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[Admin: split from Game Gear games on SMS / Megadrive Genesis, no longer off-topic...

This thread is for hacks to SMS games to enable using a Mega Drive (or Genesis, or Megadrive) controller. This is typically to enable the Start button on the controller to act the same as the Pause button on the console, with no hardware mods.]

OFF TOPIC : Wonder Boy - The Dragon's Trap hacked to have a MD joypad START button used as the SMS PAUSE button ;)

hack - WB3 with START on MD joypad.zip (136.27 KB)

vingazole wrote

OFF TOPIC : Wonder Boy - The Dragon's Trap hacked to have a MD joypad START button used as the SMS PAUSE button ;)

Awesome job, vingazole.

Is there any chance this could be done too with Wonder Boy in Monster World? AKA Wonder Boy V Monster World III, not the Monster World game which is known outside Japan as Wonder Boy in Monster Land.

That's the worst issue I have ever had with the Master System version of that game. You have to access the inventory a lot of times and doing it through the Master System "Pause" button is such a pain. I usually play this version on the Game Gear because of this.

Almost any game can be hacked this way.

Wesker wrote

Is there any chance this could be done too with Wonder Boy in Monster World? AKA Wonder Boy V Monster World III, not the Monster World game which is known outside Japan as Wonder Boy in Monster Land.

I hope this is the game you were talking about...

hack WB 5 - MD joypad START.zip (187.53 KB)

vingazole wrote

Wesker wrote

Is there any chance this could be done too with Wonder Boy in Monster World? AKA Wonder Boy V Monster World III, not the Monster World game which is known outside Japan as Wonder Boy in Monster Land.

I hope this is the game you were talking about...

Indeed!

Thank you so much. This Master System port is now much more playable on an unmodified Master System (that is, without this modification).

On a related note, maybe there should be a separate thread for these Mega Drive controller Start button hacks when they are performed to existing Master System games and not to Game Gear to Master System ports.

Wesker wrote

maybe there should be a separate thread for these Mega Drive controller Start button hacks when they are performed to existing Master System games and not to Game Gear to Master System ports.

Good idea. These are awesome patches and shouldn't be lost in a random forum page.

Maxim, can we create a new hacks section for these? Wesker / vingazole, maybe create a new thread too?

I split the forum topic.

There's some overlap between GG2SMS and MD controller hacks, but I'd say the GG2SMS ones should live in the GG2SMS section (maybe even in the same archive as variants of the patch without this).

I've added a section for controller patches to the Hacks page, and it will pick up pages ending in the word "Controller". So I suggest we start with:

http://www.smspower.org/hacks/WonderBoyIII-SMS-MegaDriveController
http://www.smspower.org/hacks/WonderBoyInMonsterWorld-SMS-MegaDriveController

Let's stick with "Mega Drive" for the controller distinction. I'm thinking we can add in patches for paddle compatibility on export systems (there's a thread for that) and any future patches for using regular controllers on paddle games.

vingazole, are you providing 6-button controller compatibility? I'm not sure how that works, though...

Thank you, Maxim. I should have created a new topic but I hadn't the time at first (I'm on my afternoon shift this week [1:00 pm-9:00 pm]), and I must admit I've been too lazy afterwards ^^

From what I understand, it should work on a 6-button controller as there is a kind of "backward compatibility" with the 3-button controller : http://www.db-elec.com/home/technical-info/Genesis/gamepad-protocol

Anyway, I only have 3-button MD controllers, I couldn't test the 6-button gamepad behaviour myself...

I read the state of the controller using this code :

ld a,$0D ; configure TH as an output, set TH=0
out ($3F),a ;

in a,($DC) ; read START button status
bit 5,a ;

call z,$66 ; if it is 0 (button pressed), call the PAUSE routine

ld a,$2D ; configure TH as an output, set TH=1
out ($3F),a ;

in a,($DC) ; read SMS "standard" buttons

I can confirm both hacks work perfectly using a 6-button controller.

vingazole wrote

Thank you, Maxim. I should have created a new topic but I hadn't the time at first (I'm on my afternoon shift this week [1:00 pm-9:00 pm]), and I must admit I've been too lazy afterwards ^^

From what I understand, it should work on a 6-button controller as there is a kind of "backward compatibility" with the 3-button controller : http://www.db-elec.com/home/technical-info/Genesis/gamepad-protocol

Anyway, I only have 3-button MD controllers, I couldn't test the 6-button gamepad behaviour myself...

I read the state of the controller using this code :

ld a,$0D ; configure TH as an output, set TH=0
out ($3F),a ;

in a,($DC) ; read START button status
bit 5,a ;

call z,$66 ; if it is 0 (button pressed), call the PAUSE routine

ld a,$2D ; configure TH as an output, set TH=1
out ($3F),a ;

in a,($DC) ; read SMS "standard" buttons

If you hold the mode button while turning on the system, it will work exactly like a 3-button pad, so testing with a 3-button controller is good enought.

I noticed that you didn't put any delay between setting TH and reading the buttons. This couldn't cause some problems depending on the revision of the pad?

For 6 button controllers you need to make sure you don't read controllers more than once a frame.

gvx32 wrote

I noticed that you didn't put any delay between setting TH and reading the buttons. This couldn't cause some problems depending on the revision of the pad?

I wasn't aware of this. Do you know what would be the correct delay to be added between setting TH and reading the buttons ?

TmEE wrote

For 6 button controllers you need to make sure you don't read controllers more than once a frame.

I guess that's what games usually do (at least to avoid reading potential rebounds on the contacts).

On 68K side on MD you need two NOPs after changing TH to avoid "autofire" effect. Z80 is significantly slower and you can do without deliberate delays.

I made a little adapter with a couple of DB9 sockets (one male, one female) which cuts the select line (pin 7) from the console side and wires pin 7 to pin 5 on the controller side with a 100K resistor. Works great for Carmen Sandiego :) It disables Start/A/X/Y/Z/Mode from being read, but way cheaper than finding an SMS pad ;)

vingazole wrote

gvx32 wrote

I noticed that you didn't put any delay between setting TH and reading the buttons. This couldn't cause some problems depending on the revision of the pad?

I wasn't aware of this. Do you know what would be the correct delay to be added between setting TH and reading the buttons ?

TmEE wrote

For 6 button controllers you need to make sure you don't read controllers more than once a frame.

I guess that's what games usually do (at least to avoid reading potential rebounds on the contacts).

Well, when I was developing my reading routine, if I had no delay, some of the buttons won't work, Now I don't remember witch ones.

Also, Charles' Genesis pad demo uses 4 nops.

this is my routine:

.section "readMegaDriveController" free
readMegaDriveController:
; TH = 1 : ?1CBRLDU 3-button pad return value
in a, ($DC)
or $c0
ld b, a

; TH = 0 : ?0SA00DU 3-button pad return value
ld a, Th.lo
out ($3F), a

ld hl, pauseButtonPressed
ld a, (hl)
and b
ld b, a
ld (hl), $ff

in a, ($DC)
rlca
rlca
or $3f
and b
ld (noHoldedKeys), a

;Set TH hi for the next pass
ld a, Th.hi
out ($3F), a
jp endControlReading
.ends

the first delay is to map the console pause button into the start button. The second delay is the time between two readings, this works both with a 3-button or a 6-button controller. But the logic here is a little reverse, You read the start button and call the pause interrupt when necessary. I set a flag on the pause interrupt and then add to the controls readings.

OK, I'm going to insert 2 NOPs after writing to port $3F and before reading port $DC (soon....).

Hello, is possible to map the not used Mega Drive A-BUTTON as an auxiliary Master System BUTTON-2 for Makai Retsuden and Alex Kidd Miracle World (Japan version) ? I can do the hack by myself but I can't find the correct rom addresses..

please help:)

The controller is polled at $1024 in Makai Retsuden and at $356 in AKIMW(J).

You will find IPS patches for Alex Kidd in Miracle World (J) and for Makai Retsuden (the japanese "Kung Fu Kid") attached to this message : with a Megadrive controller, you'll be able to use whether button A or button C as the SMS button 2, button B being mapped to button 1.

(I hope I didn't break anything in Makai Retsuden as I've put my code in the first series of 0s I found in the ROM...)

AKIMW JAP - Makai Retsuden - MD button A.zip (428 B)

great ! You saved the day :)

I'll try to use your codes for another couple of old japanese games that really need standard button layout and pause button..thx

I was thinking... It's possible to add a controller detection command to make the patched games detect if a Master System or Mega Drive controller is connected, and set the game to use the current controller?

Another thing... It's possible to make special movemets of specific games do be activated using one of the not-used Genesis button instead of a special command?

Examples of games can use an unique button to active special movements...
> Golden Axe = Magic (1+2)
> E-Swat = Special Weapon (1+2)
> Wonderboy in Monster Land = Special Item (Down)
> Altered Beast = Jump (1+2)
> Asterix = Special Item (Up + 1, Down + 1)
> Asterix and the Secret Mission = Run (Hold 1)
> Mortal Kombat = Block (Back + 1)
> Ninja Princess / The Ninja = Disappear (1+2)

Yes, all of these are probably possible.

It would be amazing to see some of the GG to SMS conversions changed to use the start button of a Mega Drive pad.

Quote

(I hope I didn't break anything in Makai Retsuden as I've put my code in the first series of 0s I found in the ROM...)

played non stop and work perfect:)

for Miracle World [J] and Lord of Sword [J] is possible to do the two hacks (pause button + auxiliary A button) work in the game ?

found some japanese dumps/hacks that have MD start button mapped:

Chase HQ [o] or [S]
Castle Of Illusion [a1] (rom need fixed with sms checker to run in real hardware)

vingazole, would you write a brief tutorial on how hack start / A button ? I'm stuck with:

1st: locate where the controller is polled
the instruction is usually DB DC at the begin of the rom

2st: locate some empty space (zeroes or FF)
and remermber the address location

about the z80 thing, use CALL or JUMP ?
the *universal* code for START is (?)

3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 6F CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB DC 2F
(+C9 at the end only for Monster World II)

the *universal code for A is (?)

06 00 3E 0D D3 3F 00 00 DB DC CB 67 20 02 06 20 3E 2D D3 3F 00 00 DB DC 2F E6 3F B0
(+C9 at the end only for Makairetsuden)

1. Use Meka's debugger and set a breakpoint to stop the program each time it polls the controller :

b r io dc

(type "c" to resume)

2. Use your hex editor, very often there is some spare space available around $7FF0 ;)
Don't search beyond $7FFF otherwise you'd have to take care about paging.

(3). Do what you prefer, with CALL you won't have to put a JUMP at the end of the code.

(4) Sorry, I won't check hex codes :/
You should use wla-z80 for your hacks instead of a hex editor : http://www.smspower.org/maxim/Maps/AsterixAndTheGreatRescue

Would be possible to instead of doing a software hack in all roms to do a hardware hack? Use a microcontroller to detect when Genesis 3-pad or 6-pad controller are connected and then send TH signals to detect pause button. Without genesis controllers on the port, the microcontroller would allow normal behaviour of the system.

Yes, it would be fairly easy to demultiplex the Mega Drive pad and then feed the Master System with the appropriate signals. With a bit more work you could also support USB and Bluetooth controllers, although the button mapping might be tricky to configure at runtime.

The problem is, wouldn't this TH signal I'm generating interfere with the system recognition of the signals, much like the games that doesn't support genesis controllers? I would probably need to desolder the controller connectors and send the signals from the controller straight to the microcontroller, and then get the signals from the microcontroller and send to the system. Then I could also add bluetooth internally.

For Genesis 3-pad, 6-pad the TH signal would be generated by the microcontroller for demultiplexing.

I would also need to send the TH signal from the system to the controller through the microcontroller in case it doesn't detect a genesis controller in case a light phaser is connected.

Yes, I was thinking that the controller would sit in between rather than trying to inject signals.

Hi all,

can someone try to do the same, or explain how to do, the same for Alex Kidd in Miracle World ?

Thanks a lot

use the last version of kidded, on the hacks list there is md start button mapping but work only with rev01 UE version

please guys hacks Psycho Fox to the same!!

seconded

I think games that use pause as MENU BUTTON, frequently used as in PF, should be mapped to A instead of START :)

is there any such patch for Wonder Boy in Monster Land? Where do you access the menu from the start of the mega drive control? If not, could anyone do it? Thx!

ok, done something with PF

@39
CD F0 6C

@6CF0
3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 6F CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB BF* 2F C9

that was the original code for MWII by ving, changed byte DC->BF just by guessing / random. I wonder If I can easily swap start with A button now..

edit:
change byte 6F to 67 for A button

Dix wrote

ok, done something with PF

@39
CD F0 6C

@6CF0
3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 6F CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB BF* 2F C9

that was the original code for MWII by ving, changed byte DC->BF just by guessing / random. I wonder If I can easily swap start with A button now..

edit:
change byte 6F to 67 for A button

Thank you very much! Could you create a ips patch? Thanks.

Land Of Illusion :

@39
CD 10 7D
@7D10
3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 67 CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB BF B7 C9

button A for flute access (not 100% tested)

PFMD.ips (40 B)

Monster World II :
menu screen with MD A button

MWIIMD.ips (53 B)

Dix wrote

Land Of Illusion :

@39
CD 10 7D
@7D10
3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 67 CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB BF B7 C9

button A for flute access (not 100% tested)

its for "Wonder Boy in Monster Land"???
I tested it and it's just black screen.
thx.

Dix wrote

Monster World II :
menu screen with MD A button

It worked!
Would it be possible to leave only the start to access the menu?
Only "Start" is perfect. Thank you very much.

EmuBoarding wrote

is there any such patch for Wonder Boy in Monster Land?

that game require additional hacking for work with md controller please ask someone else^'''

penguin land and others:
http://frs.badcoffee.info/SMS-patches.html

Dix wrote

EmuBoarding wrote

is there any such patch for Wonder Boy in Monster Land?

that game require additional hacking for work with md controller please ask someone else^'''

penguin land and others:
http://frs.badcoffee.info/SMS-patches.html

MWIIMD.ips (53 B) patch works Great in Monster Land...
I just wanted to know if there is a way to disable the A button leaving only the B, C and Start.

it worked ? lol

with an hexeditor, in the patched rom, search this string
3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 67

replace 67 with 6F, save

99% (some sprites glitch when facing left) working patch for land of illusion (extracted code from castle of illusion japanese hacked rom) pause on md start

edit: fixed sprites

LOIMD.ips (89 B)

Dix wrote

it worked ? lol

with an hexeditor, in the patched rom, search this string
3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 67

replace 67 with 6F, save

Works great thx!

I saw that the demo mode is not working. It gets a black screen. The rest are working normally.

I'll try to finish the game later to see if there's no more problems.

Dix wrote

99% (some sprites glitch when facing left) working patch for land of illusion (extracted code from castle of illusion japanese hacked rom) pause on md start

I just tested Land of Illusion and it's not 100%. As soon as the start is pressed, it goes back to normal by itself. The game is not paused.

refresh / download again

loi with the last patch should work fine even in emulators (not really need that..)

Dix wrote

refresh / download again

loi with the last patch should work fine even in emulators (not really need that..)

ok

I know the topic is old, I just discovered that with this modification the 8bitdo controls work in Master games using an Everdrive, can you post a video or a link to a tutorial on how to modify the games? I would really like to play Land of Illusion through Everdrive.

If anyone has the rom with the Phantasy Star 1 modification I would also be very grateful.

I’m also going to necrobump an old thread. A game that I think would really benefit from a mega drive controller hack is Bank Panic. You currently press up to fire left. It would be incredible if that could be mapped to A on a mega drive controller. Then B would be middle, C would be right. It’s an excellent port otherwise dinged by only two available buttons.

Author	Message
vingazole Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Saintes, France	Hacks for using Mega Drive controllers in SMS games Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:24 am
	[Admin: split from Game Gear games on SMS / Megadrive Genesis, no longer off-topic... This thread is for hacks to SMS games to enable using a Mega Drive (or Genesis, or Megadrive) controller. This is typically to enable the Start button on the controller to act the same as the Pause button on the console, with no hardware mods.] OFF TOPIC : Wonder Boy - The Dragon's Trap hacked to have a MD joypad START button used as the SMS PAUSE button ;) hack - WB3 with START on MD joypad.zip (136.27 KB)

Wesker Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 160	Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 7:06 pm
Wesker Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 160	vingazole wrote OFF TOPIC : Wonder Boy - The Dragon's Trap hacked to have a MD joypad START button used as the SMS PAUSE button ;) Awesome job, vingazole. Is there any chance this could be done too with Wonder Boy in Monster World? AKA Wonder Boy V Monster World III, not the Monster World game which is known outside Japan as Wonder Boy in Monster Land. That's the worst issue I have ever had with the Master System version of that game. You have to access the inventory a lot of times and doing it through the Master System "Pause" button is such a pain. I usually play this version on the Game Gear because of this.

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14959 Location: London	Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 7:42 pm
	Almost any game can be hacked this way.

vingazole Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Saintes, France	Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 10:03 pm
	Wesker wrote Is there any chance this could be done too with Wonder Boy in Monster World? AKA Wonder Boy V Monster World III, not the Monster World game which is known outside Japan as Wonder Boy in Monster Land. I hope this is the game you were talking about... hack WB 5 - MD joypad START.zip (187.53 KB)

Wesker Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 160	Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 11:50 pm
Wesker Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 160	vingazole wrote Wesker wrote Is there any chance this could be done too with Wonder Boy in Monster World? AKA Wonder Boy V Monster World III, not the Monster World game which is known outside Japan as Wonder Boy in Monster Land. I hope this is the game you were talking about... Indeed! Thank you so much. This Master System port is now much more playable on an unmodified Master System (that is, without this modification). On a related note, maybe there should be a separate thread for these Mega Drive controller Start button hacks when they are performed to existing Master System games and not to Game Gear to Master System ports.

RetroRGB Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Posts: 131 Location: NYC	Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 3:52 pm
RetroRGB Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Posts: 131 Location: NYC	Wesker wrote maybe there should be a separate thread for these Mega Drive controller Start button hacks when they are performed to existing Master System games and not to Game Gear to Master System ports. Good idea. These are awesome patches and shouldn't be lost in a random forum page. Maxim, can we create a new hacks section for these? Wesker / vingazole, maybe create a new thread too?

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14959 Location: London	Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 7:28 pm
	I split the forum topic. There's some overlap between GG2SMS and MD controller hacks, but I'd say the GG2SMS ones should live in the GG2SMS section (maybe even in the same archive as variants of the patch without this). I've added a section for controller patches to the Hacks page, and it will pick up pages ending in the word "Controller". So I suggest we start with: http://www.smspower.org/hacks/WonderBoyIII-SMS-MegaDriveController http://www.smspower.org/hacks/WonderBoyInMonsterWorld-SMS-MegaDriveController Let's stick with "Mega Drive" for the controller distinction. I'm thinking we can add in patches for paddle compatibility on export systems (there's a thread for that) and any future patches for using regular controllers on paddle games. vingazole, are you providing 6-button controller compatibility? I'm not sure how that works, though...

vingazole Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Saintes, France	Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 9:30 pm
	Thank you, Maxim. I should have created a new topic but I hadn't the time at first (I'm on my afternoon shift this week [1:00 pm-9:00 pm]), and I must admit I've been too lazy afterwards ^^ From what I understand, it should work on a 6-button controller as there is a kind of "backward compatibility" with the 3-button controller : http://www.db-elec.com/home/technical-info/Genesis/gamepad-protocol Anyway, I only have 3-button MD controllers, I couldn't test the 6-button gamepad behaviour myself... I read the state of the controller using this code : ld a,$0D ; configure TH as an output, set TH=0 out ($3F),a ; in a,($DC) ; read START button status bit 5,a ; call z,$66 ; if it is 0 (button pressed), call the PAUSE routine ld a,$2D ; configure TH as an output, set TH=1 out ($3F),a ; in a,($DC) ; read SMS "standard" buttons

Wesker Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 160	Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2014 10:25 pm
Wesker Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 160	I can confirm both hacks work perfectly using a 6-button controller.

gvx32 Joined: 17 Sep 2013 Posts: 130 Location: Gravataí, RS, Brazil	Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:02 am
	vingazole wrote Thank you, Maxim. I should have created a new topic but I hadn't the time at first (I'm on my afternoon shift this week [1:00 pm-9:00 pm]), and I must admit I've been too lazy afterwards ^^ From what I understand, it should work on a 6-button controller as there is a kind of "backward compatibility" with the 3-button controller : http://www.db-elec.com/home/technical-info/Genesis/gamepad-protocol Anyway, I only have 3-button MD controllers, I couldn't test the 6-button gamepad behaviour myself... I read the state of the controller using this code : ld a,$0D ; configure TH as an output, set TH=0 out ($3F),a ; in a,($DC) ; read START button status bit 5,a ; call z,$66 ; if it is 0 (button pressed), call the PAUSE routine ld a,$2D ; configure TH as an output, set TH=1 out ($3F),a ; in a,($DC) ; read SMS "standard" buttons If you hold the mode button while turning on the system, it will work exactly like a 3-button pad, so testing with a 3-button controller is good enought. I noticed that you didn't put any delay between setting TH and reading the buttons. This couldn't cause some problems depending on the revision of the pad?

TmEE Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 853 Location: Estonia, Rapla city	Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:02 am
	For 6 button controllers you need to make sure you don't read controllers more than once a frame.

vingazole Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Saintes, France	Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 8:32 am
	gvx32 wrote I noticed that you didn't put any delay between setting TH and reading the buttons. This couldn't cause some problems depending on the revision of the pad? I wasn't aware of this. Do you know what would be the correct delay to be added between setting TH and reading the buttons ? TmEE wrote For 6 button controllers you need to make sure you don't read controllers more than once a frame. I guess that's what games usually do (at least to avoid reading potential rebounds on the contacts).

TmEE Joined: 31 Oct 2007 Posts: 853 Location: Estonia, Rapla city	Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 2:04 pm
	On 68K side on MD you need two NOPs after changing TH to avoid "autofire" effect. Z80 is significantly slower and you can do without deliberate delays.

ishiyakazuo Joined: 29 Oct 2014 Posts: 89 Location: Chicagoland, USA	Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 4:45 pm
	I made a little adapter with a couple of DB9 sockets (one male, one female) which cuts the select line (pin 7) from the console side and wires pin 7 to pin 5 on the controller side with a 100K resistor. Works great for Carmen Sandiego :) It disables Start/A/X/Y/Z/Mode from being read, but way cheaper than finding an SMS pad ;)

gvx32 Joined: 17 Sep 2013 Posts: 130 Location: Gravataí, RS, Brazil	Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 8:26 pm
	vingazole wrote gvx32 wrote I noticed that you didn't put any delay between setting TH and reading the buttons. This couldn't cause some problems depending on the revision of the pad? I wasn't aware of this. Do you know what would be the correct delay to be added between setting TH and reading the buttons ? TmEE wrote For 6 button controllers you need to make sure you don't read controllers more than once a frame. I guess that's what games usually do (at least to avoid reading potential rebounds on the contacts). Well, when I was developing my reading routine, if I had no delay, some of the buttons won't work, Now I don't remember witch ones. Also, Charles' Genesis pad demo uses 4 nops. this is my routine: .section "readMegaDriveController" free readMegaDriveController: ; TH = 1 : ?1CBRLDU 3-button pad return value in a, ($DC) or $c0 ld b, a ; TH = 0 : ?0SA00DU 3-button pad return value ld a, Th.lo out ($3F), a ld hl, pauseButtonPressed ld a, (hl) and b ld b, a ld (hl), $ff in a, ($DC) rlca rlca or $3f and b ld (noHoldedKeys), a ;Set TH hi for the next pass ld a, Th.hi out ($3F), a jp endControlReading .ends the first delay is to map the console pause button into the start button. The second delay is the time between two readings, this works both with a 3-button or a 6-button controller. But the logic here is a little reverse, You read the start button and call the pause interrupt when necessary. I set a flag on the pause interrupt and then add to the controls readings.

vingazole Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Saintes, France	Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 9:07 pm
	OK, I'm going to insert 2 NOPs after writing to port $3F and before reading port $DC (soon....).

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 5:34 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Hello, is possible to map the not used Mega Drive A-BUTTON as an auxiliary Master System BUTTON-2 for Makai Retsuden and Alex Kidd Miracle World (Japan version) ? I can do the hack by myself but I can't find the correct rom addresses.. please help:)

vingazole Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Saintes, France	Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:12 pm
	The controller is polled at $1024 in Makai Retsuden and at $356 in AKIMW(J). You will find IPS patches for Alex Kidd in Miracle World (J) and for Makai Retsuden (the japanese "Kung Fu Kid") attached to this message : with a Megadrive controller, you'll be able to use whether button A or button C as the SMS button 2, button B being mapped to button 1. (I hope I didn't break anything in Makai Retsuden as I've put my code in the first series of 0s I found in the ROM...) AKIMW JAP - Makai Retsuden - MD button A.zip (428 B)

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 8:47 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	great ! You saved the day :) I'll try to use your codes for another couple of old japanese games that really need standard button layout and pause button..thx

rouken Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 248 Location: Aracruz - ES, Brazil	Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 9:01 pm Last edited by rouken on Sat Jun 06, 2015 11:57 am; edited 1 time in total
	I was thinking... It's possible to add a controller detection command to make the patched games detect if a Master System or Mega Drive controller is connected, and set the game to use the current controller? Another thing... It's possible to make special movemets of specific games do be activated using one of the not-used Genesis button instead of a special command? Examples of games can use an unique button to active special movements... > Golden Axe = Magic (1+2) > E-Swat = Special Weapon (1+2) > Wonderboy in Monster Land = Special Item (Down) > Altered Beast = Jump (1+2) > Asterix = Special Item (Up + 1, Down + 1) > Asterix and the Secret Mission = Run (Hold 1) > Mortal Kombat = Block (Back + 1) > Ninja Princess / The Ninja = Disappear (1+2)

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14959 Location: London	Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 11:15 pm
	Yes, all of these are probably possible.

Emuaust Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 79	Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2015 11:25 pm
Emuaust Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 79	It would be amazing to see some of the GG to SMS conversions changed to use the start button of a Mega Drive pad.

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 3:30 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Quote (I hope I didn't break anything in Makai Retsuden as I've put my code in the first series of 0s I found in the ROM...) played non stop and work perfect:) for Miracle World [J] and Lord of Sword [J] is possible to do the two hacks (pause button + auxiliary A button) work in the game ?

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 1:10 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	found some japanese dumps/hacks that have MD start button mapped: Chase HQ [o] or [S] Castle Of Illusion [a1] (rom need fixed with sms checker to run in real hardware) vingazole, would you write a brief tutorial on how hack start / A button ? I'm stuck with: 1st: locate where the controller is polled the instruction is usually DB DC at the begin of the rom 2st: locate some empty space (zeroes or FF) and remermber the address location about the z80 thing, use CALL or JUMP ? the universal code for START is (?) 3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 6F CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB DC 2F (+C9 at the end only for Monster World II) the *universal code for A is (?) 06 00 3E 0D D3 3F 00 00 DB DC CB 67 20 02 06 20 3E 2D D3 3F 00 00 DB DC 2F E6 3F B0 (+C9 at the end only for Makairetsuden)

vingazole Joined: 20 Feb 2008 Posts: 118 Location: Saintes, France	Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2016 3:00 pm
	1. Use Meka's debugger and set a breakpoint to stop the program each time it polls the controller : b r io dc (type "c" to resume) 2. Use your hex editor, very often there is some spare space available around $7FF0 ;) Don't search beyond $7FFF otherwise you'd have to take care about paging. (3). Do what you prefer, with CALL you won't have to put a JUMP at the end of the code. (4) Sorry, I won't check hex codes :/ You should use wla-z80 for your hacks instead of a hex editor : http://www.smspower.org/maxim/Maps/AsterixAndTheGreatRescue

thunderid Joined: 16 May 2016 Posts: 5 Location: Recife, Brazil	Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2016 9:04 pm
	Would be possible to instead of doing a software hack in all roms to do a hardware hack? Use a microcontroller to detect when Genesis 3-pad or 6-pad controller are connected and then send TH signals to detect pause button. Without genesis controllers on the port, the microcontroller would allow normal behaviour of the system.

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14959 Location: London	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 8:48 am
	Yes, it would be fairly easy to demultiplex the Mega Drive pad and then feed the Master System with the appropriate signals. With a bit more work you could also support USB and Bluetooth controllers, although the button mapping might be tricky to configure at runtime.

thunderid Joined: 16 May 2016 Posts: 5 Location: Recife, Brazil	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 6:01 pm
	The problem is, wouldn't this TH signal I'm generating interfere with the system recognition of the signals, much like the games that doesn't support genesis controllers? I would probably need to desolder the controller connectors and send the signals from the controller straight to the microcontroller, and then get the signals from the microcontroller and send to the system. Then I could also add bluetooth internally. For Genesis 3-pad, 6-pad the TH signal would be generated by the microcontroller for demultiplexing. I would also need to send the TH signal from the system to the controller through the microcontroller in case it doesn't detect a genesis controller in case a light phaser is connected.

Maxim Site Admin Joined: 19 Oct 1999 Posts: 14959 Location: London	Posted: Tue Jun 21, 2016 6:21 pm
	Yes, I was thinking that the controller would sit in between rather than trying to inject signals.

djfiorec Joined: 12 Nov 2017 Posts: 3	Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 8:43 am
djfiorec Joined: 12 Nov 2017 Posts: 3	Hi all, can someone try to do the same, or explain how to do, the same for Alex Kidd in Miracle World ? Thanks a lot

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 3:46 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	use the last version of kidded, on the hacks list there is md start button mapping but work only with rev01 UE version

claudio4209 Joined: 15 Oct 2017 Posts: 4 Location: Bari (Italy)	Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2018 7:02 am
	please guys hacks Psycho Fox to the same!!

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2020 4:33 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	seconded I think games that use pause as MENU BUTTON, frequently used as in PF, should be mapped to A instead of START :)

EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2021 5:37 am
EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	is there any such patch for Wonder Boy in Monster Land? Where do you access the menu from the start of the mega drive control? If not, could anyone do it? Thx!

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2021 6:20 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	ok, done something with PF @39 CD F0 6C @6CF0 3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 6F CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB BF* 2F C9 that was the original code for MWII by ving, changed byte DC->BF just by guessing / random. I wonder If I can easily swap start with A button now.. edit: change byte 6F to 67 for A button

EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2021 7:38 pm
EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Dix wrote ok, done something with PF @39 CD F0 6C @6CF0 3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 6F CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB BF* 2F C9 that was the original code for MWII by ving, changed byte DC->BF just by guessing / random. I wonder If I can easily swap start with A button now.. edit: change byte 6F to 67 for A button Thank you very much! Could you create a ips patch? Thanks.

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:03 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Land Of Illusion : @39 CD 10 7D @7D10 3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 67 CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB BF B7 C9 button A for flute access (not 100% tested) PFMD.ips (40 B)

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:17 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Monster World II : menu screen with MD A button MWIIMD.ips (53 B)

EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:21 pm
EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Dix wrote Land Of Illusion : @39 CD 10 7D @7D10 3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 67 CC 66 00 3E 2D D3 3F DB BF B7 C9 button A for flute access (not 100% tested) its for "Wonder Boy in Monster Land"??? I tested it and it's just black screen. thx.

EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Posted: Sat Sep 04, 2021 9:30 pm
EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Dix wrote Monster World II : menu screen with MD A button It worked! Would it be possible to leave only the start to access the menu? Only "Start" is perfect. Thank you very much.

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 11:37 am
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	EmuBoarding wrote is there any such patch for Wonder Boy in Monster Land? that game require additional hacking for work with md controller please ask someone else^''' penguin land and others: http://frs.badcoffee.info/SMS-patches.html

EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 7:42 pm
EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Dix wrote EmuBoarding wrote is there any such patch for Wonder Boy in Monster Land? that game require additional hacking for work with md controller please ask someone else^''' penguin land and others: http://frs.badcoffee.info/SMS-patches.html MWIIMD.ips (53 B) patch works Great in Monster Land... I just wanted to know if there is a way to disable the A button leaving only the B, C and Start.

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2021 2:20 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	it worked ? lol with an hexeditor, in the patched rom, search this string 3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 67 replace 67 with 6F, save

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2021 5:04 pm Last edited by Dix on Mon Sep 06, 2021 6:22 pm; edited 1 time in total
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	99% (some sprites glitch when facing left) working patch for land of illusion (extracted code from castle of illusion japanese hacked rom) pause on md start edit: fixed sprites LOIMD.ips (89 B)

EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2021 6:01 pm
EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Dix wrote it worked ? lol with an hexeditor, in the patched rom, search this string 3E 0D D3 3F DB DC CB 67 replace 67 with 6F, save Works great thx! I saw that the demo mode is not working. It gets a black screen. The rest are working normally. I'll try to finish the game later to see if there's no more problems.

EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2021 6:06 pm
EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Dix wrote 99% (some sprites glitch when facing left) working patch for land of illusion (extracted code from castle of illusion japanese hacked rom) pause on md start I just tested Land of Illusion and it's not 100%. As soon as the start is pressed, it goes back to normal by itself. The game is not paused.

Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2021 7:04 pm
Dix Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 21	refresh / download again loi with the last patch should work fine even in emulators (not really need that..)

EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2021 11:19 pm
EmuBoarding Joined: 06 Aug 2015 Posts: 155	Dix wrote refresh / download again loi with the last patch should work fine even in emulators (not really need that..) ok

Masternook Joined: 11 Jul 2024 Posts: 2	Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2024 12:33 pm
Masternook Joined: 11 Jul 2024 Posts: 2	I know the topic is old, I just discovered that with this modification the 8bitdo controls work in Master games using an Everdrive, can you post a video or a link to a tutorial on how to modify the games? I would really like to play Land of Illusion through Everdrive. If anyone has the rom with the Phantasy Star 1 modification I would also be very grateful.

Pbjhtx Joined: 18 Jul 2024 Posts: 1	Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2024 11:36 pm
Pbjhtx Joined: 18 Jul 2024 Posts: 1	I’m also going to necrobump an old thread. A game that I think would really benefit from a mega drive controller hack is Bank Panic. You currently press up to fire left. It would be incredible if that could be mapped to A on a mega drive controller. Then B would be middle, C would be right. It’s an excellent port otherwise dinged by only two available buttons.

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