Hi all,
I have been posting this at RGP, but figured to drop it in here also since a lot of people have moved here. I am writing new code for DM using the freewpc platform and have a bunch of beta testers who are checking out the code also. It is still in beta (rev .60 as of today) but is pretty solid with 7 modes done, 4 multiballs, 3 wizard modes and 1 video mode so far. Plans are to have 2 additional video modes and shaker motor support.

rules are being written from scratch so many of the rules are the same as original but since they are rewritten may be slightly different. Other things are completely new. I am definatly open to suggestions or adding more beta testers. If you have a DM and are willing to try out the code then that is too cool. Send me an email. Also if you want to make suggestions just based o nthe video that is cool too. I want to make this very good so suggestions are definately welcome. This is not using PROC, which requires different boards, but freewpc which is basically a software engine written to work on existing hardware. Therefore all that is required is a rom swap, just like you would normally do to upgrade your game code. The only difference is that in my case the code is much larger so I am using a 27C080 instead of a 27C040 chip.

Here is a listing of what the rules are currently and what is currently working (this is kinda long):

as of version 0.60
Advance to claw modes as follows:
1) Light all 3 MTL rollovers to light the cryoclaw light at the left inlane. Rollover left inlane to open right ramp diverter to reach the claw. Lighting all 3 MTLs also increments bonus multiplier.
2) Complete the jet bumper goal to light cryoclaw.

Advance to multiball as follows:
1) Hit the required number of lit standup targets to light quick freeze at right inlane. Roll over right inlane to light quick freeze at left ramp. Hit left ramp to freeze ball. Freeze required number of balls to light multiball. Start multiball by shooting left orbit to top popper shot.
2) random computer award of maximize freezes

All 7 timed modes work as follow:
non claw mode - Explode: a 2 ball multiball which is started from eyeball shot. Mode is timed so doesn’t end with a single ball drain and will end even if you hold the 2 balls past the timeout. Mode lights explode inserts. Explosion sound effects. Display effect is building exploding with words on top.

non claw mode - Car Chase: similar to original mode. single ball timed mode started at car crash. Lights car chase inserts. Car race / skid sound effects along with Spartan voice calls. Display effect is various car chase scenes.

Claw mode – Acmag: similar to original mode. single ball timed mode started at claw. Score at center ramp shot an unlimited amount of times. Display effect is words with twinkling stars effect.

Claw mode – Standup Frenzy: this mode replaces the old freeze mode. single ball timed mode started at claw. Scores by hitting standup targets. Targets extinguish when hit and hitting all 5 will relight them. Similar to greed mode in TZ. Boing sound effects. Display effect is hand drawn spinning disks that explode when each standup is hit.

Claw mode – Capture Simon: similar to original mode. single ball timed mode started at claw. Shoot three lit arrows to capture Simon. sound effects is simon laughing then footsteps running away. Display effect is hand drawn picture of hand cuffs then footsteps.

Claw mode – Prison Breakout: this mode is different than the original. single ball timed mode started at claw. Like a fast scoring mode, hit any of the typical low value targets such as spinners, standups, or rebounds for big points. Display effect is various very short scenes from movie.

Claw mode – superjets: a 2 ball multiball- timed mode started at claw. Mode is timed so doesn’t end with a single ball drain and will end even if you hold the 2 balls past the timeout. Mode ends at either timeout or hitting required number of jets. Shoot jet bumpers for points, extra points if you complete mode by hitting certain amount of jets. Orchestra sound effect. Display effect is hand drawn jet ski that bounces higher when jet is hit.

Multiballs:
All 4 multiballs, fortress, museum, wasteland, and cryoprison work similar to original in that you must freeze an increasing amount of balls to reach each one: 2 for fortress, 3 for museum, etc.. If you freeze more than the required number of balls then you will get that many balls in the multiball. For each multiball, jackpot lights are randomly lit and in differing ways and amounts. all 4 MBs have different display effects and sound effects. For all of them, shooting 5 jackpots lights superjackpot at the right ramp.

Fortress Multiball: 2 ball (minimum) MB. starts with all jackpots lit, each time a jackpot is hit, less of them are relit randomly, after 4 jackpots only 1 will be lit.

Museum Multiball: 3 ball (minimum) MB. starts with 2 jackpots lit, each time a jackpot is hit relight randomly 2 jackpots.

Wasteland Multiball: 4 ball (minimum) MB. starts with all jackpots lit, each time a jackpot is hit relight randomly 3 jackpots.

Cryoprison Multiball: 5 ball MB. starts with all jackpots lit, each time a jackpot is hit relight randomly 3 jackpots.

Combos: – every 10 combos (starting at 10) lights the computer award. every 10 combos (starting at 5) enables video mode.

Computer award: collected at the underground shot and a random award is chosen. Display effect is hand drawn random squares followed by the specific effect for the award given.
CA – collect bonus: shows bonus.
CA – triple car crash: flashes car crash lights and makes zapp sound – done.
CA – collect standups: counts up score bonus of 500k per standup, flashes screen and makes zapp sound – done.
CA – light arrows: lights all arrows, flashes them and zapp sound – done.
CA – light extra ball: lights extra ball light – done.
CA – maximize freezes: flashes all freeze lights, zapp sound – done.
CA – double retina scan: flashes eyeball and retina scan lights and zapp sound – done.

Wizard modes:
Huxley – start at least 4 non-claw modes then make a huxley shot (backwards up left inlane to eject saucer) to start huxley mode. A single ball timed mode in which almost everything on the playfield is a 1 million point shot. Mode currently lasts 90 seconds.

Demolition Time – start 5 claw modes (can be any 5 and repeats are allowed) then started at underground shot. A 5 ball multiball where all jackpot shots are lit. no superjackpots though.

Back in the Fridge (BITF) – start 4 MBs to enable, then start the mode at the top popper shot. A 5 ball timed mode where all jackpot shots are lit and balls are continually fed for xx seconds (currently 60). After time out, flippers die and all balls drain, results are displayed, then normal ball play is restarted. Similar to LITZ on TZ?

Skill Sot:
There are 3 different skill shots.
1) shoot underground with upper left flipper off hard plunge – least points
2) shoot side ramp with upper left flipper off hard plunge – moderate points
3) shoot left ramp with lower right flipper off soft plunge – most points

Video Modes:
There is currently only 1 video mode written. Video mode is enabled by shooting the required number of combos; 5, 15, 25, etc. Once video mode enabled it can be obtained at the retina scan saucer, top popper or underground shot.

Kaboom! Video mode: collected at the top popper shot. Bombs are dropped from the top and must be caught by the player using a bucket. If all are caught then the player advances to the next level the next time this video mode is collected. Each level is faster and throws more bombs. After 5th level speed is fastest but distance between dropped bombs increases.

Video mode #2: not written yet, collected at retina scan saucer

Video mode #3: not written yet, collected at underground

as to fonts - pretty much any true type font can be converted and put on the DMD but many don't look right at the 8 or 9 pixel display of a DMD. Currently there are about 8 or so fonts that default into freewpc and there is enough rom space to add another 5 or so fonts. Most of the default fonts are very plain block characters. The extra fonts I have chosen are not plain and look good on the dmd and are distributed across all the different modes. If I had my way, every mode would have its own font but there is definitely not enough space for that. If anyone can find a font that is similar to the original game and send it to me that would be much appreciated.

TOO LATE - there are 3 video modes and I think you are in the minority as far as wanting them. In my code you can disable any or all of the video modes in the features menu so no problem for you.

right now it is in beta and I have a mailing list of beta testers - if you want to be one and have a burner let me know and I will add you to list and email you the code. Once all the beta testers are happy code will be released for free to public

the majority of my code is complete - lately have been going through and cleaning up some things that were not necessarily perfect in the freewpc engine - such as the way ball search and tilt were handled. Feel like I am 98% done but the last 2% has been taking longer than expected.

Hi,
game is pretty much done. I have been perfecting the shaker mode calls lately. But mostly minor, minor tweaks. The code will be free. If you have an eprom burner and a chip I can send you the code in email.

Hi all,
I am working through some stuff that I never paid much attention to in the code. Tilt for example - since I pretty much never tilt I ignored it for the most part but that needs to work obviously. Cleaning up search also. All the rest of the code is done.

I was working a ton of extra hours at work and am just finishing up a project tomorrow so I will be on this until completion for a few. Not much left really, but I will not commit to a time line - this is free work remember.

Concerning the shaker, I had played with the idea of building them to make a little bit of coin but I contacted PPS and they said they will be selling them once MMR comes out and they will be compatible so I dropped the idea - you can buy from them which is only right - they are good people. They told me to expect them to cost around 100$. By the way, I will be adding shaker support to NGG also and all the other games I recode.

I am looking into other mechanisms to add to games and am considering making some kind of boss gopher/ringmaster contraption for NGG - can't guarantee that will happen though. We'll see.

Thanks for all the support and good words. I go to the allentown show every year and live in New Jersey if anyone wants to connect and invite me over to play their games.
Jim