3DS:Virtual Console/Extraction

Virtual Console games are usually identical to the original game, as Nintendo usually avoids modifying ROMs directly and instead layers patches on top. However, even when directly modified, easy methods have been found to revert them. This means the original game can be extracted and used exactly the same as one dumped from a cartridge.

Required Reading
This tutorial currently supports NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA, and Game Gear VCs.

Note that ROMs from three consoles are altered in VCs, as follows:

NES VCs use a non-standard TNES header that only works in the Virtual Console, and must be converted back after dumping. This guide walks through how to convert the header.

SNES VCs are altered for more efficient playback in the Virtual Console, and if not restored after dumping the audio will be unusuable in other emulators. This guide walks through how to restore the ROM.

Game Gear VCs are compressed into a unique archive type, and sometimes their ROMs are directly patched. This guide walks through how to decompress the archive (WIP), but as the patches are nondestructive it does not revert them.

What You Need
 The latest release of (the GodMode9   file) If extracting an NES game:  If extracting a SNES game:  The source code of (obtainable by the Download ZIP option within the Code dropdown)  An installation of Python 2.7   If extracting a Game Gear game: The latest release of </li> </ul>

Section I - Prep Work
In this section, you will set up the necessary files to extract a VC game.

<ol> Power off your console Insert your SD card into your computer Copy  from the GodMode9   to the   folder on your SD card Copy the  folder from the GodMode9   to the root of your SD card If you are extracting an NES game, copy  into the   folder on your SD card If you are extracting an SNES game, extract the vcromclaim  into a folder and place   into this folder If you are extracting a Game Gear game, extract the MArchiveBatchTool  into a folder Reinsert your SD card into your console </ol>

Section II - Accessing the Game Files
In this section, you will mount the VC game's internal files.

<ol> Hold the button and power on to open GodMode9 Press the button, then press  on the Title manager option Press on   and wait for the search to complete Once it completes, all titles that you have installed will appear Find the VC that you wish to extract a ROM from and press on that title, then choose to Open title folder Press on the main game file - usually named   - then choose NCCH image options..., then Mount image to drive and press  again to confirm The internal files of the chosen game will appear </ol>

Section III - Dumping the ROM
In this section, you will copy the ROM out of the VC, and fix its structure if it is an NES/SNES game.

What console does the chosen game originally come from?


 * -|NES=

<ol> Go into the folder </li> <li>Press to select the file that appears, then choose  </li> <li>Press, then go into  ->  </li> <li>Select the copied file and choose a mirroring if it asks, then let the script run</li> <li>Rename the ROM so its file extension is </li> </ol> Your ROM is now extracted and can be used in an emulator.


 * -|SNES=

<ol> <li>Go into the folder </li> <li>Press to select the file , then choose  </li> <li>Press + to power off the console</li> <li>Take the SD card out of your 3DS and put it into your PC</li> <li>Copy  into the vcromclaim folder</li> <li>Right-click anywhere in the empty space inside this folder and click on the option that opens Command Prompt, PowerShell, or the terminal <ul> <li>If no such option appears, open this window manually and use  or similar commands to target it into the vcromclaim folder</li> </ul> </li> <li>Run the following two commands one at a time: <ul> <li> </li> <li> </li> </ul> </li> <li>If desired, change 's filename to a name of your choice</li> </ol> Your ROM is now extracted and can be used in an emulator.


 * -|GB/GBC=

<ol> <li>Go into the folder </li> <li>Press to select the file that appears, then choose  </li> <li>Press until you return to the drive list, then go into  </li> <li>Place the cursor on the copied ROM, press +, and change the file extension to match the console it came from:  for Gameboy, or   for Gameboy Color</li> <li>If desired, also change the ROM's filename to a name of your choice</li> </ol>

Your ROM is now extracted and can be used in an emulator.

<ol> <li>Go into the folder </li> <li>Press to select the   file, then choose  </li> <li>Press until you return to the drive list, then go into  </li> <li>Press on the   file, choose GBA image options..., then choose Rename file and press  to confirm</li> </ol>
 * -|GBA=

Your ROM is now extracted and can be used in an emulator.


 * -|Game Gear=

<ol> <li>Go into the folder </li> <li>Press to select the file that appears, then choose  </li> <li>Press + to power off the console</li> <li>Take the SD card out of your 3DS and put it into your PC</li> <li>Copy the ROM from  into the MArchiveBatchTool folder</li> <li>Right-click anywhere in the empty space inside this folder and click on the option that opens Command Prompt, PowerShell, or the terminal <ul> <li>If no such option appears, open this window manually and use  or similar commands to move the terminal into this folder</li> </ul> </li> <li>WIP</li> </ol>