I want to start collecting arcade boards.

[sega dude]

What equipment would I need? Would I need extensive experience with electronics? Any help would be great.

[Nemoide]

It's not a lightweight hobby and some electrical knowledge would probably be very helpful.

The most common type of arcade boards are JAMMA boards. To play them, you'll want a JAMMA cabinet, which you can probably find on Craigslist if you're patient. Alternatively, you could build (or pay someone to build for you) what's called a supergun. That will let you play arcade boards without having a bulky cabinet.

Alternatively, you could get a Neo Geo MVS, which is probably the easiest way to own a variety of arcade games with original hardware.

I'm no expert on the subject. I own one arcade board with no way of playing it, and I don't even know if it works or not. I found the cabinet someone was throwing out and I snagged the board in hopes of someday being able to play it... I hope I can at least do something with it at some point.

[bryan_65]

It's addictive.

Its is pretty easy once you get the hang of things. Some games can be on the cheaper end if you are patient.

Just snagged a Tekken 3 with the kick harness for $33 shipped early today.

The cheapest game for me was CvS Pro $12. Of course the Naomi GD rom setup is not cheap at all!!

[Ghegs]

I got into MVS games some years back and into PCBs about a year ago. If you want the easiest and safest way to get some genuine arcade game action, then get a consolized MVS. It's exactly what it sounds like: Connect the system to power and your TV, insert cartridge, done. Standard cables everywhere. Very handy. Many great MVS games are pretty cheap as well, you can find the original Metal Slug for around $50. They are also small-ish and easy to store.

Next to my CMVS I have a Supergun, which is nearly as simple, just connect the board to the Supergun and the Supergun to your TV or monitor. Handling the bare PCBs can be a bit nerve-wrecking at first, but you'll get used to it. You also have to pay more attention to the surroundings so that the board won't get hit with static electricity from a carpet or something. I would still recommend getting a cheap PCB as your first one, so you'll know what to expect when you buy a more expensive one. Storing PCBs can be a pain in the ass, as they can come in wildly different sizes.

You don't need extensive experience with electronics for either of these, I've managed quite fine and I couldn't solder my way out of a paper bag. Both my CMVS and Supergun was built by the same guy, he does very excellent work and I can recommend him wholeheartedly, if you're interested. He is located in Europe though, so shipping to US might be pricey.

[Breetai]

What equipment would I need?

A fat wallet with thousands of dollars to burn. A CMVS and Supergun together could easily put you over $1000.

Do you have this?

If yes, proceed to the next step.
If no, stop right now.


The next step:
-research the words "Supergun", "jamma harness", "cps", "a board", "b board", "kick harness", "polygame master", "atomis wave", "st-v", "naomi", "f3", "mvs", "candycab", "sanwa", "seimitsu", "happ", "pcb", "conversion", "suicide battery", "soldering gun", "power supply", "loom", etc.

[Ghegs]

A fat wallet with thousands of dollars to burn. A CMVS and Supergun together could easily put you over $1000.

If you buy one of those seriously overpriced units on eBay, than yes. Shop around. Put together my CMVS and Supergun cost me maybe $500.

[Breetai]

A fat wallet with thousands of dollars to burn. A CMVS and Supergun together could easily put you over $1000.

If you buy one of those seriously overpriced units on eBay, than yes. Shop around. Put together my CMVS and Supergun cost me maybe $500.

That's still the point. $500 for both is the very bottom of the barrel for something that is just a motherboard with not much more than TV and controller outputs on it (speaking more of the MVS), unless you do the work yourself. Plus, you have to know exactly what you're looking for and where to look to find that.

So, will it put you over $1000? Not necessarily, but it easily could. That's not to mention that probably most of the desirable games for most people run a few hundred dollars each (and the newest running over $1000 each sometimes).


"Sega Dude", you might also want to consider that Racketboy is a retro console games board; not really arcade games. While a few members here know and collect arcade games, the vast majority don't know much about them at all. You might want to consider spending some time researching and reading threads on more arcade orientated websites and educating yourself on this topic if you really are serious about getting into it.

[bryan_65]

You might want to consider spending some time researching and reading threads on more arcade orientated websites and educating yourself on this topic if you really are serious about getting into it.

Just look for good deals man. You can do a lot with $1000 really. Collecting for the Saturn is more expensive then arcade collecting at times depending what you really want. Getting a Saturn with RPG's and some shmups and and a couple others, bam your at $1000.


The main start up cost is a Jamma cab (I got a Neo Geo). I would also check out auctions maybe. Then wait for a $50 MVS one slot. Most CPS2 games are around $100 give or take (Price of Saturn RPG's). Hell you can get a STV and Die Hard for $50, what is the Saturn version $30?

The cost of the full Naomi system is heffty yes, but most Naomi cart games are $60 or less (CvS,Slashout,GGX,Zombie Revenge,DoA2,Spawn,ect) with a decent about of GD rom at $25(VT2,Spikers Battle,Metly Blood,GGXX,Reload,Slash and $12(CvS Pro,CvS2)

I really like it for the exclusives that never got a home port.

Any way definably do what Breetai says research, then research some more. Make sure you will enjoy it. I know I would much rather flip a switch and be playing a fighter or shmup then grinding in a RPG any day of the week. Comes do to what you will enjoy man.

[Ghegs]

I really like it for the exclusives that never got a home port.

Those are pretty sweet. When I got into PCBs that was my main goal, to get the games that were never released outside the arcade. So far I've (mostly) kept to that, with one or two exception.

I even have one game, a run 'n gun with SD Gundams, that is currently unemulated. The best part? It cost me €40. Sometimes you get lucky with these things.

[Breetai]

You might want to consider spending some time researching and reading threads on more arcade orientated websites and educating yourself on this topic if you really are serious about getting into it.

Just look for good deals man. You can do a lot with $1000 really. Collecting for the Saturn is more expensive then arcade collecting at times depending what you really want. Getting a Saturn with RPG's and some shmups and and a couple others, bam your at $1000.

Ah, but if you are collecting shoot 'em ups on the arcade, that is where it gets very expensive. Also, consider that there are just 5-10 worthwhile RPGs on the Saturn, while there are dozens and dozens (or more) of worthwhile arcade shoot 'em ups.

The main start up cost is a Jamma cab (I got a Neo Geo). I would also check out auctions maybe. Then wait for a $50 MVS one slot. Most CPS2 games are around $100 give or take (Price of Saturn RPG's). Hell you can get a STV and Die Hard for $50, what is the Saturn version $30?

Depends where the OP lives. If they are not in a larger center, they are going to be paying to ship a cab in. Then again, they didn't say anything about wanting an actual cabinet. I'm not sure where you get the idea that "most CPS2 games are around $100 give or take." It totally depends on what the OP wants. If he wants shoot 'em ups, those get quite expensive. Heck, even the bootlegs of some of those CPS2 games run over $150. Plus, consider that they have batteries in them that will destroy the game if they are not changed every few years. So, the OP would probably want to look into getting them Phoenixed. That ends up adding to the price.

By the way, the Japanese version of Die Hard on the Saturn is about $20 shipped from Japan if you know where to look. Maybe $30 on eBay? I have no idea. I've never used eBay myself ever.

Any way definably do what Breetai says research, then research some more. Make sure you will enjoy it. I know I would much rather flip a switch and be playing a fighter or shmup then grinding in a RPG any day of the week. Comes do to what you will enjoy man.

True that. I have a very hard time getting into RPGs these days, where I love sitting down for a few minutes with a fun shoot 'em up, 2D fighter or beat 'em up. Given that the OP's past posts are about buying a Master System and various games for as cheap as he could find, I thought it was worthwhile to emphasize getting into arcade games is NOT cheap. At minimum, it's $500-1000 just to get started. Each game can run from $25-$2500 or more, give or take, for just the boards.



So, Sega Dude, let's be real here. What are you looking to get into exactly, and what is your budget? A few months ago you wanted to buy a 3rd party 360 controller because you were worried about how expensive the 1st party one was. Unless your financial situation has radically changed since then, I strongly caution you not to be too enthusiastic about collecting arcade boards yet unless you have a cheap source.