Following on from the new Phoenix high score save (http://www.ukvac.com/forum/new-phoenix-high-score-save_topic374356.html), as the hardware is very similar I set out to do a high score save for Pleiads.
The game is rumoured to be a follow-on from Phoenix but whereas the
origin of Phoenix was never proven, Tehkan claimed responsibility for
Pleiads. But from looking at the game code, they are SO similar they
just had to be from the same company.
The Pleiads high score save code took very little time to do as it is
almost identical to the Phoenix code I did, even the intercept memory
locations from the Pleiads code are mostly the same as for the Phoenix
version. I don't recall even playing the game as a kid and I'm not a
great fan of the game (unlike Phoenix), but as the code is so similar it
kind of made sense to make the kit.
It works with the same plug-in daughterboard used for the Phoenix kit so
no soldering needed, just remove the 8085 CPU, plug it into the
daughterboard, then plug into the main game PCB. Runs the Tehkan
version of code ("pleiads" in Mame) and runs on Pleiads boards only
(there are a few differences between Phoenix and Pleaids boards, so
while it will work up to a point on a Phoenix board, it won't work
properly)
Feature list almost the same as for the Phoenix kit with some extras
that have been added after feedback (note that upright/cocktail mode is
managed by hardware, so this needs to be selected by the physical DIP
switch before installing the kit)
- menu driven software-selectable DIPs, covering:-
--- number of lives
--- bonus score
--- coin settings
--- freeplay or not
--- sound in attract mode (and how often do you want the sound to play)
- attract maintained in freeplay mode
- sound in attract mode (selectable on/off/every other/every 4th round of attract cycle)
- high scores and game settings saved to FRAM (no batteries)
- 5 position high score table (there's plenty more NVRAM, just no space on the screen)
- enter your initials (3 letters only, "old-school")
- print "FREEPLAY" on screen in freeplay mode and don't display credits (only during attract mode and not in gameplay)
- if you're not in freeplay mode, it still displays the credits in both attract mode and gameplay like the original game
- doesn't ask you to insert coins in freeplay mode
- you can remove the existing game ROMs from the flaky sockets
- reset high score table from menu
- Option to backup and restore the high score tables (so when you're
having a party you can restore your old scores when it's finished)
- Timeout in name entry mode. If you leave it sat there without entering
your initials, it will time out in about a minute, still save the score
but save the initials as "- - -"
- Access to menu on power-up or during "high score table" screen in
attract mode - hold down "left" and "fire" (for ~2 seconds when in
attract mode)
Available for beta-testing now at a lower-than-final price if anyone wants to help
High score table
Config menu
Attract mode still works with freeplay selected
Enter your initials for a high score
Daughterboard plugged into Pleaids game board
The game is rumoured to be a follow-on from Phoenix but whereas the
origin of Phoenix was never proven, Tehkan claimed responsibility for
Pleiads. But from looking at the game code, they are SO similar they
just had to be from the same company.
The Pleiads high score save code took very little time to do as it is
almost identical to the Phoenix code I did, even the intercept memory
locations from the Pleiads code are mostly the same as for the Phoenix
version. I don't recall even playing the game as a kid and I'm not a
great fan of the game (unlike Phoenix), but as the code is so similar it
kind of made sense to make the kit.
It works with the same plug-in daughterboard used for the Phoenix kit so
no soldering needed, just remove the 8085 CPU, plug it into the
daughterboard, then plug into the main game PCB. Runs the Tehkan
version of code ("pleiads" in Mame) and runs on Pleiads boards only
(there are a few differences between Phoenix and Pleaids boards, so
while it will work up to a point on a Phoenix board, it won't work
properly)
Feature list almost the same as for the Phoenix kit with some extras
that have been added after feedback (note that upright/cocktail mode is
managed by hardware, so this needs to be selected by the physical DIP
switch before installing the kit)
- menu driven software-selectable DIPs, covering:-
--- number of lives
--- bonus score
--- coin settings
--- freeplay or not
--- sound in attract mode (and how often do you want the sound to play)
- attract maintained in freeplay mode
- sound in attract mode (selectable on/off/every other/every 4th round of attract cycle)
- high scores and game settings saved to FRAM (no batteries)
- 5 position high score table (there's plenty more NVRAM, just no space on the screen)
- enter your initials (3 letters only, "old-school")
- print "FREEPLAY" on screen in freeplay mode and don't display credits (only during attract mode and not in gameplay)
- if you're not in freeplay mode, it still displays the credits in both attract mode and gameplay like the original game
- doesn't ask you to insert coins in freeplay mode
- you can remove the existing game ROMs from the flaky sockets
- reset high score table from menu
- Option to backup and restore the high score tables (so when you're
having a party you can restore your old scores when it's finished)
- Timeout in name entry mode. If you leave it sat there without entering
your initials, it will time out in about a minute, still save the score
but save the initials as "- - -"
- Access to menu on power-up or during "high score table" screen in
attract mode - hold down "left" and "fire" (for ~2 seconds when in
attract mode)
Available for beta-testing now at a lower-than-final price if anyone wants to help
High score table
Config menu
Attract mode still works with freeplay selected
Enter your initials for a high score
Daughterboard plugged into Pleaids game board
