Donkey Kong authenticity - MAME vs original hardware (??)

[Gray_Area]

Does anyone have an original machine to compare to current MAME? Is DK accurate?

[WhereEaglesDare]

I think the DK Machine at FunSpot is harder than the MAME version.  I can get 45k easy on MAME but was struggling to get 20k on the machine.

[shateredsoul]

I think the DK Machine at FunSpot is harder than the MAME version.  I can get 45k easy on MAME but was struggling to get 20k on the machine.

What if it's just the fact that you're playing in front of other people? maybe you have performance anxiety?

... 

[Vigo]

I had heard DK was one of those games that was "Quirky" and there would be even seem to be variation from board to board, or at least between different revisions of the PCB.

I can't say from first-hand, but I would not doubt it for a second that it can be different. I assume if the pcb had even a slight variation in voltage input, it could throw the game timing off, or trigger more wild barrels, or change something of that nature.

The only thing I do know for sure is that I suck at DK no matter what.

[wweumina]

I can't comment on the original, but even MAME DK has big variations from session to session.  I had a go this morning and felt I was playing well but only getting 100k ish per game due to freak deaths etc.  I had a go just then and got 166k with only a couple of difficult moments (lost 3 men on pie levels..aargh). 

[Gray_Area]

I know some people here have DK cabs.....

[JohnEDollar]

The only thing I do know for sure is that I suck at DK no matter what.

Same here.

I can barely clear the first level.   

- John