Game backup device

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The Professor SF is a backup device for the Super Famicom and allows for saving games to floppy disks. Professor-SF-Attached.jpg
The Professor SF is a backup device for the Super Famicom and allows for saving games to floppy disks.

A game backup device, informally called a copier, is a device for backing up ROM data from a video game cartridge to a computer file called a ROM image and playing them back on the official hardware. Recently flash cartridges, especially on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS platforms, only support the latter function; they cannot be used for backing up ROM data. Game backup devices also make it possible to develop homebrew software on video game systems. Game backup devices differ from modchips in that modchips are used in conjunction with systems that use generally available media such as CDs and DVDs, whereas game backup devices are used with systems that use cartridges.

Contents

Video game companies consider these devices as a tool for reverse engineering to facilitate copyright infringement. Most of the devices are made in China, but they are available globally. Recently,[ when? ] legal action has been taken by companies such as Nintendo to remove these devices from the marketplace, but the easy dissemination of information and selling of products over the Internet has made it difficult to eradicate this problem. Hobbyists argue that these devices are legal and shouldn't be illegal because they fulfill the need to back up games in case the original is illegally sold or lost; and because they permit the private development of new software on the device.

In Japan, these devices are known as magicom (マジコン, "magic computer"), an umbrella term for any device that enables backups on game consoles. [1]

History

Doctor V64 installed in a Nintendo 64. Doctor-V64-Nintendo-64-Attached-FL.jpg
Doctor V64 installed in a Nintendo 64.

The spiritual forefather of copier devices can be traced back to the Famicom Disk System, an official add-on device for the Japanese version of the Nintendo Entertainment System. Users quickly discovered ways to copy these disks with ordinary home computers of the time and transmit the copied data to others using the emerging electronic bulletin board systems. Nintendo attempted to counter piracy by slightly modifying the hardware in newer revisions, but they were unable to stop the unauthorized copying. Later, the Famicom Disk System was discontinued, supposedly because cartridge technology had caught up in capacity, but the influence of rampant piracy cannot be discounted.[ citation needed ]

When the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was released, Hong Kong based companies developed products with similar functionality. They produced cartridges that fit in the video game console's cartridge slot but were interfaced with a floppy disk drive through a connecting cable. The copier, as they were called, also had a passthrough slot into which a real game could be inserted. The device, once powered up, could be used to copy the cartridge's ROM data into files on ordinary MS-DOS formatted 3.5" floppy disks and thereafter to play the game from the same disks, without having to rely on the original cartridge being present.

When these devices were introduced to the United States and Europe, video game enthusiasts quickly started swapping the copied games over bulletin board systems. Release groups formed to cater to the need of fresh games, and also to crack the protection that was employed to thwart copying in several games released after copiers became available. Release groups would also add their own intros to games, to advertise their BBSes and new releases, and sometimes include a trainer to optionally start on later stages or with more lives.[ citation needed ]

The copier devices and dissemination of hardware information through BBSes made it possible to start developing software on the video game consoles. The software evolved from crack intros to demos, and finally to home-made games. The homebrew software development scene is still active on multiple contemporary platforms.

The availability of such ROM binary dumps also allowed the birth of video game console emulators.

Legality

Similar to modchips, the legality of these methods is disputed. While they are often advertised for their ability to make legal backups and to be used to play legal homebrew software [2] and are considered a cheap method of development compared to purchasing official development kits, a backup device's potential for software piracy is a major concern to hardware and software manufacturers.

Companies such as Nintendo have fought long legal battles against companies like Bung Enterprises [3] and the makers of the R4DS [4] on the grounds that their products are used primarily for piracy and qualify as theft.

Backup devices for consoles

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

The Game Partners Classic, made by Bung for the Super NES Control Deck Bung-SNES-Game-Partners-Classic-Docked.jpg
The Game Partners Classic, made by Bung for the Super NES Control Deck

16 bit game backup devices using floppy disks or USB.

It is important to note that no commercially produced Backup Device for Super NES can play back games which use additional processing hardware in the cartridge, with the sole exception of DSP-1. This is due in part to the way in which these processors operate. It may be possible with some copiers to manage to back up a game using an extra coprocessor chip though. A relatively small number of games fall into this category, but there are notable games included, for example Mega Man X2 , Mega Man X3 , Star Fox , Kirby's Dream Land 3 , Super Mario RPG , and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island .

Nintendo 64

There are two devices for the Nintendo 64 that plug into the extension port on the bottom of the system, initially intended for the 64DD: the Doctor V64 and the CD64. In addition to playing backups from a CD, they can both be used to create them by copying the information from a cartridge that is plugged into the Nintendo 64. They store the ROM image in internal memory and can be transferred to a computer via a parallel port for distribution elsewhere. The Z64 uses the cartridge slot on the top of the N64 and has a cartridge slot itself for booting backups as well as making backups. It reads from and stores backups on zip diskettes. The NEO N64 Myth Cart was released in December 2009, long after the Nintendo 64 had been discontinued, and is marketed for retro gamers. The NEO N64 Myth Cart connects to a PC using USB, and ROM images are stored in flash memory.

Schematics, PCB designs and source code for a cartridge emulator known as "PVBackup" were released by Valery Pudov. [5]

Modern day devices include the Everdrive 64 and the 64drive. The Everdrive loads ROM images from either USB or from an SD card inserted into the top of the cartridge. The 64Drive also uses USB but can also load games from either SD card or CompactFlash card. Both units require a CIC chip soldering into the board and the plastic casing from a donor cartridge. Neither unit has the ability to backup cartridges. Users can however backup cartridges using a device called Retrode, a USB powered device that installs itself as a mass storage device in Windows, allowing the cartridge information to be backed up.

Backup devices for handhelds

Game Boy

For the original Game Boy and its color successor there are numerous external copiers, such as GB Xchanger, which can back up an inserted Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridge. The GB Xchanger plugs into a computer in order to copy the games, which can later transfer the game(s) back through the copier to a blank flash cartridge.

Game Boy Advance

Early copiers for the Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Advance SP, and Game Boy Micro, like the Flash Advance Xtreme are similar to those used for the original Game Boy, as they are external copiers that use parallel ports to communicate with personal computers. [6]

The copiers eventually made use of USB with products like first generation XG-Flash carts, which also used external copiers, but benefited from faster write speeds than its parallel port predecessors. [7] This technology evolved into onboard external copiers like the EZFlash Advance that used the Game Boy Advance itself as a copier. [8] These USB cables would plug into the GBA's proprietary port used for Game Link Cables or accessories like the e-Reader and when booted while holding Start and Select, would connect to a PC. These versions are not compatible with the Game Boy Micro because it uses a different port than the GBA and GBA SP.

Nintendo DS and 3DS

There are not any commercial backup devices for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS that are widely available, yet many devices exist to play backups on a DS or 3DS. These flashcarts are capable of using specific software to backup both DS and 3DS or Game Boy Advance games. There is the possibility to create backups using a 3DS with custom firmware (with DS and 3DS).

Other handhelds

Bung released a copier for the Neo Geo Pocket and the Neo Geo Pocket Color. It resembled their GB Xchanger and it served the same function.

A copier for the Japan-only handheld, the Wonderswan, as well as the Wonderswan Color and to a lesser extent, the SwanCrystal, was released called the WonderMagic. It uses a parallel port for communication with a PC.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor V64</span> Development and backup device made for the Nintendo 64

The Doctor V64 is a development and backup device made by Bung Enterprises Ltd that is used in conjunction with the Nintendo 64. The Doctor V64 also had the ability to play video CDs and audio CDs. Additionally, it could apply stereo 3D effects to the audio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Famicom Disk System</span> Video game console peripheral

The Family Computer Disk System, commonly shortened to the Famicom Disk System, or just Disk System, is a peripheral for Nintendo's Family Computer home video game console, released only in Japan on February 21, 1986. It uses proprietary floppy disks called "Disk Cards" for cheaper data storage and it adds a new high-fidelity sound channel for supporting Disk System games.

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Bung Enterprises Ltd. was an electronics company based in Hong Kong. Its products were controversial backup and development units for videogame consoles, which could allow the user to play a game without owning the original cartridge. Backup units for Nintendo Entertainment System, Super NES, Neo-Geo, Neo Geo Pocket, Genesis, Game Boy and Nintendo 64 were developed and produced by Bung.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USB flash drive</span> Data storage device

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">ROM image</span> Data dump from a ROM chip

A ROM image, or ROM file, is a computer file which contains a copy of the data from a read-only memory chip, often from a video game cartridge, or used to contain a computer's firmware, or from an arcade game's main board. The term is frequently used in the context of emulation, whereby older games or firmware are copied to ROM files on modern computers and can, using a piece of software known as an emulator, be run on a different device than which they were designed for. ROM burners are used to copy ROM images to hardware, such as ROM cartridges, or ROM chips, for debugging and QA testing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action Replay</span> Brand of video game cheating devices

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flash cartridge</span> Cartridge containing flash memory developed for use in video game consoles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dongle</span> Small piece of computer hardware

A dongle is a small piece of computer hardware that connects to a port on another device to provide it with additional functionality, or enable a pass-through to such a device that adds functionality.

Video game piracy is the unauthorized copying and distributing of video game software, and is a form of copyright infringement. It is often cited as a major problem that video game publishers face when distributing their products, due to the ease of being able to distribute games for free, via torrenting or websites offering direct download links. Right holders generally attempt to counter piracy of their products by enforcing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, though this has never been totally successful. Digital distribution of pirated games has historically occurred on bulletin board systems (BBS), and more recently via decentralized peer-to-peer torrenting. In terms of physical distribution, Taiwan, China and Malaysia are known for major manufacturing and distribution centers for pirated game copies, while Hong Kong and Singapore are major importers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nintendo 64 Game Pak</span> Nintendo 64 storage medium

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">R4 cartridge</span> Flash cartridge for the Nintendo DS

The R4 is an unlicensed flash cartridge for the Nintendo DS handheld system. It allows ROMs and homebrew to be booted on the Nintendo DS handheld system from a microSD card. This allows the user to run homebrew applications, to store multiple games and MP3 music files on a single memory card, and to play games that have been backed up by the user.

Custom firmware, also known as aftermarket firmware, is an unofficial new or modified version of firmware created by third parties on devices such as video game consoles, mobile phones, and various embedded device types to provide new features or to unlock hidden functionality. In the video game console community, the term is often written as custom firmware or simply CFW, referring to an altered version of the original system software inside a video game console such as the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita/PlayStation TV, PlayStation 4, Nintendo 3DS ,Wii U and Nintendo Switch. Installing custom firmware on some devices requires bootloader unlocking.

Game development kits (GDK) are specialized hardware and software used to create commercial video games for game consoles. They may be partnered with game development tools, special game engine licenses, and other middleware to aid video game development. GDKs are typically not available to the public, and require game developers to enter an agreement, partnership, or program with the hardware manufacturer to gain access to the hardware. As console generations pass, development kits often get sold through websites like eBay without repercussions. This is often because the console manufacturers discontinue certain development programs as time passes.

References

  1. Mizoroki, Saki; Kamiguri, Takashi (April 20, 2010). "Console game makers fight 'magicom' piracy craze". Asahi Shimbun . Tokyo, Japan. Archived from the original on April 23, 2010.
  2. "R4DS homepage FAQ". Archived from the original on 2008-09-13. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  3. "U.S. Federal Court Awards Judgment To Nintendo(r) Against Hong Kong Manufacturer Of Video Game Copier Devices". Market Wire. 2005. Retrieved 2008-08-28.[ dead link ]
  4. "Kotaku.com: Nintendo And 54 Companies Battle Evil R4 In Court". 29 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  5. Valery Pudov. "PVBackup". Archived from the original on 2010-01-23.
  6. "Flash Advance Xtreme product description at Gameboy-Advance.net" . Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  7. "XG Flash product description at Gameboy-Advance.net" . Retrieved 2008-08-29.
  8. "EZFlash Advance product description at Gameboy-Advance.net" . Retrieved 2008-08-29.