Differences between Loke & regular ver. SDF Macross PCBs?

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I recall of checking out a recent completed YAJ auction for the rare Loke variant NMK/Banpresto produced Super Dimensional Fortress Macross PCB. What were the differences between it and a regular plain-vanilla SDF Macross PCB? Sounds like NMK & Banpresto did some alterations to the Loke version which resulted in the current Macross PCB that we have today.

It'd sure be nice to get such a regular Macross PCB converted to a Loke variant iin the nearby future just to see what changes were made (assuming if it gets Rom dumped, of course). You might remember that it was Fabtek whom did the intial U.S. arcade distribution of Macross PCB conversion kits (complete with full-sized backlit marquee) under the official name of "Space Fortress Macross" back in 1992-1993. There are some slight differences between the original JPN and U.S. versions of Macross PCBs indeed.

I'm surprised that the 1993 NMK produced Super Dimensional Fortress Macross II: Lovers Again PCB wasn't given a proper U.S. arcade PCB conversion kit release even though all three OVA VHS tapes of Macross II was handled by U.S. Renditions themselves (and later on Manga Entertainment bought the exclusive U.S. rights to the Macross II OVA IPs when U.S. Renditions folded).

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Dave_K.]

I was wanting to bid on that auction, but it quickly went over my limit. I hope whomever won it will seriously consider dumping the rom, but I somehow doubt it, as that would seriously devalue the board. I do remember the auction description listing differences as 1) increased difficulty 2) different cut scene images/animations 3) same music, but at a slightly slower tempo and pitch, which I think sounded much better. You can listen to the loke test music on nico video here, its the first few songs, the rest are from the release version. I guess they sped the music up to make it sound more uppity. I haven't found any gameplay video of the loke test version.

So between the music and increased difficulty, the loke test seems like the one to play/own given a choice.