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Taito B / F2 converts (& the C-Chip)

The Taito B System and F2 System are game-board platforms (68000 + Taito customs). Their conversion quirk: many games carry the C-Chip (TC0030CMD), a custom protection module. No "battery suicide" here — but without the right C-Chip (or its emulation), the game won't run.

Field Value
Platforms Taito B System (1988), F2 System (1989)
Type game-board ROM reprog + C-Chip handling
Difficulty 🟡 (no-C-Chip game) → 🟠 (C-Chip-integrated game)
Suicide? No (no battery key; the lock is the C-Chip)

Architecture (common B / F2)

Block Chip Role
CPU 68000 game logic
Sound CPU Z80 drives the sound
Sound YM2610 (FM + ADPCM) (some B: YM2203 + OKI)
Video Taito customs (TC0100SCN tilemaps, TC0xxx sprites/palette) 2D, JAMMA
Protection C-Chip TC0030CMD (per game) see below

The F2 is a plug-in game-board system; the B System is architecturally close. Converting = reprogram the target game's ROMs and supply the right C-Chip when the game uses one.

The C-Chip (TC0030CMD) — the real topic

It's a multi-chip module (MCM) in a custom package (the only case where Taito did this instead of a standard MCU). It contains:

Element Role
UPD78C11 MCU core common to all C-Chips
Internal MASK ROM the common kernel (with internal checksum)
External EPROM game-specific protection code/data
RAM memory shared with the 68000
Custom ASIC additional logic

What the C-Chip actually does

Depending on the game, it handles: input reading (stored in shared RAM for the 68000), protection, supplying 68000 subroutines (sound handling…), and game data (palettes, enemy-behaviour counters, restart positions). Integration varies enormously:

  • Minimal use (e.g. Mega Blast): easy to bypass/convert.
  • Heavy use (e.g. Operation Wolf, Rainbow Islands): the C-Chip is woven into the gameplay → you need the exact external EPROM of the game (or a faithful emulation).

Common kernel + per-game EPROM

The internal (MASK) kernel is identical across all C-Chips; only the external EPROM changes per game. So to convert to a C-Chip game, you mainly need the right external EPROM + a working C-Chip (the kernel being common).

Preservation: the CAPS0ff dumps

The C-Chip long blocked emulation. CAPS0ff dumped:

  • Internal MASK ROM: by optical decap + manual transcription (validated by internal checksums) — since it's a MASK ROM.
  • External EPROM (per game): by die extraction (fine, delicate work).

→ Result: MAME emulates the real code instead of simulating it → a big step for preservation, and a base for C-Chip conversions/substitutes.

Program EPROM, game by game (B / F2)

68000 program, EPROM: 64 KB → 27C512 · 128 KB → 27C010 · 256 KB → 27C020 · 512 KB → 27C040. Reminder: C-Chip games (see above) also require the game's C-Chip EPROM. (Source: MAME taito/taito_b.cpp, taito/taito_f2.cpp. Board views: System B · System F2.)

System B

Game Program EPROM Game Program EPROM
Rastan Saga 2 / Ashura 4× 27C010 Puzzle Bobble 2× 27C020
Crime City 4× 27C010 Space Invaders DX 2× 27C020
Master of Weapon 4× 27C010 Quiz Sekai wa Show 2× 27C040
Silent Dragon 4× 27C010 Hit the Ice 2× 27C010 + 2× 27C512
Ryu Jin 4× 27C010 Violence Fight 2× 27C512 + 2× 27C010

System F2

Game Program EPROM Game Program EPROM
Final Blow 2× 27C010 Growl / Runark 4× 27C020
Don Doko Don 4× 27C010 Solitary Fighter 2× 27C020
Thunder Fox 4× 27C010 Metal Black 2× 27C020 + 2× 27C010
Liquid Kids 4× 27C010 PuLiRuLa 2× 27C020 + 2× 27C010
Gun Frontier 6× 27C010 Dead Connection 4× 27C020
Ninja Kids 4× 27C010 Drift Out 2× 27C040
Football Champ 4× 27C010 Dino Rex 2× 27C040 + 2× 27C080
Cameltry 2× 27C010 Koshien / Quiz Quest 2× 27C010 + 1× 27C040

The C-Chip is still the real lock

Reburning the program is not enough for a C-Chip game (TC0030CMD): you need the target game's external C-Chip EPROM + a working MCU — see the C-Chip section.

Converting to another game (summary)

  1. Gather the target game's ROMs (68000 program, graphics, sound).
  2. Burn the EPROMs at the right sizes/positions (compatible donor board).
  3. Handle the C-Chip:
  4. game without a C-Chip → nothing special.
  5. game with a C-Chip → supply the game's C-Chip (with its external EPROM), or a substitute (kernel being common, only the external EPROM + a working module matter).
  6. Test: inputs, sprites/tilemaps, sound (YM2610), and C-Chip-driven behaviour (enemies, restart…).

Real F2 conversions are documented (e.g. Ah Eikou no Koshien → Gun Frontier) on Arcade-Projects.

Before / after

  • Game without a C-Chip: reprogram ROMs → another game, simple.
  • C-Chip game: conversion possible with the correct external EPROM; without it, protection/gameplay is broken.

Where to read more

Sources & attribution

Review & corrections

How this space is used

Spotted a wrong value, an outdated procedure, a chip reference that does not match your board? Say so here, with what you observed (model, board revision, serial number, measurement). Every report is cross-checked against a source before anything changes — an unverifiable correction is published as “reported by …, not cross-checked” rather than silently applied.

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