Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Arcade Lifestyle => Topic started by: DarthNuno on October 31, 2010, 08:08:08 AM

Title: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on October 31, 2010, 08:08:08 AM
Following this road trip...  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/news/Berzerk_roadtrip.jpg) (https://www.dragonslairfans.com/smfor/index.php?topic=2077.0)

...let's see what we can do with this cab'  8)

Ops...still in the car  ;D  And no one around to help me for unloading the cab?  :oops: . .. no problem... see my 'Klingon' technique to do it alone  :P  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_unload_1.jpg)

Sometime I take too much risk... this cabinet is really heavy... if anything go wrong, I can't face it alone... fingers crossed  :P

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_unload_2.jpg)

a little bit scary at this point... beware the the trailer hitch...

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_unload_3.jpg)

OK, safe... (one more time  8)) :

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_unload_4.jpg)

Why call this topic "We Are Human After All" ??? Because of this  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_unload_5.jpg)

It's funny! We try to reproduce the best as possible the condition of the cabinet like it was back in the 80's... trying to set side arts at the perfect location... but I'm not sure things were perfect back in the days... Remember, we talk about 'arcade cabinets', not an a luxury item supposed to be perfect. Most operations during the manufacture were handmade...  and probably the operation for painting this Berzerk logo on that side   ;D
I'm somehow happy to have that little mistake done at the factory, and I'll of course keep it like that.
An interesting thing about this : There's no offset error on the robots graphic, only one the logo. It proves that the 2 robots and the Berzerk logo were not on the same stencil used to paint the side  ::)
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Superully on October 31, 2010, 08:20:27 AM
good luck with the resto, bruno, although i'm pretty sure you are already done with this by now ;)
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: level42 on October 31, 2010, 08:34:35 AM
Yep, that's why I jokingly said to Ully that he should have misplaced his stencils a bit when he did his logo resto ;)

Well, I don't mind either way. Yes I do like that often seen defect on Berzerks, but the mistake differs per unit. Mine are pretty well lined out f.i.

By the way, did you order a new CP from Chris Bruno, I forgot if you did or not. It's totally brilliant !
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: ckong on October 31, 2010, 08:42:20 AM
That is indeed an example of how factories sometimes accept the quality of their work. Perhaps an apprentice worked on your cab. I like it, it is original by all means, it shows that it was done by hand because the factory was probably not robotized back then and it ads a nice little story to the cab.
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: level42 on October 31, 2010, 08:50:56 AM
Mmm, dug up some old pictures, regretfully I never made a pic of all the cabs "in line"....but here are two.

(http://gallery.me.com/andre.huijts/100635/DSCF4118/web.jpg?ver=12570209490001)

The "defect" seems less (the left-right alignment seems almost perfect on the left cab, a bit less on the right one) but is still there, look how the red and blue touch at the left side but not on the right.

What annoys me more is the "missing horn" defect. THAT is really a design mistake... ;D


My guess is that they used a metal mask for the robot art witch they used on both sides (the sides were probably produced in one run, so a lot of left sides first, and then a lot of right sides, at least that's what I saw on old Atari production line pics). Of course that's not possible to so with the logo...
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on November 07, 2010, 06:41:41 PM
Where to put that game now ??? Nuno's lair v1 and v2 are already full  :oops: No other choice than the house, but first ... a good cleaning... and a *quick* examination of the cabinet...

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_1.jpg)

...which will be fast...no board! Let's see in deep what's left here

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_2.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_3.jpg)

The front is not too bad...

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_4.jpg)

Fortunately, this won't be to difficult to fix  8) :

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_5.jpg)

The control panel suffered  :-X

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_6.jpg)

OK, before entering the house, I really have to remove the ton of dusts! A job for my air compressor  8)  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_7.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_8.jpg)

The first 'layer' of dust is gone... it's enough for -at least- entering the house  :roll: See my Jedi technique for doing it alone  ;D  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_9.jpg)

On location...  :oops:  ;D

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_10.jpg)

 ::)

Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on November 08, 2010, 12:30:07 PM
Looking at this picture...

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_exa_4.jpg)

this sight gave me the idea for another practice round in AI  ;)

click on the image to download the AI file..

(http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/stern.jpg) (http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/stern.zip)

If you got the dimentions for me, i can adjust that in my file..
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on November 14, 2010, 08:08:39 PM
Thanks Etienne, but I'm waiting this from Level42  ;)  :arrow:

(http://gallery.me.com/andre.huijts/100822/DSCF6058/web.jpg)

By the way, I presume the 'white color background' on these stickers are ... transparent?  ::)
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on April 16, 2011, 07:07:54 PM
Back on this one too  8)

Ok, let's check its identity...2515 ... see, it's engraved everywhere  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_2.jpg)

Here too...'5' is missing ... the were a little bit inattentive at the Stern factory  ;) :P

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_3.jpg)

The control panel is too damaged for me!  The paint is gone, and additional holes!  :ghost:  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_1.jpg)

...fortunately, a run of control panels repro has been done, and ... I was in  8)

Because that game has to be restored in that room, I quickly have to clean in as best as I can (WAF to be honest  :P ). At this level of dust, nothing can beat water + strong soap  8)  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_4.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_5.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_6.jpg)

It looks far better now  :pac:  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_7.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_8.jpg)

Now Let's clean the orginal bezel...

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_9.jpg)

Great! Instructions are in French and no other alien language such German or Dutch for instance  ;D ;)  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_10.jpg)

It shines now  :D  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_11.jpg)

Ok, without the Sun reflect  8)  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_cl_12.jpg)

 8)
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on April 16, 2011, 07:45:14 PM
Looking Great !
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on May 11, 2011, 10:48:58 PM
Because I got that Berzerk cab' almost empty (no board at all) and also because it's is an extremely complex board to make work properly (as some of you here know it) I'll get the 'accurate emulation' way for that one.

Let's fine tune the setup of the game on advance mame DOS, on that very old computer. You'll notice my 'trusty' Commodore monitor, working as a perfect arcade monitor (60hz/RGB)  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_setup_1.jpg)

After checking the setup is perfectly arcade accurate, let's go to my attic and let's pickup a TV to use for that game   8)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_setup_2.jpg)

Of course, I'm using SCART connector for the authentic RGB display  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_setup_3.jpg)

Man, it glows like hell  :-*  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_setup_4.jpg)

Next (easy) step... to put all that stuff into the cab'  8)
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Superully on May 12, 2011, 07:10:22 AM
After checking the setup is perfectly arcade accurate ...

hey bruno, out of curiosity, how can you know it's perfectly arcade accurate if you don't have the original stuff to compare it to? it would be really interesting to compare this to the original setup to see if there are differences! i'm planning a similar route for zookeeper (because the boards are close to impossible to find) - that's why i'm asking!
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on May 12, 2011, 07:32:40 AM
No problem my friend, in short : considering a game perfectly emulated by mame, considering an output resolution equal to the orginal (1 pixel rendering bythe board, and on this case by mame = 1 pixel on screen), same refresh rate (the most important to assure you the same gameplay overall speed), same screen ratio... and you already sure to be very close to accurate.
In addition if you know the game, you can easily judge by ourself how good it looks & plays  8)
Sure they are some other details to check to 'fine tune' the thing, but at this point your're already good, and ready to enjoy the game  :-*
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: level42 on May 12, 2011, 10:50:40 AM
What will really be different on Berzerk is the voice. No way that emulation will sound like the real thing.

It is playable though, for sure!

Just for the record: Mark Spaeth currently has his ZZPU board available (which is a replacement board for the main PCB, which is MUCH more reliable AND makes it also possible to play Frenzy !).

You'd need to find all the other boards though, but that's not impossible to do...


Please note that this is NOT meant to be another MAME war.....merely pointing out the fact that stuff is available.

Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on May 12, 2011, 11:52:31 AM
I also have the voices.
The tone of the voices may be different of the original because of the emulation (samples in that case)?
Well, I can tell you they are scary as desired, and it perfectly feeds my purpose on this cab'  ;) Hell Yeah  ;D

Just for the record: Mark Spaeth currently has his ZZPU board available (which is a replacement board for the main PCB, which is MUCH more reliable AND makes it also possible to play Frenzy !).

Good to know, thanks for the info  ;)

Please note that this is NOT meant to be another MAME war.....merely pointing out the fact that stuff is available.

No problem André, there is an other topic for those who want 'to fight' on that  ;)
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on May 12, 2011, 12:31:59 PM
can you listen closely and compare them Andre ? (or Ully, or Muerto, or anybody else with original hardware  ;) )

they sound very "real" to me though..

these are all the samples, but the longer are 30 and up

http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/01.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/02.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/03.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/04.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/05.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/06.wav

http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/08.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/09.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/10.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/11.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/12.wav

http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/15.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/16.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/17.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/18.wav

http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/20.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/21.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/22.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/23.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/24.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/25.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/26.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/27.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/28.wav

http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/30.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/31.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/32.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/33.wav
http://www.opdenkelder.com/pics/stern/berzerksamples/34.wav
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Superully on May 12, 2011, 01:04:58 PM
sounds totally fine to me!
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on May 22, 2011, 08:11:50 AM
Let's clean that stuff...

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_control_1.jpg)

Got last year the *amazing* control panel repro by Chris Moore  :-*  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_control_2.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_control_3.jpg)

Because of the failure of the optical part but also broken/bend parts regarding the BAT joystick  :evil:, I'll use that 8 ways 'wico style' as a replacement, which is after all not an 'historical mistake' : Stern itself provided that kind of stick as 'official' replacement (due to the purchasers' bad experiences with the BAT joystick)  8)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_control_5.jpg)

But I would like to use the original BAT joystick in the future. I read that there is a BAT joystick reproduction on the way? Maybe from Chris Moore? That reproduction would use the best of both world : the original look of the 'initial' BAT joystick, but no more optical device. Any update on this by the way? I really this will happen!

Anyway, let's have some fun...

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_control_4.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_control_6.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_control_7.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/berzerk_control_8.jpg)

Ouch! I'll have to practice now... I need to beat some high score here   ;D

Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on May 22, 2011, 08:26:32 AM
Looking great Bruno !
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Belike on May 22, 2011, 09:02:09 AM
That cpo looks awesome. ;D
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Superully on May 22, 2011, 09:22:07 AM
those repro panels really are amazing! congratulations bruno, now all you need to do is get a BAT stick, because it really makes a difference gameplay-wise. much more fun with that big thing in your hands.

andré, bring out the picture, please! ;D
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on May 22, 2011, 11:13:05 AM
much more fun with that big thing in your hands.

I think you need to rephrase that Ully  ;)

Click on your own risc  :oops:  ;D
 
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkir4yHayT1qg9fuu.jpg (http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkir4yHayT1qg9fuu.jpg)
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Superully on May 22, 2011, 11:32:50 AM
I think you need to rephrase that Ully  ;)

i don't think so ;) all andré needs to do is post that picture - it has always been his job to post it! :P
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on May 22, 2011, 11:52:25 AM
Yeah, i think i know which pic you mean  :D
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: level42 on May 22, 2011, 02:17:52 PM
Naaahhh, we all know that pic by now....

Haven't seen updates here lately:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=118406

About the samples Etienne posted: I don't need to listen to them (I know them from MAME) but I still did listen to a couple of course, I'm sure they are nicely recorded samples from the original. However, playing these back on PC hardware will _not_ sound like the original sound that comes straight from the speech chip.
It's like listening to a musical instrument directly and listening to a recording of it. In fact, I think that MAME should try to emulate the speech chip (tough one !) and produce the sounds in that way. That would already be a step up, but it's a lot of work for a minor improvement.

It's details, I know, but there is a difference. F.I. all Berzerk owners with original hardware know of the popping sound before each voice reproduction. It's like a "start up" sound of the speech board. Is it annoying ? maybe. Is it a design fault ? maybe. But it adds to the "package".

Will it hinder Bruno's fun on his Berzerk playing ? No way ! We have a different approach that has been talked about enough in the past and I'm not digging it up again ;)

Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: level42 on May 22, 2011, 02:51:28 PM
WAAAHAHAHAHA, while listening to the Berzerk wav samples my son said, hey where is that coming from, those are the sounds of that game in your gameroom.....then I explained and he did his rendition of "Intruder alert".....I thought it was so funny that I recorded it:

https://files.me.com/andre.huijts/7hsxw1.mp3
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Belike on May 22, 2011, 03:48:03 PM
WAAAHAHAHAHA, while listening to the Berzerk wav samples my son said, hey where is that coming from, those are the sounds of that game in your gameroom.....then I explained and he did his rendition of "Intruder alert".....I thought it was so funny that I recorded it:

https://files.me.com/andre.huijts/7hsxw1.mp3
Lol, a real "arcade" kid. ;D
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on May 22, 2011, 07:30:48 PM
hehehe  he sounds quit "dark"  ;D
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Superully on May 22, 2011, 07:39:25 PM
nice recording, andré, perhaps bruno should use your version in his mame setup ;D
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: level42 on May 22, 2011, 08:59:26 PM
Nice quality sound ey....used my condenser mic:

http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/C-1U.aspx

Love his "Engrish" :P

His Darth Vader is even better.. ;D
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on September 24, 2011, 08:11:23 PM
Not totally finished, but enough to be ...'on location'  :-*

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/Stern_Berzerk_1.jpg)

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/berzerk/Stern_Berzerk_2.jpg)

Sorry, no wide view pictures yet, some 'hidden' games around...  ::) ;)
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Belike on September 24, 2011, 09:24:53 PM
Flynn Lives! ;D
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: level42 on September 25, 2011, 08:03:56 PM
Looks Great !!! Love Berzerk in every way...much more than I thought I would...congrats Bruno.
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Superully on September 25, 2011, 08:09:51 PM
you need a new stick, bruno :P
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: level42 on September 25, 2011, 08:26:19 PM
Not really. Stern started installing those after some time, and i bet it plays better than the optic batstick...
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: Superully on September 25, 2011, 08:28:15 PM
Not really. Stern started installing those after some time, and i bet it plays better than the optic batstick...

uh, didn't know that. however, the red stick doesn't look as nasty (if you know what i mean) 8)
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: DarthNuno on September 25, 2011, 08:51:44 PM
you need a new stick, bruno :P

Nope, this one is perfect  8)

Love Berzerk in every way...much more than I thought I would...congrats Bruno.

Yeps, same for me! So simple, so pure and ...so addictive (but isn't it the case for most of our 'classic' games after all?)  ;)

Flynn Lives! ;D

Berzerk lives! Otto must die!!  ;D
Title: Re: :: Berzerk "We Are Human After All" - Reboot the robots in 2010 ::
Post by: gyruss on September 25, 2011, 10:12:03 PM
I didn't think much of the game at first but after playing level42 machines a couple of times i'm a fan too.
Must be the combination of the voice, joystick, and simplistic but addictive gameplay. i Don't really like the art of the cab but the cpo on the other hand is stunning imo. Oh, i always forgot, love the monstrous boardset too. Guess i need one now. ;)