Arcade Shop and DKII

[HighScoreSaves]

Well, to start off, I purchased an Arcade Shop pcb. I figured I can use it in my DKII project that was a gutted shell to start.

This was not as easy as I thought it was. I have a few computers here at the house and after waiting for the pcb to arrive, I started to look around at each one and noticed I didn't have any with a serial port! OK, no worries, I jumped online and bought a usb to serial adapter. Should arrive within the week.

I bought some artwork and other misc items from Steven at AS. Also bought the DKII code. I figured while I'm waiting for the cable, I can wait for this package too.

DKII code came instantly through the email. Great! I have it, just no way to program the pcb...

In about a week, the cable comes in, I go to install at my home office computer, the little driver disc goes crazy in the SuperMulti drive! Cannot load. No worries, just won't have the comfort of my office to get this thing working. So I go out to my workshop. Turn on the computer, and takes about an hour to download everything (Windows Update, Virus protection, etc). Makes me think I should turn it on more often. Usually use it to pump in some music over the network...

Everything is loaded and ready to go! I installed the drivers for this cable and looked to be fine. I go to open menusys and update the ROMS with DK Foundry while I'm at it. I type in the DKII activation code and get the menu set up the way I want it. DK games in front (since it's going into a Nintendo Cab) and then the rest.

I goto program the pcb and menusys can only find one COM port to use, COM3 and the pcb isn't being programmed! I go into device manager, see the COM for the usb adapter is set at COM14 and change it. The only open port is COM2 and menusys says, "no, I don't recognize that one" or something to that effect. OK, no problem. I disable the modem on COM3 which is never used anyways on that computer, and try again. It still won't recognize it. OK, no problem. I restart the computer. BIG MISTAKE.

I ended up losing the DKII file since you can only activate it once during each upgrade to the pcb (new games). F@#$!

I get the cable to load the other games, still upset that DKII is not on there. The cable now recognizes COM port. Or the computer recognizes the cable with menusys, whatever way you want to look at it.

So after all this trouble, I decided to email Steven to see if anything can be done.

All I can say is WOW! Great guest service! He emailed me back (this is the second email I gave to him, first one questioning how to load DK Foundry) the next morning and said I was all set to go. Steven stated that he reset the DK II code and then asked that I recheck the cable to ensure that it would load a game and program prior to entering in the DK code again. I did as he asked, it programmed Donkey Kong. I tested, it worked! I now enter the code and rearrange the menu to my liking, and it is done!

Thought it was going to be easier than this, still not too bad if I verified the operation of the cable through menusys and not Windows Vista Ultimate.

All and all, thanks to Arcade Shop and Steven for the support, I have a 100% great product for my application and received great guest service! Thanks again!

Now to try and figure out the new levels. First time I will be playing it...

 

[tron guy]

I wasn't a huge dk fan, but when I started playing dkII, the few times I have, I love it.
I want a set up like that at some point.

 

[FrizzleFried]

I love DKII but I am insulted that I paid $$ to "lease" the ROM... when you pay that kind of dough you should OWN the ROM and be able to install it all you want. Especially now when the excuse of "we don't want it MAMEd" is moot as...well...it's MAMEd.

 

[cleverlyj]

so if this is the case how's it work when you do the high score dk2 upg? looking on arcade shop i see no mention of entering an activation code.

 

[BaconSM]

so if this is the case how's it work when you do the high score dk2 upg? looking on arcade shop i see no mention of entering an activation code.

The versions of all the DK's on the board have the hi score save built in, there is no need for the braze kit. When you buy the board and the DK II license, Steven at Arcadeshop sends you an activation code that you input into the PC programing menu to activate that particular game. You must input that code anytime you reprogram the board to add DKII to the game list and the code only works once for every new update to the board.

 

[simpsons99]

dk2 kit

Well, to start off, I purchased an Arcade Shop pcb. I figured I can use it in my DKII project that was a gutted shell to start.

This was not as easy as I thought it was. I have a few computers here at the house and after waiting for the pcb to arrive, I started to look around at each one and noticed I didn't have any with a serial port! OK, no worries, I jumped online and bought a usb to serial adapter. Should arrive within the week.

I bought some artwork and other misc items from Steven at AS. Also bought the DKII code. I figured while I'm waiting for the cable, I can wait for this package too.

DKII code came instantly through the email. Great! I have it, just no way to program the pcb...

In about a week, the cable comes in, I go to install at my home office computer, the little driver disc goes crazy in the SuperMulti drive! Cannot load. No worries, just won't have the comfort of my office to get this thing working. So I go out to my workshop. Turn on the computer, and takes about an hour to download everything (Windows Update, Virus protection, etc). Makes me think I should turn it on more often. Usually use it to pump in some music over the network...

Everything is loaded and ready to go! I installed the drivers for this cable and looked to be fine. I go to open menusys and update the ROMS with DK Foundry while I'm at it. I type in the DKII activation code and get the menu set up the way I want it. DK games in front (since it's going into a Nintendo Cab) and then the rest.

I goto program the pcb and menusys can only find one COM port to use, COM3 and the pcb isn't being programmed! I go into device manager, see the COM for the usb adapter is set at COM14 and change it. The only open port is COM2 and menusys says, "no, I don't recognize that one" or something to that effect. OK, no problem. I disable the modem on COM3 which is never used anyways on that computer, and try again. It still won't recognize it. OK, no problem. I restart the computer. BIG MISTAKE.

I ended up losing the DKII file since you can only activate it once during each upgrade to the pcb (new games). F@#$!

I get the cable to load the other games, still upset that DKII is not on there. The cable now recognizes COM port. Or the computer recognizes the cable with menusys, whatever way you want to look at it.

So after all this trouble, I decided to email Steven to see if anything can be done.

All I can say is WOW! Great guest service! He emailed me back (this is the second email I gave to him, first one questioning how to load DK Foundry) the next morning and said I was all set to go. Steven stated that he reset the DK II code and then asked that I recheck the cable to ensure that it would load a game and program prior to entering in the DK code again. I did as he asked, it programmed Donkey Kong. I tested, it worked! I now enter the code and rearrange the menu to my liking, and it is done!

Thought it was going to be easier than this, still not too bad if I verified the operation of the cable through menusys and not Windows Vista Ultimate.

All and all, thanks to Arcade Shop and Steven for the support, I have a 100% great product for my application and received great guest service! Thanks again!

Now to try and figure out the new levels. First time I will be playing it...

Would'nt be about the same price too buy a Real working DK PCB and then the DK2 Kit from arcade shop?

 

[HighScoreSaves]

I could have, however, I already have a DK machine an wanted to see what their multi pcb was like. I get a few extra games in the cab that is not available on the 60/1.

Logic states use my existing, however, I will have a dedicated DKII cab with the artwork sitting next to the DK and DKJr....

 

[cleverlyj]

The versions of all the DK's on the board have the hi score save built in, there is no need for the braze kit. When you buy the board and the DK II license, Steven at Arcadeshop sends you an activation code that you input into the PC programing menu to activate that particular game. You must input that code anytime you reprogram the board to add DKII to the game list and the code only works once for every new update to the board.

i meant the dk2/highscore upg kit they have for $79. that's not a whole board, just an add-on, from what it looks like, anyways.

 

[BaconSM]

i meant the dk2/highscore upg kit they have for $79. that's not a whole board, just an add-on, from what it looks like, anyways.

yea that kit is for an upgraded original DK board with DK II. The code is for the arcadeshop multiboard that dosen't use the any kits. It's for programing the multiboard with DKII.