Tutorvision games - Interest check

[mr_me]

 

When I open the case and look directly at the chips will they look like the following if it is a Tudorvision? (pics taken from the Tudorvision google docs page linked above):

 

GROM

 

WBEXEC

 

CPU

 

 

I'm thinking I can locate these or their equivalents in my Super Pro system once I open it.

That's what the surplus tutorvision board had. And don't forget the square chip "STIC 1A BV2". A good clear photo of the entire board would be nice, including the gram jumper. Unfortunately Intellivision boards are upside down.

 

Do you have an LTOFlash?

.

Edited September 29, 2017 by mr_me

[freewheel]

Yeah, who doesn't own a multicart?

[+fdr4prez]

Yeah, who doesn't own a multicart?

 

I own multiple carts, but I don't own a multicart

[+Lathe26]

 

When I open the case and look directly at the chips will they look like the following if it is a Tudorvision? (pics taken from the Tudorvision google docs page linked above):

 

GROM

 

WBEXEC

 

CPU

 

 

 

I'm thinking I can locate these or their equivalents in my Super Pro system once I open it.

Awesome photos!

 

What's also cool is that we can see the ROM chip (one labelled WBEXEC) was manufactured in the 29th week of 1989 (the "8929" printed on it). Another chip was made a couple weeks earlier in the 27th week of 1989. This means that the entire Super Pro Tutorvision was made afterwards.

 

(note: I am sure the other researchers have already seen/mentioned this in the earlier photos).

[+the1hatman]

Do you have an LTOFlash?

 

I do not.

[+the1hatman]

Yeah, who doesn't own a multicart?

 

Rub it in whydontcha?!?

[+the1hatman]

Awesome photos!

 

What's also cool is that we can see the ROM chip (one labelled WBEXEC) was manufactured in the 29th week of 1989 (the "8929" printed on it). Another chip was made a couple weeks earlier in the 27th week of 1989. This means that the entire Super Pro Tutorvision was made afterwards.

 

(note: I am sure the other researchers have already seen/mentioned this in the earlier photos).

 

Just to be clear, those pics were taken from the pics taken from the Tudorvision google docs page linked above. I am still out of town on a job hunt and haven't been home to open my Super Pro case yet.

[mr_me]

The origin of that board and a photo of the entire board can be found here. It was originally found in a surplus electronics catalog "many, many years ago". I wonder how many they had.

 

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=144540.0

 

When you get back try NHL Hockey or Tron Deadly Discs and take a photo of the playfield. We should be able to see the extra pixels. The extra pixels show that it has the updated STIC 1A BV2.

Edited September 29, 2017 by mr_me

[mthompson]

Have any videos ever been made of the Tutorvision games? I searched a bit but couldn't find anything but a few still images.

[mr_me]

I'm thinking you should be able to identify a tutorvision board without opening it, and just looking at the bottom through the vents in the case. Maybe thehatman can verify this.

 

If you can't see the green circuit board and are looking at the metal rf shield, you likely don't have a tutorvision board.

 

If you can see the green circuit board and the circuit lines are squiggly, like they are drawn freehand, you don't have a tutorvision board.

 

If you can see the jumper block J0 to J6 (possibly through the lower right of the middle vents), you have a tutorvision board. See the middle of the board in the photo here for reference. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=144540.0

 

----------

I'd like to see a video of a level 2 tutorvision game like Geo Graphics, or even play one in emulation. The level 1 games, whose rom files have so far been shared, are designed for very young children.

Edited October 2, 2017 by mr_me

[stupus]

I definitely would be down for cib repros of all 3! I didn't know a 3rd game was dumped either!

And yes some super pro systems definitely are tutorvisions....but probably very few. None of mine are sadly.

Also Joe had said that the special exec and grom could not be added by means of the cartridge slot. That was the first thing I hoped and asked.

The system bios was able to be put on the rca s2 multicart so it runs all games correct on all machines. So this made me hope the special intv bios could be put on the multicart and set to supercede the systems built in bios. Apparently that won't work on the intellivision and there is more to it than that.

[intvnut]

Yeah - looks like the revised EXEC there, since IIRC that's where the boilerplate copyright logic lives.

 

 

Not entirely true. The copyright string is in the GROM. I have encountered one system that has the STIC1A ASIC, the 1986 INTV GROM, but no WBEXEC. It will not play Tutorvision games unless you have a means to provide the WBEXEC.

 

I do not have possession of that particular system.

[intvnut]

Awesome photos!

 

What's also cool is that we can see the ROM chip (one labelled WBEXEC) was manufactured in the 29th week of 1989 (the "8929" printed on it). Another chip was made a couple weeks earlier in the 27th week of 1989. This means that the entire Super Pro Tutorvision was made afterwards.

 

(note: I am sure the other researchers have already seen/mentioned this in the earlier photos).

 

FWIW, those are my photos from my reverse-eng doc. :-)

[intvnut]

I need to provide an updated CSUMEXEC that understands WBEXEC. I do have such a beast.

[mr_me]

 

Not entirely true. The copyright string is in the GROM. I have encountered one system that has the STIC1A ASIC, the 1986 INTV GROM, but no WBEXEC. It will not play Tutorvision games unless you have a means to provide the WBEXEC.

 

I do not have possession of that particular system.

Is there any reason the wbexec extensions can't be provided through the cartridge port?

 

The tutorvision games play without the tutorvision grom, at least they do in emulation.

 

Edit:

And why are we checking Super Pro systems and not INTV System III.

Edited October 3, 2017 by mr_me

[+the1hatman]

I am home and have the results of opening up my Super Pro System. I do not have much knowledge about hardware or chipsets so someone will have to correct any mistakes I make in labeling these or direct me to take additional pics as needed. All of the following pics are of my SP system:

 

Case open

 

Full board

 

WBEXEC and CPU (I think)

 

STIC 1A

 

Grom

 

Again, let me know if there are any other areas you need to see or in greater detail.

 

EDIT: Here is a pic of the Grom with the JP0 to JP6 jumpers that was requested as well (I think so anyway)...

Edited October 7, 2017 by the1hatman

[mr_me]

Did you remove the metal rf shield or did it only have it on one side? Are you able to see that jumper block through the vents in the bottom case?

 

Edit: you can immediately tell it's a tutorvision board upon opening the case because it's missing the power supply daughterboard that would normally be in the lower right of the first photo.

Edited October 7, 2017 by mr_me

[+the1hatman]

Did you remove the metal rf shield or did it only have it on one side? Are you able to see that jumper block through the vents in the bottom case?

 

Edit: you can immediately tell it's a tutorvision board upon opening the case because it's missing the power supply daughterboard that would normally be in the lower right of the first photo.

 

It only had the RF shield on one side. The full pic of the board where you can see all the chips is the unshielded side.

 

If you're referring to the JP0 to JP6 jumpers, then yes you can see the jumper block if you tilt the case to the right away from yourself just a little.

[+grips03]

I'm no expect, but I'm thinking that thing can play Tutorvision games. Are all the Super Pro Systems like that?

[freewheel]

I'm no expect, but I'm thinking that thing can play Tutorvision games. Are all the Super Pro Systems like that?

 

Not even close. I'm not sure on the rarity factor (apparently for all the collectors here, almost no one has actually CHECKED ), but I'd be surprised if more than 5-10% of Super Pros can do it.

[+intellivotion]

Not even close. I'm not sure on the rarity factor (apparently for all the collectors here, almost no one has actually CHECKED ), but I'd be surprised if more than 5-10% of Super Pros can do it.

is there a chance for Intv Systems III?

[freewheel]

is there a chance for Intv Systems III?

 

Of course there is We won't know until people check, and report back. You'd think with 100+ hardcore collectors here, we'd have more than 4 systems tested so far.

[+nanochess]

I could write a small program loadable in LTO-Flash that could check if your system is a Super Pro one, mainly writing to the extra GRAM.

[stupus]

It's very simple to check them, you don't need to open the console.

Just put in any game and look for the tutor vision font set on the title screen of any regular game.

Hatman you don't need a multicart to check yours. Just put in a regular game and post a pic of the title screen.

[stupus]

I suppose it's possible any system could be 1....well maybe not a model 2.

People often part systems together and service centers could have put the wb boards in any repaired units.

So really they could have any shell on them I suppose.