Interest Check: Multi-Nintendo Switcher, Jamma to Nintendo cab adapter

GackAttack

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Interest Check: Multi-Nintendo Switcher, Jamma to Nintendo cab adapter

Hello fellow KLOVers -

A lot to read here, take a seat :)

A few disclaimers:

I've read discussions on this topic several times within the last year, but have yet to see a solution produced. If anyone is close to producing something very close to this currently please speak up - I may have missed something out there and don't want to step on toes. I'm hoping this can be a good reference thread for those involved to help develop the best solution - I won't be making any money from this, I just wanna see it made!

I have been in contact with a reputable fellow KLOVer who can do the circuit board design and he thinks he can make this possible. The first step is to try and see how much interest there would be to purchase in order for him to spend countless hours developing the best solution. He asked to be kept private for now. I think once he can see there is enough demand and what the best solution will be, then he can develop in private until it is ready. I'm hoping we can get enough interest to show that at least 25-50 can be pre-ordered (once design is finalized along with pricing) if not more.

I would also like to start an open discussion of what others have done in the past and see if there are other suggestions to help make this the best solution possible. I may be missing something import in the details, please chime in and help the cause! If/when it happens the final product will hopefully make most happy and I realize it may not be 100% perfect for all interested. Obviously the more complex the board design is, the higher the price tag will be for this. Feedback on price range and preferred options will help to determine the finished product.

Ok, with the above said now on to what I would like to see made/considered....

Multi-Nintendo Switcher design concept:

1. Make a multi-switching adapter board that allows for multiple original Nintendo boards to be installed and played in a typical Nintendo cabinet. This would be a plug-in board solution to prevent too much modification to existing cabinet. This would ideally be minimal if any changes to existing wiring so can be re-converted easily back to original if needed at a later point.

2. Multi-Nintendo switcher would have inputs to support up to 4 (possibly more) different boards at once. Boards to be supported: Donkey Kong/D2K, DK Jr., DK3, Mario Bros., Popeye & possibly a Jamma input, too. The idea would be on a vertical monitor machine it could support Donkey Kong/D2K, DK Jr., DK3 + another input for a Jamma board (ex: ArcadeSD or XX in 1). A horizontal monitor machine could support Mario Bros., Popeye & Jamma(s).

3. Power input supported by Nintendo cabinet PS. Known power supplies - PP900, PP7B, others? Also, possibly support for switching power supply, if yes what type(s)?

4. Multi-Nintendo switcher would have outputs to support different possible configurations - Sanyo EZ20 monitor & audio board. Possibly optional support to include the video inversion and audio amp in case someone wanted to use a WG or Electrohome monitor instead of the EZ20 setup. Harness support for typical Nintendo control panels.

Design considerations:

1. Should each board plug in have its own fine tune adjustment? I have read out there somewhere that each board may vary slightly, so RGB, audio (volume, base/treble?), vertical & horizontal adjustment?

2. Donkey Kong has two different boards that I know of: the (2) board stack and the (4) board stack. The (2) board stack version uses the same connector/harness as DK Jr., DK3 correct? Any differences with Mario Bros. & Popeye?

3. Only one board powered at a time? Then as you switch between games, they need to boot up just like normal? Last game booted (before shutting off) would be the first to boot up when turned on?

4. Game switching controls? I would prefer to do this with existing controls, so some combination of player one joystick/jump button/1 or 2 player start buttons. I know that DK/D2K is accomplished by holding player 1&2 buttons for 5 seconds. The 96 in 1 multi Pac for example I believe you hold the joystick to the right and hold player 1 + player 2 start buttons to go to menu. Maybe consider holding joystick left + jump + player 1 to switch between games, or go to menu selection screen?

5. Extension harnesses/adapters? I picture the board would look something like the 8 in 1 or 6 in 1 switchers and most likely the boards would be stacked/mounted somewhat remote to allow for individual preference. I picture one edge is to connect the outgoing harness(es). Then across the face there would be right angle connectors like the X in 1 switchers. Possibly one or two of the other edges have an input connector (similar to the Double Jamma Switcher) for Jamma boards.

6. Game switcher menu? Possibly consider having a game menu for switching between games (which would then boot normally after selected). This could be possibly achieved a couple of different ways. Either a simple menu would pop up (maybe with a Multi-Nintendo logo at top of screen), then you could have an option to select maybe a 20 character text per game board selection, something like:

Nintendo Multi
select below:
1. Donkey Kong/D2K
2. Donkey Kong Junior
3. Donkey Kong 3
4. XX in 1 Games

-Or possibly allow for a more customized menu? Maybe there is a mini USB or SD card input that allows you to put screen shots or logos in the game selection menu? This would be a cool option, but would have to be limited to help keep the cost down. I would picture you could load maybe 6 or 8 still images that would have a maximum size and .jpeg format or something like that.

6. Screen Saver/Attract Mode on select menu? I would picture this to be something relatively simple and help make for a more entertaining added feature. I'm sure there are some of you out there could get something pretty creative put together. Mine might say something like 'Welcome to GackAttack Arcade'...

7. Price on this I would imagine really depends on all the gadgets it may wind up with. I would like to see this for around $100-$150ish, then possibly another $50ish for any harnesses that may be required. But depending on all the options and fully loaded with harness extensions this most likely could be a bit higher. I can't speak as to how much time this would take to develop or what the cost is to manufacture these, I'm just trying to get a feel for how much people (and how many people) would be willing to pay for a solution like this.

Multi Jamma Swicher picture just for visual reference (ignore the remote):
attachment.php


Double Jamma Switcher reference picture:
attachment.php


Then, lastly the Jamma to Nintendo adapter:

1. Cost effective solution to allow for a jamma board to be played in a Nintendo cabinet. Looking for simple 'plug and play' here.

2. Need to consider power supply and other harness possibilities with this.

3. Price on this, $50ish?

Basically, the opposite of what this reference picture does:
attachment.php


Would work similar to the Lizard Lick Jamma to Pac (I stole the sweet photo taken by blkdog7 ;-) ):
IMG_1056.JPG


Waddya think?

I'm going to reserve the next couple posts for added reference pictures/threads and start a list of who/how many would be interested in getting any of these goodies....

-GackAttack
 

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Reference info:

Added more reference pictures and other related threads:

I will update with close-up pictures of my PCB's, Power Supplies and Harnesses for reference hopefully this weekend:

Donkey Kong/D2K PCB:
attachment.php


Donkey Kong Jr. PCB:
attachment.php


Donkey Kong 3 PCB:
attachment.php


Mario Bros. PCB:
attachment.php


Popeye PCB:
attachment.php


Related threads requesting similar product to be developed:

04/10/2011:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=179369

07/13/2011:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=192069&highlight=nintendo+switcher

02/12/2012:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=223117&highlight=nintendo+switcher

04/19/2012:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=232378

04/23/2012:
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=232760

I'm sure there is more threads on this topic, the above are the ones that I recall. If anyone wants to post links to other threads related I will link them also....

-GackAttack
 

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Interested List

Multi-Nintendo Switcher interested list:
Estimated cost: $100-$150ish (may need additional harness, for example: DK 4-stack version board, maybe up to $50ish? extra)

As of 05/14/12:
Total: 24 (maybe 26)

1. GackAttack (qty 2, whichever design makes the most sense)
2. paulliadis, qty 1
3. MilitiaMan, qty 1
4. bheineck, qty 1
5. CMGTGuy, qty 2
6. dogbowl, qty 1
7. NERDtendo, MAYBE 1
8. djw90, qty 1
9. squal280, MAYBE 1 (possibly wants to work with Vs. boards)
10. JamBurglar, qty 2 (interested in Vs. & PC10 versions possibly)
11. GaryMcT, qty 1
12. Scott C, qty 2
13. qbass187, qty 1
14. barakawins, qty 2
15. xxstatic, qty 1
16. dirt, qty 1
17. kspiff, qty 1
18. Torin, qty 1
19. dethfactor, qty 1
20. Level42, qty 1
21. MCA, qty 1
22. ??


Jamma to Nintendo Cabinet Adapter interested list:
Estimated cost: $50ish

As of 05/12/12:
Total: 4 (maybe 5)

1. GackAttack (qty 3, maybe more)
2. NERDtendo, MAYBE 1
3. dirt, qty 1
4. ??


WooHoo!

-GackAttack

Edit - Quick sneak peek at progress (just a concept for now):
attachment.php
 
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Multi nintendo switcher

I'd love a plug/n play adapter to allow up to 4 nintendo pcb's to be played in one
cabinet. You keep game originality as well as 4 boards to choose from. Awsome!
 
I would think the biggest issue would be the power needs. What is the benefit (other than boot time) of powering every PCB versus individually when switched? If you power all of them at once do you need an extra power supply to run them (like Clay's Multi JAMMA)?

MJ_sw1_b.JPG
 
I would think the biggest issue would be the power needs. What is the benefit (other than boot time) of powering every PCB versus individually when switched? If you power all of them at once do you need an extra power supply to run them (like Clay's Multi JAMMA)?

MJ_sw1_b.JPG

That's a big turn off with some multi designs. The boards should only power up when switched to.

Would pc10 compatibility be possible?
 
I would think the biggest issue would be the power needs. What is the benefit (other than boot time) of powering every PCB versus individually when switched? If you power all of them at once do you need an extra power supply to run them (like Clay's Multi JAMMA)?

MJ_sw1_b.JPG

Yes, I agree. I would think that if all the boards were constantly being powered at the same time it would generate quite a bit of heat, too.

Sorry for the super-lengthy post, just tried to cover a lot of info there:

Design considerations:

3. Only one board powered at a time? Then as you switch between games, they need to boot up just like normal? Last game booted (before shutting off) would be the first to boot up when turned on?

If you would be interested in getting any of these items, let me know. I'm gonna post a list of interested buyers.

Thanks!

-GackAttack
 
I'd love a plug/n play adapter to allow up to 4 nintendo pcb's to be played in one
cabinet. You keep game originality as well as 4 boards to choose from. Awsome!

Cool!

So can I put you on the list of interested buyers?

If yes, which version/qty?

Thanks!

-GackAttack
 
That's a big turn off with some multi designs. The boards should only power up when switched to.

I Agree:
Design considerations:

3. Only one board powered at a time? Then as you switch between games, they need to boot up just like normal? Last game booted (before shutting off) would be the first to boot up when turned on?

Would pc10 compatibility be possible?

I'm not sure what that would take to pull it off. I suppose if it wasn't too difficult (it may be, though) to make a harness that adapts a PC10 to DK style edge connector. I only owned a pc10 briefly and never looked at how that works....post some pictures and details of your PC10 setup for reference.

Has something like that ever been made before?

Also, the control panel is different for a PC10 so again - not sure what that would take either.

I always thought it would be cool to do a multi-VS. cabinet, too. But that may be difficult to pull off - anyone else have opinions on this?

-GackAttack
 
I actually drew up some plans and started prototyping this about 2 years ago... :)

I have the protos somewhere... :)
 
I actually drew up some plans and started prototyping this about 2 years ago... :)

I have the protos somewhere... :)

Sweet!

Details, please?

Switcher AND Jamma adapters, or which one?

How does it function?

How many boards can be plugged in?

Like I mentioned in first post, I don't want to step on toes if someone is already close to producing this. With that said, I am hoping there is enough interest to make something and has the above listed options/functions. Sooo, if it has been 2 years ago with your plans and started prototyping - what made you decide not to go any further, any issues with others developing this?

If you don't plan to make yours in the near future, would you be interested in contributing info to help speed up things?

Any pictures you could post?

Please feel free to send me a PM if you wish to discuss more details in private....

-GackAttack
 
I'd be in if the cost came in between $50-75. I'd even be okay if the switching action were physical rather than through some interface (though the interface would be better). I'd love to have DK, DK Jr. and DK3 all in the same cabinet running original boards.
 
I'm in ... I would love to be able to add DK3 and Popeye to my Double Donkey Kong cabinet.

Hell maybe I'll get really ambitious and add D2K in there at some point as well!

This is a rad idea!

Steve
MM
 
I'd be in if the cost came in between $50-75. I'd even be okay if the switching action were physical rather than through some interface (though the interface would be better). I'd love to have DK, DK Jr. and DK3 all in the same cabinet running original boards.

Glad to see some others starting to show interest :)

I just want to be clear on prices. I'm not positive on what they will be, but have a goal in mind and hopefully they can be produced in that range. There are 2 different items being discussed to work in a DK style cabinet:

Multi-Nintendo Switcher:

7. Price on this I would imagine really depends on all the gadgets it may wind up with. I would like to see this for around $100-$150+, then another $50+ for any harnesses required. But depending on all the options and fully loaded with harness extensions this most likely could be a bit higher. I can't speak as to how much time this would take to develop or what the cost is to manufacture these, I'm just trying to get a feel for how much people (and how many people) would be willing to pay for a solution like this.

Jamma to Nintendo adapter:

3. Price on this, $50-$75ish?

So with the above statements considered, which might you be interested in?

-GackAttack
 
I'm in ... I would love to be able to add DK3 and Popeye to my Double Donkey Kong cabinet.

Hell maybe I'll get really ambitious and add D2K in there at some point as well!

This is a rad idea!

Steve
MM

Awesome!

3 things:

1. How does your Double Donkey Kong board switch between games?

2. D2K won't install on a Double DK board to my knowledge, it has to be added to a regular DK board....

3. Popeye is a horizontal game. It might be possible to have a switch or in the menu to rotate the image (which would be sweet, imho) - but would be a smaller image....hmmm, wonder if that is worth considering?

-GackAttack
 
I'd be in if the cost came in between $50-75. I'd even be okay if the switching action were physical rather than through some interface (though the interface would be better). I'd love to have DK, DK Jr. and DK3 all in the same cabinet running original boards.

Same here, add me to the list. :)
 
Awesome!

3 things:

1. How does your Double Donkey Kong board switch between games?

2. D2K won't install on a Double DK board to my knowledge, it has to be added to a regular DK board....

3. Popeye is a horizontal game. It might be possible to have a switch or in the menu to rotate the image (which would be sweet, imho) - but would be a smaller image....hmmm, wonder if that is worth considering?

-GackAttack

P1 + P2. I thought about this already... :)

you would need to use P1/Jump(fire)
 
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