Picking up a super cheap gaming cabinet...But I know nothing at all...

lotz-o-boxeslotz-o-boxes
in Help Wanted!


I got it for $50. So not a big investment. My questions would be:



1. Can any game be programed into any cabinet?

2. Any price points for making this work?

3. I will be passing on it if the insides are disgusting (good idea?) 

4. If there is a thread on cabinets, anyone have a link?



Thanks for the help!

Comments

  • thatnerdthatnerd
    Do some research into JAMMA wiring. Basically, if this cabinet has a JAMMA harness, there are tons of PCBs that can be plugged in and played. Most Nintendo stuff isn't though, as I learned when I bought a Donkey Kong cabinet a few years back. The upside is that I got reallly good at Donkey Kong.



    But for $50, you did great. You can sell the cabinet to someone wanting to build a MAME machine and make some cash.
  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel

    Originally posted by: lotz-o-boxes





    1. Can any game be programed into any cabinet?

     



    That isn't really how it works.



    The games are generally on dedicated circuit boards (with replaceable rewritable chips), and those circuit boards, depending on age and the manufacturer may or may not be compatible with existing wire harnesses in other cabinets.







    If you want the most options, you want to convert the cabinet to a JAMMA cabinet.



    There are how-to's over at KLOV for doing that.




  • lotz-o-boxeslotz-o-boxes

    Originally posted by: arch_8ngel




    Originally posted by: lotz-o-boxes





    1. Can any game be programed into any cabinet?

     



    That isn't really how it works.



    The games are generally on dedicated circuit boards (with replaceable rewritable chips), and those circuit boards, depending on age and the manufacturer may or may not be compatible with existing wire harnesses in other cabinets.







    If you want the most options, you want to convert the cabinet to a JAMMA cabinet.



    There are how-to's over at KLOV for doing that.



     



    For someone who has trouble with IKEA furniture... Would it be expensive to have it done?


  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel

    Originally posted by: lotz-o-boxes




    Originally posted by: arch_8ngel




    Originally posted by: lotz-o-boxes





    1. Can any game be programed into any cabinet?

     



    That isn't really how it works.



    The games are generally on dedicated circuit boards (with replaceable rewritable chips), and those circuit boards, depending on age and the manufacturer may or may not be compatible with existing wire harnesses in other cabinets.







    If you want the most options, you want to convert the cabinet to a JAMMA cabinet.



    There are how-to's over at KLOV for doing that.



     



    For someone who has trouble with IKEA furniture... Would it be expensive to have it done?

     



    It depends on how many people in your local market offer the service.



    If you're in the Chicago area, given that is a classic coin-op point-of-origin, I'd expect a lot of people to be able to do it, to the point that there may be people on Craigslist openly offering arcade maintenance service.









    But if you are seriously that not-inclined to learn how to do this stuff yourself, arcade cabinets are probably not for you.


  • lotz-o-boxeslotz-o-boxes

    Originally posted by: arch_8ngel




    Originally posted by: lotz-o-boxes




    Originally posted by: arch_8ngel




    Originally posted by: lotz-o-boxes





    1. Can any game be programed into any cabinet?

     



    That isn't really how it works.



    The games are generally on dedicated circuit boards (with replaceable rewritable chips), and those circuit boards, depending on age and the manufacturer may or may not be compatible with existing wire harnesses in other cabinets.







    If you want the most options, you want to convert the cabinet to a JAMMA cabinet.



    There are how-to's over at KLOV for doing that.



     



    For someone who has trouble with IKEA furniture... Would it be expensive to have it done?

     



    It depends on how many people in your local market offer the service.



    If you're in the Chicago area, given that is a classic coin-op point-of-origin, I'd expect a lot of people to be able to do it, to the point that there may be people on Craigslist openly offering arcade maintenance service.









    But if you are seriously that not-inclined to learn how to do this stuff yourself, arcade cabinets are probably not for you.

     

    Thanks for the heads up. I really just wanted one to load a bunch of games on, or have one classic dedicated on.


  • arch_8ngelarch_8ngel

    Originally posted by: lotz-o-boxes






     

    Thanks for the heads up. I really just wanted one to load a bunch of games on, or have one classic dedicated on.

     

    Yeah, it doesn't work that way.



    If you convert it to a JAMMA compatible cabinet, then you can get a JAMMA multi-board (they tend to be 48-in-1 or 96-in-1 type things).



    Otherwise, you'd need to convert it to a MAME cabinet to "load a bunch of games".




  • dewisp02dewisp02
    If that is still a stargate in that cab, that has a williams harness. If you plug it in and start it up, there is a board that should be mounted on the back panel door. It will give an error code on the display which you can google to see whats wrong with it.



    One of the most common errors with Williams cabs is the ram error. Basically the ram chips they used get really hot from normal use and burn up. There is a mod you can make [which keeps everything original], but allows you to use way better ram chips [plug n play].



    You could convert it to jamma by looking up the pinouts for jamma and the williams harness and wiring up a finger board [cheapest way] or buy a conversion cable. You would have to change out the control panel or mod the current one since the control stick is only a 2 directions one as well. 



    Also, if you decide to sell the control panel, please let me know. Depending on the cost of shipping it, I would be interested. 



    Also, feel free to pm me if you have more questions. 


  • lotz-o-boxeslotz-o-boxes

    Originally posted by: arch_8ngel




    Originally posted by: lotz-o-boxes






     

    Thanks for the heads up. I really just wanted one to load a bunch of games on, or have one classic dedicated on.

     

    Yeah, it doesn't work that way.



    If you convert it to a JAMMA compatible cabinet, then you can get a JAMMA multi-board (they tend to be 48-in-1 or 96-in-1 type things).



    Otherwise, you'd need to convert it to a MAME cabinet to "load a bunch of games".



     



    Haha. You can see how ignorant I am of cabinets. 


  • krankcolckrankcolc
    One of my favorites! I am hoping to get one soon from a friend who's repairing one. If the repair on yours seems over your head, you can send it off to one of many reputable arcade repair shops and they could have it working in a jiff. $50 is a crazy steal!
  • lotz-o-boxeslotz-o-boxes

    Originally posted by: krankcolc



    One of my favorites! I am hoping to get one soon from a friend who's repairing one. If the repair on yours seems over your head, you can send it off to one of many reputable arcade repair shops and they could have it working in a jiff. $50 is a crazy steal!





    Here she is! I'm super excited to get this thing working. And into my game room!




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