Bubble Bobble Bootleg info

[idc]

Pre-patched ROM link updated:

https://ianc.net/temp/boblbobl/boblbobl ... -01-31.zip"

[joaoljr]

I finally got the AT28HC256 memory that I needed to implement a high score save prototype!

This Atmel chip is a special type of EEPROM that may be written to by the CPU itself.
It has a slight different pinout to accommodate the write signal, so I had to create an adapter to re-route a couple socket pins:



I decided to keep it simple for now and directly solder tap into the main Z80 CPU write signal, which is fortunately passing nearby:



This is how it looks like with the Atmel chip installed:



I did a quick test and it seems to be working. The 5 entries in the high score table are persisted and restored across power cycles!
I drop the idea of storing the game counters as well because I verified that they are all reset every time the demo mode runs.

I think the best would be to completely avoid the need for soldering by creating a small PCB with the additional logic
to generate the write signal from the EPROM pins itself (one TTL timing chip and a transistor should do the trick).
This small board could have a socket for the Atmel chip on top and terminal pins underneath to directly plug into the ROM number 4 board socket.

I could probably make this mod work even for original Bubble Bobble boards,
as long as I find enough free space in the ROM number 3 to add the save/restore code.

Punji

[justice99]

Sounds good !

We will own the ultimate version of BB !

[emphatic]

Wow.

[Gamesmonkey]

This would be for the original board set

[joaoljr]

I'm releasing a new version with the high score save patch. No changes to the other patches.

Punji

Code: Select all

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end

[idc]

Pre-patched ROM link updated:

https://ianc.net/temp/boblbobl/boblbobl ... -02-07.zip"

[joaoljr]

This would be for the original board set

The problem is that changing the ROMs may trigger the "anti-tampering" traps. It is like walking in a mine field, every code change may trigger one and trash the game. There were quite a few of those that had to be disabled in the bootleg images. Those are all still intact in the original images and it would take substantial effort to identify which ones need to be disabled for this patch to work. I may be wrong but I have a feeling that there are not that many people interested in this high score save mod to justify doing it. For this same reason I don't think it is worth spending time developing the circuit to avoid the need for soldering the WR signal to the board.

Punji

[centaur2]

Hi Punji,

first of all: THANKS A LOT FOR YOUR HARD WORK!

I bought a bootleg board in december and found this thread just now.
I already ordered some empty eproms and will burn them tomorrow.

Just one quick question: I don't have the Atmel chip for saving yet. Can
I already use the newest patch without this saving chip or will this not work.

So, should I burn the version of January 31st or can I use the newest
one and add the Atmel chip later?

Thank again so much
Sebastian

[joaoljr]

Instructables on how to put together the adapter for the high score save mod.

1) You need two "stamped" type 28-pin sockets and some "wire-wrap" type solid insulated wires;
cut the wire to the size shown below and bend pins 1 and 27 from one socket to about 45 degrees:


2) Solder the shortest wire to pin 1 and the longest to pin 27:


3) Insert the shortest wire into pin 27 of the other socket and add some tape to avoid any shorts:


4) Stack the sockets on top of each other and add some tape to the sides to make sure they don't come apart.
The longest wire should run inside the adapter and exit to the right, i.e., towards pins 14/15:


5) Remove EPROM #4 and connect the adapter there. The longest wire should go thru the board via shown below:


6) Solder the wire to the other side of the board. You may need to gently scrap the green mask above
the via for the solder to stick:


Now just use your burner to flash the high score save patch images. You must use an Atmel AT28HC256
for the "bb4" image and connect it to the adapter.

To reset the score, if desired, set the DIP switches to enter the grid and input test screen and play sound code 255:



Punji

[yosai]

Excellent work Punji!

[centaur2]

Hi idc,

thanks for providing download links.

As I have no ATMEL chip, I would like to download the version from Jan. 31st, but everytime I klick on
your link, your server is sending me the Feb. 07 file. How can I download the Jan 31st. version?

Thanks
Sebastian

[yosai]

^ They are all in the same archive. Look in the incremental folder.

[idc]

Hi idc,

thanks for providing download links.

As I have no ATMEL chip, I would like to download the version from Jan. 31st, but everytime I klick on
your link, your server is sending me the Feb. 07 file. How can I download the Jan 31st. version?

Thanks
Sebastian

Yes, this is by design.

Just burn ROMs 3, 4 and 5 from the root of the archive if you want the latest "normal" version.

In the incremental folder are the patched files for:

• level skip (normal EPROMs)
• level skip + continue (normal EPROMs)
• level skip + continue + score save (requires ATMEL chip)

[Gamesmonkey]

This would be for the original board set

The problem is that changing the ROMs may trigger the "anti-tampering" traps. It is like walking in a mine field, every code change may trigger one and trash the game. There were quite a few of those that had to be disabled in the bootleg images. Those are all still intact in the original images and it would take substantial effort to identify which ones need to be disabled for this patch to work. I may be wrong but I have a feeling that there are not that many people interested in this high score save mod to justify doing it. For this same reason I don't think it is worth spending time developing the circuit to avoid the need for soldering the WR signal to the board.

Punji

I didn't think it would be very easy, might try and pick up a bootleg just to try out your awesome work!

I only recently acquired an original Bubble Bobble and can not stop playing it, this game truly is a work of genius
It's only when you start playing it you realize how much is going on in the background of this game, things like secret rooms and items and how they appear.

Have you seen the new levels Bubble Bobble Lost Cave?

[centaur2]

Thanks for your help, burned the correct eproms and now everything is working nicely, besides some graphical glitch (red vertical lines) that are a fault on my board some time. But that is another story.

By the way, is there any way to make the Lost Cave version play on the bootleg board?

Thank you so much
Sebastian

Yes, this is by design.

Just burn ROMs 3, 4 and 5 from the root of the archive if you want the latest "normal" version.

In the incremental folder are the patched files for:

level skip (normal EPROMs)
level skip + continue (normal EPROMs)
level skip + continue + score save (requires ATMEL chip)

[ninn]

ordered an AT28HC256

[justice99]

Do jamma single board bootleg work with this patch ?

[joaoljr]

Thanks for your help, burned the correct eproms and now everything is working nicely, besides some graphical glitch (red vertical lines) that are a fault on my board some time. But that is another story.

By the way, is there any way to make the Lost Cave version play on the bootleg board?

Please post a screenshot of your hardware glitch, I may have some guess about the problem.

I recently found about "Lost Cave" but I was too busy with my own patch to have some serious look at it. From a quick glance at the installation package, it seems they have touched the same images that were modified by the bootleg version. It would be necessary to check for any conflicts between those two versions. I suspect most would be duplicated changes to disable the original tampering protections. But I don't feel compelled doing that because this mod has touched every image in the game, meaning that you would need to replace at total of 19 EPROM chips! I may be playing it on MAME to check it out.

Punji

[joaoljr]

Do jamma single board bootleg work with this patch ?

I have a non-JAMMA single board and a JAMMA double board, both have worked fine.

It is very likely that yours will work too, unless it has a MC68705 processor. Good luck!

Punji