Quoted from Oneangrymo:As a Star Wars expert and collector I’ll be waiting for that day u are bored with it
he knows what he has
(Topic ID: 372613)
Linked Games
Star Wars
Data East, 1992
New York, NY
Quoted from KnightDiver:I just worked on a couple of DESW recently and one thing that can cause only the DMD to not work (but otherwise the machine seems to work) is the high voltage on the Data East power supply. If it loses the +68 volts, then only the DMD stops working. And that is a common failure.
Cool find, for sure! Good luck getting it working and I'll be waiting for the EPROM contents, too.
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Thanks for the tip.
It could also just be that the 31 year old DMD gave up the ghost. But I'll keep that in mind if it doesn't fix the issue.
I am the furthest thing from a DE expert and just learned last week that a bad flipper could diode can cause a DE flipper to stay energized (this nice GNR I'm working on)
IMG_8391 (resized).jpegQuoted from CrazyLevi:Thanks for the tip.
It could also just be that the 31 year old DMD gave up the ghost. But I'll keep that in mind if it doesn't fix the issue.
I am the furthest thing from a DE expert and just learned last week that a bad flipper could diode can cause a DE flipper to stay energized (this nice GNR I'm working on)
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Look at the DE GNR thread - I just had the same issue
Quoted from wisefwumyogwave:he knows what he has
I mean I do...literally!
It's James Earl Jones' custom DE Star Wars! As documented by the folks he gave it to. Dare say it might be one of a kind! (who knows his son might have one too? What does it take to get Darth Vader to do the voice callouts on your pinball machine?)
The sellers are really nice people and true NYC showbiz characters (who else would light up when I told them I saw John Glover at Joe Allen's the previous evening?), as well as neighbors (we live 10 blocks apart). I've promised them when it's cleaned up and working I'll have them over to play it. They used to rep a lot of movie and tv stars back in the day, but in the 90s shifted over to mostly writers and literary types.
1 week later
Odin reached out personally and asked for an update; here it is!
Set it up and working on the DMD issue, which as far as I can tell isn't the power board or the DMD itself (both swapped). Next move is to swap the DMD driver and see if that fixes it.
DMD turns on for about 2-3 seconds then goes garbled and then goes blank. Game boots and "plays blind" but pretty much every mech is seized/"gummy." I'm guessing this thing didn't get played for a couple decades. (for instance, slings will "fire," but will very very slowly retract)
Not sure if ever mentioned it but I really Hate working on DE games.
Some more cool chips - James sound ROMs 12-2-92
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That’s interesting 1.05 not sure if I’ve ever seen that revision. IPMD shows only to 1.04 and 
ChadH did a 1.07 custom update. You ever see 1.05 Chad?
https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?gid=2358
CrazyLevi if you’re feeling adventurous you could test this game with your DE GNR dmd. That would rule in/out the actual DMD as the issue 
Quoted from thechakapakuni2:That’s interesting 1.05 not sure if I’ve ever seen that revision. IPMD shows only to 1.04 and ChadH did a 1.07 custom update. You ever see 1.05 Chad?
https://www.ipdb.org/machine.cgi?gid=2358
CrazyLevi if you’re feeling adventurous you could test this game with your DE GNR dmd. That would rule in/out the actual DMD as the issue
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I've already swapped in a known working DMD so that's not the issue, as well as a known working power board.
However I haven't swapped dmd driver boards yet, that's next (I understand I'll have to swap roms and install a jumper on the GNR board for it to work). Also double checking the grounding to the speaker panel as others have said this can cause the issue. The ground strap is in fact broken from the cabinet to the speaker/DMD panel, but I jumped it with an alligator clip.
Only dmd issues I’ve seen on DE are either the DMD or the ribbon cables - if you’ve replaced/tested both I’m stumped.
Quoted from thechakapakuni2:Only dmd issues I’ve seen on DE are either the DMD or the ribbon cables - if you’ve replaced/tested both I’m stumped.
Have not swapped ribbon cables, I will also put that on the list.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:Have not swapped ribbon cables, I will also put that on the list.
Definitely - even if they look good I’ve seen them end up bad
Quoted from thechakapakuni2:Definitely - even if they look good I’ve seen them end up bad
Starting it up cold I got here before it went blank. Gonna start playing around with cables and such now.
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IMG_8793 (resized).jpegQuoted from thechakapakuni2:Definitely - even if they look good I’ve seen them end up bad
Ok - things it is definitely not: the ground strap (fixed) or the following swapped: DMD, ribbon cables, power board. Going to try the DMD driver board next.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:Ok - things it is definitely not: the ground strap (fixed) or the following swapped: DMD, ribbon cables, power board. Going to try the DMD driver board next.
That's my guess. Those boards fail when you sneeze in the same room. The power connector pins on them are always f'd as well.
Quoted from snyper2099:That's my guess. Those boards fail when you sneeze in the same room. The power connector pins on them are always f'd as well.
I also rebuilt the +5 connector. Board is reading 4.95-98 volts so it seems to be getting power fine.
At this point it's swap driver board time.
Pretty sure I mentioned I hate working on DEs but then I don't really get them. It'll get easier I'm sure!
Quoted from ForceFlow:Well, if you find you don't feel like playing around with it anymore, you know what to do
He does and he has my address 
Quoted from CrazyLevi:I also rebuilt the +5 connector. Board is reading 4.95-98 volts so it seems to be getting power fine.
At this point it's swap driver board time.
Pretty sure I mentioned I hate working on DEs but then I don't really get them. It'll get easier I'm sure!
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This is a warmup to GNR if that makes you feel any better? 
Quoted from CrazyLevi:Swapped the DMD driver and we are back in business!
And I learned some shit about DE display issues so that's good.
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LFG! 
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Quoted from CrazyLevi:I can't tell you how nice it is working on this thing.
Clean as a whistle. When I take something apart my fingers aren't black.
This is a 33-year old coil sleeve! I'm not gonna bother replacing it.
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That blue VUK plastic is usually destroyed - you came up diamonds here 
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So I got it 100 percent I believe, gonna play a few games and see what happens.
Appears to have day 1 Mylar, which I didn't originally notice since it's in such nice shape.
Cleaned it up, got all the switches and mechs in order.
Replaced the flipper rubbers, the rest will have to wait not up for it now.
Have some hole protectors to install as well
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IMG_8810 (resized).jpegQuoted from Dan1733:Send me a message if you decide to sell it.
Quoted from Oneangrymo:If ever for sale please let me know
Quoted from ForceFlow:Well, if you find you don't feel like playing around with it anymore, you know what to do
Quoted from thechakapakuni2:He does and he has my address
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Ok so as far as I have so far heard, the custom callouts are-
"Flynn, my son" right when you start the game
And "Darth Vader's not my father!" After a failed match sequence and some Outlane drains in an adorable prepubescent voice (I'm assuming that's his son's voice).
That's it so far. Haven't played it much or gotten a high score or replay.
Wasnt expecting too much and so far thats what I've gotten!!
Still it's cool as shit!
Quoted from CrazyLevi:Ok so as far as I have so far heard, the custom callouts are-
"Flynn, my son" right when you start the game
And "you are in my house!" After a failed match sequence, in an adorable prepubescent voice (I'm assuming that's his son's voice).
That's it so far. Haven't played it much or gotten a high score or replay.
Wasnt expecting too much and so far thats what I've gotten!!
Still it's cool as shit!
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Videos pretty please with sugar on top?
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Quoted from CrazyLevi:Here's clip two, Flynn saying "darth Vader's not my father!"
Awesome! One of a kind - thanks for posting
Here’s an article about Flynn in case you wanted to know who the voice is
https://people.com/parents/all-about-james-earl-jones-son-flynn-earl-jones/
IMG_8600 (resized).jpegVery cool find! That said...
Now that the pin market has crashed, this game is worth $500. If, however, you try to sell this game for anything less than $15,000, I'm going to call you out for diluting pin prices on DE SW games with the custom James Earl Jones ROM.
1 week later
Here's a collection of all four custom callouts I've found in the game.
If you can figure out what Flynn is saying on the second one I owe you a cookie. "That's true?"
These are triggered by the right outlane switch
JEJ:
"Flynn, my son"
"I have you now, Flynn" (this one rules)
Flynn:
"Darth Vader's not my father."
"That's True?"
Quoted from CrazyLevi:Here's a collection of all four custom callouts I've found in the game.
If you can figure out what Flynn is saying on the second one I owe you a cookie. "That's true?"
These are triggered by the right outlane switch
JEJ:
"Flynn, my son"
"I have you now, Flynn" (this one rules)
Flynn:
"Darth Vader's not my father."
"That's True?"
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Why not go into the service menu and just go through available sounds?
Quoted from gdonovan:Why not go into the service menu and just go through available sounds?
I went through diagnostics and did not see this option. Perhaps I missed it? Not sure this is available on DE games?
Quoted from acedanger:Congrats!! Great find. Looks absolutely beautiful it’s actually a super fun game!! Unfortunately it would be difficult to prove ownership without letter or photo. lol 10k by Christmas
A couple people have said this to me.
To me, this thing is dripping with provenance!
I have: a receipt from his agents. A simple Google search shows that they were indeed his literary agents in the 90s, after working for and buying the agency previously operated by agent Lucy kroll.
I have an email from Joe Kamikow, who confirmed that data east recorded the custom voice calls with James for his personal machine.
And, of course, the game contains the chips with handwritten labels.
And, it's clearly a home use only
Game.
That's a hell of a lot more than i got with Dio's couch, which was basically Julian's auction house's word that it was as once in Dio's home studio. I asked if it came with COA or anything and they said no, the fact that it was listed in the auction was the sole provenance.
And not that it means anything, but I have this lovely reminiscence from his former agents about "Jimmy," as I asked what Mr jones was like.
In the end, everybody can make their own call. But I'm certainly fuckin convinced! As far as I can tell the story checked out and this is a one of a kind machine. Hey, in 1993 it's not like everybody was taking photos of everything all the time. Believe me, I searched high and low for a picture of dio sitting on my couch and came up empty!
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Quoted from CrazyLevi:I went through diagnostics and did not see this option. Perhaps I missed it? Not sure this is available on DE games?
Diagnostics, Sound tests. You should be able to cycle through at least 2 of the voice roms and 3 of the music tracks.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:A couple people have said this to me.
To me, this thing is dripping with provenance!
I have: a receipt from his agents. A simple Google search shows that they were indeed his literary agents in the 90s, after working for and buying the agency previously operated by agent Lucy kroll.
I have an email from Joe Kamikow, who confirmed that data east recorded the custom voice calls with James for his personal machine.
And, of course, the game contains the chips with handwritten labels.
And, it's clearly a home use only
Game.
That's a hell of a lot more than i got with Dio's couch, which was basically Julian's auction house's word that it was as once in Dio's home studio. I asked if it came with COA or anything and they said no, the fact that it was listed in the auction was the sole provenance.
And not that it means anything, but I have this lovely reminiscence from his former agents about "Jimmy," as I asked what Mr jones was like.
In the end, everybody can make their own call. But I'm certainly fuckin convinced! As far as I can tell the story checked out and this is a one of a kind machine. Hey, in 1993 it's not like everybody was taking photos of everything all the time. Believe me, I searched high and low for a picture of dio sitting on my couch and came up empty!
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relax. I just meant sometimes the appraisal process can be challenging without supporting documentation. It is what it is man. It’s a simple forgery precaution
or anyone could forge a simple receipt for anything and make a claim it belonged to so and so I totally believe it’s JEJ. But just sayin 
Once again congrats it’s pretty cool. But honestly the game is cool regardless.
Quoted from CrazyLevi:DMD wasn't working at all when I tested it out before moving it.
Once I get it set up and working I'll have more info.
never owned a data east or sega that didn't need a power supply swap.
Kitchener, ON
Certificate of authenticity? These things make me laugh. Like if someone is going to make a knockoff, then forging a certificate is the easiest part.
You should try and get John Borg to chime in on this to see if he remembers anything on how this game was created. Regardless of a certificate, I’ve NEVER seen a DESW game with these sounds on stock roms. Maybe ChadH knows how to get to the sounds? He wrote the new 1.07 code and is fully familiar with the how the roms are comprised.
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