eadmaster Dot TK

There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance

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posted on 2024-03-24 20:21:33

ROM hack ideas / wishlist

English translations:

QoL improvements:

linear/arcade hacks (remove backtracking/grinding/forced minigames):

savegame hacking / conversion:

enable stage select / debug menu cheats:

8-bit enhancement hacks (improve graphics and music):

see also:




posted on 2023-02-16 14:09:26

Battle of the mini routers

In this post i'm going to make a quick comparison of 2 mini routers i've tested recently: the GL.iNet GL-AR300M16-Ext and the NanoPi R1.

These are easily available under the 50EUR price range, and make a good alternative to an old dumb LAN switch for home use.

The basic feature set of these routers include:

  • Ethernet and Wifi bridging
  • Wifi extender
  • Wifi hotspot
  • run self-hosted services (like file servers, IP cameras, DNS, etc.)
  • USB-powered and very small, easy to carry around

The GL-AR300M16-Ext was probably the easiest to use, since it came with a custom-made firmware pre-installed made by GL.iNet. This simplified firmware gives easy access to most basic features and it is the best choice for inexperienced users. But it is also possible to install the full OpenWrt LuCI web interface and get access to a lot more. However, after some days of use some problems started to roll out:

  • very limited storage space (16MB. yes, MBs!) and no extra storage option. Read: you can only install very few packages.
  • the filesystem became corrupted and read only, forcing to do a softreset (possibly related to the lack of free space).

Now, GL.iNet also offer some models with bigger storage, but still in the order MBs and with no option for firmware loading from external storage.

Switching to the NanoPi R1 things went much better: the model i've bought has no onboad storage, but you can plug and swap any microSD you want (which also makes full backups easier). On the R1 you have no simplified firmware, but only the OpenWrt vanilla one, so probably it is not the best choice for novice users. However there are also Ubuntu and Debian images available for this board. The ones on the Friendlyelec wiki are outdated, so i've switched to this one which is updated regularly and has some interesting optimizations: DietPi.

To sum things up, for a quick recap:

GL-AR300M16-Ext

  • pros: easier to use, handy firmware reset button, good manufacturer support, 2 builtin wifi NICs (for bridging)
  • cons: very small builtin storage with no expansion option

NanoPi R1

  • pros: unlimited storage option via swappable microSDs, mine came with a metallic case which seems to dissipate heat pretty well.
  • cons: harder to setup, official images are outdated, mostly no manufacturer support, only 1 builtin wifi NIC (a second one can be added via an USB port)

Another option i've considered are those routers by TP-Link: TL-WR802N Nano Router N300 and TL-WR902AC Nano Router AC750. These also seems aimed at novice home users since they came with a custom-made simplified firmware. However these seems even more limited than the GL.iNet router, with no external storage and no USB ports.




posted on 2022-12-30 05:41:06

Game Boy USB controller mod completed

I had this planned for a while after the GameGear prototype i made some years ago.

Finally got some free time to practice with the soldering iron and complete this.

Project page




posted on 2021-11-12 20:35:17

Games with annoying gesture controls (updated list)

This list was originally posted here on GBATemp by me. This is an update including affected titles on other platforms. The general problem:

The problem with gesture controls is that they are not accurate as digital buttons. I think gesture controls are good for minigames or secondary actions, but for repetitive commands that requires precise timing they are not good! I've also found gesture controls make your arms tire out faster than simple button presses.
List legend:
  • green = minimal use/passable or easy workaround
  • red = very annoying unplayable without a workaround
Full list with possible fixes:
  • NDS\Zelda: Phantom Hourglass -> use the d-pad hack 1 or 2
  • NDS\Zelda: Spirit Tracks -> use the d-pad hack
  • NDS\Star Fox Command -> use this control hack
  • NDS\Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword   
  • NDS\Kururin Doughnut - Okashi na Recipe
  • NDS\Wario: Master of Disguise (used only for primary actions)
  • Wii\De Blob (used for jumps) -> get the Switch or PC version instead
  • Wii\No More Heroes (used for sword slash) -> get the PS3 or PC version instead
  • Wii\Sonic and the to Rings (used for jumps and attack)
  • Wii\Sonic and the black knight (used for sword slash)
  • Wii\Soulcalibur Legends (used for sword slash)
  • Wii\Okami (used for attacking) -> get the PS2 or PS3 version instead
  • Wii\Mario Power Tennis (annoying) -> get the GC version instead
  • Wii\Zelda: Twilight Princess (used for sword slash) -> get the GC version instead
  • Wii\Zelda: Skyward Sword (used for many combat actions) -> get the Switch HD version instead and disable motion controls
  • Wii\Wario Land: Shake It! (used only for primary actions) -> play with Dolphi and map the shake gesture to a button
  • PS3\Kung Fu Rider
  • Wii\Donkey Kong Country Returns (used for some primary actions) -> use the Classic Controller Hack, or get the 3DS version instead
  • Wii\Cruis'n -> use the alternative control method, or remap tilt controls to Analog axes in Dolphin
  • NDS\Kirby: Canvas Curse | Kirby: Power Paintbrush
  • NDS\Kirby Mass Attack
  • NDS\Super Mario 64 DS -> use the alternative control scheme, or this lua script for DraStic
  • NDS\Nanostray -> use this lua script for DraStic
  • Wii\Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast (used DK Bongos-style - passable)
  • Wii\Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (used only for secondary actions - passable, but i still prefer the original GC version)
  • Wii\Pandora's Tower (used only for secondary actions)
  • Wii\New Super Mario Bros. (used only for secondary actions) -> use the Classic Controller Hack
  • Wii\Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (used only for secondary actions)
  • Wii\Metroid: Other M
  • Wii\Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity -> play with a GC controller
  • Wii\Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 (used only for secondary actions) -> use the Classic Controller Hacks: 1 and 2
  • 3DS\Zelda: Ocarina Of Time (used for aiming) -> can de disabled in the options
  • 3DS\Kid Icarus: Uprising (used for aiming) -> can de disabled in the options, but still awkward to play
  • 3DS\Azure Striker GUNVOLT (touchscreen icons) -> use this Rehid profile
  • 3DS\Azure Striker GUNVOLT 2 (touchscreen icons) -> use this Rehid profile for Copen
  • 3DS\Legend of Zelda - Tri Force Heroes (touchscreen icons) -> use this Rehid profile for 1P mode
  • WiiU\Splatoon (used for aiming) -> can be disabled in the options
  • WiiU\Star Fox Zero (used for aiming) -> can be partially disabled in the options
  • PS3\PlayStation Move Ape Escape
  • PS3\Child of Eden (used for aiming, supports alternative analog controls)
  • PSV\Gravity Rush (used for secondary actions)
Not included in this list:
  • minigame compilations
  • driving games
  • lightgun/IR-aiming games
More generic workarounds by system (i still have to try some of these):
  • NDS: use a lua script that remaps buttons to the touchscreen. Supported only in emulators: DraStic, DeSmuME.
  • Wii: use fakemote or RVLoader, or play with an emulator and remap the gestures to digital buttons.
  • 3DS: use Rehid, Luma InputRedirection, or an emulator to remap the gestures to digital buttons .
  • WiiU: play with an emulator and remap the gestures to digital buttons.
  • PSV: use reVita
  • Switch: play with an emulator and remap the gestures to digital buttons (WIP support in sys-con and MissionControl).




posted on 2021-09-25 20:23:51

Game Genie cheat making quick reference

Just a quick reference for those making infinite-something Game Genie codes for retro consoles. General tools i use regularly:

  • ucon64 (Game Genie encoder/decoder, rom patcher, and more)
  • qalc (cmdline calculator)
  • Retroarch (decent GUI to look for memory addesses)
suggested emus with breakpoints and a debugger: opcodes references: common ASM opcode replacements:
  • Z80 (original guide):
    • 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95 -> 00 (DEC->NOP)
    • EA -> FA (LD reg2mem -> LD mem2reg)
    • ...
  • 6502 (original list posted here):
    • CE -> AD (DEC->LDA) DE -> BD (DEC->LDA) C6 -> A5 (DEC->LDA) 85 -> A5 D6 -> B5 95 -> B5 8D -> AD 9D -> BD (STA->LDA) DE -> BD 91 -> B1 99 -> BE EA (NOP)
  • m68K:
    • most used opcodes are 6002 and 6004 (= Branch 2 or 4 bytes).
    • to skip a single instruction, a single NOP= 4E71 will do.
general tricks:
  • to NOP multiple instructions, you can use an unconditional branch instruction, or, if near a "RET" (=routine return) you can just call RET before.
Some codes i've made can be found here. P.N.: i am not taking cheat requests currently, so please do not ask in the comments.





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