Announcing: Atari Assault high score save

mattosborn

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First off, I'd like to thank Francis at Ataricade.com (user "nash" here) for his generous contribution that funded the development of this high score save. Without his help and occasional prodding, this wouldn't have happened.
This project has consumed a good deal of my free time for the past several months. Hacking a 16-bit system like the Namco System 2 poses some unique challenges.... It was definitely a learning experience. But I'm glad it's over. :D

This is actually two things in one: an upgrade to Assault Plus, and a high score save.
Assault Plus is essentially an update to Assault that fixes some bugs and adds some features, like a choice between two different games at start and 2-player alternating play support (you would need to add a 2P Start button to take advantage of that). There are few other changes as well, like different music and some minor color changes. It is a more polished version of the game (it is my understanding that the original game was rushed to market).

For resetting the high score table, I wanted to use something that wouldn't happen accidentally, yet didn't require you to dig into the back of the game (like flipping DIPs). So I decided to use the coin switch on boot. So to reset the high score table all you have to do is this: open coin door, flip test-mode toggle to Test mode, hold down the Coin 1 switch (left entry side) while flipping the toggle back to Game mode. Defaults restored. Simple, yet very unlikely to happen inadvertently (your coin switch would have to be busted or the wires shorted).

The kit will be simple plug-n-play. No soldering required.
If you're interested in getting this high score save please respond here and send me an email. I'll be preparing kits this week and taking orders and shipping next week.
Price is $40 shipped.

Thanks,

Matt
 
Sounds great for my new acquired machine that will make it in the game room. You can put me down for one. Thanks for the heads up nash!
 
Could you theoretically apply this score save technology to other system II games? I'd love to get score save for my Burning Force and Dragon Saber boards.
 
Could you theoretically apply this score save technology to other system II games? I'd love to get score save for my Burning Force and Dragon Saber boards.

Yes, I suspect the same approach could be used for other System 2 games. The routines I wrote for reading/writing to the EEPROM would likely be the same or very similar. It would still take quite a bit of time to implement for another game, but 70% of the work is probably already done.
And to answer the following question, this score save is software only, as I utilize the existing EEPROM on the board.
 
Wow Matt... A friend mentioned you were working on the assault high score save kit... But you've really outdone yourself this time. Thank you very much, you're a huge asset to the community. Please pit me down, I'll take one for sure! I already have some of matts other hs save kits: time pilot 84, time pilot, burgertime and gyruss!! All o em
are great stuff!

Tom
 
Matt,
will this high score save kit work for those of us that are running just regular
assault or do we need to upgrade to assault plus first before installing this?
Thanks.

Tom
 
Hey James I have an extra Assault machine that I was planning on putting together. Its a project one which I know that's all you like. L.O.L. We can work out some sort of trade if your interested.
 
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