Q*bert Rom Pack Possible newly discovered version!

koolmoecraig

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Looks like it's that time of year again folks....

Figured I put this out there just in case there are any new nerds that have come into the hobby that might be able to take a crack at this thing.

As most of you know, I came across this factory rom pack for a Q*bert machine. I thought it might be a FHMC Q*bert pack but I was able to get in contact with mister Warren Davis himself(Q*bert designer) who told me that there is a good chance that it's a completely unseen "Q*bert 2" of sorts.

Anyway, I'm looking for somebody that would have the ability to X-ray inside and chisel away at the epoxy coated roms to retrieve the information on them. Not unlike what Clay did here: http://www.multigame.com/pacplus.html

(Yes I have tried to get Clay to work on this but it didn't work out)

Anyway, contact me if you can help or have any ideas! Q*bert 2 people!!!!


pack-003.jpg

Qbertspeedpack.jpg

RomLarge.jpg
 
Did you plug it in and try it out? Looks like a rom pack to me. Its labeled speedup so I would imagine thats all it is. Im not sure if Jrok would be interested in messing with it or not. If you need someone to test I would be happy to give it a try.
I do have access to an X-ray as well.
 
Wow - this will be interesting.......


Bill
 
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Any markings on the ribbon cables to indicate where they go? Its possible they could be wired straight through to eproms and can be dumped from the ribbon cables. Im sure there's some kind of encryption or they wouldnt have bothered to put it in a black box. How hard is the potting on that box?
 
Very Interesting! Nice find! Before ANYONE attempts to plug that module into anything, make sure any ROM's inside that housing get dumped! It would be such a shame to have them destroyed or ruined because it was hooked up wrong.
-Mark
 
Have you spoken to Brian Jones(prok)? He would be the first place to start as he owns all the original hardware this was most likely developed on.
 
He's had this a while.. the hard part is unless you can crack open that epoxy and somehow read the rom data there's no way to tell just how to install the thing. nobody has any idea. Even if I tried to connect it to the dev station who knows what chip lead goes where. The only question i'd have is has anyone just connected each lead to a rom reader and taken the data off to see what's there?
 
What is the reasoning (or basis) for not believing it's labeled properly, and that it's anything other than a speed-up hack? Just Wundering?






..
 
What is the reasoning (or basis) for not believing it's labeled properly, and that it's anything other than a speed-up hack? Just Wundering?..

See this part of the first post

" I thought it might be a FHMC Q*bert pack but I was able to get in contact with mister Warren Davis himself(Q*bert designer) who told me that there is a good chance that it's a completely unseen "Q*bert 2" of sorts."
 
See this part of the first post

" I thought it might be a FHMC Q*bert pack but I was able to get in contact with mister Warren Davis himself(Q*bert designer) who told me that there is a good chance that it's a completely unseen "Q*bert 2" of sorts."

What were his thoughts on the 'speedup' label?
 
Looks like it's that time of year again folks....

As mentioned before there is the risk of bit-killing EPROMs inside the epoxy by using an X-Ray on the glob.

I can make the time to work on it an extract the ROMs. It might required the old fashioned chip off bits of the epoxy approach. Although... I know a couple of chemists who might be able to use some really interesting solvents on it.

- James
 
Hey all.

Yes, Warren(amongst other people) have warned me not to attempt to plug it in. Nothing is labeled and plugging it in incorrectly could destroy whatever is inside.

The epoxy feels cement-like if not harder. Also, it weighs quite a bit.

So who has the skills and the time to extract the rom info without destroying this thing completely?
 
Very interesting! Please keep us posted on any progress.

The company I work for specializes in electronic systems and semiconductor device analysis, so I have access to a lot of equipment and expertise. I'll have a chat with some of the lab guys on Tuesday (Monday is a holiday here) and see if they have any suggestions.
 
Hey all.

Yes, Warren(amongst other people) have warned me not to attempt to plug it in. Nothing is labeled and plugging it in incorrectly could destroy whatever is inside.

The epoxy feels cement-like if not harder. Also, it weighs quite a bit.

So who has the skills and the time to extract the rom info without destroying this thing completely?

JROK does.
 
I'd also mention Dave Widel's name, he's successfully handled encryption and wizardry for many titles with Q*bert hardware and code being among them for the multi kit projects. He also did the restoration work when 7-Eleven Q*bert was discovered and the Mylstar Tylz Proto.

Jus say'in, props to Jrok, but don't forget Dave. He walks on water when it comes to code, i.e. decompiled Sega Pengo to run perfectly on Pac hardware *cough*, *cough*...
 
I'd also mention Dave Widel's name, he's successfully handled encryption and wizardry for many titles with Q*bert hardware and code being among them for the multi kit projects. He also did the restoration work when 7-Eleven Q*bert was discovered and the Mylstar Tylz Proto.

Jus say'in, props to Jrok, but don't forget Dave. He walks on water when it comes to code, i.e. decompiled Sega Pengo to run perfectly on Pac hardware *cough*, *cough*...


:) Actually jrok did the Pengo trick before I did(although I think he did a small board mod), he's at least as capable as I am, if not more, and I don't have the time, so he's got my vote as well.
 
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