Capcom Power System CHANGER-The Definitive On-line Resource:

Arasoi · Post by **Arasoi** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:09 pm

Yes, those are CP System Dash or "CPS 1.5" boards.

It has some extra features like Qsound, later used in CPS2. If I'm not mistaken these had the first suicide batteries too.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:35 pm

undamned wrote:Sorry rain on your revelation, but there were a hand-full of CPS-1 JAMMA games that had plastic housings like those of the Changer. Most are that same grey color, but on occasion I've seen blue ones. Off the top of my head:

Punisher
Muscle Bomber
Cadillac and Dinosaurs
Dynasty Wars

I had a dead Muscle Bomber PCB that I swapped my Rockman Power Battle PCB into for added protection :D
-ud

Glad to be appraised of the facts actually :)

Alec · Post by **Alec** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:18 pm

Yeah, the Q Sound boards.

I also kinda get the feeling there was a super or super turbo released for this system. but then I also get the feeling there was not. Well, it'll run the arcade board just the same.

I've always wanted one of these, but could never justify the purchase when they're up for sale.

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:39 am

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER Definitive Resource is the first extensive and only competent expose in English on-line is here!:

(Under the TFP Features section):

http://www.japjac.proboards.com/

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 1:41 pm

It wasn`t expensive at all, the set was free. It was a gift from some of the Capcom Japan guys (which is another cool story like the one that follows bro).

so you didn't buy the one you put the large non-refundable deposit on in 2005 ? You did get this in 2005 too right, must have been a lucky stroke for the capcom guys to give you one for free.

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=50626
http://www.capcom-unity.com/ask_capcom/ ... 4/?pg=last

??

Why then did the Capcom Power System Changer only last for such a short time?

the usual reason - a combination of price and lack of diversive software.

That remains a mystery to me and something that only old hands at Capcom Japan could answer and certainly not an internet educated, non-owning pundits.

oh dear.

this is what is weird, this is a great article, it's a great vid, but there's always some sort of Egotrip involved. I can't see why you don't get that this is why you turn people off ?

naaa, there's no mystery at all. close to 40,000 for the machine and 20k a game, and only a limited number of titles at a time when arcade gaming was still doing well.

strange, why didn' t you ask the old hands at capcom , mystery solved surely?

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:00 pm

1994`s Capcom Power System CHANGER is the rarest officially released to the public modern Japanese consumer TV-Game system in the World, ever.

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER feature. The FIRST extensive competent expose in English on-line, can be found here:

http://www.japjac.proboards.com/index.c ... d=features

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 1/5. The FIRST Capcom Power System CHANGER footage video on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDuQJb-ZSm0

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 2/5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11--f9FnzGE

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 3/5. The FIRST and the only known Capcom Power System CHANGER in the WORLD capable of running CPS II fully footage video on You Tube. CPS II's Street Fighter Zero 2 with all punch and kick buttons in the correct places on both sides. Select buttons are coin and Start buttons are start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8yuI2SBZKA

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 4/5. Coming soon at:

http://www.youtube.com/JAPJAC

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 5/5. Coming soon at:

http://www.youtube.com/JAPJAC

Damien McFerran and JAPJAC's Capcom Power System CHANGER print feature (appears in the December 2010, issue 84, of Retro Gamer magazine):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyHWGWEjF_4

I believe this to be the FIRST feature in print on the system in English in the World, ever.

Out now!

Cheers.

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:22 pm

Ask at Capcom USA? The same people that stated that the software was based on CPS-2 hardware in that very thread. Are you thick chap? My friends at Capcom were new hands if that is what you meant to be fair.

Capcom Osaka.

After every post isn't true, after every bullshit post you make then i will p ... oh no wait... yeah, you are right. :/

`the usual reason - a combination of price and lack of diversive software.`

...And SNK`s Neo Geo? You`ve done badly.

much more diverse software line up, predates CPS C by nearly 3 years, but was still pretty much a cult machine. Outdoing the CPS hardly classes as a commercial success, rather it's more of a story of a hardcore userbase carrying a system. Both ultimately underperformed.

Unless of course you think the Neo Geo was a roaring home console success?

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:23 pm

1994`s Capcom Power System CHANGER is the rarest officially released to the public modern Japanese consumer TV-Game system in the World, ever.

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER feature. The FIRST extensive competent expose in English on-line, can be found here:

http://www.japjac.proboards.com/index.c ... d=features

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 1/5. The FIRST Capcom Power System CHANGER footage video on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDuQJb-ZSm0

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 2/5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11--f9FnzGE

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 3/5. The FIRST and the only known Capcom Power System CHANGER in the WORLD capable of running CPS II fully footage video on You Tube. CPS II's Street Fighter Zero 2 with all punch and kick buttons in the correct places on both sides. Select buttons are coin and Start buttons are start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8yuI2SBZKA

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 4/5. Coming soon at:

http://www.youtube.com/JAPJAC

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 5/5. Coming soon at:

http://www.youtube.com/JAPJAC

Damien McFerran and JAPJAC's Capcom Power System CHANGER print feature (appears in the December 2010, issue 84, of Retro Gamer magazine):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyHWGWEjF_4

I believe this to be the FIRST feature in print on the system in English in the World, ever.

Out now!

Cheers.

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 2:42 pm

Nuff said.

well, yes, you got me there for sure.

anyways, i better start MSNing all the guys at capcom, see if i can get teh free hardwarz as i hear they are generus that way. lol.

Capcom`s CPS-1 technology and if it had been more of a success, their CPS-2 and CPS-3 technology in turn.

errrrrrrr no. Well, i am glad you need to be an owner of this fine piece of kit to understand the ins and out , huh?

i guess they could have created each game with the a board attached to every game, but that would have been more financial suicide.

Post by **undamned** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:32 pm

JAPJAC wrote:What does go against the machine is the lack of 21-Pin RGB support. The best it can unfortunately offer is S-Video. That is hardly surprising given that this is a consumer machine afterall and the Japanese are and were backward when it came it RGB in the home. The makers of the FC, PCE, N64 and DC also did not support RGB.

If by "DC" you mean Dreamcast, it does indeed support RGB.

JAPJAC wrote:This machine offered fantastic value at the time. It`s design was very clever as it allowed forward thinking because it was able to support current Capcom`s CPS-1 technology and if it had been more of a success, their CPS-2 and CPS-3 technology in turn.

Have you tried mating your changer to a CPS-2 or 3 (with metal cage, of course)? I'm curious if it would fit very well (i.e. not just mating with the JAMMA edge, but mechanically complementing those systems). And how about the kick harnesses? Is there a way to make those work? (I'm just curious. I'm not challenging your opinion.)

JAPJAC wrote:Why then did the Capcom Power System Changer only last for such a short time? That remains a mystery to me and something that only old hands at Capcom Japan could answer and certainly not an internet educated, non-owning pundits.

So, what does owning the system have to do with knowing the answer to this mystery? You own it and you don't even know?

JAPJAC, you probably know alot more about games than I do, but you should realize that there's a difference between being special and telling people you are special. You should try and keep your focus on writing good articles and sharing good information (which you have proven yourself capable of) rather than making yourself out to be special by telling people that you are (or by inferring that you are by insulting others). Knowledge does not have to be directly proportional to ego.
-ud

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:15 am

1994`s Capcom Power System CHANGER is the rarest officially released to the public modern Japanese consumer TV-Game system in the World, ever.

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER feature. The FIRST extensive competent expose in English on-line, can be found here:

http://www.japjac.proboards.com/index.c ... d=features

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 1/5. The FIRST Capcom Power System CHANGER footage video on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDuQJb-ZSm0

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 2/5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11--f9FnzGE

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 3/5. The FIRST and the only known Capcom Power System CHANGER in the WORLD capable of running CPS II fully footage video on You Tube. CPS II's Street Fighter Zero 2 with all punch and kick buttons in the correct places on both sides. Select buttons are coin and Start buttons are start:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8yuI2SBZKA

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 4/5. Coming soon at:

http://www.youtube.com/JAPJAC

JAPJAC`s Capcom Power System CHANGER Vid pt. 5/5. Coming soon at:

http://www.youtube.com/JAPJAC

Damien McFerran and JAPJAC's Capcom Power System CHANGER print feature (appears in the December 2010, issue 84, of Retro Gamer magazine):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyHWGWEjF_4

I believe this to be the FIRST feature in print on the system in English in the World, ever.

Out now!

Cheers.

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:49 am

I would only trust the reasoning from Capcom Japan through an interview or something first, then an owner, then lastly an internet wikipedia reading newbie though.

again, why is an owner anymore informed regarding sales??

your best bet is to poll the japanese who didn't buy it back in the day.

people who did buy it clearly don't understand why others were uninterested, surely??

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:59 am

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER Definitive Resource is the first extensive and only competent expose in English on-line is here!:

(Under the TFP Features section):

http://www.japjac.proboards.com/

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:05 am

Not even taking into account which system has the best titles from the above in the same genre, the titles for the Capcom Power System Changer cost a lot less in total. Taking into account the actual amount of hardware one is getting with the Capcom Power System Changer games compared to the Neo Geo HES games is just baffling. The cost of games for the Capcom Power System Changer was clearly not the reason for it`s short lifespan.

dcharlie thought that the Capcom Power System Changer`s games were too expensive for it to be a success. I think he is clearly wrong, again.

so, let me get this right, relative cost comparison of the CPS to the NeoGeo which also had poor relative sales proves that cost was not a factor?

oh dear.

i'd love to hear your expert opinion - so far you've come up with "i don't know, but dcharlie is wrong." Brilliant. JAPJAC, gamings Karl Pilkington.

Again, 40k buy in for a machine (yes, you get a game and a controller, it is STILL a 40k buy in) and a total library over time of 12 whole games. Or the SNES - with a ton of games at over half price it's price by the time the CPS Changer came out?

For general consumers, cost would clearly be a factor. And the other factor is the limited library (and availability of most of the games on other formats). Occam's razor.

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:14 am

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER Definitive Resource is the first extensive and only competent expose in English on-line is here!:

(Under the TFP Features section):

http://www.japjac.proboards.com/

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:15 am

The Neo Geo was more successful and more expensive in every way. The end.

Oh dear.

JAPKARL, i can see you are reading the words, but your brain isn't able to process them. Do you want to try again?

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:25 am

You wouldn`t know because you weren`t around, but interested punters at the time weren`t to know that that initial impressive line-up was going to be it, did they!

no, but a casual driven market would still question a 40k investment in hardware in a time of a dominant Nintendo which happened to have (albeit) inferior versions of the initial launch games at a much reduced price.

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 2:39 am

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER Definitive Resource is the first extensive and only competent expose in English on-line is here!:

(Under the TFP Features section):

http://www.japjac.proboards.com/

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:03 am

No one is interested in comparing this arcade-in-the-home-system to the Super Famicom. This is why it is compared to the Neo Geo instead.

and i would totally agree with you if we were interested in comparing the two spec for spec, but we aren't - this is a question of consumer sales, so the SNES would clearly be a factor.

I had a think about this on the way to the shops and in my uneducated wikipedia loving mind, here is what i could come up with factors to help you with your investigation :

1) cost for function
factors expanded below, but generally library did not warrant price tag despite technical good machine

2) timing
SNES dominant but weaker, arrives as playstation/Saturn launch

3) Beginning of move away from 2D gaming

Ridge, Tekken, etc had all started to become the buzz games, SF popularity starting to decrease rapidly. General unfair thought that 2d gaming "antiquated", adds to the cost issue

4) launch franchises not exclusive, lack of completing exclusive titles, no 3rd party support.

in a gaming environment where 3rd parties had come to the fore, increased focus on support outside of the parent company is required for full commercial success. Limited to only thier own arcade efforts , many being older titles on other platforms in a reasonable semblence of the arcade version, a lack of obvious support would have hurt.

5) Neogeo comparisons null, predates CPS-C by over 3 years, different sales environment comparison .

Not only did the Neogeo predate the CPS by some time, it also enjoyed the "power machine" tag. Whilst the prices were still prohibitive to some extent (though it obviously had lesser impact than on the CPS-C) , it was the clear "muscle" machine of the time. Whilst CPS-1 had been impressive in the arcade in the very early 90s, by 94 and the push to 3d games it would not have had the same wow factor. By that time the NeoGeo had it's own established (still relatively small) userbase.

6) Enthusiast market not large enough to drive commerical success.

Given all the above factors the prime target would have been enthusiast gamers, not convinced a large enought base existed in 94 who were willing to pay to play older arcade games. CPS-2 already in the arcades, CPS1 days numbered from the outset, possibly leading to questions regarding new titles given the initial batch were CPS1 boards in a CPS-C form factor.

Arasoi · Post by **Arasoi** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:45 am

Well, shenanigans aside.. what is this Neo Geo HES system? Is it a hotel system like the Famicom Hotel system? I've never heard of it, unless its just a different acronym for AES. Google gives me nothing on it.

Can anyone tell me more/link me to more about this system?

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:23 am

I assume HES was a mismatch of the of Neo Geo's other alias : Home Cartridge System (HCS) mixed with Advanced Entertainment system.

:shrug

Magic Knight · Post by **Magic Knight** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:42 am

captpain · Post by **captpain** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:00 am

Why is it that every games-related forum poster thinks he knows how big corporate business works just because he enjoys the products these corporations produce? Unless you're an economist or a businessperson, I can't imagine that anybody cares about your poorly-informed opinions. I agree with JAPJAC: let the people at Capcom talk about it.

Magic Knight · Post by **Magic Knight** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:22 am

Post by **undamned** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:51 am

Well, if cost wasn't a factor (which I truly believe it was a large part of it's failure), I'm left with two final factors:

Marketing - Not that I'm authoritative, but I've seen more than my share of jp arcade/console flyers while collecting (I tracked down a flyer for Capcom's "Panic Shot Rockman," for goodness sake) and have never seen a scratch of advertising for the Changer. I'd think if they were serious about moving some product, they'd have put ads in magazines, game shops, etc.

Actual Product - face it, this contraption is a behemoth. Each game takes up the space of 4 NeoGeo carts and the system itself is just clunky compared to most other consoles configurations (save maybe the Supergrafx or something).
-ud

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 7:52 am

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER Definitive Resource is the first extensive and only competent expose in English on-line is here!:

(Under the TFP Features section):

http://www.japjac.proboards.com/

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 10:49 am

JAPJAC wrote:I believe this is the first time these issues have been reported in English even.

Lawrence or somebody reported all those things before. I was aware that the PCB was altered to make setting up the CP Changer as a coin-accepting arcade machine (nearly) impossible, for instance.

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:01 pm

Dcharlie is one of these forum users that never ever actually contributes and makes any effort in sharing information. One has never actually learnt or gained anything from it gaming-wise over the internet. It prefers to just pick pick pick at other people`s efforts.

from past first hand experience of you, be clear that i never expect you to learn anything from me, you clearly won't listen to any of the fairly reasonable points raised that might have added to your discussion, but hey - i'd be interested to hear what Capcom have to say. or not?

It wasn`t expensive at all, the set was free. It was a gift from some of the Capcom Japan guys (which is another cool story like the one that follows bro). Supposed current value shouldn`t really be a factor when discussing this system in terms of it`s historic relevance anyway. Unlike most gaming items these days, it isn`t just one click away and can`t be `picked-up` on a whim. The Capcom Power System Changer is unique in this respect and thus frustrates people.

http://www.rllmukforum.com/index.php?sh ... try6021187

sold?

JAPJAC · Post by **JAPJAC** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:20 am

JAPJAC`s TFP Fanitsu Capcom Power System CHANGER Definitive Resource is the first extensive and only competent expose in English on-line is here!:

(Under the TFP Features section):

http://www.japjac.proboards.com/

dcharlie · Post by **dcharlie** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 5:57 am

naaa, no worming required here, this is another case of typical JAPJACanory.

No real surprise, another for the long list.

I wonder which print mag this article is for?

shmups.system11.org

Capcom Power System CHANGER-The Definitive On-line Resource:

HES?