41 replies to this topic

[wood_jl]

I agree that the NES Powerpak is DAMNED expensive. I only got one because I'm always afraid they're going to stop making all of this stuff.

Same deal with Everdrive 64.
Same deal with 1541 Ultimate.

I think those were the most expensive, up there with the NES Powerpak, in price.

But they rock!

I'm not the world's biggest NES gamer, so I haven't run into stuff it won't play, but I think there are a few titles. Anyone have a list?

Although it's nice (with any flash device) to not have to (1)purchase (2) store (3) haul into and out of the closet all those games, it's especially handy with the old NES because the cart slot sucks so bad on that unit. Since I Ebay'd a Chinese 72-pin replacement connector and slapped the Powerpak in there, I haven't had to change a game or look at a blinking light. Perhaps I'll have to reseat the thing in the slot eventually, but it does save on the el-crapo cart slot of this machine. I dislike the toploader NES (although I understand the cart slot is improved) so I make do with this setup. Overpriced? YOU BET!!!! I agree. But cool!

[goldenegg]

I love flashcarts and own one for pretty much every cart based system I own. With that said, I don't believe they're for everyone. If you're like me and are always trying out new games or have a large number of games you want to play, they're fantastic. It's also nice for the convenience of not having to swaps carts to change games.

If money's an issue and there's only a small number of games you're interesting in playing on the system, it's best to see how much it would cost to buy all the games individually. If you can buy all the games for cheaper than the flashcart, I'd simply suggest doing that.

[atarilovesyou]

Good info. My bad on the 200 bux, with shipping, card and reader, it comes to about that much for me. Regarding the emulated mappers, I wonder why then it can't give you the special sound effects and graphics on certain games like Castlevania 3 and Contra (the Japan only ones, I thought it was due to special chips that we didn't get here).

I'm also of the mindset that I have many, many NES carts but I'd like this to get ALL the games I'd ever want to play. Plus, the less wear and tear from cartridge insertion is a plus.

[goldenegg]

atarilovesyou, on Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:28 PM, said:

Good info. My bad on the 200 bux, with shipping, card and reader, it comes to about that much for me. Regarding the emulated mappers, I wonder why then it can't give you the special sound effects and graphics on certain games like Castlevania 3 and Contra (the Japan only ones, I thought it was due to special chips that we didn't get here).

It can, but it requires a little mod.

[wood_jl]

I figure it's kind of like the SNES flashcarts. If I wasn't pretty serious about this stuff, I would never make the investment in the first place. If I am that serious (enough to make the investment) then I realize I may have to keep 5 (or so) "real" carts around to keep the thing from costing $400. No problem there. Too many systems to play already, and too many NES (or SNES in case of Everdrive w/DSP) games that work; I'll keep the few that don't - if I'm willing to drop $150+ I must be fairly serious about wanting this flashcart.

[atarilovesyou]

Cool mod info!....now, I've read about the extra graphics features that Contra used in the Famicom system...is there a mod to get those extra cut-scenes and graphics? I don't think the sound was different on Contra, but after hearing those Japanese sounds for Castlevania 3, I don't think I wanna play it any other way!

[snstay]

yeah i have the famicom castlevania 3 rom and i can tell the diffrent sound. But i dont have mine modded for sterio (yet )

P.s. i just downloaded a monsterparty hack called donner party.
DONT let your kids play it.
Its full of racism and abortion and all around mature themes.
Im showing it to my friends then taking it off (dont want my kids stumbling on it.)

[TheGameCollector]

atarilovesyou, on Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:28 PM, said:

Good info. My bad on the 200 bux, with shipping, card and reader, it comes to about that much for me. Regarding the emulated mappers, I wonder why then it can't give you the special sound effects and graphics on certain games like Castlevania 3 and Contra (the Japan only ones, I thought it was due to special chips that we didn't get here).

I'm also of the mindset that I have many, many NES carts but I'd like this to get ALL the games I'd ever want to play. Plus, the less wear and tear from cartridge insertion is a plus.

Oh yeah, the card reader that they give you is a piece of junk from Hong Kong. They are literally $2 shipped on ebay from Hong Kong and they die if you are not careful or extremely gentle with them. I think the fuse went out in mine so I'll be ordering another one from ebay.

[atarilovesyou]

I wish I took your advice about the card reader...yes, it's a big turd and you literally can't breathe on it or it'll disconnect (usually during a rom download). The cart arrived today and I managed to put some games on it, in different folders like the manual says, and..."bad file header" is the error I get on the screen. So I figure maybe the CF cart included in the game needs to be formatted (I'm tired, folks, lol) and then realize after trying again I wiped out the files that came with the CF card! So I download them again from the site, and this time only put on some of the regular NES games rather than a huge download: same error.

Man, I've got some bad luck. Anybody wanna give me some hints? This is a lot more of a pain than my Harmony or Coleco multicarts were...not as straightforward, but if anybody has some tips I'd appreciate it. Just wanna play some Solomon's Key!...lol.

[godslabrat]

atarilovesyou, on Fri Mar 23, 2012 1:56 AM, said:

I wish I took your advice about the card reader...yes, it's a big turd and you literally can't breathe on it or it'll disconnect (usually during a rom download). The cart arrived today and I managed to put some games on it, in different folders like the manual says, and..."bad file header" is the error I get on the screen. So I figure maybe the CF cart included in the game needs to be formatted (I'm tired, folks, lol) and then realize after trying again I wiped out the files that came with the CF card! So I download them again from the site, and this time only put on some of the regular NES games rather than a huge download: same error.

Man, I've got some bad luck. Anybody wanna give me some hints? This is a lot more of a pain than my Harmony or Coleco multicarts were...not as straightforward, but if anybody has some tips I'd appreciate it. Just wanna play some Solomon's Key!...lol.

This is the only thing that scares me about getting a powerpak... the idea that so many unknown CF-related errors abound. I already have a badass CF reader on my computer, but I know even certain CF cards mysteriously don't work in the powerpak. That, and I worry that my using a Mac might give it some weird juju.

Is it really that bad, if you order the CF card directly from Retrozone?

[atarilovesyou]

I don't think the CF card is in error, I'm thinking that maybe I didn't load the roms properly on it. The card reader they sell you is junk, however...but I was warned about that. I'm sure it's a quick fix from here but I'm kinda lost right now. My Harmony cart and others were relatively easy: hook up the cart/card, save the games onto the card and there ya go. Not quite as easy with this so far...I don't see why they'd send me a CF card that doesn't work with their own hardware. I made the mistake of formatting it which removed the powerpak file on the card but I just reloaded another from their website.

I'm looking forward to getting this thing running. If it is the CF card, then I'm cursed indeed. Who wants to go all over the place to find these obsolete cards, anyway?

[genesisguy]

I've got a NES and SNES Powerpak. Ordered them last month. No issues except the roms didn't work on the NES one. You gotta make sure you're getting clean roms with no headers.
Aside from that. No issues thus far.

[godslabrat]

atarilovesyou, on Fri Mar 23, 2012 2:18 AM, said:

Who wants to go all over the place to find these obsolete cards, anyway?

Be glad they didn't use SmartMedia.

[Mitch]

Sounds like you have some bad ROMs.

Mitch

[keilbaca]

I have the Harmony and the Sega Everdrive.

I love them both.

Due to space constraints, I am most likely going to sell my collection and get the other flash carts. I have to move very soon, yet again... and I just have too much crap to move. Maybe once I can afford a house, I'll collect again.

[atarilovesyou]

I'm still working on getting them to work, I don't think the roms are bad because they're from a member here who has had no problems with them on his powerpak...regarding that lousy card reader retroware sends you (if you pay for it), I've now learned it's not the reader that's junk, it's the cord they send you. I just switched to one of my cords and the thing works like a charm.

I'll give an update once I get a bit further along. The Harmony was much easier to get working by comparison.

[atarilovesyou]

Update (that was quick!): it's working now with an updated set of mappers. Now to organize the roms and start seeing which ones are glitchy, woot. I started up Bigfoot just for the heck of it and I already noticed some visual glitches (who cares, Bigfoot was terrible anyway) but then loaded up Adventure Island and it was just as I remembered it.

Once you get it working, the Powerpak works like a charm. I'm actually really impressed with the three multicarts I own, and I'm glad there's dedicated folks out there who are making this stuff.

Now I wonder if having the physical carts is even a priority, lol! I'll keep the important ones but shelf-space is always a premium...not that my collection is anything like some I've seen!