SNES Mini Already Hacked to Play Downloaded Games

Megalith

Megalith

24-bit/48kHz
Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
13,000
A NeoGAF member has posted a step-by-step guide for hacking an SNES Mini so custom ROMs can be added to the system. It isn’t a simple process and you run the risk of bricking your console, but Cluster, the developer of Hakchi2, says the official version is almost ready for beta testing, so it shouldn't be long before there's a safer, more reliable way to hack SNES Classics.
 
I haven't looked at the hardware/read a tear down, but I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo used the same hardware as the NES classic and just put on some new software making the "new hack" trivial. The hardware was quite a bit more than needed for the NES Classic, that with some of the branding clues led to a lot of speculation when the NES Classic was still new that the hardware was designed to support an entire line of classic consoles... the second of which would be the SNES classic.

Same as the old hack probably.

NES classic is supposedly going back into production as some point to which would be very easy if it is in fact the same hardware with different software and a different plastic shell. Order up a bunch of hardware....at the last minute decide which software/shell to slap on based on recent sales data. I imagine plastic shells have a much lower production lead time than the electronic hardware, but no fact based evidence of such.
 
dholcombe said:
I haven't looked at the hardware/read a tear down, but I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo used the same hardware as the NES classic and just put on some new software making the "new hack" trivial. The hardware was quite a bit more than needed for the NES Classic, that with some of the branding clues led to a lot of speculation when the NES Classic was still new that the hardware was designed to support an entire line of classic consoles... the second of which would be the SNES classic.

Same as the old hack probably.

NES classic is supposedly going back into production as some point to which would be very easy if it is in fact the same hardware with different software and a different plastic shell. Order up a bunch of hardware....at the last minute decide which software/shell to slap on based on recent sales data. I imagine plastic shells have a much lower production lead time than the electronic hardware, but no fact based evidence of such.
Click to expand...

From teardowns it seems like the hardware is identical, or at least nearly identical with maybe a chip or two different to allow better emulation of things like SuperFX.
 
My only question is will the internal memory hold all of the SNES games?

That IMO was the coolest part of the NES classic.
 
dholcombe said:
I haven't looked at the hardware/read a tear down, but I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo used the same hardware as the NES classic and just put on some new software making the "new hack" trivial. The hardware was quite a bit more than needed for the NES Classic, that with some of the branding clues led to a lot of speculation when the NES Classic was still new that the hardware was designed to support an entire line of classic consoles... the second of which would be the SNES classic.

Same as the old hack probably.

NES classic is supposedly going back into production as some point to which would be very easy if it is in fact the same hardware with different software and a different plastic shell. Order up a bunch of hardware....at the last minute decide which software/shell to slap on based on recent sales data. I imagine plastic shells have a much lower production lead time than the electronic hardware, but no fact based evidence of such.
Click to expand...


The plastic shell and packaging is the most expensive part. The chips are really inexpensive honestly from what I heard (from reliable sources).
 
Krazy925 said:
My only question is will the internal memory hold all of the SNES games?

That IMO was the coolest part of the NES classic.
Click to expand...

No. The video states there is about 300mb available and iirc each rom is around 5mb (I could be wrong, I feel like it might be 12 or so), so definitely not.
 
auntjemima said:
No. The video states there is about 300mb available and iirc each rom is around 5mb (I could be wrong, I feel like it might be 12 or so), so definitely not.
Click to expand...

5MB?!??!!

Super Mario 64 was 8MB..

SNES games are on the average far less than 1MB. There are some that are up to 4MB.

Super Mario World is ~300kB. That's right... 300kB fucked your whole shit up.
 
From what I have read, there is an issue where there is some extra information included in the ROM's and people are still trying to figure what those extra bits mean and how to add them correctly to imported ROM's.

That video is a little odd looking, maybe it's edited, but it looks like the game is running full screen, but when I played mine (stock) it puts a small border around the game (user selectable). And the open area is what allows you to use some of the additional features added with the SNES Classic.

SNES-Classic-Display-Frame-1.png


3276397-vlcsnap-2017-08-21-17h58m51s781.png
 
Derangel said:
From teardowns it seems like the hardware is identical, or at least nearly identical with maybe a chip or two different to allow better emulation of things like SuperFX.
Click to expand...

There are quite a lot of smaller differences, though I don't know how much of the system's operation these things affect:

(P.S. Is it possible to make images in posts display as thumbnailed instead of full-sized?)

NES Classic:
59d184f7e2c71_NESClassicPCB.JPG.036dc66535a9da3fc1987d54eaec11c8.JPG


SNES Classic:
59d184fb86751_SNESClassicPCB.JPG.371a8a92d350b84f9fa926dd0952859d.JPG
 
socK said:
Why not just get a Raspberry Pi at that point?
Click to expand...

A pie kit with the good SNES knock-off controller is the same price as the SNES Mini anyway. And if you want the case to look like a small SNES you're looking at spending more money, unless you have the ability to 3D print one yourself. So, really, no reason not to go for the Mini at that point.
 
Plus the controllers are damn near exact of the originals. The molding reliefs are spot on, the only difference being the back smooth relief where the Nintendo copyright and part number text stuff is printed.

EDIT: I say damn near exact, because the new controller has slightly rougher texture, which I think is beneficial given how much my hands have grown in the last 25 years. But I don't know if the old controller is just smoother from being 25 years old and used.
 
westrock2000 said:
Plus the controllers are damn near exact of the originals. The molding reliefs are spot on, the only difference being the back smooth relief where the Nintendo copyright and part number text stuff is printed.
Click to expand...

The SNES Classic's controllers are the same shape and button layout as the originals, but they're different in some additional respects:

They're a bit lighter than the originals
They have thinner cables than the originals
The plastic on them is textured giving the controller a rougher feel, while the plastic on the originals is smooth
There might be a difference in how the Y, B, X, A buttons are mounted on the inside - I don't know this for fact, but when I look down on those buttons, into the gaps between the buttons and the controller plastic, I can see some clips that I don't recall noticing on the original SNES controllers. I have the original SNES, so I could check it to confirm.
 
Derangel said:
A pie kit with the good SNES knock-off controller is the same price as the SNES Mini anyway. And if you want the case to look like a small SNES you're looking at spending more money, unless you have the ability to 3D print one yourself. So, really, no reason not to go for the Mini at that point.
Click to expand...

For a Pi, you can get these controllers for only $15 and they are way more comfortable than SNES controllers. Same button layout, much better grip, Nintendo licensed, works perfect on a Pi (or any PC):

https://m.gamestop.com/product/wii-u/accessories/wii-u-pokken-tournament-pro-pad/127725
 
All this Nintendo stuff this year (Switch and the Classics) has reminded me about the rift in the video game industry. On consoles you have the two "default" buttons. The action/acknowledge and the jump/decline button. Nintendo chose to go the opposite from the rest of the industry and it fucks me up to no end switching between the Nintendo and Sony/Xbox.
 
I wouldn't mind having one. But I don't much care about it being hacked. Basically my post is pointless, and I don't have anything constructive to add.
 
westrock2000 said:
All this Nintendo stuff this year (Switch and the Classics) has reminded me about the rift in the video game industry. On consoles you have the two "default" buttons. The action/acknowledge and the jump/decline button. Nintendo chose to go the opposite from the rest of the industry and it fucks me up to no end switching between the Nintendo and Sony/Xbox.
Click to expand...
Nintendo is using the exact same layout as they did with the NES. And SNES. Shit kinda got wonky from there, but on the 'standard' controllers for the Wii and Wii U they went back to the same XYBA layout they had before.

Technically, it was everyone else that deviated :D
 
I'm planning on hacking mine. Just to put games that really should have been on there in the first place.
I'll leave the massive rom catalogue to my PC.
 
Drakensoul said:
5MB?!??!!

Super Mario 64 was 8MB..

SNES games are on the average far less than 1MB. There are some that are up to 4MB.

Super Mario World is ~300kB. That's right... 300kB fucked your whole shit up.
Click to expand...
Tales of Phantasia and Star Ocean are 48 megabit titles (6 megabytes). Super Mario World is 4 megabit title. I am not sure you are correct about most games being on average less than 8 megabits as that would imply there are far greater 2 or 4 megabit titles. There were smaller games early on because Nintendo forced size limitations (Final Fight for example, 8mbit). There are plenty of 8, 12, 16, 24, and 32's.

westrock2000 said:
All this Nintendo stuff this year (Switch and the Classics) has reminded me about the rift in the video game industry. On consoles you have the two "default" buttons. The action/acknowledge and the jump/decline button. Nintendo chose to go the opposite from the rest of the industry and it fucks me up to no end switching between the Nintendo and Sony/Xbox.
Click to expand...
In Japan, Sony PlayStation uses the 'O' button to Select and 'X' to Cancel. For some reason, probably due to market testing, Sony switched them for USA (not sure about other countries) and Microsoft decided to copy.

In other news, as expected people are running into titles that have issues or do not run at all with Nintendo's emulator. Ain't nothing like the real thing (or maybe settle for a very accurate emulator such as bsnes/higan).

Looks like RetroArch is now available for the SNES Classic (it uses snes9x2010 libretro core, bsnes is too taxing). That will certainly fix things, though I would wait for it to mature (and do all research, don't brick your device).
 
Last edited:
Derangel said:
A pie kit with the good SNES knock-off controller is the same price as the SNES Mini anyway.
Click to expand...

Yes, but you can put an the entire SNES library on a Pie Kit or Emulator folder. So I really don't see the point in buying these re releases.
 
Krenum said:
Yes, but you can put an the entire SNES library on a Pie Kit or Emulator folder. So I really don't see the point in buying these re releases.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm not sure I'd want the whole library, did so on my pi originally, scrolling past all the "Super" titles was a pain, I ended up removing all but the ones that I had a interest in. Maybe a few doz titles. So yeah this is great news! Gonna see if I can grab a second now.
 
blkt said:
This all day, why pay these prices for a cheap clone of the real thing? Just get SD2SNES for your original Super Nintendo/Famicom and be done with it.
Click to expand...

My original SNES and controllers have turned yellow :(

I still want to play it, but it's gross looking.

I wish Nintendo would still sell just the chassis and controllers for the SNES. Then, I'd port my SNES electronics over to a new chassis.


I might give this a try to make it looks good again: http://retroasylum.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=3087

Though, I think I've read that it goes back to being yellow pretty quickly after this treatment.
 
Krazy925 said:
My only question is will the internal memory hold all of the SNES games?

That IMO was the coolest part of the NES classic.
Click to expand...

At the moment due to the interface of the UI, the folder setup, and how you select games, you are limited to 64 games at max, otherwise they are not available onscreen for selection, and they are using 60 games as the 'safe' limit for the time being. Unless they hack the system to completely rewrite the actual softwear running it, that will be your limit.

60 games.
 
Derangel said:
A pie kit with the good SNES knock-off controller is the same price as the SNES Mini anyway. And if you want the case to look like a small SNES you're looking at spending more money, unless you have the ability to 3D print one yourself. So, really, no reason not to go for the Mini at that point.
Click to expand...
Yeah but at that point you might as well just shove every emulator you can on it and so the controller choice is just that a choice, plus alot of emulators now of days offer better features and rendering than snes-m, although i have yet to see a emulator with that rewind style savestate function that it has.
 
I get the appeal of putting every snes game on the unit, but honestly a ton of it is garbage. Do we really need to play Bebe’s Kids again to remember it sucked terribly?

I’m sure the US SNES library could be reasonably whittled down to >100 titles, maybe 150 if you want to include some of the translated Famicom shit.

Frankly, adding every game just makes browsing a chore. You are gonna scroll past 3 Ninjas Kick Back every time, so why have it?

Also I still haven’t got one, but I’m lazy and didn’t try all that hard.
 
Methos said:
I get the appeal of putting every snes game on the unit, but honestly a ton of it is garbage. Do we really need to play Bebe’s Kids again to remember it sucked terribly?

I’m sure the US SNES library could be reasonably whittled down to >100 titles, maybe 150 if you want to include some of the translated Famicom shit.

Frankly, adding every game just makes browsing a chore. You are gonna scroll past 3 Ninjas Kick Back every time, so why have it?
Click to expand...

+1...I've been thinking the same thing all along.
 
oldmanbal said:
At the moment due to the interface of the UI, the folder setup, and how you select games, you are limited to 64 games at max, otherwise they are not available onscreen for selection, and they are using 60 games as the 'safe' limit for the time being. Unless they hack the system to completely rewrite the actual softwear running it, that will be your limit.

60 games.
Click to expand...

I don't think that's a problem. There are probably less than 60 games I'd actually play. If you want a machine as an archive of every game that could have been played on an SNES, get a Pi.
 
Ironically I've been suggesting that something similar to this should've been included as a feature. If they'd kept prices to a minimum and included web based services then situations like this would've been kept to nil. This whole locked ecosystem in all these cash-grab consoles are missing out on much larger markets.
 
Delicieuxz said:
My original SNES and controllers have turned yellow :(
I still want to play it, but it's gross looking.
Click to expand...
Have you even tried to clean it? You don't need specialty soap. Mine looked like shit also but some warm water, dish soap, an old toothbrush, and the proper screwdrivers fixed all that in a few minutes. You can also open up the cartridges (holy crap to think of the hours I spent on the tiny circuit board that is Rock 'n Roll Racing...) and gently wipe the contacts down with vinegar to clean them up a bit.

I wish Youtube wasn't a steaming pile of shit, because for the average user it really is the best thing ever.
 
Last edited:
blkt said:
Just get SD2SNES for your original Super Nintendo/Famicom and be done with it.
Click to expand...
I'll admit that this is the first time I've heard of SD2SNES, but having just asked this question:
blkt said:
why pay these prices for a cheap clone of the real thing?
Click to expand...
Would you mind linking a place to buy an SD2SNES that's less than like $170? Or maybe less than a SNES Mini, even?
 
oldmanbal said:
At the moment due to the interface of the UI, the folder setup, and how you select games, you are limited to 64 games at max, otherwise they are not available onscreen for selection, and they are using 60 games as the 'safe' limit for the time being. Unless they hack the system to completely rewrite the actual softwear running it, that will be your limit.

60 games.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I was having a hard time finding this info.
 
There are a couple of true hardware clones of the SNES. One is called the " Super Players Entertainment System " and quite well regarded with those that have reviewed it and available on Amazon for $53. Also region free and can even play PAL games, although the image is skewed. I can't remember the other consoles but they may not even be in production right now.


The 8 Bit guy did a test on alternative retrobrite methods. Salon 40 vol cream is his normal go to but found that bagging/ entrapping a part with ozone and then sitting it in UV light produced worthwhile results
 
Delicieuxz said:
My original SNES and controllers have turned yellow :(

I still want to play it, but it's gross looking.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it is because of the flame-retardant chemicals they were required to add to the ABS plastic mix. Keep in mind, not all systems and controllers were affected.

Nicepants42 said:
Would you mind linking a place to buy an SD2SNES that's less than like $170? Or maybe less than a SNES Mini, even?
Click to expand...
My point was why invest money in a cheaply made clone when you can have 100% accuracy, compatibility and support for all the custom chipsets with no limitations. The benefit is you are playing on real hardware, not cost. SNES Classics are already going for $150-200.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top