Namco NA-1 Hardware

caldwert · Post by **caldwert** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 11:38 pm

I recently picked up Fighter & Attacker by Namco which uses the NA-1 hardware. Game powers up perfectly and accepts credits, however, I can't get the game to start. I see there's another connection on the motherboard and was wondering if this was where the start button was supposed to be hooked up? Any assistance is appreciated. I noticed Namco has this edge on quite a few of their arcade hardware platforms and I'm not exactly sure what it is for. Thanks!

Sinfreealex · Post by **Sinfreealex** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:11 am

Since that game is listed as JAMMA, the start button should be wired into the main JAMMA harness.

Shown here: http://www.coin.demon.co.uk/jamma.htm

Should be 17, if the sticker is still present on the harness, for 1UP. Or would be 17 on the side where the KEY (no wire) is 7th from the right. Hope that helps.

caldwert · Post by **caldwert** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 4:04 am

That's what I figured too, but that hardware has a whole other edge connector built into it that I'm not sure what its for. I'm wondering if that's not the problem. Maybe its my cabinet. Anybody else have any ideas?

Sinfreealex · Post by **Sinfreealex** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 2:35 pm

Generally an extra edge connector is simply an expansion if the game needs it. Seeing as your game is a two button shooter with a single joystick per two players, there is no need for the connection. The Capcom CPS-1 hardware has a spot to plug in an additional two buttons per player if needed. It is only needed for the Street Fighter II series, for example, while Final Fight uses only 3 buttons per two players. Looks like none of the NA-1 based games use more than two buttons. They must have intended the hardware to be used for more games than they actually used it for. This happened quite a bit in the 80's and 90's. Hope I've helped a bit.

I would clean the leads on the edge of the circuit board with a Clorox wipe and spray your JAMMA edge connector with electronics cleaner. The cleaner dries in a manner similar to rubbing alcohol so you can just let it dry, or try folding a piece of paper to size and inserting it into the slot to make sure it's cleaning. If this does not do the trick, which it will 9 times out of 10, check the wire connection at the start button. These things loosen up when being moved or traveling. You wouldn't believe how many "dead" or "broken" machines I've revived by just cleaning them and checking the contacts.

Have fun.

caldwert · Post by **caldwert** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:12 am

Already did all that. Tested other games and the start button works perfectly. The board is in pretty perfect shape so I'm really confused. Seller claims he played it on his cabs. I'll wait til a friend gets back from Japan to test it on his cabinets.

Sinfreealex · Post by **Sinfreealex** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:22 am

That's rough. Could be a trace is broken somewhere and you may need to jump a wire. If you are up to it, follow the lead back from where it connects to the 1UP on the JAMMA connector and see if it's been broken somewhere. Sometimes all you will need to do is resolder a bad connection. At any rate, I hope you get things working soon.

caldwert · Post by **caldwert** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:33 pm

Yeah I checked the traces and they seem to all be ok. I just have to wait to test it out next week on a friend's cabinet. Guy I got it off of said he'd tested it on 2 different cabs and it worked, but who knows. I hope it gets working soon too b/c I'd rather have a game show up broken in half than just the start button won't work.

Sinfreealex · Post by **Sinfreealex** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:48 am

I hear that. Sucks troubleshooting this stuff sometimes. An hours work is OK with me, but after that I start getting really frustrated.