Megalexxx: Uncompression for compressed 1st_read and other removers

Akimaru · #1 08-10-2003, 04:13

Megalexxx, I remember reading that you had trouble with Sakura Taisen 3's 1st_read being compressed by echelon. My friend (Neill Corlett) decompressed the code over 2 years ago and the decompression code was forgotten to his hd.

Anyways, I now have the decomp.c to decompress the compressed 1st_reads, so removing Echelon intros should easier. He also said that some 1st_reads are compressed with RNC, and the DeRNC uncompression code should be still on Dextrose's site.

He also gave me the source codes and executables for removing the intros from Giga Wing 2, Mars Matrix (MM was also compressed with the same compression as Sakura) and Dead or Alive 2. We also had the code for Sakura Taisen 3 disc 1, but we both don't have it anymore, BUT I still have the uncompressed and intro-removed 1st_read.bin of Sakura Taisen 3 disc 1, if you need it. (ST3 only had the 50hz code, and the pal patcher works great with it.

Anyways, to quote what he said about decomp.c:

"You just need the comp.bin (which is _just_ the compressed data alone from the introed 1st_read) from the 1st_read, getting it out should be easy with a hex editor."

Give me you email Megalexxx, so I can get rid of these files on my comp so they can be put to good use.

I don't have any personal web space and I don't want to toy around with those free services like geocities.. so could you please host these or something? ^^;

At least the decomp.c should be useful in your research on the PAL protections.

He's also tackling against Border Down, so we should soon have a self-booting, dummied Border Down without Ikaruga, and without a selector.

-Akimaru

Megalexxx · #2 08-10-2003, 09:37

GREAT !

Thans a lot.

My email : megalexxx********fr

If you could send me uncompressed ST3 1st_read.bin and DeRNC...

Excalibur007 · #3 08-10-2003, 21:10

I'd love to have those tools too if you don't mind sharing them.

My email is [email protected]

Take care,
-Ex

Akimaru · #4 09-10-2003, 04:07

Guys, I found a page where you can get RNC and DeRNC.

http://www.yoda.arachsys.com/dk/utils.html

I sent you both emails with the files.

-Akimaru

belokk · #5 09-10-2003, 13:26

THATS GREAT MAN ! thanks for the tools.

=belokk=

regenschirm · #6 22-10-2003, 14:38

That´s sounds superb!
Which tools are needed to decompress Skies of arcadia (Echelon-Release) Boot.bin and the other files from the images? I see in the header from most files by hexediting the text-value "Cpack!".
Are anyone know this compress-format?

djgarf · #7 23-10-2003, 01:46

skies of arcadia is different,echelon used a custom compression so they didnt have to rip anything out,it decompresses on the fly so u would have to find out how they did it and i doubt very much they are willing to say!

Megalexxx · #8 23-10-2003, 08:42

About RNC :
_ RNC is bugged : try to launch it, it will say syntax is incorrect. I found out why, but still have to find some time to take a look at the coding
_ DeRNC seems to look for "RNC" string in the files it has to decompress. I didn't find it in any 1st_read.bin.

So the algorithm might be OK, but it needs some changes to work on those compressed 1st_read.bin...

Excalibur007 · #9 25-02-2004, 16:36

Has anyone gotten this to work yet? I've not yet been able to decompress an echelon 1st_read.bin.

-Ex

Megalexxx · #10 25-02-2004, 23:30

Neither did I.
I think it's not exactly the same RNC code that has been used for these files.