When I start the Retrode 1 with Phantasy Star II, all I see is the PhantasyStar2.bin and RETRODE.CFG file, and there's no .srm file. I read there was supposed to be an update for Genesis saves for the RETRODE.CFG file, a line [segaSram16bit] that when set to 1 would enable 16-bit mode, but the Retrode 1 v0.17d and v0.18d-beta files don't seem to have this line and I can't add it manually.
Is there a firmware update that adds 16-bit mode to the Retrode 1?
From the release notes:
v0.17d (2012-02-02)
...
- Sega SRAM now 16-bit by default; ...
v0.17c (2012-01-19)
...
- Config option for Sega SRAM "16-bit mode" (...)
(Retrode 2 only)
So it's 1 by default anyway, but it seems to make sense for Retrode 2 only.
Oh, upon further reading the firmware patch notes it looks like Retrode 1 never got the ability to read and write Sega Genesis SRAM. :(
Is there any way to update the firmware to add this feature? I wouldn't mind coding it in if that's possible.
Not possible; the R2 has a bunch of extra wires that are used for SRAM access. Nothing that could be fixed by firmware.
Ah, so that's why it can't find the saves. Is it possible to fix the Retrode 1 board by soldering?