... EVERYONE WINS!!!
_________________
-=- Darkain Dragoon -=-
http://www.darkain.com
DarkStar for Nintendo DS

#32341 - AdamtehGreat - Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:05 am

death-15fps-down-right.avi.fv .... am I to assume that the video compression format is viewable in your media player? and if so care to run it through Gspot/another video analysis program to find compression etc?


great work btw!

#32342 - Dib - Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:06 am

As a DS developer hopeful, with some big expectations and plans for native hardware development, I'm personally appreciative of all the work you guys are doing.

I think that when I make credits for my game, I'll be certain to add a section for the people who end up making DS development a reality. It's the least I can do (a-hem, literally).

#32343 - Dib - Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:11 am

AdamtehGreat wrote:
death-15fps-down-right.avi.fv .... am I to assume that the video compression format is viewable in your media player? and if so care to run it through Gspot/another video analysis program to find compression etc?

It's too soon to tell, obviously, but on a purely speculative note that would also mean the DS were capable of running existing codecs known on PCs. That means running video on the DS would be a piece of cake, so to speak.

#32347 - ravuya - Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:36 am

Dib wrote:
AdamtehGreat wrote:
death-15fps-down-right.avi.fv .... am I to assume that the video compression format is viewable in your media player? and if so care to run it through Gspot/another video analysis program to find compression etc?

It's too soon to tell, obviously, but on a purely speculative note that would also mean the DS were capable of running existing codecs known on PCs. That means running video on the DS would be a piece of cake, so to speak.


Not to trivialize it, but an ARM9 has more than enough muscle to do even the hilariously CPU-tapping DivX/XviD codec, and there's plenty of open source software along those lines.
_________________
Rav (Win/Mac/Linux games for free)

#32348 - netdroid9 - Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:30 am

ravuya wrote:
Dib wrote:
AdamtehGreat wrote:
death-15fps-down-right.avi.fv .... am I to assume that the video compression format is viewable in your media player? and if so care to run it through Gspot/another video analysis program to find compression etc?

It's too soon to tell, obviously, but on a purely speculative note that would also mean the DS were capable of running existing codecs known on PCs. That means running video on the DS would be a piece of cake, so to speak.


Not to trivialize it, but an ARM9 has more than enough muscle to do even the hilariously CPU-tapping DivX/XviD codec, and there's plenty of open source software along those lines.


All of which nintendo would get in trouble for using...

#32351 - tepples - Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:42 am

ravuya wrote:
an ARM9 has more than enough muscle to do even the hilariously CPU-tapping DivX/XviD codec

Let's see... 256x480 pixels times 15 frames per second is 1843200 pixels per second. Nintendo DS ARM9 CPU runs at 67.1 MHz (I'm assuming the ARM7 IOP isn't involved in video decoding other than just displaying it in the equivalent of mode 3). This leaves 36 cycles per pixel, roughly the same decoding rate as Majesco's GBA Video (16.8 MHz / 240x160 / 12). Quality difference may be due to a higher bitrate (Metroid FMVs are much shorter than the 45 minutes of a GBA Video), a higher IPC in the ARM9 vs. the ARM7, or the educated guess that the DS decompresses audio without the main CPU's help, given that the leaked spec mentions some form of ADPCM (probably IMA, SNES BRR, or PS1 VAG variant).

And no, Nintendo wouldn't get in trouble for using DivX if Nintendo were to license DivX code from DivX Networks (which in turn licenses technology from the MPEG-4 licensing authority).
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#32353 - netdroid9 - Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:44 am

tepples wrote:
mod snip

And no, Nintendo wouldn't get in trouble for using DivX if Nintendo were to license DivX code from DivX Networks (which in turn licenses technology from the MPEG-4 licensing authority).

I was talking about hte open source stuff, but yeah, they could licence out Divx code.

#32365 - Zhila - Tue Dec 21, 2004 12:43 pm

netdroid9 wrote:
ravuya wrote:
Dib wrote:
AdamtehGreat wrote:
death-15fps-down-right.avi.fv .... am I to assume that the video compression format is viewable in your media player? and if so care to run it through Gspot/another video analysis program to find compression etc?

It's too soon to tell, obviously, but on a purely speculative note that would also mean the DS were capable of running existing codecs known on PCs. That means running video on the DS would be a piece of cake, so to speak.


Not to trivialize it, but an ARM9 has more than enough muscle to do even the hilariously CPU-tapping DivX/XviD codec, and there's plenty of open source software along those lines.


All of which nintendo would get in trouble for using...


DivXNetworks had merged with Factor 5, a company who makes the MuSyx sound driver, which has to be licensed from Nintendo to use, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be hard at all to be licensed to use DivX (hell, they probably already have a license by default).
_________________
Current high scores on Super Mario 64 DS:
Shell Smash - 50230
Wanted - 140

#32367 - Sebbo - Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:58 pm

i wouldn't b surprised if factor 5 worked along side nintendo for all the video compression...after all, metroid hunters was made in-house by nintendo
http://www.factor5.com/licensing.shtml in particular:
DivX? for Games SDK
The DivX? for Games Software Development Kit (SDK) brings the power of DivX video to Video Game Developers, providing the opportunity to integrate the world's most advanced and widely used video compression technology within games for most current and upcoming console platforms.
since factor5 might have even worked hand-in-hand developing the SDK for the DS, whats to say they didn't take advantage of their licenses?
of course, i'm just speculating, but considering nintendo's track record with factor5 some of this might b fact

#32376 - ravuya - Tue Dec 21, 2004 5:23 pm

Zhila wrote:
netdroid9 wrote:
ravuya wrote:
Dib wrote:
AdamtehGreat wrote:
death-15fps-down-right.avi.fv .... am I to assume that the video compression format is viewable in your media player? and if so care to run it through Gspot/another video analysis program to find compression etc?

It's too soon to tell, obviously, but on a purely speculative note that would also mean the DS were capable of running existing codecs known on PCs. That means running video on the DS would be a piece of cake, so to speak.


Not to trivialize it, but an ARM9 has more than enough muscle to do even the hilariously CPU-tapping DivX/XviD codec, and there's plenty of open source software along those lines.


All of which nintendo would get in trouble for using...


DivXNetworks had merged with Factor 5, a company who makes the MuSyx sound driver, which has to be licensed from Nintendo to use, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be hard at all to be licensed to use DivX (hell, they probably already have a license by default).


Isn't Factor5 a first-party of Nintendo or something? Well, I guess someone will have to extract the video and try to play it back. It must be encoded at a really low sound quality, though.
_________________
Rav (Win/Mac/Linux games for free)

#32378 - XeresRazor - Tue Dec 21, 2004 6:55 pm

ravuya wrote:
Zhila wrote:
netdroid9 wrote:
ravuya wrote:
Dib wrote:
AdamtehGreat wrote:
death-15fps-down-right.avi.fv .... am I to assume that the video compression format is viewable in your media player? and if so care to run it through Gspot/another video analysis program to find compression etc?

It's too soon to tell, obviously, but on a purely speculative note that would also mean the DS were capable of running existing codecs known on PCs. That means running video on the DS would be a piece of cake, so to speak.


Not to trivialize it, but an ARM9 has more than enough muscle to do even the hilariously CPU-tapping DivX/XviD codec, and there's plenty of open source software along those lines.


All of which nintendo would get in trouble for using...


DivXNetworks had merged with Factor 5, a company who makes the MuSyx sound driver, which has to be licensed from Nintendo to use, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be hard at all to be licensed to use DivX (hell, they probably already have a license by default).


Isn't Factor5 a first-party of Nintendo or something? Well, I guess someone will have to extract the video and try to play it back. It must be encoded at a really low sound quality, though.


Am I the only one who notices the Actimagine splash screen at the beginning of the demo? The videos are encoded with actimagine's codec, go take a peek at mobiclip, it's the same format, it's a special codec they wrote that's optimized to playback on ARM CPU's, it was originally designed for the GBA (look at their spec info, it's minimum system specs listing is for GBA video carts) but playable on other ARM devices, the demo they have will let you encode clips and play them back on an N-Gage. It's not Divx at all though I'm sure it's not too dissimliar.

#32382 - darkfader - Wed Dec 22, 2004 3:19 am

<deleted>

Last edited by darkfader on Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:40 pm; edited 1 time in total

#32384 - netdroid9 - Wed Dec 22, 2004 4:05 am

Interesting... Are you sure it doesn't just start the DS cart?

#32385 - XTF - Wed Dec 22, 2004 4:43 am

what happens if you insert another DS cart and then try to start the ARM7 part from the GBA cart ?

#32388 - enzobelmont - Wed Dec 22, 2004 5:52 am

let him rest a little bit...

just kidding...

i'm so happy....

finally somebody owning a DS will soon use it at full capabilities.

we'll wait patiently


sorry my english...

#32389 - AdamW - Wed Dec 22, 2004 6:28 am

btw, an .avi file format means very little. AVI is a container format, it does not specify any particular video codec. People tend to associate it with DivX / xvid / MPEG-4 video in general these days, because most of the .avi files around are DivX (etc) and most DivX files are .avi, but there's nothing necessary about the relationship. You can put video compressed with just about any codec into a .avi file, including some kinda proprietary format if you wanted.

btw - Nintendo would only get in trouble were they to use GPL-licensed (or a similar license) code and not make the source code available on request. If they used BSD-style licensed code, there's no problem at all. Only GPL-type licenses stipulate that derviations must also be licensed freely, the BSD license allows you to take the code and do virtually anything with it, including use it in proprietary software.

#32392 - djemergency - Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:30 am

well actually divx's files extention is .divx but people change it to .avi my burning programs ask for a .divx file and if i tried to burn a .avi in divx format it will not work.
_________________
DS Paparazzi!
Get Nintendo DS News:
When you want or how you want...

http://dspaparazzi.blogspot.com/

#32395 - FluBBa - Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:53 am

darkfader wrote:
w00t... I flashed the ARM7 part of metroid to GBA cartridge and it seems to start when it's in, and doesn't start when it's out :)
header.sub_entry_address = 0x08000000;
I'll try some code after getting some sleep ;P


Eh, you mean you have put some code on a GBA cartridge and when you put the cart in the DS the code starts, but if you leave the cart outside the DS the code doesn't start??? (j/k)

Seriously, you think you have found something to access DS stuff from the GBA port?
If so that's great, keep up the good work!
_________________
I probably suck, my not is a programmer.

#32410 - Dib - Wed Dec 22, 2004 1:42 pm

FluBBa wrote:
Seriously, you think you have found something to access DS stuff from the GBA port?
If so that's great, keep up the good work!

Oh, the possibilities for PocketNES, Goomba, and PCEAdvance. "Great" is something of a gross understatement.

#32411 - Zlodo - Wed Dec 22, 2004 1:42 pm

Quote:
Am I the only one who notices the Actimagine splash screen at the beginning of the demo? The videos are encoded with actimagine's codec, go take a peek at mobiclip, it's the same format, it's a special codec they wrote that's optimized to playback on ARM CPU's, it was originally designed for the GBA (look at their spec info, it's minimum system specs listing is for GBA video carts) but playable on other ARM devices, the demo they have will let you encode clips and play them back on an N-Gage. It's not Divx at all though I'm sure it's not too dissimliar.


I've heard that Actimagine = 4x technology (although I dunno whether 4x bankrupted and the same people started actimagine, or if it just changed name)
4x was a commercial video codec for various consoles, including the GBA.

#32413 - darkfader - Wed Dec 22, 2004 1:56 pm

<deleted>

Last edited by darkfader on Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:38 pm; edited 1 time in total

#32414 - PhoenixSoft - Wed Dec 22, 2004 2:31 pm

Dib wrote:
FluBBa wrote:
Seriously, you think you have found something to access DS stuff from the GBA port?
If so that's great, keep up the good work!

Oh, the possibilities for PocketNES, Goomba, and PCEAdvance. "Great" is something of a gross understatement.


And not to mention all the emulators and games available for the GP32 - a huge library of homebrew ARM9 games ready to be ported across!

#32416 - Scha - Wed Dec 22, 2004 3:07 pm

darkfader: nice work.. I didnt see any code files listed. How many are there? Are there any boot files? What do they look like?

Scha :D

#32422 - SmileyDude - Wed Dec 22, 2004 4:47 pm

there are some fields in the header that point to ARM9 and ARM7 code -- the source address, the destination address in RAM, the size, and where the code should start running. They don't seem to be referred to in the filesystem portion of the image.
_________________
dennis

#32455 - netdroid9 - Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:17 am

darkfader wrote:
The ARM7 code was copied from the romdump to the cartridge.
At startup, the same code from the DS cartridge gets loaded to the RAM, but I only changed the execution address.
Since both the flashcard and RAM contains the same code, both relative and absolute addressing works. But the at one point there's an absolute jump, so that I can remove the flashcard again without hanging Metroid.


Well, looks like its a first step for a DS exploit (Execution of code from the GBA using a DS cart?)

#32462 - mike260 - Thu Dec 23, 2004 2:30 am

darkfader wrote:
The ARM7 code was copied from the romdump to the cartridge.
At startup, the same code from the DS cartridge gets loaded to the RAM, but I only changed the execution address.
Since both the flashcard and RAM contains the same code, both relative and absolute addressing works. But the at one point there's an absolute jump, so that I can remove the flashcard again without hanging Metroid.


So if you built a DS-port cart containing no code and no files, just hardwired entry addresses sending both CPUs to the GBA port addresses, you'd have full control of the system?

Presumably such a cart would be a lot easier to build than a full-on flash cart too, since it'd only need to send a short, fixed sequence of bytes to the DS at bootup time - you could pre-encrypt this data too to avoid doing it at runtime.

Good idea? Crap idea?

#32466 - Abscissa - Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:19 am

mike260 wrote:
So if you built a DS-port cart containing no code and no files, just hardwired entry addresses sending both CPUs to the GBA port addresses, you'd have full control of the system?

Presumably such a cart would be a lot easier to build than a full-on flash cart too, since it'd only need to send a short, fixed sequence of bytes to the DS at bootup time - you could pre-encrypt this data too to avoid doing it at runtime.

Good idea? Crap idea?

Sounds like a great idea to me, but then again I am somewhat of a hardware newbie.

#32467 - netdroid9 - Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:28 am

Sounds good, but we need to crack the encryption first.

Well yes, the encryption has been cracked, but noone knows how to ENCRYPT(Clarification) something, only how it is... er... encrypted.

#32472 - dagamer34 - Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:49 am

netdroid9 wrote:
Sounds good, but we need to crack the encryption first.

Well yes, the encryption has been cracked, but noone knows how to ENCRYPT(Clarification) something, only how it is... er... encrypted.

You would think if you knew how to decrypt something, you would be able to encrypt it. That's like saying I can read English but can't write it. :)
_________________
Little kids and Playstation 2's don't mix. :(

#32473 - Darkain - Thu Dec 23, 2004 3:51 am

dagamer34 wrote:
netdroid9 wrote:
Sounds good, but we need to crack the encryption first.

Well yes, the encryption has been cracked, but noone knows how to ENCRYPT(Clarification) something, only how it is... er... encrypted.

You would think if you knew how to decrypt something, you would be able to encrypt it. That's like saying I can read English but can't write it. :)


except for with encryption it isnt that simple. last time i checked, their method only worked on metroid, and failed on mario. so, if they cant even get two successful ROM decrypted, i highly doubt they are at the point where they can start encrypting new ROMs.
_________________
-=- Darkain Dragoon -=-
http://www.darkain.com
DarkStar for Nintendo DS

#32474 - dagamer34 - Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:08 am

Darkain wrote:
dagamer34 wrote:
netdroid9 wrote:
Sounds good, but we need to crack the encryption first.

Well yes, the encryption has been cracked, but noone knows how to ENCRYPT(Clarification) something, only how it is... er... encrypted.

You would think if you knew how to decrypt something, you would be able to encrypt it. That's like saying I can read English but can't write it. :)


except for with encryption it isnt that simple. last time i checked, their method only worked on metroid, and failed on mario. so, if they cant even get two successful ROM decrypted, i highly doubt they are at the point where they can start encrypting new ROMs.

Rewarding things are never that simple, eh? Compared to the GBA, it seems Nintendo is very determined not to have free-floating ROMs of DS games on the Internet.
_________________
Little kids and Playstation 2's don't mix. :(

#32480 - kerrle - Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:46 am

And that's ultimately a good thing, as long as we can execute non-encrypted code.

Then, homebrew development could continue without the cloud of piracy that sometimes comes with it.

#32481 - netdroid9 - Thu Dec 23, 2004 5:06 am

But we can't even execute stuff yet :(

Ever heard of a wonderful thing called PUBLIC/PRIVATE KEY ENCRYPTION? Dagamer, no offence, but encryption isn't meant to make sense.

#32538 - dagamer34 - Thu Dec 23, 2004 5:47 pm

netdroid9 wrote:
But we can't even execute stuff yet :(

Ever heard of a wonderful thing called PUBLIC/PRIVATE KEY ENCRYPTION? Dagamer, no offence, but encryption isn't meant to make sense.


No offense taken. I don't even have my DS yet because I spent my money on other things and now I am regretting it. :(
_________________
Little kids and Playstation 2's don't mix. :(

#32556 - darkfader - Thu Dec 23, 2004 9:28 pm

<deleted>

Last edited by darkfader on Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:38 pm; edited 1 time in total

#32575 - netdroid9 - Fri Dec 24, 2004 1:37 am

darkfader wrote:
I've also dumped the first 0x4000 bytes of the ARM9 executable :)
I did this with a piece of ARM7 code btw :)
Now I can reconstruct a full ROM... (assuming there are 0x00's between the unencrypted header and ARM9 executable).
[edit]Ok, I reconstructed it... Hopefully someone can emulate it ;P[/edit]


Try Armulator (Never tried it :()

#32576 - Tim Schuerewegen - Fri Dec 24, 2004 1:45 am

netdroid9 wrote:
Try Armulator (Never tried it :()

Try renaming it to .exe and run it on a Pocket PC, which is also ARM, maybe it will work.

#32583 - TheChuckster - Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:31 am

Tim Schuerewegen wrote:
netdroid9 wrote:
Try Armulator (Never tried it :()

Try renaming it to .exe and run it on a Pocket PC, which is also ARM, maybe it will work.


Are you kidding me?

#32584 - AdamW - Fri Dec 24, 2004 3:43 am

hahaha, yeah.

mv Word_For_Windows.exe Word_For_Linux
chmod ugo+x Word_For_Linux
./Word_For_Linux

[...]

Damn! It didn't work! But Word is for x86, why not?!?!?!?!?

:)

#32596 - tepples - Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:50 am

AdamW wrote:
Code:
mv Word_For_Windows.exe Word_For_Linux
chmod ugo+x Word_For_Linux
./Word_For_Linux

Damn! It didn't work! But Word is for x86, why not?!?!?!?!?

Actually, this would work if you were to add a kernel handler for PE executables, so that Linux knows to use the Wine application layer when a process calls execve() on a Windows program. Windows programs are PE executables that use the Win32 API, and Wine can load and run many different Windows programs. In fact, Codeweavers sells a customized version of Wine, called Crossover Office, designed specifically for running Microsoft Word and other Windows programs that are common in office computing environments.

GBA and Nintendo DS games, on the other hand, don't use an API; instead they make direct writes to memory-mapped hardware registers. To run them on another ARM7 or ARM9 based machine, you need to virtualize the hardware (like vmware does). Given what is known about the DS's ARM7 IOP, that Nintendo doesn't let licensees run their own code on the IOP because it might interfere with federally regulated wireless communication, it may be best to high-level emulate the IOP because every game might have almost the same program running on the IOP.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#32597 - sillyb - Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:09 am

Arg I can't find anywhere that explains HOW he dumped the rom? Can someone point me to it?

#32599 - kerrle - Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:12 am

Well, he's built his own hardware: http://darkfader.net/ds/files/pass-through.jpg

And he's posted some dumping code on his site, though it's not been updated yet.

I'm sure he'll release everything once he's got it working to his satisfaction.

#32648 - Roamin - Fri Dec 24, 2004 4:07 pm

The rom as leaked to public , for educationnal purposes .. So keeps your eyes peeled for Metroid.Prime.First.Hunt-DF.rar

#32649 - Wriggler - Fri Dec 24, 2004 4:21 pm

Educational purposes? *sigh*

Ben

#32654 - scknight - Fri Dec 24, 2004 5:04 pm

Wriggler wrote:
Educational purposes? *sigh*

Ben


Why the sigh. Me personally, I'm interested in disassembly the game to learn more about the hardware. Even though technically I shouldn't have the ROM dump because I don't own a DS, I would still consider that educational.

#32657 - ghettron - Fri Dec 24, 2004 5:12 pm

Eventhough I don't advocate the blatant piracy of games -- especially since I don't want Nintendo to crack down on this community. However, the fact that Darkfader used Metroid Prime for his first rip is helpful. Its practically freeware. Who cares if it gets kicked around on the net? Its not like anyone with a DS doesn't have it. A demo game is a good gift from nintendo to the Dev community...

#32659 - Wriggler - Fri Dec 24, 2004 5:42 pm

You're right ghettron, but it's always sad in my opinion when the first illegal copy of a game is distributed. Of course the good minority (such as everyone on this board) will use it for the power of good, but the vast majority will just see this (and future DS dumps) as a free game, depriving hardworking devs of their well-deserved money.

Oh well!

Ben

#32661 - abigsmurf - Fri Dec 24, 2004 5:50 pm

A question : What actually is the functionality of the code read from the Metroid Prime cart? Is it just preparing the system or is it loading a significant amount of metroid prime specific code?

Just wondering because if it's just code for loading data, couldn't you use metroid prime hunter as a boot disk for homebrew code stored on a flashcart. Be sure to scold me if I'm talking rubbish

#32680 - dagamer34 - Fri Dec 24, 2004 11:59 pm

Wriggler wrote:
You're right ghettron, but it's always sad in my opinion when the first illegal copy of a game is distributed. Of course the good minority (such as everyone on this board) will use it for the power of good, but the vast majority will just see this (and future DS dumps) as a free game, depriving hardworking devs of their well-deserved money.

Oh well!

Ben


Considering it's a demo and not a game, and that it also comes with ever DS system sold in the US will hopefully not get pirateers hopes up. Though what DarkFader has built will undoubtably lead to the start of fullblown piracy on the Nintendo DS.
_________________
Little kids and Playstation 2's don't mix. :(

#32682 - netdroid9 - Sat Dec 25, 2004 12:34 am

Roamin wrote:
The rom as leaked to public , for educationnal purposes .. So keeps your eyes peeled for Metroid.Prime.First.Hunt-DF.rar


I don't think it's been leaked. I mean, I REALLY doubt it's been leaked. It's not on google. Good enough evidence? It's not there on any variations. Good enough? Probably not, but it's not in google suggest, meaning it hasn't been searched for much.

#32696 - sillyb - Sat Dec 25, 2004 3:51 am

So reading through darkfader's source I can pretty much understand what most of it is doing.
However I am a bit lost, how do you obtain the .nds file? Is that a straight dump from the catridge? I thought it was encrypted? I can't find where it is decrypted. It must be somewhere in dumpds.cpp, but I can't pinpoint where it is being decrypted. Is it done in ReadBlock() or ReadXor() ?

Can someone explain what ReadXor() does?

#32724 - TJ - Sat Dec 25, 2004 10:21 am

Quote:
I don't think it's been leaked. I mean, I REALLY doubt it's been leaked. It's not on google.


One generally wouldn't find illegal software via Google.

IRC and Bittorrent are the most likely sources.

#32726 - netdroid9 - Sat Dec 25, 2004 10:58 am

TJ wrote:
One generally wouldn't find illegal software via Google.

IRC and Bittorrent are the most likely sources.


You'd be amazed. Google is good for torrents.

#32727 - EmGee - Sat Dec 25, 2004 11:23 am

yes its out there...


though i have no clue what to do with it :)


Last edited by EmGee on Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:14 pm; edited 1 time in total

#32735 - revo - Sat Dec 25, 2004 1:42 pm

I was wondering about this device:
http://www.themodgods.com/images/dsMediaPlayer.jpg

Mayby there will be a way to modify it and start rom directly from SD card?

btw. somebody knows how fast are DS carts? SD gives something about 7.2MB/s

#32778 - darkfader - Mon Dec 27, 2004 8:09 pm

<deleted>

Last edited by darkfader on Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:38 pm; edited 1 time in total

#32779 - fluffy - Mon Dec 27, 2004 8:11 pm

Nintendo wouldn't care about the leaked copy of Metroid Hunters because of piracy. They would, however, care a *lot* about the reverse-engineering which is already happening as a result.

#32784 - enzobelmont - Mon Dec 27, 2004 9:42 pm

[NO WAREZ REQUESTS - removed by MOD]


have you modifed it or is an exact DS cart "image",

is possible to use full NDS hardware from GBA slot???
if its possible, just imagine a SNES and Genesis, etc EMUS

thank for your hard work, we all here admire it

#32787 - dagamer34 - Mon Dec 27, 2004 10:41 pm

enzobelmont wrote:
[NO WAREZ REQUESTS - removed by MOD]


have you modifed it or is an exact DS cart "image",

is possible to use full NDS hardware from GBA slot???
if its possible, just imagine a SNES and Genesis, etc EMUS

thank for your hard work, we all here admire it


This sounds like a piracy post... :(
_________________
Little kids and Playstation 2's don't mix. :(

#32801 - privateers69 - Tue Dec 28, 2004 1:56 am

With what Darkfader has been able to access the DS from the GBA side. could someone come up with a program flashed to a GBA cart for use with the Nintendo wi-fi ports? to re-configure them for easier access?

Just thinking..

#32802 - qwertycho - Tue Dec 28, 2004 3:41 am

mario 64 DS has also been dumped.

#32808 - netdroid9 - Tue Dec 28, 2004 7:19 am

It's a fake.

#32810 - ravuya - Tue Dec 28, 2004 7:46 am

The Mario64 DS dump is a fake? I wouldn't be surprised.

Gamer kiddies are running around spouting off random crap, and making up rumours left and right. All the DS boards I've been on (except for this one) are absolute garbage, and it's not exactly keeping my faith with the system.

I suppose that's true for any Internet game message board, though.

(By the way: Who's linking to this thread? It has almost 30K hits and I'm getting an enormous amount of fallover hits from my post on the first page -- has somebody posted this on a message board and people are coming here looking for easy ROM downloads?)
_________________
Rav (Win/Mac/Linux games for free)

#32817 - Sebbo - Tue Dec 28, 2004 12:42 pm

hmm, i did a quick google and apart from some dodgy sites and forums the closest thing i can find to any roms out there is this: URL removed by MOD
if u remember, this is a demo from E3, so its highly likely it will b fake. on the same site there's talk about dsemu, a DS emulator, but its only an early gameboy advance emulator
i think u guys r leading the pack here

#32829 - Krylon - Tue Dec 28, 2004 3:22 pm

Considering the title of the post from one of the distributing sites is "0002 - Super Mario 64 DS (FAKE)", yes, we're sure that it's fake, especially if the distributor even admits it.
As for that forum, they are seriously some of the most clueless people I've ever seen... :-\
I'm actually making a mini site/page for newbies about assorted DS things, and goals for teams like XLink and you guys here at GBADev, as well as over at DSLinux...

But yeah, to get back on topic. I wouldn't believe any SM64DS ROM was real unless DF himself released it. Of course, other people are bound to figuring out how to rip the games eventually, right now only DF has proven himself.


Last edited by Krylon on Tue Dec 28, 2004 6:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

#32836 - Roamin - Tue Dec 28, 2004 4:17 pm

It's simple people , if a rom doesn't work with Darkfader's NDSTOOL.exe , then it is mostlikely missing at least the header. Since the program was coded using leaked information that has proven to be true, then it should work on other roms. So , the fact that you can see the header of metroid , extract all files , and even see some graphics using mike260 metroid model viewer, definitely proves the integrity of the rom. Now , since we can't even see a valid header in mario , and that header is needed to find out FAT info , to then extract the files , it makes the mario rom , either INCOMPLETE , or just plain old FAKE.


Stop asking about it , it will come out eventually.

Roamin
_________________
Mario DS High Score:

Wanted : 316 and counting

#32874 - pegleg13 - Tue Dec 28, 2004 10:26 pm

Hi there!

First, I see there's some question about word getting out about this site. It's true. I was sent an email notifying me about this site, so I came to look out of curiosity.

Now, I do own a DS myself and I would not use any ROMs illegally. But chances are some people other than myself have been notifyed about this site looking to use it for more... malicious purposes.

I have little experience in the realm of programming, however. I know a decent amount of HTML and Basic, but that's it. This big first post means nothing to me. I see bits and pieces with 'morphball' and 'highscore', but what does it all mean?

#32897 - ravuya - Wed Dec 29, 2004 2:20 am

pegleg13 wrote:
This big first post means nothing to me. I see bits and pieces with 'morphball' and 'highscore', but what does it all mean?


It's the directory structure (list of files and folders), dumped from the ROM.
_________________
Rav (Win/Mac/Linux games for free)

#32940 - netdroid9 - Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:18 pm

Just a reminder:

Don't ask for Super Mario 64 or any other game, A) We don't have it dumped and B) Nobody wants a court-case.

#32965 - abigsmurf - Wed Dec 29, 2004 6:26 pm

except for the highly payed lawyers of course

#32980 - fagotero - Wed Dec 29, 2004 8:45 pm

There?s something that I actually don?t understand. Ok, Darkfader used part of Metroid DEMO code in the GBA flash card, and it worked, but if we want to code some 3D games(if we have an DS SDK) could the DS do that only from the GBA flash card??

Is there any type of "limitation" (of course capability of flash card) if we want to use only a GBA flash card ?? in terms of emulation, DS homebrew, or runing original DS games??

I really don?t understand anything in terms of hardware, but I think it will be very difficult to dump full DS games, and also run DS homebrew games, only using a GBA flash card.

Can anybody explain this to me please?

-Sorry for my english-

#32986 - Abcd1234 - Wed Dec 29, 2004 10:30 pm

Just to be clear, what Darkfader did is intercept and modify the stream coming from a real DS cart to trick the machine into loading code from the GBA port. This is how he managed to get code to run from the GBA slot in DS mode. This is, of course, not possible for most people.

However, assuming this is correct, this brings to light an interesting possibility for those considering how to build a homebrewing system: it might be possible to design a very simple DS cart which understands the DS command syntax, but only responds with the basic messages necessary to keep the DS happy, along with a header which tells the DS to start executing the code from the GBA slot. Then, all you need is a standard GBA flash cart, and voila!, you have a simple homebrewing system. The advantage, here, is that the DS cart is just a cheap, simple masked ROM, rather than requiring flash RAM, encryption logic, etc, etc, and people can continue to use the flash carts they already own.

#32987 - tepples - Wed Dec 29, 2004 10:33 pm

Abcd1234 wrote:
this brings to light an interesting possibility for those considering how to build a homebrewing system: it might be possible to design a very simple DS cart which understands the DS command syntax, but only responds with the basic messages necessary to keep the DS happy, along with a header which tells the DS to start executing the code from the GBA slot.

That's the plan. However, until we get the crypto completely figured out, it seems we may have to plug a Metroid cart or two into the back of the device.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#32988 - Abcd1234 - Wed Dec 29, 2004 10:42 pm

Well, hopefully there's a way to avoid that. Of course, in the unlikely case that that's the only way to make things work, it's probably not a big deal... after all, if you have a DS, you have a Metroid cart! It does considerably increase the cost and complexity of the device, though.

Incidentally, one other thing I didn't mention about this technique: it's totally useless for playing pirated DS games, something I consider a serious advantage: it helps to legitimize the DS homebrew community, and makes it less likely that Nintendo will attempt to stomp on such a device.

#32990 - tepples - Wed Dec 29, 2004 11:13 pm

Abcd1234 wrote:
after all, if you have a DS, you have a Metroid cart!

Not in Japan.

Quote:
it's totally useless for playing pirated DS games

Until some smart fellow figures out how to patch calls to the DS card reader to go to the GBA Game Pak instead. It'd probably turn out to be as easy as patching a GBA game that uses EEPROM save to use SRAM, and anybody who has hung out on Pocket Heaven for any length of time knows how easy that is; some of the flash card writing programs even do it automatically now.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#33009 - pegleg13 - Thu Dec 30, 2004 1:46 am

netdroid9 wrote:
Just a reminder:

Don't ask for Super Mario 64 or any other game, A) We don't have it dumped and B) Nobody wants a court-case.


Don't worry. Like I said I have a DS, and SM64DS. I won't be asking for a rom.. but thanks for clarification.

But my question is this: with the code on the first page, all someone would need is the animations, pictures, and sounds to make a replica of the DS game, right?

#33013 - ravuya - Thu Dec 30, 2004 3:28 am

pegleg13 wrote:
But my question is this: with the code on the first page, all someone would need is the animations, pictures, and sounds to make a replica of the DS game, right?


Errr, no. The stuff on the first page is just a listing of the files inside the ROM -- namely, the animations pictures and sound.
_________________
Rav (Win/Mac/Linux games for free)

#33018 - PhoenixSoft - Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:17 am

So, has darkfader actually dumped any other games? As in, does his dumping method only work for Metroid?

#33019 - flipper - Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:32 am

PhoenixSoft wrote:
So, has darkfader actually dumped any other games? As in, does his dumping method only work for Metroid?


If I've followed it correctly, he tried Super Mario 64 DS, and it did not work. Suggesting that there is some type of 'serial number' buried in the key exchange that is different for each cart.

#33021 - Krylon - Thu Dec 30, 2004 5:44 am

And I'm pretty sure DarkFader wants to decrypt and gain complete control over Metroid Prime First Hunt before reattempting anything else on another game.

#33025 - enzobelmont - Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:41 am

enzobelmont wrote:
[NO WAREZ REQUESTS - removed by MOD]


have you modifed it or is an exact DS cart "image",

is possible to use full NDS hardware from GBA slot???
if its possible, just imagine a SNES and Genesis, etc EMUS

thank for your hard work, we all here admire it


i wasn't requesting warez, what are you talking about???

i was asking when (aprox time) will the rom be available on the net..

#33026 - mymateo - Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:03 am

Probably never, at least not here. The ROM will be a comemrcial ROM, and therefore illegal to distribute without consent from Nintendo, and I somehow doubt they'll agree to it.

I wouldn't be surprised if you can find a copy of it elsewhere once someone without legal morals manages to get their hands on it.

#33027 - tepples - Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:14 am

enzobelmont wrote:
i was asking when (aprox time) will the rom be available on the net..

January 1, 2100.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#33028 - enzobelmont - Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:24 am

mymateo wrote:
Probably never, at least not here. The ROM will be a comemrcial ROM, and therefore illegal to distribute without consent from Nintendo, and I somehow doubt they'll agree to it.

I wouldn't be surprised if you can find a copy of it elsewhere once someone without legal morals manages to get their hands on it.


i do own a DS, a super mario 64 DS, a metroid demo, i've pay for that, why can't I have a copy of that in my hard disk???

i'm not trying to promote (or promove??? sorry my english) piracy, I'm just trying to be informed about DS tool development for create homebrew games... i wish to use int he future custom applications on my DS...

i'm not trying to be a pirate...

sorry my english...

#33029 - enzobelmont - Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:37 am

tepples wrote:
enzobelmont wrote:
i was asking when (aprox time) will the rom be available on the net..

January 1, 2100.


smart answer!!

wich number is your IQ??

don't abuse of my english ignorance (please).

#33030 - flipper - Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:38 am

Because Nintendo says you can't, and they have more lawyers. You hire more lawyers than Nintendo, and you can make them give you all the games and the dev kit for free.

It's that simple.

BTW, if anyone has any spare lawyers, send them my way? I'm trying to collect the whole set.

#33031 - enzobelmont - Thu Dec 30, 2004 7:41 am

flipper wrote:
Because Nintendo says you can't, and they have more lawyers. You hire more lawyers than Nintendo, and you can make them give you all the games and the dev kit for free.

It's that simple.

BTW, if anyone has any spare lawyers, send them my way? I'm trying to collect the whole set.


you're right... there's a quote in my country: "with money the dog dances" literal translation.

#33032 - mymateo - Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:18 am

enzobelmont wrote:
i do own a DS, a super mario 64 DS, a metroid demo, i've pay for that, why can't I have a copy of that in my hard disk???


Nobody is saying that. As far as I've read, we're all saying that people who have a copy of it aren't allowed to post it on the internet for everyone to download, and that includes people who don't own it, which is a big no-no. And even though you may have a copy (we're not saying you do, we're not saying you don't) it's still not smart to distribute copyrighten material.

So you understand, I hope, that it's nothing against you. People just don't want to get into legal trouble (among their own personal reasons).

#33033 - netdroid9 - Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:26 am

enzobelmont wrote:
i do own a DS, a super mario 64 DS, a metroid demo, i've pay for that, why can't I have a copy of that in my hard disk???


Like the other guy said, they've got more lawyers than you.

Non-famous-quote: Oh yeah, well I have seven high-priced lawyers.
Reply: *Scream*

#33035 - mymateo - Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:46 am

netdroid9 wrote:
Non-famous-quote: Oh yeah, well I have seven high-priced lawyers.
Reply: *Scream*


Is that Simpsons? It sounds familiar...

#33040 - PhoenixSoft - Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:58 am

enzobelmont wrote:
...why can't I have a copy of that in my hard disk???


Here's what Nintendo has to say about having a backup on your HDD:

Quote:
There is a good deal of misinformation on the Internet regarding the backup/archival copy exception. It is not a "second copy" rule and is often mistakenly cited for the proposition that if you have one lawful copy of a copyrighted work, you are entitled to have a second copy of the copyrighted work even if that second copy is an infringing copy. The backup/archival copy exception is a very narrow limitation relating to a copy being made by the rightful owner of an authentic game to ensure he or she has one in the event of damage or destruction of the authentic. Therefore, whether you have an authentic game or not, or whether you have possession of a Nintendo ROM for a limited amount of time, i.e. 24 hours, it is illegal to download and play a Nintendo ROM from the Internet.

#33041 - ravuya - Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:03 am

mymateo wrote:
netdroid9 wrote:
Non-famous-quote: Oh yeah, well I have seven high-priced lawyers.
Reply: *Scream*


Is that Simpsons? It sounds familiar...


Yeah, it's the one where Marge tries to sue Mr. Burns for sexual harassment when she gets a job at the plant. Lionel Hutz (their lawyer) screams like a little girl and flees the room.

<- encyclopediac knowledge
_________________
Rav (Win/Mac/Linux games for free)

#33042 - cocole - Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:04 am

Don't forget that rule depends on the law where YOU live. For instance people in the US have a fair use "right". I know countries where you can backup PC / PS2 / Xbox games because they can easily be trashed by little kids (remember PS2 and little kids don't mix). But you have absolutely no right to backup GBA or N64 games. Why ? Because according to Nintendo of Europe, cartridge games cannot be trashed. They are too strong and can resist almost anything (that's not me saying that, it's NoE's lawyers) so you have no need and then no right to have a backup copy of indestructible games !
I know for sure I can trash almost any cartridge, but lawyers say I cannot so I won't backup any of my cartridges.

#33043 - netdroid9 - Thu Dec 30, 2004 10:05 am

mymateo wrote:
netdroid9 wrote:
Non-famous-quote: Oh yeah, well I have seven high-priced lawyers.
Reply: *Scream*


Is that Simpsons? It sounds familiar...


Errr... *Hides simpsons script*... lol.

Yeah, that 24 hour time limit is a peice of crap made up by pirates.

#33064 - tepples - Thu Dec 30, 2004 4:55 pm

netdroid9 wrote:
Yeah, that 24 hour time limit is a peice of crap made up by pirates.

It has its origins in obscure provisions of laws applying to nonprofit libraries.

Anyway, it's lawful under 17 USC 117(a) to have a copy of a ROM on your hard disk for purposes of emulation, but you have to have made the copy yourself with your own dumper. For example, the only way to lawfully use EFA or any other GBA flash kit that doesn't allow dumping Game Paks is with homebrews or with another flash kit that does allow dumping Game Paks.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#33078 - Krylon - Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:05 pm

Exactly, just like the Quote Phoenix said. It is ILLEGAL to DOWNLOAD and PLAY a Nintendo ROM from the INTERENET. DarkFader is the only one that actually semi-legally obtained the ROM. However, distributing it was an obstruction. And, yup, you guessed it. Anyone that downloaded DarkFader's ROM has done so, ILLEGALLY.

#33091 - dagamer34 - Thu Dec 30, 2004 6:43 pm

cocole wrote:
Don't forget that rule depends on the law where YOU live. For instance people in the US have a fair use "right". I know countries where you can backup PC / PS2 / Xbox games because they can easily be trashed by little kids (remember PS2 and little kids don't mix). But you have absolutely no right to backup GBA or N64 games. Why ? Because according to Nintendo of Europe, cartridge games cannot be trashed. They are too strong and can resist almost anything (that's not me saying that, it's NoE's lawyers) so you have no need and then no right to have a backup copy of indestructible games !
I know for sure I can trash almost any cartridge, but lawyers say I cannot so I won't backup any of my cartridges.


Been looking at my sig, eh? :)
_________________
Little kids and Playstation 2's don't mix. :(

#33106 - cocole - Thu Dec 30, 2004 9:12 pm

dagamer34 wrote:
Been looking at my sig, eh? :)


Yes indeed.

#33132 - windwakr - Fri Dec 31, 2004 2:03 am

How do I use the dumper program? What do I need?

#33146 - dagamer34 - Fri Dec 31, 2004 4:55 am

windwakr wrote:
How do I use the dumper program? What do I need?


This sounds like a warez post.
_________________
Little kids and Playstation 2's don't mix. :(

#33151 - tepples - Fri Dec 31, 2004 6:10 am

Last time I checked, using a dumper on your own cartridges is not warez; it's 17 USC 117.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#33173 - mymateo - Fri Dec 31, 2004 9:40 am

windwakr wrote:
How do I use the dumper program? What do I need?


I had replied to this earlier, voicing curiosity on how dumping was acheived and what hardware is used, but that post seems to be gone. Either something happened and it never got submitted, or a mod removed it. Did a mod remove it? If so, why??

#33207 - dagamer34 - Fri Dec 31, 2004 8:19 pm

tepples wrote:
Last time I checked, using a dumper on your own cartridges is not warez; it's 17 USC 117.


I know it's not a warez post. It just sounds like one. this thread has been getting so many views compared to other threads (even the DS Wireless hacking one). 30,000+ just makes me suspicious of what some people will do with these tools.
_________________
Little kids and Playstation 2's don't mix. :(

#33215 - windwakr - Fri Dec 31, 2004 10:03 pm

What is cygwin? Is there a build of ndstool that doesnt use it?

#33216 - tepples - Fri Dec 31, 2004 10:08 pm

"What is Cygwin?" Ask Google.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#33217 - revo - Fri Dec 31, 2004 10:10 pm

windwakr wrote:
What is cygwin? Is there a build of ndstool that doesnt use it?


You can build ndstool with VS.net (I think with oder compilers too) on Windows making few little modifications in source code, as I said in fourth post from the bottom here . This version doesn't need cygwin.

If you don't know, source of ndstool can be found here

#33218 - windwakr - Fri Dec 31, 2004 10:13 pm

I only have dev-cpp and it doesnt have mkdir afaik.

#33222 - revo - Fri Dec 31, 2004 10:38 pm

windwakr wrote:
I only have dev-cpp and it doesnt have mkdir afaik.


I downloaded Dev-Cpp and tried to compile NDSTool. With original code there are errors, but modified version compiles, and works good...

Try, before you give next post...

#33228 - Artanis - Fri Dec 31, 2004 11:05 pm

Krylon wrote:
Exactly, just like the Quote Phoenix said. It is ILLEGAL to DOWNLOAD and PLAY a Nintendo ROM from the INTERENET. DarkFader is the only one that actually semi-legally obtained the ROM. However, distributing it was an obstruction. And, yup, you guessed it. Anyone that downloaded DarkFader's ROM has done so, ILLEGALLY.


You're very much incorrect, anyone who owns the game has a legal right to have a backup, no matter how it is obtained. I own Super Mario 64 for N64 and I have a ROM backup and there is nothing Nintendo can do about it.

#33229 - flipper - Fri Dec 31, 2004 11:16 pm

Normally, you would be right. However, N64 games are distributed on "Mask ROM", that is to say, a dedicated circuit that causes a particular program to appear. These are covered under a special section of copyright law. For the gory details, read this section:

http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode17/usc_sup_01_17_10_9.html

For a summary of how this applies to Mask ROM, read this article:
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Mask+work

Key sentence to your point:
According to 17 USC ? 904 (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/ch9.html), semiconductor mask work monopolies last only ten years and are not subject to any fair use rights including the typical backup exemptions that 17 USC ? 117 provides for computer software.

Hence, you have no right to make any sort of copy.

#33239 - windwakr - Sat Jan 01, 2005 12:18 am

revo, can you tell me what revisions to make?

#33240 - tepples - Sat Jan 01, 2005 12:28 am

flipper, quoting a Wikipedia article, wrote:
According to 17 USC ? 904 (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/ch9.html), semiconductor mask work monopolies last only ten years and are not subject to any fair use rights including the typical backup exemptions that 17 USC ? 117 provides for computer software.

You cut it off before the following:
Quote:
Nevertheless, as fair use in true copyright was originally recognized by the judiciary before being codified in statute, it may one day be recognized in mask work protection as well.

Specifically, the Supreme Court ruled in Eldred v. Ashcroft that fair use is the only thing keeping copyright law from violating the first article of amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Besides, there's another conjectured interpretation of the application of 17 USC chapter 9 to mask ROMs claiming that it applies only to reproductions made in another mask ROM, that reproductions made in flash or magnetic memory are within the scope of the rest of 17 USC (which includes statutory recognition of fair use) rather than chapter 9. This interpretation would hurt home users much less than it hurts, say, the commercial pirates who make consoles with 100 built-in games sold for 50 USD at the mall.

In addition, Nintendo has announced plans to move away from mask ROM toward Matrix Semiconductor's one-time-programmable memory.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#33246 - Krylon - Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:40 am

Artanis wrote:
Krylon wrote:
Exactly, just like the Quote Phoenix said. It is ILLEGAL to DOWNLOAD and PLAY a Nintendo ROM from the INTERENET. DarkFader is the only one that actually semi-legally obtained the ROM. However, distributing it was an obstruction. And, yup, you guessed it. Anyone that downloaded DarkFader's ROM has done so, ILLEGALLY.


You're very much incorrect, anyone who owns the game has a legal right to have a backup, no matter how it is obtained. I own Super Mario 64 for N64 and I have a ROM backup and there is nothing Nintendo can do about it.


Assuming whatever on here is correct:
http://www.bitlaw.com/source/17usc/117.html

"Any exact copies prepared in accordance with the provisions of this section may be leased, sold, or otherwise transferred, along with the copy from which such copies were prepared, only as part of the lease, sale, or other transfer of all rights in the program. Adaptations so prepared may be transferred only with the authorization of the copyright owner."

If I'm interpreting this right, it's illegal to transfer our 'copies' (ROMs) without authorization of Nintendo. The only way we could legally transfer ROMs to each other would be if Nintendo said we could transfer a specific ROM or transfer ROMs in general, which of course will never happen.

Just because Nintendo can't do anything about it doesn't make it legal.

#33249 - flipper - Sat Jan 01, 2005 2:00 am

Quote:

Specifically, the Supreme Court ruled in Eldred v. Ashcroft that fair use is the only thing keeping copyright law from violating the first article of amendment to the U.S. Constitution.



True. It would be interesting to see. You want to take it to court AFTER they sue someone's ass? :P

#33253 - windwakr - Sat Jan 01, 2005 4:12 am

on darkfader.net/ds there is a file called test_dump.rar rename it to jpg and open it.....ewwwwwww

#33259 - tepples - Sat Jan 01, 2005 6:59 am

windwakr wrote:
on darkfader.net/ds there is a file called test_dump.rar rename it to jpg

Looks like a background from a bad punster's Zoop clone.
_________________
-- Where is he?
-- Who?
-- You know, the human.
-- I think he moved to Tilwick.

#33421 - mymateo - Mon Jan 03, 2005 5:13 am

Getting back to the original topic, a thought occurred to me. Darkfader has gotten the ROM from the First Hunt cart, and has tricked the DS into loading code from the GBA slot. Is it possible to make a DS cart using different chips (since I doubt anyone can get their hands on the chips Nintendo gets) and load them up with a ROM and get the DS to load it without needing a GBA cart? It seems possible to me if DF can load code from the DS slot already. I dunno, like I said -- just a thought.

#33431 - netdroid9 - Mon Jan 03, 2005 8:51 am

Yeah, I think it uses Matrix Semiconductor Flash Rom compatable masks (?), try one of their flash chips on your demo (Desolder the original rom and use a chip holder ;) (Then you can replace the chip if you want))

#34170 - DarkSpectre - Fri Jan 14, 2005 6:54 pm

Got bored and ripped this out of the BGMDATA.bin. It's a bit tinny and has some hiss, but you get the idea. Used 4bit VOX ADPCM, mono @ 16000hz. The audio starts out at the right speed at first, then speeds up and then reverts back.

I'll leave this up for a day or two so grab it fast.
http://www.burningcode.com/BGMDATA2.mp3

- DS

#34175 - haruguchan - Fri Jan 14, 2005 8:56 pm

DarkSpectre wrote:
Got bored and ripped this out of the BGMDATA.bin. It's a bit tinny and has some hiss, but you get the idea. Used 4bit VOX ADPCM, mono @ 16000hz. The audio starts out at the right speed at first, then speeds up and then reverts back.

I'll leave this up for a day or two so grab it fast.
http://www.burningcode.com/BGMDATA2.mp3

- DS


audio formats on metroid prime sound: http://forum.gbadev.org/viewtopic.php?t=4735