Building from scratch

A.J.

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I'm new to the arcade scene and live about 4 hrs from a big city (Dallas). Since gas is so high is there a way to build a complete system from scratch? I have been looking on EBay and see PCB boards and other misc parts for sale, is it possible to buy enough parts and put a game together? Like I said I'm new and I know the answer is yes... My ultimate question would be where would one find the instructions? I don't want a mame, I want a dedicated system and for it to match the original as close as possible. I know it can be done and I would love to find a site that breaks down the guts of a JAMMA and a non jAMMA so I know what parts and supplies are needed. Any point in the right direction would be appreciated!!
 
Welcome, AJ...

The cheapest way to get a game, especially a JAMMA game, is to not try and build it yourself. Find a nonworking game on craigslist for $50 or less, and then proceed to take tons of pictures, and ask lots of questions on here, and soon you will have a very inexpensive working game. ;)

If you build it part-by-part, you will eventually pay 4X its value. Trust me.

Anyone on here live near Abilene that can hook a new addict up with a cheap JAMMA game?
 
Thanks for the quick reply and the "plug"! I would even accept a non JAMMA cabinet as there are gams in that format that I would like to own as well! (if my research is correct). Here is a list not in order or all encompassing ... Gauntlet
QBert
Joust
Centipede
NBA Jam
NFL Blitz
Spy Hunter
Championship Sprint
PAC-Man
Ikari Warriors
1943 The Battle of Midway/1942
Ironman Super Off Road
Radiant Silvergun
Ikaruga
I, Robot
720 zone
Pinbot
Ghosts n goblins
 
You can swap most jamma games into a jamma cabinet without much trouble, but the same is not true of non jamma cabinets. Most of those games that you listed will require unique wiring, so you would only be able to play one of those.
 
So in the long run I'm better off waiting for a good deal with a dedicated cabinet with my choices?
 
Is there a list of compatible games out in the cyberworld? Maybe atleast one of the games I mentioned I could swap PCB boards inside my DK Jr which has been converted to a Vs. super Mario Bros? It would be cool to pick up one of the many PCB boards on eBay and have a choice...
 
other than maybe a couple of those on your list that might be jamma I don't think any are compatible as far as plug in play. A few may have an adapter that goes from the original pin out to jamma. Your best bet is probably gonna be to find the dedicated cabs. Of course if you don't have room for a bunch of cabs or money for a bunch of cabs then you probably either need to settle for just a couple dedicated and maybe a jamma set up or possibly go with MAME. I'm not a fan of MAME but I can't deny that it gives you the option of more games in less space.
 
AJ, it sounds like you are a perfect candidate for a 60-in-1 type game... If you can swing about $500, you can find a used 60-in-1, and those are JAMMA, so then you also have the option of switching the 60-in-1 PCB for another game that's not on the 60-in-1.

BTW, there are some that are more than 60, but IIRC, 60-in-1's are the most common...?

Easiest way: Buy a cheap working JAMMA game (just keep your eye on craigslist) you can find one for $150 ~ $200 usually, then look for a cheap JAMMA 60-in-1 PCB, and you, good sir, have just started your new OCD / collecting (borderline hoarding) hobby! :D
 
The thing with Jamma is that it supports 2 sticks and 3 buttons per stick. There are kick harnesses and variants that will get you to 6 buttons but the formula is the same. Your game choices are all over the place in terms of technology and connectivity. Some are 10 years old, others are 20+, some use wheels, others use trackballs. Even your monitor choices are different, some are standard and others are medium res. If you want to be able to play old and new games with all those controls your choices are lots of dedicated cabs (expensive) or go with MAME or even one of those XXXX-in-1 multigame boards.

If you go the MAME route, check out arcadecontrols.com .
 
Thank you all for your replies!!

What if I were to buy a non jamma PCB board (ghost n goblins), I currently own a vs cabinet which has two buttons per player, would I be able to install the board plug n play?
 
Thank you all for your replies!!

What if I were to buy a non jamma PCB board (ghost n goblins), I currently own a vs cabinet which has two buttons per player, would I be able to install the board plug n play?

Unfortunately, no. :(

Vs. games are switchable with each other, and JAMMA games are switchable, (Assuming the necessary joy/button/trackball/whatever is met) most everything else is very proprietary.
 
They don't make this easy do they? Guess I will just fix this cabinet which had been converted to a Vs Super Mario Bros out of a DKJr then start looking for dedicated cabs...

How would I find a manual for certain games to see what all is the guts and try to learn and understand how each game I would like to own operates? Is there a central location that has multiple manuals so noobs like me can try to understand the difference and similarities between each game and each companies specific components? That would most likely slow down my noob questions...

Thanks again

Noob... AJ
 
Klov will tell you what system a game uses. http://www.system16.com/ has a very extensive list of games/systems.

But when it comes to game interfaces, it's pretty much Jamma and then everything else. To mix and match games/cabinets, you have to know what kind of wiring harness your cabinet has (Jamma, JVS, Jamma+, etc) and then what kind of wiring your game needs. Then you have to build an adapter between them.

Here are some links to websites I've found with arcade manuals, http://pdf.textfiles.com/manuals/ARCADE/ and http://www.tamdb.net/index.php?page=Home .

Generally speaking though, all games will use mono or stereo for sound, have red/green/blue/sync outputs for video, 2 joysticks, and 3-6 buttons per player. The manual will just tell you what pins correspond to which of these inputs/outputs.

If you prefer just to play the game and don't want to get your hands dirty or you're wary about all the labor involved, go the MAME route. I did that and later figured out what kind of dedicated cab I wanted.
 
Unfortunately, no. :(

Vs. games are switchable with each other, and JAMMA games are switchable, (Assuming the necessary joy/button/trackball/whatever is met) most everything else is very proprietary.

So would a JAMMA PCB Ghost n Goblins work in any JAMMA arcade cabinet?
 
Provided it's a standard jamma cabinet with 1 joystick / player and 3 buttons max, then it *should*. Jamma allows for 3 buttons but not all jamma games use them. So make sure you have enough buttons wired in to play your game.

However if it's this Ghosts n' Goblins, http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=7938 . , then it's not standard Jamma. They provide the pinout for your game but it would have to be adapted to standard Jamma.
 
That is the one... I need to do more research and start learning/understanding how these things work and what is interchangeable with which. Thanks!
 
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