Please tell me everything about boards/cabinets/superguns, I have alot of questions..

[MegamanDS]

Ok, I am seriously looking into getting an arcade setup. Let me start off by posting what I know, then questions I have, then you guys can tell me if what I know is accurate or inaccurate. Please point out all the false information in each paragraph.

Paragraph 1
If I get a supergun, it plays CPSII B boards. I first would need to buy an A board which connects to the supergun. Then, for example, I buy XMvSF B Board, it would plug into the A board. The cables coming out of the supergun would plug into the TV. I would then need to buy a supernova stick to plug into the supergun. There is only 1 type of stick that works for the supergun.

Paragraph 2
If I wanted to play 3rd strike, which is a CPSIII B board, it would not work with my supergun which plays my XMvSF CPSII B board. Furthermore, if I bought MvC2 Naomi board, it will also not work with my supergun.

Paragraph 3
If I went a completely different route and just bought an upright cabinet, it includes the supergun, A board, sticks, and moniter. I would only need to buy B boards of any game and it plays all the different types of games. It would also be a lot cheaper in the long run than getting a supergun, sticks and A board.

Paragraph 4
Supergun vs Cab, Supergun can be plugged into any tv in the house, is portable and lightweight. On the other hand, cabinet is going to sit in 1 spot and never move.



Ok, this is everything I know, please correct all mistakes in my paragraphs please. What I am ultimately trying to do if find something where I can play xmvsf, 3rd strike and mvc2 all on 1 machine and then maybe buy other B boards in the future.

[albert_c]

A supergun is basically a jamma system that you can hook up to your T.V

You need to google this shit. All this information is already online.

[UnholyKnight]

CPSII "A" boards connect directly into a JAMMA harness.

So it goes JAMMA harness -> "A" board -> "B" cartridge goes into "A" board. You only need one "A" board as they are universal and any CPSII "B" cartridge can fit into it.

To play 3rd Strike you need THE 3rd strike kit, complete with board, cd-rom, and cart. You CANNOT use any other CPSIII board for 3rd strike because the 3rd strike board was made specifically with more RAM, which is required by 3rd strike.

Most supergun setups come with a jamma harness sticking out of them waiting for you to plug in a PCB (if they don't, they still use a JAMMA harness, you just now have to go through the trouble of wiring one up yourself), and then you will need a power supply as they are usually not included. The CPSIII system needs extra power for the CD-ROM which is not given to it by the CPSIII PCB.

www.arcadecontrols.com and www.jammaboards.com are both great resources to learn from.

[NoAffinity]

Also, a cabinet does not contain a supergun, per say. A super gun replicates cabinet intefaces and adapats them for mobility. Both contain a JAMMA harness, which routes signals and power to and from inputs and outputs (control panel, monitor, audio, coins, game board, etc.). The basic heart of both is the JAMMA connector. Where and how those signals and power are routed from there is the primary difference.

[MegamanDS]

so whats better, buying a cab. or a supergun? i want to play xmvsf and 3s

[NoAffinity]

Depends on your preference. If you prefer to play in your living, on your TV, with audio outputs potentially hooked up to your stereo, etc., then go with a supergun. If you want a cabinet that you will have to do maintenance and upkeep on, then go with a cab. Not trying to downplay cabinets by any means (altho, it kinda sounds like it there), as I have two in my garage, but they do carry slightly more responsibility. Monitors are bound to crap out eventually, and they aren't cheap to replace. You should also have some decent knowledge of electricity and how to troubleshoot electrical wiring.

[metrock1]

You would be able to unplug the jamma harness from your cps2 board and plug it into your cps3 baord with no probs. Cps3 have no A and B boards.They are single to my knowledge and require a cdrom also. Each systems uses the standard extra kick harness and that would not be a prob.

Using Naomi on a standard supergun is a maybe. Make sure the power supply outputs 3.3v. Unless you are using the capcom input/output I/O baord wich supplies the naomi with the 3.3 volts. the sega I/O boards do not. This is the main difference in Naomi and cps2&3. If i remeber all 3 may use the same kick harness but dont hold me to that.

Also I dont like superguns cuz they look messy. I am slowly in the process in consolizing my marvel naomi unit because I hate the mess of supergun wires.
Unless you have a supernova the supernova sticks are only for mas. There are other superguns out there with diff pinouts. It wouldnt be hard to fit it for another supergun. I would go with a cab if you have the room.

[UnholyKnight]

You would be able to unplug the jamma harness from your cps2 board and plug it into your cps3 baord with no probs. Cps3 have no A and B boards.They are single to my knowledge and require a cdrom also. Each systems uses the standard extra kick harness and that would not be a prob.

Using Naomi on a standard supergun is a maybe. Make sure the power supply outputs 3.3v. Unless you are using the capcom input/output I/O baord wich supplies the naomi with the 3.3 volts. the sega I/O boards do not. This is the main difference in Naomi and cps2&3. If i remeber all 3 may use the same kick harness but dont hold me to that.

There are those that are board + cd, some that are board + cart + cd, and some that are just board and cart.

A few CPSIII games must use their own boards, there are only a few that can use a generic CPSIII board.

Kick harnesses plug into the boards themselves since the JAMMA system only natively supports 3 buttons. To play NAOMI games you should only need an adapter for your JAMMA harness and you should be good to go.

The supergun is messy if you have all of your parts laying on the floor, most people build some sort of casing for theirs, or at least I've seen several projects for them.

PERSONALLY, I just love having an arcade machine. I'm enjoying restoring them and having people over to play on them. I want the arcade at my house, I don't want the arcade games on my TV.

[metrock1]

There are those that are board + cd, some that are board + cart + cd, and some that are just board and cart.

A few CPSIII games must use their own boards, there are only a few that can use a generic CPSIII board.


I forgot about the cart. My third strike has a board cart and CD and its sitting rite in front of me. I dont use it since its a lil messed up atm.

[metrock1]

Most supergun setups come with a jamma harness sticking out of them waiting for you to plug in a PCB (if they don't, they still use a JAMMA harness, you just now have to go through the trouble of wiring one up yourself), and then you will need a power supply as they are usually not included. The CPSIII system needs extra power for the CD-ROM which is not given to it by the CPSIII PCB.

www.arcadecontrols.com and www.jammaboards.com are both great resources to learn from.
My Third Strike board has the power for the cd rom from the main board. I didnt know that some systems came like that.

[UnholyKnight]

I forgot about the cart. My third strike has a board cart and CD and its sitting rite in front of me. I dont use it since its a lil messed up atm.

I want a 3rd strike kit soooo bad, all the ones I find are near a grand. So for now I'm happy with my PS2 -> Jamma adapter.

I do have bad dudes PCB and bust a move, other than that I just put a PS2 game onto my arcade machine for now.

[UnholyKnight]

My Third Strike board has the power for the cd rom from the main board. I didnt know that some systems came like that.

Yea, there are 3 versions of 3rd strike apparently, all the same gameplay wise:

1. CD-Rom + Cart + Board, CD-Rom powered from the board itself.

2. CD-Rom + Cart + Board, CD-Rom powered externally (usually from another power adapter from the cabinet or supergun)

3. Cart + Board, no CD-Rom. I've heard mixed things about this. Some people have said some sounds were lower quality or missing and some have said it is exactly the same as the CD-Rom included versions. I have never seen or played one of these (that I know of) so I can't say for sure. I'm lead to believe that this version is a pirated version.

edit:: Droolness

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/354601056_8fbddb2045.jpg

[Toodles]

Paragraph 1: Mostly correct. Superguns can play CPS2 boards, but you will want to make sure the supergun you get is compatible with six button kick harness games. Most are, but you should be sure. Yes, you would need at least 1 A board. Yes, Supergun cables will plug into a TV. No, supernova sticks are NOT the only type of stick that work in a supergun. Suprnova sticks are made specifically for the MAS supergun. Other supergun makers (which is basically japanese companies, and custom build jobs) can use whatever connection they want. Either buy the stick with the 'gun, or figure out the pinout and make one. Very simple stuff since they're nothing but buttons and wires.

Paragraph 2: IF everything in the cabinet or 'gun was setup to play XMvsSF properly, then yes you can hook up a 3rd Strike board. Naomi gets a LOT more iffy because of a bunch of different variables, but if you had a Capcom I/O interface board, you should be able to use it as well on the gun or cabinet.

Paragraph 3: Incorrect. You would still need to buy a CPS2 'A' board, and make sure it either has a kick harness installed. If it already has SF style buttons, you should be fine. As for which is cheaper, I can't say. There are pros and cons to both ways.

Paragraph 4: In general, yes. But I don't think you fully understand the awkwardness of the boards to be plugged into the supergun. The 'gun may be light, but the boards are heavy, large, awkward, and not made to be plugged, unplugged, and hauled around like a nintendo cartridge. When all hooked up, they've got cables going everywhere: sticks to the 'gun, big ass bundle of wires from the 'gun to the jamma harness that the pcb plugs into, another smaller set of cables from the gun to the kick harness connector, another set of cables for the RCA connectors if you want stereo Qsound instead of the mono jamma sound. From the wall outlet to the 'gun power supply, all the cables to plug in video and sound into the TV. It gets worse if there are cables connecting different pieces of your pcb, like a CPS3 or Naomi system.
Cabinets rarely move, but can be moved; they're a piece of furniture.

As for your dream cabinet, its possible, but id recommend against it. If you had these three games running in the same cabinet and used a dial to switch the RGB and sound lines, sure, it can be done. But you'd need at least one additional power supply, if not two, your power bills would be obscene and the cabinet would be cooking itself and bringing the boards to an early grave. Installation in a candy cab would be hard to impossible just because of the size of the boards.

Instead, mount them properly to plywood boards that will mount in the cabinet (pretty much have to in a candy cab) so only one board is in at a time. Unhook the jamma harness, unplug the kick harness, remove board, replace, and rehook, and youve got a new game in.

[Mayhem]

3. Cart + Board, no CD-Rom. I've heard mixed things about this. Some people have said some sounds were lower quality or missing and some have said it is exactly the same as the CD-Rom included versions. I have never seen or played one of these (that I know of) so I can't say for sure. I'm lead to believe that this version is a pirated version.
The no-CD version is indeed identical to the "regular" version. The disc is never accessed during gameplay anyway as all data is transfered to flash memory on the motherboard, only difference is whether you need the drive plugged in all the time or not. The version with missing sound effects is the Asian version (determined by cartridge alone) from which Capcom intentionally removed all Japanese voice samples.

[M K L]

CPSIII system needs extra power for the CD-ROM which is not given to it by the CPSIII PCB.


Not correct. The CD-ROM gets power from the motherboard which has a standard disk drive power plug.