WindowsKiller's 3DO M2 tools

[WindowsKiller]

OperaFS Reader v0.03:
http://gtw3do.retro-net.de/misc/OperaFSReader003.zip

As the name says, this tool allows reading discs (real and iso images) formatted with the Opera filesystem, which is the filesystem used for 3DO and 3DO M2 discs. It's a bit primitive and slow because I wrote it solely for myself. Though it's still more advanced than the 2 other tools for reading 3DO discs. Should run on any version of Windows.

Konami M2 Arcade Game Patcher v0.3:
http://gtw3do.retro-net.de/misc/m2patch_03.rar

Allows patching some of the arcade games to run on a PCB made for a different game. Currently supports Battle Tryst, Heat of Eleven '98, and Evil/Hell Night (adding Total Vice is possible, but lacking a good dump; Polystars uses an older BIOS and won't run on other hardware). Compatible with any version of Windows.

Hope this deserves a sticky. :110:

[ASSEMbler]

Any notes on the Opera FS? I didn't get a good chance to look at
my disc dump yet.

Excellent work btw.

[Borman]

Just wanted to note, the patcher works using CrossoverMac under OSX :) Saves me some time

[iamaduck]

I need people who own Total Vice hardware to do some tests.

What do you need to know?

[M2fan]

I wonder if its possible to run these arcade games on a prototype M2 home console.......

[M2fan]

ah that's what I figured. would it be possible to maybe mod one of the home systems? Maybe take some of the arcade hardware and put it into the home console?

[M2fan]

ah well I was just throwing some ideas out there. I might port Doom over to the M2 in the future....if I ever get a mac

[M2fan]

knowledge in C++.......well I have that part covered. but where would I get those documents?

[iamaduck]

I should be getting a Total Vice boardset within a week or so. I'm planning to convert it to Polystars though :nod:

[iamaduck]

Sorry to say, but that won't work. Polystars relies on an early bios, which makes it impossible to run Polystars on any other hardware than the Polystars board. :-(

Actually, Polystars and Total Vice share the same 623B01 BIOS (well, Total Vice ver 639AAB01 does at least).

Mind you, what's to stop you from replacing the existing BIOS with a 16Mb EPROM containing the alternate BIOS?

[iamaduck]

They don't. There were only two different bios versions ever used for the M2 arcade system. Polystars uses the older one, all other games the newer one, Total Vice included.

Oh? Both the AAB and JAD versions of Total Vice both feature the following code in their mask ROM check routine:

lis %r12, 0x130F (3D80130F)
ori %r12, %r12, 0x69C4 (618C69C4)

0x130f69c4 being the 32-bit checksum of the older BIOS 623B01.

Maybe the US/world versions use the newer BIOS.

[iamaduck]

If you really think that the JAD version uses the older bios, you should take a look at the MAME sources.

I don't need convincing ;-)

Anyway, MAME lists Total Vice as using the old BIOS (and half of the CD images are marked as bad - I must get round to replacing them).

[Borman]

I own the JAD and UAC discs, and both use the newer bios...

If you really think that the JAD version uses the older bios, you should take a look at the MAME sources.

//edit:
Cool, however. I just got Polystars hacked to work on my Heat of Eleven board! :-)

Awesomeeee

[iamaduck]

I picked up my Total Vice boardset today (CD ver. 639UAC01, BIOS 623B01). It's now running Tobe! Polystars ;)

[iamaduck]

Pictures, videos?

No problem.

Motherboard photos:

http://i37.tinypic.com/2pzl63l.jpg
http://i37.tinypic.com/4zw7ch.jpg

I didn't photograph the extra board which holds a YMZ280B and sound ROM for the guns.

Note the full consignment of 16MB RAM (Polystars has only 8MB fitted IIRC).

The two DIP switches on the top board control the screen resolution. They were set to medium-res for Total Vice.

To get Polystars running I hacked out three of the EEPROM checks.

[NTM]

Do you guys think there is a way to rig a universal bios for these? I'm busting out my Vice board again, in hopes I can play some other M2 games on it.

[iamaduck]

By the sounds of it, having the newer, 636A01 BIOS is enough.

[NTM]

Cool, I found me a M27C160 16mb chip in my eprom pile whenever a new patch program is ready.

[NTM]

Another question... Does anyone know which of the other arcade games require the medium res setting to run? I know if I set my Total Vice to low, it doesnt load. Think there's a way to patch the games to allow them to run in low res?

[iamaduck]

Just Hell Night (its alternate version, Evil Night is standard res).