Adding Games to Atgames Genesis Flashback HD

Intro: Adding Games to Atgames Genesis Flashback HD

This will just be a quick walkthrough of how to add games to your Atgames Genesis Flashback HD. If you don't know what you are doing and aren't careful you can completely brick your unit as this instructable requires modification of a sensitive area of the Atgames Genesis Flashback HD (called just Flashback from here on out). That said I cannot be held responsible for any damage you may cause, this is at your own risk.

Tools you need:

Philips Screwdriver

a computer that has a working adb setup (android bridge, I will not cover installing this here, you will have to instructions on creating an android development environment elsewhere)

a mini USB cable

a brain

general android knowledge can be helpful

Forgive this roughness of this instructable, I hadn't planned on making one, however a month after release nobody else has made one yet, I will make one just until someone makes a better one.

P.S. Adding games to the Atari flashback 8 gold is similar after a minor hadware mod. hint: The games are stored in an obb.

STEP 1: Open Your Flashback and Connect It to a PC.

To open the unit you must remove the 7 screws, 4 are under the 4 feet pads, one is under the label, see image.

after the screws are removed take off the cover gently as not to break the wires connecting to the top.

Now plug in the Mini USB came on the mini USB plug on the unit circuit board, and then into your computer.

Wait a moment and the rk3036 will show up in your devices. When it does you are ready to go.

STEP 2: Prepare Your Flashback

Now navigate to where you have ADB installed and run the following commands to prepare your unit to add games. (all commands are case sensitive)

"adb devices"

This command starts the adb daemon and verify the flashback is connected

"adb pull /system/atgames/all-games.ini"

This command copies the all-games.ini file you will need to modify to your computer.

"adb shell mount -o rw,remount,rw /system "

This command is where the risk starts, it tells your flashback to allow modifications to the system folder.

"adb shell mv /system/atgames/all-games.ini /system/atgames/all-games.bak"

This command creates a backup of the original all-games.ini to restore if needed later.

" adb shell ln -s /sdcard/Games/all-games.ini /system/atgames/all-games.ini"

This command creates a symlink from the original all-games.ini and points it to the NAND Flash for easy access.

" adb shell mount -o ro,remount,ro /system"

This command restores the original read only state to the system files.

Open NAND FLASH folder on the rk3036 device and create the folder "Games" (case is important here as well)

copy the all-games.ini file from your adb folder to the newly created "Games" folder

Try the system, make sure it still works correctly.
If it does not make sure the all-games.ini file is where it belongs and that there were no typos in the above or things will not work.

STEP 3: Adding the Games

Note: games MUST be in .bin format (not just .bin extension) If they are in .smd or .mgd format they will not boot. Try to find a converter. (.sms and .gg also work but for the scope of this guide we will stick with genesis games)

The game can be named whatever you want but must have a bin extension and no spaces.

Ex.: Whatever.bin

drag the game to the created "Games" folder on the rk3036 device.

Now add a cover for the game with the same name and .png added.
format is PNG, resolution is 640x320.

Ex: Whatever.bin.png

Finally open the all-games.ini and add the following for each game, Replace the in bold with your own info.

[Game Name]
File=/sdcard/Games/whatever.bin

Platform=Genesis

Genre=Sega

Description=this is a description of the game the real unit also included gameplay controls.

D=Pad-Does stuff

A=Other stuff

C=whatever.

Now safe the all-games.ini and copy it to the "Games" folder you created

finally reboot the system and enjoy your new games.

STEP 4: Restore to Stock (Optional)

If you feel the need to restore to stock follow these directions:

Navigate to your adb folder

run the following commands:

"adb devices"
This command starts the adb daemon and verify the flashback is connected

"adb shell mount -o rw,remount,rw /system "

This command is where the risk starts, it tells your flashback to allow modifications to the system folder.

"adb shell rm /system/atgames/all-games.ini"

This command removes the symlink you created.

"adb shell mv /system/atgames/all-games.bak /system/atgames/all-games.ini"

This command copies the original all-games.ini back into place.

" adb shell mount -o ro,remount,ro /system"

This command restores the original read only state to the system files.

Now navigate to the rk3036 device and delete the "Games" folder you created"

You have restored stock.

STEP 5: Reassemble

Simple.

1. Remove USB Cable

2. Replace cover

3. Flip upside-down and screw in 7 screws

4. Replace label and feet

5. Enjoy

Comments

[TheRealAnubis]

I just picked up one of these at a Goodwill for cheap, and I'll have to say it's a resistant to hack system! I've hacked lots of systems over the years, but this one just won't cooperate.
I followed all the instructions to the letter, but the best I got was the game and artwork to show up, but when you try to launch it, it says to "please, return to the menu before powering off", and then just sits at the game info screen. I've checked everything, and even tinkered with some things, used different files, converted from .md to .bin, etc. I was only adding 13 games with artwork, so that shouldn't overload it. If you have any updated information on this hack, that would be great!
Thanks for the instructable!

[thistouch76]

Yeh this is a great console I have never ever thought about how,,, damaging this could be if something goes wrong,,, & I'm pretty sure if your not a technician,,, the chances are pretty hectic so as the going goes,,, I'm sure it is possible but being recommended to try this is probably not the bright idea,,, his mine

[thistouch76]

This console rocks.

[AlphonsP]

*FROM THE 100'S OF MEGADRIVE / GENESIS TESTED GAMES THESE ARE THE GAMES WITH BIG KNOWN ISSUES ON THE SYSTEM AND NEED TO BE UPDATED:*

*Sonic the Hedgehog 3* (Won't load) (will work if you use the Ready for Repro .Rom)

*Samurai Showdown* (Work's but does not see the start button)

*NBA JAM T.E.* (we couldn't test it but we've head it didn't work)

*Super Steet Fighter 2* (Won't load)

*Mega Bomberman* (Sound issues!)

*Virtua Racing* (Won't Load)

*Target Earth* (we couldn't test it but we've head it didn't work)

*Contra Hardcorps / Probotector* (Works but way to many glitches)

*Dragon Ball Z* (Had scrolling issue)

*Primal Rage* (Works but is glitchy with green border during matches)

*Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3* (Can't access Joystick option and 2-Player Mode sometimes won't work)

[NoahK39]

Sonic 3 works for me. Double Dragon I can't get to load. Lemmings 2: Tribes I can't get to load. Some games, like The Tick for instance display at the wrong aspect ratio. Running MD.EMU, a lot of games with issues work, though I can't get certain versions of Mega Man to work properly on mdemu.

[Thestewoods]

I can't get double dragon to work either

[AlphonsP]

Weird mine Mega Man works fine and mine Repro and too (didn't test mine real one out).. but I also heard that some people had problems with Megaman... So Strange...

[NoahK39]

I haven't had any issues with sonic 3 except for the sonic 3 complete romhack which was glitching at mushroom hill. I can plug in sonic 3 and sonic and knuckles and it'll dump both roms and both work for me but it still won't detect them as connected. As for mega man, the EU version i was getting a 1:1 aspect ratio instead of 4:3, the japanese one works fine but has sound issues in MD.EMU.

[AlphonsP]

Only Sonic 3 ROM Ready for Repro version works... original SOnic 3 and a normal Sonic 3 rom didnt work. Also Sonic 3 Knuckles Ready for Repro works but normale combination does not also not with the real cartridges!

[JonP112]

Do you success To load international superstar deluxe?
Because the game don't load screen black

[KyleD109]

Thanks. This has worked for me. However I have just a couple of questions.

1. To Add more games after completing this, do you just need to copy the games to the Games folder on the board and modify the .ini file?

2. It says that it can support .sms games, so how to I go about adding an .sms rom. Do add the games with the .sms extension and add to ini file but using the naming convention File=/sdcard/Games/whatever.sms and for the picture .sms.png?

Thanks again.

[Thestewoods]

I don't know if it has anything to do with it but the mastersystem games in the ini. say .sms.gz

[Thestewoods]

Has anyone been able to get any of these games working on it?
Beavis and butthead
chase HQ
Dick Tracy
Double Dragon
earthworm Jim
FIFA 96
micro machines
road rash
Saturday night slam masters
shadow of the beast
WWF Raw
WWF Royal Rumble.

They didn't work out of the 34 games I loaded on mine. Also none of the pictures worked on mine either. Any instructions on getting that right?

[Kisfrancz89]

I hope, the forum is still active :)
I have a problem when I do the powershell part of the hacking.

At the third step:
"adb shell mount -o rw,remount,rw /system "

I got back a message about the usage the operators of this command.
What should I do?

Thanks in advance!

[AlphonsP]

Mine maximum is adding 17 games so the system keeps stable and you have 1 extra folder with 10 games. When I go above 7 the flashbacks (used it on multiple) are getting instable and skipping folders... so I will keep it by 17 till there is an update for it! Also I hope someone knows how I can unbrick one system!

[Cephiros]

thats strange, I don't know why that would be. What do you mean unstable

[NoahK39]

I've added about 100 games at this point, some have issues but most work, sometimes if you copy the all-games.ini through windows it has trouble loading it on the next boot, just drag it in again while it's booting and it should load.

[AlphonsP]

The Sega folder.. it won't let me load other folders. It just loads until the last 2 folers (which each has 10 games in it). Really weird. When I go there it go back to recent played games. More people have this problem. And I already tried it on 2x Megadrive Flashbacks and both had this problem!

[NoahK39]

I have all the games in bin format and their respective png files as well as the all-games.ini in /sdcard/Games/ without any subdirectories, all the games I add to the ini are in this format:

[Example Game]

File=/sdcard/Games/ExampleGame.bin

Platform=Genesis

Genre=Sega

Description=Example Description

Dpad=Directional movement

Start=Start, pause

A=a

B=b

C=c

X=x

Y=y

Z=z

[AlphonsP]

Yeah me too! I think you got lucky!