Author Topic: I think I found some discrepancies in the SMS and Mega Drive dats  (Read 4006 times)

Offline Neville

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I'm trying to keep my FB Neo sets updated, which is not always easy. Most of the console sets can be build from the No-Intro sets, but most websites have outdated versions, and they don't cover the homebrew games.

Anyway, while tidying up my SMS and Mega Drive sets with the dats provided by the emu, I've noticed a few discrepancies. These are ROMs that the emulator loads without any warnings and work fine, but that the dats insist they're wrong.

https://i.imgur.com/kgiuTqs.png

https://i.imgur.com/brliaU0.png

https://i.imgur.com/6f7LRE6.png

https://i.imgur.com/1XmAW4U.png

https://i.imgur.com/ualxLAp.png

https://i.imgur.com/s0nNInI.png

As you can see from the images, I'm using RomCenter 4.0.1 and I build the databases from the ClrMAMEPro dats the emu creates.

Offline dink

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Re: I think I found some discrepancies in the SMS and Mega Drive dats
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2020, 10:05:55 PM »
Let's take for example espnsped, in the dat, for the parent set it's:
Code: [Select]
<game name="espnsped">
<description>ESPN Speedworld (USA)</description>
<year>1994</year>
<manufacturer>Sony Imagesoft</manufacturer>
<rom name="espn speed world (usa).bin" size="2097152" crc="f50be478"/>
<driver status="good"/>
</game>

for the clone (the prototype game), it's:

Code: [Select]
<game name="espnspedp" cloneof="espnsped" romof="espnsped">
<description>ESPN Speedworld (USA, Prototype)</description>
<year>1994</year>
<manufacturer>Sony Imagesoft</manufacturer>
<rom name="u4.bin" size="524288" crc="525788b1"/>
<rom name="u5.bin" size="524288" crc="ada9c9a8"/>
<rom name="u1.bin" size="524288" crc="e8ee1029"/>
<rom name="u2.bin" size="524288" crc="0f3ec491"/>
<driver status="good"/>
</game>

does the issue go away if you put the prototype set (espnspedp) in?  I think it's complaining about the clone being gone for a merged-set.

best regards,
- dink

Offline Neville

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Re: I think I found some discrepancies in the SMS and Mega Drive dats
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2020, 07:24:41 AM »
I don't think we're talking about the same issue... my complaint in the case of ESPN Speedworld is that the dat says the u4.bin file is the wrong version, yet the emulator says it's OK and loads it. Same with the other sets, RomCenter finds errors yet FB Neo says they're fine.

I don't know if the error is in the dats or in RomCenter 4.0.1.

Offline dink

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Re: I think I found some discrepancies in the SMS and Mega Drive dats
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2020, 09:20:55 AM »
That's because there is no u4.bin in espnsped, but it would be in the merged set, which is why romcenter is flagging it.  (and also why the game runs fine without, it's not part of espnsped, its espnsped's clone / prototype)


Offline Neville

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Re: I think I found some discrepancies in the SMS and Mega Drive dats
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2020, 09:50:07 AM »
I think I understand. But what about the errors in Sonic Spinball (SMS) or Magic Bubble (Mega Drive)?

Offline geese howard

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Re: I think I found some discrepancies in the SMS and Mega Drive dats
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2020, 11:53:29 AM »
Question:
Why megadrive and master system don?t use "normal" roms, like any other emulators?

Offline Neville

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Re: I think I found some discrepancies in the SMS and Mega Drive dats
« Reply #6 on: June 05, 2020, 03:30:27 PM »
I guess "normal" ROMs would be harder to emulate compared to a closed set. Personally I don't mind.

Offline dink

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Re: I think I found some discrepancies in the SMS and Mega Drive dats
« Reply #7 on: June 05, 2020, 08:22:09 PM »
I'm not sure about sspin, this one is a mystery, the dat entry looks fine, with no clones or anything else:
Code: [Select]
<game name="sspin">
<description>Sonic The Hedgehog Spinball (Euro, Bra)</description>
<year>1994</year>
<manufacturer>Sega</manufacturer>
<rom name="sonic spinball (europe).bin" size="524288" crc="11c1bc8a"/>
<driver status="good"/>
</game>

Code: [Select]
<game name="mbubble">
<description>Magic Bubble (Pirate)</description>
<year>199?</year>
<manufacturer>&lt;unknown&gt;</manufacturer>
<rom name="magic_bubble.bin" size="524288" crc="ce4a0c46"/>
<driver status="preliminary"/>
</game>

Magic Bubble's dat also looks fine, although the game isn't in working order (re: driver status).