Please explain why some arcade game boards just die

N

NSX-T

Amusaka's Lacky
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Posts
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Hi,

I am almost done collecting NeoGeo, so I am starting a new hobby. My new hobby is collecting classic Arcade game/machines that I remember enjoying as a kid. Some examples are Arm Wrestling by NINTENDO, Ghouls and Ghosts by Capcom, and Final Fight by CAPCOM. I have read before that newer arcade game boards just die if not used..., so can someone explain this to me before I start my personal Arcade in my garage.

Thanks in advance for your replys.

EDIT: Final Fight was not made by SEGA

[ July 21, 2001: Message edited by: NSX-T ]
 
M

Metal Slug

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LOL!
Hurry up and read that paper!
I wanna know as well!
Do you mean Jamma's or MVS carts as well?

O.K I'm panicing now!
 
N

NSX-T

Amusaka's Lacky
Joined
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Posts
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Ok, now I understand the 90s Capcom boards, but what about those older games like Pacman, Arm Wrestling, Final Fight, and SF2? Do they also have the A-B boards which rely on the backup battery to save the info startup?
 
M

mvsholic

Angel's Love Slave
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Final Fight and SF2 are cps-1 which have the suicide batteries.

Pac-man is a different story. It requires a different power supply than the regular switching ones used in jamma cabs. If you buy a converted pac-man cab make sure to buy the harness asap. It is possible to convert the pac-man board to jamma, however this requires a modification to the pcb. If it's pacman you're after why not try Namco Classics volume 2 which is jamma. Unless you wanted to buy an original pac-cab.

Arm Wrestling... nothing wrong here. Just make sure to buy one that is working and is in good shape.

Almost done with the paper. In the meantime check out:
http://www.klov.com
http://www.arcaderenovations.com/

& one of my favorites for gamerooms:
http://www.gameroommagazine.com/color.htm

In case you needed any decorating ideas. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">
 
A

Arakon

Robert Garcia's Butler
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No, they don't. Games die most of the time cause of people not taking care of them. 95% or more of all arcade games are just the PCBs with no case around them, which means they're open to all kinds of problems, and get damaged much easier from shock, improper storage, etc.
 
A

Arakon

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not quite right, mvsholic.. SF2 does NOT have a suicide battery. it does have an encrypted security board, but not a battery.

btw, check your private message please.
 
N

NSX-T

Amusaka's Lacky
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I am buying the whole game cabinet/monitor for each game, not just a super gun with games. I want a real Arcade in my garage.
 
M

mvsholic

Angel's Love Slave
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No, they don't. Games die most of the time cause of people not taking care of them. 95% or more of all arcade games are just the PCBs with no case around them, which means they're open to all kinds of problems, and get damaged much easier from shock, improper storage, etc.
Click to expand...

Arakon is right. How many have had thier pcbs arrive in the mail non working because of mishandling. The pcbs aren't going to self destruct on thier own. Pinball games do this all the time. 99.9% of all the pcbs which die are fixable... perhaps I should have used the word break? <IMG SRC="smilies/spock.gif" border="0">

Arakon the answer is they have all been legit.

[ July 19, 2001: Message edited by: mvsholic ]
 
M

Metal Slug

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Originally posted by mvsholic:
[QB]Arakon is right. How many have had thier pcbs arrive in the mail non working because of mishandling. The pcbs aren't going to self destruct on thier own. Pinball games do this all the time. 99.9% of all the pcbs which die are fixable... perhaps I should have used the word break? <IMG SRC="smilies/spock.gif" border="0">

Yeah Thanks! Tell that to my shorts!
Click to expand...
 
M

mvsholic

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Yeah Thanks! Tell that to my shorts!
Click to expand...

I'd recommend using Garg7's neogeo toilet and lwk's neogeo toilet paper for that. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">
 
M

Metal Slug

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Originally posted by mvsholic:
<STRONG>I'd recommend using Garg7's neogeo toilet and lwk's neogeo toilet paper for that. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
Click to expand...

LOL! Yeah, if I win the Lottery this week, I'll buy that NGF Neo-Toilet!

So what are the dodgy jammas and carts that a total "Know Nothing" like myself should steer clear of?
I've been building up a collection of games for my cab' and dont wanna buy ones that are on their way out!
Someone said something about EPROMs in MVS carts dying when they get old??
Its all Welsh to me! My poor old cab is still awaiting its re-build that I promised it about six months ago when I bought it!
 
M

mvsholic

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Dodgy? The only dodgy mvs carts I've seen are by questionable dealers that are quite frequently the topics of these forums. Cps-3 and cps-2 I would stay away from unless you have the ability and money to replace the batteries every 5 years. Anything with frequently moving parts breaks down easily so you might want to stay away from those... such as driving games, shooting games, games that require hard drives or cd-roms. There is nothing wrong with the games themselves, however they do have more moving parts and as we all know they will break eventaully. Anything arcade related that you buy is "on it's way out." The general rule is waiting 3-4 years before the price drops enough to be feasible (around $200). Why not buy the games that didn't see home release, or games that you like on home release that you know will be recieving a lot of play were you to buy them on a cab. Everyone has a different idea of what an arcade should have. Do A LOT of research before you commit to buying a pcb. One might equate it with buying a stock. Know the highs and lows of the game, what system it runs on.. are there any other games that run on that system? What special controllers does it require? Will I play it enough to get my investment out of it? If it sounds like the general rules of buying a neogeo game, they are.
www.klov.com <A HREF="http://www.system16.com" TARGET=_blank>w
ww.system16.com</A> http://arcadecollecting.com http://emustatus.rainemu.com - great for Taito

are some sites worth checking out. Same with rgvac.

P.S. - I could see some eeproms failing, however that rate cannot be high unless you either:

A. Your little brother/sister bangs the cart against the wall

B. You take a picture of the eeproms.

[ July 19, 2001: Message edited by: mvsholic ]
 
A

Arakon

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the main reason for MVS bootlegs failing is bad solder spots on the eproms, not the eproms themselves dying.. I got a puzzle bobble bootleg for 10 bucks cause it'd have garbled gfx after a while of playing, took me 10 mins to re-solder all spots and now it works perfectly.
as for eeproms on arcade boards that don't have a case, put some black electric tape onto the window to prevent deletion from sunlight, and you're set, as long as you treat the boards well.
 
C

Caris Nautilus

Guest
Well taken of arcade boards dont die any sooner than a super nes cart would.

Yes suicide battery games die, but thats about 5% of all arcade boards out there.

Keep your boards away from high static, and they'll be fine.

[ July 19, 2001: Message edited by: Caris Nautilus ]
 
N

NSX-T

Amusaka's Lacky
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Please comment on the boards dying in these games. Here are the games which I will buy 1st to start my personal Arcade:
Arm Wrestling
ESWAT
Shinobi
Golden AXE
Super SF2
Double Dragon
TMNT
Ghouls and Ghosts
Twin Cobra
Final Fight
 
A

Arakon

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Golden Axe has a suicide battery, unless you buy a bootleg of it.
Super Streetfighter II is CPS2, means you need an A board too, and the game has a suicide battery. replacing the battery isn't TOO hard, but try to check with the seller if the battery was switched out lately.. they last 4-6 years usually.
 
S

SNKjr

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O.K guys, what about the killer instinct boards, are they worth getting, because they looks fragile and can break easily and how long do they last, Please.
 
M

Metal Slug

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O.K, pretend I know nothing (he,he)
But with a board with a suicide battery, what happens if the battery dies?
Do you just have to replace it? Or does it do something else to the board?
I've got a Golden Axe 2, converted to jamma, should I be worried?

Thanks in advance.

[ July 20, 2001: Message edited by: Metal Slug ]
 
A

Arakon

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well.. if you commit suicide, you tend to end up dead, and plopping a new heart into your smashed body ain't gonna do a thing.

Most Battery Boards are dead when the battery's empty, some can be fixed with hacked roms and replaced CPUs, but not all (like CPS2).

GA2 doesn't have a suicide battery AFAIK.

As for Killer Instinct, the weak spot is the HD.. if it fails or has errors, the game won't boot. You'll have a hard time finding the same model of HD again and someone who can clone you a working image on it.
 
B

bwi

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I just have to say , that steering away from Cps-2 games becasue of the battery is a load of bollocks. If your game is working when you recieve it. Replace the battery straight away.

Cps-2 games do not die. If you change the battery regularly they will be fine and dandy. Only problem is that once you remove the battery you have about an hour to install the new one.
WWW.CPS2shock.com will tell you all about it.

Bri
 
Hinge

Hinge

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Isn't SSFII CPS1, and SSFII Turbo CPS2?
The batteries in CPS2s, in my experience last a LONG time. I have an Alpha 1 blue board that is still kicking, never opened up. Don't worry about immediately replacing one in a recent board.
Other than that your PCBs will last forever as long as you treat them good - keep them wrapped up and in a safe place when not in use.
 
A

Arakon

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SSF2 is CPS-2 too as far as I know. as for not replacing.. games that are older than 4-5 years should definately have it replaced right away, you don't wanna power up your cab to a black screen cause you didn't worry about it.
 
bugula

bugula

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Originally posted by mvsholic:
<STRONG>I'd recommend using Garg7's neogeo toilet and lwk's neogeo toilet paper for that. <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
Click to expand...

heh, LWK finally found a good use for that tongue of his?

<IMG SRC="smilies/tickled.gif" border="0">
 
M

mvsholic

Angel's Love Slave
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Arm Wrestling
ESWAT
Shinobi
Golden AXE
Super SF2
Double Dragon
TMNT
Ghouls and Ghosts
Twin Cobra
Final Fight
Click to expand...

Are you looking for dedicated or conversions?

I'll reply more tomorrow. I have to clean up the house. <IMG SRC="smilies/ohno.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/spock.gif" border="0">
 
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