Posted by SignOfZeta on February 04, 2021 at 21:07:12 EST in reply to Would people have been able to emulate the Jamma ROM as easily at the time? This way, there was an initial three month period (in the case of 2003, for instance) during which only the Jamma ROM would have been available, in theory. (n/t) from Paleface.
I think emulation would be slightly different since the BIOS is different but I think the real challenge was probably just dumping the game at all. When you have both the system and the code fully separate (an MVS and a cart) breaking encryption is just a matter of time. But if you can lock the whole thing in, the machine, the ROM, the encryption, the key, then the game might be worthless by the time anyone dumps it (like CPS3). Looking at these excellent scans, it seems they didn’t glop the ROMs but whereas the KOF 2003 MVS uses normal looking boards and 24pin dip ROM chips the JAMMA version has totally different chips. I think the JAMMA versions were eventually dumped and emulated but probably much later than the MVS version. All three of these JAMMA games have slightly different boards too. The SSVP proto MVS board seems to be on some 3 volt flash, totally on its own.
In the Indian film market, when it existed, the plan is usually to make the movie pay for itself in a week. By then it’s so pirated you’ll never get anyone to pay to see it. This seems like a version of that and I appreciate it. Otherwise you’re essentially threatening your costumers with prison because you fucked up and over-budgeted your project.
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