Anyone use LETA replacement on Marble Madness?

joemagiera

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Has anyone tried and/or is anyone using any LETA replacements on Marble Madness? As best I can determine, JROK published info on a LETA replacement, but I don't see anything of him actually selling them. The only LETA replacement seller I can find is Vector Labs.

If you have a LETA replacement in Marble Madness, can you try a test for me and report back? You don't have to video it, just report back with results.

What I'm looking for is right at the end of level 3 (so obviously you need to be good enough at the game to be able to complete level 3). Hint - always start a 2-player game, even if by yourself, that way, you always get an extra 5 seconds on the second screen, and then third screen, if you hit continue for player 2 to start again.

What I'm looking for is shown in the video. At the very end of level 3, instead of going down the very last hill to the right and finishing the course, stay to the left. What I want to know is if you can get back up the hill (and then turn to the right and finish the course).

Again, I only want this is if you are using a LETA replacement. I know it works fine on an original.

If you do run the test and report results, please identify what/who's LETA replacement you are using. Thanks.

 
You should ask for the type of Trackball being used as well, ie original without an IC on the trackball optocoupler board or a newer trackball with an optocoupler board.
 
I have the VectorLabs LETA in my MM and I can roll back up that hill no trouble. I'm not using the original trackballs, they're HAPPS bought a decade or so ago, but the opto-boards are original for the game.

I can also do the "jumps" on the practice level.

Are you worried that the replacements don't perform as the originals did? My Leta went bad while I owned the game and I can tell no difference before/after replacing it with VectorLabs. It also works fine in RoadBlasters, which I convert the game to from time to time, no difference at all in performance that I can perceive.

EDIT: After really thinking back to when I got my MM going, I didn't use the original Atari boards in my Happs trackballs, I bought these ones:

https://na.suzohapp.com/products/trackballs/A052-1011-00?REF=SN
 
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Hi Joe,
I have the Vector Labs LETA replacement in my MM, and have noticed no noticeable difference from an original LETA. I've gotten to level 5 with the replacement LETA and can get up the hill on level 3 (though I still haven't come close to the high score you put up, you bastard!).

I *did*, however, have issues with the VL LETA replacement. I obtained a MH Tempest conversion last year, and the LETA wasn't working. So I tried the VL LETA in the MH, and it didn't work - in fact, the board wouldn't run properly. On a hunch, I swapped the original LETA in my MM, with the VL LETA. The original works fine in the MH board, and the LETA works fine in the system 1 board. And for good measure, I recently swapped kits to Roadblasters, and the LETA seems to be working without issue for that game as well.

Greg
 
And this is why it's important to know what version VL intended to replace with his LETA - 1001, 2002, or both.

From what is stated above, I am led to believe it is a 2002 replacement and does not function in place of a 1001.

That's pretty important information (that has been conveniently omitted...) that would completely put the kibosh on the MH repro builders intending to use it.
.

WANTED!!! : DECO Cassette System Cages/PCB's - Amplifone M48AAW00X Tubes - Robotron Cabaret - NEO GEO AES Joysticks - NeoSaveMasta - PuLiRuLa PCB - Sailor Moon PCB
 
And this is why it's important to know what version VL intended to replace with his LETA - 1001, 2002, or both.



From what is stated above, I am led to believe it is a 2002 replacement and does not function in place of a 1001.



That's pretty important information (that has been conveniently omitted...) that would completely put the kibosh on the MH repro builders intending to use it.

.



My theory would be that it might have to do with the optical board and not the LETA revision. Both of ours are just theories for now unless people post more detailed information about their setups.
 
I sure hope the VL LETA works on Major Havoc. That would kinda piss me off if it didn't and wasn't disclosed. At worst case, I can swap the originals with replacements in a game they do work on and use the original in Major Havoc, but they should be interchangeable.
 
I sure hope the VL LETA works on Major Havoc. That would kinda piss me off if it didn't and wasn't disclosed. At worst case, I can swap the originals with replacements in a game they do work on and use the original in Major Havoc, but they should be interchangeable.

VL states MH in the page advertisement for his LETA. So, it should work. (Ha, page was posted in 2014 and still no PDF file for it).
One assumes he tested it.

http://www.vector-labs.com/index_leta.html

If not, then ->

torch-and-pitchfork-mob.jpg
 
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