My New Gold Cab and Game Questions

Figured I'd post up some pictures of my new project, an MVS Gold Cab. Waiting for my replacement board to get here now. Other than that and needing a new set of buttons it's in good shape. some paint and cleaning and it will be ready for play.





The grafiti is already removed and the control panel overlay and moniter cleaned up pretty good.

It'll be purely for playing, doesent need to be perfect. I've got Bust a Move, Ghost Pilots and Metal slug.

What would everyone suggest I look for game wise? I'm new to the Neo Geo so I'm not familiar with the games. What are your favorites and why?


Thanks Guys!

I'm a Sucker for originalilty but sometimes to make things nice,easier it can't be done.(parts can't be found)Cheaper Options.



The Bezel can be painted black..Or,you can get a Black Poster Board and cut it to the same dimensions using the old one as a template.
It may be poosible to flip the old on around if the other side hasn't faded.

All the Metal can be stripped and repainted..

I'd look into your power supply..Is it working properly...If you had board problems..Before installing another one,make sure the voltage is set right.
Here's the Original..
http://www.hardmvs.com/html/powerSupply.htm
http://www.happcontrols.com/powersupplies/80007200.htm

+5V 15A, +12V 5.5A, -5V 1A
UL and CSA recognized
External On/Off cable with 4-pin Molex
Dual AC input 115vac/230vac, selectable by switch
Low ripple and noise, EMI filter
Overload and short circuit protection
Built in DC fan and power switch
Metal case - XT size
Dimensions 8.74"L x 5.51"W x 4.65"H
Supplied with 8' long SJT power cord
Meets AMOA standard
1 year warranty

You already know about the MV-ELDs,the lights on the front.
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showt...light=Electroluminescent+Indiglo+Replacements


The stick on the right side is the original type..Thick-Chrome Stemmed,Happ Super Type.

...............................................................................................
I've seen these cabs panted black,Red-White Neo Geo MVS Square Stickers on the Sides,and Red-White Control Panel Overlay...

Red-White Control Panel Overlay...Much easier to get in original form the the Gold overlay..
Atleast some that I've seen didn't have to have the holes cut out.

Ok,crappy but:
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEO-GEO-Control-Panel_W0QQitemZ280073457181
They pop up way more then Gold as I've never seen an "original" Gold overlay on Ebay..

NOTE: Only the 4 Slot(not sure on a 1 slot) Big Red Control Panel overlay fit the 2 Slot Woodgrain Cab.
The Big Red 2 Slots overlay looks the same but the button locations are lower making the overlay unusable.(atleast that's the way my cabs are.
The Red-White Control Panel Overlay on my Big Red two slot will not fit my 2 Slot Woodgrain Cab...(the button locations are lower)

You see how your A button is directly in line next to the joystick..Make sure when ordering-buying an overlay that it's lines up like that..(if going Red-White Control Panel Overlay..
.................................
The Speaker Bezels

"Neo Geo Gold Speaker Bezel Restoration"

I've been wanting to repaint the Speaker Bezels in the Neo Gold Arcade Machine for the longest..
They looked dull and in need of paint.

To take them out requires you to unbolt the 4 screws that hold each speaker in,from the back.
I would suggest taking the carts out of the motherboard and covering it up,marking just how the speakers and ground wires go and watching out for the bottom of the monitor.

I get all set up to sand them,paint them etc today but I decide to wash them in the kitchen sink real well before I start.
The water in my place is very hot and I have one of those pressure sprayers in the kitchen sink..

As I was washing the first one I noticed an edge of paint coming up..I start rubbing it and all of a sudden I'm getting black paint in my sink.
Someone must of repainted these with Black Water Paint at one time.

I keep the water pressure spray on and I'm creating small islands of black paint that I'm rubbing off with a toothbrush,my fingers and a scrubber...Amazing how well it was coming off,down to the original what looks to be baked on paint because the water will not do any damage to it.

The toothbrush with the pressured spray of hot water worked the best..
It took me say 45 minutes to do the first one and my fingers are washed out..

I'm almost done on the second one but need a break.(my fingers hurt)

QUESTION:
I don't know what they used to paint these the first time originally..
I'm not even sure if it is paint or the color of the metal.(?)

All I know is it looks great and I didn't have to paint them.

Briggs
I'm pretty sure they are powder coated.

The second one came out just as nice as the first,plus I knew what I was getting the top layer of paint down to so I wasn't so carefull.
That Powder coat paint is really on there.

The two bezels are flawless now..The nicest damn things on the cab..

I hope someone else in the future can use this info,instead of re-painting them.


...............................

Frome your thread:.
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159174
..I've Never seen an original cpo for a MVS Gold cab being sold..

Those repros are really the only thing out there..

I have one of those repros on my MVS Gold cab...It's a bitch to cut the holes though..
I have an old thread about it posted in tech with the sellers name that repos them...He makes the Marquee holder too..

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88272

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showth...light=Gold+Cab

I still have my original cpo,but it's horrible..


Original joysticks...(not sure where to find the thick chrome stem type.
Looking on ebay I find thisthese look to be the right ones)
http://cgi.ebay.com/JOYSTICK-RED-OV...3QQihZ008QQcategoryZ13718QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
These look like originals,but I'm not sure if they are 8 way(ask before buying-I just send seller a question)they might be 4 way.

The black ones.
http://cgi.ebay.com/JOYSTICK-BLACK-...0QQihZ008QQcategoryZ13718QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


I'd like to buy a set of the red tops for my Big Red 2 slot.

Note: the sticks above may be a tad longer then the originals...I bought a set off ebay(not sure from who) like 5 years ago for my Big Red.4 slot..They were the same as the originals,just that the chrome stem is longer.
They are fine,just if you want originals you may want to measure your original stick stem length then ask this seller if it measures the same.

Happs
http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/joysticks_amusement.htm

Buttons..
These "may" be what you want.
http://cgi.ebay.com/MVS-NEO-GEO-HAP...ameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting


I bought a set of Happ buttons,2 sets...off Ebay and the ones they sent me(not this seller) were smaller in height and width then my originals.(I don't like them but they work.

If you put in only a few and leave another type,you'll notice the difference.

I'm really not sure what type you(I need)Closest to original..
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/pushbuttons.htm

The originals in my Big Red 4 slot are wide ringed,the top push button stick up high and is wide(less ring then the buttons in my Big Red 2 Slot-the push button is wide and high,has a sharp lip ..Vertical Switch Type.
Closest to thesebut mine are short)
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/539200xx.htm
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v21/Chris1/EbayVidJanShips009.jpg

These look like what I have in my Big Red 2 Slot(but again mine are short.
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/5891xxl.htm
They are not original..,the push button is low profile and notas wide as the ones in my Big Red 4 slot.(Horizontal type switch)
I know the original owner changed all them,he told me.

The Buttons in my MVS Gold Cab are the Happ Buttons I bought off Ebay..
They must be these..New longer design,horizontal switch.
http://www.happcontrols.com/pushbuttons/5891xxl.htm
I hate them,they are very low profile,They feel like Crap when you push them/very soft..

I never changed them "because"..If you get one of these "repro CPOs you have to cut the holes to match the button.(I vut the cpo to the smaller OD pushbuttons)
If you cut the holes to match the original(wider) pushbuttons then these will float around in the whole you cut..Making for a pain in the ass to get it centered...

So,if you buy a Repro CPO,Make sure to have the button set you are going to use before you cut the holes..It's a one shot deal with these repro CPOs,you can't keep cutting on them or the top layer of clear plastic comes up,ruining the CPO.
...or even if you still use the original,a smaller OD pushbutton may not line up right and you'll see the circle line marks of the original buttons(if you had the wide originals)


There are two types of 2 slots..(One with on board Memory Card and one without)
For originality you need the the one with the onboard memory card reader.



If your not going original then might as well put in a 4 slot(two types) one small,one bigger-doesn't matter)

Or maybe a six slot,though I'm not sure if a 6 will fit..

PCB Comparison(the two type 2 slots nor 4 slots are not shown here though)
http://www.hardmvs.com/html/PCBcompare.htm

as far as games are concerned, if you want to go old school, I would say Baseball Stars 2 and Nam 1975 are definite must haves, Samurai Shodown 1 or 2, and bust-a- move and metal slug which you have are both classics.

get in touch with www.thegameroom.com for the gold button overlay.

problem..

Well, I got the new board installed after checking everything out (Power supply, buttons, connections ETC.

Been playing for a day or so now and now I have a problem (I'd post this in the tech support section but it wont let me, guess its cause im a noob)

The powers up and displays the first game, you can switch to the second game fine but it wont let you switch back to the first game again. Also wont establish credits on the player one (left) side. makes the noise like it got a coin, just wont display credits or let player one play. The player 2 side coins up and plays.

Any help?

push the #7 dip switch down for free-play, so you dont have to credit the machine. Also, if youre looking for 2 great games to play:

Magical Drop 3

Windjammers two of the best multi-player games of all time

hey,

Yea, the no. 7 switch will take care of the not coining up problem but it still doesent switch between games and I need to leave it on coin op when I'm not around.

Magical Drop looks cool, I'll have to check out Windjammers though! Thanks!

once youve started a game, and have credited the machine, the only way to switch between games is to reboot, with a uni-bios, or to turn the machine off and then back on.

yea but the problem is even running normally with no credits in, it switches from game one to game 2 and doesent let you switch back to game 1. It also wont let you coin up on the player 1 side.

mydodgedip said:

yea but the problem is even running normally with no credits in, it switches from game one to game 2 and doesent let you switch back to game 1. It also wont let you coin up on the player 1 side.

Click to expand...

oh then the select button is either bad, or its wired incorrectly. check www.hardmvs.com for the mvs pinout

try first changing the cherry switch underneath the select button, or just touch the two contacts and c if it switches games

Check this thread,it may be the answer.
Go into the soft dips and change GAME SELECT to FREE or ANYTIME.
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157609&highlight=Select+Switch

I did a search for Select Switch.

chris1 said:

Check this thread,it may be the answer.
Go into the soft dips and change GAME SELECT to FREE or ANYTIME.
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=157609&highlight=Select+Switch

I did a search for Select Switch.

Click to expand...

damn chris I'm a little drunk, I forgot all about that, still it sounds like his select button isn't working

hey,

thanks for the ideas guys, The select button works, it switches from the first game to the second but when you hit it again, it doesent switch back to the first game, it just re-starts the second game demo again.

N80G80 said:

damn chris I'm a little drunk, I forgot all about that, still it sounds like his select button isn't working

Click to expand...

mydodgedip said:

hey,

thanks for the ideas guys, The select button works, it switches from the first game to the second but when you hit it again, it doesent switch back to the first game, it just re-starts the second game demo again.

Click to expand...

.(looking at how my cabs are set)My woody MVS cab..

Try,in the Soft Dips

Setting Up the Cabinet

Normal 1 Coin 1 credit
Continue coin 1 Credit
Game Select Free
Game Start Compulsion Without


Otherwise switch the games around in the slots and see what happens

chris1 said:

tons of quality info

Click to expand...

I gotta say man, you have always come through for people on this board (including myself). Quality member, always.

Nice job.

NeoCverA said:

I gotta say man, you have always come through for people on this board (including myself). Quality member, always.

Nice job.

Click to expand...

Thank you,so so much NeoCverA..

In sequence(my date in the cab is wrong)

Press Test Mode Button ..

To get to this screen.(press where I have the red cursor switched to.



Then..



Then.



My Cabs are set on Free Play...

Putting coins in the cab only Credits the cab putting # 1 in the credits on the Control panel,depending on what side I credit.
Putting coins in the cab does not start the games...I must press Player Start to start the games..



Another suggestion would be to clear the back up ram memory..

hey,

I can get into the soft dip settings. I can change the credits per coin and continues per coin. The game switch is set on free but it wont let me switch options on that. It also wont let me switch options on the compulsion. It lets me change from without to "00 sec" but then its stuck on "00 sec", wont let me switch back. Wont let me change the demo sound option either.

All the buttons have been checked and are good too

also, it seems to be failing to recognize the carts installed, doesent display names but it gives me the soft dip settings for the carts.

Thanks again

mydodgedip said:

hey,

I can get into the soft dip settings. I can change the credits per coin and continues per coin. The game switch is set on free but it wont let me switch options on that. It also wont let me switch options on the compulsion. It lets me change from without to "00 sec" but then its stuck on "00 sec", wont let me switch back. Wont let me change the demo sound option either.

All the buttons have been checked and are good too

also, it seems to be failing to recognize the carts installed, doesent display names but it gives me the soft dip settings for the carts.

Thanks again

Click to expand...

Hmm....I'm not sure if you Dip #7 is on for free play.. but if it is it may not let you switch he same options as I have set.
For coin in use I think you need not to have the Dip# 7 free play on..(not sure if you are using it..I'm going to turn mine off right now to see what options I get..


What Bios Chip does the Mobo Have?..US Standard..

Do you happen to have the Bust A Move Cart in the Cab?(if it's a boot they can cause all kinds of problems)try another cart line-up

When you Press.."Service Credit Button" near the on off switch..What Happens..?

When I do it...Both Sides Credit 1 for 1 press.

I turned Free play off Via Dip #7 on the Mobo...

With no credits in the cab..

In the Cabinet Settings/setting up the soft dip
I set Game Select FREE
And I still can switch the game start compulsion to without
I keep clicking past 59 sec to without or back from 01 to without..I don't get the numbers 00

I'm not sure what game start compulsion means,it may not matter.

To play a game now,..I have to Credit the cab..
If I credit side two and start a game on that side it works from player two side.
To Join in on player 1 side I have to credit that side then press player 1

With 1 credit in the cab I can switch to either game I want to play..

Make sure your credit to mobo wires-plus are in the right locations(they may need to be switched around.

hey,

Still new to this..the bios is the socketed chip on the board, correct?

It says toshiba, i can get the specific numbers off of it if needed. This setup was working earlier this morning then after a break and a re-start, this problem happened. previously it was working for a couple days since i got the setup.

With ghost pilots in slot 1 and metal slug in 2, it does the same thing. Will switch from ghost pilots to metal slug but wont switch back to GP.

game start compulsion is how long it gives you to hit start once a credit is established. All dip switches are set to off right now so its not set on free play.

all connections are tight and correct. When a coin is inserted in either slot, the machine makes the "coin inserted" sound, just the 1 player doesent work. the 2 player works like it should

It still fails to recognize the titles of the games in the soft dip settings.

another observation - the coin counter also doesent click and add plays anymore on either side.

mydodgedip said:

hey,

Still new to this..the bios is the socketed chip on the board, correct?

It says toshiba, i can get the specific numbers off of it if needed. This setup was working earlier this morning then after a break and a re-start, this problem happened. previously it was working for a couple days since i got the setup.

With ghost pilots in slot 1 and metal slug in 2, it does the same thing. Will switch from ghost pilots to metal slug but wont switch back to GP.

game start compulsion is how long it gives you to hit start once a credit is established. All dip switches are set to off right now so its not set on free play.

Click to expand...

Thanks..
Yup,just figured out the Game ompulsion it was set to 23 seconds in my Big Red two slot.


I'm assuming that your Bios chip is a regular US since I don't think your getting any UNI Bois screen coming up upon power or any special menus for the Uni Bios Chip..
And if your games are playing English then the Bios probably is US..(if not uni bious as it has region setting)

What happens when you let Metal Slug 2 (the game in the second slot)run fully through it's demo(with trying to switch back)
Does it then switch to CP by itself.?

When you power up the cab,does GP start..Does the Game in Slot one come up first?

mydodgedip said:

all connections are tight and correct. When a coin is inserted in either slot, the machine makes the "coin inserted" sound, just the 1 player doesent work. the 2 player works like it should

It still fails to recognize the titles of the games in the soft dip settings.

another observation - the coin counter also doesent click and add plays anymore on either side.

Click to expand...

With that..If your board is not recognizing the titles of the games in the soft dip settings then somethings wrong..

I'm not sure if it's possible that dirty cart connectors or dirty mobo connectors can cause this..
Three Boots I think can cause this but I HIGHTLY doubt that you got three boots(though I've had and seen three boots of all three games)The GP boot I had was a nightmare cart..
I have a boot in one of my cabs but it still shows up in the soft dips..


I also think for some reason your coin door switches aren't wired right..something not right..I just clicked both switched on the coin door of my woody and the coin counter clicked for both sides.

Another option..
Make sure the Jamma edge on the mobo is super clean and the harness pins(me thinking of everything I've dealt with)

I truly am stumped..