Shock Troopers Conversion Project (Details!)

Tiptonium · Dec 8, 2002

Shock Troopers - Neo Geo Conversion Project

Many of you have been asking for for this one and I've been meaning to do it for quite some time. Shock Troopers is a great shooter and I have often wondered why this game never made it to the Neo Geo Home (NGH) format. Instead, Saurus opted to release Shock Troopers 2nd Squad for the NGH. In my opinion, Shock Troopers is a much better game.

Most of the conversion went quite smoothly. However, this one threw me off briefly as the game would boot as soon as the credit and level display popped up. The solution involved moving one of the JB jumpers (not the J jumpers) on the PROGBK1Y board, something one usually never has to do.

Details:

Remove the V, P, S, M, and C chips from the Sacrifice Fatal Fury 3 boards. I almost used a Samuari Shodown III this time but since I found an even cheaper Fatal Fury 3 I went ahead with "old faithful". Both games use the same PROG and CHA boards.

Remove the V, P, S, M and C chips from the Shock Troopers MVS cartridge. Place them in their corresponding locations on the sacrifice Fatal Fury 3 boards. Solder them up nice and clean, take your time. Congratulations, you're almost done.

I sort of cheaped off on the artwork. I found a home brew Japanese insert on the Internet somewhere (<a href="http://nickthfury.cjb.net/" target="_blank">I think here</a>) and cleaned it up a bit. I took part of that insert to construct a label. I had to fake out part of the labe insert graphics in order to make it fit. Basically, I had to draw in some of the details above the troopers.

Here are some pictures, correct jumper settings, label and insert:

<a href="http://www.tiptonium.com/videogames/reviews/neogeo/images/shocktroopersinsert.jpg" target="_blank">Insert (almost 3 meg!)</a>

<a href="http://www.tiptonium.com/videogames/reviews/neogeo/images/shocktrooperslabel.jpg" target="_blank">Label</a>

PROGBK1Y

JB Setting
1 off
2 off
3 off
4 off
5 off
6 on

CHA256RY

J Setting
1 off
2 on
3 on
4 off
5 off
6 off
7 off
8 off
9 on
10 on
11 on
12 on
13 on
14 on
15 off
16 off
17 off
18 off

Enjoy!

Tarma · Dec 8, 2002

Nice work Tip!

So what's next for you to convert?

BTW, that insert is suspiciously like the NGF insert... it's a great insert nonetheless, but I think that's where that particular design originated from.

Mentor · Dec 9, 2002

Hey Tiptonium, I'm not critising or anything, but judging by the rom sizes you could have gotten away with a SS2 instead of a FF3

*EDIT - I was refferring to a conversion without wiring. If wiring is acceptable there is no question about ss2 handling a ST conversion* You could use the FF3 board for that Captain Tomaday you mentioned.

I'll let you know anyway if you want when I do one for another board member here who wants one done.

[ December 09, 2002: Message edited by: Mentor ]

Robert Wallace · Dec 9, 2002

Looks great! I am going to try doing one of those conversions myself sometime soon. I have some MVS games like Magical Drop 3,Shock Troopers and some others.

I was wondering about the sacrifice cart FF3, will the Language be in Japanese if you use a Japanese version Sac Cart?

Or will that change if your MVS game is an English MVS being used in the Japanese Fatal Fury 3?

All I need are some FF3 carts to get started.....can anyone help me out?

Link to my want ad:

<a href="http://www.neo-geo.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=005453" target="_blank">http://www.neo-geo.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=2&t=005453</a>

Have you ever done a Prehistoric Isle 2 conversion?

Nice work Tip...Thanks for sharing with us.

R.W.

Mentor · Dec 9, 2002

Robert Wallace : Irrespective of the sac cart or mvs carts origins the lanuage will be that of the home cart system. EG English on a US system. Except in the case of games that don't have an english lanuage (Or I believe Neo Bomber man display in spanish on an english system, I've never done this conversion so don't quote me).

Tiptonium · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Tarma:
Nice work Tip!

So what's next for you to convert?

BTW, that insert is suspiciously like the NGF insert... it's a great insert nonetheless, but I think that's where that particular design originated from.<hr></blockquote>

I've got these planned:

Money Puzzle Exchange
Twinkle Star Sprites
Captain Tomaday
Pulstar
Neo Turfmasters
Metal Slug (maybe)

Subject to change/mood swing.

That insert.... if memory serves I picked it up from Nick The Furys site a while back. It seems to be the same one that Shawn's copy has as well as the last few I've seen for sale. If it is indeed an NGF it does not indicated so anywhere on the art that I can see.

Tiptonium · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Mentor:
Hey Tiptonium, I'm not critising or anything, but judging by the rom sizes you could have gotten away with a SS2 instead of a FF3 *EDIT - I was refferring to a conversion without wiring. If wiring is acceptable there is no question about ss2 handling a ST conversion* You could use the FF3 board for that Captain Tomaday you mentioned.

I'll let you know anyway if you want when I do one for another board member here who wants one done.

[ December 09, 2002: Message edited by: Mentor ]<hr></blockquote>

Hey, keep me posted. I could always swap the chips. I thought I could "get away" with a SS2 when I did a Magical Drop III but the sound roms were too big. I hate wire jobs so I punted and went with FF3 for MD3.

Lemme know how it goes.

Tiptonium · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Robert Wallace:

I was wondering about the sacrifice cart FF3, will the Language be in Japanese if you use a Japanese version Sac Cart?
<hr></blockquote>

Go with the Japanese version of FF3. Why? They tend to cost less and are more common. The way the market has been lately you can get two FF3 (Japan) for the price of one English version.

HPMAN · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Tiptonium:
If it is indeed an NGF it does not indicated so anywhere on the art that I can see.<hr></blockquote>

"Dion" & "Dakis" are written at the back of the insert.

EMAGDNIM · Dec 9, 2002

Nice work...

Cole · Dec 9, 2002

nice work tip!

[ December 09, 2002: Message edited by: Cole ]

Big Bruno · Dec 9, 2002

Still at it Eh

Cool job again. Nice TV as well. I been looking into upgarding my JVC 36, Been debating on Plasma but I hate to give up my Entertainment center.

My time has been sparse and with the Con planning I hardley have time to work on any conversions anymore.

So have you figured out an easy way to get the shells open yet without breaking the tabs

Mike · Dec 9, 2002

Do a TurfMaster Please!!

I have been waiting for someone to do that so that I can steal all their hard work... <img src="graemlins/glee.gif" border="0" alt="[Glee]" />

SSS · Dec 9, 2002

very nice.

Neo Mike · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Mike:
Do a TurfMaster Please!!

I have been waiting for someone to do that so that I can steal all their hard work... <img src="graemlins/glee.gif" border="0" alt="[Glee]" /> <hr></blockquote>

Agreed. PLEASE do a turfmaster one!!!

Daisuke Jigen · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by HPMAN:


"Dion" & "Dakis" are written at the back of the insert.<hr></blockquote>

Oh, god. Its true. <img src="graemlins/help.gif" border="0" alt="[Help]" />

Tarma · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Tiptonium:


I've got these planned:

Money Puzzle Exchange
Twinkle Star Sprites
Captain Tomaday
Pulstar
Neo Turfmasters
Metal Slug (maybe)

Subject to change/mood swing.

That insert.... if memory serves I picked it up from Nick The Furys site a while back. It seems to be the same one that Shawn's copy has as well as the last few I've seen for sale. If it is indeed an NGF it does not indicated so anywhere on the art that I can see.<hr></blockquote>

I'm thinking of doing my own ST conversion using a SS3 sac. Will the rom swaps be the same as using a FF3 sac?

It's only recently NGF has put it's URL on inserts they produce, or possibly the insert was 'corrected' ( ) to remove any trace of NGF involvement. That's the insert NGF use, and most of Shawn's conversions were from NGF. I believe he only has !Arcade! conversions in his personal collection now.

Tarma · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Daisuke Jigen:


Oh, god. Its true. <img src="graemlins/help.gif" border="0" alt="[Help]" /> <hr></blockquote>

lol... he 'signs' all the artwork he produces with his name embedded somewhere in the insert. <img src="graemlins/eye.gif" border="0" alt="[Eye]" /> <img src="graemlins/eye.gif" border="0" alt="[Eye]" />

chris1 · Dec 9, 2002

Nice work...

Tiptonium · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Daisuke Jigen:


Oh, god. Its true. <img src="graemlins/help.gif" border="0" alt="[Help]" /> <hr></blockquote>

Gahhh!!!!! Unclean! Unclean! I'm going to trash that insert and create a custom one.

Ugh!!! The Internet is a dangerous place. I've been Googled!

DanAdamKOF · Dec 9, 2002

Is it just me, or does the text displayed on the screen look all garbled?

Tiptonium · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by DanAdamKOF:
Is it just me, or does the text displayed on the screen look all garbled?<hr></blockquote>

Not garbled, just a not a good shot of the screen. Here's another with the game playing on my little GXTV:

Tiptonium · Dec 9, 2002

Originally posted by Tarma:

BTW, that insert is suspiciously like the NGF insert... it's a great insert nonetheless, but I think that's where that particular design originated from.<hr></blockquote>

New Insert and Label Created!

<a href="http://www.neo-geo.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=18&t=006718" target="_blank">[ linky ]</a>

Tarma · Dec 10, 2002

Originally posted by Tiptonium:


New Insert and Label Created!

<a href="http://www.neo-geo.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=18&t=006718" target="_blank">[ linky ]</a><hr></blockquote>

C'est tres bon!

Did you shred the old 'incorrect' insert? <img src="graemlins/spock.gif" border="0" alt="[Spock]" /> <img src="graemlins/tickled.gif" border="0" alt="[Tickled]" />

You didn't answer my question about using SS3 as a sac instead of FF3

Tiptonium · Dec 10, 2002

Originally posted by Tarma:


I'm thinking of doing my own ST conversion using a SS3 sac. Will the rom swaps be the same as using a FF3 sac?

<hr></blockquote>

Yes. Just make sure that the jumpers match up. Good luck.

Shock Troopers Conversion Project (Details!)

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