Choplifter to Wonderboy Monsterland conversion

parism

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For a long time, I had a desire to play the properly translated Wonderboy in Monsterland (Wii virtual console), as I remember playing it BITD. I have an English bootleg but it is so poorly translated it is not fun to play.

The ROMs for the Wii virtual console version exist so I wanted to try and do a conversion from Choplifter.

I used a Z80 Choplifter system 2 PCB and burned the EPROMs in the ROMset "wbmlvcd". I chose the decrypted version since I was planning on running it on a regular Z80 CPU.

Of course, the game needed 3 color PROMs at IC4, IC 14 and IC 20. Without those, it was running with sound but with the wrong colors.

IMG_2068.jpeg

Although I can program 82s129s, I didn't have any nor did I want to purchase some old stock that could already be programmed. So I resorted in using an adapter to a 27C512 (Winbond EEPROM).

The problem is that these 3 PROMs are very closely spaced so I would need to use the smallest possible adapter boards. After talking to @brzezicki it was evident that his adapter boards would not properly fit. I found some that were a little smaller here and I sent them for fabrication.

After a week or so they arrived and looked good, but again, they were just a little smaller than Brian's and I still had to deal with the spacing issue (see later).

IMG_2074.jpeg

The next issue I was facing was the /CS pin. I had an option to tie the /CS to pin 13 or 14 of the 82s129 side.

The schematics show both pins tied to GND, so it didn't really matter. I used the "solder jumper" on the adapter to set /CS to pin 14.

1654795027163.png

The fully constructed adapter looked like this, I used machine pin headers for these.

IMG_2073.jpeg

Now onto the spacing problem: the PROM in the middle would not allow all three adapters to "sit" at the same height (picture shows the PROMs on Choplifter)

IMG_2156.jpg

I decided to use wire wrap socket headers for the middle PROM adapter, like these:

screenshot_226.jpg

The constructed adapter was like this:

IMG_2069.jpeg

Putting all thee PROM adapters on the PCB went smoothly, plenty of clearance:

IMG_2072.jpeg

The game played great:

IMG_2070.jpeg

The conversion was finished with some nicer labels:

IMG_2154.jpeg

Overall, a fairly easy conversion without destroying anything. I will switch it back to Choplifer or Wonderboy when I get bored.

p
 
Last edited:
nice. choplifter fucking sucks. did you think about just fabbing one board with 3 sockets? that way there is no clearance or spacing issue. although not as reusable in other occasions.
 
nice. choplifter fucking sucks. did you think about just fabbing one board with 3 sockets? that way there is no clearance or spacing issue. although not as reusable in other occasions.

Thanks!

The single adapter board would not be difficult to design but, as you said, it is not really useful in scenarios with other ROMsets. Unless you have damaged PROMs that you can replace with 27C512s.
 
For a long time, I had a desire to play the properly translated Wonderboy in Monsterland (Wii virtual console), as I remember playing it BITD. I have an English bootleg but it is so poorly translated it is not fun to play.

The ROMs for the Wii virtual console version exist so I wanted to try and do a conversion from Choplifter.

I used a Z80 Choplifter system 2 PCB and burned the EPROMs in the ROMset "wbmlvcd". I chose the decrypted version since I was planning on running it on a regular Z80 CPU.

Of course, the game needed 3 color PROMs at IC4, IC 14 and IC 20. Without those, it was running with sound but with the wrong colors.

View attachment 586100

Although I can program 82s129s, I didn't have any nor did I want to purchase some old stock that could already be programmed. So I resorted in using an adapter to a 27C512 (Winbond EEPROM).

The problem is that these 3 PROMs are very closely spaced so I would need to use the smallest possible adapter boards. After talking to @brzezicki it was evident that his adapter boards would not properly fit. I found some that were a little smaller here and I sent them for fabrication.

After a week or so they arrived and looked good, but again, they were just a little smaller than Brian's and I still had to deal with the spacing issue (see later).

View attachment 586101

The next issue I was facing was the /CS pin. I had an option to tie the /CS to pin 13 or 14 of the 82s129 side.

The schematics show both pins tied to GND, so it didn't really matter. I used the "solder jumper" on the adapter to set /CS to pin 14.

View attachment 586106

The fully constructed adapter looked like this, I used machine pin headers for these.

View attachment 586108

Now onto the spacing problem: the PROM in the middle would not allow all three adapters to "sit" at the same height (picture shows the PROMs on Choplifter)

View attachment 586114

I decided to use wire wrap socket headers for the middle PROM adapter, like these:

View attachment 586110

The constructed adapter was like this:

View attachment 586115

Putting all thee PROM adapters on the PCB went smoothly, plenty of clearance:

View attachment 586116

The game played great:

View attachment 586117

The conversion was finished with some nicer labels:

View attachment 586118

Overall, a fairly easy conversion without destroying anything. I will switch it back to Choplifer or Wonderboy when I get bored.

p

very cool project and write up Paris, thanks for sharing.
 
A year later, this is the updated link to the adapter Gerber files:


The game still works great…

p
 
A year later, this is the updated link to the adapter Gerber files:


The game still works great…

p
Thanks for sharing this. I wonder if the same 27C512 eprom could be used to replace the 82S126 on DK & DK Jr. boards?
 
Well I have ordered and received my prom to roms conversion boards
I have ordered the required AT27C512R-45RU SOP-28 for said conversion boards.

I have ordered and received the system 8 to Jamma pcbjunkie adapter to test my dakkochan house donor board and ....

IMG_1359.jpgIMG_1360.jpg


/facepalm !


Moral of the story : test your boards BEFORE jumping on the conversion train !
 
Well I have ordered and received my prom to roms conversion boards
I have ordered the required AT27C512R-45RU SOP-28 for said conversion boards.

I have ordered and received the system 8 to Jamma pcbjunkie adapter to test my dakkochan house donor board and ....

View attachment 731092View attachment 731091


/facepalm !


Moral of the story : test your boards BEFORE jumping on the conversion train !
Oh man!

However, you can still do quick conversion to the VC version with much improved English…

p
 
I got these from ebay ... and I guess I'm glad I didn't have to use them!
 

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