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I've been working on a different project, but got side-tracked onto this - a friend said I should post over here, since it's for real fruit machines It's an early proof-of-concept of an auto-rom patcher, that means you wouldn't need a Chr chip any more, even for the 'scrambled' lamps, in at least some mpu4s (just done a Barcrest as a test). Here's a quick demo using MFME, you can see the characteriser is completely clear (zero'd out, just like when it is missing). This has been tested on real hardware - by another guy who is working on a cool project to potentially make replacement Chr chips (it's what inspired me to make this). So it adds the code that decodes the lamps direct;y into the rom itself, so the rom no longer talks to the chr chip, but instead does the decoding internally in 6809 code.

Well there's also another project going on over at DIF by user andrew96, where he's working on making replacement chr chips - so don't throw those old machines away! I am on another project, but I'd decided to knock up a quick initial version of this, that'll be super basic: - initially just MPU4 Barcrests - you'll need to find the 'MFME Layout', and look up the 8 numbers to manually type them into the patching program I'll get it vaguely working and sling it on Github so other programmers can take it further - as I'd imagine this could be expanded to cover MPU3, Bwb etc, though I'll be needing to get back to working on Arcade Simulator in my spare time (which is never enough!). WIP interface, having a bash at this today:

Hi guys n girls ive hopefully managed to get my hands on a rare rom set for super line up after quite a long search for them anyway massive thanks to Mr p as he promised, he delivered the goods, only for me then to open my rom card up to discover I may have already had a set I believe the l on mine is low percentage. Anyway here's both sets hope there useful cheers Tony. line up.zip

Here's a quick vid of Andy Capp running (with no characteriser, but all lamps etc working correctly), in an 'almost' auto-patch. You have to currently provide the 8x values from MFME to the patcher for the lamp mapping, and I think there probably will be another option or two required: I may choose a less juvenile name for the program I won't be going crazy on this project, as I do have to get back to working on Arcade Simulator project as my main focus for my free hobby time when I get to do FME dev. So I'll probably chuck it all on github at some point, so others can continue to develop it for more compatibility with other Roms etc.

PCP - Blankity Bank Tech: System 80 Time to get your 2p's at the ready for this bank holiday release from me. Keyboard shortcuts in the notes. Thanks to: Wizard (RIP) for MFME The Mecca for a group buy for the machine @AK45 for testing. Plays in MFME V20.1 only Blankity Bank.zip

not many of these about must be a couple stored some where

I doth my cap to you sir.

You and Andrew have equally good knowledge and hearing great things behind the curtain, a great and blossoming relationship that shows integrity, love for both worlds and dedication to both realms too. Keep up the good work gents cracking stuff and for a fruitful future with AS. Much love.

(my emphasis with the bold) ^^ It's a good point, I do have maybe ~150 of this data linked to MAME rom names - I could traverse the sets for all linked ROMs, build up the start of a CRC database. Then when someone put's in a ROM that is recognised it could populate those lamp values. Along with potentially a drop-down, with names of the base machines known, so if you're lucky, it'll already be in the dropdown list. As mentioned on my post above though, I am previously committed to Arcade Sim project, so I'll not have the time to add in all the nice features that could be added, until later down the line as I work on this here and there. But once I get it in a state to be open-sourced, I'll upload to github, so any programmers on here could join in the efforts of adding new features, ROM lookup data etc (so people don't need to check in MFME when patching a ROM).

Big respect john p

Thanks for posting details of your great work. Duff Chr chips have caused many users lots of heartache, they'll be delighted that there's now a way round the problem. Excellent work, thank you and good luck.

Wow thats really really impressive 😳 as Mike said you'll be saving allot of machines thats for sure! Superb work, love it 🙂

This is brilliant news. Excellent work Well done

You will be saving a lot of machines by perfecting this! Great project 👌👌

That sounds amazing. Love to know how it works. I didn't think it was possible to get around it.

He’s obviously a hard core seller.

Oh shit! What a nightmare 😕