Jamma/ CPS Primer

[Soldato J]

Hey guys, I am in the market for a cab and need some help/pointers. I have read about the a and b boards for capcom cps stuff, but I can't really find any good info. Can someone point me in the direction of some info or maybe elaborate here? I basically know very little to nothing about cabs, jamma, and cps. I have a chance to get a nice cab and would like to know that I can change out the boards myself (I am not afraid of tech so it should be no problem with a little guidance), etc. Any hints, tips, web pages with good info? Thanks in advance. It is a little time sensitive, so quick replies are appreciated.

Edit: Also, if you don't mind dropping an opinion, any suggestions as to reasonable pricing on cabs would be REALLY appreciated. Thanks again

[Dave_K.]

Hey guys, I am in the market for a cab and need some help/pointers. I have read about the a and b boards for capcom cps stuff, but I can't really find any good info. Can someone point me in the direction of some info or maybe elaborate here? I basically know very little to nothing about cabs, jamma, and cps. I have a chance to get a nice cab and would like to know that I can change out the boards myself (I am not afraid of tech so it should be no problem with a little guidance), etc. Any hints, tips, web pages with good info? Thanks in advance. It is a little time sensitive, so quick replies are appreciated.

Edit: Also, if you don't mind dropping an opinion, any suggestions as to reasonable pricing on cabs would be REALLY appreciated. Thanks again

Maybe you can elaborate on the type of cab and price?

I'm not familiar with CPS1 or CPS3, but CPS2 are the ones with A+B boards. As long as you get both A+B when buying a game you don't have to worry about mix/matching the boards for different regions. Also hooking up the games to a can is pretty straight forward, just one jamma connector. I guess the only other concern would be asking if the battery has been changed in the CPS2 board as they will eventually fail and game will not work anymore (hence the "Suicide" nature of CPS2).

Back to A+B, the A board is a generic connector board and compatible with Japan or US B boards. "A" boards are pretty cheap. "B" boards are the actual game roms and motherboard. Asia A board can only physically connect to Asia B boards. Green = JPN, Blue = US, Grey = Asia. There is also a Yellow board which is ment for the rental market, but I'm not sure which region A board its compatible with.

[oxtsu]

Rolling start...


http://www.jamma.or.jp/
JAMMA official webpage...not really useful for non-Japanese language though; all the tech manuals and research docs for JAMMA and new JAMMA (JVS) standards are there.

http://arcarc.xmission.com/
Old school heads.

http://www.solvalou.com/arcade.php
Various arcade topics.

http://cps2shock.retrogames.com/techinfo.html
CPS-II explained.

http://slot-tech-ftp.serveftp.com:8080/ ... epartment/
Guru of arcade tech, Randy Fromm. Many deep-tech articles.

http://www.system16.com/index.html
Arcade hardware data and games list. Thorough and fairly accurate.

http://www.geocities.jp/gamehouse_grind ... me_top.htm
Pics of most earlier Japan cabinet (scroll down to cabinet1 through 7...click)

http://set-in-led.0catch.com/arcade/konami-index.html
Konami Windy cabinet testimonial [English]

http://members.cox.net/jmccorm/egret.htm
Taito Egret testimonial [English]

http://otoya.sheep-cloud.net/barabara/baratop.html
Basic: Japan arcade control breakdown



For more precise info on what works and what doesn't, as well as price estimation, I think we'll need to know your cabinet and games detail (or what you're looking at getting). If the game and cabinet are JAMMA, as are the vast majority, then it will be plug and play with few exceptions.

[Soldato J]

Thanks guys (Dave K and oxtsu) for the quick replies--I have a little more info that may help as well...

It is a Dynamo Cab, monitor is perfect as are the controls, has a Marvel Vs Capcom board in right now, will come with 3 other CPSII boards. The cab is in excellent condition. Any going rate suggestions (for just the cab, and cab + games)? How much do most boards for CPSII generally run? How about a Dynamo cab with no boards in it in great condition?

Again, sorry for the generalized info, but I am working with what I have. All replies appreciated. I want to make sure I do not get ripped off, mainly, since I know very little about this (but have been wanting to get into it for oh so long--this could be my chance!)

[zakk]

Something that never comes up when people are discussing the various cabs. As an owner of an Egret, I consider it completely useless for 2 player use. The control panel is just way too cramped. If that's a concern for you, you may want to look at other cabs. The egret 2 and 3 don't seem to suffer from this, as they widened the control area.

I've been thinking of doing lots of measuring and trying to come up with a replacement for the plastic part of the egret control panel. My goal would be to allow for the use of astro city style panels in it. Unfortunately I don't have an astro panel around to get good measurements of. I think worst case you'd lose the use of the 'outer' cupholders on the egret.

Really I'd just like to find either and egret 2 or an exceleena red.

[D]

oxts thanks for the links

Soldato J, what is the price you will be forced to pay and what other games are included, give us the details man.

My advise, if the cab is ugly think again about buying.
Because you will have one huge gigantic ugly cab in your house for a while.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

If you are wondering about the Capcom CPS-1 type of Jamma PCBs, the USA bios versions of Varth & Three Wonders were of the CPS-1 types. (And no suicide battery to worry about either...)

Anyways, the Three Wonders PCB is a multi-layered PCB...in some places, it is up to three PCB layers thick! (Reminds me of how the Taito G-Net mobo is comprised of several different layers of PCBs to make it all work properly.)

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Soldato J]

Well, this was it (item #6218014859). I wont go any higher, and it looks like he will, so---

Free shipping was my main concern as I was going to pick it up in Orlando (I am in Miami).

I really wanted a japanese style cab anyway like an Egret or something similar--but I was so close to finally owning my own cab!

Oh well, the search continues......

If anyone knows of a deal in Miami or around thereabouts, please drop me a line

PS D, you are right, the thing was damn ugly compared to the J cabs lol....

[MKL]

If you are wondering about the Capcom CPS-1 type of Jamma PCBs, the USA bios versions of Varth & Three Wonders were of the CPS-1 types. (And no suicide battery to worry about either...)

Three Wonders has a suicide battery in every region.

Anyways, the Three Wonders PCB is a multi-layered PCB...in some places, it is up to three PCB layers thick! (Reminds me of how the Taito G-Net mobo is comprised of several different layers of PCBs to make it all work properly.)

The only CPS1 PCBs with less than 3 layers are the non-Japanese Forgotten Worlds and Ghouls'n Ghosts...