Pacman question

[Skeleton Man]

What do I need in order to use an arcade PCB ?  Just the power supply and controls ? (and a composite adaptor until I can get a dedicated monitor)

I'm assuming if you set a game to free play via the DIP switches, you don't need a coin mech ?

What is the "service credit" pin on the wiring harness/connector ?  Just a free credit button ? (momentary switch)

[Skeleton Man]

One more small question... what voltages do the PCB's use ?  I usually have a spare computer power supply laying around, and that provides regulated +5v and +12v DC..  would this be suitable as a temporary thing til I got a real power supply ?

[dr galaga]

Service credit is for a switch that is inside the coin door.  This will give you free credits with out registering on the coin counter.  This is so the technician can test a game.  There is also a service switch that puts the game in to self-test mode so that you can make sure everything is wokring (usually bad ROMs will show up and you can test all of the switches).

Some games have free play via dip switches, some don't.  You can always wire a push button to a coin switch or the service credit switch so that you don't have to insert a coin.  I modified my coin mechs to accept anything smaller than a quarter and I bought a bunch of (cheap) oddball tokens.

Only some older games have a composite output.  Most of them have an RGB type of signal.

Some PCBs have the audio built in to the main board, and some have it on an external board.

You can buy new cabinets, but they are kind of pricey.  Watch ebay for empty cabinets or ones with non-working or crappy games that you can get real cheap.

Yes, you can swap raster monitors (for the most part).  Some games are vertical and some are horizontal - it all depends on which way you mount the monitor.

Your voltage question is yes and no.  Some games you have to do a modification to get them to run off of a 5v and 12v PS (like Pac-Man).

SIGNGUY - don't be afraid to put the 96-in-1 kit in.  Mike Doyle is good about helping you out.  When I put my kit in I put a chip in the wrong socket.  I emailed him and attached a pic of the screen and of the board and he got back to me in a few hours and said to move a chip over because it is in the wrong socket !  Just make sure you have a chip puller and pull straight up (and place straight down).

[Creighton]

Great info!! Carefull of static electricity around PCB's. Wrist grounding strap is worth every penny.
Creighton

[Skeleton Man]

I dediced to get a feel for the original pacman by downloading MAME and hunting down the ROMs..  the original is nothing like the Java version I was playing...  everything is like 2x faster and the ghosts are much smarter..  was a challenge just to pass the first couple of levels..

I will keep an eye out for an old cabinet.. I definately want a true setup.. (MAME is just so I can try out games on my home PC.. I wouldn't use it for a cabinet)

Hey bones, here is an original dedicated Pac-man machine that just came up for sale in my area:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ele/150836187.html

[Skeleton Man]

Quote (Markito @ April 13 2006,12:14)

Hey bones, here is an original dedicated Pac-man machine that just came up for sale in my area: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ele/150836187.html

Wow.. looks neat.. but $850 is way outta my price range..  Can the empty cabinets be easily dissasembled for shipping ?

I ask because when I do have the cash to spare, my budget will likely be $150 - $180 tops for the machine, so $200+ shipping and crating is a little much..

That's why I've let a few bargains go on ebay.. I could've had two squaretops in fair condition for $150.. but would've paid nearly 3x that in shipping..

[loman4ec]

Keep your eye onn the auction section of the newspaper. There is a traveling auction for arcade games. I went this past year in Memphis and found some bargans. I didn't need a pacman because I already have one but there were aver a dozen of them and they were selling rather cheep. SOme of the really nice ones were expensive but the ones with some bumps and scratches were going for the $200 to $300 range. I bought one local for $400 for my nephew last year as well.

[Skeleton Man]

$200 and local would be great.. I'll keep my eyes peeled.. bumps and scratches are no problem..  I want it to play, not to sit and look pretty  '>

[dr galaga]

I saw this in another forum today.  It shows all the Pac Man patterns, plus there are videos that show the patterns in action!