MK6 system chips

[Don Indallas]

In looking at several MK6 logic boards, I noticed that the system chips are of different versions.  The ones I've seen range from 1.03.12 to 1.04.16.  Does anybody know what the differences between system chips, and can any MK6 game work with any version of system chips?

[Heihachi_73]

It depends on the game software. Generally, newer software will almost always require a later system chip (base) and later setchip versions, but system/set chips are usually backward compatible with older software so it's best to use a later system/setchip version.

[Don Indallas]

Thanks for the reply.  I don't have an issue with these, I'm just curious.   Is there a way to tell what dates each game was isdued?

[Heihachi_73]

The release date isn't shown but there is usually a combination date in the Machine Identification menu (you would probably need to set the game up first otherwise you would get the usual errors). When documenting games for MAME I noticed that some of the games don't even bother with the combination date so it's a bit of a mystery, especially when the belly glass also lacks the copyright year in some cases. Probably the easiest way is to go by the year on the labels for a rough estimate.

Edit: System software and setchips don't seem to show any dates either.

[Don Indallas]

Thanks for the information.  I thought that the cabinet may have been made in 2005 but the game in it may have been released in 2003 with the copy in the cabinet produced when the cabinet was commissioned.   The original game may be older than the cabinet.  Just another Aristocrat mystery...

[Heihachi_73]

Yeah, cabinets are swapped and changed all the time. Over the years I've seen late-era MK6s in MKV cabinets (early MK5 aka series 1) from 1996, and 2002-era MK6 games in 2008-dated Xcites.