Simon was a cutting-edge “computer controlled game” when it launched back in 1978. It would flash out a pattern of ever-increasing length and you had to copy it if you didn’t want to lose. The name, obviously inspired by the traditional folk game of Simon Says. [Robert] recently found an original vintage Simon game, but it had been non-functional for many years. However, with some astute analysis and repair, he was able to get it working again.
Upon powering the unit up, the best [Robert] could get out of it was some flickering of the lights, nothing more. It wouldn’t start a game or respond to button presses. Eventually, probing around showed [Robert] that the TMS1000 microcontroller wasn’t running properly. It seemed to concern the connection to the “Game Mode” selector switch. Thanks to a fault and the multiplexed layout of the controls, it was appearing to the microcontroller that a button was always pressed at all times.
The solution [Robert] landed on was to separate out the signal from the Game Mode switch by socketing the TMS1000 and lifting the relevant pin. . The signal was then wired back up to the chip via diodes so that it wouldn’t interfere with the other outputs and inputs on the chip used to read the other buttons. This meant that the unit was locked into the single main game mode, but it did get it operational again.
It may not be a complete repair, but it nonetheless saved this unit from complete failure. Failing a repair of your own unit, you can always build one with modern hardware instead. Video after the break.
https://www.memozor.com/simon-games/simon-game
I had the Radio Shack handheld version of this game in the late 80’s. Just LED’s and and switches. Kept me occupied for hours.
I recently found a „Simon Swipe“ at a fleamarket for 2 bucks. It‘s a very interesting evolution fron the original!
I had a knock-off that I got for Christmas back when these got really popular.
I have to say that it was far, far better than the original, and it pains me that I can’t remember what it was called!
What made it better was that it had multiple modes and games to take advantage of the fact that they gave it a ring of 12 buttons instead of the 4 that a real Simon had. Those 12 keys made each note on a piano’s keyboard (white and black keys), so you could play any music on this machine in any key if you knew how to properly transpose (playing music was one of the modes it had in addition to the basic copy-cat game and whatever other games I can no longer remember).
If anyone remembers what this thing was called, please reply with it. I’d love to just see a picture of one of these again!
Had a Pocket Simon as a kid. When staying at my parent’s place once my own kids wanted to know what it was and if they could play it. Scrounged up some batteries and found that one of the lights wasn’t working. Opened the unit up and there were two spare bulbs inside the case. Screwed a replacement in and it worked, but I think only two of the three games modes worked – a fault I vaguely remember from 35 years prior.
Extra bulbs, talk about future proofing. You won’t find that nowadays.