Frequently Asked Questions.

E-Mail swallow@coin.demon.co.uk

This page gives information for people who are unfamiliar with the terms used in these pages. It is an introduction to those who have considered owning their own machine, but know little about the subject. Information will be added when questions are asked that are not covered in these pages.

INDEX.

So you want to own your own machine? Whether you want to own a pinball machine or a video game, your main concern will be "Have I the space and will it fit through the door"? They can look small in an arcade, but can take up a large chunk of your living room. A favourite place to keep games is in the garage, but watch out for damp getting into the games. Pinball machines also make a lot of clanking noises, even with the sound turned down which can annoy the neighbours. Once you have decided to buy one and got it home, it should be very reliable as the amount of use it will receive will be much less than in an earning environment. Also you are unlikely to kick and punch the hell out of it. Just don`t go poking around inside if you are unfamiliar with mechanics or electronics, especially with the power on!

Videos come in two types, Dedicated and PCB cabinet. A dedicated game is just that, a video game that plays one game and can not be changed without major modifications if at all. Also the original art work on the sides and control panel will make any conversion look bad.

What is a PCB cabinet? A PCB cabinet has everything apart from the game board. They are designed to take different games, (PCB - Printed circuit board) and can be changed easily. Most games will fit into most cabinets. There are always exceptions, but these are few and far between. Some newer games require a Medium-Resolution monitor. Some need odd voltages. Some have an inverted video output. Some need lots of buttons or special joy sticks. Having said all that, the problems are quite rare, and it is easy to find out before buying a game if there will be any problems with your cabinet. If you have some idea which games you are interested in, it is easy to find out if the games you are interested in will cause problems with your cabinet.

The game interface in the cabinet that accepts the game board is mainly Jamma, Electrocoin or occasionally some other standard. With special wiring connectors called looms a game can be fitted into any cabinet as their power requirements are the same. Some have one joystick, some have two. Some have two buttons, some have six. Control panels can be interchangeable on better designed cabinets. Some monitor screens are fixed horizontally (H), some are fixed vertically (V) and some can be rotated either way. There are small (cabaret), medium (midi) and large (arcade) cabinets. They are fitted with either a 20" TV screen (monitor) or a 25" screen. There are floor standing games (upright U/R) and sit in (sit-down / simulator S/D).
Hopefully this information will help you decide on your choice of game or cabinet. Please let me know if you require any further information.

What does JAMMA stand for? Japanese Arcade Machine Manufacturers Association, a set of standards developed for board pinouts. The Jamma interface was designed to make board changes easy, just take out the old game and plug in the new. Jamma standard can only handle up to 4 buttons and two players.

How much does a game weigh?The weight of a game can be from 100Kg for a small cabinet, 140Kg for a medium cabinet and 300Kg and more for a large dedicated game. Most carriers are more concerned with their size rather than their weight.

E-Mail swallow@coin.demon.co.uk

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