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pc_drmro: MAME ROM Information.

History:

Dr. Mario (c) 1990 Nintendo.

The object of the game is to help Dr. Mario destroy the most sickening bunch of viruses around. These miserable germs can only be destroyed by lining up the appropriate combinations of vitamins as they fall. And Dr. Mario is relying on your players to help him get the job done! This game isn't just fun. It's contagious. That's why players of all ages keep coming back to Dr. Mario for another dose.

- TECHNICAL -

Nintendo PlayChoice-10 hardware

Game ID : VU

Main CPU : Z80 (@ 4 Mhz), N2A03 (@ 1.789772 Mhz)

Sound Chips : N2A03 (@ 1.789772 Mhz), DAC (@ 1.789772 Mhz)

Screen orientation : Horizontal

Video resolution : 256 x 240 pixels

Screen refresh : 60.00 Hz

Palette colors : 320

Players : 2

Control : 8-way joystick

Buttons : 2

- TRIVIA -

Released in October 1990.

Dr. Mario was the first non-action 'Mario game' in which the Mario character was neither controllable nor playable. Today the game is widely remembered by many people for the 'Fever' music. Initially some fans called the game 'Mario 4', as it was the first Mario game to be released after "Super Mario Bros. 3". The resulting debate over 'what counts as a Mario game' may have resulted in the decision to name the next Mario action game simply "Super Mario World".

U.S. Patent 5,265,888 covers Dr. Mario, here is the abstract of this Patent : A player initially sets the degree of difficulty of a display type game, and if desired, more than one player may participate with each player selecting an associated level of difficulty. First and second objects having different shapes, e.g. capsules and viruses, and different characteristics, e.g. different colors or shadings, are displayed in a predefined display area. First objects are generated based on random number data stored in a ROM and displayed as 'falling' in a vertical direction across the predefined display area. Coordinate positions of the first objects on the display are changed by a player operating a controller. Second objects are displayed at arbitrary positions in the display area based on random number data. If a prescribed number of at least a portion of first objects and/or second objects having the same type characteristics are detected as being continuously aligned in a vertical or lateral direction, those continuously aligned objects are erased. Remaining portions of first objects (or remaining first objects) previously supported by erased objects are displayed as falling in the vertical direction to the lower region of the prescribed displayed area. When all second objects are erased, the game is successfully completed.

Dr. Mario (as in Mario himself, not the game mind you) appears as an unlockable character in the Nintendo GameCube sequel to "Super Smash Bros." called "Super Smash Bros. Melee".

- SCORING -

(Point listings below are for low speed. Point totals are doubled under medium speed, tripled under high speed)

One bug knocked out with pill : 100 points

Second bug knocked out with pill : 200 points (300 total)

Third bug knocked out with pill : 300 points (600 total)

Fourth bug knocked out with pill : 400 points (1000 total)

Fifth bug knocked out with pill : 500 points (1500 total)

Scoring goes on from there, though it's very unlikely you'll get more than five bugs at one pill drop.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Reset : During the game, press Select+Start+A+B to reset the game.

* Bonus objects : Play virus levels 5, 10, or 15 at medium or high speeds. Wait at the intermission screen that features three viruses in a tree. A bonus object will appear at the top of the screen. A different object will appear depending on which level and speed is currently being played.

- SERIES -

1. Dr. Mario / Vs. Dr. Mario (1990)

2. Tetris & Dr. Mario (1994, Nintendo SNES)

3. Dr. Mario 64 (2001, Nintendo 64)

4. Nintendo Puzzle Collection (2003, Nintendo Gamecube)

5. Dr. Mario Online RX (2008, Nintendo Wii - WiiWare)

- STAFF -

Created by : Gunpei Yokoi

Music by : Hirokazu Tanaka

- PORTS -

* Consoles :

Nintendo Super Famicom (1997, "Satellaview (BS-X)"): downloaded via satellite broadcasting station in Japan called St.Giga to a BS-X cassette. Only in Japan.

Nintendo Super Famicom (1998) : remake only in Japan .

Nintendo Game Boy Advance (2003, "Wario Ware, Inc - Mega Microgame$") : the original Dr Mario game is an unlockable extra.

Nintendo GameCube (2003, "GameCube Preview Disc"): uploaded to a Nintendo Game Boy Advance via GBA/GCN Link Cable)

Nintendo Game Boy Advance (2004, Famicom Mini Series)

Nintendo Game Boy Advance (2005, "Dr. Mario & Panel de Pon")

Nintendo Wii (2007, "Virtual Console")

- SOURCES -

Game's rom.

Machine's picture.

MAME Info:

0.37b7 [Ernesto Corvi]

WIP:

- 0.88u2: Changed description to 'Dr. Mario (PlayChoice-10)'.

- 0.37b14: Changed description to 'PlayChoice-10: Dr. Mario'.

- 0.37b7: Ernesto Corvi added 'PlayChoice-10: Dr Mario' (Nintendo 1990).

Recommended Games:

Mario Bros.

Mario Bros. (PlayChoice-10)

Vs. Super Mario Bros

Super Mario Bros. (PlayChoice-10)

Super Mario Bros. 2 (PlayChoice-10)

Super Mario Bros. 3 (PlayChoice-10)

Vs. Dr. Mario

Dr. Mario (PlayChoice-10)

Mario's Open Golf (PlayChoice-10)

Super Mario World

Romset: 73 kb / 4 files / 33.6 zip

MAME XML Output:

<description>Dr. Mario (PlayChoice-10)</description>

<manufacturer>Nintendo</manufacturer>

</input>

</dipswitch>

</dipswitch>

</dipswitch>

</dipswitch>

</dipswitch>

</game>

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