SOLVED: Super Hang On (mini ride on) bad road signs

Perhaps you have already tried this but how do the Mini Ride On versions play in MAME? Do they have the same issues that you are experiencing?

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Perhaps you have already tried this but how do the Mini Ride On versions play in MAME? Do they have the same issues that you are experiencing?

p
shangon1 plays like mine in terms of the course the road takes. However, I have the road signs from shangon3d. A very confusing scenario.
 
Just to clarify, with the exception of the freeplay ROMs, what set do your ROMs match?

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Just to clarify, with the exception of the freeplay ROMs, what set do your ROMs match?

p
I've attached the matching sets for each rom I've dumped and uploaded to check, aside from the "main cpu". All the roms in the given section match these result sets.

Program and sub-cpu seem exlcusive to riding units (I _think_ the limited edition was ride on only...if not, then disregard).
 

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At this rate it seems as though I have 2 paths...
1. Figure out how to get mame to fully decrypt the shangon1 set and attempt using those main CPU rims in my board.
2. Figure out how to decrypt the roms on my other mini ride on board

I will eventually try the other versions in MAME just to confirm no other set exists which matches the more forgiving road patterns and has correct road signs. As of now shangon1 is the only one i noticed
 

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You don't have the decrypt your set, the SHANGON3D is the bootleg version of the 317-0034 you have, the bootleggers already decrypted it and you have used it on your board, the issues remained.

I don't believe this is a ROM issue, rather a board issue. At this point, since you have two sets, you can swap top/bottom boards, trying to pinpoint where the error is. Make sure you mark which is which and check your second set that it plays as it should.

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EDIT, this seems to be a ROM issue indeed, see posts below.
 
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You don't have the decrypt your set, the SHANGON3D is the bootleg version of the 317-0034 you have, the bootleggers already decrypted it and you have used it on your board, the issues remained.

I don't believe this is a ROM issue, rather a board issue. At this point, since you have two sets, you can swap top/bottom boards, trying to pinpoint where the error is. Make sure you mark which is which and check your second set that it plays as it should.

p
I just don't understand how that logic could come from anything but a rom chip... considering my other spare board hasn't been powered on in nearly a decade I'd have to get another CPU before I could attempt booting it so I guess it'll give me time to analyze mame versions in the meantime.
 
I just don't understand how that logic could come from anything but a rom chip... considering my other spare board hasn't been powered on in nearly a decade I'd have to get another CPU before I could attempt booting it so I guess it'll give me time to analyze mame versions in the meantime.
The video board (bottom) will work regardless of having a security CPU or a regular 68K CPU on the top board. So you can at least swap the video board and eliminate the video board being the culprit.

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I wonder (maybe this was covered) if this is a mismatch between using the freeplay main CPU ROMs and the sub-CPU roms.

I believe there are two sub-CPU versions. The early one - epr-10638 to epr-10640 and the later one epr-10790 to epr-10793

Did op confirm what is on his board? Btw, an easy way to get CRC32 checksums (that match MAME) is to save the ROM dumps and zip them. Then viewing the zip in windows has an option to show the CRC (or just use 7zip or whatever).
 
I wonder (maybe this was covered) if this is a mismatch between using the freeplay main CPU ROMs and the sub-CPU roms.

I believe there are two sub-CPU versions. The early one - epr-10638 to epr-10640 and the later one epr-10790 to epr-10793

Did op confirm what is on his board? Btw, an easy way to get CRC32 checksums (that match MAME) is to save the ROM dumps and zip them. Then viewing the zip in windows has an option to show the CRC (or just use 7zip or whatever).

Yeah, back on post 7 I listed the EPR numbers along with the individual checksums on the sub-cpu chips. Both of the boards I have are using the earlier version 10638-10640
 
I kinda suspect the same thing which is why I was trying to figure out how to get the original shangon1 roms decrypted to put on the board, but I haven't had time to do more digging just yet. I also can't find a ton of documentation over how and which roms you use to patch free play to know which one was used as the base.
 
I can confirm that using the earlier SHANGON2 set of sub CPU ROMS (10638-10640) with the FREE PLAY ROMs (in SEGA enhanced 2.03) replicates the issues @sparksterz is having (wrong direction of arrows is shown). I have tested this in an upright SHO.

Going to the later ROMs (10790-10793) fixes the issue.

So, @sparksterz just burn a set of the later sub CPU ROMs and you should be good to go with your existing Free Play ROMs.

@tendril way to go! I have learned something today!

I should get in touch with Chris White about this so he can update the README in the SEGA enhanced package.

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I can confirm that using the earlier SHANGON2 set of sub CPU ROMS (10638-10640) with the FREE PLAY ROMs (in SEGA enhanced 2.03) replicates the issues @sparksterz is having (wrong direction of arrows is shown). I have tested this in an upright SHO.

Going to the later ROMs (10790-10793) fixes the issue.

So, @sparksterz just burn a set of the later sub CPU ROMs and you should be good to go with your existing Free Play ROMs.

@tendril way to go! I have learned something today!

I should get in touch with Chris White about this so he can update the README in the SEGA enhanced package.

p

Does this keep the more forgiving road layout though? I will test later today to confirm, but I don't think it's super realistic to pivot back and forth as much as the standard game requires on the mini ride on.
 
Does this keep the more forgiving road layout though? I will test later today to confirm, but I don't think it's super realistic to pivot back and forth as much as the standard game requires on the mini ride on.
Do let us know on this. If the game is a little easier with the earlier ROMs, I would not mind losing the Free Play ROMs. I find the game hard even in the easiest setting...

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Do let us know on this. If the game is a little easier with the earlier ROMs, I would not mind losing the Free Play ROMs. I find the game hard even in the easiest setting...

p

Yeah, I will - I'm busy erasing the other eproms before I can check. The issue is even if this version is easier, if the road signs are messed up it's debatable on if it's actually easier. So I'll test and get back later today hopefully.
 
@parism Unfortunately it keeps the harder layout which is what I suspected. I need to find a way to run the older roms with the older sub-cpu I suspect. I'm going to attempt testing the rest of the MAME versions to see if anything else matches shangon1 which I'm claiming is the likely desired version of the mini ride on
 
Hey, good to see some progress! Yeah, I think shangon1 or shangon2 is really what is wanted here. Unfortunately as far as I can see no-one has ever decrypted this version, only the newer one.

So either someone needs to decrypt it (which is a pain in the ass as if I remember right the opcode/data sections in the ROM need marked and worked out by hand - there is no guaranteed automated solution for this) OR replace the battery in the security CPU and rewrite it's security key (which is a pain in the ass but not impossible https://arcadehacker.blogspot.com/2018/12/sega-system16-security-programming-guide.html)
 
Hey, good to see some progress! Yeah, I think shangon1 or shangon2 is really what is wanted here. Unfortunately as far as I can see no-one has ever decrypted this version, only the newer one.

So either someone needs to decrypt it (which is a pain in the ass as if I remember right the opcode/data sections in the ROM need marked and worked out by hand - there is no guaranteed automated solution for this) OR replace the battery in the security CPU and rewrite it's security key (which is a pain in the ass but not impossible https://arcadehacker.blogspot.com/2018/12/sega-system16-security-programming-guide.html)

Yeah, I hadn't tested that board unfortunately and it's been sitting for years since I bought it off of a guy about 5 years ago now. I think it'd only work if I knew the key before hand. I did read someone mentioning the key could be brute forced... https://gurudumps.otenko.com/sega-security/index.html It also mentions you can reprogram it like you linked to as well.

I did find some interesting knowledge while diving through the recognized MAME variants of shangon though. shangonle at least in the opening of Africa plays exactly as mine should be and is unprotected. I was digging through the merged set because it's easier at a glance to determine what actually differs between the "universal" set - unsurprisingly the 4 CPU chips, but there's two other files...

  • epr-13945.7
  • epr-13946.15

Which as far as I can tell are last 2 object eproms in each bank on the Video board with completely different numbering from the ones around it. My guess is to add the subtle change to the logo going from SUPER -> LIMITED EDITION and maybe some other trivial data. I may try just burning the main CPU of limited edition and see what happens. I'm literally 1 eprom short from having 6 on hand and I'd rather not reprogram any of my others...

With this being a later release though...I'm wondering if I need the updated sub-cpu as well which means I'd have to burn 10 roms: Main, Sub, and the 2 object roms. I'm ok with running the "Limited Edition" for the time being...then I can square away that machine while I potentially try my hand at understanding what's involved in decrypting the other board (and track down more parts...)
 
Looks like LE does use the older sub CPU roms, so the main set from LE may also do what you want. I'd agree those two sprite files are probably just logo or minor graphics changes.

The decryption key IS available, so it doesn't need brute forced.
 
Looks like LE does use the older sub CPU roms, so the main set from LE may also do what you want. I'd agree those two sprite files are probably just logo or minor graphics changes.

The decryption key IS available, so it doesn't need brute forced.
Oh - Even for an FD1089B? So basically what's available would let me reprogram that CPU if I replaced the battery, and built this arduino tool to reprogram the decryption key, but in terms of getting the roms dumped in a decrypted state - it wouldn't help with that bit. Am I following that correctly?

EDIT: Also as a side note...did they initially make the game easier, then tougher when releasing the uprights, and then "re-released" a non-protected version of the older software...that's so strange lol
 
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