MAME ROW #75 - Bubble Bobble

[obsidianspider]

This is the MAME Random Of the Week #75

The three random numbers for this week are: 2126 219 1085

Click here to vote! Which game do you choose for MAME ROW #75?

The result of the poll is posted on Wednesday, so we have Monday and Tuesday for experimentation.

2126
Game Name: Wiz
Company: Seibu Kaihatsu Inc.
Year: 1985
ROM file name: wiz.zip

219
Game Name: Bubble Bobble
Company: Taito Corporation
Year: 1986
ROM file name: bublbobl.zip

1085
Game Name: Major League
Company: Sega
Year: 1985
ROM file name: mjleague.zip

What is the MAME ROW?

MAME ROW stands for MAME Random Of the Week. We randomly select an arcade game from the 0.78 MAME Reference Set to play on the week. The idea is to play games we've never played before, interact with other forum members, post hi-scores, share game strategies, fun facts, and (the most important) HAVE FUN!

Notes:

1. We usually post hi-scores screenshots after playing with only one credit. If you used more than one credit, please mention it on your post.

2. There's no need to use RetroPie to join the MAME ROW! You can play it on any platform you want.

3. Feel free to post your hi-score (or any content about the game) anytime you want on the previous rounds topics (link below).

Every Monday we create a topic at the "General Discussion and Gaming > MAME Random Of the Week" forum section with the 3 random games to be voted. And on Wednesday we check the result.

These "rules" are constantly being improved!

Previous Rounds

[AndersHP]

Obviously, I had to vote for Bubble Bobble.
I'm no expert and will probably not top any hiscores, but it'd be great to battle this game against you guys.

[cyperghost]

@andershp I really have no clue why you vote for Bubble Booble ;)
Next time I hope for a grey naked (censored) Alien game!

But I think Bubble Bobble is the winner in this week, vote for it, too

Maybe @GtBFilms can tell us a story behind?

[mediamogul]

The most interesting stories regarding 'Bubble Bobble' really start to begin with it's confusing series sequels. However, the original is arguably the best and most notable for being one of the very first games to feature multiple endings. Great game!

[GtBFilms]

@mediamogul I thought this was quite interesting (from Wikipedia):

The arcade version of Bubble Bobble was widely bootlegged in its day, but due to a security chip installed by Taito (known as the PS4, based on a Motorola 6800) none of the bootlegs played exactly like the original. Through a technique called "decapping", the MAMEDEV team has been able to reverse engineer the workings of the chip and emulate it perfectly.

I'd never heard of 'decapping' but apparently it involves slicing the top of the CPU off and visually inspecting the circuits of the chip using a microscope to see how it works. That's hacking dedication for you!

[meleu]

If Bubble Bobble wins maybe @lilbud will join this round.

[lilbud]

@meleu Wrong type of bobble.

TBH, never really cared for Bubble Bobble. Always liked the puzzle version more.

[obsidianspider]

@meleu @lilbud is working on Phoenix Bobble

[lilbud]

@obsidianspider

That sounds like a disgusting hodgepodge of awful things

[mediamogul]

@gtbfilms said in MAME ROW #75:

I thought this was quite interesting... apparently it involves slicing the top of the CPU off and visually inspecting the circuits of the chip using a microscope

That blows my mind. It almost sounds like something that shouldn't even work. I've been reading some of the different MAMEDEV postings around the net about their general dislike of people using older versions of MAME, like those found in RetroArch. Playing devil's advocate, I can somewhat understand their perspective when they've gone through such great lengths to improve the software over time like they've done here. Very interesting.

[cosmo0]

Is it just me or is the character of Wiz the dark mage from Final Fantasy?

[thelostsoul]

@cosmo0 I thought the same. It is the same company behind Raiden and I suppose it's just a sprite which just by accident look similar to Final Fantasy Wizard. I suppose all wizards of that time looked the same. ;-)

• https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10457

[obsidianspider]

This week's winner is Bubble Bobble

[thelostsoul]

I did want vote too, but couldn't find a vote button. Is it possibl to do this through mobile site (actual Firefox on Android)? Or was it already closed when I searched for it (10 minutes ago)?

[obsidianspider]

@thelostsoul I never remove the ENORMOUS link to vote from the original post.

I just take a screenshot and post it in the thread. At the time the results are posted, the voting is effectively closed.

[Fruitybit]

Cor- that’s a lot of votes:) Really enjoying this game, it’s surprisingly tactical for such a simple premise, going to need a bit more practice methinks!

[thelostsoul]

@obsidianspider omg sorry, I was so blind. I did just fast scan for something integrated, didn't know its an external site/link and so I just didn't read link texts. I saw it as a header and because its long link text, my brain didn't saw it. My mistake, never mind.

[thelostsoul]

@thelostsoul I do reply to myself. ;-)
Based on this, how about to shorten the link text and starting it with the word VOTE? Maybe others are blind too! And no need to say "click" which is a link already. Its just a small detail, but sometimes small can have a big impact.

Something like to just "Vote here for MAME ROW #75" would be perfectly enough and more clear in my opinion.

[GtBFilms]

I'm not entirely sure I understand what I'm doing with this one, but my best score so far is:

124760

[obsidianspider]

@thelostsoul Sorry, I'm a fan of reading. I'll keep the vote link text as it is. ;)