08869: topaliens: Weapon and Energy LCD Segments are Reversed

ID	Category [?]	Severity [?]	Reproducibility	Date Submitted	Last Update
08869	Graphics	Minor	Always	Jun 4, 2024, 13:40	Jun 16, 2024, 09:52

Tester	mmarino4	View Status	Public	Platform	MAME (Official Binary)
Assigned To		Resolution	Bugs That Aren't Bugs	OS	Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
Status [?]	Resolved			Driver	handheld/hh_sm510.cpp
Version	0.266	Fixed in Version		Build	64-bit
		Fixed in Git Commit		Github Pull Request #

Summary	08869: topaliens: Weapon and Energy LCD Segments are Reversed
Description	There are three LCD segments to represent the players energy remaining on the right and three to represent their weapon power on the left. The segments are incorrectly mapped in MAME with the energy showing on the left and the weapon on the right. The SVG should swap/relabel these sets of segments.
Steps To Reproduce	Start a game and observe the energy bars on the sides as you lose energy or use your special weapons. It is easier to see the problem with the external artwork enabled.
Additional Information	The top of the included picture shows the segments that need to be swapped or remapped in the SVG. (top photo) I also have a picture of the game over screen as shown in the instruction manual. Notice how there are no segments on the right showing that all energy has been depleted causing the game over segments to light up. The three bars on the left represent the remaining weapon power at the time the game ended. (bottom left photo) I recreated the game over scenario in MAME and notice how the remaining weapon power is shown on the right. The segments on the left are all off which caused the game over. (bottom right photo)
Github Commit

Flags
Regression Version
Affected Sets / Systems	topaliens

Attached Files	topaliens.png (1,019,764 bytes) Jun 4, 2024, 13:40 Uploaded by mmarino4 See additional information

No.22156 hap Developer Jun 4, 2024, 13:53	"The SVG should swap/relabel these sets of segments." No, the SVG looks correct to me. As I said on the bannister forum, the way the LCD pins are hooked up (and segments being grouped together), it makes no sense for them to be swapped. The left side weapon pickup is the same LCD pin as the left powerbar, the right side weapon pickup is the same LCD pin as the right powerbar. If this is a bug in MAME, the cause must be something else.
No.22164 Robbbert Senior Tester Jun 5, 2024, 09:34	I don't have any external artwork, so I tried it as is. I could only get bars on the left, which seemed to be somewhat random. No bars on the right ever showed up. After a minute the screen went blank with just "Stage 3" showing, and no more response. I guess this is game over. So, unable to confirm anything. Unable to find a manual either.
No.22166 hap Developer Jun 5, 2024, 09:59 edited on: Jun 5, 2024, 10:02	See also: https://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=123474&page=416 https://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=123474&page=417 https://www.transformertoys.co.uk/images/instruction-scans/hasbro/Operation_Aliens_LCD_Video_Game.pdf from https://www.transformertoys.co.uk/all/instructions/
No.22167 Robbbert Senior Tester Jun 5, 2024, 12:55	Thanks for the info, I now have external artwork. After reading the instructions now I know that the bars on the left indicate energy, even though the caption of energy is on the right. Still never got the other bars to light up. When the game ends, sometimes (once) it said Game Over, but usually it just goes blank with the stage number showing. Seems somewhat erratic.
No.22168 mmarino4 Tester Jun 5, 2024, 13:57	The weapon bars will light up when you pick up a weapon with the secondary button. They will eventually appear on either side after you advance forward enough.
No.22189 hap Developer Jun 9, 2024, 11:53	We double checked the LCD panel, and the way the power bar connects to the weapon pick-up below it in the SVG is correct.
No.22191 hap Developer Jun 16, 2024, 09:51	midget35 tried it on the real handheld, and the bug happens there too. https://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=123479#Post123479