Sega Saturn Kiosk Reset Circuit Board

There we go.

 

Yes, but you CAN'T disable the software reset in your game apart from memory operations, or Sega won't clear the game.

As you stated, the console is sitting there looking for that button sequence, and all the board does is act as a pass-through and activate that sequence every x minutes. Running it on the pad tester would show whether the circuit is working, yes.

SFJD, when you tested the button did you just give it a jab and then give up? It could be that the timer circuit IS still active and one of the following is possible:

1. The button starts the countdown timer. Each time you push it, you reset the countdown. (In which case, press it and wait 2 minutes)
2. The button replaces a jumper, which must be in place to start the countdown. (In which case, hold the button down for 2 minutes)

 

Yes, he mentions trying a couple of different methods:

I really don't think it's timed, though. The button is on the front of the unit, accessible to the player. I don't think anyone would want to hold a button for two minutes or would even know that's what you're supposed to do :icon_bigg.

I put together a test application I'll post up here in a bit that you can run on the Saturn to see what buttons are being pressed. And Retro is right, I had to add in my own routine for the ABC-start soft reset, so it is done through the software on the Saturn.

 

Bit of an update. Here's a pic of another unit:



As you can see, it has the same jumper pins and the same code on the chips. That suggests to me that the chips are one and the same, so I really don't think yours has been reprogrammed.

He doesn't have a Saturn to try it on, yet... I'll keep you updated, though.

Incidentally, the original television in the kiosk was a Samsung TXE2045.

 

Okay.. I'm bringing this thread back to life.
I was confused with the reset method of my Saturn. Dreamcast told me I need to press/hold A+B+C+X+Y+Z Start. However, that is the wrong combination. Retro was right about pressing/holding only A+B+C Start. That takes me from inside a game to the title screen of the game. The game I used was Night Warriors Darkstalkers' Revenge. NOTE: This worked with the controller with the analogue stick and it was hooked directly up to the saturn. The reset board was not even connected to any part of the Saturn console.

@Dreamcast I don't understand what your are saying about the program you made. So with this program running It will see what buttons are activated/emulated when I press the kiosk reset button? So are you saying that by pressing the kiosk reset button it is SUPPOSED to emulate the A+B+C Start (soft reset)?

@retro I've tried very many different ways of pressing the kiosk reset button like holding the kiosk reset button down or waiting for it to shut off by itself.

What does SMPC mean

@Dreamcast Can you give me the test program you made?
@retro any updates on the guy with the Saturn kiosk reset board?

What's the next step
Thanks so much for the help

 

What controller did you use for the reset? Retro is right about ABC+start being the only buttons you need, but adding XYZ on a NiGHTS controller works too.

SMPC is the "system manager and peripheral control" chipset.

As for the software, yes, that's exactly what it does. If my guess about the reset board's functionality is right, the board will send out the soft reset sequence when the reset button is pressed. The application just polls the input until there's something there and then displays it.

Since the reset board looks like a multitap, the application was set so it can read up to the maximum supported controllers incase the sequence, if sent at all, is sent on any port other than the first two.

I've attached the test application to this post (ISO image). As usual, the swap trick is needed to get the application to run.

 

@Dreamcast I used the NiGHTS controller to soft reset using the A+B+C Start button sequence NOTE: The kiosk reset board was not hooked up at that time.
I'll give the program a try after I go see Shutter Island

UPDATE:This controller is the one I used

 

You don't need the reset board to reset the Saturn. It's a feature built in every Saturn

A+B+C+Start = reset. That's hard coded into the system, and every game HAD to support it, or Sega wouldn't publish it.

All the board does is count to x seconds and press A+B+C+Start. Without a pad. It also works as a pass-through for the pad - much like the aerial socket in your VCR. You still get a signal on your TV even if you're not tuned into the VCR channel, because there's a pass-through.

Put simply, the system is waiting for that combination command for a reset. It neither knows nor cares what kind of device does it. You should be able to hook the board up to the Saturn without a pad and still have it reset.

 

@Dreamcast Thank you so much for taking the time to write that program. I will try it in a week or two when my Saturn modchip arrives(i don't like the idea of duct taping my Saturn to do the swap trick)

@retro You said
"You should be able to hook the board up to the Saturn without a pad and still have it reset."
When you said pad, did you mean my NiGHTS controller? And to do a soft reset, do I need to be past the games main menu? Before I try what you said, I need to solder the red wire back onto the kiosk reset button(it fell off)
Thank you too, retro.

 

Okay so I fixed it up and I figured out that If I do a controller reset before the game loads or at the main menu, it will go back to the Saturn system menu. If I do a controller reset when I am playing a game(past the main menu) It resets the game. These results are from the NiGHTS controller being hooked up through the kiosk reset board but will also work when the NiGHTS controller is hooked directly to the Saturn.

 

@retro Are you sure the TV is a Samsung Model TXE2045 ? I just want to know before I buy one on Craigslist.
Thanks

 

Any update on reset board testing?

 

Nope. But... I just bought a Saturn modchip off Racketboy.com less than 1 minute ago. Then I will test.

 

@retro I'm still looking for the TXE2045 Samsung TV on Craigslist. So far, no luck.

 

Okay I got the mod chip, installed it and it's working great!
@Dreamcast I tested your Controller Tester Program. When the Saturn controller is hooked directly to port 1 or 2 on the console all buttons work. When the kiosk reset circuit board is plugged into port 1 or 2 on the console and a Saturn controller to 1 or 2 on the kiosk reset circuit board that all works.
When I press the kiosk reset button the screen flashes then shows a screen saying "Connect a controller to continue", but only for about 20 seconds, then it returns to the Controller Tester Program and stays there. I can keep repeating what I did but the result is the same. No matter how long I wait after pressing the kiosk reset button it will not reset the console. And when I hold the kiosk reset button down it tells me to reconnect the controller and I keep holding it down and 20 seconds later it goes back to the controller test program.Repeats. and even after a minute it still repeats.

When I am in a game and press the kiosk reset button it will also pause the game.

Any ideas? What now? I'm not ready to give up.

 

Which game are you using for testing? Have you tried unplugging a normal controller in the same game? Some games pause when you remove a controller incase it was removed by mistake.

When you say "repeats and even after a minute, it still repeats", are you saying the "connect a controller" screen keeps showing up even if the button isn't pressed again?

That's very odd that pressing the reset button causes a disconnect to occur. Again, it would be important to know the types of games played on the kiosk units. If they only used special demo discs, maybe that was what they used to signal a special reset since unplugging a controller isn't something that could be done by the player.

 

I have tried it in Night Warriors: Darkstalker's Revenge.
I have tried unplugging the controller in NWDR and it will pause.

No, It has to be pressed to activate show that screen OR it has to be held down and then it will keep showing that screen every 20 seconds.

Thanks

 

Very odd. I'm not sure what's going on. The check for a controller's presence is done by checking a system variable that counts the number of connected peripherals. If it's not a fault in the SDK's peripheral polling routine(s), the reset board is doing something very unexpected.

 

@Dreamcast and @retro I just bought another kiosk (same exact kind) and it came with the kiosk reset circuit board. I'm going to fiddle around with it tomorrow and see if I have any luck reseting with the kiosk reset button.

 

@Dreamcast and @retro I just tried Virtua Cop Not for Resale on my new kiosk with it's kiosk reset board and no luck.
@Dreamcast I also tried the controller button test program you made me and it gives me the same message when I press the kiosk reset button.("please connect controller to continue")
Any thoughts?

Oh and @retro did your buddy ever get a Saturn to test his kiosk reset board? And would he know why is there two velcro pads on each side of this part of the kiosk?

A close up