8 replies to this topic

[steve7777]

Firstly like to say Hi to the forum.

OK. I asked this over at the DAD forum and he said you guys might be able to help me. I'm looking at altering the text on a real fruit when in attract mode. I've seen a few arcades that placed their arcade name on the alpha display instead of the usual 'Play me....'stuff. Apparently it can be done by altering the rom files??

Is this achievable on a real machine or an absolute NASA type undertaking? Seen this chap have some fun with a display here...

https://www.fruit-em...-alpha-display/

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[fuzion]

All depends how familiar you are with a hex editor and what protection needs to be bypassed if the rom is protected.

Some fruit machine software has no protection and can be easily edited. MPU4 MDM software has no protection to worry about so any alpha text can be changed. Though you will have to replace it with the same number of alphanumeric characters.

Most other techs that have an alpha display are protected by a checksum routine. These protect the rom from unauthorised changes, if you try to change anything the machine will give out a checksum error on boot. These can be bypassed but you will need to have experience with an hex editor and knowledge of what type of checksum is incorporated into the rom or a way to completely bypass the checksum routine, so some hacking involved.

J

[steve7777]

All depends how familiar you are with a hex editor and what protection needs to be bypassed if the rom is protected.

Some fruit machine software has no protection and can be easily edited. MPU4 MDM software has no protection to worry about so any alpha text can be changed. Though you will have to replace it with the same number of alphanumeric characters.

Most other techs that have an alpha display are protected by a checksum routine. These protect the rom from unauthorised changes, if you try to change anything the machine will give out a checksum error on boot. These can be bypassed but you will need to have experience with an hex editor and knowledge of what type of checksum is incorporated into the rom or a way to completely bypass the checksum routine, so some hacking involved.

J

Thank you, I literally have no idea about a hex editor and the other stuff! But I'm learning. My machines
are MPU5 and Scorp5, so definitely have that checksum protocol. I can now finally put the idea to bed which is a bloody shame, but, if anybody can do a tutorial on doing a hack for wallies like me I will definitely send them some beer tokens! I told my girlfriend that I would put her name up on the display lol.

Thank you again.

[fuzion]

It’s not something I have a lot of time to get into anymore. You might find some basic rom hacking guides via google.

You can use the debugger in mfme, which emulates MPU5 and Scorp5. You can physically change byte values live, you will need to have a play around with it.

J

[kdservices]

afaik there were some machines that had that functionality built into the program for operators to add a text message to the display while in test mode.

correct me if im wrong tho and if right there were not many at all

[fuzion]

You know that does sound likely KD, it would be easy for them to implement in the test mode.  It would save them a lot of work.  It's likely if that is the case then it could be a separate alpha routine that is outside of the checksum area, or even written to onboard ram.  That would make more sense I guess.  

 

Do we know of any specific machines that had this option available KD?

 

J

[kdservices]

im not sure but i think the original mpu3 adders and ladders might of had it thats the only one ive ever heard of having something custom on the alpha

[captainhaddock]

im not sure but i think the original mpu3 adders and ladders might of had it thats the only one ive ever heard of having something custom on the alpha

later mpu3 machines that I had - such as big shot, big game,razzle dazzle and others had the linewriter function.

Attached Files

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[kdservices]

thats the one i remember someone saying about captain