getting an arcade game! might need to fix it

unisprise

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Sep 17, 2003
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Supposedly it needs a little work, but even if it doesn't work I'm still jazzed. quite a conversation piece. Plus, I figure I can get it working, or maybe replace the board with another game at some point.

Does anyone on anandtech have experience working on arcade machines? what am I up against?
 

unisprise

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Sep 17, 2003
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that's what I was thinking... can't hurt to have the switches etc. those things are expensive!
I would like to get it up and working... Thanks for the links

Also KLOV. (killer list of videogames) seems to have a bunch of forums.
killer list of videogames smb
 

unisprise

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Sep 17, 2003
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isn't going to cost me a thing! unless repairing parts cost me. which I bet it will. it'll be a labor of love.
sit down version? tell me more tell me more?
is it still a nintendo vs.? a playchoice?
 

unisprise

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Sep 17, 2003
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oh. I may have a problem making a mame arcade version-- I'm a law student, becoming an intellectual property lawyer. I have the technical knowhow to build it, but I run into the questionable legality of it. I'm gonna stick with being proud to own a piece of videogame history, and respecting the creativity of the people who made the game.
 

unisprise

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Sep 17, 2003
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update! apparently the only thing not working is the monitor.... hopefully it partially works so I can get it re-capped. Also it's a conversion (darn).
 
Apr 15, 2004
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As long as the monitor is good and it's JAMMA you can do just about anything you want with it. Switching out boards or converting to a Neo Geo cab is easy. If it's a Konami/Sega or CPS/Naomi setup it'll be a little less versatile, but still have a decent selection of hot swappable games available for it.

Really the most important part of any cab is the monitor, it's a lot like PCs. The case itself is just a case, replacing the internals is relatively hassle free. I'd suggest starting with a 1-6 slot MVS board though, as carts are easy to find and swap, and the game selection is decent. Or if you're more into old school just pick up some JAMMA PCBs.

CPS1/2 and Naomi boards are more expensive and some have a problem with the internal batteries dying and then becoming pretty much useless, so for a beginner I'd stray away from those until you're more comfortable with your machine.
 

Captante

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Oct 20, 2003
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Sound like it going to be really cool... I've always wanted to get ahold of a Marble madness or Sinistar arcade console myself, good luck!
 

unisprise

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Sep 17, 2003
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yeah, now that school is over for the semester, I'll have time to work on a project like this... I'll think about changing out the pcb only after I've beaten it about a hundred times.
 

unisprise

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Sep 17, 2003
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well.. it's not in perfect shape, I'll give it that
just wait till I make it all pretty again
(these are the "before" pictures)