Tornadoboy
Well-known member
$420+ for I-Robot, that's what!
Robran68 had a good idea about making a univeral replacement board, although I don't have any idea how technically feasible that would be.
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Reproduction Atari Boards from Original Films
- Thread starter atariscott
- Start date
$420+ for I-Robot, that's what!
Robran68 had a good idea about making a univeral replacement board, although I don't have any idea how technically feasible that would be.
Tronic
Well-known member
Speath makes a number of good points, but I would be interested in the boards anyway. There is something about the idea of new boards using the original films. I am sure I would be up for a few of them for around $225 or so.
These are the ones I would be in for.
Quantum
I-Robot
Major Havok
But also:
Tempest boardset
Asteroids
These are the ones I would be in for.
Quantum
I-Robot
Major Havok
But also:
Tempest boardset
Asteroids
bit_slicer
New member
Keep in mind that *just the bare board* something that size would run you about $250. Now you have to add on all the passives and ICs. That will probably add another $200 or so. Not to mention all the effort in finding all the compatible parts. It's a nice thought, but doesn't sound very practical.
copious
Well-known member
With thousands of each PCB produced I sdon't think that you'll break even producing these. Now proto types that might sell.
This is a pretty neat idea. I don't think it would wind up economically feasible, primarily because of the board area involved. Also, how many chips are on a typical board? 100-150? Even if the chips are common ones, that's more expense.
For the oddball/rare chips, that could be another 5-10 bucks per chip.
I think that the capability to do this is awesome though.
Wouldn't it be cool to see a fresh board silkscreened:
ATARI(scott) LUNAR LANDER 2010
For the oddball/rare chips, that could be another 5-10 bucks per chip.
I think that the capability to do this is awesome though.
Wouldn't it be cool to see a fresh board silkscreened:
ATARI(scott) LUNAR LANDER 2010
m_mcgovern
Active member
You were half-way to a universal vector board (not just Atari) using the Zektor ZVG and having the game logic driven by mame.
Tronic
Well-known member
Someone is probably going to correct me, but if he has the films, that's going to reduce the cost of have the board house produce these.
Anytime I have had a board produced and used existing films from my previous run, it's been cheaper. Granted I have never run anything as big as the Atari boards, but I would be curious to see what they charge when they don't have to develop the films.
Spyridon
Well-known member
Because this is KLOV. Lot's of people think they want something but when it comes to actually parting with their money, it's a different story. Look at the new amplifone thread. Does anyone really think that many people will actually pony up $500 - $800 for each monitor?
back on topic...
I think some posters made from those films would be pretty cool
Oryk Zinyo
Well-known member
I agree completely. That is why I feel the only true way to gauge interest in something like this is to take non-refundable deposits up front. This shuts up all of the shit talkers who claim they want something but don't have the willingness to follow through.
Of course, if you actually take deposits you then have to deliver on a reasonable timeline and I know many guys find that difficult...
bit_slicer
New member
ArcRevival
Well-known member
I agree, that thread is a joke. I posted up rebuilt amplifone deflection boards and sold 2. There were a lot of tire kickers but when it comes to pulling the trigger that is another story.
I think this would be really cool. I'd be interested in Paperboy, Tempest, some of the System One games, and Asteroids.
HudsonArcade
Well-known member
Hey! Look who knows absolutley nothing about hardware!
Entire eras of pinball machines are just ROM swaps... relatively few arcade boards are.
HudsonArcade
Well-known member
Marginally... the material costs and drill time aren't affected by having films in hand...
It doesn't really cost that much to print films when the trace/space is so big anyway... prob a good 12+ mil on old ataris....
You have to consider that there is interest, but that doesn't mean that the boards will go flying off the shelves. From personal experience, I would buy a new board, even if the cost is more, simply because I am tired of buying someone else's board issues. I'm also tired of auctions that are hit and miss, tired of *untested* sales, and trying to find a decent missile command board without having *something* wrong with it. Are some klovers cheap? hell yes. But some of us will buy just to show our support. I buy almost all of my parts from klovers here instead of places like happ. It's at least worth the time to get some estimates.
joeycuda
Well-known member
I know there's a lot of value in originality, original design, etc...but..
Look at from the pinball side - Would someone want a rescreen/exact repro of a Sys80 MPU or a redesigned, more reliable, more flexible board, with diagnostics, etc..? Easy to answer.
There are so many repairable Centipede, Asteroids, etc.. PCBs around that there's no way this is worth doing. I could see it being worthwhile for the rare and expensive boards - Quantum, MH, but at what it would cost to produce and sell, there are boards out there if someone is willing to pay what it is worth.
I think that the original films are priceless in terms or preserving the designs and if it's ever feasible to build and sell these, but...
Most, including myself, would probably rather buy a redesigned, single ROM, non-original board for $X than a copy of the original that is already available for the price. Either way, it's technically not original.
Look at from the pinball side - Would someone want a rescreen/exact repro of a Sys80 MPU or a redesigned, more reliable, more flexible board, with diagnostics, etc..? Easy to answer.
There are so many repairable Centipede, Asteroids, etc.. PCBs around that there's no way this is worth doing. I could see it being worthwhile for the rare and expensive boards - Quantum, MH, but at what it would cost to produce and sell, there are boards out there if someone is willing to pay what it is worth.
I think that the original films are priceless in terms or preserving the designs and if it's ever feasible to build and sell these, but...
Most, including myself, would probably rather buy a redesigned, single ROM, non-original board for $X than a copy of the original that is already available for the price. Either way, it's technically not original.
Phetishboy
Well-known member
Seriously, Pole Position and PP II would be my picks if you had them. I have had more repairs done to the 4 boardsets that I have owned than any other repairable item in history. Tempest also seems to be a good candidate what with the heat popping chips out of their sockets.
joeycuda
Well-known member
Wouldn't it make much more sense for someone to design an FPGA board, with the PP edge connector pinout, to put in PP cabinets, that has PP and PP2?
Phetishboy
Well-known member
It would, but nobody has stepped up to do it yet. I want something more reliable in THIS lifetime.
joeycuda
Well-known member
The original PP board design was crap, so a repro would be a repro of crap. I suppose there will always be some board designs that aren't worth revisiting (and questionably worth fixing).
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