WIP: Another PI JAMMA Adapter

A decent HDMI to analog video converter will run in the hundreds

of dollars. The cheaper units are slow and produce poor quality video.



The great thing about the video through the GPIO pins is that there

is no lag or delay. The output I've seen is absolutely amazing.



The idea right now is to keep it affordable. I've considered an HDMI to

analog converter but there is no way to do it properly and keep it cheap.



JD



Ah, well that's probably why there's not one out there then. I think the odroid has the same gpio pins the pi3 does perhaps there is a way to do vga output via the pins on it as well. Thanks for the reply.
 
This just isn't true.
Currently ARpiCADE supports 240p@60, [email protected], 256p@56, 288p@50 and others can be added too.

To be fair I didn't test every game. but I did seek out a dozen or so games that should run at resolutions other than 240p or refresh rates other than 60Hz and every last one of them was being forced to 240p@60.

Maybe it can be configured to function properly, but this information is in the MAME source, it'd be nice if it simply used that to determine the resolution (like the RPi2JAMMA or GroovyMAME) instead of requiring additional configuration on the part of the user.
 
...every last one of them was being forced to 240p@60.

It's the software doing that.

IIRC, an earlier version of the ArPiCade's software would allow native res on all games, but I guess people didn't like the constant image switching between games. I think it's version 3.5 or possibly earlier that you want. Dee2eR would know the full details, or scroll through the official support thread for the gory details. Sorry if my memory is slightly off here.
 
I am looking forward to tossing this in a black painted defender I have... Already rigged up for jamma.



I insist, a pi to jamma solution which only required a 12v rail... And is under $100 for the pcb to do it...

Makes using a pi a more viable solution to a multicade.


If the images for the pi can be configured to actually use the coin slots as well.

I may be tempted to use this in gaplus and galaga until I get one of my boards running.

I know my old man would LOVE this.
 
Well, as an Arpicade owner, I have to say that I love it.

Yeah, it's not perfect, but it's 1000 times better than a 60 in 1 AND dare I say on par or even better than my ArcadeSD board.

But having said that, I am still interested in this thread.

:D
 
or even better than my ArcadeSD board.
:D

yep, the benefits of newer mame updates and a more powerful product.
arcadesd wasn't mame emulation so it never benefited from lots of open source eyes making it better. That's why some of the games are so far off.
 
I am looking forward to tossing this in a black painted defender I have... Already rigged up for jamma.

not to rain on your parade but if you are going to play this specifically for defender you'll find pi doesn't handle defender well even on newer mame. you'll feel the sluggishness if you are any more than a novice player.

there is also something about real defender reading control inputs in middle of frame where mame only polls at end of frame. I'm not techie enough to understand it completely. Defender has some uniqueness that doesn't emulate well. JROK is yer friend.
 
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I sold my Vectrex and other systems games for 19 years and never needed
to do reserves or pre-orders. When the beta testers have completed their
evaluations I will move forward and get some pricing on getting these
produced. There will be plenty available for those interested.

Right now I just want to make sure everything works the way
it should.

JD


Where do I reserve mine? :)
 
not to rain on your parade but if you are going to play this specifically for defender you'll find pi doesn't handle defender well even on newer mame. you'll feel the sluggishness if you are any more than a novice player.

there is also something about real defender reading control inputs in middle of frame where mame only polls at end of frame. I'm not techie enough to understand it completely. Defender has some uniqueness that doesn't emulate well. JROK is yer friend.

I have a stainless steel coin door defender for defender, The second is a black coin door and black latex paint on the sides defender, this I am going to use as a horizontal multi, the damage has already been done to it. (until I decide to de-convert, but joust is first).

I really do not like the price point of a jROK board, as I have a defender and a joust... but as far as emulation, they seem to be the BEST you can get for specialized hardware.


The appeal of of this board, is ease of plug and play. I can move this around between project cabs and have a single game or multi game going.

I may toss it into my hs-5 dunamo, and build a new CP, and ditch my neogeo dreams, since most images can save game states where neogeo 4 slots can with addon mods, but at additional cost.

That's the beauty of this solution, it allows a seamless plug and play option for the rPI boards, to be used in any jamma setup.

But, this really does not need to be said, anyone looking for a cost effective solution is already SUPER EXCITED about this, especially at under $100 price point.

r-pi 3 b+ and a 32gb class 10 microsd on the way
 
I have a stainless steel coin door defender for defender, The second is a black coin door and black latex paint on the sides defender, this I am going to use as a horizontal multi, the damage has already been done to it. (until I decide to de-convert, but joust is first).

You probably already know about this board, but for a 2nd class, painted over black Defender, the $50 19-in-one is a good thing to have around, in addition to the Pi-Jamma / ArPiCade products.
 
That's the beauty of this solution, it allows a seamless plug and play option for the rPI boards, to be used in any jamma setup.

But, this really does not need to be said, anyone looking for a cost effective solution is already SUPER EXCITED about this, especially at under $100 price point.

Yah I agree. I'm a pi convert. I've built more homebrew cabs than I can recall now with pi's.
The Arpicade vertical SD attract mode image is a great image and quite enjoyable. That attract mode image is a game changer for pi's compared to the retropie image all by itself which leaves too much access to the admin stuff within the menus.
 
It's the software doing that.

IIRC, an earlier version of the ArPiCade's software would allow native res on all games, but I guess people didn't like the constant image switching between games. I think it's version 3.5 or possibly earlier that you want.

Interesting. I was unaware of that. I don't own one but I was borrowing one from Brentradio for a few weeks. I've been looking for a solution with proper resolution output which is why I was testing specifically for that.

Well, as an Arpicade owner, I have to say that I love it.

Yeah, it's not perfect,...

What version of the ArPiCade code are you running?
 
Interesting. I was unaware of that. I don't own one but I was borrowing one from Brentradio for a few weeks. I've been looking for a solution with proper resolution output which is why I was testing specifically for that.

The problem with this approach is that you often need to tweak your monitor sync/position when you switch games to get the image looking right. While I'm in agreement with you want I want video that's as close to what the original hardware produces as possible, I also recognize that this makes things harder for the majority of buyers.
 
Testing.

Found a good 64gb image.

And have it sending rgb to my hs-5 dynamo

Some videos will be posted sunday with a prelim writeup.



I will say this. I have had a firm dislike for mame, and emulation.

I have never gotten it to run like I wanted in the past.

This hardware/software solution has completely changed my mind. The embedded firmware makes this plug and play with rpi.
 
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The problem with this approach is that you often need to tweak your monitor sync/position when you switch games to get the image looking right. While I'm in agreement with you want I want video that's as close to what the original hardware produces as possible, I also recognize that this makes things harder for the majority of buyers.



Using super wide resolutions with 240 lines eliminates "most" problems. Even games that use 224 lines for example can be centered with game by game configs.

You have to use AttractMode though because EmulationStation does not display correctly using super resolutions. I don't own an Arpicade, so I don't know how it is set up.
 
Is anyone willing to share a link to the "best" vertical Arpicade image that is available? I want to convert my Arpicade to a vertical setup and can't seem to find the latest image of the vertical version that everyone is using with the Arpicade. Thanks.
 
This is not the Arpicade support thread.

JD

Is anyone willing to share a link to the "best" vertical Arpicade image that is available? I want to convert my Arpicade to a vertical setup and can't seem to find the latest image of the vertical version that everyone is using with the Arpicade. Thanks.
 
Thought I posted this. Sorry for the wait.

You get to see first the new pcJOHN rpi to jamma solution that should have a price point under $100.

20180603_183906.md.jpg


This is a in-progress thread, so please bare with me.

I will document loosely the parts needed, and what I am doing and what I get stuck with.






First up. Parts

Raspberry pi 3b+
64gb microsd class 10
32gb microcd Class 4 (backup)
pcJohn Jamma4pi Board
Jamma Wired Arcade
stereo audio cable
mini-usb to usb cable


Steps:

Flash rPI image to microSD card

Edit config on microSD card to function at CGA resolution

Insert card into pi

attach rPI to jamma4pi board

20180603_184008.md.jpg


attach mini-usb to jamma4pi then USB end to the rpi

20180603_184133.md.jpg


plug jamma4pi assembly into Jamma wired cabinet

Turn on cabinet and enjoy

-----

Arpicade $144.99 //multiboards

Raspberry pi 3b+ $43.73 /https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07BDR5PDW element14 prime
64gb cl10 microsd $22.99 /Amazon prime https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B010Q588D4


This puts you at $211.71 for an arpicade setup


Any pricepoint under that for a jamma4pi is extra savings.


Joust plays fantastic so does defender and stargate.

I cant wait to side by side compare emulation vs original hardware.

I really am suprised I am enjoying emulation so much...

Combination good image for rpi and easy of plug and play.

I swapped it cabs in under 5 mins... But the button config needs remapping. That is standard with any rpi setup moving from one cab to another with more or less buttons.




Overall I look forward to using these in future projects.

I am compiling some video and will upload to youtube tonight, basic concept and inside the rpi image, and a bit of game play.

Not having to deal with tapping into things for power anf just using the jamma edge.... So easy. i can't say it enough sooo easy.




And now for the bad:

It's all smd tech, I prefer through hole, but john has overspec'd the components, and the build quality suprised the $**t out of me.

No volume pot, so the rpi can blast you full volume with nothing you can do (bad for pre-made images with attract videos on start up)

The volume issue is being addressed in V2 of this, so it should be a non issue.

This being essentially a raspberry pi hat, I am at a bit of a loss on how to mount it.. Again, version 2 should remedy that tiny hangup.


Vids by tomarrow.
 
A few comments in regard to the very nice writeup -

Finished unit will include USB and audio cables.

If you are using Retropie, I made a retroarch.cfg file
that maps out all of the inputs. There are 32 button
inputs total.

The next version includes a volume pot as well as
trimmers for the color outputs. I've noticed that
VGA666 seems to overdrive the red a bit.

There will be standoffs to screw down the Pi and
lock it in place.

JD
 
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