Big Bang Bar

jadziedzic · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 151 Location: Nashua, NH USA

I have created a patched BBB ROM that fixes the software's confusion over lamp 48B (the credit lamp on the apron) in the standard beta 1.9 ROM. I'd like to get a couple of volunteers to run the patched software on their game to verify that it does indeed eliminate the spurious "1 info" for lamp 48B report when entering the troubleshooting menu. (It does on my machine, but I want independent verification.)

All that is changed is the lamp assignment table (lamp 48B now shows up as an assigned feature lamp named "CREDIT" in the diagnostics) and the version number string (it reports beta 1.9.P1). I haven't run into any issues with the patched software on my machine, but I can't guarantee the proper operation of this patched software on any other game, nor can I accept any responsibility for any unfortunate side effects. Don't sue me, man.

You will need to have access to a ROM burner and two 27C040, 27C4001, or similar 4Mbit ROMs. I will also request that you NOT distribute the patched software until I can get the OK from the rights owner.

If you're interested and can meet those requirements please shoot me an e-mail to tony AT dziedzic DOT us.

Tony

P.S. For those interested, no, I don't have the game software source code. I spent some time with a disassembler to understand the operation of the diagnostics, and how the ROM checksum algorithm works. I wrote a couple of small utilities that allow me to combine the hii/lo split ROM images into a single binary file, and was able to feed that into a disassembler. Thank you to the behind-the-scenes helpers (you know who you are).
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Joseph "Tony" Dziedzic
BBB #39

christian1 · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Richmond, TX

Tony,

I'll test it, email sent.

Jon
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BBB #10

christian1 · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Richmond, TX

New code installed, played two games with no problems, checked diagnostics and no error for the lamp. Thanks!!

Jon
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BBB #10

tomterlec · Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 27

Do you plan to have this available to the group?

Tom #136

tomterlec · Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 27

Do you plan to have this available for the group?

Tom #136

jadziedzic · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 151 Location: Nashua, NH USA

I hope to get Gene's permission to make the patched ROM available; will keep everyone posted.

Tony
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Joseph "Tony" Dziedzic
BBB #39

CraigC · Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 209

tested today, everything worked great. nice to not get the lamp error.

kept the high scores too, nice.

-c

metallik · Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 99

Just FYI, I haven't had a high-score reset issue since I stopped trying to start a new game immediately after the old one ended. Waiting a few seconds into the match animation seems to prevent that behavior. Can't be 100% sure, though.

CraigC · Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 209

interesting, i'll have to check into that. i'm like a monkey on crack at the end of a game so hopefully that will help.

<press> 2 balls missing, <press> 1 ball missing...gimme gimme gimme..

Wink

christian1 · Joined: 02 Aug 2005 Posts: 36 Location: Richmond, TX

Same here, I've only had the high scores reset one time quite a while ago, weird.

Jon
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BBB #10