Pitfall II Plus Cartridge?

[ericd]

Anyone know if it's possible to take a Pitfall II cartridge and replace the rom with the one from the Pitfall II Plus hack? While it's great to play on an emulator, the real hardware is definitely the way to go.

 

I'd be willing to try to modifying my spare Pitfall II cartridge if it's possible.

 

I've looked at the two chips on the board, but I can't even figure out which is which (sound chip/rom.)

 

I need some help! Thanks!

[mvigor]

I would also love to have this done! There have been other threads about the chips on the Pitfall II game and I remember someone saying that the chips are not separate components...that the sound chip has game data on it, or vice-versa, something along those lines.

[Eckhard Stolberg]

I would also love to have this done!  There have been other threads about the chips on the Pitfall II game and I remember someone saying that the chips are not separate components...that the sound chip has game data on it, or vice-versa, something along those lines.

860882[/snapback]

Actually one of the chips is just your standard 8K ROM chip with F8 bankswitching build in. The other chip is the DPC, which provides more than just the sound samples. It also contains 2K of ROM which hold the graphics data for all the sprites. So if the hack changes any of that, you are out of luck. But if the hack only has changes in the first 8K of the ROM, you might be able to modify a Pitfall II cartridge

to play the new game.

 

 

Ciao, Eckhard Stolberg

[yuppicide]

Where can I find the ROM for download?! Does it offer more screens or entirely different ones all together?!

[Rom Hunter]

Here you are:

http://www.otakunozoku.com/Articles/ToyBox...fallIIPlus.html

 

BTW:

I just played the original Pitfall II after twenty years.

Here's my third try:

 

[ericd]

Thanks for the information. I've been trying to do some investigation work on my own as well, however I haven't made a lot of progress yet.

 

I did manage to come across a chip guide for Activision and Atari chips that someone wrote-up. It goes into a lot of detail on the Activision sound chip for Pitfall II. It was helpful for me in identifying which chip is what on the board (Sound Chip is labeled: 4026-0001 and 8K ROM Chip is labeled: 2367-2217)

 

Activision/Atari Chips

 

It looks easy enough to unsolder the ROM chip and put a socket in then replace it with a flashable 8K eprom. Would it be this simple to change out to a 2764/27C64? Or would the pin out of the eprom need re-wiring?

 

The only question is whether or not the modified Pitfall II+ code changed the 2K code found on the sound chip (this will require further investigation work.) Additionally, since the modified binary is 10K, can the 2K code be easily stripped out?

 

Here's a link to the Pitfall II+ code I found:

 

ROM & Info

 

Anyone have any ideas on this? I think it would be really cool to be able to build a working Pitfall II cartridge that can be used for playing mods.

[mvigor]

Thanks for the information. I've been trying to do some investigation work on my own as well, however I haven't made a lot of progress yet.

 

I did manage to come across a chip guide for Activision and Atari chips that someone wrote-up. It goes into a lot of detail on the Activision sound chip for Pitfall II. It was helpful for me in identifying which chip is what on the board (Sound Chip is labeled: 4026-0001 and 8K ROM Chip is labeled: 2367-2217)

 

Activision/Atari Chips

 

It looks easy enough to unsolder the ROM chip and put a socket in then replace it with a flashable 8K eprom. Would it be this simple to change out to a 2764/27C64? Or would the pin out of the eprom need re-wiring?

 

The only question is whether or not the modified Pitfall II+ code changed the 2K code found on the sound chip (this will require further investigation work.) Additionally, since the modified binary is 10K, can the 2K code be easily stripped out?

 

Here's a link to the Pitfall II+ code I found:

 

ROM & Info

 

Anyone have any ideas on this? I think it would be really cool to be able to build a working Pitfall II cartridge that can be used for playing mods.

861168[/snapback]

 

If this works I'll be a very happy boy....and I'd gladly pay someone to hack a Pitfall II for me. $

[mvigor]

Also, the link you gave...

 

http://www.otakunozoku.com/Articles/ToyBox...fallIIPlus.html

 

is a page that hasn't changed for a long time, at least 5 years. Maybe we should contact this guy and reinterest him in his project?

 

EDIT: I sent an email to him at the WHOIS contact email address for his domain.

Edited May 25, 2005 by mvigor

[Nukey Shay]

It looks easy enough to unsolder the ROM chip and put a socket in then replace it with a flashable 8K eprom. Would it be this simple to change out to a 2764/27C64? Or would the pin out of the eprom need re-wiring?

861168[/snapback]

Um...I think there's more involved than just replacing a ROM with an EPROM. For one thing, EPROM's require a hex inverter onboard, right? I dunno.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The only question is whether or not the modified Pitfall II+ code changed the 2K code found on the sound chip (this will require further investigation work.)

Easily checked with Dos file compare:

FC /B Pitfall2.bin p2plus.bin

Comparing files Pitfall2.bin and p2plus.bin
00000C66: 01 00
00000C67: 01 09
00000C68: 01 0B
00000C69: 01 CD
00000C6A: C1 DD
00000C6B: 77 93
00000C6C: 7D 8F
00000C6D: 79 DB
00000C6E: 4D 57
00000C6F: 7D 1B
00000C70: 75 17
00000C71: 73 5F
00000C72: 4D 2B
00000C73: 7D 03
00000C74: 77 62
00000C75: 75 B0
00000C76: AD 75
00000C77: 7D 47
00000C78: 75 B3
00000C79: 73 4D
00000C7A: 49 A5
00000C7B: 7D E9
00000C7C: 75 63
00000C7D: 73 27
00000C7E: 4D 5D
00000C7F: 7F 59
00000C80: 77 7B
00000C81: 73 FB
00000C82: 11 E7
00000C85: 01 40
00000CD0: 0D 03
00000CD4: 0D 00
00000CD5: 03 40
00000CD6: 0D 60
00000CD8: 5E 44
00000CDA: 4E 6E
00000CDB: 04 E4
00000CDC: EE 4B
00000CDD: 04 FA
00000CDE: FE 1B
00000CE1: 2A AA
00000CE2: 0A 5B
00000CE3: 0A 2B
00000CE4: 0B 5B
00000CE5: 0A 09
00000CE6: 09 5B
00000CE7: EB 4B
00000CE8: 08 5B
00000CE9: 0C 70
00000CEA: 7C 45
00000CEB: 90 50
00000CEC: A0 F5
00000CED: 40 55
00000CEE: 00 09
00000CEF: 5B 4B
00000CF0: 40 4B
00000CF1: 02 49
00000CF2: 02 5A
00000CF3: 5C A0
00000CF4: 5C 69
00000CF5: 08 65
00000CF6: 7B 55
00000CF7: F9 4B
00000CF8: 4B 0A
00000CF9: 00 19
00000CFA: 00 55
00000CFB: 71 20
00000CFC: 02 75
00000CFD: 70 05
00000CFE: 1B 55
00000CFF: 79 0B
00000D00: 4B 55
00000D01: 00 AA
00000D02: B0 55
00000D03: 02 00
00000D04: 70 AA
00000D05: 0B 55
00000D06: E9 05
00000D07: 69 6B
00000D08: 6B 55
00000D09: A0 70
00000D0A: 4B 55
00000D0B: 20 A0
00000D0C: 79 60
00000D0D: 79 55
00000D0E: 5B 55
00000D0F: 5B 49
00000D10: 59 4A
00000D11: 00 09
00000D12: 1B E5
00000D13: 50 00
00000D14: 4B 75
00000D15: A9 05
00000D16: 05 55
00000D17: 69 5B
00000D18: 6B 0A
00000D19: 00 4A
00000D1A: EB 59
00000D1C: 4B F9
00000D1D: A0 65
00000D1E: 05 55
00000D1F: 5B 79
00000D20: 59 6A
00000D21: 00 69
00000D22: 0B 05
00000D23: 50 D0
00000D24: 09 5B
00000D25: 50 55
00000D27: 69 6A
00000D28: 6B 5B
00000D29: A0 5B
00000D2A: 4B 7A
00000D2C: 70 55
00000D2D: 70 65
00000D2F: 5B 0B
00000D31: 20 5A
00000D32: 5B 2A
00000D33: 50 00
00000D34: 6B A5
00000D35: A9 65
00000D36: F5 55
00000D38: 6B 29
00000D39: 00 79
00000D3A: 65 5C
00000D3B: A0 5C
00000D3C: 4B 90
00000D3D: 50 05
00000D3E: 55 E5
00000D3F: 1B 05
00000D40: F9 60
00000D41: 00 6B
00000D42: 55 02
00000D43: 50 01
00000D44: 09 5C
00000D45: 50 90
00000D46: 05 AB
00000D47: 0B 45
00000D48: C9 CB
00000D49: 20 05
00000D4A: F5 F0
00000D4B: 20 02
00000D4C: 70 02
00000D4D: 7B 5C
00000D4E: 55 5C
00000D4F: 0B 69
00000D50: F9 15
00000D51: 00 55
00000D54: 6B 00
00000D55: A9 02
00000D56: 05 51
00000D57: 69 FB
00000D58: 6B F9
00000D59: 00 2A
00000D5A: 5B 0B
00000D5B: A0 79
00000D5C: 6B 45
00000D5D: A0 20
00000D5E: F5 51
00000D5F: 5B 09
00000D60: 59 EB
00000D61: 00 A0
00000D62: 5B 4B
00000D63: 50 0A
00000D64: 09 08
00000D65: 50 0C
00000D66: 05 51
00000D67: 69 55
00000D68: 6B 5B
00000D69: A0 20
00000D6A: 5B 49
00000D6B: 20 4B
00000D6C: 70 00
00000D6D: F0 02
00000D6E: 55 02
00000D6F: 59 5B
00000D70: 5B F9
00000D71: 00 5C
00000D72: 6B 5B
00000D73: 50 F9
00000D74: 69 55
00000D75: A9 60
00000D76: 05 60
00000D77: 6B 45
00000D78: 69 EB
00000D79: 00 02
00000D7A: 55 0B
00000D7B: A0 49
00000D7C: 0B 5A
00000D7D: A0 09
00000D7E: 05 EB
00000D7F: 0B 79
00000D80: F9 65
00000D81: 00 20
00000D82: 65 59
00000D83: 50 0A
00000D84: 09 F9
00000D85: 00 55
00000D86: 75 1B
00000D87: 5B AA
00000D88: 59 65
00000D89: A0 70
00000D8A: 75 55
00000D8B: 20 55
00000D8C: 70 79
00000D8D: A0 65
00000D8E: 05 69
00000D8F: 69 70
00000D90: 6B 55
00000D91: 00 49
00000D92: 5B 0B
00000D93: 50 55
00000D94: FB 6B
00000D95: 50 69
00000D96: E5 0B
00000D97: 5B A9
00000D98: 59 55
00000D99: 00 EB
00000D9A: 5B 7A
00000D9B: A0 55
00000D9C: 0B A9
00000D9D: 50 5A
00000D9E: 55 6B
00000D9F: 69 70
00000DA0: 6B 05
00000DA1: 00 4B
00000DA2: 5B EB
00000DA3: 50 75
00000DA4: 09 70
00000DA5: 50 0B
00000DA6: F5 55
00000DA7: 7B EB
00000DA8: 49 55
00000DA9: 10 7B
00000DAA: 5B 0B
00000DAB: A0 6A
00000DAC: 10 F9
00000DAD: 40 E5
00000DAE: E5 F5
00000DAF: 0A 05
00000DB0: 0A 05
00000DB1: 0A AB
00000DB2: 0A 19
00000DB3: 00 45
00000DB4: 0A 49
00000DB5: 0A 55
00000DB6: 55 25
00000DB8: 5C 0C
00000DB9: 0C 90
00000DBA: 5C 09
00000DBB: 0C 09
00000DBC: 5C 09
00000DBD: 0C 05
00000DBE: 5C 00
00000DBF: 02 01
00000DC0: 02 01
00000DC1: 02 0C
00000DC2: 02 0C
00000DC3: 02 0C
00000DC4: 02 0C
00000DC5: 02 0C
00000DC6: 02 0C

So all of the changes exist in the first 4k bank of rom.

 

 

 

 

 

Additionally, since the modified binary is 10K, can the 2K code be easily stripped out?

What do you mean by "stripped out"? It's a seperate chip in the cart AFAIK.

[CPUWIZ]

Um...I think there's more involved than just replacing a ROM with an EPROM.  For one thing, EPROM's require a hex inverter onboard, right?  I dunno.

 

Indeed, and on top of that, bankswitching logic.

[ericd]

Um...I think there's more involved than just replacing a ROM with an EPROM.  For one thing, EPROM's require a hex inverter onboard, right?  I dunno.

 

Either do I. While I can usually solder up anything that someone comes up with, I'm not usually the guy coming up with the hardware design/mods. I was hoping to get some further info from someone here who might know how to do something like this.

 

Additionally, if I need bankswitching logic - how would you go about implementing this, or is it even easily possible?

 

So all of the changes exist in the first 4k bank of rom.

 

This is good news. This means that in *theory* the only thing that would need replacing is the 8K ROM portion of the cartridge.

 

 

 

What do you mean by "stripped out"?  It's a seperate chip in the cart AFAIK.

 

I mean separate the 2K region (found on the custom sound chip) in the binary out from the rest of the 8K ROM. This way you can just flash a new chip with the first 8K.

 

Although, from the comparison you did above then this is probably possible. I think there's 8K ROMs of Pitfall out there, which in *theory* should be just the first chip (void of the 2K region on the sound chip) that we could probably use this to find where the 2K region from the sound chip starts and strip it out with a hex editor. I assume this would be the easiest way?

[yuppicide]

Thanks for the link to the ROM. I totally forgot about that guy's website. I used to visit there once in awhile to see his work on those emulators.

[OtakuNoZoku]

Making a physical cartridge: Yes, should be possible. I didn't touch the graphics or sound part of the game for that ROM hack. Crane (who was kicking around Electronic Entertainment Expo near the Classic Gaming Expo "booth" in Kentia Hall) was kind enough to put all of the level data in the lower 4K IIRC. I'd need to go back to my notes as 6 or 7 years have passed by since I did anything with the ROM.

 

Having just read the forum posts and the web page I realised I never did find the time to clear up the two lingering bugs. I'll see if I can find a day during the month of June to clear them out.

 

The chip guide you refer to was probably written by Kevin Horton. Contacting him would certainly put you in the right direction with regard building a physical cartridge. http://www.tripoint.org/kevtris/ I'm not sure if he still hangs out on #rgvc on EFNet (or even if that channel still exists). Last time I was there was probably around 2001.

[Nukey Shay]

Seperating the roms is easy...just use a file splitter.

 

Here's a disassembly of the game. Assembles with Dasm.

Pitfall2.zip

[ericd]

Making a physical cartridge: Yes, should be possible. I didn't touch the graphics or sound  part of the game for that ROM hack. Crane (who was kicking around Electronic Entertainment Expo near the Classic Gaming Expo "booth" in Kentia Hall) was kind enough to put all of the level data in the lower 4K IIRC. I'd need to go back to my notes as 6 or 7 years have passed by since I did anything with the ROM.

 

Thanks! I'm glad to see you stopped by to respond to this thread. I think it would be great to see what you did in the form of a playable cartridge!

 

My plan was to put a zif socket on the board and allow for swapping of Pitfall II hacks. I still need to figure out how I need to get an eprom to work on that layout.

 

Having just read the forum posts and the web page I realised I never did find the time to clear up the two lingering bugs. I'll see if I can find a day during the month of June to clear them out.

 

That would be awesome! If you do manage to work out the remainder of the bugs then it would be all the more reason to try to building a cartridge out of this. I'm eager to get this working on real hardware as Pitfall II is one of my favorite games. Being able to play new levels would really be something I think a lot of people would like.

 

I'm going to ask something and please don't feel you're obligated to do this or anything just because I'm posting it here, but would you consider releasing your level editor to the public? This would be something that I'm sure would help gather more interested in this project having a utility to do the editing. It would definitely make this project worth while if we could do that.

 

The chip guide you refer to was probably written by Kevin Horton. Contacting him would certainly put you in the right direction with regard building a physical cartridge. http://www.tripoint.org/kevtris/ I'm not sure if he still hangs out on #rgvc on EFNet (or even if that channel still exists). Last time I was there was probably around 2001.

861694[/snapback]

 

I'll contact Kevin and see if he might be able to help us out.

 

I can't say this enough - thanks taking the time to provide some insight on this. Everything you mentioned I'm sure will be a big help.

[ericd]

Seperating the roms is easy...just use a file splitter.

 

Here's a disassembly of the game.  Assembles with Dasm.

861819[/snapback]

 

Nukey - Thanks. I'm going to take a look at it tonight.

 

I've also emailed Kevin to see if he might be able to provide some assistance with the modification. I'm willing to donate one of my Pitfall II cartridges as a "guinea pig" for experimentation if need be. If I hear back I'll be sure to post here.

[Crimefighter]

Is info on the Pitfall 2+ hack on this site somewhere? I went looking thru the hacks list and found nothing...

[ericd]

Is info on the Pitfall 2+ hack on this site somewhere?  I went looking thru the hacks list and found nothing...

862131[/snapback]

 

I don't believe it is. I suggest you follow the link above for more information on it. You can use one of the emulators that works with Pitfall II to play it (Stella will work fine if you want to check it out FYI.)

 

Hopefully we can figure this out to get it working on a cartridge which you will be able to play on real hardware. Just have to wait and see I guess...

[mvigor]

Hopefully we can figure this out to get it working on a cartridge which you will be able to play on real hardware. Just have to wait and see I guess... 

862209[/snapback]

 

 

In the mean time, start buying Pitfall II's as fast as you can!