Bootleg PCB Shenanigans

[Jacmar]

I know they aren't most folks cup of tea ...
But I've been mucking around a bit recently on some unloved booties and just wondering if there's any interest in it ...
Recently worked out a few conversions (with help) and currently playing around patching ROMS to fix annoying errors some have ..
Happy to report any successes and pass on info/roms, but if no-one's really arsed or gonna use it/them, or if it's all been done before (let me know), I won't bother writing them up.
Just gauging interest really ...

 

[h0ffman]

Sounds like we're doing the same thing. Recently fixed Jumping (Rainbow Islands)

I'd love to hear about any projects, that's for sure.

 

[Lurch666]

I prefer bootlegs when repairing since they tend to have few customs,it's just the PALs that can trip me up.
So I have quite a few boots and some duplicates so the possibility of converting then sounds good.

 

[Jacmar]

Sounds like we're doing the same thing. Recently fixed Jumping (Rainbow Islands)

I'd love to hear about any projects, that's for sure.

I think the stuff you're working on is way more advanced than me mate I'm very much still just learning !

 

[h0ffman]

I prefer bootlegs when repairing since they tend to have few customs,it's just the PALs that can trip me up.
So I have quite a few boots and some duplicates so the possibility of converting then sounds good.

As I discovered yesterday, always check the MAME source and they tend to have the pals dumped.

 

[h0ffman]

I think the stuff you're working on is way more advanced than me mate I'm very much still just learning !

That maybe so, but a little investigation and a play with mame can really help. Like replacing the roms of a boot with the original will tell you if it will...... boot ( sorry! )

 

[BubNotBob]

I enjoy reading all the repair logs that you post, I personally don't care what board they are. I like the insight into the process and your techniques in finding the problems.

 

[Jacmar]

That maybe so, but a little investigation and a play with mame can really help.

I've been doing lots of this recently !
On my Punisher boot, I've patched all that annoying green background in the attract mode and restored the punisher and capcom logo's the bootleggers removed.
I'm gonna try a few other CPS1 games on this board see if they are straight ROM swaps or not, maybe even look at improving the game audio if possible..
and on the R-type II conversion I done, I've patched the 'broken' continue screen to a slightly simpler but working one
Just cleaning up bits like that so far ...

 

[Funhouse71]

No ship explosion sounds in Salamander booty is very annoying...just silence when the ship blows up

 

[Jacmar]

Just one missing sound? Is that a known thing on that bootleg and has anyone ever tried to patch it?
I don't have that game so don't know anything about it

 

[Funhouse71]

Can't say for sure it's just one sound but its the one you notice missing the most. Not sure if the Salamnder bootleg is in Mame but have the roms zipped up on my PC.

I have an original Salamander board for comparison so I guess I could run through the sound check on both boards and see if any others are missing.

Just seems strange that it can play most sounds but not the explosion AFAIK.

No one has attempted a fix as this board is so rarely seen about.

 

[h0ffman]

I've been doing lots of this recently !
On my Punisher boot, I've patched all that annoying green background in the attract mode and restored the punisher and capcom logo's the bootleggers removed.
I'm gonna try a few other CPS1 games on this board see if they are straight ROM swaps or not, maybe even look at improving the game audio if possible..
and on the R-type II conversion I done, I've patched the 'broken' continue screen to a slightly simpler but working one
Just cleaning up bits like that so far ...

Feels like we need a central repo / wiki or something for all of these. Would be cool if someone set one up.

 

[Lurch666]

The bootleg black dragon/tiger has sprite priority issues. The players weapon is behind the player sprite and the fire from booby trapped chests appears behind the chest.

 

[Jacmar]

The bootleg black dragon/tiger has sprite priority issues. The players weapon is behind the player sprite and the fire from booby trapped chests appears behind the chest.

Yeah I have one myself with the same issue, but then I'm sure I've seen it mentioned somewhere that others don't ... I think there are 2 different versions of this bootleg, each with a different daughter board which replaces the capcom custom sprite generator ... I wonder if one of them carries the issue and the other doesn't ? food for thought ...

 

[ptom98]

I've been doing lots of this recently !
On my Punisher boot, I've patched all that annoying green background in the attract mode and restored the punisher and capcom logo's the bootleggers removed.
I'm gonna try a few other CPS1 games on this board see if they are straight ROM swaps or not, maybe even look at improving the game audio if possible..
and on the R-type II conversion I done, I've patched the 'broken' continue screen to a slightly simpler but working one
Just cleaning up bits like that so far ...

I considered doing the same with my bootleg of the punisher, but was very much over the top of my head

 

[Jacmar]

I'm just trying to tidy up a couple of other bits in the attract mode (couple of times where the wrong picture flashes on screen) then I'll send you the patched roms if you want them

 

[ptom98]

I'm just trying to tidy up a couple of other bits in the attract mode (brief moments where the wrong picture flashes on screen) then I'll send you the patched roms if you want them

Pls, would love to try them out