Image Fight BG problem!

Dragon1952 · Post by **Dragon1952** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:37 pm

Gentlemen of the Shmup realm,

I have just received another pcboard bought from a Yahoo Japan auction and yet again it does not work properly. Although I have gotten mostly working pcb's I am going to stop picking up anything unless it is something I really want and need!

And this yet again came from "Starpine" as the seller.

The problem that I am having is that the BG or background graphics are showing rom garbage or a simple small srite over and over titled across the BG. The FG or foreground sprites are fine, meaning the player ship, all bullets and enemies are all present and working fine.

This is a three layer pcboard that uses two wired connectors between the middle board and the bottom board opposite end of where the jamma edge connector is located. One of those two connectors has a wire broken, but I actually have another Irem board of that era and it too has a broken wire but works normally! I am not sure why they are using such soft and small gauge separate wires instaed of a ribbon?

Anyone else out there have or had this problem? Please share your thoughts and solutions!
Thanks.

-David Siller

Post by **Dave_K.** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:22 pm

What proxy bidding service did you use? Sounds to me like Starpine found a way to dump his shit boards (if he has any for the won auction), knowing we can't give negative feedback through the proxy bidder. I'd just avoid buying from him or his alternate account fetarkatight.

Regarding your problem, sounds pretty obvious you should just replace them with scsi (or similar) ribbon cables.

Dragon1952 · Post by **Dragon1952** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 6:52 pm

Where can I get those similar ribbon cables? Do you mean that I should modify these (by adding the ribbon to replace the wires)?

The Proxy service is reliable and probably well known here but this is not his fault unless Starpine senses that is what is happening (gaijin buyers) and therefore dumps to those clients. Funny thing is there was a different seller with one that was 3,000 less and I went with Starpine! Silly me....

oxtsu · Post by **oxtsu** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:02 pm

Dave_K. wrote:What proxy bidding service did you use? Sounds to me like Starpine found a way to dump his shit boards (if he has any for the won auction), knowing we can't give negative feedback through the proxy bidder. I'd just avoid buying from him or his alternate account fetarkatight.

Say what now? That's one bold accusation.
I've never had problems with starpine's boards, personally.

Damage in shipping is much more likely. Two boards in row...very unusual, and very bad luck there mr.Dragon. Sorry to hear this.

Stefan_L · Post by **Stefan_L** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:21 pm

If there is bakground problem then it's caused by the bottomboard, if i was you i would check the connectors that goes to the bottomboard and since you already said one wire is broken then thats very likley the problem

Test to replace the broken wire connector with one from your other M72 game... and sometimes just removing and put back the wireconnectors will fix problems.

Dragon1952 · Post by **Dragon1952** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:28 pm

I've bought 10 to 12 boards from Starpine and have immediate problems with two! I have been told that he won't exchange or take them back and that they are sold "as is" and I am taking a risk bidding on them.
I blame no one, all I want to do is repair them without sending & spending "technican" time and adding $80+ more to the already steep price.

I realize that the Image Fight pcb is an ancient board and complex, but the single layer Tatsujin Oh should have worked fine regardless and it appears that others are aware of and having similar problems! I believe the Tatsujin Oh was shipped in this condition....!

Stefan_L · Post by **Stefan_L** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:05 pm

Just test with another wireconnector i'm almost sure it will work.

Also i think starpine don't go thru the games so much in detail... probably just starting them up to see if video and sound works.

Dragon1952 · Post by **Dragon1952** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:21 pm

If he (they), Starpine tested at all they would have immediately seen that the BG graphics were faulty!

Thanks for your advise as well! I appreciate people who try to help each other!

oxtsu · Post by **oxtsu** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:25 pm

Dragon1952 wrote: I have been told that he won't exchange or take them back and that they are sold "as is" and I am taking a risk bidding on them.

In a strict sense, that is false. He states in his listings that he offers refunds for DOA boards. However, yes, by the time most people in the States receive them it is too late and there is no recourse.

I believe the Tatsujin Oh was shipped in this condition....!

I don't think it's impossible, just highly unlikely. During the holidays, the increased shipping volume translates to more rough (at times brutal) handling in transit. I've seen boxes dropped 30 feet without a dent on them.

Dragon1952 wrote:it appears that others are aware of and having similar problems!

If you and Dave believe it was shipped that way, fine. I think you're way off base, but fine.. ;-)

Dragon1952 · Post by **Dragon1952** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:26 pm

Okay, taking into account what you are saying then I will give Starpine the benefit of the doubt!

Dragon1952 · Post by **Dragon1952** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:50 pm

Okay, switching that rear connector from one from my X-Multiply did the trick! That was indeed the problem. However, that cut wire does not seem to be a shipping and bad handling problem since the board was wrapped like a mummy....!

Post by **Dave_K.** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:26 pm

oxtsu wrote:Two boards in row...very unusual, and very bad luck there mr.Dragon.

Yeah, maybe to bold a statement...I guess could be bad luck. I've never had a problem with Starpine either, but he does write in his auctions that USA bidders to contact him directly rather than use a proxy. And then ignores the emails. Maybe he doesn't like us?

Dragon1952 · Post by **Dragon1952** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 9:54 pm

I did just that! I contacted him and NEVER received a reply. So I used a Proxy to bid and get arcade pcb's otherwise, but probably no more unless it is rare and must have. Then I already know what I am up against.

oxtsu · Post by **oxtsu** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:27 pm

I can understand how you feel. It's emotional.

You might try buying directly from a shop next time
http://www.tops-game.jp/

ｱｲﾚﾑEye rem ｲﾒｰｼﾞﾌｧｲﾄImage fight 18,900 J 88 縦Length 2
ｵﾌﾟｼｮﾝ系ｼｭｰﾃｨﾝｸﾞOption system shooting M72

Usually more expensive than YAJ but faster and offers a warranty that we can actually use.

Also, I would say file a damage claim with the shipping co, but the chances of them paying out are slim, unless a) the box is trashed b) they deem that it was packed to their highest standards c) other miscellaneous shit that I won't go into.

Dragon1952 · Post by **Dragon1952** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:50 am

Thanks! I usually have a number of people checking the "shops" in Japan. The Image Fight just came up one night while I was combing through Yahoo Japan looking for what might be there that I have on my "want list". I saw two Image Fight's and choose Starpine's since I thought that he was one of better sellers. I bid on his even though there was another one for 3,000 yen less. Then I tested the game that was the first problem when I finally got my New Sega City wortking and discovered the problem with that one and the rest is history...

What I really want is a MAD SHARK board, but so far no luck at all....!

dpful · Post by **dpful** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:02 am

I'm not sympathetic for starpine. I think it sucks shit to spend money and time on trash. Better packaging, more thorough testing (prabably this one), whatever it takes-- No matter how good a deal the boards are, a seller who can't deliver them working is delivering expensive trash. There shouldn't be an element of risk or bad luck involved.

Post by **system11** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:02 am

I'm afraid this sort of thing comes with the territory, especially with certain types of boards including M72 - those ribbon cables frequently break.

jamma-pcb · Post by **jamma-pcb** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:46 pm

You should all know that old boards are a risk no matter where they are from. One day they can work the next they dont... or even worse beginners using equipment they know little about... especially over volters grrrr that really drives me up the wall.... so the risk is in the hands of the buyer... used electronics which are antiques in the world of technology...

Also I have a working version of image fight but its such a dam good game I wont part with it under 85 quid + delivery....

let me know if you want it...

Dragon1952 · Post by **Dragon1952** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 5:06 am

Bloodflowers....
Are there replacement ribbon cable assemblies for the M72? How common an item in PCB and other electronic applications is this particular configuration of ribbon cable?

Jamma-pcb....
I have been working with circuit boards since the late 70's having spent quite a bit of years in the coin-op amusement game business, and since then have been collecting game pcb's numbering 114 games (okay some are NG). I know as everyone knows that old relic pcb's are risky. But they can also be reliable depending on the design, the components and who made them. Glad your going to keep that Image Fight!

Rock on! Long live the never-ending fight....