Death Race in FPGA shows signs of life!

Not sure what purists you're talking about. We don't mind FPGA multigames as FPGA / BGA is the most accurate form of PCB simulation. Also as long as it can output to a real B&W CRT the whole LCD question is also not pertinent. If you can do a multi-game then by all means please please pretty please pursue that.

I agree, I think most people would like the option of having all of these on one pcb, especially if they are using the same controls, steering wheels, shifters, and pedals. I think you would sell more, if that is the long term plan.
 
I think in general that's a niche that's desperately needed to be filled for a long time and would help save a lot of games, making multi-game upgrades for the older B&W cabs, especially the ones that all share similar controls like Super Bug, Fire Truck, Sprint, etc.

Though we all make these suggestions (me included) knowing WE'RE not the ones who would have to do all the hard work! :D Easy for us to say!
 
As I mentioned previously I'm not really looking to "sell" anything or go into production on boards. My intent was to get this running on an already available FPGA eval board. This would require connecting to the cabinet with some type of adaptor board/cable. Most of the eval boards I've used typically use IDC .100" dual row headers for I/O so I've made cables before that plug into those connectors and then wire to whatever I/O I need (this could be some type of "finger" board that could plug into an original cabinet harness.) I will provide the code that can be downloaded into these boards to make them run the game logic. Is this type of wiring something the typical forum user can do? Maybe there's others on the forum that have done this type of cabinet conversion wiring that would be willing to help out with this part of the project? An actual purpose built "multi-game" board the plugs into the original harness is possible to make I'm just not sure with these much older rarer games if the volume is there for it to make sense to go have custom PCB's made. Should I create a new thread soliciting help for this? I know there are others on the forum who have designed and had custom boards built.
 
Ahah! Found that photo of Alley Rally which shows the screen, this time I saved a copy!

Thats the only screen shot I've seen as well.
I guess its a track set up like an early Atari driver (Track 10, etc)
Looks like the two numbers on the sides are the care one and two laps.
The center number I assume is the time.
 
wow, that is not at all what i was expecting Alley Rally to look like, now i understand the sprint reference

was expecting it to be much more primitive - like driving thru a blocky maze sort of thing
 
All the more reason to fire that puppy up and see what it's like :D

Just sold the board by the way, but the new owner intends to get some shots and video once he gets it working.
 
So the Alley Rally PCB arrived safely today :D
Im supper excited about this.
Attached is a photo of what the game actually looks like.

At the moment she wont coin up for some reason, so need to address that.
Haven't delved into it yet as I literally just opened up the box gave the board a once-over glance and plugged her into my Destruction Derby cabinet.

Pretty neat stuff.
 

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That's great news! with even semi-working boards for Death Race, Destruction Derby and Alley Rally for reference I should be able to knock out all three in an FPGA. I'm going to go ahead and start working on a multigame FPGA kit for these games. If anyone out there is interested in this please bump this thread and let me know if you would want one for an existing cab you have (and which cab it is) or if you are looking to scratch build a cab. I want to see how much interest there is in a kit that would just plug into the existing harness. Also, since I will have to come up with a game selection interface if there's any input on how you would like to see that work as well. Possibly hold start down for 2 or 3 seconds or pedal and steer while game is over etc. I could add a "free play" mode as well I suppose.
 
i'm in for the kit, original DR cabinet.
finally a good screen shot of Alley Rally - very cool indeed
as for the FPGA kit ..... off top of me head, hold down start button to get to menu, game choices appear, scroll with steering wheel, select with accel pedals
with the limited number of inputs from pedals and start button may have to have 1plr / 2plr game select on the menu not by adding credits - since there is only one start button not two if that makes any sense
 
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off top of me head, hold down start button to get to menu, game choices appear, scroll with steering wheel, select with accel pedals
with the limited number of inputs from pedals and start button may have to have 1plr / 2plr game select on the menu not by adding credits - since there is only one start button not two if that makes any sense

Ill try that in a little bit after I get another cup of coffee in me.
By the way, have you guys seen this blog about the history of Exidy?
Its a nine part blog. I haven't read the entire thing yet, but looks really interesting.
http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy.html

http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy_24.html

http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy.html

http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy_13.html

http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy_20.html

http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy.html

http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy_21.html

http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy.html

http://allincolorforaquarter.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-ultimate-so-far-history-of-exidy_28.html

Check out the photo with all the Death Race cabs and a couple Destruction Derby cabs on the end.
Exidy+Manuf+Area+-+6+76.GIF
 

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By the way, have you guys seen this blog about the history of Exidy?
Its a nine part blog. I haven't read the entire thing yet, but looks really interesting.

Yep, ran across this a while ago. Great stuff all around on this blog.
 
if alley rally is same pin out as DR, grounding pin 7 of J2 will coin it up

look for output of 3C pin 10 which should be low to toggle to high as you ground pin 11 (7404) or ground the harness pin 7, if the output pin 10 does not change and the input pin 11 does, chip is bad

if all that is good it get much more complicated ... logic probe and schematics are your friend
 
PM me if you would be interested in selling one of them. I also need an Alley Rally and Destruction Derby board as well.

Project is progressing well, I should be posting another video sometime this weekend. I have both player cars and gremlins fully functioning just need to code the gremlin collision logic and start working on the sound.
 
Just posted latest video to youtube here:

I have the gameplay completely running now for both Death Race and Destruction Derby. Working on the sound and menu system now. About 3/4 into the video I switch the game to DD so you can view that gameplay as well.
 
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Just posted latest video to youtube here:
https://youtu.be/fwI2f2uxWrQ

I have the gameplay completely running now for both Death Race and Destruction Derby. Working on the sound and menu system now. About 3/4 into the video I switch the game to DD so you can view that gameplay as well.

Looks like you've made some serious progress.
Congrats, this is pretty exciting.

In the video it looks like the cars are able to drive though the top and bottom of the screen, as well as the lines on the side (some of the times, not all).
 
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