Running A Medium Res Game On A Standard Res Monitor?

zenomorp

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Another enthusiast posted over on the Arcade Game Repair Help Group!! on FB about trying to use a G07 in a Super Sprint. We told him that he can't use a G07 in a Super Sprint outright because it's a medium res game and the G07 is standard res only. However, I knew of a solution that WOULD allow him to use a standard res monitor in a medium res game. I made a video on it and will post it once it's done but for now, here's the solution. Basically, you're using a CGA/EGA to VGA converter to convert the medium res signal to VGA, then you're feeding the VGA to a VGA to CGA converter to output the proper standard res signal. The two converters combined will have roughly a 4 frame drop, which is completely inconsequential for games like NARC, Super Sprint, Paperboy, APB, etc. The end result is a completely usable monitor that will allow you to keep the machine 'original' and not have to go the LCD route if the game's medium res monitor is missing, destroyed, you can't fix it, etc....
 

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Any idea if this technique would work for Big Buck Hunter or would the signal conversion mess with how the gun works?
 
Any idea if this technique would work for Big Buck Hunter or would the signal conversion mess with how the gun works?
This almost certainly won't work for light gun games due to the converter changing the timing.

DogP
 
This almost certainly won't work for light gun games due to the converter changing the timing.

DogP
The author of the YouTube video did indicate that he believes this would work for big buck hunter. I may end up testing this over the next couple of months. I thought, like you, that it probably wouldn't work as well.
 
If only folks knew to pull the yoke with the chassis and not just the chassis when monitors died. So many Med Res yokes tossed with tubes.
 
The author of the YouTube video did indicate that he believes this would work for big buck hunter.
Big Buck Hunter uses a standard light gun, not IR sensors or anything like that right? If so, I stand by my opinion... but definitely post if you try it.

As the OP said:
The two converters combined will have roughly a 4 frame drop
The BBH PCB will tell the screen to flash, then attempt to determine where it's pointed by measuring when the flash hits the light gun sensor... except the screen now has a 4 frame delay and different timing than it used to (since the video is regenerated). So when it looks for the flash it won't see it and assume you're pointed off screen.

DogP
 
Big Buck Hunter uses a standard light gun, not IR sensors or anything like that right? If so, I stand by my opinion... but definitely post if you try it.

As the OP said:

The BBH PCB will tell the screen to flash, then attempt to determine where it's pointed by measuring when the flash hits the light gun sensor... except the screen now has a 4 frame delay and different timing than it used to (since the video is regenerated). So when it looks for the flash it won't see it and assume you're pointed off screen.

DogP
I have no frame of reference. I assume it would work because the timing offset wouldn't be enough to cause issues, but I admittedly can't say for sure. We would all be wise to yield to your expertise.
 
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