Im in the market for good working gameplan currently if anyone is offering. Have a patient customer waiting.
Always used incognitos board and found them to be top notch.

What is the part in the PLCC package? Is that a PLD or other unique part? If so will documentation be available to properly support it down the road?

Is close as in close to shipping or close to getting it working 100% and then more time to get boards built and ready? Just trying to determine if I should focus on other projects or just dive in and rework the existing MPU-2 board in the game. I know I can fix it but I am not fond of acid damage. It's a pain.

If you modify the PCB again:
The 74154 -- replace it easily with two 74138s. Easy, plentiful and still made in a DIP package.
Although this image was for a different board, the pinouts remain the same --

U2_From_To (resized).jpg

Ilikewires I'm glad to hear that you ditched the CPLD. While I know they can help simplify things they can make long tern repairs, etc a pain. Sounds like it is getting better. Hope that you're able to get the last bits sorted out and it ships sooner than later.

In the meantime I stripped down my original MPU and I think I can save it. At least enough to get the game going and get me by in the meantime Then I can replace it down the road.

Just need to see if I can find some good reference photos of the MPU-2 rev 1 that cover the area around the battery. After cleaning the board many traces are just gone. Will be making a lot of new traces on this one.

If you don't have a hardware logic analyzer, I can share a simple design for a single step circuit that makes it easy to step through cycle by cycle to debug issues like the interrupt issue you are currently working. Actually, it might not be a bad idea to include it in the design for future debugging. Used the single step circuit in a Z80 hardware debugger that I built for a senior design project back in 1980. https://z80project.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/single-step-instruction-circuit/

I m interested in one for my Sharpshooter

I would like one as well.

Please don't use that battery backed up SEALED memory chip. Boards are coming through now after 10 years and they are difficult to repair. The correct part is hard to find, expensive when you do - and already many years expired - they are a BAD choice for memory if you want to keep the game working for many years to come IMO.

Will You Post to Australia ? I am just about to rebuild by sharpshooter board this weekend I scared its not going to work out so I would really love one of these boards

As long as that part is socketed and the same pinout as the DIP FRAM chips or modules then it shouldn't be a problem. However why not just get the DIP NVRAM modules from nvram.weebly.com and use that instead of the battery based unit? Probably around the same cost. He has them in a DIP footprint.

Maybe they are. But as long as the part is in a socket and could take either one then that would be good. Some people would prefer the FRAM chips while still available and whether NEW or NOS really makes no difference on those. On the other part with a battery it does since even though the battery isn’t supposed to kick in until first use I would want a fresh new one if possible.

There is room on your board for additional parts and my suggestion would be to make it as flexible as possible. Default setup could be for that NVRAM with internal battery like you have now or FRAM chip or hybrid FRAM module. They should all share the same pin out so any could be used.

As an alternative for down the road if those NVRAM chips become unavailable then I would add open spaces for the components like a 1n5817 blocking diode to the board along with an extra connector for an external battery pack and a spot for a coin cell holder. Those could be left unpopulated. Then that opens up an easy path to swap out a standard low power SRAM chip and someone can add the off board battery or add a holder for a coin cell (which is the only style battery I would even consider on board). Your board can then support all the options. May have to add a few components but worth considering.

Just spoke with Jim at Echo Lake. He was willing to "give up" the Gameplan MPU2 replacement business to Ilikewires, but his understanding was that the board would be available by now. FYI - Jim's boards are 100% made in the USA. The PCB is printed here, and the boards are stuffed and tested in Cleveland. This MPU3 board, if figured out, is slated to be built in China, making the costs lower. However Jim, and many others, refuse to source parts from China, for various and sundry reasons. Jim was getting $299 for his board, so I would have to think that a board Produced in China would be $200 or less. Me personally, I would pay the extra $100 for an American-made board.

I said all that to say this - Jim is considering another run of 40 boards since this project is clearly delayed. If you want Jim to make another batch, do as I did and let him know!

I do hope this MPU3 board is eventually figured out. I sure liked the idea of switching our own roms, but I guess that's just not in the cards anymore.

Problem with echo lake isn't the cost. Its the rom situation which really screws people long term.

Since Echo Lake sells their boards with the ROM preinstalled for one specific game, is it possible there is no IP issue? They don't reuse the original ROM chips, they load the ROM on one modern chip, not 3 like the original MPU2.

I would love to see an MPU that would work in any GP game, like has been done for the early Bally SS's. Just adjust the switches on the board to make it work in any game. This may or may not be possible, but if it was done for Bally, I don't see why it couldn't be done for Gameplan.

Weebly makes some really nice boards but I don't know if he has a desire to take on a project like this. I agree that the rom issue and price is kind of a deal breaker with the echo boards. I'm sure everyone wants to support USA products. $300 is a hard pill to swallow when Gameplan pins don't seem to sell for much.

Ive used echo boards with great success. I spoke with him and want to support a proven design that is built by someone with passion. I will buy 3 boards at a higher price to support echo even though I only need one. I encourage people to support him as he has saved dozens on gameplans from the landfill this pastb15 plus years.
Hope he reconsiders.

How do I contact him ?

[email protected]

Agreed.

I don't even own a Gameplan at the moment and I'd buy a MPU-3 spare to support the cause if it was along the lines of the Weebly Bally MPU's. Being locked into one game with an aftermarket board at the mercy of the manufacturer is a deal killer for me.

I finally found a star trip, it had been a while since I was looking for one.
So you can count on me for another couple which makes us a total of 4 mpu.

I emailed jim last week and said id be in for two, didn't get a response though

Ilikewires How is this project going ?
Do you need help - I can beta test on a Star trip.
I have some electronic knowledge and can help if needed.

If this project has stagnated or been abandoned, please let us know so we can move on and perhaps get the Echo boards back in production.

Sorry, I can help test and do logic traces on boards but design is not my strongest skill.

How far away from production would you say you are - 6 months or so ?

I have 3 customers waiting for Gameplan cpus.
The gentleman in Ohio (echo pinball)has ceased production of his proven board due to this new cheaper design that has yet to materialize. A proven design by him has already happened. I have 4 clients with 10 plus years on a proven Gameplan reproduction cpu with no issues whatsoever.
I hope Echo reconsiders. I myself will buy the more proven Echo expensive board out of principal as he had the balls to make a proven design and didnt take some one else's idea.

1) No interest in an Echo board that is locked to one game.

2) How is it someone else's idea? Please illuminate us.

Just having a quick look comparing schematics against the original (sorry if actual factory board uses what you've spec'd).

* You're missing an inverter between the output of the zero crossing detector and the CTC chip.

* Your C11 on the input of the zero crossing detector is 0.1uF. Original is 0.001uF

I've seen some problems with timing of HC/HCT chips, do you just for test purposes have LS chips to try particularly U2, U27, U29?

Have you written any Z80 test code to try help determine why the Z80CTC isn't generating interrupts?

If this new board from Ilikewires can run a Cyclopes using the original ROMs and not have switch issues, unlike the Echo Lake board, I'm fully in.

Bought an EL board and it wasn't compatible with Cyclopes. Jim tried everything he could to get it to work and never did. Then he just quit responding to my emails. Luckily my original works...for now.

There are already so many dead Game Plan machines out there that need cpu boards. In my opinion, *any* reproduction cpu board that works is good.

Any chance anyone could do a LISY style board for Game Plan?

I have something in progess for my Sharp Shooter and have a portion running on the bench. Just need to bring my machine home to try in the actual game. This does NOT have a Z-80, Z-80 CTC, or use the original ROM's so it is unlike either of these options but should work for people that want new custom rules. Original rules could be emulated but I can do better than that for my Sharp Shooter. Should apply to Sharp Shooter II as well as Coney Island since I think those used the same ROM's.

Anyone that wants to run original code or keep the Z-80 should wait for the other options.

Great ! Keep it up - there's nothing like Z80 assembly ... I still remember debugging on the ZX Spectrum !

All of Game Plan's cocktails except Vegas and Lady Sharpshooter were MPU-1. Will Ilikewires board work on them? I thought it was aiming to emulate their MPU-2, but maybe it will still work? I also have a Star Trip I can test on, and I ask because I'm talking with a guy about a Chuck-A-Luck with a corroded MPU. Not sure if this board can bring it back. If this board would work on a Chuck with a dead MPU, count me in for one.

The original MPU-2 was backwards compatible to the MPU-1. The cocktail displays use a ribbon cable on the edge connector on the top right side of the board, the upright displays used the edge connector on the top middle of the board. They are differently sized (.156" verses .100"). All of the data carried on both is the same EXCEPT for 1. Each connector has 1 distinct data line, but that's it.

All the photos of the MPU-3 design included both display edge connectors so it should work on cocktails.

Ilikewires If I have understood correctly, you have communicated with Echo lake about half a year ago.

The mail I have received from them states this on January 7th 2021 :

"We have contacted the owner, and he stated that he will have his design ready to go, and in production, by the end of this month. ...... Therefore, we have decided not to produce our boards any longer."

We are now in June and apparently you cannot say how long it will take for your boards to be production ready.
Your latest post also indicates it might not be compatible with MPU-1 machines.

I understand this is not your fulltime job and you have not made any promises, but your actions have put a stop to the waiting list that was and our chances of getting these pinballs up and running.
If you wish to keep going on a hobby basis it is of course your right and I applaud your work and enthusiasm.

If you do not see your product being finished in the near future or if your product is not certain to support MPU-1, I (and I suppose many others with me) would appreciate it if you could contact Echo lake and tell them to go ahead with production of their existing design and fulfilling their waiting list.

Don't you think this is the right thing to do - both for the pinball community but also for Echo lake as a business ?

MaxAsh Of course Ilikewires is not responsible for what others do nor under any obligation to give Echo lake a call.

This is of course why I asked him a question - not sure where the obligation part came in here

Nothing would make me happier than Ilikewires succeeding with this project, and I have also volunteered to help with testing which is an offer I stand by.

There are many great Game Plan machines out there just sitting as paperweights/doorstops because of a lack of working cpu boards. Please someone make us some cpu boards.

It will be good to see some replacement options that are compatible with the original code. Didn't want to wait any longer to get my Sharpshooter running so I'm working on an alternate MPU based on the Arduino. Am able to control the Solenoids and lamps. Still have to resolve an issue with the switch matrix and displays. Using a WAV trigger for new sound sets. While the original rules could be coded I am focused more on it being an upgrade. I've been using a couple of my Gameplan proto boards. One is more of a bridge and the other is getting wiring closer to the original boards.

I'm sure the original poster will get his original style replacement MPU resolved and ready to go. For people that want something different with upgraded sounds and rules that is a piece I hope I'll be able to help with. So, I expect there will be several options for people going forward.

Suggestion:
All those eprom socket options is a waste. Replace with a single 28 pin socket for a 2764.
Just like single eprom bally-35 boards, people can combine the existing rom images (A/B/C) into a single 8K image and go from there. Easy.

Certainly. Also have a Game Plan Star Trip (MPU-1) I can test in.