Re: Asteroids high score save kit -- update (long)

D'oh! That's what I get for reading mailing list mail after the newsgroups. That was meant to be to Scott, and I hit reply instead. Sorry about that!

Brian

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

On 2/19/2002 at 12:11 PM Brian Deuel wrote:

>SIgn me up for one please :)
>
>Brian Deuel
>6557 N. Lafayette St.
>Greenville, MI 48838
>
>Thanks!
>
>
>*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>
>On 2/19/2002 at 11:15 AM Scott Brasington wrote:
>
>>I have finally completed the Asteroids high score save kit.
>>The kit saves all 10 scores and initials and has code modifications
>>extending the maximum score from 99,990 to 9,999,990.
>>The kit installs in minutes and does not require any soldering.
>>See http://www.brasington.org/arcade/hs2/asteroids/?v
>>(install instructions still under construction).
>>
>>While I'm very pleased with the overall kit and extended
>>scoring code modifications, I am not totally satisfied with
>>the mechanical aspect of how the kit installs into the
>>Asteroids 6502 CPU socket.
>>
>>>From a high level the installation involves removing the
>>6502 CPU from the Asteroids pcb and moving it to the high score
>>save kit daughter card. Then installing the daughter card
>>into the vacant 6502 socket on the Asteroids board. Opionally
>>if your board does not have a Rev 2 vector ROM you will need
>>to replace it with a Rev 2 vector EPROM (provided).
>>
>>In the past with my other high score save kits, I've been able
>>to use standard IDC header headers posts (25mil square). These
>>posts would fit snug into most of the games sockets and worked
>>particular well with the Nintendo boardsets. In the few cases
>>where these headers did not fit well, I was able to use an
>>adapter socket (A simple 40 pin dual wipe socket) to adapt
>>the IDC header posts to fit into smaller sockets.
>>
>>With the Asteroids high score save kit, this approach has not
>>met with my level of expectations. The IDC posts are too
>>large to fit into a typical Asteroids CPU socket, and when
>>a dual wipe socket is used as an adapter is not as snug as
>>I would prefer. With the current implementation it is possible
>>the daughter card my fall out of the socket if the game is
>>heavily jared (eg. say while moving the game) or if the daughter
>>itself card is bumped.
>>
>>This problem is partly caused because my design does not easily
>>allow the header to be in the center of the daughter card
>>because it cannot interfere with the test points on the main board,
>>and that the same daughtercard is used as part of my Multipede
>>(Centipede/Millipede multigame) which also has test points that
>>restrict the size and layout of the daughter card. So for now,
>>the header is on the edge of the daughter card causing there to
>>be more leverage on the connection.
>>
>>I have tried various different types of headers, wire wrap sockets,
>>machine sockets, etc, and none seem to work well. Even the pins
>>of a wire wrap socket are too large to fit into the typicaly
>>Asteroids CPU socket. I have one type of (machine) SIP pin
>>connector that seems work OK. But this header alone is over $4
>>and I'm not sure if I can get them in any type of quantity.
>>
>>So with all of that said, I have decided I will initially
>>sell my Asteroids *prototype* high score save kits at a REDUCED
>>price while I evaluate different kit assembly alternatives.
>>These kits are fully functional and tested. They make use of
>>the 25mil IDC post headers and come with a 40 pin dual wipe
>>adapter socket. Depending on your tolerance for how snug you
>>like the card to fit, you may need to get creative and use some
>>double sticky tape or some other form to secure the daughter
>>card better to the main Asteroids board.
>>
>>I have 12 of these kits to sell, which I will let go for
>>$25 each (normally $45) plus $4 shipping. It is not known
>>when or how much the production Asteroids high score save
>>kits will sell for, this is still pending. It may be possible
>>that I can use the existing mechanism but that I simply need
>>to provide a way to hold the daughter card in place better,
>>or it may be that the kit will need have a different more costly
>>header. Selling a limited number of kits also allow me to get
>>some good early release feedback.
>>
>>At this point I'm only offering these domestically in th USA
>>until I can get some feedback just to be double safe that
>>there are no other issues. At some later point I will offer
>>them internationally, so hang in there just few more weeks.
>>
>>If you are interested if purchasing one of these proto kits,
>>and/or have suggestions to help solve the assembly issues,
>>please email directly at mailto:arcade@brasington.org
>>
>>I also offer high score save kits for Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr,
>>Mario Bros. and Zaxxon. Free shipping if you buy more than
>>one kit. http://www.brasington.org/arcade/?v
>>
>>Thanks for your time, sorry about the long post.
>>
>>-Scott Brasington
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>
>
>Brian Deuel
>http://www.arcadehistory.com
>
>The World Of Owen Rubin
>http://www.orubin.com
>
>
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Brian Deuel
http://www.arcadehistory.com

The World Of Owen Rubin
http://www.orubin.com

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Received on Tue Feb 19 09:41:57 2002