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Archive-name: games/videoarcade/faq
Last-modified: Feb-06-96 See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge
Frequently Asked Questions
rec.games.video.arcade
This is the frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List for rec.games.video.arcade.
This List is constantly being expanded and modified - please help expand it !
This FAQ is crossposted to news.answers and supersedes all previous versions.
Please send all corrections/comments to musjnd@panther.gsu.edu.
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This List is divided into four sections :
o I. What is rec.games.video.arcade -- An Introduction
o II. Some Netiquette Guidelines (If you're new to the net, please read this!)
o III. List of Lists, Cheats, Moves and other related "help" material
o IV. R.G.V.A. FTP and Mailserver Information
o V. Frequently Asked Questions and their Answers
I. What is rec.games.video.arcade ?
===================================
rec.games.video.arcade (RGVA) is a newsgroup dedicated to discussion
on the maintenance, support, playability, and preservation of standup
(or sit down) arcade video games. There are also several related newsgroups :
'rec.games.pinball' for pinball machines, 'rec.games.video' for general video
games discussion of non-arcade games (ie: home systems (NES,SNES,Sega, etc.)),
and lastly 'rec.games.video.arcade.collecting' -- a new newsgroup dedicated to
collecting, fixing, maintaining, and technical issues concerning collecting
arcade video games.
There are also many alt.games.* groups for various popular games.
Please note that ettiquette is *very* important on USENET ... newsgroups
have certain guidelines for posting unique to each group. Don't post requests
for info on home video games to r.g.v.a. Don't post request after request for
the latest Mortal Kombat moves sheet -- this FAQ tells you how to get a copy
for yourself. Don't post pinball questions here ... that's what r.g.p. is
for. The following guidelines are accepted practice on r.g.v.a:
Please check the r.g.v.a. FAQ before posting a request for a moves sheet ...
there is info in this FAQ about the Mailserver and ftp information as well.
If you post a message about a popular game, please use the following formats
for the subject of your message :
(gamename): subject
Examples :
Subject: (SS): Samurai Showdown
Subject: (MK): Mortal Kombat Fatalities
Subject: (MKII): New ROMs yet ?
Subject: (NBA): Anyone got the chearleaders yet ?
This helps r.g.v.a. readers note which messages apply to games they may
be interested in.
Messages on RGVA are often of a type similar to the following list :
* What is (or how do I get to) the (feature) in (game)?
* Anyone seen Sega's holographic game?
* What is the (game/feature) bug?
* Where can I get a monitor/manual/joystick/other for my game?
* Could somebody send me the (game) moves list?
* Which character in (game) is the best?
* Will there be sequel to (game) and if so, when?
* I just started playing (game). What are some good strategies?
* What is the best lap time anyone has gotten in Ridge Racer ?
Please note : If you are looking for a helpful hint, first check the List of
Lists to see if there is a hint list for your game. If not,
check the Mailserver section to see if it's there. If still no
luck, post a message and please e-mail me any replies you get
so I can add 'em to this List !
Also, there are a large number of people on the net who own video games, so
you can often them to answer technical questions.
See the VAPS list entry for more details.
II. General comments on Netiquette ...
======================================
This section is mainly aimed towards new users. Those experienced in the
ways of Usenet may feel free to skip to the next section. This section is
mainly a summary of the information in news.announce.newusers.
If you have not already done so, please read the articles in the newsgroup
news.announce.newusers. They contain a great deal of useful information
about network etiquette and various conventions used on Usenet.
Please keep in mind these points:
1. Always remember that there is a live human being at the
other end of the wires. In other words, please write your
replies with the same courtesy you would use in talking to
someone face-to-face.
2. The Net is a highly asynchronous medium. It can take
several days for an article to make it to all sites. It is
also quite common for followups to messages to reach a site
before the original. Think of the poor souls who receive their
news messages via Federal Express on magnetic tape ...
4. If you know the answer to a posted message, but are unable to send
a message to the requester, wait a few days. It's likely that
someone else will post the correct answer, thus sparing you the
effort.
5. Please refrain from posting messages like "I want to know, too"
to the net. E-mail the person who asked the question and request
that they send you any information they get by e-mail. Only if you
cannot reach the person by e-mail *and* no one has posted about the
request after several days should you post. You should include the
text of the original message, if possible.
6. If nobody seems to be discussing what you want to talk about, post a
(polite) message opening the discussion. Don't just say, "Does
anyone want to talk about X" or "I really like X", however; try to
have something interesting to say about the topic to get discussion
going.
Don't be angry or upset if no one responds. It may be that X is
just a personal taste of your own, or quite obscure. Or it may be
that X was discussed to death a few weeks ago, *just* before you
came into the group. (If this is the case, you'll probably know,
though, because some rude fool will likely flame you for
"Bringing that up *AGAIN*!!!" Just ignore them.)
7. Abbreviations commonly used in this group:
BTW -- "By the way"
FYI -- "For your information"
FAQ -- "Frequently Asked Questions"
FAQL -- "Frequently Asked Questions List" (This List)
IMAO -- "In my arrogant opinion"
IMHO -- "In my humble (honest) opinion"
ROTF -- "Rolling on the floor"
ROFL -- "Rolling on the floor, laughing"
RPG -- "Role playing games", like D&D (Dungeons and Dragons)
WRT -- "with respect to"
LD -- "LaserDisc"
NES -- "Nintendo Entertainment System"
SNES -- "Super Nintedo Entertainment System"
SFII -- Street Fighter II
SFII TCE -- Street Fighter II The Championship Edition
SSF2 -- Super Street Fighter II
RGVA -- rec.games.video.arcade
RGVAC -- rec.games.video.arcade.collecting
RGP -- rec.games.pinball
KLOV -- Killer List of Video Games (Coin Ops a Poppin')
VAPS -- Video Arcade Preservation Society
TMNT -- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (The 1st 'quartersucker')
MK -- Mortal Kombat
MKII -- Mortal Kombat II
MK3 -- Mortal Kombat III
UMK3 -- Ultimate Mortal Kombat III (is this ever gonna end ?)
KI -- Killer Instinct
KI2 -- Killer Instinct 2
Some technical abbreviations:
RGB -- "Red-Green-Blue" as in the type of monitor
VCC -- + 5 volts power supply (TTL High)
GND -- 0 volts - logic ground (TTL Low)
RAM -- Random Access Memory (Video memory)
ROM -- Read Only Memory (Usually the game code)
TTL -- Transistor Transistor Logic - 74xx series logic chips
CMOS -- Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor - 40xx series logic
chips
III. Various Lists, Helps, Cheats, etc.
=======================================
Information on the RGVA FTP site and Mailserver are located in Section IV.
I need help with this section !!
Pleaes base your suggestions off the existing entries :
Frequently Asked Questions List -- This List.
-- A List of FAQs and other related stuff.
-- Maintained by Jonathan Deitch (musjnd@panther.gsu.edu)
-- Posted on a continuous 30-day cycle.
Mailserver and FTP information list
-- A separate posting consisting of the Mailserver and FTP information
contained within this FAQ list.
-- Posted weekly
Coin Ops A Poppin' -- The Killer List of Video Games.
-- A definitive list of arcade video games. Over 1000 entries.
-- Maintained by the Video Arcade Preservation Society
-- For more information, email to keeper@vaps.org.
-- Posted infrequently.
-- The KLOV is also available via anonymous ftp at wiretap.spies.com.
Its last monthly post is stored in the game_archive/gameList directory.
Note the capital L in gamelist.
-- When you receive this list, modifications, corrections, and additions
are requested so as to keep the list current and up to date.
Please email all mods to keeper@vaps.org.
The Video Arcade Preservation Society
-- This is a list kept of arcade game owners on the Net.
-- For more information, finger "request@vaps.org"
-- Available on the WWW at http://www.vaps.org (*very* cool site !)
-- This list is posted monthly.
-- If you would like to be included on the list send your name, e-mail
address, what state you are in (GA, CA, FL, MI, etc), and list of
the games you *own* to keeper@vaps.org
-- Currently, over six dozen people are on the list, owning over 200
games of which there are nearly 100 different titles !
-- Please note : People on this list have spent considerable sums
building their personal arcades. Please do not ask them
to sell their games !!! (I can vouch for that !! - JND)
IV. The RGVA Mailserver and FTP site :
======================================
There is an ftp site for RGVA information. It is located at wiretap.spies.com.
Look in the game_archive directory. There are currently directories for the
cheat sheet (cheatList), a directory for the KLOV (gameList), a directory
for repair hints (repairHints), and a directory for all the games hints sheets.
As well as a bunch of other stuff, including a GOOD DEAL of technical info !
Andy Eddy, of GamePro magazine, also maintains an ftp site at ftp.netcom.com.
Look in the pub/vi/vidgames directory. The pub/vi/vidgames/faq directory
contains FAQs on more games that I can list here, so chances are very good
a FAQ for your game is there ! Most of these FAQs are moves sheets, BTW ...
Please note that I'm moving to a new account (on panther.gsu.edu) and due
to space limitations, the mailserver will NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE. This means
that as soon as my gsusgi2 account is disabled, no more mailserver. Please
use Andy's ftp site instead. If you cannot ftp, please try ftp by mail.
V. Some Frequently Asked Questions :
====================================
How do I get new ROMS for my game ?
-- This question is most often asked in reference to Mortal Kombat(s),
Killer Instinct, NBA JAM and other recent Williams/Midway games.
-- Williams/Midway's policy is that ROM upgrades are *free* for registered
owners of their games, although they do not support games older than
five years old. Most distributors, however, keep ROM images for most
games produced in their service departments. It does not hurt to ask !
-- Thusly, your local arcade has *no excuse* for not upgrading their games.
How much does an arcade video game cost ?
-- New they start at about $1250 for simple games and go up (waaaay up)
from there. Killer Instinct is rumored to have cost $4995 brand new !
-- Sit down games cost much more ... Cybersled is reportedly around
$28,000 a copy. You can bet Alpine Racing is even more.
-- Used, on the average, around $300. Generally, the older the game and
the worse the condition, the cheaper the price.
-- My Tempest, for instance, is worth around $450.
-- Purchase price often doesn't include shipping (See that FAQ below).
What do I have to do to maintain my game ?
-- Video games are pretty rugged creatures. They are designed to be
abused by adolescent kids in arcades for extended periods of time.
What I do is keep my game in a controlled environment (ie: inside the
house, in a dust free area, out of direct sunlight, etc.). Generally,
any room in your house should be okay. Keep the cabinet clean and
make sure you keep any vent holes clear. If your game has a cooling
fan, make sure it works and is unobstructed. Be sure to follow your
owners manual for specific instructions on maintenance, lubrication,
and anything else that should be periodically done to your game.
Also, you will want to periodically dust out the inside of the game.
The monitors in these games generate lots of static electricity and
attract dust like you wouldn't believe. The more dust there is
inside the game cabinet, the more heat builds up. Heat kills games.
You might also want to invest in a computer grade surge protector.
Lastly, have fun !
How much does it cost to ship a game ?
-- Shipping a game is very, very expensive due to the size of the game
and the weight. Most game cabinets are solid particle pressboard
around an inch thick and are very, very heavy -- I can barely hold up
my Tron if I tip it over. It takes four people to lift it onto a
dolly for transport. Furniture dollies come in very handy here.
-- Best bet is to move it yourself. The average game will fit in a large
station wagon, minivan, or anything larger. Bring lots of friends.
-- If you do have to ship it, it will have to go via truck freight and
will cost somewhere around $150 plus the cost of the shipping crate.
Make sure the shipping company will allow you to strap the crate to
a pallet as this will help reduce the chance of forklift damage.
Where can I get documentation (ie: schematics) for my game ?
-- This is a little more difficult, given the fact that the companies for
many of the older games no longer exist or have moved. When I needed
to find a schematic for a Krull game, I started with the local
Amusement Machine distibutor (look in the Yellow Pages under amusement
devices or ask in a local arcade) and talked with the service techs.
They were able to provide me with the proper phone number.
Request the manufacturers addresses post for more info.
If all else fails, check the VAPS list for someone on the net who
may own your game ... They may have a manual.
Also, some Atari people read this newsgroup frequently ...
Where can I get parts for my game ?
-- For standard electronics parts, either mail order from any regular
electronics house or you can try your local distributor for your brand
game. Be warned that local 'official' places will charge you an arm
and a leg. Most problems are caused by faulty logic chips - usually
TTL logic chips. These can be found at any electronic parts house.
-- Game specific parts for newer games and most popular older games can
be found in the WICO catalog.
-- Replacement boards and conversion kits can be found via mail order.
See the parts list in the List of Lists above.
-- Note that most games that have malfunctioning linear power supplies
(common on older Midway games) can use a standard switching power
supply (around $25 at most distributors) instead. It'll provide
cleaner power and run MUCH cooler than the original.
I just bought a game. What do I do with it ?
-- The first thing you want to do is throughly clean your game from top
to bottom. Use a vaccum cleaner and brush to get rid of any and all
dust. If at all possible, disassemble as much of the game as possible
and clean the parts individually. I did this with my Tron as it was
filthy. Clean the monitor and all glass with Windex. Clean the cabinet
with a light cleaner (Fantastik or 409) and wipe it down. Check all
wiring connections (especially on the power supply and game controls)
for rust or corrosion. Clean all terminals and contacts. Make sure
your monitor is adjusted according to specs in the owners manual. As
a side note, set the brightness as low as you can stand it and still
play the game ... it'll prevent burn in on your monitor. Clean the
coin acceptors and anything else you can think of. Enjoy your game !
I just bought a motherboard ... what can I do with it ...
-- A motherboard is just that ... it's the brains of the game. In order
to use it, you'll need a power supply, a monitor, and the game controls.
The easiest way to do this is to purchase a game cabinet and all the
various parts, and install all of them in the cabinet. Voila, instant
game. See the parts sources post for info on where to get motherboards
and game parts. Note that many newer games use the standard JAMMA
game harness. A game cabinet with a JAMMA harness installed can use
*any* motherboard using the JAMMA plug. Just swap the boards.
What does 'shopped out' mean ?
-- This means that a game has been thoroughly tested and is ready for use
in public areas as an amusement device. For us, that means anything
broken has been fixed, and it has been cleaned and adjusted so
everything works right. This includes monitor adjustments, alignment
of the joystick, cleaning and lubrication of the coin acceptors and
other electrical and mechanical alignments. This is a technical term
used by people in the amusement games business and is not limited just
to video arcade games (the term originated with pinball machines).
What is SEGA's HOLOGRAPHIC game ?
-- This game, called 'Time Traveller,' is not actually a true holographic
game. It uses a parabolic mirror to make the image look like it is
floating in space. Same principle as a penny at the bottom of a
mirrored bowl. Unfortunately, the game itself doesn't match up with
the nifty new technology...
What is the infamous Galaga bug ?
From : Marc Lumeyer (mlumeyer@nmsu.edu), here it is :
-- On either level 1 or 2 (it doesn't matter) let the last line of
"bees" enter the screen without shooting them. Now, complete the
level, BUT DO NOT KILL THE 2 BEES ON THE LEFT OF THE SCREEN.
i.e. X X X X (picker-uppers)
xxx x x x xxx x x x x x x x (red guys)
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x (bees)
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x (bees)
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These two
Now, let these bees come down, and come down, and come down ...
After approx. 20 minutes, they'll stop firing at you. Let them
go by a few times to make sure that they've stopped firing.
Now kill them.....and voila!!
NOBODY WILL FIRE AT YOU FOR THE REST OF THE GAME!!
I've racked up around 450,000 on a game where this worked, but I've
also wasted 20 minutes on a game where it didn't work.
It will work on some games and not on others. (different chips??)
Note that some Galaga games have different copyright dates and may
have different romsets in them which may or may not negate this.
--
musjnd@panther.gsu.edu | "I Hate it when I can't trust | Atlanta 1996 !!
jdeitch@gsu.edu | my own technology!" - LaForge | Play Pinball !!
http://www2.gsu.edu/~musjnd |-------------------------------------------------
---------------------------- "Thrills! Chills! Magic! Prizes!" -- Hurricane
Roddenberry, Asimov, Henson, Dr. Seuss, Mel Blanc, Friz Freleng ... Sigh ...
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Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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