Deep Dive into Kiki KaiKai's Hardware: Taito's Sprite-Based Arcade Gem
2025-05-21
This post delves into the hardware architecture of the arcade game Kiki KaiKai. Released in 1986, this game uses a sprite-based rendering system, not a unique feature at the time. Key hardware components include a YM2203 FM synthesizer, a Taito-customized MCU (JPH1020P) based on the Motorola 6801, and a Z80 CPU. The author details the 12-bit RGB color display, PAL programmable array logic, and high-speed RAM. A unique visual artifact is analyzed, attributed to the switching between sprite and background rendering. The post concludes with details of the PCB, including interesting finds in the manual and stickers, such as a Taito seal featuring what appears to be a Prussian eagle.
Hardware
hardware analysis