Backup Units

Welcome to the console Backup Units section! All consoles ranging from a Game Gear or SNES, to a PC Engine or Neo Geo have had backup units designed for them. Backup units (or "copiers") are mainly used to transfer a console game's program onto another format, like diskette or hard drive. Once backed up, the game file can be ran on a specific copier to play the game via the console, without the origanal cartridge. This program extaction routine is the basic purpose of copiers. Many copiers are more advanced though, with features like auto protection disablement, cheat code entering, SRAM transfers, and more. Just a few years after the 16bit console scene had died down quite dramatically, it seemed likely that copiers would become pretty much extinct with the advent of new consoles relying on a CD format rather than cartridges. This seems not to be the case now though, as a whole range of new copiers seem to be starting to surface for the Nintendo 64 in particular! Game lovers will be relieved to know that the once thriving console scene has started all over again. For some it never died infact. =] Get ready, because its going to be intense! Its a copier revolution! The Backup Units section is a forum for both news of new copiers, and information about older copiers already in existance.

SP64 is here! High Speed, the company behind the SNES's SuperCom Partner copier, have now released their rival to the Doctor V64, the Super Partner 64! First impressions seem hopeful! It DOES now have a CD drive, so don't beleive anyone else telling you: they don't have one, we do! The CD drive is read only, just like the Doctor, but is only 5x speed. This helps keep its cost down though. Multifile CDs can be used, just as with the Doctor. As standard, it comes with 128Mbit RAM, and the AC adapter that splits into two parts, just like with the Doctor V64. These two leads are to provide power to the CD drive, and the copier itself. The SCP64 comes in a blue box, with holographic stickers on the cartridge slot, which is looking quite slick and comfortable compared to the CD drive counterpart. There’s three buttons on the CD drive: one for playing the game, and the other two to switch between games (up and down). The interface is pretty much boring but simple to use.

Doctor V64 Bung Enterprises introduce the first ever N64 copier, the Doctor V64! As standard, each unit comes with 128Mbits (16Mbytes) of RAM, and can be upgraded to 256Mbits (32Mbytes) for around £80. This upgrade won't be necessary until game sizes exceed 128Mbits though. Not only will the Doctor let you backup, play, and transfer N64 games via your PC, it also has a built in 8x CD player! This can be used for either loading game compilation CDs (ISO 9660!), playing audio CDs (with 3D stereo spatializer output!), and best of all, playing V-CD MPEG movies! You can even use the CD drive without having a N64! As mentioned, these units can be linked up for cartridge to PC, or PC to Doctor V64 transfers, using a utility such as TPC. This means that the Doctor V64 features both playback AND copying of games. The Doctor V64's main BIOS is flashROM, so it can be upgraded by downloading the latest BIOS! This means that theres no need to worry about expensive upgrades, as new protetion routines are incorporated into the N64 game carts!

Triad Data Backup Systems Triad Data Systems are currently developing 3 different backup units: the Centaur32, the Cyclops64, and the Cerberus64! The Centaur32 system will handle all of your backup needs for SNES, Genesis, and 32X cartridges, letting you transfer data from cartridges to your PC, then from your PC back to the flashROM cartridges supplied, for use on a regular console! The Cyclops64 system lets you back up your Nintendo 64 game cartridges in the same way! If you've got a bit more to spend though, you can get the ultimate copier of all time: the Cerberus64! This system is THE unit to have for those of you who want to backup for SNES, Genesis, 32X, AND Nintendo 64, with one single unit! With each system, you can also use your previously backed up games for use on the flashROM carts! SNES games (in SMC format), Genesis games (in SMD format), 32X games (in RAW format), and N64 games (in D64 format??). DSP games are currently not supported though. Keep in mind that a typical N64 game will use all 128 Mbits of space on a flashROM pack, whereas a typical SNES/Genesis/32X game requires only a fraction of that, which will enable you to put multiple SNES/Genesis/32X games on the same flashROM pack! Just image, creating your own multigame mini compilation carts! Using the LCD display built into the flashROM pack, you can choose which game you wish to play! All you have to do is make sure you have the flashROM pack plugged into the appropriate Triad Data cartridge (N64, SNES, Genesis/32X) and you'll be ready to play! On ordering, you'll receive an ISA adapter card, a PCB I/O interface (the actual system), a 3 foot interface cable, documentation, and utility software. Depending on the unit you buy, you'll get a SNES, Genesis/32X, or/and N64 cartridge, complete with an interchangeable 128Mbit flashROM pack!. Unlike most copiers, this'll come with a 90 day limited warranty too!

Professor SF2 Carl Industries present the Professor SF2 SNES backup unit. This is the US version of Hong Kong's number one selling unit, the Game Doctor SF 7. These units "piggyback" onto your SNES system, and allow you to back up your SNES cartridge games to floppy disks. You then need only the disks to play your games, through the unit's built in 3.5" disk drive. It has many features including slow motion, real time save, Gold Finger cheat code system, advanced deprotect capability (e.g. plays Donkey Kong Country 2 without the need for patches or fixes), and a PCX image slideshow function. Components are manufactured in ISO-9000 factories, to provide excellent quality. It boasts clean, integrated PCB design and multi-voltage power supply capability. Its unique feature is that it is able to have multiple games loaded simultaneously into its memory, which stay there even with SNES power off! No need to load floppies over and over again! The Professor SF II is available to from Carl Industries. Current deals include a 32Mbit unit with wireless SNES control pad for just $165! A major bargain! And a 64Mbit version complete with a wireless SNES control pad is just $205! You'll even get a one year warranty on each unit.

CD-7 This CD reader unit is for use with the Game Doctor SF6/7 (Professor SF/SF2). Its designed for use with SNES CDs for fast loading of your favourite games, and also has the function of playing music CD's through the headphone jack. Its all controllable through the GUI of the backup unit too. Best of all, an MPEG card accessory in development for the GDSF7/Professor SF2 to allow MPEG/Video CD format movies to be played!

PSX Disk Drive A disk drive for backing up Playstation memory card blocks has been made available from Datel Electronics! The drive uses standard PC formatted 3.5" disks. Each disk can hold 15 memory card blocks. The drive can be connected to your Playstation through the memory card slot. The PSX Disk Drive is available for £79.99 from Datel or £59.99 from Special Reserve.

Disk Dual Front Far East present the Disk Dual! This is an external hard drive & IDE CD-ROM drive in one box, for use with the Super WIld Card DX2 or PC. Parallel to IDE interface converter. Its bundled with a software driver for MS-DOS, and works under windows or OS/2. It also supports EPP parallel mode for optimal sending speed performance. Its perfect for a non PC owner (Evil!).

Super WildCard DX2 This is the latest SWC back-up unit for SNES, made by Front Far East. Its specs and features include a new generation FC9304-JSI SMT core chip, 32Mbits program memory, with easy slot expansion upto 130Mbits, 4M BIOS ROM, 8M expandable, 1K NRAM for user settings, 256K Battery backup RAM for game saves, DSP support with plug-in, high speed I/O serial link to computer, bi-directional parallel port, ECP/EPP PC compatible, plug and play driver for CD-audio, CD-ROM, hard drive and zipdrive compatible, audio CD player menu, CD-audio mix input, and optional power supply. It also has a new configurable GUI OS with 2 types of background music (both crap compared the the DX's tune), and a voice that says "wildcard" - cute! You can select the GFX you have in the background, and choose from 4 different icon tiles, as well as entering your own user message that appears at the bottom of the screen! The SWC DX2 also supports a sub-directory file system like PC, and has 2 differnt languages. Also, FFE inform us that it has an improved realtime SRAM save mode cheat code finder. Sounds like good news to me! All sorts of program and BRAM transfer/editing functions are available, which is good for people who don't own PCs. Its password function supports current FFE, Goldfinger, Action Reply, and Game Genie code formats. Its possible to fit this baby with a 2.88Mbyte drive too! Just image having SF2 Turbo on one disk! From the GUI, standard disk format options and "improved" self Test functions are available, along with the improved 256 colour PCX picture viewer function, which lets you play a simple scrambled tile game out of any of your 256x223 PCXs! As you can see from the picture opposite, the chunky outer case design has now been replaced with the sleek curved body which we call the SWC DX2! There is also a secret function of the SWC DX[2] series you may want to know about.

DX'96 Upgrade ROM This replacement ROM will upgrade the SWC DX's ROM BIOS and add a new DX96 logo and background tiles. Its the latest ROM for the SWC DX.

Super WildCard DX This copier is made by FFE, and is considered to be the best back-up unit for SNES in my opinion: compared to its sequel, the SWC DX2, it has better music, more GFX, more (better) logos, and a generally better GUI. Unlike the SWC DX2, it only supports a disk drive, not a CD/Zip/Hard drive. Its expandable to 96Mbits, which is fine considering most SNES games don't get bigger than 32Mbits. It has 256K Battery backup RAM for game saves, and can support DSP games with a plug-in. You can link it your computer via an I/O serial link. Again, as with the SWC DX2, this has an optional power supply, as some SNESs aren't powerful enough to power a disk drive. YOu can choose from 10 different languages, including english (phew!). You can even play -Pan-'s built in game, and see a cool demo/intro. From the step between the SWC 2.8CC and this SWC DX, FFE again claim that there are improved realtime SRAM save mode routines. There are all sorts of program and BRAM transfer/editing functions, and Disk format options, and 256 colour PCX picture viewer functions to keep all you non-PC owners happy too. The password function supports current FFE, Goldfinger, Action Reply, and Game Genie codes. Just like an actual AR cartridge, the SWC DX also lets you search for your own codes with games, while you play them! The self test function. helpfully lets you know when somethings wrong, or broken. AS stated, the configurable GUI menu is great! Choose between cool music, or clinky sound effects. Surprise your friends by entering a personal message, telling them that you are god! The auto load funtion means that a disk will load without having to press any buttons. This gets annoying if you forget a disk is in the drive though! d:] There is also a secret function of the SWC DX[2] series you may want to know about.

Smart Bros China Coach Limited (CCL) introduce the Smart Bros, a copier compatible with both SNES and Genesis. As standard, the Smart Bros is shipped with 32Mbits, but can be expanded upto 64Mbits. Its main specifications include built in 256K SRAM, DSP compatibility, and a PC compatible parallel port. Its functions include real time save functions, auto gold finger cheats, and compatibility to run files from CD with the optional CD drive.

Pro Fighter X Turbo China Coach Limited (CCL) introduce the Pro Fighter X Turbo, a SNES copier which can be expanded upto 64Mbits. Its main specifications include built in 256K SRAM, DSP compatibility, and a PC compatible parallel port. Its functions include real time save functions, auto gold finger cheats, and compatibility to run files from CD with the optional CD drive. The range of Pro Fighter copiers are renouned for thier high failure rates, due to being made from low quality components. As you can see from the picture, there is a built in Smart Card interface for handling of Game Boy and Game Gear images.

Super Smart Card The Super Smart Card is a backup unit for Game Boy and Gamegear. It comes with a "Base Unit" which interfaces between your PC and the 4Mbit flashROM cartridge supplied, via a standard serial cable. This allows you to upload Game Boy images from carts to your PC's hard drive, or write Game Boy images to the flashROM cartidge. Gamegear images can only be written to the flashROM cartidge, not backed up from existing carts. Many people have had a hard time trying to get the flashROM cart to work properly with the Pocket Game Boy, while others have had no problem. It seems to work fine on a standard Game Boy or Gamegear though.

Super WildCard 2.8cc Ahh! I remember the days when this was state of the art gear! It is, of course the SWC from FFE. Its latest ROM BIOS version was 2.8CC, until it was replaced by the SWC + (or SWC DX, as it was to later be called). Although old, it does the job: backs up SNES games, up to 32Mbits, and lets you play them. It even supports DSP games with a plugin, and lets you use a I/O serial link to computer. As with all SWCs, it has the realtime SRAM save mode, which is great for rewinding/fastforwarding games to cheat. It also has the standard slow motion feature. The option of transferring SWC/cart BRAM is available too. Standard disk format options are available to delete, rename etc your disks. The password function supports FFE and Goldfinger codes, but not Game Genie or Action Replay.

Super WildCard 1.6XC This is an OLD copier unit for SNES. Blow off the dust, and power on! This baby uses those big old 5.25" disks, which don't hold much. This SWC features disk format options, FFE/Goldfinger password codes, and, of course, program transferring and playing. Made by Front Far East.

Other copiers yet to be documented here are Multi Game Hunters, SuperTools, UFOs, SuperCom Partners, and loads more.