GoodTools
Cowering's GoodTools is a suite of ROM auditing applications for Windows that contain a database listing known software for various video game consoles and home computers.
These tools, released as freeware, have established themselves as an important reference for ROM collectors, especially for older systems that don't have similarly authoritative sources and that have a perfect or almost perfect coverage in GoodTools.
The popularity of GoodTools originated the practice of distributing, instead of single or arbitrarily collected ROMs, the so-called "goodsets", packaged archives of every ROM for a particular platform that GoodTools recognizes.
List of systems covered by GoodTools
Name |
Platform |
Version |
ROMs listed |
|---|---|---|---|
Good2600 |
Atari 2600 |
3.14 |
7216 |
Good5200 |
Atari 5200 |
2.01 |
284 |
Good7800 |
Atari 7800 |
2.04 |
183 |
GoodChaF |
Fairchild/Luxor/Zircon/SABA Channel F |
3.13 |
57 |
GoodCoCo |
Tandy Color Computer |
3.13 |
109 |
GoodCol |
ColecoVision |
3.14 |
459 |
GoodCPC |
Amstrad CPC |
2.02 |
11,231 |
GoodGB64 |
Commodore 64 |
3.00 |
17,067 |
GoodGBA |
Nintendo Game Boy Advance |
3.14 |
34,118 |
GoodGBx |
Nintendo Game Boy/Game Boy Color |
3.14 |
9,333 |
GoodGCOM |
Tiger Game.com |
3.14 |
30 |
GoodGen |
Sega Mega Drive/Genesis/32x |
3.00 |
5,871 |
GoodGG |
Sega Game Gear |
3.13 |
666 |
GoodINTV |
Mattel Intellivision |
2.03 |
238 |
GoodJag |
Atari Jaguar |
2.01 |
139 |
GoodLynx |
Atari Lynx |
2.01 |
300 |
GoodMO5 |
Thomson MO5 |
1.00 |
391 |
GoodMSX1 |
Microsoft MSX |
0.999.3 |
589 |
GoodMSX2 |
Microsoft MSX2 |
0.999.3 |
166 |
GoodMTX |
MTX |
1.02 |
98 |
GoodN64 |
Nintendo 64/Nintendo 64DD |
3.14 |
3,044 |
GoodNES |
Nintendo NES |
3.14 |
16,384 |
GoodNGPx |
SNK Neo Geo Pocket/Neo Geo Pocket Color |
3.14 |
342 |
GoodOric |
Oric/Atmos/Telestrat |
2.01 beta |
1,236 |
GoodPCE |
NEC Turbo Grafx 16/PC Engine |
1.09a |
1,565 |
GoodPSID |
Commodore 64 PSID music |
0.999.4 |
30,365 |
GoodSAMC |
Miles Gordon Technology SAM Coupé |
2.03 |
796 |
GoodSMS |
Sega Master System |
3.13 |
1026 |
GoodSNES |
Nintendo SNES/Satellaview |
2.04 |
11,337 |
GoodSPC |
Nintendo SNES SPC music |
2.01 |
31,148 |
GoodSV |
Watara Supervision |
3.14 |
47 |
GoodVBoy |
Nintendo Virtual Boy |
2.01 |
66 |
GoodVect |
General Computer Vectrex |
1.06 |
287 |
GoodWSx |
Bandai WonderSwan/WonderSwan Color |
3.14 |
346 |
Hosting license
Cowering allows only GoodTools with a version number below 3.00 to be hosted online. Those of a higher version number are only obtainable legally from the author's site.
Ancillary tools
Several utilities depend on GoodTools:
GoodGUI is a graphical front end to GoodTools.
GoodMerge is a program that organizes and optimizes the compression of ROM collections by placing all versions of a particular game into one archive, reducing the number of files and significantly increasing compression when using solid file archivers such as 7-Zip.
UnGoodMerge is a program to extract ROM images from archives (such as those created by GoodMerge, hence the name) according to rules, such as only one variant of a game and no bad dumps, in order to leave behind redundant ROMs.
Good Codes
The following are codes and naming schemes given to the majority (some system specific) ROM image sets for various home computer and video game consoles. Please note that some codes (such as the Sega Genesis country codes) are only on old GoodTools versions and only remain for reference.
Standard Codes
Good Code |
Meaning of Code |
Explanation |
|---|---|---|
[!] |
Verified Good Dump |
The ROM is an exact copy of the cartridge; it has not had any hacks or modifications. |
[a] |
Alternative version |
The ROM is an alternative release of the game. Many games have been re-released to fix bugs or to eliminate Game Genie codes. |
[b] |
Bad Dump |
A ROM image which has been corrupted during its distribution. They often have graphics errors or sometimes don't work at all. |
[f] |
Fixed Dump |
A fixed dump is a game that has been altered to work better on a flashcart or an emulator. |
[h] |
Hacked ROM |
The ROM has been user modified, with examples being changing the internal header or country codes, applying a release group intro, or editing the games content. |
[o] |
Overdumped ROM |
The ROM contains some non executable data in it. It doesn't affect the game at all, it just makes the ROM bigger. |
[p] |
Pirated version |
A dump of a pirated version of a cartridge; they often have their copyright messages or company names removed or corrupted. |
[t] |
Trained version |
A trained ROM is a ROM which either has been hacked to include cheats, or includes a cheat menu for users to use cheats ingame. |
[!p] |
Dump Pending |
This is the closest dump to the original cart but the proper ROM is waiting to be dumped. |
Country Codes
Country Code |
Country |
|---|---|
(A) |
Asia/Australia |
(As) |
Asia |
(B) |
Brazil |
(C) |
Canada |
(Ch) |
Chinese |
(D) |
Netherlands |
(E) |
Europe |
(F) |
France |
(G) |
Germany |
(HK) |
Hong Kong |
(I) |
Italy |
(J) |
Japan |
(K) |
Korea |
(Nl) |
Netherlands |
(No) |
Norway |
(R) |
Russia |
(S) |
Spain |
(Sw) |
Sweden |
(U) |
United States |
(UK) |
United Kingdom |
(W) |
Worldwide |
(Unl) |
Unlicensed |
(PD) |
Public Domain |
(Unk) |
Unknown country |
Universal Codes
Code |
Meaning of Code |
|---|---|
(NG-Dump Known) |
No good dump has been found |
(REVXX) |
Revision number (00 is earliest) |
(VX.X) |
Revision number (1.0 is earliest) |
(M#) |
Number of languages (selectable by a menu) |
[T+[...]] |
Most recent translation |
[T-[...]] |
Obsolete translation |
??-in-1 |
Pirate Multicart |
(Vol #) |
Official multicart |
(GC) |
Nintendo Gamecube rip |
[h#C] |
Hacked internal cartridge information |
[h#+#C] |
Hacked internal cartridge information; #th variant |
[hI] |
Hacked dumping group intro |
[hIR] |
Hacked dumping group intro removed |
[M] |
Mono-color game |
(Alpha) |
Alpha version |
(Beta) |
Beta version |
(Prototype) |
Prototype version |
(Pre-Release) |
Pre-Release version |
(Kiosk Demo) |
Demonstration version available at Kiosks |
(Hack) |
ROM Hack |
(Menu) |
Multicart menu, unselectable options |
ZZZ_UNK |
Unclassified ROM |
BIOS |
Copy of console's basic in/out system |
(N64DD) |
Nintendo 64 Disk Drive ROM |
(##MBit) |
ROM Size in Megabits |
(##k) |
ROM Size in Kilobits |
(19XX) |
Release Year (20th Century) |
(20XX) |
Release Year (21st Century) |
(Atmos) |
Atmos ROM (GoodOric Only) |
(Telestrat) |
Telestrat ROM (GoodOric Only) |
[R] |
RSID Format (GoodPSID) Only) |
(old) |
Old Version |
[R-[...]] |
Language |
(SC-3000) |
SC-3000 Cartridge (GoodSMS Only) |
(SG-1000) |
SG-1000 Cartridge (GoodSMS Only) |
(SF-7000) |
SF-7000 Cartridge (GoodSMS Only) |
(GG2SMS) |
Sega Master System Mode (GoodGG Only) |
(Cart) |
Cartridge format |
(Adam) |
ADAM Version (GoodCol Only) |
(Compilation) |
The ROM is a dump of a compilation |
(Ch-Trad) |
Pirate Traditional Chinese Game |
(Ch-Simple) |
Pirate Simple Chinese Game |
[f1C] |
Hack, only cart name is changed |
(PAL) |
European |
(NTSC) |
American |
Translation Codes:
Code |
Country |
|---|---|
Bra |
Brahui |
Chi |
Chinese |
Eng |
English |
Dut |
Dutch |
Fin |
Finnish |
Fre |
French |
Ger |
German |
Gre |
Greek |
Ita |
Italian |
Jap |
Japanese |
Kor |
Korean |
Nor |
Norwegian |
Pol |
Polish |
Por |
Portuguese |
Rus |
Russian |
Ser |
Serbian |
Spa |
Spanish |
Swe |
Swedish |
Game Specific Codes
GoodGBA codes:
Code |
Meaning of Code |
|---|---|
[hIR00] |
Intro removed; replaced with 00 values |
[hIRff] |
Intro removed; replaced with ff values |
[f_?] |
removed EEPROM_V124 patched |
[v] |
Gameboy Advance Video |
[eb] |
E-Book ROM |
[eba] |
E-Book Advance ROM |
[ebb] |
Book Reader Advance ROM |
[f125] |
Removed EEPROM_V125 |
[f126] |
Removed EEPROM_V126 |
(IQue) |
Chinese Gameboy Advance ROM for IQue Console |
Coleco on GBA |
Emulated Colecovision ROM via Coleco on GBA emulator |
Cologne |
Emulated Colecovision ROM via Cologne emulator |
DrSMS |
Emulated Sega Master System ROM via DrSMS emulator |
FooN |
Emulated ZX Spectrum ROM via FooN emulator |
PocketNES |
Emulated NES ROM via PocketNES emulator |
FC2GBA |
Emulated NES ROM via FC2GBA emulator |
Goomba |
Emulated Gameboy ROM via Goomba emulator |
GBAGI |
Emulated Adventure Game Interpreter Game via GBAGI emulator |
Swanadvance |
Emulated Wonderswan ROM via Swanadvance emulator |
PCEAdvance |
Emulated TurboGrafx-16 ROM via PCEAdvance emulator |
PocketSMS |
Emulated Sega Master System ROM via PocketSMS emulator |
PocketSNES |
Emulated SNES ROM via PocketSNES emulator |
SNESAdvance |
Emulated SNES ROM via SNESAdvance emulator |
Snezzyboy |
Emulated SNES ROM via Snezzyboy emulator |
VGB |
Emulated Gameboy ROM via VGB Emulator |
Pogoshell |
Program for Pogoshell tool |
s##e## |
Series Number and Episode Number for videos |
(MB) |
Multiboot ROM |
(MB2GBA) |
Multiboot Game converted to GBA format |
-e |
e-Reader ROM |
+ ## NES |
Unlicensed Multicart with ## NES Games |
NDS |
Nintendo DS Slot-2 cartridge dump |
GoodBook |
E-Book using Goodbook converter |
TextReader |
E-Book using TextReader Converter |
PictureBoy |
E-Book using PictureBoy Converter |
ReadBoy |
E-Book using ReadBoy Converter |
(via kiczek) |
ROM was created by kiczek |
GoodGBx codes:
Code |
Meaning of Code |
|---|---|
[C] |
Gameboy Color version |
[S] |
Super Gameboy version |
[BF] |
Bung Fix |
(Bung) |
ROM is on a Bung Cartridge |
NES Conversion |
NES ROM Converted to Gameboy Color ROM |
GBS Player |
Game Music Player |
GoodGen codes:
Code |
Meaning of Code |
|---|---|
(1) |
Japan & Korea (GoodGen v0.999.7 Only) |
(4) |
USA & Brazil (GoodGen v0.999.7 Only) |
(5) |
NTSC (GoodGen 0.999.7 Only) |
(8) |
PAL (GoodGen 0.999.7 Only) |
(F) |
World (GoodGen v0.999.7 Only) |
(B) |
Non-USA (GoodGen v0.999.7 Only) |
[c] |
Known bad checksum but good dump |
[x] |
Thought to have bad checksum |
(J-Cart) |
Original Cartridge has two controller ports on it |
(SN) |
Sega-Net Game |
(REVXB) |
Sonic the Hedgehog Japanese Version 2 |
(REVSC02) |
Sonic Compilation Version of Sonic 2 |
(MP) |
MegaPlay Version |
(MD Bundle) |
ROM comes from Sega Mega Drive Pack-in Game |
(Alt Music) |
Alternative Music version of Sonic Spinball |
GoodNES Codes:
Code |
Meaning of Code |
|---|---|
(PC10) |
PlayChoice-10 version |
(VS) |
VS Version |
[hFFE] |
Copied from Far East Copiers |
[hMxx] |
Hacked to run on mapper xx |
SMB# |
Unspecified Super Mario Bros Hack |
(Aladdin) |
Runs with an Aladdin Cartridge that locks out 10NES lockout chip |
(Sachen) |
Unlicensed Game by Sachen |
(FDS Hack) |
Famicom Disk System Hack |
(KC) |
Konami Classic |
(PRG0) |
Program Revision 0 |
(PRG1) |
Program Revision 1 |
[U] |
Universal NES image file format |
(Mapper ##) |
Mapper Number |
(FDS Hack) |
Hacked from the Famicom Disk System to NES |
(GBA E-reader) |
Hacked from the E-Reader Card |
(E-GC) |
NES ROM Ripped from European Gamecube |
(J-GC) |
NES ROM Ripped from Japanese Gamecube |
GoodSNES Codes
Code |
Meaning of Code |
|---|---|
(BS) |
Broadcast Satellite (Satellaview) ROM |
(ST) |
Sufami Turbo |
(NP) |
Nintendo Power exclusive |
(NSS) |
Arcade SNES ROM |
See also
- TOSEC
- ROM Image
External links
de:GoodTools pt:Ferramentas Good