Gameboy Copy Protection and DIY Cartridge: An Inside Look

🔒The infamous scrolling Nintendo logo on the Gameboy served as copy protection to only allow approved games on the console.

🕹️Other Nintendo consoles like the NES and SNES used custom chips to achieve copy protection.

🖥️The Gameboy used a different method which relied on the Nintendo logo loaded from the cartridge itself.

⏳During the boot-up procedure, the Gameboy compares the logo on the cartridge with a fixed copy in the CPU to determine if the game can be loaded.

🌐A time of check - time of use (TOCTOU) bug in the Gameboy's copy protection could allow custom logos on cartridges to bypass the trademark violation check.

How did Nintendo prevent unauthorized games on the Gameboy?

—Nintendo used the scrolling Nintendo logo on the Gameboy as a form of copy protection. Only approved games with a matching logo could be successfully loaded.

Did other Nintendo consoles use the same copy protection method?

—No, other Nintendo consoles like the NES and SNES used custom chips called CIC (Checking Integrated Circuit) to achieve copy protection.

How does the Gameboy's copy protection work?

—During the boot-up procedure, the Gameboy compares the logo on the cartridge with a fixed copy of the Nintendo logo in the CPU. If the comparison succeeds, the game can continue to load.

What is a time of check - time of use bug?

—A time of check - time of use (TOCTOU) bug refers to a common issue in boot loaders and boot ROMs where a particular action is performed between the time a condition is checked and the time it is used, resulting in unintended behavior.

Can I build my own Gameboy cartridge?

—Yes, you can build your own Gameboy cartridge by using an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and following the proper hardware and logic design. However, it requires technical knowledge and experience.

00:00The Gameboy used a unique copy protection method: the scrolling Nintendo logo on boot-up.

02:47Nintendo consoles like the NES and SNES used custom chips for copy protection.

05:06The Gameboy relied on loading the Nintendo logo from the cartridge itself.

07:09During boot-up, the Gameboy compares the cartridge logo with a fixed copy in the CPU.

08:38A time of check - time of use (TOCTOU) bug could allow custom logos to bypass the copy protection.