NOTE: the latest Jailbreak firmware can now be found at the analoguejb GitHub page. If you have any issues, old or new, please open a ticket there.
Custom "Jailbreak" firmware for the Analogue Mega Sg that allows loading ROMs from the SD Card slot, and an expanded featureset.
As shown in this video walkthrough, format a 2GB (or larger) SD card as FAT32 (FAT16 and exFAT are not supported). In Windows, you must use a tool for cards larger than 32GB, such as fat32format.
Extract everything to the root of your SD card and be sure to remove any existing firmware file. Place BIOS files in the BIOS directory. Insert the card into your Mega Sg and power on. The firmware will be flashed to the console. This process may take a few minutes.
While the firmware is flashing the LED will turn red and flicker, followed by a considerable pause and HDMI signal blackout. Do not power off. The main menu will boot when it has finished. Delete the firmware file from your card after flashing.
The Mega Sg is protected from bricking as a result of firmware updates, but please still follow the above precautions to be safe.
An empty folder structure is included. Drop your ROMs into these subfolders (see SmokeMonster's database for curated lists of ROMs). When loading a core, the Mega Sg will automatically enter the corresponding subfolder. The maximum number of files (ROMs and subfolders) that can be placed in a given folder is around 300-500, depending on the length of the filenames.
Select browse SD card from the main menu. Hit enter on a filename to run it, or if it's a subfolder, it will enter said folder. The menu hotkey will return to the file menu from the game.
NEVER insert or remove cartridges while your Mega Sg is powered on. Doing so may risk damaging the console and/or losing saves. It is good practice to backup saves before updating firmware.
When a game is exited to the menu, it will prompt you to save. Return to the file menu and save your progress before powering down.
The System -> Font menu allows you to select your own font in place of those which come with the console. The load font option will bring you to the file browser. If you have a directory called /FONT/ at the root of your SD card, it will default to that directory to load a font file. The font must use an 8x8 text box and must be represented in binary in a 1-bit per pixel format. Each character will take eight bytes to represent in this format. The file must be 768 or 1024 bytes in size and use the extension .fnt. The characters in the file will have to start at ASCII 20 (space) and end at ASCII 7F (delete). Font files 1024 bytes in size will not show the first 32 characters which would be stored in the first 256 bytes of that file. A set of user-created fonts compiled by Sho is available here. Utilities to convert Analogue font files to/from bitmap files are available here.
-
JB7.9 2023-06-24
- Now supports all hardware versions
- Many accuracy improvements to increase compatibility with the various Sega CD units and 32x.
- Fixed bus timing issue after certain writes - this affected Virtua Racing in some situations.
- Fixed RESET instruction's output so reset is only asserted during the instruction.
- Fixed SMS IRQ Hcount test.
- Fixed spaces in menus so they are now highlighted.
- Fixed turning off auto region detection resulting in games not restarting after a reset.
- Fixed Cheat codes and controller passthrough so they work if C button is used instead of B button to back out of menus.
- Fixed screen tearing on SMS.
- Fixed CRAM dots on Sonic 3 water areas.
- Fixed audio in Outrun - SMS PSG/FM enable flags added.
- Fixed sound corruption in Titan Mega Demo after running Bad Apple (and other conditions).
- Fixed Tiny Toon Adventures silent audio on title screen.
- Fixed Metal Blast 2277 music speed issue.
- Fixed Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon bottom row of glitchy pixels.
- Fixed Desert Strike SMS crash on pause.
- Fixed Demons of Asteborg cartridge issue.
- Added support for Columbus Circle games (16 Bit Rhythm Land, etc).
- Added support for XE-1AP analog controller.
- 3D glasses can be used to play 3D games (note: DAC suggested for best results).
- FM Powerbase Mini can be used to play FM audio now. It is enabled in the audio menu.
- Coleco's filter option menu is back.
- Coleco digi samples (Sewer Sam, etc) are working now.
-
JB7.8 2021-02-22
- Added blurring for the entire screen - enable dither blending and set blending depth to maximum
- Added SPD HDMI packet to identify as 'Mega sg"
- Added timing sliders for Sega CD
- Added horizontal position slider for DAC/analog output
- Added SMS Model 1 reset by pressing X, Y, and Z at the same time on a 6 button controller
- Fixed non-visible top scanline in HDMI
- Fixed graphical corruption in Paprium
- Fixed six button controller reading for Ultracore, Paprium and other games
- Fixed cartridge adapters failing to work properly if startup is set to "Cartridge Direct"
- Fixed Spider Man: Web of Fire 32x cartridge not working
- Fixed non-centered picture when horizontal/vertical position sliders are centered
- Fixed Z80 inability to write to the cartridge bus
- Fixed timing bug reported by krikzz
- Fixed Coleco Super Game Module not running Penguin Adventure
- Fixed Squish 'em Sam digitized audio
-
JB7.7 2019-11-19
- includes all fixes from official firmware v4.7:
- 32X support added in DAC mode
- Cartridge/CD audio selection fixed. Checking 'enable cartridge and CD audio' will work now regardless of the 'automatic' setting checkbox.
- 32X is detected and will enable audio by default.
- Chuck Rock CD is now working.
- Many CD fixes- NHL 94, Willy Beamish, and other games now work.
- Zesenilia demo text fixed.
- Turbo Outrun graphics seem to be fixed.
- Audio pitch shifting on some games in zero delay mode fixed.
- Support for cartridge adapters added.
- Game Gear adapter supports the tuner now.
- plus:
- Fixed large SMS BIOSes not working issue
- CJ Elephant now works properly
- Hardball 95 "SRAM error" fixed
- Many other minor fixes
- includes all fixes from official firmware v4.7:
-
JB7.6 2019-08-09
- includes all fixes from official firmware v4.6:
- Added DAC
- Added light gun support with DAC
- Fixed boot audio level
- Fixed left side green line when HQX scalers active
- Bubble Bobble SMS fixed
- Added Genesis and SMS light gun support
- Fixed CD BIOS replacement again
- Sped up file loading
- includes all fixes from official firmware v4.6:
-
JB7.5 2019-06-11
-
includes all fixes from official firmware v4.5:
- Player 2 controller can run the menu if it is a 3 or 6 button controller, and player 1 controller is not a 3 or 6 button controller
- Different size font files are supported. If the file is 1K or larger, the first 32 characters are cut off
- DVI Mode added
- Fixed scaler bug where the top scanline or two might not be visible
- Scanlines have been totally redone. There are now more options to tweak and width is now adjustable
(gen/md)
- Fixed CD games that regressed in previous fw
- Fixed Some graphic issues on Mickey Mania CD and others
- Fixed bugs with Japanese Sega CDs
- Silpheed and Vay bugs fixed
- Popful Mail "CPU ERROR" fixed
- CD bus timing improvements
- Pier Solar cartridge + audio CD works and tested on US model 1, US model 2, and Japanese CD units
- Added an option to automatically enable CD audio when CD unit plugged in
- Fixed FM sound bug on Streets of Rage percussion on certain tracks
- Fixed PSG sound bug (Phantasy Star IV)
- CRAM dots option added
- X-Men 2 random character select on start is now random
(sms)
- SMS Cropping setting added to crop the left side when a game used left cut
- Fixed PSG sound bug (Alex Kidd in Miracle World)
- CRAM dots option added
- VDP palette option added to select SMS or original TMS9918a palette for video modes 0-3
- All 240 scanlines are now visible. Before, only 239 were visible
-
plus:
- CD BIOS replacement works now after a reboot
- Coleco Gradius mapper + flash memory supported. Use extension .CF0 for this game
- Fixed Coleco Jungle Hunt / Learning with Leeper had stuttering scrolling
- Coleco Risky Rick console detection fixed. Note: there are two versions of the game. A full version and a demo version. If the game does not let you progress to level 2, it is the demo version
- Fixed Super Game Module AY-3-8910 write delay. This fixes the pitch of speech on Wizard of Wor
- Fixed Megaman Wily Wars EEPROM saving
-
-
JB7.4 2019-04-16
- includes all fixes from official firmware v4.4:
- Sega CD - adjusted timing i.e. Mickey Mania
- Overdrive 2 demo is 100%
- X-men 2 character select fixed
- Fixed player 2 XYZ (6 buttons)
- Allow no controller on player 2
- SMS fixes for X7 and flash everdrive
- You now stay in the file browser when selecting a font
- Changed "hotkeys" to "hotkeys & controllers"
- plus:
- Sega CD BIOS substitution works properly now on games like Snatcher
- Fixed speech on Coleco Wizard of Wor
- Fixed random crashes in Wizard of Wor and Majikazo
- Fixed graphics issue on Juno First and Astrododge
- Fixed sprites sticking around between games
- Added warning: CD BIOS replacer only works if fix region is turned on
- SMS BIOS now also works for cartridges
- Game gear buffer changed to zero delay by default
- PDF user guide with documentation
- includes all fixes from official firmware v4.4:
-
JB7.3 2019-04-01 Initial release ❤️
- includes all fixes from official firmware v4.3
- PDF user guide with documentation
- Sega CD Region-Free BIOS are problematic even on real hardware, so it's recommended to use an official SCD firmware from the region of game you wish to boot. Also, you must use a PAL CD BIOS for PAL games and NTSC for NTSC.
- Clean your Sega CD's edge connector with Deoxit before reporting issues.
Genesis/MegadriveMaster SystemandSG-1000Game GearColecoVision
- Sega CD BIOS loading
- ColecoVision Super Game Module and Super Banking
- and much more!
The custom firmware is not coded by SmokeMonsterPacks or frederic-mahe, but please do report problems here at GitHub for support. Priority will be given to jailbreak-specific problems (using ROMs through the SD card slot rather than through the cartridge slot). Feel free to also submit issues for non-jailbreak related problems. You can join the FPGAming Discord to chat or troubleshoot in #analogue-mega-sg
Use at your own discretion. We are not responsible for any damage or data loss caused by custom firmware installation or use.