ED64Plus - a new flashcart for the Nintendo64 ?

I don't think it has anything to do with supply of EverDrive64s, it would have happened either way.

Be careful, because you are close to blaming the victim here. "Well if KRIKzz made more EverDrive64 then this wouldn't have happened." I have already seen many people on YouTube say KRIKzz deserved this for charging too much, not making enough to meet demand, and/or not patenting the design (like that would matter anyways, Chinese wouldn't honor). I am not saying that's what you are saying, but it almost sounds like it. I don't think anyone is shocked that it was cloned, but that still doesn't make it right. That's like saying because you didn't lock your front door you deserved to get robbed. No one is entitled to an EverDrive.

 

i have to say the more i think about it. cloning krikzz's work is an insult but then naming the product ed64plus is adding insult to injury. ed64plus could quite easily dupe a buyer into believing not only are they getting a genuine krikzz product but they are getting something more. the cart slot on the top may lead some people who don't know to believe that the ed64 is everything the everdrive 64 is plus extra options. i already read somehwhere that someone thought the ed64 would have the ability to dump n64 carts aswell as play roms. at least this superufo dude (or should we call him dupa ufo dude because he steals and dupes peoples hard work) should have named it something totally different like imitation 64 or something lol.

 

I agree using a similar name is the worst part about this. This was obviously done on purpose to capitalize off the EverDrive64 and confuse/trick people into buying it. If they would have called it the Super64 or something people may be more wary of it. Using "ED64" in the name gives the cart legitimacy it does not deserve. Calling the ED64 Plus and using the same OS people will see this as an official product. Which is great for the guy who clones it. now he can just sit back make profits and does not need to offer any support for the product.

 

idea: KRIKKzz should register a domain named: www.ed64plusisfake.com :biggrin-new: and setup there a simple page explaining that the ed64plus design is crap and stolen.

 

Indeed. If there is a demand for a product someone will make a product. If anyone knows how to clone something and produce it at a lower cost than the genuine article it's the Chinese.

As for the "waaa its too expensive" people, well get over it. I can't afford to drop the money on any of these products despite my wanting to. I'd like to think the price will drop if possible (such as decreasing component/production costs) as selling a greater volume at a lower price is a great way to reach a larger market. At that price it might be considered an impulse buy for anyone even thinking about getting an N64.

I'm going to go out on a limb and assume future updates will be locked to original hardware if possible and probably obfuscated so that the Chinese will find that attempting to adapt new code to their hardware is more work than it is worth. OTOH they may decide that what they have is "good enough" and use their resources to undercut the ED64 by a large margin. You may be able to beat the Chinese in terms of quality and maybe even brand loyalty but the average Joe seeing a ED64Plus at a mall kiosk being sold for $30-50 having absolutely no prior knowledge of the ED64 proper won't think twice about the fact he can't get an update for it. That is unless he finds his favorite game doesn't work.

This place is a minority. The majority will happily save $1 if it means they have to buy knock offs over the real thing.

 

if ED64Plus actually was $30-$50, yeah, but it's $100, at that price point I'd rather just have the real thing

 

I think there's something you guys are missing.

Yes, WE know that this is fake and WE know about the EverDrive. Your average gamer does not, though.

It's sold by Blaze, you say? They make legal, licensed products in Europe. Like the Atari Flashback. THAT Blaze? Because they're big. Every video game shop in the UK knows who Blaze are and have a distributor who'll at least try to sell them their wares.

If it's that Blaze, they won't give a damn about us boycotting them. They have their products in most video game shops in the UK, if not Europe. They get featured on the Gadget Show.

Don't get me wrong, I'm on Krikzz's side. I just think that, if these people who already have big distributors are involved, it's bigger than just what WE think of them. People WON'T KNOW what the EverDrive is, and will just buy this.

 

Ding ding ding ding! We have a winner!

If one had the resources to properly threaten anyone distributing anything bearing the ED64plus label they might be able to keep them off the shelves for a while. Pretty sure the UK has some sort of trademark law? Even then all it'd take is a name change and then you'd have to threaten anyone importing the ED64plus with importing bootlegged goods. Granted I'm not a lawyer and I don't even know what the legality of the ED64 even is in the UK/EU. What I do know is that threatening anyone requires money and that doesn't even guarantee compliance.

This will be interesting to watch.

 

Price:USD 99.00


​No thanks.

 

at a first look i would say the os64p.v64 file ist only hex-edited 'cause the options.dat is renamed to opt.dat at offset 0xd0fbf just to fit into the available space.
i think a good strategy would be, adding a few new features and an krikzz-brand image (maybe with a chk-sum test), so that it isn't as simple any more to alter the text to the 'plus' version.
simple to add could be the cheat feature of the neo-myth opensource menu and it sounds like chillywilly has no problem with that or a controller-pak features like the 64drive.

 

Trademark law for trademarks, yes.... as in you have to apply for the Trademark. And that only stops them from using a brand name and/or logo.

You could go for a patent, but you probably wouldn't get it on a device that Nintendo would probably frown upon - especially in the case of the EverDrive, the one that has the custom chip installed in it. Even without, it has the provision for the chip... and is technically capable of circumventing their security system. Oh, and patents would be needed in every territory, I believe... and the US is EXPENSIVE! And probably the same for trademark.

Here are some costs:

Trademark application

• Filing the application - £200 (£30 discount if done online)
• Application to add extra classes (where necessary) - £50 each

If they decline your application, it's £100 to ask why. If you need to extend a deadline for whatever reason, that's £100. Oh, and renewal costs are also £200 + £50 per extra class, which is necessary after 10 years.

Oh, and if you want to dispute a trademark application (or indeed a granted trademark, I guess), it's £200.

Patent application

• Application fee - preliminary examination - £30 (£10 discount if done online)
• Search for existing patents - £150 (£20 discount if done online)
• Substantitive evaluation - £100 (£20 discount if done online)

You might get design protection on the PCB layout, as it is IP. It's a bit more complex - what type can perhaps be ascertained here:

http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/d-needreg.htm

 

I wondered what this was when it came up in one of my recent ebay searches:-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pal-ntsc-...Cart-Development-4-Nintendo-N64-/190729723563
I had hoped it was just a competing product with a similar name, but its disappointing to hear its a clone

I may be mistaken, but isn't Warners Retro Corner one of krikzz's official everdrive distributors? In which case I cant understand why they would even consider selling an everdrive clone (Unless they are genuinely unaware its a clone)

 

Warner is selling the ED64 Plus? You got to be kidding. This guy already got in trouble once for using the EverDrive name to sell the SuperUFO. I don't imagine KRIKzz will be too pleased with this.

 

But why did they clone the V1 and not the V2?

 

Cuz they can not read MAXII firmware. Firmware data protected by chip on hardware level

 

You just answered your own question ;*)

Firstly, v2 is a lot nicer, and with virtually no price difference I'd opt for it. That's rather funny on its own. For everyone that complained about the price, the knockoff isn't any less expensive.

There are certainly features that can be added. Being able to run a cart with a manager or multiboot (for debugging, for instance), autopatchers, resource swappers, etc. There's always some other pointless option available. One really good move, for those who know how to program, would be to work on a few more emulators--especially a replacement for the craptastic GB one.

An aggressive internet-spamming campaign to raise awareness of the Everdrive would be a good bet. The more people know about the original the more likely they are to recognise the clone for what it is.

 

I have to admit, being able to pop cartridges on top for the CIC is a convenient way for most people who don't want to solder or don't want to pay for soldering to be done. And you can easily move the thing from console to console that have differing regions.

The obvious downside being instability, uglyness and added cost to the production of the unit.

 

Except that it looks terrible like that. And I don't think there really is much benefit. Only one game doesn't work with the CIC emulator/boot loader and that's Banjo Tooie. And not many people have the issue of having both NTSC and PAL consoles. Even if they did they could just pick one and stick with it for their EverDrive.

 

the shelf in my cabinet where my n64 lives is a very snug fit. having to place a cart on top of a ed64plus would suck and i would have to relocate my n64. maybe it would have been a etter idea to place the extra cart slot at the back so there is a T shape design. hang on what am i saying it don't even matter. the ed64plus is a rip off and even if it was the case that the superufo guy improved it he still steals other peoples hard work. personally i got the entire n64 library working on my everdrive cart except banjoo tooie which i own the original game which is a nice setup for me. also in my experience clones don't always hold up so well. cheaply made and breaks easily. i've seen problems with clone ps2 chips and other stuff over the years so potential ed64plus buyer beware.

 

Also the problem with those "cartridge on top" adapters, is that they love to fry your save files, so lots of bad surprises guaranteed if you don't own any password only games.