Pinball Mind
Pinball Mind is our answer to the home professional edition Brain issue. If you have one of the following 4 professional home pinball machines and the MPU has failed, your solution is the Pinball Mind.
Fireball
Captain Fantastic
Evel Knievel
Galaxy Ranger
The Nightmare Park Pinball Mind is a piggyback boardset to the older Series 1 or Series 2 home profession Brain boards. The kit includes installation instructions or you can elect to send in your defective Series 1 or Series 2 MPUs. We will install and test and repair any issues with your MPU. Repairs and installation done by us are covered under our warranty.
Some features of the Nightmare Park Pinball Mind include:
Deeper gameplay with 4 selectable games
Light and sound animations for more excitement
Custom music soundtrack composed for the games
Secret bonus contest built in
Technical improvements over the original design include:
Modern chips used with multiple sources available
New boardset is 99% through hole based compnents with many test points available
Extended memory capabilities allow deeper gameplay and multiple selectable games
2 voice PCM sound system allows for extended music and sound capabilities
Extended self testing programming for deeper diagnostics
USB port add-on available for diagnostic, game linkages, software development or other future usages
Master CPLD for GLU logic and extended control port caapbilities
SDK (Software Development Kit) available for hackers and programmers to create new software to sell as upgrades to the system
Internal programming based on C-like library functions in assembly
Power and POST LEDs for easy starting diagnostics
A comparison of computing capabilities is as follows
Series 1 and 2 Brain...........Pinball Mind
700 khZ F-8 or Mostek 3850.....4 MHz 65C02
2k ROM.........................32K ROM, expandable to 534K
64 bytes RAM...................32K (-256 bytes) RAM, expandable to 528K (-256 bytes)
(Rom and Ram are bank switched in a 4K memory space. If banked Rom and Ram are not installed,
memory count is 32k Rom and 32k (-256) Ram)
PROGRESS BLOG
Up until now: The challenge was to create a repair solution for the Bally Brain mpu boards for the home pinballs. The original CPU was the Fairchild F-8, an embedded processor which was very good for the time. The issue now is that the chip is end of life for literally decades now and the embedded programming cannot be obtained at all, even after contact with the original programmer. It was deemed best to use a new hardware piggyback to strobe the driver hardware and write the programming from scratch. The CPU of choice is the WDC 65C02. This chip is still in very wide usage to this day, with millions still being shipped as of 2011. I have nicknamed this chip as a "forever chip". This was but one of the many factors that made it the #1 choice for this project over any other CPU chip. see the FAQ for details.
The rest of the board is also designed with forever chips, with 2 or 3 exceptions that were unavoidable. Even then, steps were taken in the design so that these chips can be bypassed or a re-design allowed into the system. the reason for this is simple: whoever is going to repair this puppy 25 years from now will thank me. As you will as well.
9-11: The proof of concept board has gone as far as it can go. The display and light matrix are now proven to work. A ghosting issue with the playfield lights is considered to be the multiple programming gyrations required of the proof of concept hardware. A fun gotcha also prompts the move towards the final design as while a series 1 board has optoisolators for the switch matrix, the seriwes 2 does not, and the switch matrix runs on 18 volts. If the matrix was invoked by pressing any switch, hilarity would have ensued.
To give you an idea of the new capabilities, watch this video of the POST bootup and attract mode for each of the 4 pinballs (the Galaxy Ranger mode was unfinished at the time of the video shoot). On the series 1 board, it was literally impossible to obtain these kind of display effects and if they were done on the series ][, there would be no programming room for the main pinball program. (YOUTUBE VIDEO) (please note that the music isn't mine and will not be in this pinball. I will be composing a custom music soundtrack, one for each of the 4 pins. A CD of the music will also be released, but each customer of the Pinball Mind will get the CD for free :D)
11-11: The final design is now locked in, based on experience and programing created on the proof of concept boardset. It will consist of a generic CPU board and an adapter board which is designed to interface to the Series 1 or 2 system. This approach allows for easier troubleshooting and lower cost in design and sales.
The programming also sharpened up over the design cycle to an easy to use and powerful design, allowing for capabilities found in far later pinballs. This also made it easier to create a library reference for the commands used internally.
12-11: The main PCB for Pinball Mind is being laid out. It does not like autorouting all that much. Below is a 3D of the board itself.
2-1: Gave up on trying to use the old CPLD adapter pinout since it kept tying my manual routing and the autorouter in knots. the newer method is designed with 4 plugs simply opposite on each side of the CPLD. These plugs will not be used in the present incarnation of the board but will serve the 20 year rule. the reasoning is that in 20 years, this CPLD may not be available so the plugs go up to a CPLD board designed in the future to replace this part. you were told once about an original part that is no longer available. This feature will allow a future repair when needed of this board design.
1-20: Still routing the CPLD area. Lots of trace compacting. Putting on paper the new design for a power box. One issue of both series 1 and 2 is the 5 volt power supply spikes and blows out the original CPU. For that reason, the new Pinball Mind will require a switching power supply for the 5 volts. The install manual will give instructions on installing the switcher as the board power or using the new power box which will have the switcher, transformer and a new 18 and 22 volt power board inside of it. If the power box is elected, the transformer and old power supply board are returned for credit towards the purchase price of the power box. (the transformer will be refurbished for a future box while the power supply board will be obsolete.
It is a large and complex project and one goal is to have a solid base solution rather than a simple throw together with the latest embedded processor. I am pretty confident that a goal of 20 year repairability is well achieved to a super high degree.
The thought was brought up about comparison of the Pinball Mind system to others. I would put it between the Williams system 11 and WPS system, but with more expandability for hacking capability in the creation of new designs. The output drivers are incapable of fading capabilites as they are the old Bally Brain board drivers, but the new Pinball Mind CPU system features more memory capability and features than the WPS. the sound system also features 2 seperate sound units and can be set for stereo with the sound files on SD cards.
Been getting a lot of emails from different people as the word is spreading about this. Thanks mucho and please do keep in touch. I will keep this page updating in the progress as it goes.
FAQ:
Tell me about the Bally Brain.
The Bally Brain was originally designed by Dave Nutting of Nutting Associates for Bally as the first electronic pinball computer. It sported a 4004 4 bit cpu chip. It was used on 2 modified Flicker pinballs, used in a lawsuit about electronic pinballs.
The next generation Bally Brain used the Fairchild F-8 triple chip system and later used a Mostek MK3780 single chip version of this system. it was used in the very popular professional home pinball series. Over 15,000 Fireball home pinballs were sold with a smaller unknown (at present) amount of Captain Fantastic, Evel Knievel and Galaxy Ranger pinballs. The pinball was a modified layout of a Ball pinball called Hokus Pokus. Each of the 4 used the same programming and sounds and game rules. (Glaxy Ranger missed the right inlane and added an extra flipper, though).
Today, it is impossible to get this pinball repaired if the chipset went out. That is the entire purpose of the Pinball Mind retrofit system.
Q: what is a "forever chip"?
A: this is my nickname for a chip you will find available after many years. this was prompted the very need for this design as the F8 was available back in the day but is no longer available for multiple reasons. For example, if you go to any Internet sales website, you will find the 74HC245 far easier than the Fairchild F8 chip. This situation will be identical 2 decades from now.
The 65C02 would be considered literally the ultimate forever chip CPU. Literally hundreds of millions were sold and still in wide usage today, everything from hand held toys to pacemakers. (FUN FACT: did you know that the 65C02 is the only medically rated microprocessor rated for implanting in the human body? So if you have a pacemaker, the chances that it is running off a 65C02 is 100%? True fact!)
There IS an exception in using dual AVR for the sound and music section. There was a simple and practical circuit available for free from ELM which wiould perform the sound functions nicely. the sound port breaks out into test points so one can design a new sound board to be compatible, so this exception is considered as feasible for the future.
Q: Why don't you use a linux box or a larger computer with a major operating system to run it?
A: The answer is simple. Using a linux or other operating system box boils down to 2 fold: cost and control capability. the target cost of the system cannot be met in such a fashion. And on control capability, one merely has to read around the internet to find the fatal flaw in using such an operating system. Without exception, those who have went this route have suffered issues with real time control and response, resulting in burned out solonoids and less than 100% switch response capability. This is due to the timing variations caused by multiple threading and supervisor calls which would pre-empt time critical processes without warning.
The solution to the control and timing issues: the entire program for this pinball is written in 100% assembly language with no multiple threading running.
Q: Why not use a modern embedded state of the art chip easily available?
A: The F8 was a modern embedded state of the art chip easily available back in the 1970s. See above about forever chips.
Q: What is an SDK?
The SDK is the Software Developer's Kit. This literally is a "how to" for designing new games and functions onto this system. All utility and game libraries covered in a reference, examples and ideas from working code.
In fact, the complete source code is broken down and explained in here. For that reason, the purchasers of the SDK are disqualified from the game contest.
Q: Game contest? what is that all about?
A: Back in the glory days of arcade games, some games held contests for winning prizes, based on your skill as a player. In this case, the prize is a 6 month membership on my favorite website, Fark.com (this isn't an advertising for them or promo, I pay each win out of my own pocket). Fark.com is a news aggregator with a decidedly humorous bent to it.
The game contest plays only in the game Tony's Pinball Madness. there are several score combination secrets and they have to be performed in a certain order in order to win. The display will give you a code name or number and then you email me on here. you will also need to send me your game score as well, so please write down both before emailing.
Q: Where can I get the Pinball Mind for my pinball?
A: It will be sold primarily through Eldorado Games and other distributors to be announced in the future.
Q: My pinball still works but I want to upgrade it to the Pinball Mind. Am I able to?
A: You most certainly can! PLEASE NOTE that the operation is irreversible. ALSO, the original music and sound effects will NOT be used as the Pinball Mind will have entirely different sounds and music.
Q: I have tech skill; can I install the Pinball Mind kit?
A: Yes. The kit comes with easy to follow instructions. If you send in the board to be converted over, your board will also recieve full testing to make sure that the rest of it is fully operational. Parts costs will be added to the billing and all our work comes with a 1 year warranty.
Q: What about LED lighting?
A: There will be experimenting to see how LED lighting works with the system. A recommended LED kit can be made available if there is interest.
Q: What is the USB option?
A: Western Design Center has a USB plug in module available. the Pinball Mind has a socket to plug this module in. Please note that it will NOT enhance the present gameplay. However, it will be used for an in depth diagnostics package for the service center and also allows the Pinball Mind to be programmed by using the Western Design Center's TIDE system. Future third party developers can take advantage of the USB port to add networking or video or linking capabilities, the only limit being the developer's imagination.
Q: I am a third party developer and want to design games on the system. How do I go about this?
A: You can go the reverse engineering route which is a small waste of time as the SDK is available. You can purchase the SDK which is also an automatic license to sell your own creations for profit. You will be disqualified from the contest in the original software as the SDK will show how it works, how the win checksum is calculated so you can write your own. you are also entitled to tech programming support which is included in the price of the SDK. also, the SDK price will be less than the Pinball Mind hardware so it will fit within your budget constraints.
Q: I don't have programming skills but want to have it re-designed for my own rules.
A: We can do it inhouse but time is a tough constraint. we can put you in contact with a developer who has purchased the SDK, or you can hire a developer on your own who will need the SDK. We do allow leasing the SDK for such a contract. Please note that your developer is responsible for meeting your specifications in game design and quality.
Q: What about program updates?
A: Software and other updates will be announced on the website www.nightmarepark.com. the same applies with board udpates. Software updates will be free of charge. They can be downloaded from this website or an advance exchange chip can be sent out with a chip credit given on return of the old chip. ($10). we both bear our own shipping. Board udpates will be handled with either a rework instruction bulletin or the board may be sent back in for rework or exchange on a similar basis with the board pricing on a commesurate credit.
Q: I need to get it repaired, can I get it repaired locally or myself?
A: Yes you can. The CD rom included with the kit includes the program ROM and sound data images as well as detailed schematics and work logs. Please note that if the board is butchered by improper repair techniques and you wish to send it in still, there will be parts and labor charges. If the board is deemed unrepairable, a new or used reworked board may be sold to you which will carry its own warranty.
Pinball Mind is our answer to the home professional edition Brain issue. If you have one of the following 4 professional home pinball machines and the MPU has failed, your solution is the Pinball Mind.
Fireball
Captain Fantastic
Evel Knievel
Galaxy Ranger
The Nightmare Park Pinball Mind is a piggyback boardset to the older Series 1 or Series 2 home profession Brain boards. The kit includes installation instructions or you can elect to send in your defective Series 1 or Series 2 MPUs. We will install and test and repair any issues with your MPU. Repairs and installation done by us are covered under our warranty.
Some features of the Nightmare Park Pinball Mind include:
Deeper gameplay with 4 selectable games
Light and sound animations for more excitement
Custom music soundtrack composed for the games
Secret bonus contest built in
Technical improvements over the original design include:
Modern chips used with multiple sources available
New boardset is 99% through hole based compnents with many test points available
Extended memory capabilities allow deeper gameplay and multiple selectable games
2 voice PCM sound system allows for extended music and sound capabilities
Extended self testing programming for deeper diagnostics
USB port add-on available for diagnostic, game linkages, software development or other future usages
Master CPLD for GLU logic and extended control port caapbilities
SDK (Software Development Kit) available for hackers and programmers to create new software to sell as upgrades to the system
Internal programming based on C-like library functions in assembly
Power and POST LEDs for easy starting diagnostics
A comparison of computing capabilities is as follows
Series 1 and 2 Brain...........Pinball Mind
700 khZ F-8 or Mostek 3850.....4 MHz 65C02
2k ROM.........................32K ROM, expandable to 534K
64 bytes RAM...................32K (-256 bytes) RAM, expandable to 528K (-256 bytes)
(Rom and Ram are bank switched in a 4K memory space. If banked Rom and Ram are not installed, memory count is 32k Rom and 32k (-256) Ram)
PROGRESS BLOG
Up until now: The challenge was to create a repair solution for the Bally Brain mpu boards for the home pinballs. The original CPU was the Fairchild F-8, an embedded processor which was very good for the time. The issue now is that the chip is end of life for literally decades now and the embedded programming cannot be obtained at all, even after contact with the original programmer. It was deemed best to use a new hardware piggyback to strobe the driver hardware and write the programming from scratch. The CPU of choice is the WDC 65C02. This chip is still in very wide usage to this day, with millions still being shipped as of 2011. I have nicknamed this chip as a "forever chip". This was but one of the many factors that made it the #1 choice for this project over any other CPU chip. see the FAQ for details.
The rest of the board is also designed with forever chips, with 2 or 3 exceptions that were unavoidable. Even then, steps were taken in the design so that these chips can be bypassed or a re-design allowed into the system. the reason for this is simple: whoever is going to repair this puppy 25 years from now will thank me. As you will as well.
9-11: The proof of concept board has gone as far as it can go. The display and light matrix are now proven to work. A ghosting issue with the playfield lights is considered to be the multiple programming gyrations required of the proof of concept hardware. A fun gotcha also prompts the move towards the final design as while a series 1 board has optoisolators for the switch matrix, the seriwes 2 does not, and the switch matrix runs on 18 volts. If the matrix was invoked by pressing any switch, hilarity would have ensued.
To give you an idea of the new capabilities, watch this video of the POST bootup and attract mode for each of the 4 pinballs (the Galaxy Ranger mode was unfinished at the time of the video shoot). On the series 1 board, it was literally impossible to obtain these kind of display effects and if they were done on the series ][, there would be no programming room for the main pinball program. (YOUTUBE VIDEO) (please note that the music isn't mine and will not be in this pinball. I will be composing a custom music soundtrack, one for each of the 4 pins. A CD of the music will also be released, but each customer of the Pinball Mind will get the CD for free :D)
11-11: The final design is now locked in, based on experience and programing created on the proof of concept boardset. It will consist of a generic CPU board and an adapter board which is designed to interface to the Series 1 or 2 system. This approach allows for easier troubleshooting and lower cost in design and sales.
The programming also sharpened up over the design cycle to an easy to use and powerful design, allowing for capabilities found in far later pinballs. This also made it easier to create a library reference for the commands used internally.
12-11: The main PCB for Pinball Mind is being laid out. It does not like autorouting all that much. Below is a 3D of the board itself.
2-1: Gave up on trying to use the old CPLD adapter pinout since it kept tying my manual routing and the autorouter in knots. the newer method is designed with 4 plugs simply opposite on each side of the CPLD. These plugs will not be used in the present incarnation of the board but will serve the 20 year rule. the reasoning is that in 20 years, this CPLD may not be available so the plugs go up to a CPLD board designed in the future to replace this part. you were told once about an original part that is no longer available. This feature will allow a future repair when needed of this board design.
1-20: Still routing the CPLD area. Lots of trace compacting. Putting on paper the new design for a power box. One issue of both series 1 and 2 is the 5 volt power supply spikes and blows out the original CPU. For that reason, the new Pinball Mind will require a switching power supply for the 5 volts. The install manual will give instructions on installing the switcher as the board power or using the new power box which will have the switcher, transformer and a new 18 and 22 volt power board inside of it. If the power box is elected, the transformer and old power supply board are returned for credit towards the purchase price of the power box. (the transformer will be refurbished for a future box while the power supply board will be obsolete.
It is a large and complex project and one goal is to have a solid base solution rather than a simple throw together with the latest embedded processor. I am pretty confident that a goal of 20 year repairability is well achieved to a super high degree.
The thought was brought up about comparison of the Pinball Mind system to others. I would put it between the Williams system 11 and WPS system, but with more expandability for hacking capability in the creation of new designs. The output drivers are incapable of fading capabilites as they are the old Bally Brain board drivers, but the new Pinball Mind CPU system features more memory capability and features than the WPS. the sound system also features 2 seperate sound units and can be set for stereo with the sound files on SD cards.
Been getting a lot of emails from different people as the word is spreading about this. Thanks mucho and please do keep in touch. I will keep this page updating in the progress as it goes.
FAQ:
Tell me about the Bally Brain.
The Bally Brain was originally designed by Dave Nutting of Nutting Associates for Bally as the first electronic pinball computer. It sported a 4004 4 bit cpu chip. It was used on 2 modified Flicker pinballs, used in a lawsuit about electronic pinballs.
The next generation Bally Brain used the Fairchild F-8 triple chip system and later used a Mostek MK3780 single chip version of this system. it was used in the very popular professional home pinball series. Over 15,000 Fireball home pinballs were sold with a smaller unknown (at present) amount of Captain Fantastic, Evel Knievel and Galaxy Ranger pinballs. The pinball was a modified layout of a Ball pinball called Hokus Pokus. Each of the 4 used the same programming and sounds and game rules. (Glaxy Ranger missed the right inlane and added an extra flipper, though).
Today, it is impossible to get this pinball repaired if the chipset went out. That is the entire purpose of the Pinball Mind retrofit system.
Q: what is a "forever chip"?
A: this is my nickname for a chip you will find available after many years. this was prompted the very need for this design as the F8 was available back in the day but is no longer available for multiple reasons. For example, if you go to any Internet sales website, you will find the 74HC245 far easier than the Fairchild F8 chip. This situation will be identical 2 decades from now.
The 65C02 would be considered literally the ultimate forever chip CPU. Literally hundreds of millions were sold and still in wide usage today, everything from hand held toys to pacemakers. (FUN FACT: did you know that the 65C02 is the only medically rated microprocessor rated for implanting in the human body? So if you have a pacemaker, the chances that it is running off a 65C02 is 100%? True fact!)
There IS an exception in using dual AVR for the sound and music section. There was a simple and practical circuit available for free from ELM which wiould perform the sound functions nicely. the sound port breaks out into test points so one can design a new sound board to be compatible, so this exception is considered as feasible for the future.
Q: Why don't you use a linux box or a larger computer with a major operating system to run it?
A: The answer is simple. Using a linux or other operating system box boils down to 2 fold: cost and control capability. the target cost of the system cannot be met in such a fashion. And on control capability, one merely has to read around the internet to find the fatal flaw in using such an operating system. Without exception, those who have went this route have suffered issues with real time control and response, resulting in burned out solonoids and less than 100% switch response capability. This is due to the timing variations caused by multiple threading and supervisor calls which would pre-empt time critical processes without warning.
The solution to the control and timing issues: the entire program for this pinball is written in 100% assembly language with no multiple threading running.
Q: Why not use a modern embedded state of the art chip easily available?
A: The F8 was a modern embedded state of the art chip easily available back in the 1970s. See above about forever chips.
Q: What is an SDK?
The SDK is the Software Developer's Kit. This literally is a "how to" for designing new games and functions onto this system. All utility and game libraries covered in a reference, examples and ideas from working code. In fact, the complete source code is broken down and explained in here. For that reason, the purchasers of the SDK are disqualified from the game contest.
Q: Game contest? what is that all about?
A: Back in the glory days of arcade games, some games held contests for winning prizes, based on your skill as a player. In this case, the prize is a 6 month membership on my favorite website, Fark.com (this isn't an advertising for them or promo, I pay each win out of my own pocket). Fark.com is a news aggregator with a decidedly humorous bent to it.
The game contest plays only in the game Tony's Pinball Madness. there are several score combination secrets and they have to be performed in a certain order in order to win. The display will give you a code name or number and then you email me on here. you will also need to send me your game score as well, so please write down both before emailing.
Q: Where can I get the Pinball Mind for my pinball?
A: It will be sold primarily through Eldorado Games and other distributors to be announced in the future.
Q: My pinball still works but I want to upgrade it to the Pinball Mind. Am I able to?
A: You most certainly can! PLEASE NOTE that the operation is irreversible. ALSO, the original music and sound effects will NOT be used as the Pinball Mind will have entirely different sounds and music.
Q: I have tech skill; can I install the Pinball Mind kit?
A: Yes. The kit comes with easy to follow instructions. If you send in the board to be converted over, your board will also recieve full testing to make sure that the rest of it is fully operational. Parts costs will be added to the billing and all our work comes with a 1 year warranty.
Q: What about LED lighting?
A: There will be experimenting to see how LED lighting works with the system. A recommended LED kit can be made available if there is interest.
Q: What is the USB option?
A: Western Design Center has a USB plug in module available. the Pinball Mind has a socket to plug this module in. Please note that it will NOT enhance the present gameplay. However, it will be used for an in depth diagnostics package for the service center and also allows the Pinball Mind to be programmed by using the Western Design Center's TIDE system. Future third party developers can take advantage of the USB port to add networking or video or linking capabilities, the only limit being the developer's imagination.
Q: I am a third party developer and want to design games on the system. How do I go about this?
A: You can go the reverse engineering route which is a small waste of time as the SDK is available. You can purchase the SDK which is also an automatic license to sell your own creations for profit. You will be disqualified from the contest in the original software as the SDK will show how it works, how the win checksum is calculated so you can write your own. you are also entitled to tech programming support which is included in the price of the SDK. also, the SDK price will be less than the Pinball Mind hardware so it will fit within your budget constraints.
Q: I don't have programming skills but want to have it re-designed for my own rules.
A: We can do it inhouse but time is a tough constraint. we can put you in contact with a developer who has purchased the SDK, or you can hire a developer on your own who will need the SDK. We do allow leasing the SDK for such a contract. Please note that your developer is responsible for meeting your specifications in game design and quality.
Q: What about program updates?
A: Software and other updates will be announced on the website www.nightmarepark.com. the same applies with board udpates. Software updates will be free of charge. They can be downloaded from this website or an advance exchange chip can be sent out with a chip credit given on return of the old chip. ($10). we both bear our own shipping. Board udpates will be handled with either a rework instruction bulletin or the board may be sent back in for rework or exchange on a similar basis with the board pricing on a commesurate credit.
Q: I need to get it repaired, can I get it repaired locally or myself?
A: Yes you can. The CD rom included with the kit includes the program ROM and sound data images as well as detailed schematics and work logs. Please note that if the board is butchered by improper repair techniques and you wish to send it in still, there will be parts and labor charges. If the board is deemed unrepairable, a new or used reworked board may be sold to you which will carry its own warranty.