Venture Free Play and High Score Save Kit for Original Venture Hardware

Venture Kit Details and Benefits

The Venture Free Play and High Score Save Kit upgrades documented compatible original Exidy Venture arcade hardware with Free Play, permanent Top 5 high score saving, menu-driven settings, serial EEPROM storage, adjustable attract sounds, ROM Saver support, backup and restore, and optional Wi-Fi leaderboard support.

This is a focused original-hardware upgrade for Venture. It keeps the original PCB platform, controls, sound, timing, and gameplay feel while adding reliable score retention and convenient operator settings.

Main Venture Kit Features

• Original Venture PCB support: Designed for documented compatible original Exidy Venture arcade hardware.
• Permanent score saving: Saves the Top 5 supported high scores.
• Free Play: Start games without inserting coins.
• Coin-Up operation: Continue using traditional coins or tokens when desired.
• Serial EEPROM score storage: Saves supported scores and settings without batteries or NVRAM.
• Attract sounds: Enable sounds at 25%, 50%, or 100% intervals.
• Attract mode protection: Helps reduce long periods of static display content.
• Menu-driven DIP switches: Change supported settings directly on-screen.
• ROM Saver support: Original program ROMs may optionally be removed.
• Backup and restore: Save and restore supported high-score data when needed.
• Separate score tables: Supports independent score tables for 2, 3, 4, or 5 lives.
• Reset Button: Restart the game without cycling cabinet power.
• Fast Boot: Start Venture with minimal initialization delay.
• Stealth Mode: Boot directly into gameplay for a stock-style presentation.
• Cabinet compatibility: Works in upright and cocktail cabinet configurations.
• Optional Wi-Fi: Add supported online score submission while retaining local score saving.

Accessing the Settings Menu

To access the supported HighScoreSaves settings menu, hold Player 1 Start while turning the cabinet on. Release the button when the on-screen prompt tells you to continue.

Free Play, Coin-Up, and Top 5 Score Saving

Free Play allows Venture to start without inserting coins. Traditional Coin-Up operation can still be used when desired, making the kit suitable for home arcades, collector cabinets, or games that still use quarters or tokens.

The kit saves the Top 5 supported scores. Score and settings data is stored through serial EEPROM instead of batteries or NVRAM, helping preserve scores locally on the PCB.

Separate score tables are supported for 2, 3, 4, and 5 lives settings. Backup and restore support also provides a way to preserve and restore saved score data when needed.

Attract Sounds, ROM Saver, and Cabinet Support

Attract sounds can be enabled at 25%, 50%, or 100% intervals. This gives the cabinet owner control over how often audio plays while Venture is in attract mode.

ROM Saver support allows optional removal of the original program ROMs. The original Venture PCB hardware remains the core platform for the game.

Venture cabinet support includes documented upright and cocktail configurations, preserving the original cabinet controls and arcade presentation.

Additional kit features include Reset Button support, Fast Boot, and Stealth Mode for easier operation and a more direct startup experience.

Installation and PCB Requirements

• Designed only for documented compatible original Exidy Venture arcade PCBs.
• A 6502 processor is required for installation.
• The 6502 processor location must have a compatible 40-pin socket.
• No soldering is required when the 6502 location already has a compatible socket.
• If the 6502 is soldered directly to the PCB, a compatible 40-pin socket must be installed before using the kit.
• Original program ROMs may optionally be removed as part of the ROM Saver setup.
• Verify processor and kit orientation before restoring power.
• Review the installation guide, double-check all work, and power off immediately if the game does not start correctly after installation.

Standard and Optional Wi-Fi Versions

Standard kits save supported scores and settings locally. An internet connection is not required for gameplay, Free Play, Coin-Up operation, menu access, or local score saving.

Optional Wi-Fi kits include the same local features and add supported online score submission through the HighScoreSaves leaderboard platform.

Wi-Fi can be disabled without affecting local gameplay, Free Play, Coin-Up operation, score saving, or settings-menu operation.

Venture Kit FAQ

Which PCB is required?

This kit is designed only for documented compatible original Exidy Venture arcade PCBs.

What CPU is required?

A compatible 6502 processor is required.

Does installation require soldering?

Not when the 6502 location already has a compatible socket. If the processor is soldered directly to the PCB, a compatible 40-pin socket must be installed first.

How many scores are saved?

The kit saves the Top 5 supported high scores.

Does it support Free Play and Coin-Up?

Yes. Free Play is supported, and traditional Coin-Up operation can still be used.

How do I access the settings menu?

Hold Player 1 Start while turning the cabinet on. Release the button when the on-screen prompt tells you to continue.

Does it support attract sounds?

Yes. Attract sounds can be enabled at 25%, 50%, or 100% intervals.

Which cabinet configurations are supported?

The current Venture product supports both upright and cocktail cabinet configurations.

Is Wi-Fi required?

No. Standard kits save supported scores locally. Wi-Fi is optional for online leaderboard support.