Bonkinator and other Treasures

chany60126 · 01/25/2011, 12:59 PM

Welcome the forums, Frank. I too am from Illinois and live about 8 miles south from the former NEC headquarters. I have had the pleasure of meeting former NEC employees that have sold me games in the past. I look forward to hear some of your stories.

DesmondThe3rd · 01/25/2011, 01:19 PM

I would have been so embarassed being the world record holder of 'Bonkinator'

malicedoom · 01/25/2011, 01:19 PM

Thanks for the welcome. Yeah, I was there basically from when they started hiring until they moved to CA (1989-1991, 92? - trying to remember).

The support hub had a lot of really great people working for it throughout the years, but we always knew the products were far better than the marketing department supporting it, which was quite aggravating at the time. Ah well, it was still a great, GREAT job, no doubt about that.

Mathius · 01/25/2011, 01:23 PM

Welcomes!

henrycsc · 01/25/2011, 05:23 PM

Welcome aboard Frank! Glad you finally made it and we hope that our craziness doesn't drive you away too soon.

You mentioned that the EPROMS were given to you. What do you remember about their history?

MotherGunner · 01/25/2011, 07:50 PM

Welcome aboard Frank. Since no one has said it I will. "Believe or not, I'm walking on air..."

esteban · 01/25/2011, 10:04 PM

Quote from: malicedoom on 01/25/2011, 01:19 PMThanks for the welcome. Yeah, I was there basically from when they started hiring until they moved to CA (1989-1991, 92? - trying to remember).

The support hub had a lot of really great people working for it throughout the years, but we always knew the products were far better than the marketing department supporting it, which was quite aggravating at the time. Ah well, it was still a great, GREAT job, no doubt about that.

WELCOME FRANK!

Without being too much of a pest, I'll just throw this out there: I'd love any additional information/photos you could share with us (pictures of EPROM, including close-up details, clean screenshots, personal anecdotes and stories, etc.)

Here is a quick page I threw together:
Before Air Zonk, there was Bonkinator: Punk Cyborg (aka Bonk's Thunder Shooting).

Thanks in advance.

I would greatly appreciate everyone's suggestions/assistance compiling this page.

SignOfZeta · 01/26/2011, 12:16 AM

Even if the EPROM doesn't boot, it might still be dump-able.

malicedoom · 01/26/2011, 08:55 AM

Thanks again for the welcomes, everyone. Great to be here.

Regarding the EPROMS, as testers, we'd get them in all the time - it's pretty much all we'd play on as we evaluated the games and gave our opinions on whether or not we thought the game should be released (sometimes we were listened to, sometimes not).

I recall seeing the burners they used to burn the games onto the chips - obviously they'd re-use chips and boards all the time. I'm trying to recall if I ever worked with anyone in development in the actual burning of chips - I want to say I did, because I remember being so impressed at how efficient those things worked - NEC had such great hardware, even in development - too bad that wasn't the same case when it came to marketing.

Also:

Quote from: MotherGunner on 01/25/2011, 07:50 PMWelcome aboard Frank. Since no one has said it I will. "Believe or not, I'm walking on air..."

Thanks!!! Long live, GAH!

RR1980 · 01/31/2011, 02:47 AM

Quote from: malicedoom on 01/26/2011, 08:55 AMRegarding the EPROMS, as testers, we'd get them in all the time - it's pretty much all we'd play on as we evaluated the games and gave our opinions on whether or not we thought the game should be released (sometimes we were listened to, sometimes not).

so this might be a little OT but what were the games that you guys the testers felt were no good and therefore were not released?

shubibiman · 01/31/2011, 04:18 PM

Dracula X?

henrycsc · 01/31/2011, 09:30 PM

It wouldn't surprise me if NEC considered porting Wonder Momo or even WaiWai Ma Jong, but I doubt that they would have helped the system in the US. Too bad that shooters weren't more popular back then. NEC owns that!

Esteban, great to start the page. Only comment would be that you refer to "Punk Cyborg" and the screen shot shows "Cyborg Punk". I assume that means that Zonk was a punk with cyborg tendencies rather than a cyborg who acted punk.

Is there anyone around with the equipment to dump the data from a Huey/EPROM? Obviously there are people who can do it, but are they active in the community?

esteban · 02/01/2011, 12:59 AM

Quote from: henrycsc on 01/31/2011, 09:30 PMIt wouldn't surprise me if NEC considered porting Wonder Momo or even WaiWai Ma Jong, but I doubt that they would have helped the system in the US. Too bad that shooters weren't more popular back then. NEC owns that!

I have verified from reliable sources that NEC (and later, TTi) was 100% committed to bring over Hani On The Road.

QuoteEsteban, great to start the page. Only comment would be that you refer to "Punk Cyborg" and the screen shot shows "Cyborg Punk". I assume that means that Zonk was a punk with cyborg tendencies rather than a cyborg who acted punk.

Is there anyone around with the equipment to dump the data from a Huey/EPROM? Obviously there are people who can do it, but are they active in the community?

Fixed that, thanks.

RR1980 · 02/01/2011, 02:30 AM

Quote from: esteban on 02/01/2011, 12:59 AM
Quote from: henrycsc on 01/31/2011, 09:30 PMIt wouldn't surprise me if NEC considered porting Wonder Momo or even WaiWai Ma Jong, but I doubt that they would have helped the system in the US. Too bad that shooters weren't more popular back then. NEC owns that!
I have verified from reliable sources that NEC (and later, TTi) was 100% committed to bring over Hani On The Road.

QuoteEsteban, great to start the page. Only comment would be that you refer to "Punk Cyborg" and the screen shot shows "Cyborg Punk". I assume that means that Zonk was a punk with cyborg tendencies rather than a cyborg who acted punk.

Is there anyone around with the equipment to dump the data from a Huey/EPROM? Obviously there are people who can do it, but are they active in the community?
Fixed that, thanks.

I guess the other thing (sorry if this is also OT) is that maybe it doesn't matter which game they should have/could have brought over here because even with the good ones they did bring over like Ninja Spirit, Jackie Chan and New Advanture Island they never really properly pushed them anyways.

malicedoom · 02/09/2011, 02:51 PM

Amen to THAT.

gekioh · 02/09/2011, 07:30 PM

HOLY SHANANIGANS, this has been by far the coolest thread I have ever read in a while(long while at that). Thanks for starting this thread and welcome aboard MaliceDoom, as it has already been said, I too look forward to reading about any cool stories that you may have regarding NEC.