Suicide batteries

[channelmaniac]

One of the things manufacturers did to keep their games from being copied was to add various suicide batteries to the boards.

The concept is this: Make a CPU with volatile RAM inside it to hold encryption keys. Keep the keys in memory using a battery.

Bad bad bad.

When the batteries die so does the game.

How you fix it depends on the game. Some code is public domain and others are being charged for. You might have mixed feelings about paying for code to fix your game but think of the hours and hours of time that someone put into figuring out how to bring those games back to life!

This thread is for documenting where to go to either get the code or to pay someone for fixing the game with code they created.

It is NOT the thread for discussions on why you think it's bad that people charge for that info. Those posts will be deleted. This is an info only thread.

Enjoy!

RJ

[channelmaniac]

The Dead Battery Society:

http://www.arcadecollecting.com/dead/dead.html

Covers many different games:

• Capcom Pre-CPS games
• Capcom CPS-1 games
• Capcom CPS-1 games with Q-Sound (Double suicide batteries!)
• Sega
• Sega/Nihon
• Orca
• UPL
• Galeco
• Seibu
• Taiyo

[channelmaniac]

Sega games are tricky.

Some of them can be fixed by replacing the encrypted/potted sound CPU with a standard Z80B CPU and then burning the sound program EPROM with code available from the MAME dumps. This only works if there was an unencrypted sound program ROM availble in a different version of the game or from a bootleg version of the game.

The same thing goes for replacing the encrypted/potted main CPU. It is a 68000 CPU running at 10MHz.

If the ROM dumps for MAME don't have what you need the only other source I'm aware of is a pay for site: http://www.segaresurrection.com

RJ

[channelmaniac]

Capcom CPS2 boards:

These have solder in lithium batteries that can be replaced to keep the game going for many more years.

If you have a dead cartridge don't fret! Many of these boards have had their encryption broken. The code is available as a pay for service. You send payment and the EPROMs off your game board to Razoola and he'll erase/reprogram them for you and ship them back.

The info on both of these can be found on the CPS2Shock website: http://cps2shock.retrogames.com/suicide.html

[channelmaniac]

The dreaded CPS3 system suicide batteries are the worst.

The CPS1 and 2 systems will at least keep their information for enough time to allow for a battery change.

CPS3 does not.

It's very finicky. If you zap the cart with static it will lose the encryption tables. Same thing for plugging and unplugging the security cart with the power on.

It is possible to change the batteries out by soldering in temporary battery while removing the old one to put a new one in. However, it has been reported on many forums that this method is not fool proof and may result in a dead security cartridge too. You're damed if you do and damned if you don't on this platform.

Yahoo and Google are your friends to find details on this method of extending your cart's life.

Just beware: Don't use battery holders! Use solder in batteries like the originals. If you drop or shock the cart physically, or if there is any tarnish/corrosion that causes poor connections between the battery and holder your security cart will die rendering the game suicided and non-working.

[modman]

                  I purchased a Frogger cocktail machine version, does this game board have the suicide battery as well?

[stayouttadabunker]

See if your "Frogger" game is on this list>>>

http://www.arcadecollecting.com/dead/dead.html

[modman]

                        I'm glad my Frogger game is not on the list since it is made in 81. At least now I know which games I WILL avoid buying!   Thanks for the information.....