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contcirc: MAME ROM Information.


History:

Continental Circus (c) 1987 Taito.


A Formula One racing game in which the player races over a number of International Grand Prix circuits, trying to complete each lap before the time limit expires. Continental Circus features Pit-stops and dynamic weather; the latter in the form of rain.


If the player's car is hit by either a rival car or strikes a trackside barrier, the car will be damaged and begin to smoke. The player must 'pit' at the earliest opportunity to get the car repaired, otherwise the fire will spread and the car will eventually explode. Should the player's car have a second collision before the Pit-stop is reached, the car to explode, wasting precious time before a replacement car appears.


Continental Circus' Grand Prix tracks are as follows :

BRAZIL / Brazil GP - Qualified Rank 80

AMERICA / U.S.A GP - Qualified Rank 60

FRANCE / French GP - Qualified Rank 50

MONACO / Monaco GP - Qualified Rank 40

GERMANY / Germany GP - Qualified Rank 30

SPAIN / Spain GP - Qualified Rank 20

MEXICO / Mexico GP - Qualified Rank 10

JAPAN / Japan GP - Qualified Rank 3


- TECHNICAL -


Taito Z System hardware

Board Number : K1100351A

Prom Stickers : B33


Main CPU : (2x) 68000 (@ 12 Mhz)

Sound CPU : Z80 (@ 4 Mhz)

Sound Chips : YM2610 (@ 8 Mhz)


Players : 1

Control : Steering wheel

Buttons : 8


- TRIVIA -


Even if titlescreen says 1987, Continental Circus was released in March 1988 in Japan.


Like Nintendo's 1981 classic, "Donkey Kong", Continental Circus was the victim of a mistake during the translation from Japanese to English. The game was originally to be called 'Continental Circuits'. All the artwork on the US games was later corrected to say 'Continental Circuit' but the original Taito PCBs are clearly labeled with the epithet, 'Circus'. Note : F1 is often called the 'F1 circus' because it is like a big circus that travels to different cities across different continents.


Continental Circus was unique at the time in that certain cabinets came supplied with a '3D visor', through which the player viewed the action. The visor, similar in outward appearance to the one used in Atari's "Battlezone", produced a simple but effective 3D effect. This effect could be disabled by the arcade operator via the dip switch settings.


This game was released outside US 2 years later (in 1989).


The race car driven by the player is the 1987 Camel-sponsored Honda/Lotus 99T Formula 1 car as driven by Ayrton Senna (1960-1994) and Satoru Nakajima. Sponsor names such as 'Camel' and 'DeLonghi' are misspelled deliberately to prevent copyright infringement under Japanese law.


Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Kyukyoku Tiger : G.S.M. Taito 2 - D28B0008) on 21/11/1988.


- TIPS AND TRICKS -


Fast Start : Hold Speed Low+Accelerator, tires will smoke.


- STAFF -


Produce : Junji Yarita, Yoshimitsu Kasahra

Software : Tohru Sugawara, Hidenori Sasatani, Kenzo Nomura, Eiichi Sato

Character : Junji Yarita, Yoshimitsu Kasahara, Seiji Kawakami, Shinobu Iwabuchi, TOshiyuki Nishimura

Hardware : Seigo Sakamoto, Masahiro Yamaguchi, Takashi Ohhara

Mechanic : Akira Takahashi, Itsuji Yamada, Tohru Hirata, Yukihiro Akiyama, Masaharu Hori

Design : Maoko Yoshida, Shibonu Sekiguchi, Kazuo Nakagawa, Takeo Shiraishi, Atsushi Iwaoka

Sound - All Direction & Music Arranged : Mar. (Ztt)

Sound - Sub Direction : Yack (Ztt)

Sound - Software : Naoto Yagishita, Hisayoshi Ogura, Shiro Imaoka, Kazuyuki Ohnui

sound - Hardware : Eikichi Takahashi, Tsukasa Nakamura

Sound - Electric : Fumio Takeda, Satoru Shimomura, Masatoki Sasaki


- PORTS -


* Consoles :

Sony PlayStation 2 (2005, "Taito Legends") (US & Europe)

Microsoft XBOX (2005, "Taito Legends") (US & Europe)

Sony PlayStation 2 [JP] (January 27, 2007; "Taito Memories II Joukan [Model SLPM-66649]")

Sony PlayStation 2 (2007, "Taito Memories II Vol. 1") (Japan only)


* Computers :

Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1989)

Amstrad CPC (1989)

Atari ST (1989)

Commodore C64 (1989)

Commodore Amiga (1989)

PC [MS Windows] (2005, "Taito Legends") (US & Europe)


- SOURCES -


Game's rom.

Machine's picture.




MAME Info:

0.53 [David Graves]

0.37b11 [David Graves]


Artwork available


NOTE:

- Continental Circus is a F1 racing game, featured dynamic weather and pitstops. This is probably the first arcade driving game to possess these features. It is believed that the word "circus" resulted from a bad translation from japanese to english, and this game name should actually be "Continental Circuit". However all the following home conversions would also be named "Continental Circus".


WIP:

- 0.143u4: MASH added missing PORT_TOGGLE to Continental Circus gear shifters input.

- 0.133u1: Renamed (contcrcu) to (contcircu) and (contcrua) to (contcircua).

- 0.129u6: Mr. Do added built-in layouts for Continental Circus.

- 9th July 2008: Mr. Do - Continental Circuit (Circus?) now has a bezel thanks to Zorg.

- 0.125u9: Changed 'Unknown' dipswitches to 'Unused'.

- 0.124u2: Nicola Salmoria fixed audio emits from one speaker on start up. Added 3rd sound channel and 4x Volume Filters.

- 0.99: Nicola Salmoria fixed road/sprite priority (cars no longer disappear when they go over a hill in Continental Circus). Removed bogus ROM containing 1989 copyright year. Someone hacked the copyright year from 1987 to 1989, and changed an unused byte from FF to F3 to keep the checksum the same. Added user2 proms ('road/sprite priority and palette select' and 'road A/B internal priority').

- 0.93: Removed Custom sound.

- 0.82: Added clone Continental Circus (US set 2). Changed parent description to 'Continental Circus (US set 1)'.

- 0.62: Added dipswitches 'Difficulty 1 (time/speed)', 'ifficulty 2 (other cars)', 'Steering wheel' and 'Enable 3D alternate frames'.

- 0.57: Changed visible area to 320x224. Added 'Default screen type' dipswitch.

- 4th September 2001: David Graves improved the road colors in Continental Circus.

- 0.53: David Graves added Continental Circus (World) (Taito 1987) and clone (US).

- 0.37b11: David Graves added Continental Circus (World) (Testdriver). Known issues: No road. Wheel control poor-ish. Stuff often written in high byte of sound word, don't think it matters.


Other Emulators:

* FB Alpha

* Raine


Recommended Games (F1-3D):

Turbo

Pole Position

Pole Position II

TX-1

Driving Force

WEC Le Mans 24

Continental Circus

Final Lap

Final Lap 2

Final Lap 3

Final Lap R

Winning Run

Winning Run Suzuka Grand Prix

Winning Run 91

Super Monaco GP

Super Monaco GP (Mega-Tech)

Driver's Eyes

F1 Exhaust Note

Grand Prix Star

F-1 Grand Prix Star II

Racing Beat

Ground Effects

Virtua Racing

Daytona USA

Daytona USA 2

Daytona USA 2 Power Edition

Ace Driver

Driver's Edge

F1 Super Battle

Racin' Force

INDY 500 Twin

Slipstream

Ace Driver: Victory Lap

Sega Touring Car Championship

Super GT 24h

LeMans 24

Ferrari F355 Challenge

Ferrari F355 Challenge (Twin)

Ferrari F355 Challenge 2 (Twin)

Maximum Speed


Romset: 5769 kb / 19 files / 1.82 zip




MAME XML Output:

       <game name="contcirc" sourcefile="taito_z.c">
              <description>Continental Circus (World)</description>
              <year>1987</year>
              <manufacturer>Taito Corporation Japan</manufacturer>
              <rom name="ic25" size="131072" crc="f5c92e42" sha1="42dfa1895e601df76d7022b83f05c4e5c843fd12" region="maincpu" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="ic26" size="131072" crc="e7c1d1fa" sha1="75e851629a54facb8804ee8a953ab3265633bbf4" region="maincpu" offset="1"/>
              <rom name="ic35" size="131072" crc="16522f2d" sha1="1d2823d61518936d342df3ed712da5bdfdf6e55a" region="sub" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="cc_36.bin" size="131072" crc="a1732ea5" sha1="b773add433c20633e7acbc99d5cfeb7ccde83371" region="sub" offset="1"/>
              <rom name="b33-30.11" size="65536" crc="d8746234" sha1="39132eedfe2ff4e3133f8020304da0d04dd757db" region="audiocpu" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b33-02.57" size="524288" crc="f6fb3ba2" sha1="19b7c4cf33c4737405ebe53e7342578454e6ef95" region="gfx1" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b33-06" size="524288" crc="2cb40599" sha1="48b269610f80a42608f563742e5266dcf11638d1" region="gfx2" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b33-05" size="524288" crc="bddf9eea" sha1="284f4ba3dc107b4e26424963d8206c5ec4882983" region="gfx2" offset="1"/>
              <rom name="b33-04" size="524288" crc="8df866a2" sha1="6b87d8e683fe7d31070b16620ebfee4edf7711b8" region="gfx2" offset="2"/>
              <rom name="b33-03" size="524288" crc="4f6c36d9" sha1="18b15a991c3daf22b7f3f144edf3bd2abb3917eb" region="gfx2" offset="3"/>
              <rom name="b33-01.3" size="524288" crc="f11f2be8" sha1="72ae08dc5bf5f6901fbb52d3b1dabcba90929b38" region="gfx3" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b33-07.64" size="524288" crc="151e1f52" sha1="118c673d74f27c4e76b321cc0e84f166d9f0d412" region="user1" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b33-09.18" size="524288" crc="1e6724b5" sha1="48bb96b648605a9ceb88ff3b175a87226583c3d6" region="ymsnd" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b33-10.17" size="524288" crc="e9ce03ab" sha1="17324e8f0422118bc0912eba5750d80469f40b78" region="ymsnd" offset="80000"/>
              <rom name="b33-08.19" size="524288" crc="caa1c4c8" sha1="15ef4f36e56fab793d2249252c456677ca6a85c9" region="ymsnd.deltat" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b14-30.97" size="65536" crc="dccb0c7f" sha1="42f0af72f559133b74912a4478e1323062be4b77" region="user2" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b14-31.50" size="8192" crc="5c6b013d" sha1="6d02d4560076213b6fb6fe856143bb533090603e" region="user2" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b33-17.16" size="256" crc="7b7d8ff4" sha1="18842ed8160739cd2e2ccc2db605153dbed6cc0a" region="user2" offset="0"/>
              <rom name="b33-18.17" size="256" crc="fbf81f30" sha1="c868452c334792345dcced075f6df69cff9e31ca" region="user2" offset="0"/>
              <chip type="cpu" tag="maincpu" name="68000" clock="12000000"/>
              <chip type="cpu" tag="audiocpu" name="Z80" clock="4000000"/>
              <chip type="cpu" tag="sub" name="68000" clock="12000000"/>
              <chip type="audio" tag="front" name="Speaker"/>
              <chip type="audio" tag="rear" name="Speaker"/>
              <chip type="audio" tag="subwoofer" name="Speaker"/>
              <chip type="audio" tag="ymsnd" name="YM2610" clock="8000000"/>
              <chip type="audio" tag="2610.1.r" name="Volume Filter"/>
              <chip type="audio" tag="2610.1.l" name="Volume Filter"/>
              <chip type="audio" tag="2610.2.r" name="Volume Filter"/>
              <chip type="audio" tag="2610.2.l" name="Volume Filter"/>
              <display tag="screen" type="raster" rotate="0" width="320" height="224" refresh="60.000000" />
              <sound channels="3"/>
              <input players="1" buttons="7" coins="2" tilt="yes">
                     <control type="joy" ways="2"/>
                     <control type="stick" minimum="0" maximum="255" sensitivity="50" keydelta="15" reverse="yes"/>
              </input>
              <dipswitch name="Cabinet" tag="DSWA" mask="1">
                     <dipvalue name="Upright" value="1" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="Cockpit" value="0"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Unused" tag="DSWA" mask="2">
                     <dipvalue name="Off" value="2" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="On" value="0"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Service Mode" tag="DSWA" mask="4">
                     <dipvalue name="Off" value="4" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="On" value="0"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Demo Sounds" tag="DSWA" mask="8">
                     <dipvalue name="Off" value="0"/>
                     <dipvalue name="On" value="8" default="yes"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Coin A" tag="DSWA" mask="48">
                     <dipvalue name="4 Coins/1 Credit" value="0"/>
                     <dipvalue name="3 Coins/1 Credit" value="16"/>
                     <dipvalue name="2 Coins/1 Credit" value="32"/>
                     <dipvalue name="1 Coin/1 Credit" value="48" default="yes"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Coin B" tag="DSWA" mask="192">
                     <dipvalue name="1 Coin/2 Credits" value="192" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="1 Coin/3 Credits" value="128"/>
                     <dipvalue name="1 Coin/4 Credits" value="64"/>
                     <dipvalue name="1 Coin/6 Credits" value="0"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Difficulty 1 (time/speed)" tag="DSWB" mask="3">
                     <dipvalue name="Easy" value="2"/>
                     <dipvalue name="Normal" value="3" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="Hard" value="1"/>
                     <dipvalue name="Hardest" value="0"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Difficulty 2 (other cars)" tag="DSWB" mask="12">
                     <dipvalue name="Easy" value="8"/>
                     <dipvalue name="Normal" value="12" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="Hard" value="4"/>
                     <dipvalue name="Hardest" value="0"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Steering wheel" tag="DSWB" mask="16">
                     <dipvalue name="Free" value="16" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="Locked" value="0"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Enable 3d alternate frames" tag="DSWB" mask="32">
                     <dipvalue name="Off" value="0" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="On" value="32"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Unused" tag="DSWB" mask="64">
                     <dipvalue name="Off" value="64" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="On" value="0"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Unused" tag="DSWB" mask="128">
                     <dipvalue name="Off" value="128" default="yes"/>
                     <dipvalue name="On" value="0"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <dipswitch name="Steering type" tag="FAKE" mask="16">
                     <dipvalue name="Digital" value="16"/>
                     <dipvalue name="Analogue" value="0" default="yes"/>
              </dipswitch>
              <driver status="imperfect" emulation="good" color="good" sound="good" graphic="imperfect" savestate="supported" palettesize="4096"/>
       </game>
 
 


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