Playchoice 10 Question

ozzman8

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Messages
1,689
Reaction score
38
Location
San Antonio, Texas
Im looking more and more into a PC10. I dont really know much about them. But I like the idea of having my old nintendo games on an arcade rather then a mame. But I have some questions that maybe you guys can help me out with. Whats the difference between a single monitor or a dual monitor? Is one better then the other? What are the benefits and disadvantages of both? And what does it mean when some games say (vs.)? Sorry Im new to this whole PC10 thing..
 
When the game says VS it belong to the VS system...not PlayChoice.

Sinlge monitor and Dual monitor...the only difference is that the dual displays the instructions fro a game on the top monitor at all time during gameplay and on a single the monitor changes screens to show you instructions. The advantage of a dual is that it is unique and pretty cool looking, but the big disadvantage is that the sucker is heavy.
 
IMO the dual was a waist of space and a monitor but i love my PC,as a matter of fact im waiting on a cart right now from another member here so it gets addictive.
 
If you are the only person that plays it, a dual monitor is overkill. However, if you have parties where lots of friends play your games for the 1st time, the dual monitor is pretty cool -- players can learn how to play each game as they go. Just as the marketing execs at Nintendo intended.
 
When the game says VS it belong to the VS system...not PlayChoice.

Sinlge monitor and Dual monitor...the only difference is that the dual displays the instructions fro a game on the top monitor at all time during gameplay and on a single the monitor changes screens to show you instructions. The advantage of a dual is that it is unique and pretty cool looking, but the big disadvantage is that the sucker is heavy.

Thanks... So what is a VS system?
 
Thanks... So what is a VS system?

It is a machine that will allow you to play one or two games at a time depending on the cab type. Games come in the form of EPROMs and a PPU rather than a small plug-in PCB cart. VS games are actual arcade versions of NES games where PC10 games are identical to their NES counterparts.
 
I'm bias and think the dual monitor is a pretty cool set up compared to the single. Its extravagance with utilizing a second monitor to display information is part of the cabinet's charm.

The second monitor does make the cabinet even more top heavy than usual (and around twice as heavy). So don't go trying to set it up on a steep slope in your game room.

P.S. I think the singles have this as well, but an added bonus is that the cabinet is completely flat on top. I have an old television set on top of this unit so I can watch T.V while in the arcade area. So it's kind of a totem pole of CRT's.
 
Im looking more and more into a PC10. I dont really know much about them. But I like the idea of having my old nintendo games on an arcade rather then a mame. But I have some questions that maybe you guys can help me out with. Whats the difference between a single monitor or a dual monitor? Is one better then the other? What are the benefits and disadvantages of both? And what does it mean when some games say (vs.)? Sorry Im new to this whole PC10 thing..

If you had a NES then you aren't new to the PC10 as the games are the same. You may have also missed this thread. http://forums.arcade-museum.com/showthread.php?t=197995&highlight=playchoice

The VS games have different versions of the same titled game however. There are less VS games. PC10 games are WAY more costly than the NES versions however you have arcade controls, on screen instructions (mostly pretty limited stuff) and RGB video into the 19" Nintendo monitors which can look really nice. The bad thing is the high cost of everything, poor upkeep of a possible monitor that you may end up with on whatever you manage to get in your hands and therefore making the Arcade version worse looking than the TV version on a NES. The chances are that your TV/NES combo looks better than the average Nintendo PC monitor unless you find a decent condition one or recently serviced monitor.

You can look at it this way. NES Metroid is $4 and the PC10 version will cost you $75-100... PC10 games tend to have high value and hold their value...

A really good site and resource for VS/PC10 info is...

http://playchoice.riemen.net/

I'm surprised that no one linked it thus far..VS cabs did come in singles cabs that look the same as any other nintendo cab (generally speaking) as well as cocktail-ish "red tent" and "side by side/in the corner" dual.

Again go to the rienmen site as it has everything you want to know.
 
Last edited:
Just to add to the PC10 site, www.johnsarcade.com is a good resource for the Vs. system and games. It will show you what games are compatible with one another's PPU chips as well as a few clips talking about the PCB itself.

Both of these sites are really good resources, however, john's arcade does not have any PC10 material on it (that I know of).
 
I will check those out.. Thanks.. There is a guy close to my area that is selling a black PC10 cab with side art for $500. He said it works but doesnt know what games are on it. I thought that was weird but he said he doesnt play games and it didnt used to belong to him. It looks nice but might need a new CPO. I dont know how the monitor is but he said it works.. I told him I want it just so he can hold it until I go see it this next weekend. But depending on what games it has and what not I might go lower in price. What do you guys think? Is that a good deal?
 
Dual or single

I found the best way to solve the whole single or dual thing is to simply buy both!!!!
 
I can say this about my single monitor PC, I have never ever had to work on it and i cant say that about any of my other machines. and for the OP get a list of the games in it cause you may be on to something there.
 
IMO the dual was a waist of space and a monitor but i love my PC,as a matter of fact im waiting on a cart right now from another member here so it gets addictive.

Waste of a monitor, yes, but that's because a PC-10 is a Punch-Out in a goofy costume. With the game that the cabinet is intended for, the upper monitor is actually useful.

As far as a waste of space goes, a Punch-Out cabinet is smaller than a Dynamo HS-1 (e.g. Ikari Warriors, Double Dragon II, etc.), which is a very typical 19" monitor upright cabinet:

Code:
Punch-Out!! | 74 2/5" × 35 2/5" × 24 4/5" | 287 lbs.
Dynamo HS-1 | 75"     × 36"     × 28"     | 300 lbs.

punchoutb.jpg


dynamohs1.jpg


Punch-Out has a reputation for being taller and heavier than a normal upright arcade cabinet. This is all in people's heads, probably stemming from the idea that the extra monitor must make it taller and heavier than a typical arcade machine.
 
Last edited:
Punch-Out has a reputation for being taller and heavier than a normal upright arcade cabinet. This is all in people's heads, probably stemming from the idea that the extra monitor must make it taller and heavier than a typical arcade machine.

For me it stems from almost being physically crushed by one performing a routine move. Those numbers on paper may do away with what I physically feel when lifting/moving the machine, but they don't take away that these cabinets are much more top heavy than the average machine because of that second monitor.

Still...fun fact to know. Myth busted.
 
Back
Top Bottom