Hacking the Game Boy cartridge protection
stacksmashing・10 minutes read
The Gameboy's unique copy protection relied on comparing the Nintendo logo from the cartridge to a fixed copy in the CPU during boot-up, preventing trademark violations. By exploiting a bug in the boot-up process, custom games could be booted without infringing on trademarks, requiring an understanding of the cartridge connector's 32 contacts and level shifters for custom FPGA cartridges.
Insights
- The Nintendo logo on the Gameboy served as a unique form of copy protection, essential for verifying the authenticity of games during boot-up.
- Understanding the technical intricacies of the Gameboy's boot-up process, such as the comparison between the logo on the cartridge and the fixed copy in the CPU, reveals the complexity behind the device's security measures and the potential for exploiting vulnerabilities.
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Recent questions
What is the significance of the Gameboy in history?
The Gameboy is a pivotal handheld device in history, known for its impact on the gaming industry and popular culture.
How did Nintendo protect the Gameboy from copying?
Nintendo implemented copy protection on the Gameboy by utilizing the console's boot-up procedure and comparing the Nintendo logo on the cartridge to a fixed copy in the CPU.
What is the boot-up process of the Gameboy?
The Gameboy's boot-up process involves a bootstrap ROM copying the Nintendo logo from the cartridge to the video RAM for comparison to determine if the device continues booting.
How could custom games be booted on the Gameboy without trademark violations?
Exploiting a time of check - time of use bug could allow custom games to be booted on the Gameboy without trademark violations by bypassing the logo comparison during boot-up.
What is required to build a ROM cartridge for the Gameboy?
Building a ROM cartridge for the Gameboy involves understanding the 32 contacts on the cartridge connector and implementing the necessary components for proper functionality.
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Summary
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Gameboy's Unique Copy Protection and Custom Cartridges
- The Gameboy is a significant handheld device in history, with the Nintendo logo serving as copy protection.
- Nintendo used a unique method for copy protection on the Gameboy, relying on the console's boot-up procedure.
- The Gameboy's boot-up process involves a bootstrap ROM copying the Nintendo logo from the cartridge to the video RAM for comparison.
- The comparison between the logo on the cartridge and a fixed copy in the CPU determines if the Gameboy continues booting.
- Exploiting a time of check - time of use bug could allow booting custom games without trademark violations.
- Building a ROM cartridge for the Gameboy involves understanding the 32 contacts on the cartridge connector.
- Implementing a custom cartridge on an FPGA required level shifters to handle the logic level differences between the Gameboy and FPGA.
