In Search of BOUNCER .... Now with audience participation

turbosub2005

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In Search of BOUNCER .... Now with audience participation

As some of you know I've been actively searching for a Bouncer machine for many years, Along the way I've documented some of the findings on my website www.turbosub.com


I remember first seeing an article about 'Bouncer' in 1983. I was very excited by the graphics and was naturally disappointed when it never showed up. Years went by but it was never forgotten. As I started getting into collecting in the early 90's, I was always inquiring about Bouncer as I raided many operator's warehouses. During the initial building of the KLOV (which literally started as a list), my interest was again renewed. By 2003, I started a serious search for a 'Bouncer' machine.

During my search I've tracked down the majority of the employees of Entertainment Sciences and got a lot of information along the way. It's actually a really interesting story. Some of the information has been posted on my website, much has not! While it has been my desire to locate a Bouncer machine for myself, I've decided it's time to share my research with the goal of trying to locate either a machine or EEPROM images of Bouncer before it is lost forever to bit-rot. The goal is to ensure that 'Bouncer' is preserved and available to all.


I am looking for members to join me in the search who agree to abide by our team charter.


1) To work collaboratively towards our common goal of locating a machine or valid rom images for Bouncer

2) To faithfully share with the team new findings and research conducted

3) Agree that new information be released publicly only as agreed by the team, likewise sensitive existing research should not be shared
publicly without team consent. The primary purpose is to protect the privacy of individuals who have/are assisting us, if they start getting swamped with contacts
the level of cooperation may be affected.

4) Do not abuse the research already done, Some who have been contacted, do not want to be contacted by anyone else. These people
will be identified as (Do Not Contact)

5) Do not harass previous contacts, many will not need to be recontacted as their information has already been collected and will
be shared on this site. If follow up is needed lets discuss as a team.

6) If anyone comes in possession of EEPROM images for BOUNCER they should be shared with team for validation on a RIP2000 boardset, and
then be formally released to the MAME team for inclusion into MAME. Likewise, the images will be made available publicly unless someone is able to prove ownership of the intellectual property.
Bases on numerous conversations with the former owners and officers of the company, I believe this will not be an issue.

7) If anyone comes in to possession of a complete cabinet or populated PCB, the EEPROMS should be immediately dumped in accordance with
provision 6. Likewise as a member of team, there is a reasonable expectation that the cabinet be made available to other members to
purpose of documentation and reproduction. Also any team member in possession of cabinet should make a reasonable effort to make the
cabinet available to other collectors either through planned visits, or public exhibition.


To fasciliate this effort I've setup a hosted collaboration space. The site will serve as an archive to research and documentation that has been uncovered to date,
as well as new findings.

I will initially be opening this up to a small team of people (consider it a beta) to test the waters. In time, I anticipate adding additional members.

If you would be interested in joining the initial team, please send me a PM with the following information

1) Name
2) E-Mail
3) KLOV name
4) Location
5) Reason why you would like to participate and any special skills you may bring to the team.

I've already reached out to a few people on KLOV who have worked with me in the past, if you've been selected you will receive an email with information on accessing
the collaboration space. I will try to make selections within the next 1-2 weeks.

Thanks,
Chris
(turbosub2005)
 
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Has the copyright holder released the ROM images to public domain?

If not, has qualified legal advice been sought regarding potential copyright violation in some of the actions being agreed to?
 
Has the copyright holder released the ROM images to public domain?

If not, has qualified legal advice been sought regarding potential copyright violation in some of the actions being agreed to?

Copyright was never applied for, so if found if would be 'public domain'.
 
Copyright was never applied for, so if found if would be 'public domain'.

I am not an attorney, but I'm certain this is not correct. There is no requirement to "apply for" copyright protection.

I support your efforts to discover this material 100% and applaud your efforts thus far, but strongly urge you to get advice from an attorney before you proceed with the agreement as written.

Please understand I'm trying to help here.
 
I am not an attorney, but I'm certain this is not correct. There is no requirement to "apply for" copyright protection.

I support your efforts to discover this material 100% and applaud your efforts thus far, but strongly urge you to get advice from an attorney before you proceed with the agreement as written.

Please understand I'm trying to help here.


Weehawk,

I appreciate the comment and will revoke the claim to 'make' them public domain. And will make them available to the public unless someone comes forward with claiming ownership. The assumption was made based on talks with former members of the executives and officers of the company, whom have assisted with the search. The company was not subject to bankruptcy, it was simply dissolved after a series of unfortunately events. The matter of ownership of intellectual property was one of the first topics discussed with the former owners. I believe we are in the clear, but will once again seek clarification along the way.
 
All jokes aside a "High Score" like documentary on the game, it's developement, disappearance and your search for it would probably be the best way to draw the most attention to any that may still exist out there, it may shake loose that final lead you've been searching for.
 
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LAST CALL......

Ok, the collaboration site is online and ready to roll. By now I'm sure most of you have seen the video I posted of 'Bouncer'. If anybody wants to join me on the this crazy journey speak now or forever hold your peace :)

If you want in please PM with the info in post #1, and acknowledge that you agree to the 'team charter'

See you on the other side!
 
This sounds fascinating.. I would be in, but I'm in Alabama, and due to location, I seriously doubt I'd ever find anything in person.
 
I live relatively close to Santa Ana...well...compared to most of you...every time I go look at old games in a storage unit or warehouse I always keep an eye out for this game. I would not be surprised if a collector already has one of these. I sometimes run into collectors who have a large number of games but never frequent KLOV and kind of keep their games hidden from everyone else.

I guess there is also the chance that this is still sitting in a warehouse somewhere.

There is also a possibility that it will never be found.
 
This sounds fascinating.. I would be in, but I'm in Alabama, and due to location, I seriously doubt I'd ever find anything in person.

You can always act as a another set of eyes, finding this is going to come down to finding the right person, and not crawling through warehouses. All my research has been done from Houston, TX :)
 
I live relatively close to Santa Ana...well...compared to most of you...every time I go look at old games in a storage unit or warehouse I always keep an eye out for this game. I would not be surprised if a collector already has one of these. I sometimes run into collectors who have a large number of games but never frequent KLOV and kind of keep their games hidden from everyone else.

I guess there is also the chance that this is still sitting in a warehouse somewhere.

There is also a possibility that it will never be found.

It's possible it's in the hands of a collector, it's more likely in the hands of someone who probably doesn't know what they have, likely sitting in a non-working state. I know for sure a handful escaped destruction (at least initially)
 
it's more likely in the hands of someone who probably doesn't know what they have, likely sitting in a non-working state. I know for sure a handful escaped destruction (at least initially)

That's what scares me, games in the hands of people that don't understand their value often end up converted or simply thrown out when they stop working. :( I hope the hell that isn't the case. Even if we dig up one completely destroyed as long as the data can be pried out of the EPROMs and the cab is good enough to be a template we're golden in my book, the rest can be reconstructed, anything better than that is just icing on the cake!
 
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Not a member of the team, but willing to help out if I run across anything.

An article mentioning Bouncer was carried by the Associated Press and run in numerous papers across the US in August of 1983. Not sure if I've seen it in any of the materials gathered already on the subject. The part about Bouncer:

bouncernews.jpg


The full page from the Mount Carmel Daily Republican Register that the excerpt was taken from is available here:

http://www.slither-gdi.net/MountCarmelDailyRepublicanRegister8-18-83.pdf
 
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