| gregf |
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what do Fujitsu MB8841 chip, a Kangaroo pcb, and Lexor’s Scrabble have in common?
#393907 - 05/02/22 09:59 PM
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* could have started with a walking into a bar type unfunny comedy bit, but that would have gone nowhere *
Anyway this was added…
New working machines
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Scrabble Lexor - Computer Word Game [hap, Sean Riddle]
https://github.com/mamedev/mame/commit/9e76c4c65a7bd7fd55d1a58c5a34bebfa1d81a80
I recalled seeing one at someone’s residence back in early 1980s
I never played it and Scrabble isn’t my type of game. hap’s work is good, but the game really could use
artwork support so it makes it easier to see what is going on when playing the game.
Some links with decent photos of what it looks like. Too bad that likely no talented artists will want to work on this.
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Scrabble Lexor
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124752784309
Scrabble Brand Lexor Computer Word Game 1980 Made in USA Tested Works
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/scrabble-brand-1980-lexor-computer-1869051677
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This now leaves with where do Fujitsu MB8841 and a Kangaroo pcb come into play.
Read hap’s post. I copied best part here.
https://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=120835#Post120835
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The interesting thing is that this is on a Fujitsu MB8841, first time I've seen a handheld/tabletop using this. The MCU was already emulated in MAME. Sean figured out how to dump it.
This might also mean good news on the arcade side soon, it's possible to dump MB8841 protection MCUs now.
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Copying a bit of text from Guru’s site, here are some entry examples of games that use the MB8841 chip.
One of the chips was done with Atari Arabian, but chip was destroyed to get the data.
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Fujitsu MB8841
PCB: N/A
Game: Arabian (Atari)
Decap and photograph the mask ROM
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Since that won’t sit well with pcb owners, it took Sean’s work to show that maybe the Fujitsu MB8841 can be read and data finally extracted instead of damaging the chip.
Here are some of the Atari / Namco brand games from 1980s era that use the chip.
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Fujitsu MB8841
PCB: Loose donated chip
Game: Dig Dug II, Gaplus, Grobda, Libble Rabble, Motos, Pac & Pal, Pacman & Chomp Chomp, Phozon, Super Pacman, Tower Of Druaga, Toy Pop
Label: CUS56XX
Fujitsu MB8841
PCB: Loose donated chip
Game: Dig Dug II, Gaplus, Grobda, Libble Rabble, Mappy, Phozon, Super Pacman, Tower Of Druaga, Toy Pop
Label: CUS58XX
Fujitsu MB8841
PCB:
Game: Pac & Pal, Pacman & Chomp Chomp
Label: CUS59XX
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Oddly enough that it is mentioned in Kangaroo.cpp driver, but not mentioned in other
source files such as Gaplus.cpp and Toypop.cpp
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Fujitsu MB8841
Game: Kangaroo
https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/drivers/kangaroo.cpp
TODO:
- There is a custom MB8841 microcontroller on the original Kangaroo board which
is not emulated. This MIGHT cause some problems, but we don't know of any.
ROM_REGION( 0x0800, "mcu", 0 ) // internal ROM from the 8841 custom MCU
ROM_LOAD( "mb8841.ic29", 0x0000, 0x0800, NO_DUMP )
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This leaves an original Kangaroo pcb that should have a Fujitsu MB8841 as the first game that could be tested
with Sean’s dumping style method. Hope it works so other games that use same chip could also be worked on.
Good to know that handheld emulation does something for the coinop side.
* didn’t have to use a ‘walk into a bar unfunny bit’ this time around * 
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Mr. Do |
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MAME Art Editor
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Reged: 09/21/03
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Re: what do Fujitsu MB8841 chip, a Kangaroo pcb, and Lexor’s Scrabble have in common?
[Re: gregf]
#393908 - 05/02/22 11:49 PM Attachment: scrabble lexor.jpg 624 KB (0 downloads)
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> Some links with decent photos of what it looks like. Too bad that likely no talented
> artists will want to work on this.
Adding a semi-large pic to use for later.
[ATTACHED IMAGE - CLICK FOR FULL SIZE]
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RELAX and just have fun. Remember, it's all about the games.
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Re: what do Fujitsu MB8841 chip, a Kangaroo pcb, and Lexor’s Scrabble have in common?
[Re: gregf]
#393916 - 05/03/22 11:38 PM
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> https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/src/mame/drivers/kangaroo.cpp
>
>
> TODO:
> - There is a custom MB8841 microcontroller on the original Kangaroo board which
> is not emulated. This MIGHT cause some problems, but we don't know of any.
>
> ROM_REGION( 0x0800, "mcu", 0 ) // internal ROM from the 8841 custom MCU
> ROM_LOAD( "mb8841.ic29", 0x0000, 0x0800, NO_DUMP )
>
This comment is really out of date, Kangeroo is basically a non-working game without the proper MCU as the random bonus awards are far, far too generous, making the game much easier than it should be.
It's a common complaint from those who remember the game from back in the day (although given how old it is, those people are starting to die out, literally in some cases)
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| simzy |
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MAME Fan
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Reged: 09/06/10
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Re: what do Fujitsu MB8841 chip, a Kangaroo pcb, and Lexor’s Scrabble have in common?
[Re: gregf]
#393937 - 05/07/22 01:26 AM
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Just wanted to add that Smittdog and MogglyGuy secured a Kangaroo MCU for Mame in April 2021. According the DU posts now, Smittdog is sending it these days to get decapped.
So, soon we'll see Kangaroo 
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| gregf |
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Ramtek's Trivia promoter
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Re: what do Fujitsu MB8841 chip, a Kangaroo pcb, and Lexor’s Scrabble have in common?
[Re: simzy]
#393991 - 05/14/22 03:10 AM
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> Just wanted to add that Smittdog and MogglyGuy secured a Kangaroo MCU for Mame in April 2021. According
> the DU posts now, Smittdog is sending it these days to get decapped.
I would like to believe Sean’s recent work with the chip for Scrabble would mean not having to decap the
mcu, but be able to read the data without having to ruin the mcu. It will be ideal still keeping pcbs intact if possible unless a pcb is beyond repair then use decap method as last resort. if what Sean did can be applied to Kangaroo Fujitsu mcu, that means more of a chance other pcb owners will be able to do same work with any of the other Atari and Namco pcbs that might use that mcu.
> So, soon we'll see Kangaroo
You meant to say Kangaroo in proper working shape.
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| gregf |
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Ramtek's Trivia promoter
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Reged: 09/21/03
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Posts: 8613
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Loc: southern CA, US
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Re: what do Fujitsu MB8841 chip, a Kangaroo pcb, and Lexor’s Scrabble have in common?
[Re: Mr. Do]
#393992 - 05/14/22 03:14 AM
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>> Some links with decent photos of what it looks like. Too bad that likely no talented
>> artists will want to work on this.
> Adding a semi-large pic to use for later.
Very good quality photo there. That looks like a nightmare to-do job especially if making the buttons be clickable style buttons like what has already been done with Simon layout file.
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| gregf |
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Ramtek's Trivia promoter
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Reged: 09/21/03
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Posts: 8613
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Loc: southern CA, US
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Re: what do Fujitsu MB8841 chip, a Kangaroo pcb, and Lexor’s Scrabble have in common?
[Re: Haze]
#393993 - 05/14/22 03:21 AM
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> This comment is really out of date, Kangeroo is basically a non-working game without the proper MCU as the
> random bonus awards are far, far too generous, making the game much easier than it should be.
Yep. As indicated, the mcu is already emulated, but hopefully Sean’s recent finding of being able to read data from the mcu will make it possible to avoid decap methods. With what I first posted previous week, hard to say how many other Atari games or Namco games also use same mcu. Sean’s method is probably only way other pcb owners might be willing to allow access to those mucus.
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