LAKABAJO Public Release!

[oompa loompa]

LAKABAJO is a real-hardware uploading system for the Sega Genesis, which allows poor developers to upload programs to their Genesis without the use of any kind of non-volatile memory to store and execute. You will need some soldering skills to build an interface cable from the parallel port of a PC to the controller port. This is a list of what you need to use it:

- An NTSC Sega Genesis Model 1 or 2 Console (have not tested this system with a PAL console yet)
- A Game Genie
- A copy of Sonic 1 or Sonic 2 or Animaniacs
- A computer (> 1GHz) with a working parallel port with Windows OS
- A custom built parallel port to controller port cable (includes a 74LS157 and 74LS74)

Visit the main page here: devster.monkeeh.com/sega/lakabajo

I also updated the BasiEgaXorz compiler to support compiling for the LAKABAJO system

User programs are uploaded to RAM and VRAM, which means that programs have to be really small . Since everything is working like it should, I may return back to my mini-adventure maker, and the Devster Noise Machine driver, since these two programs are meant for very very small compilations

It took me much longer than I've expected to release it (mostly, debugging, and the documentation does take a long time to write). I wanted to make the documentation very long and very detailed (compared for instance to my 8048 page) so that any hobbyist has no problem

Feel free to post your questions or make a new topic . Spreading the word to other forums is appreciated as well (I haven't really registered for any of the other forums)

[Tom Maneiro]

And, unfortunately i have no stupid Game Genie

(But i have a Sonic 1 cart...)

Anyway, thanks for the release! Nice to see that ol' 1990s code is exploitable to run our code... sounds very enterprise-y

Is there a way to build my own Game Genie?

[Tiido]

if you can build your own GG you can build your own flashcart and you would not be reading this thread

also, what an awesome name

EDIT: I suppose this will not work if I patch the Sonic1/2/Animaniacs ROMs myself (I do not have a Game Genie) ? I would like to make one test program for it in ASM just for fun

[oompa loompa]

I don't think it will work without the Game Genie. You can patch the games, but the software gets its timing from the Game Genie because it sets up the heartbeat.

It shouldn't be hard getting a Game Genie . I seen many on eBay. There's also a whole bunch just ready to be bought from amazon.com www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=game+genie+genesis&x=0&y=0 for under $10. I dunno, but I'm probably going to get another one quick because when the word spreads out about an exploit using the Game Genie, everyone will be wanting a Game Genie .

It also gives a reason for people to finally add more RAM to their Genesis (I remember reading a lot of threads about upgrading the RAM, but really no games use it)

[Tiido]

I actually have quite a bit of funds so I will probably get a GG, and a PAR... I like PAR more, it can mess with RAM too

as for increasing RAM in MD, i'll wait until I do that, I've yet to use more than few KB of it (my stage data decoder needs only 1KB of RAM..... only objects stuff will eat some more...)...
my MD2 is very packed already and adding more stuff is a little difficult :
www.fileden.com/files/2008/4/21/1876835/MyMD2frontShotComments.jpg ;D

[oompa loompa]

Yea, that's one packed Genesis

Is the SRAM on the model 2 a 16-bit width SRAM? I don't remember now . I only use my model 2 for testing software, so I really haven't opened it up in a long time

The early model 1's have a dip SRAM, so it's easy to piggyback some more SRAM onto it (with the addition of a decoder also). Especially because they use the standard 32kbyte SRAM jedec pinout

I rechecked amazon.com and I already see some Game Genies being bought when compared to yesterday lol. I found some game genies on ebay, but amazon looks cheaper

[Tiido]

standard 16bit width (P)SRAM... VA0 MD2 uses 2x 8bit chips. I have none of those 16bit wide chips around, only in other MD2s, but they all work so I don't want to make them bricks....

[Mairtrus]

It worked! IT WORKEEEEED!




Nah, I'm just kidding ;D . I have all the components now, except that I need to see if I can fix some of my FIVE Game Genie cartridges. I just can not remember why I have to many GG brokens. I have them since years...

[Tom Maneiro]

Now... how long until Sega patches this vulnerability? You know, an evil hacker could exploit it to enter into your Genny/MD and doing some evil things like a "warez loader" or... nevermind

I should stop smoking that Wiimote, and instead replace it with Motorola sticks

Also, it's me, or LAKABAJO sounds like something from former Balcanic countries?

[oompa loompa]

EDIT: I suppose this will not work if I patch the Sonic1/2/Animaniacs ROMs myself (I do not have a Game Genie) ? I would like to make one test program for it in ASM just for fun

Oh, you know what, if you're desperate to make a test asm for LAKABAJO, just create a simple ROM that copies the program to the SRAM and VRAM, and executes at $FF0000.

[Tiido]

it loses the fun factor then, the point for me would be having that program sent to MD over the cable etc.... I can write "normal" programs eyes closed in ASM

[oompa loompa]

aw then you gotta get a game genie then

or else you'll lose the fun factor in letting the cable enter in game genie codes for you too

[socram8888]

I bought the Game Genie through eBay one week ago, one of the ICs in a local shop (they didn't have the other :/, so I'm going to disassemble one controller to get both the IC and the MD controller cable)

I have a PAL console, so soon we are going to see if this thing is compatible with european MD

[oompa loompa]

That's great

I now have three people trying to build cables . I haven't heard from the other two that have built the cable. But you know what that means - their cable must have worked, or else I would have people coming for troubleshooting

[socram8888]

I built it today.

Can you post here a example of the CMD output? Mine is:
C:\Documents and Settings\Marcos\Escritorio>lakabajo -i test.ram
Devster's LAKABAJO RAM Program Upload Utility v0.1.0 (Jan 2, 2010)

Filename to upload: test.ram
File Size: 131073
The console must be power cycled

Turn off the power to the console.
Make sure SONIC 1 is attached to the Game Genie on the console.
Turn on the power to the console.
Waiting for Game Genie to start up...
Entering Game Genie code for SONIC 1 ...
Finished!
Waiting for SONIC 1 to start up...
Please Wait...

Then the SEGA screen at the Sega Mega Drive hangs and a "ADDRESS ERROR" appears in the screen. Is it normal?

Edit: I opened my Sonic 1 cartridge. My Sonic 1 Maskrom number is MPR-13913. There are two know revisions of Sonic 1. What is your number (maybe mine is different and that's why it doesn't work)?