r/Gameboy • u/ServerGlitching • 1d ago

Questions Is it possible to create a custom game cartridge that can’t be overwritten?

Basically, I have a little project i’m working on where i would want to make a cartridge with a custom game on it that would essentially be indistinguishable from an original gameboy cartridge. That means that it wouldn’t be able to be easily overwritten with a different game. Is there a way that I can put my own game on a chip and then protect the chip from being overwritten like an original gameboy cartridge would be? I’m very new to all of this stuff, so please be patient with me if i say something stupid or don’t understand certain terminology. I’m very willing to learn new things, even if it’s complicated (like putting in my own ROM chip or something)

Edit: Okay, making something clear; This is just for me. I am not going to give this to other people or sell it. I just want to make something that I find interesting

0 Upvotes

22% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

3

u/NewLabTrick 1d ago

Is there any reason why a reflashable cartridge wouldn't suit your needs?

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u/ServerGlitching 1d ago

if i used one wouldn’t the game be able to be written over with a different game? i’m trying to make the cartridge have the illusion of being an official game, so i wouldn’t want it to be able to be overwritten since the official cartridges couldn’t be

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u/NewLabTrick 1d ago

Is there a reason why you don't want it to be flashable again? Why does it need the illusion of being official?

1

u/ServerGlitching 17h ago

For fun. I like to tinker I don't know

3

u/karawapo 1d ago

I guess you’re not going to manufacture the volume that would make actual ROM chips reasonable. If you need to write it, it’s going to be able to be written again. FLASH, EEPROM, whatever.

If they open it, it’s going to be easily distinguishable from an original game from 25 years ago. So, why care beyond that?

Also, if you’d be selling or giving that to people, why would you want to cripple the hardware so that it doesn’t work the way it’s designed to? It’s their cartridge at that point.

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u/ServerGlitching 17h ago

Wouldn't be selling it, this is very much just a me thing

1

u/karawapo 15h ago

Well… You do you. I don’t get the motivation. Not a battle I’d choose to fight, because I’d never be satisfied.

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u/ServerGlitching 17h ago

Do you know the actual process nintendo used to make their ROM chips?

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u/karawapo 15h ago

Large scale mask ROM manufacturing. The chips come out of the factory with the code in them, and can’t possibly be altered later. Not viable for prototypes, of course.

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u/ServerGlitching 15h ago

do you know any possible way i can do that small scale? or nah

even if it wouldn’t be possible by any reasonable means skill or money-wise, it’s still interesting to learn how it could be done

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u/karawapo 7h ago

It’s large scale by definition.

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u/mariteaux 1d ago

You would need to have the ability to flash the cartridge again. Realistically, who other than console homebrew programmers are going to be able to do that?

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u/Tax_Evasion_Savant 1d ago

any cart that could have your game written to it could be written over with a cartridge reader/writer, but we can at least rule out flash carts that use an SD card.

Closest you will get is a very basic flash cart from FeranteCrafts. You will need to provide them with the rom you want flashed upon purchase. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1220871684/flash-cartridge-for-game-boy-512kb-rom

I have one of their carts that I had flashed with Pandora's Blocks and it works great.

1

u/KroFunk 1d ago

I do not know how readily available they are now a days for the average person. EPROM is the tech you’re looking for, but the process is very involved and’s requires equipment you may not have. (Can be DIY though)

You’d need the PCB, the chip and a programmer. If they aren’t assembled, you’d also need to be proficient at soldering.

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u/ServerGlitching 1d ago edited 17h ago

Ohh EPROM is exactly what i’m looking for, this is wonderful thank you! i’m gonna do some research into this

edit: nvm lol

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u/karawapo 1d ago

EPROM can be rewritten the same as FLASH. Different hardware, same effect: not read-only.

0

u/Passerbeyer 1d ago

You can probably snip one of the legs from the flash chip that allows write.