Results 1 to 11 of 11

Thread: Editing onboard memory.

  1. #1
    Tokie Owens AstroFinance's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    33
    Thanks Received
    2

    Default Editing onboard memory.

    Does anyone have any experience trying to access the files that playback on the machines? Is the onboard read-only, or would it be possible to change out video/audio on a cel if you could physically get to the storage?

    Thanks a ton!

  2. #2
    Pachi Puro Moparformances's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    Diamond Springs CA
    Posts
    14,076
    Thanks
    26,525
    Thanks Received
    12,096

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    im not expert.. there has been lots of talk modifying a undesirable machine to something better.. no one has been successful..
    Never Doubt that a small group of thoughtful, .......... /........ If your not going to stand behind our troops
    ...committed people can change the world. ............. /.................Please, Please stand in front of them
    .....Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has............./
    .........................................Margaret Mead

  3. The following user says "Thanks" to Moparformances


  4. #3
    Master Inventor daverob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Brighton, UK
    Posts
    1,365
    Thanks
    1,961
    Thanks Received
    7,101

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    I'm guessing it's going to depend on the age of the machine. Most of my machines are from around the 2002-2007 period, and they all have ROM chips (either mask rom or PROM), so you could read them out, decode them and program a modified version into a new chip. However the decoding and modifying is likely to be the most complex part.

    I would assume that the most modern machines use flash memory, as these are cheaper and have a larger capacity than ROM chips. If this flash memory is contained in external chips, getting to them and reading them out is likely to be fairly trivial, if the memory is embedded into the CPU chip, then it's likely to be unreadable. Again the decoding and modifying part is going to be the difficult part.

    Personally I'd just swap out the LCD panel for one that can be driven by DVI/HDMI, and replace the lot with something like a Raspberry Pi. Interface the GPIO pins to the sensors on the cell, buttons motors etc, replace the frame lamps with addressable LEDs and write your own pachinko machine software to drive the lot. It's likely to be a lot simpler than reverse engineering the existing machine to a level where you can modify the software running on an unfamiliar CPU chip.

  5. The following 5 users say "Thanks" to daverob


  6. #4
    Tokie Owens AstroFinance's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    33
    Thanks Received
    2

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    Thanks for all the info!

    You brought up my next question, which was about using a Raspberry Pi or similar micro. I'm awaiting a GaGa to ship and after the honeymoon phase I know I'm going to want to start poking around. Since it's projector based, I was really curious about changing the content it projects to the backdrop. All of this is definitely out of my echelon, but I figured I'd ask about previous adventures before I totally broke my machine.

  7. #5
    Sandwich Shooter jasonlujan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    499
    Thanks
    368
    Thanks Received
    688

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    you need to hire out a professional coder

    they can locate the proper chips, make the adjustments you want, and then get new chips made. then you or another professional can swap out teh chips (most coders do not also do hardware).

    we did things like this back at the AMNH.

    HOWEVER, this is not something i would recommend to the casual hobbyist, expect to budget about US$3000.

  8. The following user says "Thanks" to jasonlujan


  9. #6
    Pachi Puro lotsoballs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Charlotte NC
    Posts
    2,129
    Thanks
    1,494
    Thanks Received
    4,050

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    Seems like it would be much easier to change the game content, music, etc the same way everybody else does as has been doing for years; buy additional cells made by the manufacturer to swap in; cells are only $50-150 each. Why reinvent the wheel when Sankyo engineers have spent many thousands of hours and billions of yen designing each one? I guess if you have unlimited funds and are electronic expert, with plenty of free time it would be a challenging project. The value of such a questionably modified cell is dubious though in regards to return on investment if you ever resell it.

    The projector cooling fan on Gaga is annoyingly loud; you’ll probably be wanting a “regular” LCD screen cell as well!

    I suggest Macross Frontier 2 (or 3) and Symphogear.

  10. The following user says "Thanks" to lotsoballs


  11. #7
    Tokie Owens AstroFinance's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    33
    Thanks Received
    2

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    I'm not trying to "reinvent the wheel", sir. I was just curious as to whether or not anyone had any experience at all in accessing the media that plays back on the machines, or if there was any way to interface with that.

    Thank you for your recommendations.

  12. #8
    Tokie Owens AstroFinance's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    33
    Thanks Received
    2

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    While I have your expert opinion on-deck, may I ask if you can think of any Western-centric cells other than Jaws and Gaga? I'm willing to pick up another frame entirely. I'd like to get one for my work office as a goofy conversation piece. I really am impressed with the level of engineering that goes into each cell, and I think one of these would be a cool addition alongside a digital pinball machine.

    Thanks for all the help.

  13. #9
    Pachi Puro Peteybob's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Grand Rapids, Michigan
    Posts
    6,029
    Thanks
    6,576
    Thanks Received
    3,677

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    Something like Woody Woodpecker is fun for all ages.

    Screenshot_20210725-052611_Gallery.jpg

  14. The following 2 users say "Thanks" to Peteybob


  15. #10
    Pachi Puro lotsoballs's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Charlotte NC
    Posts
    2,129
    Thanks
    1,494
    Thanks Received
    4,050

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    Quote Originally Posted by AstroFinance View Post
    While I have your expert opinion on-deck, may I ask if you can think of any Western-centric cells other than Jaws and Gaga? I'm willing to pick up another frame entirely. I'd like to get one for my work office as a goofy conversation piece. I really am impressed with the level of engineering that goes into each cell, and I think one of these would be a cool addition alongside a digital pinball machine.

    Thanks for all the help.
    Michael Jackson fits the same frame as Gaga, there’s several Star Wars machines, Super Man, Spider Man, Batman, Avengers, several old Sanyo Lumina cells to are movie based, 007, Indiana Jones, Looney Tunes Back in action. There’s a Tom and Jerry pachinko, Titanic, Elvis, Ghostbusters, the Matrix, X-files, E.T…. The list goes on an on!

  16. The following 2 users say "Thanks" to lotsoballs


  17. #11
    Tokie Owens AstroFinance's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2021
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    9
    Thanks
    33
    Thanks Received
    2

    Default Re: Editing onboard memory.

    This forum is a well of information. Thank you all for your ideas and feedback. That Elvis cell looks the best kind of absurd!

  18. The following user says "Thanks" to AstroFinance


Similar Threads

  1. Bad Memory
    By 01PyTypeR#1140 in forum Dear Arby
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 05-20-2007, 03:04 AM
  2. Memory
    By 01PyTypeR#1140 in forum Dear Arby
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-19-2007, 02:43 PM
  3. Reprogramming the memory
    By Youngjedi in forum Pachinko Modifications
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 04-08-2007, 05:38 PM
  4. Video editing programs, equipment?
    By johntofva in forum Suggestion Box
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 10-17-2006, 08:34 AM
  5. Machine Memory
    By websherpa in forum Modern Pachinko
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 07-11-2006, 09:25 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •