Neo-Geo Deck (Hotel Unit) bios dumped

Hi,

time passed and recently I decided to (finally) clean my Deck Unit, take a look at the pcb and the bios stuff.

As it was a socket type, I decided to dump it, as I was guessing it's afterall still an obscure object, even for those (few) people who actually owns one.

I was right, as the bios actually differs from the others dumped for MAME, so I submitted it and will be probably officially supported on the next version.

Here some screenshot for comparison:

MVS Jap (V1)


MVS Jap (V2)


MVS Jap (V3)


Deck Unit


The features are of course the same of other MVS, the differences at a first sight are in the main menu screen, and the missing "Setting up the code number" (the deck unit doesn't support the memcard).

From a production point of view, I think the Deck bios should be placed beetween MAME's "Jap Ver2" and "Jap Ver3" as is the only one dated '93, but with the revision "6" on the upper right corner, logically after the "5" of JapV2.

The most similar bios is probably the "ASIA" (a "6" too) but dated '95 and with the clock feature present on the last JapV3.



While RAS (Room Amusement System) is used to identify the Deck too on flyers and the manual, the only detail which makes me wonder is that "Neo-Geo GIT Ver. 1.3" acronym, which is probably referred to the Deck lineup alone:



I'm quite sure the first production run (wooden) was slighty different not only on the chassis.
I suppose mine was actually one of the latest runs, as it have metal chassis and stickers promoting games like Garou Densetsu Special, so it could be interesting to dig on previously made units.

Well, I'm following the MAME update, documenting the Deck pcb with pictures and numeration details, and after everything is done proprerly I think we all can "enjoy" a new NeoGeo bios, saved from oblivion (^_^).

Good stuff! Interesting to see yet another BIOS revision. Does this BIOS enhance Mai's boob sway in any fashion?

Very cool. Thanks for dumping this!

Thanks for sharing this. Interesting to see this rare NG variant. If it's cool, can we see some pics here of this kick ass rig? Thanks!

KRONOS said:

If it's cool, can we see some pics here of this kick ass rig? Thanks!

Click to expand...

Sure! Just gimme a couple of days so I can clean and well document the parts, I'll post them right here (^_^).

Btw, it seems that "GIT" is the board codename, as written on the pcb and daughterboards too... nice.

Ok,

pcb cleaned:



(yes, the only MVS board *without* a JAMMA connector!)



the bios, (labeled!)




probably the most interesting part, the s-video/rgb/stereo daughtercard:



video connector detail




soon with more pictures! (^_^)

Great job man.

Folks, here you can see video game history preservation in action!

I find the hotel unit very nice but never had the means to get me one, would be cool to fool around with the bios in MAME, hope they will implement it.

did you get the hotel book with this?

werejag said:

did you get the hotel book with this?

Click to expand...

If you talk about the black cover for the MVS flyers presented by NeoBomberman, no.
I think it could be a companion of the wooden (previous) model Jonathan have:


As seen in many auctions, later metal models usually have only a black&white operator's instructions flyer (that I'm actually waiting from japan, cause the seller didn't shipped it with ) but everything could be.

Btw, are you the guy who actually bought that black cover from Jonathan? In case please post pic as well!

yeah that book.

love to get a scan of any docs

werejag said:

yeah that book.

love to get a scan of any docs

Click to expand...

yeah, I'm working on that too, I think it's afterall possible to at least "map" that stuff.

I'm the less expertise in tech stuff here, but nice pics indeed!

Mmmh, coming to think about it... since there's no JAMMA connector, how's the stereo sound output of the thing? This is interesting, may be the one and only true (unmodded) stereo-to-TV NeoGeo 'system'...

As for the black instruction book (the one with a leather-type cover), I saw that also with the one and only NeoGeoDeck that I personally came in touch with, that one being a metal type (complete with stickers and stuff). I guess that book was used in room/hotel environement also to present to the customers the MVS art for the cart actually inserted in the system, pretty much as with karaoke/dvd/cableTV room devices. The one I saw, had some kind of pocket for MVS art housing (actually filled with marquees for the MVS carts the system came with).

I did read years ago that some of them came with metal sticks too , or is that lies.

I know theres at least two versions of the hotel deck.

Shito said:

I'm the less expertise in tech stuff here, but nice pics indeed!

Mmmh, coming to think about it... since there's no JAMMA connector, how's the stereo sound output of the thing? This is interesting, may be the one and only true (unmodded) stereo-to-TV NeoGeo 'system'...

Click to expand...

Yes it's native, with s-video and rf too.
The stereo is driven by a dedicated (flat/white) connector, near the video round one.
I'll post more pics about the back panel, really rich of connectors expecially for that time.

Shito said:

As for the black instruction book (the one with a leather-type cover), I saw that also with the one and only NeoGeoDeck that I personally came in touch with, that one being a metal type (complete with stickers and stuff). I guess that book was used in room/hotel environement also to present to the customers the MVS art for the cart actually inserted in the system, pretty much as with karaoke/dvd/cableTV room devices. The one I saw, had some kind of pocket for MVS art housing (actually filled with marquees for the MVS carts the system came with).

Click to expand...

thansk for confirming the presence of it also on new-type models, it is a "marquee holder+basic instructions" for room guests (this one about the wooden model, see the coin panel which is missing the TV selector):





I'm actually hunting down it, as it should be considered part of the documentation floating around the Deck, with the black&white operator manual and front stickers too.

What's really uber-cool of that 'book' is the official yet unique logo writing imho.

kernow said:

I did read years ago that some of them came with metal sticks too , or is that lies.

I know theres at least two versions of the hotel deck.

Click to expand...

I remember a really great thread about th eDeck, made by NeoBomberman, I started my "research" from that.

So with his wooden and my metal, it's possible to document the two models.

About joysticks, I never heard about "metal sticks" but I always saw the grey "pro" with golden logo.

Confronting the bios of the deck, and my production plate ('93, but is a metal later model), it's possible that those kind of joystick were builted for that unit, and not recycled from ngcd stuff (still to be commercialized, later on '94).

Shito said:

What's really uber-cool of that 'book' is the official yet unique logo writing imho.

Click to expand...

yes, the third acronym "RAS" in it's full beauty!

I'm starting to be curious about "GIT", (maybe they changed name to the product!??)

massimiliano said:

yes, the third acronym "RAS" in it's full beauty!

I'm starting to be curious about "GIT", (maybe they changed name to the product!??)

Click to expand...

Mmmh, don't think so. You would remember some 'internal' codenames such as AEC (controller), AEP (product), NGL (don't know what the L refers to), etc etc etc...

Good stuff.

Shito said:

Mmmh, don't think so. You would remember some 'internal' codenames such as AEC (controller), AEP (product), NGL (don't know what the L refers to), etc etc etc...

Click to expand...

yeah, but what still leaves some doubt in me, is the bios screen.
Why bohter placing "Neo-geo GIT ver 1.3" ?

I mean, I don't recall (but I'm old) if does any other console/board place the "internal" codename to the operator eyes?

Of course, this is really "for fun" speculation&chit-chat, way better than watching tv

massimiliano said:

yeah, but what still leaves some doubt in me, is the bios screen.
Why bohter placing "Neo-geo GIT ver 1.3" ?

I mean, I don't recall (but I'm old) if does any other console/board place the "internal" codename to the operator eyes?

Click to expand...

Dunno really, as I never opened not a single piece of HW, but the AEP tag was super-quickly dropped by SNK, and the IC8 code for memcards, or the cords for RF/Scart cables also are yet to be understood. As for me, I'm still missing the actual meaning even of the NGL code..

Nice information Massi, thanks for sharing.

My unit looks quite a bit different to yours, especially the video output board. I didn't have time to open the unit up this morning, but you can see the connectors on the rear of the unit below (see also front coin panel):

Kpj said:

Nice information Massi, thanks for sharing.

My unit looks quite a bit different to yours, especially the video output board. I didn't have time to open the unit up this morning, but you can see the connectors on the rear of the unit below (see also front coin panel):

Click to expand...

Hi, thanks to you!

No differences, it's the very same unit both coin and rear panel (but did you posted a mirror image?)!
Mine just got a third yellow sticker on the left, under the neo logo and a grey vertical one, near the coin panel but nothing really drastic.
The inside board I posted goes to that back panel, trough cables.
Behind it lies an RF adapter (same sold separately for AES units) does yours looks different?

I'll keep posting pics after closing&cleaning everything (^_^)

I'm just glad people are starting to call it by its proper name now. Cheers on getting the bios dumped, is there a download of it anywhere yet?

So how do these things work? You just choose what game you want from the ones available and stick it in to the slot and you get to play for x amount of minutes per coin?