Taito F3 System
| Taito F3 System | |
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| Manufacturer | Taito |
| Year | 1992 |
| Media | Cartridge |
| CPU | MC68EC020 |
| GPU | PowerVR 2 (PVR2DC) |
| Sound | MC68000 / ES5505 and ES5510 (DSP) |
| Resolution | 15k |
| Wiring Standard | JAMMA |
| Predecessor | Taito 68020 Based System |
| Successor | Taito FX-1A System |
The Taito F3 System (also known as Cybercore) is an arcade game system released by Taito in 1992. Some early games running on F3 hardware were released as standalone PCBs, but most complete F3 kits consist of a motherboard and pluggable game ROM carts, very much like NeoGeo or CPS2[1].
Region Lock
The problem with F3 system is that both motherboards and game carts are regioned and the regions do not interoperate: for example, you can not run Japanese cart on European motherboard and so on.
Modifying the Motherboard
The only thing that prevents the motherboard from running games from a different regions are the connectors on the motherboard. If you disconnect a cartrige from the motherboard, you can see the exposed cart connectors - they contain "stoppers", and game cartridges from the same region have matching "holes". A cartridge from a different region has the "holes" in different place(s).
I used soldering iron to melt the "stoppers" away. Be careful not to overheat the connectors. If you overheat the connectors, you might damage the motherboard!
After you have "clean" connectors, your motherboard will accept a game from any region.[1]
It is also possible to change the language of the game board, by rewriting one of the ROMs[1].
Warning Sticker
"The potentiometer located on the PCB is for adjusting the voltages of IC's mounted on the PCB, and not for adjusting the sound volume. And turning it carelessly will result in destruction of the PCB, to which attention must be paid."
Game List
| Title | JP Release | US Release | World Release | Prototype Release | F3 PCB Release | Notes |
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| Arabian Magic |  |
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| Arkanoid Returns | |
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| Bubble Memories: The Story Of Bubble Bobble III | |
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| Bubble Symphony / Bubble Bobble II | |
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| Cleopatra Fortune | |
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| Command War - Super Special Battle & War Game | |
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| Darius Gaiden - Silver Hawk | |
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| Darius Gaiden - Silver Hawk Extra Version | |
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| Dungeon Magic / Light Bringer | |
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| Elevator Action II / Elevator Action Returns | |
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| Gekirindan | |
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| Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer | |
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| Hat Trick Hero '93 / Taito Cup Finals | |
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| Hat Trick Hero '94 / International Cup '94 | |
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| Hat Trick Hero '95 / Taito Power Goal | |
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| Kaiser Knuckle / Global Champion / Dan-Ku-Ga | |
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| Kirameki Star Road | |
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| Land Maker | |
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| Moriguchi Hiroko no Quiz de Hyuu!Hyuu! | |
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| Pop'n Pop | |
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| Puchi Carat | |
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| Puzzle Bobble 2 / Bust-A-Move Again | |
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| Puzzle Bobble 2X | |
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| Puzzle Bobble 3 | |
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| Puzzle Bobble 4 | |
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| Quiz Theater - 3tsu no Monogatari | |
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| Ray Force / Gunlock | |
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| Recalhorn (Prototype) | |
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| Riding Fight | |
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| Ring Rage | |
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| Space Invaders '95: The Attack Of Lunar Loonies / Akkanbeder | |
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| Space Invaders DX | |
Non-F3 version also available | ||||
| Super Cup Finals | |
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| Top Ranking Stars / Prime Time Fighter (New Version) | |
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| Top Ranking Stars / Prime Time Fighter (Old Version) | |
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| Twin Cobra II / Kyukyoku Tiger II | |
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| Twin Qix (Prototype) | |