M92 connector strangeness (no JAMMA key)

[Ed Oscuro]

No picture yet, but the DrKittyKr Mystic Riders board arrived today.

The board looks right - typical Irem layout (no stickers aside from Mitsubishi EPROM covers on the back side), at least two Nanao customs on the top board, and the Irem logo on one of the boards.

But the connector is silver and there is no key!

This Undercover Cops (same seller) looks essentially similar - silvery connector and apparently no key.

So, should I be concerned, and where do I find a keyless to keyed JAMMA connector? (Ye olde supergun has the key soldered in and it's been helpful up to this point.)

[undamned]

Sorry to scare you, but usually no key == boot. As far as adapters, you can whip one up pretty easily with a JAMMA finger board and a edge connector (about $10 for all that shipped). DrKitty sells some legit, some shady, so be aware for future purposes.
-ud

[trap15]

Yeah, that's a boot. Always have to look for the key when buying stuff, especially from DrKitty. Not sure what you can do about still playing it though.

[Ed Oscuro]

Sending my email to DrKittyKr right now...

Link to the item here in case any are interested. Yep, it shows the silver + keyless connector...

[emphatic]

It says "Licensed M92 board". Maybe it's an official Korean aftermarket product? These are a known commodity, you know.

[antron]

tricky kitty...

[cools]

It says "Licensed M92 board". Maybe it's an official Korean aftermarket product? These are a known commodity, you know.

That'd be my bet. Looks too pro for knockoff.

[system11]

And yet too crap to be a proper Irem one It's covered with proprietry customs from Irem games too which are not something you can easily just bootleg. Nearly all of DrKittys games lately seem to be 'licensed' versions. How legit the are is unclear, but you can spot them a mile away from the PCB colour, make of components used, lack of components near sound sections, and missing connector key.

[brokenhalo]

If there isn't a key in the jamma edge, it should be a fairly simple task to cut it in with a dremel with a grinding wheel attached. Rather than fuss about with an adaptor.

[system11]

Jr hacksaw works fine for that too, and it's less likely to explode in your face or need a dust mask. Make 2 cuts, snap it out.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Or just simply remove the plastic key stopper bit inside your supergun's jamma harness, Ed.

Easy as pie.

Then if so desired, replace the jamma key bit back in place.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Ed Oscuro]

Or just simply remove the plastic key stopper bit inside your supergun's jamma harness, Ed.

Easy as pie.

Then if so desired, replace the jamma key bit back in place.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

Firebug placed a lump of solder in there. Suddenly seems rather dodgy to do

Looking for my In The Hunt PCB (lol I just got it too) so I can do a direct comparison of the two.

Holding off getting back with the kitty for now.

[robivy64]

Yep, not a bootleg, just a shitty licensed Korean PCB manufactured during the ban on Japanese-produced goods being sold in Korea.

Might as well be a bootleg though. They are terrible boards.

Pick up an Irem Skins and swap the ROM boards. Problem solved.

[system11]

Firebug placed a lump of solder in there. Suddenly seems rather dodgy to do

... just wtf.

[rtw]

Yep, not a bootleg, just a shitty licensed Korean PCB manufactured during the ban on Japanese-produced goods being sold in Korea.

robivy64 is spot on, all original IREM parts, Korean ICs, low quality.

[Ed Oscuro]

It's hard to say "all IREM parts" because the board is a different color than the usual but has an Irem logo. So, not an Irem of Japan produced part, but possibly licensed...like the seller said! Since this was apparently a temporary arrangement during a ban on Japanese boards, it seems most likely it was outsourced to a third party by license arrangement (again as said) whereas if the ban had gone on longer perhaps Irem and other companies would have set up some local branch for production (or outsourced to another Japanese company which did, possibly).

I owe you guys some pictures but I think it's time to lay this to rest and get back with DrKitty.

I also wonder if this is the set marked (Bootleg?) in MAME. It might be time to get in contact with them and see if that needs to be changed or if a new dump is in order.

[robivy64]

As said before, Just pick up a cheap Irem Skins for ~$50 and swap ROM boards.

[Ed Oscuro]

As said before, Just pick up a cheap Irem Skins for ~$50 and swap ROM boards.

In the same thread where I mention I have an In The Hunt - was this particular combination (Skins + Mystic Riders) proven working?

There IS at least one custom IC with a slightly different number on the top seen on the Mystic Riders compared to the In The Hunt. Both are M92 and should be interchangeable as far as I know. The number might signify nothing of great importance, but there are also some other slight differences with the heatsink (smaller on the Korean board, I believe), so who knows. It could be that in a few ways the Korean board uses more recent components (or older, depending on the timing).

Sheesh, I really ought to get those pictures around.

[robivy64]

The Korean board is not manufactured by Irem, so that is probably why.

All M92 motherboards (top) are the same, and the ROM boards are interchangeable. I've done it several times.

I had a Gunforce 2 years ago that had a badly warped motherboard. Picked up a Gunforce 1 for $30 and swapped ROM boards to resolve the problem.

[Ed Oscuro]

Yeah, it should work, otherwise it would defeat the purpose of being part of the M92 system to a degree...I'll take a look at it. Have to be nice to my In The Hunt though, not gonna swap it out a bunch (if I do even once) to avoid wear on the contacts or fouling /corrosion from cheap tin (the Japanese-made M92 system's board connectors probably use gold pins, but you never know).