ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ ³ October 1, 1994 ³ ³ ³ ³ uCON v1.41 "What Every Console User Needs" By Chicken & chp ³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ÛÛÛÛßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÛÛÛÛ uCON v1.41 Documentation By chp ÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛ ²±° Table of Contents °±² I. Introduction -- What is uCON? II. Command Breakdown -- What does each command do? III. Common Uses for uCON IV. Miscellaneous MGH notes V. Release History VI. Acknowledgements A ">" in the first column denotes a change from previous documentation. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ þ þ þ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ I. Introduction -- What is uCON? uCON is the latest console utility to hit the PC scene. uCON's framework was programmed by Chicken, and it started out as a Multi-Game Hunter-specific program (the original MGHPATCH). I, chp, then added features and it has eventually grown into what you have today. uCON is all you need to get an image to work on the various console backup units available. Because of its Multi-Game Hunter roots, there are a few commands tailored especially for MGH users, as well as other members of the Game Doctor family. I want to mention that uCON was created from scratch. Nothing was taken from CTOOL, MTOOL, STOOL, or SU-PRO, except perhaps some licensee and country names. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ þ þ þ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ II. Command Breakdown -- What does each command do? uCON is a command line utility with a number of commands. Just type uCON and press ENTER to get the main command help screen. Every command has a separate help screen which you can view by typing uCON [command] ?. Let's start with the commands common to both Sega Genesis and Super NES images. Then, the system-specific commands will follow. Common commands: [c] Convert between image formats. This command is one of the most useful commands of uCON. It will convert an image from one format to another. For example, a Sega Genesis image in Super Magic Drive (SMD) format will be converted into Multi-Game Doctor II (MGD2) format, and vice versa. A Super NES image in Super Magicom (SMC) format will be converted to MGD2 format, and vice versa. Users of the Game Doctor-family, take note. When converting an image from SMD to MGD2, the filename will automatically have the MD prefix and the .008 suffix. SMC files converted to MGD2 will have the SF prefix. [e] Apply Baseline patch. This command is used to apply Baseline patches (.BSL) to images. This code is internal, so an external Baseline patcher is not required. [h] Rewrite image header. Occasionally the header of an image is damaged causing problems for some users. The cause is usually another console utility program that insists on plastering its name in the header. Other times, it is caused by the operating differences of the different console backup systems. This command will rewrite the image header (in case you didn't know, the Multi Game Doctor II (MGD2) format does not use a header, so this command doesn't apply). On Super NES images, the resulting header will be in Super Magicom (SMC) or Pro Fighter (FIG) format. [i] Apply IPS patch. Use this command to apply an IPS (International Patching Standard) patch to an image. This code is internal so an IPS patcher (such as PATCH.EXE) is not needed. [j] Join multi images. Images larger than 12M are usually split into multiple files, although it is common to see multi files for images less than 12M. The j command is used to join the files back together. [n] Create MGH name file. This command is one of use to Multi-Game Hunter (MGH) users. It will create a name file (.MGH) to accompany an image. The title of the image will be saved in the file, and the MGH will display the title when the filename is selected. On áetas with improper info, or if you prefer to use your own name, you can insert your own name by following the filename with a name. NOTE: In order for the MGH to display the name of a Sega Genesis image, the image MUST be in Multi Game Doctor II (MGD2) format. i.e. uCON n cen-nhlf.smc NHL'94 uCON n mdsonica.078 "Sonic 3" <-- Notice the use of quotes to preserve spacing. [o] Show image information. This is the command used most often. If no command is specified, (as in uCON aladdin.smc) this is the default command. The image will be examined to determine which console it is for. Then, information such as the title, licensee, and file size will be displayed. uCON has the largest library of Super NES licensees seen yet, and is the first to have Sega licensees. NOTE: On Super NES images, uCON will often times determine if it is in Pro Fighter or Super-WildCard format. Remember that the format doesn't necessarily determine whether it is HiROM. [p] Pad image size. This command originates from the original utility. Often times when an intro or trainer is added externally to an image, the file size is not evenly divisible by one (1) Megabit. Uneven size images may cause problems with certain backup units. An image will be padded by this command to the next multiple of a megabit. [s] Split image. This command will split any image into two even files. This is usually done to break a 16M image into two (2) 8M images, but it will work for any image size. Multi-Game Hunter (MGH) users, if a file is in MGD2 format, this command will automatically use the appropriate prefixes and suffixes on the output filenames. Sega Genesis-only commands: [z] Convert to Binary. This command will convert a Sega Genesis image to raw binary. Most (all?) of the backup units dump Sega Genesis cartridges by grouping the odd and the even addresses together. By converting an image to binary, one can disassemble the code. Super NES-only commands: [b] Convert Boxer to FIG. Use this command to convert a Super NES HiROM image in the Game Boxer format to Pro Fighter (FIG) format. The Game Doctor SF III creates HiROM images in the Game Boxer format, so this command will convert it accordingly. Very useful for users of both backup units. [f] Convert FIG to Boxer. This command will convert a Super NES HiROM image in Pro Fighter (FIG) or Super-WildCard (SWC) format to the Game Boxer format. This is necessary to get the image to work with the Multi-Game Hunter and the Game Doctor SF III. On images >16M, uCON can create the appropriate number of files for the backup system specified. (See the switches for this command) [k] Attempt crack. In an attempt to stop the casual user of backup systems from making a working backup, programmers are doing such things as SRAM checking to determine if it is running on a backup unit. uCON now has the option of detecting and cracking code that does so. Like the NTSC/PAL fix, it is recommended that you run it on a file in 1 part, rather than on each individual multi file. [l] Attempt NTSC/PAL fix. Licensees on the Super NES have the option of using code to detect the video mode of the console. This can be used to prevent users of PAL machines from running NTSC programs, and vice versa. This command will search for and destroy any such code it can identify. It is recommended that you run it on a file in 1 part, rather than on each individual multi file. [r] Attempt slowROM fix. Console backup systems with slow RAM (>70ns) often have problems with images that run with FastROM. Use this command to convert one such image to work. It is recommended that you run this on a file in 1 part, rather than on each individual multi file. [w] Convert SWC<->FIG. This command will convert an image from Pro Fighter (FIG) to Super-WildCard (SWC format), and vice versa. This consists of changing the header only. ª> The system switches uCON tries to identify images, but if the checksum of a Super NES image has been tampered with (often by groups adding intros), the image may be identified. The use of a system switch will over-ride the error checking. System switches must be at the end of the command line. /sn Force uCON to treat an image as Super NES. /snl Force uCON to treat an image as loROM Super NES. /snh Force uCON to treat an image as HiROM Super NES. /sg Force uCON to treat an image as Sega Genesis. The /q switch is the "quiet" mode switch, which will clutter your screen up a bit less. Examples: uCON o cen-nhl.smc /sn (To show image information, and force Super NES mode, since Censor nuked the checksum adding their intro.) uCON c acc-dfig.smc /q (To convert from Super Magicom to Multi Game Doctor II (MGD2) format, with only a status indicator.) uCON j rmk-nbaj.1 /sn (To join the multi files, forcing Super NES since RomKids nuked the checksum with their intro.) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ þ þ þ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ III. Common Uses for uCON Here are some common situations and the procedures to follow with uCON. Q: I have a 16M Sega Genesis game in SMD format. How do I convert it for my Multi-Game Hunter or Game Doctor SF III? A: 1. Join the files, if multi. (uCON j lethal.1) 2. Convert from SMD -> MGD2. (uCON c lethal.smd) 3. Split file. (uCON s mdlethal.008) 4. Create name file. (uCON n mdlethaa.078) (Optional, applies for MGH only) Q: I have a 16M (non-HiROM) Super NES game in SMC format. How do I convert it for my Multi-Game Hunter or Game Doctor SF III? A: 1. Join the files, if multi. (uCON j tmntfght.1) 2. Convert from SMC -> MGD2. (uCON c tmntfght.smc) 3. Split file. (uCON s sftmntfg) 4. Create name file. (uCON n sftmntfa) (Optional, applies for MGH only) Q: I have a 16M (non-HiROM) Super NES game in SMC format. (Shortcut) A: 1. Join the files, if multi. (uCON j tmntfght.1) 2. Split AND convert. (uCON s tmntfght.smc sftmnt_a) 3. Create name file. (uCON n sftmnt_a) (Optional, applies for MGH only) Q: I have a 12M HiROM Super NES game in FIG/SWC format. How do I convert it for my Multi-Game Hunter or Game Doctor SF III? A: 1. Join the files, if multi. (uCON j raiser2.1) 2. Convert FIG -> Boxer. (uCON f raiser2.fig) 3. Create name file. (uCON n sfraisea) (Optional, applies for MGH only) Q: I have a 24M/32M HiROM Super NES game in FIG/SWC format. How do I convert it for my Game Doctor SF III? A: 1. Join the files, if multi. (uCON j super.1) 2. Convert FIG -> Boxer for GDSF3. (uCON f super.fig /3) ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ þ þ þ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ IV. Miscellaneous MGH notes This section of the documentation has some notes that every MGH user should know. If you have anything to add, please let me know. a. On the Super NES, the MGH will only load files divisible by a Megabit (131,072 bytes), regardless of format. b. On the Sega Genesis, the MGH will load files of any length. c. On the Super NES, filenames must start with the characters SF. d. On the Sega Genesis, filenames must start with the characters MD. e. On the Sega Genesis, files in MGD2 format must have an extension with 0 as the first character. (As in .0xx) f. On the Sega Genesis, files in SMD format must not have an extention. g. On the Sega Genesis, there is a bug causing any filename that ends in S (such as MDxxxxxS.xxx) to load, but then reset to the MGH. h. On the Sega Genesis, files must be in MGD2 format in order for a MGH name file to be displayed. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ þ þ þ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ V. Release History + New * Updated ! Fixed December 3, 1993 - uCON v1.0 The official public release. February 15, 1994 - uCON v1.2 The official update to uCON. There was a v1.01 recently released by ACC, not me. That version was a áeta from January 2, 1994. (Hence, the áeta version code 40102.) In order to set things straight, here is the latest version I was working on. +Added X and Y commands to convert from FIG/SWC->SMC IC2 and vice versa. *Updated FIG<->SWC. +Super NES images in MGD2 format may be split directly. *Applying Baseline and IPS patches never requires /sg or /sn switches. !Fixed a few Sega Genesis routines involving file sizes 16M and greater. *Modified a few of the default output extensions. +Added /snh and /snl switches, to specifically force Super NES HiROM and loROM, respectively. (Actually, this was in v1.0 as a hidden feature.) !Fixed small help bug with the n command. !Fixed bug involving NTSC/PAL and slowROM fixes on uneven size files. +Implemented Baseline patch. (No external call.) +Added Z command to convert a Sega Genesis image to Binary. !uCON now changes the size byte in the header after padding. (Oops!) +Added more error checking. +Recognizes >16M Super NES images in Game Doctor SF3 format. +Added MGH name support for Sega Genesis images. +Other small miscellaneous changes, like more licensees (for a total of over 150 Super NES and over 30 Sega Genesis), more NTSC/PAL patterns and more slowROM patterns. April 16, 1994 - uCON v1.3 *Better memory usage, resulting in improved functionality. *Removed vestiges of ACC. *Made a few changes to the Sega MGH character set. !Fixed a bug detecting backup RAM on Sega Genesis images in MGD2 format. *Lowered minimum image size requirement from 1Mbit (131072) to .25M (32768), which will allow you to patch demos that are too small, but can cause divide by zero errors with certain commands. *Updated FIG<->SWC again. uCON is a bit better at creating FIG headers based on the image information. *Finally got over the laziness and updated the FIG->Boxer routine to convert >16M images in the manner required for the MGH and the Game Doctor SF3. So the Boxer->FIG routine will probably be updated in another 2 months or so, heheh. *Guess what? I felt like doing some programming so I updated the Boxer->FIG routine. Guess you didn't have to wait for another version after all. *uCON will now recognize uneven-size Sega Genesis images in MGD2 format. +Other small miscellaneous changes, like licensees and NTSC/PAL patterns. May 8, 1994 - uCON v1.31 *Modified the switch handling routine so that any combination of switches can be used in any order. System switches should always be last on the command line. (For example, uCON h pr-round.1 /ms and uCON h pr-round.1 /sm are equal.) !The switch to signify Multi file (/m) was still /s for Sega Genesis images. It has been changed to /m to match the Super NES side. *A user (thanks Ace) reported that the new version didn't work on their machine. After a little testing, I found that Borland C wasn't allocating enough stack space. Mainly 386 machines were affected, but this should no longer be a problem. *The FIG->Boxer routine didn't work correctly when dealing with >16M images on certain machines. The routine has been re-written to get around the problem. June 18, 1994 - uCON v1.33 *Updated the Join function to recognize multi file images for the Super- WildCard. !Fixed the intro size reporting as negative. *Updated the FIG->Boxer routine when dealing with 32M images for the GDSF3. (and Boxer->FIG). June 26, 1994 - uCON v1.34 !Fixed the FIG<->Boxer routines when dealing with 32M images for the GDSF3. Finally, Super Street Fighter II glitch-free. Sorry 'bout the screw-up. !Fixed header-writing routines regarding 32M (and larger) images. July 19, 1994 - uCON v1.4 Yeah, this should have come out weeks ago, but its summer you know! !When I fixed the header-writing routines last time, I broke them for images less than 24M. Fixed. +Added the K command for cracking Super NES SRAM check routines. Simple, but effective. !Boxer->FIG conversions of GDSF3 images work a bit better now. (Actually, they work the way they're supposed to now.) *uCON should now show the correct ROM size for any Sega Genesis image. *Added a specific PAL pattern for Dragon Ball Z II, by request. October 1, 1994 - uCON v1.41 (Yet another laid-back release..) !Previously, all files were opened in update mode, causing problems with files that are Read-Only. Now, uCON only opens file in update mode if they need to be. *More PAL and crack patterns. (Including Fatal Fury Special and Super Mario All Stars.. SMAS _should_ of worked before; now it actually does. =) !No, the Y command isn't new; I guess it never made it to the help menu. *Updated to recognize the new internal information format on the newer Super NES images (Sort of). ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ þ þ þ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ VI. Acknowledgements Individuals: Yankee Rose ù Pale Horse ù Califboy ù Cityhunter ù Sir Jinx ù Chicken SysOps: R/\\/e ù Wing Leader ù Speedmaster Groups: Accumulators ù Anthrox ù Paradox ù Premiere ù Elite/ndo ù Illusion ù Censor ù Sneakers ù Smile ù Cyber Force ù Mystic IRC: _bubsy ù ShoRyuKen ù Dr_Delete ù TwinBee ù SWC ù Archimede ù _grazzt ù razor ù RanMaS ù philus ù blanka ù Turok ù Dz ... and YOU, I guess. ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ þ þ þ ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ If you find any problems, requests or comments, let me know in IRC, or mail me on a board worth calling! -chp **end of UCON141.DOC**