Hacking Snes Classic

[Prisc Chandola]

Notsure what category this exactly falls in.

I got my hands on a snes mini clone, GC22P SUPER MINI TV GAME CONSOLE (which is running strictly 8 bit games), taking it apart I see that it contains a 256M Samsung k5l5563caa which when I searched up led me to this page. -d770-datasheet-pdf/

I have attached photos as well. The Clone has a micro B connector for power and 3.5mm jack for AV. Hooking up the micro B to a pc, nothing comes up. From what I've read, the snes classic has to be powered on a certain way for the pc to read it. Trying that, (holding the reset button and turning the power on and letting go of the reset button after) had no effect. The manual on the first page, on the first line says "1.Its is built-in classic games, which cannot be changed". Literally the first thing it says, so now I know it has to be hacked ?.

So further investigation into it I can see that the usb micro b is only power, no data lines run from it. Looking at the webpage I linked, I noticed the MODEL 1950 (which is an eprom programmer). Its used for doing multiple flashes at once. But I currently have no programmers to flash the memory.

I know this is an old thread, but I'm curious if you have a real SNES Classic to compare? The reason I ask is, those NES Classic knock-offs that were making rounds are actually a really good copy of the NES Classic's shell. The hardware is cheap and the firmware is a complete waste of time, but I really don't care about the guts at all.

I figure, if one could develop an FPGA-based PCB that would fit in the original Classic shell, and the clones are a 100% replica of that shell, then you could have an authentic (or cheap, easy-to-source, and authentic-looking) mini clone of the OG NES that plays ROM images with hardware-level accuracy, with native HDMI out... which would be pretty sweet.

I've already got a big collection of consoles and genuine software, but it takes a lot of space, a nonsensical sum of money, and considerable dedication to get it all hooked up and looking good. Ongoing maintenance is always a concern as well, so I've been jail-breaking OSes or replacing ODDs to ensure they'll keep running when the optical drives and card edge connectors have long since given up. Some day, emulation will be the ONLY way, and with prices as they are these days, if I were starting now, I don't know that I would bother with original hardware when there's a way to do it just as well, except better.

The process is a bit involved and not for amateurs, but it essentially requires connecting the SNES Classic to a Windows PC via the console's micro-USB port and running the hakchi2 software. Besides adding new games, you can also add custom background images, which dress up the sides of the screen when playing classic games designed for older 4:3 aspect ratio screens.

Note that not all ROMs work, and there are memory and save game storage issues to contend with. A Reddit channel is dedicated to hacking and modding the console and may be able to provide additional context.

While we don't advocate the use of unofficial ROMs for the system, it is nonetheless an interesting development that raises the question over whether Nintendo should have released the NES and SNES Mini with integrated storage and official 'eShop' add-on options.

Growing up with a ZX Spectrum and a Sega Master System and his exhaustive knowledge in the fields of SEO and digital marketing, Darren's organisational prowess helps steer Hookshot's portfolio in the right direction.

Good news. Nintendo should have put a few more games on there. 21 was not enough and a few of them I'd remove. Chrono Trigger, Terranigma, ISSD and Secret of Evermore would be a few I'd replace them with and should have been included in the first place.

Now I'm kind of glad I forgot to cancel my spare order. May go through with this and turn it into a SNES Shm'up machine. Sure there weren't too many due to the SNES's slowish processor but those that did make it were quality.

If it were REALLY simple and intuitive to do this then I'd probably try it, but the video I watched the other day had about 20 convoluted and confusing steps and took over 15 mins just to go through the stuff and explain everything, so it's not quite for me just yet.

If Nintendo HAD included an eshop feature it might have been worth buying one of these. As it is, I am over it, I just want VC on the Switch. The hack is a cool thing, but not worth risking ruining the device if you don't know what you are doing.

@kbshadow OK--since you've now basically called me out in a slightly judgmental, demeaning, and offensive way (whether you intended it that way or not)--let's pretend I believe you for a second: Can you go through the steps right now in written form, in here, to show me just how easy it is. . . .

You know: Put plug in wall, press power switch, go to this website, click on this link and download program, install program (without worrying about what it's putting on your PC), run it (without worrying about what it's doing to your PC), go here and download these simple and easy to find game files to your PC (which automatically work as you'd expect), drag them into this folder, click this finish button and job done--with basically zero chance of you getting lost at any point in the process or doing something wrong and bricking your console or permanently deleting/breaking files, and with total confidence it's all just going to work as you think it should, with no programming skills required or re-writing lines of code and the like, with no need to understand weird coder jargon or nerdy computer speak, and in a number of steps that isn't actually completely intimidating and off-putting, etc . . .

Go for it--I'm genuinely willing to believe you, if you can explain it here and now, clearly and concisely, such that I could pretty much hand my SNES system, computer and mouse to my mum and have her do it without any real hassle or confusion (let's pretend for a second that she knows the basics of how to use a mouse, keyboard, and open, copy and drag files, and plug in some cables).

I'm kinda wondering why you report on this at all if you don't advocate it. (which you shouldn't.) nothing about it is interesting. It's illegal. If they wanted you to play a ton of old games NOW, they would have released the Virtual Console.

@In_Ex_Fan You know something: Outside of using pirated ROMs--and you can't say for absolute certain that someone wouldn't just use a bunch freeware fan-made game ROMs they want to add, so it's not necessarily an illegal act as a matter of absolutely certainty in every single case/situation--I don't see how it's fair at all for it to be anywhere near illegal for a person, someone who has paid their own hard-earned cash to fully own a product (they're not renting it or anything like that), to then go in and tinker with that thing they own to their hearts content.

Why in the world should it be the norm that we buy a product, paying with our own hard-earned cash, and the company somehow gets to tell us how we're supposed to use that thing in the comfort and privacy of our own home, and especially when that usually means only serving the company's best interests and not the actual consumer's and end user's interests?

Hmmm, I dunno. It could have done with more games but I think it's a good enough selection that I don't want to void my warranty.

Not that I suspect this is likely to break the machine but if it failed for any other reason then I bet they'd just refuse a refund because it was hacked.

@pattybean Well, it was yesterday I watched the video, and I didn't check when it was posted; so I don't know if it was the latest build or not. But, that video was pretty complicated. And the link above takes me to a site that has some instructions and a few more download links, but one of the instructions just says "download and follow instructions", and that requires me putting a lot of trust in some random site and homebrew hacker that it does indeed all just work, it will indeed be all simple and intuitive to follow (with no room for error or messing everything up), and that the end result will indeed be exactly what I'm after. It's a lot of faith to put out there on something that isn't exactly explicitly clear.

@impurekind yeah I watched a few videos on doing the hack too. It's simple enough tbh, but, I'm gonna play the games on it for the moment and wait till the new year and do the hack then when it's idiot proof lol.

@readyletsgo I might go with that approach too. I mean, I could play the games that are already there for a few months anyway, so I don't see why I'm rushing to add even more stuff before I've enjoyed what's already on offer.

@impurekind because you always accept an enduser license agreement. Which always includes NOT TO tinker around with the product. You can complain about it as much as you want, that's what you agree to willingly when you buy it.

@In_Ex_Fan You do know that EULAs didn't even exist until a handful of years ago (at least in terms of consoles and games and stuff like that) yet nowadays you really have no choice but to accept them or else you can't even have anything (you basically can't simply own a console or play most games these days unless you sign away most of your consumer rights), right?

So, even though the paying consumers were basically able to do whatever they wanted with the products they bought and owned in the past (although it would usually invalidate your warranty if you messed around with it), and now that basic freedom and right has been forcibly taken away from us without us ever asking for such a thing to be the case, you're fine with that?

I apparently can't legally hack and modify my own console, which I outright paid for and own, because Nintendo says I can't. And I apparently can't add a bunch of additional freeware games to it if I want to, because Nintendo says I can't. I basically can't do much with the product I own other than what Nintendo has decreed to be allowed--so says you (and apparently the law too according to you).

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