Converting NES/Famicom Games to English! Non Destructive!!

[@ElNeroDiablo]

Mate, this is some seriously sweet work you've done, both with the 8-Bitter for NES/Famicom, and the Super Stacker for SNES/SuFami games! It's also soooo soothing just listening to you explain stuff and solder away on these projects.

[@poodudeelite]

I love the idea of these pcbs, I just wish they weren't cost prohibitive. My total cost with eproms is around $2, this method is $24. I love how easy these are though without having to figure out the wiring. Maybe you could sell a bulk of just the pcbs for a few $ for people that want to make a bunch of games.

[@PubstarHero]

Man, my monday was kinda sucking, but now I can just watch this for the last 40 minutes of my shift and end on a good note.

[@IlliaRieka]

These videos are so informative. Thank you for taking the time to make these. You are truly doing god’s work.

[@bobbysingh7386]

You're the Bob Ross of soldering. I don't even want to do all this, but I am just hooked

[@keithstone001]

I was about to chip swap Just Breed to translate it and you saved it. I'm totally trying this method. Chips were already programmed and everything. I was waiting on new desoldering tips. Guess I'm gonna blank them and save them for something else. Got some 8bitters on the way! Thanks Voultar.

[@lobizonxp]

Rewatching this in 2020. I'm sure I will never be doing something like this. I have no console or cartridge or any plans on working on electronics. But I thank you very much for all the knowledge involved!

[@RhamosVhailejh]

Oh, wow! I've been wanting to get involved in this sort of thing for many years, since before KZbin was even really a major thing. I'm super psyched to find these video tutorials, because they're so much clearer than text-only tutorials and give me a much better idea of what's involved. And this video was uploaded just the day before my birthday, so that's pretty cool. lol. I think it might be time for me to finally get my hands on the necessary hardware and create the FF2, FF3, and Sweet Home carts I've always wanted! Thanks so much. Definitely earned yourself a sub from me.

[@MsZumoman]

This is amazing! I've been wanting to translate a bunch of my famicom carts but not keen on removing chips. Not cause it's hard just because its destructive. These adapter pcbs are prefect solution!

[@jenniferlynn3579]

haha I love that you carried over the "Hot Dump" joke from the related SNES video.

[@iraito8356]

I wish i could buy the NES\famicom ones, i hope they will be restocked soon.

[@arkyoptrix]

These are really interesting to watch. Learning a little electronics and soldering technique every time I watch one of your Mod-Shop vids!

[@konman10000]

The almighty face reveal!!! 🙏🙌 All praise the Lord Voultar Savior of Console and Cartridge Kind! Seriously though, as now a 25 year old you've inspired me to pursue my facination with soldering in earnest. With your clear and concise tutillage I'm confident that I can achieve the same results and carry on the hard mod legacy. Keep it up my dude! 👍

[@vgserpent471]

loving the castlevania music in the bg is great

[@xvilemx]

The first Castlevania song that popped up at 8:00, I can't find it though. But I know it's from one of the GB versions. You know it by chance?

[@stekulov3529]

@@xvilemx "Praying Hands" ! One of my favorite songs. From Belmont's Revenge on Gameboy. It's the Cloud Castle stage music. Never got a remix on any subsequent game, but New Messiah (Crystal Castle) did for Castlevania ReBirth.

[@xvilemx]

@@stekulov3529 Yeah! That's it. You'll like this, check out this cover! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpOnemtsfb1_kMk It's the best Castlevania cover I've heard!

[@skins4thewin]

Thanks a TON for creating these, these will be the standard for modding these carts in the near future!

[@cosmickatamari]

Even having an Everdrive, I love being able to own the original carts. And then having them translated is definitely an amazing feat!

[@MrTee3three]

brilliant, and love the music overlays while you're working :)

[@ParasiteXX]

Somehow i always imagined you having a giant Bob Ross fro

[@pd1jdw630]

ParasiteX I do the same, I always wonder if he’s seen so many bob ross episode that he starts to sound like bob. I like it though.

[@BillAnt]

Maybe he's Bob Ross' brother... the still living one. ;) "A little solder over here, a little flux over there, a little chirping bird on pin 22, you're all welcome to watch it too!" lol

[@ThinkBeforeYouSleepYT]

Beat the devil out of that soldering iron.

[@jerricabenton842]

@Voultar is Bob Ross AF

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Hmm, idk. I always thought Voltaur was more like the Jim Carey of soldering, rather than Bob Ross. Bob was WAY more chill and soft spoken. ;-)

[@spokehedz]

UGH! Don't pander to those 'you need to lift the pin, not cut it' silly persons... Now they are going to complain that you didn't glob HOT GLUE over the pin now!

[@froddobaggins]

I accidentally hot glued all over my gamecart. Now it won't boot.

[@unh0lyav3ng3r8]

Ooh, face reveal episode! My memory's fucked but love your videos. Can't believe you don't have more subs, your work and presentation are excellent.

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

"Krapton tape"? I guess we know your opinion on that matter. 😂

[@naikrovek]

Those folks complaining about your pin neutering technique are the same folks who would never solder a board on the back of the PCB. Never mind that new PCBs can easily be made and that the ROM chips are easily replaceable if damaged. Those folks would remove the chip, put a socket in, and put the chip into a socket. So I'm not sure if they're worth listening to if you're someone that has the temerity to apply new parts to an old game PCB.

[@Voultar]

That's actually a very good point.

[@MrSapps]

@@Voultar How about a mod where you remove the old ROM with a socket that stacks the old existing rom and the new one with a dip switch on to to switch between the 2? :D

[@coopercummings8370]

I had some trouble with the jumpers for an MMC5 cartridge, I'm not sure if I misunderstood the video or some of the details were wrong, but in case anyone else is having trouble, I got the new revision with 4 sets of jumpers and to get the translation to work, I had to set the 3 that had MMC5 markings to the MMC5 position and the remaining set of jumpers that didn't have an MMC5 marking (the one Voultar connected the bodge wire to in the video) was left open. The jumpers were identical for the CHR and PRG rom on the MMC5 board. If you still have the old pcbs with only 3 sets of jumpers, it looks like you should urn the bodge wire for both, I looked closely at the traces and it looks like the 4th one that is added connects traces to connect the center pad of that jumper to pin 22 of the ROM chip just like the bodge wire does in the video.

[@Stephen_Ellis]

Love having these videos on while I'm programming at work.... 10/10 would recommend.

[@BreakingYTown]

I would like to see u do up a cart with a switch to go between the versions

[@BigHead2615]

This is so awesome! But, there is something that I am confused about... the only translated language options for Mother (that I can find on romhacking), are all non-english; the only english versions of the game I can find, are the 1990 NES prototype, and an extracted rom of the Wii U Virtual Console version "EarthBound Beginnings", and I like that what ever you have and used retains the "Mother" name and logo when launching the game. Where can I find the patch that you have?

[@ianwalker2692]

I was wondering the same.

[@CanadianFuzzy]

Do we need to start a GoFundMe for a pair of nail clippers so you'll stop biting them? :P

[@AlpineTheHusky]

Xb Just wanted to ask where I could donate a nail clipper

[@BillAnt]

Hey, I've got a wire-cutter and plier to donate.... address please?! ha-ha.. crackin' up laughing... you guys should know that true artists don't give a damn about their nails, they only care about their craft. ;D

[@johnsimon8457]

I’m a hand model, mama. A finger jockey. We don’t think the same way as the face and body boys do. We’re a different breed.

[@hualni]

Voular has been very sick. He is on a slew of meds including antiretrovials, steroids, and a slew of meds that cost more than you'll see in a decade. Those drugs make his nails brittle and difficult to keep. So while he he suffers every day he gets out of bed to make these incredible videos. What do you provide to society?

[@user-ko1qo7qw8r]

I love it when you ring my bell... O.0 Amazing job as always. Thanks for the new video!

[@Helghast59]

Your voice reminds my Bob Ross, but not in the painting theme)) And, by the way, perfect soldering, as always))

[@rashira9610]

What I'm wondering is how many times you can put that pin back into circuit and remove it before it snaps off? maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way but it seems to me like a non destructive conversion is somewhat pointless if you cant switch back and forth without worrying about breaking the pin.

[@graymouser7649]

ya! got home and boom Voultar vid life is good

[@devinlove7191]

Awesome videos. I'm sure I've watched them all. Very interesting to see more of what you look like as well.

[@CastleManiaGames]

Just Google image search Kirk Cameron, should come right up.

[@mllarson]

Put in an order for your special FlashCat deal when you released the SNES modding video. Looking forward to receiving mine!

[@luisbadolato]

You, Sir, are a memester and a scholar

[@Jackersmcph]

Hey, question I have used inlretro to dump final fantasy 3 and final fantasy 2 and followed process no problem and translated them using this process. But when try to dump Final Fantasy I and II I use same process including using bootgods info. It won’t work in Nestopia Was curious if you had any issues when testing the dump

[@CESkootchy]

You are clearly the Louis Rossman of the old video game world. Are motivational soldering videos a genre now?

[@th3cub350]

Nice video again, could you make a video to explain the tech difference between mmc's (especially those special cases like mmc5) and why it need those jumpers manipulation (when are those 4 jumpers modules come to the shop ?) cheers :)

[@kennylauderdale_en]

We're living in the future. What a time to be a retro game fan.

[@TsunamiUndine]

what's the name of that website you mention in 25:33? not able to completely understanding, please can you include that website in your description.

[@aaronfifty5]

Great video, thanks!🙏 Quick question - is that "Voultar programming kit" bundle still being sold by Embedded Computers? Link seems to be dead

[@LazyBunnyKiera]

I think if i were to do this, i'd add a tiny hidden switch to switch between english and japanese. Just hide it near the cart connector. Have it use a pin to flip it.

[@skins4thewin]

One thing you can see with Voultar's soldering is that he isn't afraid to turn the heat up on his irons! You can almost see the noclean & solder bubbling from how much heat he's got going there. Perhaps that's the secret is to not be afraid of using too much heat?

[@MrSapps]

just don't dwell too long.. or in this case apart from the NOR flash there probably isn't much to kill/traces to burn off etc

[@TheMonyarm]

Something that would be a good idea, is splitting the rom into PRG and CHR before patching, and then comparing, cause for some games the patch might only modify the PRG.

[@neeneko]

huh, before this video I never knew there was a non-destructive option. Though I wonder, could a similar disable trick be pulled on the 8bitter too, so that one could switch between which one is active?

[@JordaNeale]

Sounded like Voultar was addressing some of his haters of champion voultar's skills.

[@anthonyaviles8665]

Awesome video as always 👍 voultar great now i don't have to make wire connections again great job. Keep up all the good videos

[@anthonyaviles8665]

Are you still using the t12 iron i noticed you got a new handle for it if it till is that iron set

[@patrickhawthorneLS]

How do I like this 10x ? Thank you for this amazing video,I am just getting into this as I want to do my own famicom carts into English and don't want to keep paying over the odds for them off ebay

[@slipangle3027]

So I'm guessing these won't work with Namco's 28-pin DIPs?

[@AsilarWindsailor]

Does anyone know if replacement PCBs are available for NES cartridges? The ones I have are so worn and thin that the games have a very hard time working. I've already replaced the cartridge slot inside the NES and it has helped but after checking the game itself, it's plain that the PCB is almost gone. I want to just lift the chips off of the original and place them on a replacement board with a fresh card edge

[@cookingmailman6086]

Good to see you back!!!

[@keithstone001]

I would love to try these but I'm not sure where to get the flash programmer adapter for my eprom programmer. I have the minipro TL866cs.

[@keithstone001]

Nvm I figured it out just got excited.

[@modology]

can you please also make a video tutorial for NROM cart as well? thanks

[@modology]

from the description, 8bitter "Famicom cartridges that are 128KB in size or larger! ", i safely assume that NROM 40kb might not be compatible?

[@OptimisedTutorials]

voultar, love the budget soldering iron you reviewed, do you have any recommendations for a budget hot air station?

[@applebumpcaster8240]

Thats awesome mr. Voultar. Inspiring vid

[@Hippie459MN]

Awesome stuff as always! Now, how long until Nintedont find this and gets their panties in a bunch seeing they are having a field day going after anything modded Nintendo on KZbin lately.

[@sethjones5250]

2 things. 1 when will these be available again? 2 why haven't you made the script for dumping Famicom carts available? At this time the INLretro dumper software doesn't make it super easy to do and there's not a lot of support out there for this device either.

[@iespostavid]

Taught me lots! 2 questions. The 3rd cart, in talking about the mapper you say 1 megabit, is that correct? Then in the jumpers, it looks like the 2nd jumper is “chr” while the other two are “prg” - but those are ignored and all 3 jumpers just connect for the “mmc5” label, right?

[@SharonisCarin321]

Hello Great Voultar. I am interested in doing this for SNES games on your site. But I keep seeing the word Repros. You have it in quotation.if you translate it in this method it's not a repro if you are putting it back on the original cart is it? I am worrying about if it's ok to do this even with my own legal copies of the games

[@LastMegaMan]

maybe I am just exceedingly dumb, but is it at all possible to socket the chips and just simple modify the sockets? or do the cases lack enough space to do so? I ask because it seems to me that it may be possible to do. but I could be wrong and such an Idea would require a bigger casing and, for me, a better understanding of your mods.

[@ThinkBeforeYouSleepYT]

What type of flux does Voultar use?

[@Voultar]

Read the video description.

[@ThinkBeforeYouSleepYT]

@@Voultar Got it, thanks.

[@TheKonamiMan]

If I could give a second like for using Castlevania music I would

[@mjc0961]

23:45 - Very important. Never stick your tip in dry.

[@patrickpou1397]

You do awsome work !!!!

[@jetstreamsam7608]

Are you the lost brother of liquid and solid snake?

[@user-vn7ce5ig1z]

Yup, he's in between the two: Solder Snake.

[@tylersherman782]

That's amazing lol

[@CougarLeonII]

@@user-vn7ce5ig1z Dammit... That's too good. It's better than "Vapour Snake".

[@jetstreamsam7608]

Solder snake is the next step because it can be liquid and solid

[@heilong108]

@@jetstreamsam7608 do you have a single fact to back that up?

[@williammoore8253]

Would it be possible to change the dram of the Super ufo 8 to play star ocean?

[@michaelcardoza683]

Do you have any more information about the M27C322 adapter you showed? I don't see it on the programmer's website but a cheap programmer with an adapter that can handle the 322 would be amazing!

[@Voultar]

Email Michael @ Embedded Computer.s

[@Waifu4Life]

Hi Voultar, your good friend Bob from RetroRGB sent me to your video. Do you know if there's such a mod possible for GameBoy games?

[@manueljesusarredondoruiz2444]

Does the 8 bitter support VRC7?

[@magnus87]

Good video, is it possible to place a NES CIC (NTSC) on a cartridge (PAL)? To then play in an American console without needing to modify it.

[@draconic5129]

I probably would have converted the save from SRAM to an FRAM that way you wouldn't have to worry about the battery dying in the future.

[@froddobaggins]

Would this be possible with Gameboy Color game paks?

[@Voultar]

Yes!

[@froddobaggins]

@@Voultar I started looking into it and have found a lot of information. This one Spaniard dude makes adapters to use with the AM29F016 chip, pretty similar to this process. And apparently there are lots of options when it comes to flashers, went with one made by some Aussies. Can't wait to get that son of a bitch so I can play some romhacks.

[@Voultar]

@@froddobaggins I showed that off last night at the very end of the RetroRoundtable podcast, coincidentally enough!

[@froddobaggins]

@@Voultar Haven't checked the latest podcast yet. Now I guess I have to.

[@Zionfarm]

Voultar what gauge of wire should I use for tying the board high? I got everything on hand except some conductor wire.

[@rboy58]

What patch did you apply to Mother?

[@suluturnip]

Does Voultar still make these?

[@DrKeez]

Sometimes you gotta wonder...at what point does modding cross the line into manufacturing?

[@iCach0]

Could your 8 bitter be used for a Japanese Contra translation? I ask because the original Famicom cart has epoxied ROMs instead of regular DIP packages. I've been told it's possible using a donor board that uses the same PCB class (Konami VRC 2), could you confirm/deny?.

[@Voultar]

Possibly. I believe VRC2 uses the same pinout. However, VRC6 and VRC7 have a completely different pinout that differs from the typical Nintendo MASKROM. Those two are actually pin compatible with 27C4001 EEPROMs.

[@stormzbunnies9987]

hi there i haven't fully watched this video yet but is this converting a non English game to actual English example German to English etc? and can this be done with a playstation 1? i have a game that i would love to change the language of but simply cannot

[@stekulov3529]

Is there anything wrong with soldering the NOR flash onto the modules first, and then installing the fully populated/strapped modules onto the cartridge PCB afterward?

[@Voultar]

Sure, you can do that. The order in which you install the NOR memory & module has no bearing on anythang, boiz.

[@RaverSnowLep]

Nick's TV's huh? Cool! I didn't think anyone repaired them anymore.

[@Horrorfanatic2024]

this is very helpful so far! just a tiny bit confused at 17:43 seconds. are you installing anything onto the 8 bitter chip? or do you just solder it to the program and character boards as is directly from your store?

[@BuxProduxshuns]

It's too bad that the Bullet Bill graphic is covered, after the installation of the chip.

[@TheYellowman2000]

this is a phenomenal video

[@upover]

Do you feel the programmers would work for the cloning and replacing dead PPU units showing up in SNES units?

[@MrSapps]

A PPU isn't a rom/flash, its a gpu type IC so nope

[@omfgbunder2008]

Just curious, is there a way to split the ROM without having to expand it to 4x?

[@neverthere5689]

I know this probably won’t get answered but do you have the same chip for Gameboy games. I want to translate my Japanese “ X” game

[@Nagual_Jo]

I want it!! Can ibuy it?. Thanks!

[@MagnaRyuuDesigns]

is there some kind of redesign that can be done so that inserting the memory modules into the flashcat is less fiddly?

[@SymBiotiX]

What kind of liquid flux are you using? Your amazon shop link doesn't seem to go anywhere for me. thanks!

[@davidkain9046]

Which flux?

[@iseriouslyi1m1]

Have a question after watching your videos since you know who’s good & bad on eBay. Purchased from this seller called “barry.good.games” you said don’t go feedback but I’m new to world of consoles being fixed or modded etc. wanted to know if this seller is on the good side or bad side? Thanks. & Great videos btw, you put a lot of pride/effort into your work, making things neat & removing all that damn HOT GLUE!!! 🤣🤣😂😂 Keep up the great work.

[@HostilePride]

Thanks again Voultar, great information. What software do you usually use for designing your PCB's?

[@ZX81v2]

Great vid Voultar

[@TLS2SN]

Could that module be used to J-tag a certain console from last generation?

[@ximonx]

Nice boards 👍

[@AfonsodelCB]

had to go to the channel page to understand if this was a different video from the last one or a reupload

[@DrunkCat1337]

Didn't get to see the magical desoldering tool :(

[@EmperorOfTigers]

Which translation patch did you use for Mother?

[@kingarthur7255]

Do you sell games that have already been converted to English?

[@SharonisCarin321]

No but he has a service he can translate it for you by buying those appliers himself and you pay him back to return it

[@smashuniverse6335]

You should totally invent a chip for gba. Id really like to be able to play mother 3 in English on original cart.

[@johnsimon8457]

The people building those FPGA flash carts that support EVERYTHING really had their work cut out for them.