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ArsTechnica: Hackers unlock NES Classic, upload new games via USB cable

S

Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew

Banned
Alright, so I'm about to secure this soon, one way or another.

Besides the post in OP, what other essentials do I need to know about this hack (e.g. anti-seizure removal, errors, etc)?

:)
 
C

Chucker

Member
2.09 is out and it's HUGE. Cluster is doing what Nintendon't.

Cluster said:
Version 2.09: https://github.com/ClusterM/hakchi2/releases/tag/2.09

What's new:

  • 'Can't repack ramdisk' error on some systems should be gone now.
  • Device detection bug fixed (thanks to David Winter!)
  • Automatic file attributes fix (e.g. "WinRAR" bug fixed).
  • Game selection presets. Now you can create presets for favorite games, party games, etc. It's useful since NES Mini don't like huge amount of games at once.
  • Search by first letters of game, just press Ctrl+F.
  • Much better PNG compression for covers, x4 more disk space.
  • NES carts database with release dates, publishers, etc. Just add game and all fields will be filled automatically if it exists in database.
  • Automatic IPS patches. Now you don't need other application to patch problem games. Patch files stored in "patch" folder. Problem game will be detected automatically by CRC32 checksum. Release already contains patches for "Battletoads", "Robocop 3", "Snow Bros.", "Bill & Ted's Excellent Video Game Adventure" and "Startropics II". You can add and your own patches too.
  • Game Genie support. Just enter your codes (comma/spaces/semicolon separated) in special field and sync. Cheats will be activated automatically.
  • Mapper #87 added to list of confirmed mappers.
  • Epilepsy protection settings - you can disable epilepsy protection for original 30 games or for all games at once.
  • Clovercon hack! Now you can exit to menu using "Down+Select" combination. All you need now is controller cable extension...
  • Some interface improvements - you can delete games using del key, etc.
  • Many minor bugfixes.
Click to expand...
 
R

Red Liquorice

Member
Will all existing games need to be re-added for the PNG compression improvements?

My first time was with 2.08 so this will be my first update, do we just replace everything?
 
R

radcliff

Member
Updated to 2.09. It says it patched my Battletoads rom, but it still crashed at level 2. Anyone have any luck with 2.09 patching Battletoads?

EIDT- Think I may have done it wrong as the modification date for the rom is not today's date. Will retry

EDIT EDIT: Re-patched the rom and made it to level 3. Looks like I originally patched the rom, but didn't add the patched rom to the NES Classic. Re-patching the rom and adding it to the Classic worked.
 
D.Lo

D.Lo

Member
I might hold off and see if they add an option to add the scan lines effect to the original games. I don't want to have to re-set up the 15-20 original games I have kept etc with perfect box arts etc, and still lose the demo modes.
 
D.Lo

D.Lo

Member
Beer Monkey said:
Jesus, maybe they'll fix the audio lag.
Click to expand...
You could already disable epilepsy protection from the command line, it's built into the emulator by Nintendo. But the audio delay is assumedly not deliberate and so is unlikely to have an option to disable.
 
B

Beer Monkey

Member
D.Lo said:
You could already disable epilepsy protection from the command line, it's built into the emulator by Nintendo. But the audio delay is assumedly not deliberate and so is unlikely to have an option to disable.
Click to expand...

Well, poop. Hopefully somebody is working on annotating disassembled code for the emulator.
 
TLZ

TLZ

Banned
What is this epilepsy protection you guys speak of? I haven't hacked mine yet, but what is it and how does it affect gameplay?
 
S

Shaneus

Member
I'm yet to run this at all, but did I read somewhere correctly that input delay was increased overall by adding *any* games (or modifying the factory image)?
 
D.Lo

D.Lo

Member
TLZ said:
What is this epilepsy protection you guys speak of? I haven't hacked mine yet, but what is it and how does it affect gameplay?
Click to expand...
It replaces screen flashes with a sort of blurry effect, because screen flashes are banned nowdays because they could trigger epilepsy in certain people. It doesn't affect gameplay but is obviously not how the originals looked.

Shaneus said:
I'm yet to run this at all, but did I read somewhere correctly that input delay was increased overall by adding *any* games (or modifying the factory image)?
Click to expand...
I have not noticed any. I one lifed Contra on Wednesday. With a well set up TV it seems to have less than the real console+Framemeister to me (the latter looks superior however, especially with the 'improved' RGB palette!)
 
TLZ

TLZ

Banned
D.Lo said:
It replaces screen flashes with a sort of blurry effect, because screen flashes are banned nowdays because they could trigger epilepsy in certain people. It doesn't affect gameplay but is obviously not how the originals looked.
Click to expand...

Alright thank you for the quick response. As long as it doesn't affect gameplay I don't think I should care much.
 
C

Chucker

Member
The "added lag" is nonsense, I got up to Tyson and lost but it was my own fault.

Re: PNG compression, we have to re-add for it to go into effect, so I know what I'm doing tonight.
 
D.Lo

D.Lo

Member
Chucker said:
The "added lag" is nonsense, I got up to Tyson and lost but it was my own fault.
Click to expand...
Yeah I think a lot of people hooked it up to their TV with all the 'motionflow miracle frame creation' post processing crap on and judged the box on their TV's behaviour.

It may have a tiny level of input lag, but like I said it seems to be less to me than the leading scaler device.
 
C

Chucker

Member
D.Lo said:
Yeah I think a lot of people hooked it up to their TV with all the 'motionflow miracle frame creation' post processing crap on and judged the box on their TV's behaviour.

It may have a tiny level of input lag, but like I said it seems to be less to me than the leading scaler device.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm sure it has some lag, and I used to have a PVM and scart hookups so I'm familiar with what it should be, and these are fine.
 
D

DiabloTheGrey

Member
Do I need to upload my original kernel from a previous version before using the most recent version?

If I don't, will I lose my original kernel for good?
 
C

Chucker

Member
DiabloTheGrey said:
Do I need to upload my original kernel from a previous version before using the most recent version?

If I don't, will I lose my original kernel for good?
Click to expand...

In general it's a good idea to save your dump folder again somewhere else.
Other than that, upgrading is just overwriting the old files with the new.
 
D

deim0s

Member
Just tested Castlevania and Megaman plus re-added the covers. That weird epilepsy protection is gone! Sweet.


DiabloTheGrey said:
Do I need to upload my original kernel from a previous version before using the most recent version?

If I don't, will I lose my original kernel for good?
Click to expand...

You don't really have to flash your original kernel everytime.

Keep a backup of /dump/, /games/ (so you don't re-add them all again), and/or the config.ini file for updates and safekeeping

But the /dump/ folder is all you need to keep safe as it is your original kernel.
 
J

jmizzal

Member
SNES mini needs to come out, NBA Jam mod just came out with the updated rosters, would love to play that on a system like this
 
C

Chucker

Member
Soooo there is a lot of good news on that 2.09 but it seems like the compression went too far. Box Art looks crummy now. :(
 
R

Red Liquorice

Member
2.10 is out already :)

https://github.com/ClusterM/hakchi2/releases/tag/2.10

Tiny update based on recent user requests:

Press Shift+F5 to update all your ROMs library info using database.
Extended font working on Famicom Mini again.
Now you can select button combination for reset.
Some FDS improvements: correct cover size, automatic header fix, "--fds-auto-disk-side-switch-on-keypress" argument by default.
8bit PNG compression is optional now since image quality is not so good.
Now you can remove thumbnails at the bottom of screen (via settings menu).
Bugfixes.
Click to expand...
 
I

isamu

OMFG HOLY MOTHER OF MARY IN HEAVEN I CANT BELIEVE IT WTF WHERE ARE MY SEDATIVES AAAAHHH
Does the hack allow you to run NeoGeo games?
 
shanafan

shanafan

Member
I need to check out the latest version of the software then. Haven't tried any new versions since the original release.
 
C

CrashPrime

Member
Chucker said:
The "added lag" is nonsense, I got up to Tyson and lost but it was my own fault.

Re: PNG compression, we have to re-add for it to go into effect, so I know what I'm doing tonight.
Click to expand...

It's not as good as gpu hard sync windows 10 Nestopia. It isn't bad but it's not the best. Also aside from minor input lag, it definitely has audio lag so audio cues are not feasible.

Last issue is basically every TV is adding some lag because it has to scale 720p.
 
smokeymicpot

smokeymicpot

Beat EviLore at pool.
Really should check this out again. I know it is a something that won't happen wish they can update the resolution on some games that you added on.
 
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