Ketsui PCB, glitches and EPROM revisions

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:41 pm

This thread is intended to document the glitches found on the Ketsui PCB and the different EPROM revisions released.

I will describe four main issues.

1. SW1.
2. The EPROM labels.
3. Original version bugs.
4. Revised version fixes.

1,
First of all SW1 is a toggle switch. You can flip it but it will return to it's original position.

. Power up the game.
. Flip SW1. The brown switch to the right of the JAMMA connector.
. This will reset the game.
. Let the "Demonstration" start.
. The game will crash when it's writing "Demonstration" on screen.

Here is a video showing the crash: http://home.online.no/~an-tj/rtw/ketsui/ketsui.avi

This behaviour will persist even if you power cycle the PCB.

The reason for this is that SW1 is used to reset the NVRAM and
the program code requires certain values to be present there.

To fix this behaviour do the following:
. Power up the PCB.
. Hit the test switch to activate Setup.
. Select "Restore Defaults".
. This requires that the battery is not dead.

2,
The EPROM containing the (encrypted) program code is a standard 27C160.

Here is an image of how the original EPROM label looks:

The CRC32 checksum of the original EPROM is: 0xcca5e153.

Here is an image of how the revised EPROM label looks:

The CRC32 checksum of the revised EPROM is: 0x69fcf5eb

Note that the Kanjii has been corrected in the first glyph.

3,
The following bugs have been identified in the original version:

3.1, Demonstration crash, as outlined above

3.2, Freeplay crash.

. Turn on freeplay
. Hit the start button while the game is in Demonstration mode
. The game will start but you will have no control.
. A ship will automatically be selected and the game will start.
. It looks like the demo script is being run.
. Eventually the game crashes and locks up the machine.
. The PCB will respond to the test switch but nothing else.

3.3, Music bug

. The music on stage 5 plays at half pace.
. To avoid this do not mash any buttons between the stages.

3.4, 1st boss chip counter discrepancy

. The chip counter will display an incorrect number during the stage 1 boss
battle. However when it goes to calculate your end-stage bonus it uses the
correct number.

This is how it normally looks:

3.5, Freeze bug

. The game can freeze for about 3-5 seconds at the start of stage 2 and 4 due to button mashing.
. To avoid this do not mash any buttons between the stages.

4,

The following bugs are fixed in the revised version:

3.1 - Fixed
3.2 - Fixed
3.5 - Fixed

[this is a tentative list]

If you know of any other bugs in the original version please post them in this thread.

Credits: bay, GaijinPunch, Koma, oxtsu, parodius, Radiant, rtw, stormowl, sven666, Valgar, Zakk

Fixed version

The fixed version is available here:

http://www.world-of-arcades.net/Cave/Ke ... isions.htm

If you don't have the equipment to burn your own EPROM you can
contact member starke on this bulletin board.

rtw

iatneH · Post by **iatneH** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:04 pm

I think the kanji say "kizuna jigoku" (read from right to left here) which is part of Ketsui's subtitle

I am guessing what you mean by reverse, would be to switch the positions of the right and left characters.

sven666 · Post by **sven666** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:04 pm

mines not fixed, sorry

actually had 3 ketsuis (including the one i have now) over the years and none was fixed.

ResOGlas · Post by **ResOGlas** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 12:20 am

Valgar · Post by **Valgar** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 2:50 am

I had asked people to contact me if anyone had a revised board, nothing though. Surely, there are a lot of boards that arn't really played either, and could be checked. I have see one on Yahoo JP that stated it was revised.

OT, rtw. Have you ever looked into changing normal DOJ boards into the Black Label version? I have seen ones online labeled as *bootleg*, so I suspect it has already been done. I don't condone the idea of having fakes sold for profit though.

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 6:27 am

Valgar wrote:I had asked people to contact me if anyone had a revised board, nothing though. Surely, there are a lot of boards that arn't really played either, and could be checked. I have see one on Yahoo JP that stated it was revised.

Interesting, I'll keep an eye out there.

Valgar wrote:I OT, rtw. Have you ever looked into changing normal DOJ boards into the Black Label version? I have seen ones online labeled as *bootleg*, so I suspect it has already been done. I don't condone the idea of having fakes sold for profit though.

AFAIK the Black Label EPROM is not dumped, at least no one I know of has an image. Secondly it's unknown if the ROM can be replaced without a patch. I know for sure that other Cave games have not been straight swaps...feveron springs to mind. And no I don't condone selling these for profit either.

rtw

Post by **Dave_K.** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 3:02 pm

Just checked mine. Nope.

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:28 pm

For oxtsu,

Do you have a revised Ketsui PCB?

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

gameoverDude · Post by **gameoverDude** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:52 pm

I took a quick glance at my Ketsui PCB just now. Nope, it isn't fixed.

CFO · Post by **CFO** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:15 am

Bumping this thread since mine has the visual cue of the fix. Not sure what other bugs exist in the game but mine still has the 1p start "freeplay continuous loop" glitch.

bay · Post by **bay** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 4:37 am

what would be the list of bugs? i'd like to check to see if i notice any of them on my board. as for my ROM sticker, it's like the above.

-b

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:01 am

* Moved to top of the thread *

bay · Post by **bay** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 11:41 pm

rtw wrote:. Power up the game
. Flip SW1. The brown switch to the right of the JAMMA connector.
. This will reset the game
. Let the "Demonstration" start.
. The game will crash when it's writing "Demonstration" on screen.

This behaviour will persist even if you power cycle the PCB. *verified*

this stays like this even if you flip the switch back, and across power cycles. however, if you start the game before demo comes on, play a game, and then let it demo, it doesn't crash my board anymore after that.

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:26 am

bay wrote:
rtw wrote:. Power up the game
. Flip SW1. The brown switch to the right of the JAMMA connector.
. This will reset the game
. Let the "Demonstration" start.
. The game will crash when it's writing "Demonstration" on screen.

This behaviour will persist even if you power cycle the PCB. *verified*
this stays like this even if you flip the switch back, and across power cycles. however, if you start the game before demo comes on, play a game, and then let it demo, it doesn't crash my board anymore after that.

Bay just to get things crystal.

If the board crashes in Demonstration with a register dump

. Power on the PCB
. Start a game before demonstration begins.
. Play the game until it ends.
. Let it run the demo again
. The demonstration should run.

At the next power on the game will not crash in Demonstration.

rtw

Radiant · Post by **Radiant** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 6:51 am

rtw wrote: Bay just to get things crystal.

If the board crashes in Demonstration with a register dump

. Power on the PCB
. Start a game before demonstration begins.
. Play the game until it ends.
. Let it run the demo again
. The demonstration should run.

At the next power on the game will not crash in Demonstration.

rtw

that's right !

another thing:
when u power on the game 1 or 2 days later it will not crash, but after 1 week or so the game will crash again...so maybe it's something with the battery???

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 7:24 am

Radiant wrote:
rtw wrote: Bay just to get things crystal.

If the board crashes in Demonstration with a register dump

. Power on the PCB
. Start a game before demonstration begins.
. Play the game until it ends.
. Let it run the demo again
. The demonstration should run.

At the next power on the game will not crash in Demonstration.

rtw
that's right !

another thing:
when u power on the game 1 or 2 days later it will not crash, but after 1 week or so the game will crash again...so maybe it's something with the battery???

Right I will give this a try later today then.

rtw

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 9:39 am

. Updated the images at the top of this thread. Check your PCB's

. Converted the video file to XVID and rotated it.

rtw

zlk · Post by **zlk** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:09 pm

It seems to me the only difference visually between the fixed and unfixed versions are the kanji is spread out more. Unless I am missing something....

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 4:20 pm

zlk wrote:It seems to me the only difference visually between the fixed and unfixed versions are the kanji is spread out more. Unless I am missing something....

Look closely on the first glyph!

What version do you have zlk ?

rtw

zlk · Post by **zlk** » Fri Jan 19, 2007 5:10 pm

AHA! Playing too much espgaluda 2 is making me blind.

I have an original version.

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:24 am

Updated the first post in the thread with the latest findings.

rtw

LUNardei · Post by **LUNardei** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:27 am

Original version for me too. Never experienced any kind of bug though (well, I never use freeplay).

Valgar · Post by **Valgar** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:03 am

3.4, Music bug

. It is rumoured that on stage 5 the music plays at half pace.

If anyone could confirm this that would be very nice.

3.5, 1st boss bonus bugs

. It is rumoured that there is a bonus bug on the first boss.

If anyone could confirm this that would be very nice.

If you know of any other bugs in the original version please post them in this thread.

I can confirm the music bug 100% (there was also a video released by a Japanese player that showcased this). I had it happen to me all the time. oxtsu made a post saying that it was caused by mashing buttons before the stage started.

I have ceased pushing any buttons between rounds and have never had the music glitch on me since.

I also have found that the game can freeze for about 3-5 seconds at the start of stage 2 and 4 due to mashing buttons.

The bonus bug has to do with the counter just not displaying the right number. I doubt it was fixed.

Stormowl · Post by **Stormowl** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 2:06 am

i can as well confirm the music bug.

Koma · Post by **Koma** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:31 pm

Valgar wrote:
I also have found that the game can freeze for about 3-5 seconds at the start of stage 2 and 4 due to mashing buttons.

Hi,
I have also a freeze bug at the start of stage 4.It's appear three time recently.

parodius · Post by **parodius** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 12:47 pm

I have the unfixed version too.

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 4:52 pm

Valgar wrote:I can confirm the music bug 100% (there was also a video released by a Japanese player that showcased this). I had it happen to me all the time. oxtsu made a post saying that it was caused by mashing buttons before the stage started.

I have ceased pushing any buttons between rounds and have never had the music glitch on me since.

I also have found that the game can freeze for about 3-5 seconds at the start of stage 2 and 4 due to mashing buttons.

The bonus bug has to do with the counter just not displaying the right number. I doubt it was fixed.

Thank you all for your inputs!

Valgar, do you have a link to a video which shows this music issue ?

And please could you explain the bonus counter bug in a bit more detail ? Any videos ?

Updated the first post with the latest findings.

rtw

zakk · Post by **zakk** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:22 pm

rtw wrote: Thank you all for your inputs!

Valgar, do you have a link to a video which shows this music issue ?

And please could you explain the bonus counter bug in a bit more detail ? Any videos ?

Updated the first post with the latest findings.

rtw

Let me dig through my Ketsui videos, I may have one of the stage 1 counter bug. I'm not sure what triggers it; but all the bug consists of is that your chip counter will display an incorrect number during the stage 1 boss battle. When it goes to calculate your end-stage bonus it uses the right number.

edit: From one of MrMonkeyMan's videos. http://bigcore.rsdio.com/zakk/stuff/ket ... er_bug.avi

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:17 pm

zakk wrote:Let me dig through my Ketsui videos, I may have one of the stage 1 counter bug. I'm not sure what triggers it; but all the bug consists of is that your chip counter will display an incorrect number during the stage 1 boss battle. When it goes to calculate your end-stage bonus it uses the right number.

edit: From one of MrMonkeyMan's videos. http://bigcore.rsdio.com/zakk/stuff/ket ... er_bug.avi

Thank you zakk, I have updated the first entry.

If anyone knows what triggers this please step up!

rtw

rtw · Post by **rtw** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:08 am

Updated the first entry.

And you might find something interesting here:

http://www.world-of-arcades.net

rtw