In today's ROMeriffic episode of Veronica Explains, I check out the Open Source Cartridge Reader, an incredible little open source device, which you can build yourself. You can dump your ROMs and save states from a variety of popular vintage video game consoles.

Stores selling kits or preassembled OSCRs (not sponsored, no affiliate links):
Where I got mine: https://cartreader.net
Starshade: https://store.starshade.dev
Bonzo's: https://bonzosretro.shop
Save The Hero (currently selling an older revision, could be a good deal): https://savethehero.builders

Links you can use to learn more and build one yourself:
Sanni's GitHub: https://github.com/sanni/cartreader
Project wiki (yes, it's pronounced "Oscar"): https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/wiki
A bit about savegame conversion utilities: https://github.com/sanni/cartreader/w...
‪@ThisDoesNotCompute‬ did an awesome video a while back about replacing batteries in your cartridge games:    • Replace Your Game Cart Batteries (Wit...  

And lastly:
My Patreon:   / veronicaexplains  
My KoFi: https://kofi.com/VeronicaExplains
My PeerTube instance (watch ad free): https://tinkerbetter.tube

Chapters:
0:00 I say greetings and talk about OSCR
2:07 How do ROM cartridges work anyway?
5:46 What is ROM dumping?
7:01 (Finally) introducing the Sanni Open Source Cartridge Reader
9:26 DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer
10:03 Setting up your SD card for OSCR
11:58 Let's dump a Sonic ROM with the OSCR!
13:47 Ripping Metroid
15:01 Backing up and restoring save files with OSCR
17:29 How to get an OSCR
18:32 OSCR's quirks
19:44 Conclusion

#opensource #vintagecomputers #nintendo