Multiple boards in one cab

ieure

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I know I've seen some stuff about putting multiple game PCBs in one cabinet, but my search-fu isn't coming up with anything.

I'm interested in adding an Asteroids PCB to my Asteroids Deluxe, and some combination of Galaxian/Gaplus/Galaga '88 to my Galaga.

What's the most straightforward way to do this? I guess I could get JAMMA adapters for everything and a MultiJAMMA, but that seems expensive. I think Bob Roberts had a thing about connecting up multiple harnesses and switching only the +5v between them, but I can't seem to find it. Also not sure that would work with a Galaga/Gaplus setup, since they have extra connectors.

What's the easiest way to rig something like this up?
 
A & AD: Someone did a software mod so that you can just swap boards. I do still think there is an issue with the volume. You need to change one resistor or crank the volume up/down when changing boards, IIRC.

Galaga: So many choices! I just ran some extra wires from my CP to the board connecter and put them on their own connecters that plug onto pins I soldered onto this: http://www.jammaboards.com/store/jamma-to-galaga-bosconian-cabinet-adapter-jamma-2-galaga.html

Now I can play any Galaga mapped boards (Galaga, Mappy, etc) or plug in the adapter plus a couple of connecters to play any JAMMA board or vertical board that has a JAMMA adapter for it. Or my ArcadeSD.
 
RE: A and AD, two of the buttons get swapped, left right I believe. Also you have to deal with the reversed display of AD vs the regular display of A. So a good quick switch for testing, but not for playing.

One that works well is Time Pilot and Gyruss. Unplug one, plug in the other. I did that in my Gyruss, I can show it to you sometime. Made a 4 board stack that is accessible via the coin door.

Galaga and Mappy is another that is supposed to work well.

I have seen Crystal Castles and Missile Command in a MC cabinet before. I think that may have been a little more than plug and play.
 
A & AD: Someone did a software mod so that you can just swap boards. I do still think there is an issue with the volume. You need to change one resistor or crank the volume up/down when changing boards, IIRC.

Not huge problems. I know some buttons swap around, but it's not a big deal to fix that, since I need to build some adapters anyway.

I know there's the LL/A/AD multigame kit that will probably never come out, but I don't really care for LL (and don't have anywhere to put a thrust controller on a cabaret), so two boards is just as good for me.

Galaga: So many choices! I just ran some extra wires from my CP to the board connecter and put them on their own connecters that plug onto pins I soldered onto this: http://www.jammaboards.com/store/jamma-to-galaga-bosconian-cabinet-adapter-jamma-2-galaga.html

Now I can play any Galaga mapped boards (Galaga, Mappy, etc) or plug in the adapter plus a couple of connecters to play any JAMMA board or vertical board that has a JAMMA adapter for it. Or my ArcadeSD.
Sorry, I'm really not clear on your setup. You have an adapter that lets you plug JAMMA boards into your cab, then… What, exactly?


RE: A and AD, two of the buttons get swapped, left right I believe. Also you have to deal with the reversed display of AD vs the regular display of A. So a good quick switch for testing, but not for playing.
I have a cabaret AD, so I don't think image flipping is an issue. I think the cabaret harness disables the reversed display when it's plugged in to the board.

One that works well is Time Pilot and Gyruss. Unplug one, plug in the other. I did that in my Gyruss, I can show it to you sometime. Made a 4 board stack that is accessible via the coin door.
That's an interesting approach. I'd prefer a switch or extension so I could keep the original board mounting setup and have a bit more flexibility in where I put the others… Space is tighter in these minis.

Galaga and Mappy is another that is supposed to work well.

I have seen Crystal Castles and Missile Command in a MC cabinet before. I think that may have been a little more than plug and play.
I read about that as well, but I'd prefer a setup where only one board was powered at a time.

Looking like a pile of JAMMA adapters and MultiJAMMA might be the way to go.
 
Sorry, I'm really not clear on your setup. You have an adapter that lets you plug JAMMA boards into your cab, then… What, exactly?

My setup allows me to:
1) Plug the original board and CP in and play Galaga
2) Plug any board with same pinout and controls in and play (Mappy, etc)
3) Plug a Galaga -> JAMMA adapter, multi-CP, a couple extra connecters, and play most vertical JAMMA boards (I ran some extra wires from the CP connecter to the board connecter)
4) In 5 minutes, return the machine to stock Galaga

Looking like a pile of JAMMA adapters and MultiJAMMA might be the way to go.

That is what I would recommend. The only down sides are:
1) Clay Cowgill's multi-JAMMA powers ALL the boards, not just the one being played
2) The other multi-JAMMA's have some issues like a game is not selected by default, some grounds and voltage pins not tied together, etc.
 
...
One that works well is Time Pilot and Gyruss. Unplug one, plug in the other. I did that in my Gyruss, I can show it to you sometime. Made a 4 board stack that is accessible via the coin door.
,,.

I'd be interested in learning more about this method. Got any pics? I usually just pull out the cab and put in a PCB that matches the cabs wiring, but am getting to old to keep moving these big suckers. Time to get smarter about switching the games.
 
I'd be interested in learning more about this method. Got any pics? I usually just pull out the cab and put in a PCB that matches the cabs wiring, but am getting to old to keep moving these big suckers. Time to get smarter about switching the games.
I can get you a pic, but basically my pcbs are all sandwiched together with threaded rod and spacers. Main and sound pcb for each game, 4 total. The edge connectors are facing up, and I mounted the whole thing right behind the coin door, over to the left. No room for a coin box anymore, but I can reach in and swap the edge connector from one board set to the other in seconds.

Another way to do this would be to build a harness utilizing an old parallel port switcher. I know of a T and F - Hypersports cabinet like this.
 
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