DARKSOFT F3-Multi ROMset generator

[rtw]

After creating the CPS2-Multi ROM generator I wanted to do the same for the TAITO F3.
Based on my earlier experience with the CPS2 I thought it would be a quick
job. I could not have been more wrong

The main issue is the way the Ensoniq banks are handled. TAITO actually used
different PALs to avoid people converting games. Even though the loading order
in MAME is given this does not mean you can apply it directly to the real hardware.

I would like to thank Darksoft especially for describing in minute detail how
the loading of the Ensoniq banks is done in the multi

Please note this generator creates ROM sets from the MAME library.
There are no patches applied at all except in three cases:

. Bubble Memories EXTRA version.
. scfinalso (Will not start unless a magic value is present in EEPROM)
. dariusgx and dariusgx, fixed missing background on Zone D

Asure and Darksoft have both generously allowed me to implement their patches in my code!

Out of all the games 2 do not work:

. scfinals requires a protection fix.
. Kirameki Star Road will never work since the multi does not have the sound bank CPLD



Highlights:

. All sets from MAME 209 work except the 2 games noted above.
. All regions in MAME and a few extras supported
. Extra regions added like Cleopatra (O), Darius Gaiden Extra (O), Puzzle Bobble 2X (O)
. Bubble Bobble 2 Prototype works
. Puzzle Bobble 2 V2.3O works
. Default FLASH fill value is 0xff so it FLASHes faster

Credits:

. Asure, for allowing me to use his patches
. Darksoft, for answering all my questions on Ensoniq banking
. rtw, all coding
. undamned, for all the wonderful pictures of F3 hardware so I could work out the mapping.

Changelog:

2019-06-04:
MAME ROM SET 0210
Added: gunlocko

2019-04-29:
MAME ROM SET 0209
Fixed: dankuga, gblchmp, gblchmpp, kaiserkn, kaiserknj
Added: hthero95a, landmakrj, bubblemu

2018-01-27:
Initial release, MAME ROM SET 0191

Download:

https://mega.nz/#!dUNj2ICa!uLECJ1w347zZtn8oE-JcH7fd2jkLeOazFG0wHraltu4

 

[keropi]

very nice!
but how do you use it? I tried running it from a command prompt and nothing happened... am I supposed to place it in the mame roms directory? some argument needed?
thanks!

 

[rtw]

If you have your MAME setup working just put the f364.exe executable into the same directory as the MAME executable and do this:

D:\mame>f364.exe twinqix
F3-Multi ROMset generator (Jan 27 2018/16:08:04)
coding : rtw
credits : Asure, Darksoft and undamned
game : twinqix
directory: f3\games\twinqix
@maincpu : size: 0x200000
ROM: mpr0-3.b60, 0x40000
ROM: mpr0-2.b61, 0x40000
ROM: mpr0-1.b62, 0x40000
ROM: mpr0-0.b63, 0x40000
num ROMs : 4
size ROMs: 1048576
writing file: flash.12
writing file: flash.13
@gfx1 : size: 0x200000, blksize: 0x80000
writing file: flash.01 (0x80000)
writing file: flash.03 (0x80000)
writing file: flash.05 (0x80000)
file: .\f3\games\twinqix\flash.05 is empty, deleting
@gfx2 : size: 0x400000, blksize: 0x100000
writing file: flash.07 (0x100000)
writing file: flash.08 (0x100000)
writing file: flash.09 (0x100000)
@audiocpu: size: 0x180000
writing file: flash.14 (0x80000)
@ensoniq : size: 0x400000
ROM: snd-0.b43, 0x80000
ROM: snd-1.b44, 0x80000
ROM: snd-14.b10, 0x80000
ROM: snd-15.b11, 0x80000
num ROMs : 4
type: MAP_MIGHTA
writing file: flash.11
writing file: flash.10
writing file: name

This will greate a subdirectory called: f3 where all the generated romsets will be placed.

 

[Darksoft]

I noticed that you added the parameter twinqix. Which parameter is needed to convert them all?

 

[rtw]

You have to run the command for each game, I use a this to create a script:

f364 -listmedia | cut -d\ -f 1 | sed 's/^/f364 /' > doit.cmd

 

[rtw]

Here is the script/cmd/bat file I use to generate the complete set.

View attachment gen_f3.zip

 

[keropi]

rtw, what version of mame romset does your tool need?

 

[rtw]

rtw, what version of mame romset does your tool need?

MAME 209

 

[keropi]

thanks!
split/merged sets make any difference or all will work?

 

[rtw]

It should work with both, but I have only tested split

 

[keropi]

thanks again!

 

[rtw]

Update for MAME 0210

 

[LordsXO]

Hello RTW,

Please update the link to your Taito F3 Generator, the one in your original post shows no longer active.

Thanks alot.

 

[rtw]

Done, thanks for letting me know!

 

[KmanSweden]

Great work.

 

[gusmoney]

I had the chance to use this tool this past weekend and it really makes things very simple. Thanks rtw.

 

[Rotanibor]

Thank you for this tool. I was able to get the Kaiser Knuckle++ and Dan-Ku-Ga++ boss hacks by yumeji working on the F3 multi.

From here: https://ux.getuploader.com/yumeji/

 

[rtw]

I have done some investigations into why Kirameki Star Road does not work on the F3-Multi.

There are not enough address lines between the PCB and the cart so instead the music is banked. The banking is performed using the small CPLD on the cart.

The details are not 100% but we believe that the sound CPU sendsa command to the main CPU and asks it to select a sound bank.

In the MAME code you can see this bank register:

map(0x300000, 0x30003f).w(FUNC(taito_en_device::en_es5505_bank_w));

This is picked up by the CPLD on the cart and the CPLD selects a different sound bank.

tl;drKirameki Star Road will never work on the F3-Multi.