Patreon subscribers from Jotego received an update this week that focused less on brand-new cores and more on polishing existing ones. While bug-fixing may sound less flashy than new arcade releases, Jotego emphasized how these efforts often lead to deeper hardware understanding and, in turn, more accurate FPGA recreations.
A highlight was Lightning Fighters, where a lingering sound issue was traced back to an obscure Konami PCM chip feature. Thanks to Furrtek’s detailed documentation, Jotego implemented the chip’s ability to reverse playback samples, something Konami amusingly used in its games. With that addition, the sound problems disappeared.
Other notable fixes include:
- Vendetta – Added a limiter to the ADPCM mix, resolving PCM sound problems.
- 1942 – Fixed sound clipping discovered during Jotego’s own play session.
- Rolling Thunder – Corrected title screen alignment.
- Wonder Planet – Fixed graphical issues when dip flip screen was set to ON.
- Lightning Fighters – PCM sound problems resolved.
Beyond bug-fixing, Jotego also revealed he’s been in discussions with retro FPGA hardware developers, offering input on arcade system requirements and insights into what FPGA platforms are getting right — and wrong. It’s clear he’s helping shape the next wave of FPGA hardware, which promises plenty of excitement for the community.
Finally, the MiSTer framework has been updated, with particular importance for those running composite video cables.
Jotego closed his update by reminding patrons that while not every fix is glamorous, each one brings FPGA cores closer to authentic arcade hardware and that’s a win for everyone.