Tutorial:
"Transfer Pak Workaround" for Pokemon Stadium | Nintendo Switch Online
Hey everyone! This is my first "tutorial" here, so my apologies if the writing and formating don't fit some quality standards. But, I'm happy to do it and was encouraged by
@DarkAkuma .
Description:
The purpose of the the following guide is to make use of a combination of tools and files in order to play the recently released Pokemon Stadium for the Nintendo Switch Online with Pokemon from the Gameboy games (Red/Blue/Yellow), as used to be possible via the Transfer Pak feature on the Nintendo 64 (not present on NSO version).
- Nintendo Switch running CFW/with access to homebrew
(I'm running the lastest Atmosphere version).
- Nintendo Switch Online Nintendo 64 app installed and updated
(so Pokemon Stadium shows up).
-
DBI Homebrew app installed
(recommended to manage save files).
-
Project 64 Emulator for Windows.
- Pokemon Stadium N64 game
(I used the 1.0 version, but I don't think it matters).
-
NRage Input Plugin for Project 64 (to use Transfer Pak feature with the emulator, 'cause the default settings don't have it).
- Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow Gameboy game.
-
Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow Gameboy Save File (Yellow version .SAV format used. This save was not made by me, I found it online, so I'm not responsible for the Pokemon moves and stuff like that).
-
Cave Database Manager (to convert save files. ED64-Saveswap also works).
- USB cable.
- Download and install the emulator.
- Download NRage Input and place the DLL file into the root of Project 64 installation folder.
- Open Project 64 and go to "Options > Configuration > Plugins". If NRage input was placed correctly, select "N-Rage..." option within the Input (controller) dropdown. Apply/OK.
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- Go to "Options" again but now select "Input Settings".
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- Keep the "Controller 1" selected at the top of the new window, and open the "Controller Pak" tab bellow. Mark the "rawdata" checkbox and select "Transfer Pak" in the dropdown.
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- Browse your Pokemon Gameboy game and respective save file (you can use mine if you're using yellow) and save.
- Run Pokemon Stadium with Project 64. When you see this screen with a Game Pak indication, it means your Gameboy ROM and Savefile have been detected.
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- Proceed to the Pokemon Lab and select the available GB Pak.
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- If, like me, you don't care about the organization, skip to nº 5, since on NSO it will not matter anyway. If you do, here you can organize your Boxes and Party with the Pokemon from the GB Pak. So, do as you please. The SAV already has the Pokemon organized in different boxes, according to their level, but you can redo it however you want.
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- Go to any Cup or the Gym Leader and open the Registration area to register your Pokemon. This is what really matters, because the registered Pokemon and the only ones going to the NSO version when we move on. None of the boxes or the GB Pak organization will be accessible on the Switch. You cannot use the Lab on the NSO version, only on the emulator.
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- After you register your Pokemon (remember to do it on every cup, because of the level difference), make sure that everything is saved (always select "Save And Quit" options) and now you can close the game and the emulator.
- Open the Project 64 installation folder, and grab your savefile in the "Save" folder. It'l probably be a ".fla" format file. You can use my FLA save too (here) if you want and don't care too much about the teams I made (there's no progress there aside from the pokemon transfer and registration).
- Open Cave Database Manager and create/open a NSO 64 database just to open up the menus on the top. Go to "Tools > SRAM > Save RAM to cartridge.sram".
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- You will be prompted to select a file to convert. Pick the ".fla" format file you grabbed from Project 64 folder before. After the conversion is done, you'll see a confirmation message that a "cartridge.sram" file has been placed in the same folder as the source file.
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- If you choose to convert using ED64-Saveswap, it's also simple. Just open it and select the .fla file, keep all boxes checked and click "convert". Rename it "cartridge.sram" manually and you're done.
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- On your Nintendo Switch, open the Homebrew Menu (hold R while opening a game).
- Open DBI application and select "Run MTP Responder" at the bottom, and plug it to your computer wit the USB cable.
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- Once your Switch is detected by your computer, navigate to "Saves > Installed Games > Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online > [your profile folder] > saves > N-4590_e. Here you should see a cartridge.sram file already in place, that's your unmodded save (backup if you want). If you don't see the numeric folder or the file, open the game once and do like a sound setting adjustment to make sure a savefile is created (that's what I did).
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- Replace the existing cartridge.sram with the one you converted using Cave Database Manager or ED64-Saveswap (check if the name matches exactly).
- Disconnect the Switch from the PC (press B on DBI to shut down MTP and go back).
- Profit!
Hope I made it simple enough to understand. Any feedback about it is appreciated. Let us know if it worked out for you.