International Arcade Museum Library

***** DEVELOPMENT & TESTING SITE (development) *****

Star Tech Journal

Issue: 1986-November - Vol 8 Issue 9 - Page 11

PDF File Only

STAR*TECH Journal
November 1986
[11)
Nintendo VS. System RP2A04 Chip
Sam Cross
Godwin Distributing Company
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Nintendo PLA YCHOICE-10
Program Revision
By Nintendo Service Department
Rednond, Washington
On the SUPER MARIO BRQS game set, there is
no telling how many calls I have fielded
about the use of the RP2A04 chip. To make
matters clear, like the instructions that
come with the kit don't, is that the
RP2A04 chip is used ONLY ON THE SI~E
PLAYER CABINEI' IN Pa>ITION 2J. THE RP2A03
PROCESSOR REMAINS IN SJ.
A program revision has been made available
for the first 300 PIAYCOOICE-10 units. Any
PIAYCOOICE-10 with a serial nurrber greater
than 300 already has this revision
installed from the manufacturer.
By
IN THE DUAL CABINEI' GAME, THE RP2A04 IS
NOT USED AT ALL! '!he reason is simple. '!he
single player cabinet uses the common area
ram that is normally used by both
processors with the SUPER MARIO BRQS. But
there is no processor used in the 2J slot
on a single player cabinet, and there was
a problem with the interrupt hardware on
the game board which made it, such that
the 8J processor could not use all of the
common ram that it needed, without a
restrapping scheme.
What to do? Well, to make it easier for
the operator, (to not use a soldering iron
and risk messing up his boards), they came
up with the wire in a package answer. Make
a chip and call it the RP2A04 and tell the
operator to put it in slot 2J on the
single player cabinet!
This program revision changes the coinage
options on the dip switches. With this
revision it allows the operator to add a
Prime Time bonus for 2 or 4 consecutive
quarters. The bonus is based on a
percentage and ranges from 8% to 100% on
both 2 or 4 quarter initial credit. The
percentage of bonus is operator adjustable
by the dip switch sett.ings.
A partial sanple of the new dip switch
table for Prime Tine bonus is shown below:
Prime Time bonus %

SW1
---=..!":'
au
Aerl)\&lar Tiae
l COIM
-
1 m
I
lOO
2 0011111

2 5"
3 3ff
n.nca nu,
DXX
_.....,
nu
ALL THE RP2A04 CHIP IS, IS SIMPLY A WIRE
INSIDE THE PACKAGE CONNECI'I~ PIN 20 'ID
PIN 38, THAT IS ALL! It's function is to
ground pin 38, which is an interrupt line.
sou
68U
For those of you who have not installed a
GUMSHOE kit yet, be sure to pay attention
and install the 2 wires which provide a
memory boost when you install the kit, or
the game won't work right.
IOOU
6 lH
15"
8 3"
9 2U
Example.
Diaplayed aa
Toggle Settings
TOUL
nua
TDm
- xxxx
650
100
150
800
850
900
950
IO O 0
lo 5 O
I IO O
I l 5 0
I 2 O O
A
B
0 N
OFF
O N
OFF
O N
OFI'
0 N
OFF
0 N
OFF
0 N
OFF
0 N
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
0 N
0 N
OFF
OFF
0 N
o N
Ofl'F
Regular time
I PRIME TIME
D
C
O N OFF
OFF 0 N
01'1' 0 N
OFF Ol'F
OFF OFF
OFF OFF
Ol'F OFF
0 N 01'1'
0 N OFF
0 N OH
0 N OFF
OFF 0 N
E
F
OFF
OFF
OFF
0 N
0 N
0 N
() N
0 N
0 N
0 N
O N
0 f.l
OFF
OFI"
01"1'
Ol'F
01'1'
01'1'
OFF
Ol'F
OFF
OFF
01'1'
01'1'

~00 ( 3 min.)
700 ( 7 min.)
2 coina •
(~)
l coin
The program rev1s1on involves 3 Eprorn.s on
the main P.C. Board in locations 8M, 8P,
and 8T. It has been assigned version e-1
and is available through any authorized
Nintendo distributor on an exchange basis.
If you have any questions about this
revision, please contact the Nintendo
Service Department, 1-800-633-3236.

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).