Help converting original Galaga to Multicade

zildjian

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Hi guys. I am hoping some of you might have done this before and can help me. I have an original Galaga cabinet that I would like to convert to a 60-in-1 multi jamma game.

I have heard this is pretty easy if you have a Ms. Pac cabinet, but with a Galaga cab I was told its a little different.

Can someone tell me exactly what I'd need, and maybe recommendations on the cheapest source to get the parts needed? Thank you so much!!!
 
It's a bit easier with Ms Pac because a 4 way joystick is already installed in the game but no fire buttons. The 2 way joystick needs to be replaced with a 4 way on a Galaga but if you can live with one fire button, you should be go to go.
 
Don't be a fool. If you're looking to do this "as cheap as possible", sell the Galaga and convert something that has no value to it.

Galaga's will always in demand. 60-n-1 multicade garbage won't be.
 
Don't be a fool. If you're looking to do this "as cheap as possible", sell the Galaga and convert something that has no value to it.

Galaga's will always in demand. 60-n-1 multicade garbage won't be.

Thanks couldn't agree more. We have some guy around me that buys classics and strips them for 60/1. At his asking price he's not making much and destroying several nice games.
 
You could always buy a Galaga to JAMMA adapter and a fully populated control panel to "preserve" the game for a future sale.

I wouldnt tear into a Galaga either but its your game, do with it what you want too.
 
You could always buy a Galaga to JAMMA adapter and a fully populated control panel to "preserve" the game for a future sale.

I wouldnt tear into a Galaga either but its your game, do with it what you want too.

Yep. Buy a new CP with new CPO and controls from ArcadeShop, get a JAMMA adapter that allows you to hook up an extra button, and you're good to go. And you can always turn it back into a Galaga at a later point if you want...
 
Spend your money restoring the Galaga rather than converting it, you'll be happier in the end.

I'd disagree. Spend the money to convert the Galaga "correctly" so it can be changed back but buy a better multiboard. Those 60-in-1's suck.
 
Don't be a fool. If you're looking to do this "as cheap as possible", sell the Galaga and convert something that has no value to it.

Galaga's will always in demand. 60-n-1 multicade garbage won't be.

That would most likely be the best way to go. For the price of a Galaga, you can buy 2 or 3 so so games, maybe more. Get something halfway decent that is already a vertical JAMMA game and plug in a multi board. No rewiring or buying adapters. Control wise, you just need a 4 way joystick, (maybe 8 way for some games) two fire buttons and player start buttons.

That way, you preserve a dedicated classic for someone who is looking for one. Somebody is ALWAYS looking for a Galaga. If you do multi-game it, please do it tastefully as suggested with the JAMMA adapter and specialized control panel so that it can easily be changed back. Every time somebody rips the guts out of a dedicated game to make a multi-game (some E-bayers do it all the time) that is one less that someone can appreciate and take care of properly.
 
If the wiring is shoty and the pcb doesn't work, remove it all, wire it for Jamma and install the 60 in 1. That's what I am going with mine, only the pcb still works but my wiring was big time hacked so I bought an adapter from Bob Roberts to use with my Galaga pcb. This way, its done cleanly and I'm able to preserve the original pcb, while allowing me to use the 60 in 1 everyone so hates.
 
while allowing me to use the 60 in 1 everyone so hates.

FYI, my hatred for the X-in1's isnt because people willy nilly toss them into cabs (its your game, turn it into a fish tank for all I care) its because the emulation sucks. The Namco games (Galaga/Pac) have noticeable lag on the controls, many games have awful sound (Gyruss), some games dont even sound right at all.

I love the original AS board but have not had a chance to get my hands on one of the newer SD board.

I'm not the guy thats going to bust anyones balls over converting a "classic." Hell, I've put so many classics down in my lifetime it would make many of the guys on this board ill. I've been in the Coin-Op biz for almost 30 years so I'm sure you can imagine what I've done.

My additions to this thread was to support resale. If you keep the mods to a minimum and make it so that the game can be "converted" back to the orignal board its going to be worth more money to this group.
 
Very fair points. I suppose I was trying to understand why everyone hated the boards and I can see your point of view, however, from what I have seen / played at my friends place, I dont see any issues with the emulation on PAC Man / Galaga but I'm not sure if that's because he is using the newer 60 in 1 boards or if it's just me.
 
Your going to get a lot of people here that dont want you doing this sort of thing because they are purists, I get it but thats not why I care.

These machines are not a hobby for me but I suppose you can say they are an investment. As an operator 20+ years ago if we had a game that wasnt making any money (read PacMan) we converted them (read TO ANYTHING UNDER THE SUN!). I recall a month where we converted maybe 100+ Pac's to vs UniSystems with Super Mario and Excite Bike in them. The games went from being in storage (I kid you not, on their sides with 4X4's between them stacked probably 30 feet high) to being back on the route kicking ass! We had some servie calls on the Marios because the cash boxes filled up and the quarters had no where to go.

You should look into the SD Multi board. Its more expensive then the 60-in-1's but if its anything like the AS board its WAY better all the way around.
 
Arcade SD is way better than 60-in-1. Well worth the money.

Galaga cab to jamma board adapters work great.
 
In my opinion, may be better but not at $310. For that price, I can build a PC to run the same games and give me far better options. After all, this is no different than running MAME ROMS on a pc and add it to a cab.
 
In my opinion, may be better but not at $310. For that price, I can build a PC to run the same games and give me far better options. After all, this is no different than running MAME ROMS on a pc and add it to a cab.

The only advantage is that with the SD board all you have to do is load the images to the SD card. No IPac, no JPac or any other keyboard deal to wire in.

I agree that a PC running MAME would give you more options.
 
I dont see any issues with the emulation on PAC Man / Galaga but I'm not sure if that's because he is using the newer 60 in 1 boards or if it's just me.

Every 60:1 I've played has horrible sound and some incorrect colors (all I've seen have YELLOW apples in Mr. Do!), so I'm not sure if there's a difference between newer and older PCBs.
 
In my opinion, may be better but not at $310. For that price, I can build a PC to run the same games and give me far better options. After all, this is no different than running MAME ROMS on a pc and add it to a cab.

Ive never played on a Mame machine that is Close to the low latency of an arcade sd.
 
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