Global VR Vortex Computers...

Pinball Wizard

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Guys, this thread is here to document my research into the computers used in the Vortex systems. I have a few end goals, including the ability to duplicate the games across computers, as well as possibly "linking" into the interface with custom games. I have both PCs and almost all of the install discs and dongles to recreate HDs. Feel free to ask questions along the way.


===To-Do===
-Document the 2 different PCs that were used -In Progress
-Defeat The Dongle System -In Progress
-Explain the OS principles
-Document The Menu System
-Exploit The Menu System For "Custom Games"
 
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There were 2 different PCs used in the Vortex cabinets, the "Graphite" mini-computer and the "DFI" tower.

===Graphite===
This was a "mini tower" pc in a metal case. Very compact, but was specifically designed for arcade game use and was custom built. This computer has a power plug that feeds to the outside of the case to power such things as the VR display along with the audio amp.

===DFI===
Appears to be just a standard off the shelf PC of the era, in a standard beige box. Cabinets that originally had this computer in the bottom are noted easily by an extra power supply in the bottom used to power the audio amp and VR display.


~In progress more info to come
 
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The first project I am going to tackle is the beating the security protecting the games. There were 7 different games made for these cabinets and each had their own security dongle, along with the offering of "multi-game" dongles. Basically they are just HASP4 USB dongles that were defeated long ago. To "defeat" the protection you essentially use a "middle-man interception" to take the handshake the software does, copy it, and then place that into a program that will then emulate the dongle and feed the info to the program. Not too hard to do, but these PCs are a little finicky about being messed with. There are 2 different things to work around, 1) there is a watchdog program running that was originally intended to reboot the game in case it crashed, so that it wouldn't be a dead game on location. This is easily defeated for 2 reasons, first of if you open task manager and kill the process it is out of your way. The second thing is that the watchdog is supposed to talk to the control input board, but it was never coded properly and doesn't work. Now that you are around the watchdog, the other "hiccup" in the process is that if you start poking around in anything or running other programs the computer likes to just flat out reboot. I *believe* this is just a memory issue (or lack of) and can be fixed by either upgraded the RAM or just being careful about how many tasks you are doing at once. I haven't torn the PC open to see what kind of RAM it needs to upgrade it, so for now I'm just being careful about how much I tax the computer at once.

So with that I am in the midst of dumping a 5-game dongle (Operation Blockade, Incoming, Beachhead 2000, Beach Head 2002, and Beach Head 2003), and I also have a dongle for Desert Gunner. So stay tuned!
 
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Just curious, but might GlobalVR have an issue with you trying to
crack their hardware and software ?

JD
 
Honestly, it is possible that they might have a fit, but realistically from emails I have had with them, they have written off the Vortex system, with no support for it anymore. I'm guessing the no longer see it as a profitable system. If I thought that there was any care from them I probably wouldn't document this like I am working on.
 
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Honestly, it is possible that they might have a fit, but realistically from emails I have had with them, they have written off the Vortex system, with no support for it anymore. I'm guessing the no longer see it as a profitable system. If I thought that there was any care from them I probably wouldn't document this like I am working on.

That's cool. My last job I had a box of USB and LPT dongles from machines we
had trashed. Wish I still had them, I would've been happy to send them to you.

JD
 
Bump you doing anything with this?

Subscribed.

I just got a standard vr cab on thursday from a member here on trade but I think we met on Ebay. Anyways heres what i've found:

10 games at least listed by the manufacturer not sure they all came out.
Beachhead 2000, 2002 ,2003, Desert Gunner, Heavy Gear 2, Incoming, Invasion Earth, Operation Blockade, Sky Bandits, Sin.
Edit: Last vortek vr press release does not show Sin or heavy Gear 2 as released games or released for this system. So at least 8 games total.

DFI Mobo
CS-35TL
http://www.mcsmicro.com/mcs_index_files/motherboard_files/dfi_files/cs35tl.htm
Chipset
Intel 815 E B-Step

CPU Socket
Socket 370

CPU Supported
Intel Pentium III FCPGA2 1.13-1.26GHz/133MHz
Intel Pentium III FCPGA 533EB-1GHz/133MHz
Intel Pentium III FCPGA 500E- 1.1GHz/ 100MHz
Celeron FCPGA2 1.2GHz+/ 100MHz
Celeron FCPGA 800-1.1GHz/ 100MHz
Celeron FCPGA 566-700MHz/ 66MHz
Future VIA CyrixIII processor

Memory
2 x DIMM sockets
max. 512MB (unbuffered)
Supports PC100/ PC133 SDRAM

PCI IDE
Dual PIO mode 4 EIDE channels up to 4 IDE devices
UltraDMA/100 transfer rate up to 100MB/sec

Video On Board
Integrated 3D graphics with 133MHz DVMT
4MB display cache by AIMM card into the AGP slot (82815 GL)
AGP 4X card into the AGP slot (Optional)

My machine has a
735 MHZ Processor Intel Pentium 3
128 MB Ram
Samsung cd-rom sc-1522
80 gb HD 74.5 Useable 1.66 used for game and os 7200 rpm ata. I wasnt paying and tried to slave a standard drive off it it. Hopefully I didnt fry it.
Windows XP, its some sort of a modified version of it though. It wont let you upgrade straight to service pack 3 or internet explorer 8+.

Game system
If you close out watchdog then Orion or the main program shell you can use windows. It also has some sort of program that disables the taskbar. Haven't figured out how to easily turn that on or off except through config.sys startup. I just use keyboard buttons, window, tab, alt fn etc.
You can run the main gamefile .exe once these things are shutoff even without any kind of dongle, it's just the main game though.

I've put some other games and emus on the system and it'll play them once those system files are shuoff. Since its not a fully featured windows xp with all the feautres many emus won't run on it.

My upgrades so far
Recommended Jaton Nvidia 64MB AGP video card.
512 MB ram pc133 not brand matching
DVD drive, with intervideo player
3.5 front usb memory card multi drive. You can't really use them if you put the computer where its supposed to go though.

Dreaming of a easily removable wireless or any kind 2p 6 six button cp. You'd have to pay attention to where the helmets are at and not smack your head into it. Its do-able though.

Manufacturer suggests upgrading
any processor under 800 mhz to 1ghz
512 mb ram
video card to a janton nvidia 64mb agp

Theres what I've figured out in a few days.
 
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There's a guy selling one of the first units with the yellow helmet and a few games loaded for $1k. Is it worth it? I figure it's a cool looking cab, but the games do seem sort of boring, but they are not in MAME so I can't really try them.

Is this the same system that had Crimson Skies in it?

Is the helmet any good with other games running in MAME, if that is even possible on the computer?

I'll keep an eye on this thread. Even if I don't get the cab, your work seems very interesting!
 
No the games arn't that much fun so far. You can play them for about 45 minutes and then you get tired of it.
Seems like they may not have an end they just keep going. The levels change up slightly and at least on beach head 2002theres no way to save it. (that i've figured out)
It does have a coolness for the replay but I'm sure one day the novelty will wear off.
Maybe theres some mastery going on that you'll want to get really good at it, haven't played enough for that to kick in.

Yes you can put mame on the machine.

Bump updated .
The maunfacturer sells discs with all eight games on them. I bought them and the newest system restore disc. I have the systems pc here at home and got most of the games .exe files to work without the dongles. Tring to contact the manufacturer for an updated multigame dongle. Got several more emulators and programs to work on the unit. THe newer system ver seems a little harder to hack it has another program running called watch pup. The windows key seems very helpful for getting around them.
 
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Well I put the computer back into the cab the other day. I can get Invasion and Sky Bandits to work by loading up the main exe file(and shutting down watchpup and dog). The games controls won't work on the other games. I can't get BH2002 to load up automatically either. I can diasble the watchdog and the other vortek files from startup (msconfig.exe) and get it to load up with the dongle in the USB port by pressing O on the dongle screen then only having it sleected in the startup mode and clicking play .

Invasion is a decent game, again gets a little repetetive, plays like newer mix between Asteroids and Defender.

Sky bandits is pretty badass, I like the zoom capabilities and different weapons scrolling.
Takes full advantage of the system IMO. My favorite game so far.

I contact vr global tek and they said I can buy a dongle with beachhead 2000,2002, 2003 on it but I have to contact a distributor to get it. I'm waiting to hear back from Betson about it.

Also I can't get both the moitor and the hemet to work at the same time now that I upgraded the system. I ordered several new cables and a couple splitter boxes. The signal seemed to have some interferance in the first place.

I also have got DVD movies working good, loaded a bunch of mp3's on it and with media player it's like a jukebox, mame work good newer games require more power though, Kega, Snes and Nintendo emus work great as well.
 
I have been absent from this thread for some time. I ran into a time crunch and never really got far with this. I am currently 11 hours away from my machine and I won't be able to do anything, anytime soon.
 
I setup joytokey on the pc and use the helmet like a mouse, on Mame the trackball and lightgun games work well with the helmet. Pretty cool.

I also bought a wireless keyboard off of walmart.com for $15. Works ok, much better than having to use the wired ones the machine comes with.

I went to Chuck E Cheeses today and they had one of these with three games on it. It's much smaller than mine. Mines about 8 feet tall. This ones maybe maybe over five. The helmet seems smaller and the range it moves around is shorter. They need to update the catalog they have online. I could swear I've also played one in Vegas that you sat in a seat and rolled around and moved up and down instead of using the VR helmet.

New game it had that I havent played yet are:
Operation Blockade, A little bit faster paced than Beachead, has a zoom feature like Sky Bandits. Couldn't figure out how to change guns. Fun factor in between those two.

Incoming almost like Sky Bandits but no zoom feature. You also have a base and assets you need to protect. You could accidentally shoot or blow them up. Has a good HUD, wish the games had one that was this good. Beachhead 2000 just has red arrows that point to the direction of the enemies. I just played one token on each but this game seems like it could be one of the better games on the system.
 
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VR3 and TSUMO Tsunami

I recently joined because I heard there was some good information about some of the gaming I am interested in. I have a couple of the VR3 Machines and a couple of the TSUMO Tsunami Machines. I also have the VR Vortek Deluxe Model. I have been searching for additional games for both systems. My VR3 Systems has 2 games: Operation Blockade/Beach Head 2002.
My TSUMO has the 5 game selection: Crimson Skies/Beach Head 2000/Star Wars Starfighter/Air Strike/EX Zeus.
I really want all games and Rides available for these systems. Can anyone help or direct me to a good source.
Thanks
 
This was my game but it had a password on the setup menu and the game got out of calibration big time one day and I couldn't calibrate it so I could never get it to work again :( and the guys at VR Global couldn't help me.

Heavy Gear 2 VR Global Arcade Intro


 
This was my game but it had a password on the setup menu and the game got out of calibration big time one day and I couldn't calibrate it so I could never get it to work again :( and the guys at VR Global couldn't help me.

Heavy Gear 2 VR Global Arcade Intro



So this game did come out do you still have it?
 
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