Q*bert multi issue

hasenfang

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Just picked up a Q*bert with the Mark Spaeth multi Q*bert kit in it, when I play the regular Q*bert the sound is way off, the same is true for the faster, harder, Q*bert. If I play the mellow yellow or 7 version or any other game the sound is spot on. Any thoughts?

I also noticed that the games are not on free play, is that a dip switch setting or something I set on the multi-kit?

One last issue, the knocker seems to stick, it will work a few times and then stick, can I just replace this? If so, where should I get it from.

Thanks again!

PS: I emailed Mark Spaeth, but figured if anyone had any ideas I would be open to trying those.
 
[/QUOTE]

PS: I emailed Mark Spaeth, but figured if anyone had any ideas I would be open to trying those.[/QUOTE]


Well, I got an email back from Mark basically telling me to go f@$k myself, so I guess I will need a little help from the community.

Thanks again!
 
Nope, he never did. Someone snagged the code from him and is selling them. Pretty douchetastic move if you ask me.

Tom
 
OK, I just got some info from Spaeth....
He did give permission to Widel (who wrote the rest of the software, designed the hardware, and has the boards made). That part is cool.
His beef is with Doyle (he assembles and sells the kits), who apparently makes a significant profit from these kits (I won't disclose the amount claimed) and has never given a dime to Spaeth (or even discussed any kind of agreement).

Remember, I'm just the messenger.... :D
 
Well, I did not buy any kit, I purchased the game with the kit in it. I asked the seller for the history, he did not remember who he got the kit from. At which time I reached out to Mark because his name is predominately displayed on the boot menu for help with my issue. I did/do not know the history of the kit, nor does the seller. Not sure who made what, and who sold what, I don't know the history of it. So, I reached out to the community and to Mark for help.

I did not mean to imply that Mark Speath sold these kits, nor that he should support it. I was just following what I thought to be the logical steps to troubleshooting an issue. Have an issue, go to the names of the people who wrote/designed the thing. The intent was not that he should support this or that he owed anyone anything. It was a general, hey I've got this problem can you help.

So, to be clear, Mark did not sell this kit (to my knowledge); he has stated that the reason he will not help me is because he does not "want to be helping people who support those who steal from me."

So if anyone can help with the who I might be able to contact to ask the question if they may have any ideas of what I could try to resolve the issue or if you have any ideas of what I could do to resolve the issue(s) I would appreciate it.
 
So if anyone can help with the who I might be able to contact to ask the question if they may have any ideas of what I could try to resolve the issue or if you have any ideas of what I could do to resolve the issue(s) I would appreciate it.

You are looking for Mike Doyle. He is a member here. If you search "multi qbert" with Google and click on the first link you will find an informative article. Mike's email is included near the bottom.
 
OK, I just got some info from Spaeth....
He did give permission to Widel (who wrote the rest of the software, designed the hardware, and has the boards made). That part is cool.
His beef is with Doyle (he assembles and sells the kits), who apparently makes a significant profit from these kits (I won't disclose the amount claimed) and has never given a dime to Spaeth (or even discussed any kind of agreement).

Remember, I'm just the messenger.... :D

Matt, I'm disappointed that you'd post a remark like that and claim "I'm just the messenger", that isn't cool.

Widel created the Multi Q*bert, hardware, software, and implementation, and I purchased the Multi Q*bert printed circuit board blanks to assemble directly from him. Mark Spaeth did the menu code and gave Widel permission (he's credited on the title screen) to use it.

NEVER EVER have I received an email or PM from Mark Spaeth about his prior work with Widel. Oddly enough when I've had correspondence with Mark Spaeth (I bought his SW/ESB kit) and we talked shop about SRAM, he never mentioned the Multi Q*bert.

I'll take this up privately with Mark from here on out.

In the future we should all think before posting something inflammatory we can't completely retract.
 
Matt, I'm disappointed that you'd post a remark like that and claim "I'm just the messenger", that isn't cool.

Mark doesn't post here anymore (apparently he's just a lurker now). He wanted me to clarify what his issue was, and that's what I did. What I posted is a filtered version of what he said. If I had simply pasted raw Spaeth here... well, that probably would have been uncool.
I'm not sure why you'd be upset with me... I presented no personal opinion on the matter.
 
If I had simply pasted raw Spaeth here... well, that probably would have been uncool.

Haha, true.

Mike mentioned this thread to me so I thought I'd leave my hermitage and add my 2 cents. I'm not sure what Mark's deal is. I've always been partners with Mike, I'm not sure why he would think giving permission to use the code in my kit would not include Mike. BTW, Mark's code had to be heavily reworked for what I wanted, and did not even run on a real board as is, so it's not like I just took his code and stuck it on there.

Having talked to Mark, it seems to be the amount of money Mike gets. It may seem like a lot of money, until you start thinking about it, and subtracting out the costs and time involved for assembly and customer service, etc. I don't have any interest in doing it for that amount of money, that's the whole reason Mike and I became partners originally. I could be wrong, but I don't think Mark does either. And as it turns out not many people do, I guess that's why most of the kit makers have disappeared.

It's good seeing you're still around Matt. :)
 
It's good seeing you're still around Matt. :)

Dave is alive! :D This is the first time you've posted here in well over a year.... I hope all is well.
I'm still working on some projects when I can find time (which isn't very often lately :004_ssad: ). I'll be putting out a couple PCB-based kits in the not-so-distant future (I hope) and I'm not looking forward to assembling them either. They're not as involved as the Q*bert Multi, but still more soldering than I want to do. I actually enjoy soldering, but not night after night.... I'd much rather spend my evenings doing other things (like enjoying my games with my family). I plan on building ~20 kits and that's it. If there's more demand I'll gladly let someone else step up and be the builder/seller.
 
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