Namco 5 in 1 game at WalMart

[pathdoc2]

Anyone every take one of these and hack into so you could wire it up to use a real good quality joystick and button?
Sure seems like a very inexpensive way to get an arcade cab up and running.

[Chris]

I know at least one person has done this.  However, if I remember right, the games in the Namco joystick are reproductions of the originals, not emulations, so they may not play exactly the same.

--Chris

[jimmyjet]

I did that before I ever knew about this site.   I rigged the "reset" button up to the coin mech so if you wanted to change games you had to put in a quarter.  I used a AC/DC converter like you have for cordless phone bases as the power supply.  I thought it was really cool and cutting edge until I stumbled upon this site.  
jimmyjet

[pathdoc2]

Sounds cool Jimmy.  I'd sure like to know how to rig the power like you did.

[jimmyjet]

To power the unit I just soldered a wire to the + lug of the battery holder, and one to the -lug.  Those wires went to a 5v transformer.  The game is set up for 4AA batteries which =6v.  It works fine.
jimmyjet

[iwillfearnoevil]

for reference:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?cat=103119&dept=4171&product_id=2233975&path=0%3A4171%3A103119%3A107717

[RecycledPast]

Someone here has done it but I can't find his post showing what he did.

I'm starting to consider doing it since they are planing several more models,
ACTIVISION (Pitfall, Atlantis, River Raid, Spider Fighter, Crackpots, Freeway, Tennis, Boxing, Ice Hockey, and Grand Prix)
Ms. Pacman (galaga, mappy, pole-position, & xevious)
Mortal Kombat (it will be a replica of the control panel)

They are also coming out with a CAPCOM one and MIDWAY one.

See their site at
http://www.jakkstvgames.com/main.html

Two that look interesting just to try out (not hack) are the atari paddles and Arcade pinball.

[patrickl]

Does anyone know when the version with the Galaga emulator will be out? The current Namco version has Galaxian and I read there would be a Galaga+Pole Position (and of course some other games) version as well.

[RayB]

Does anyone know when the version with the Galaga emulator will be out? The current Namco version has Galaxian and I read there would be a Galaga+Pole Position (and of course some other games) version as well.

We are all so spoiled with our perfect emulator based games... It's easy to assume that these little multi-games are also emulator based, but they are not. In fact I think I read somewhere that these toys use 8-bit processors (which is way too slow to run an emulator). The games are all re-programmed, and are not 100% identical to the originals.

[patrickl]

I was wondering why you quoted my message, but I guess I wrongly used the word "emulator". The word "simulator" probably applies better. That's hardly the essence of the message though.

The point of my message was if anyone has spotted the mark 2 version already. I have seen talk about it being available right about now, but I can't find any shops that carry it.

[Minwah]

Does anyone know when the version with the Galaga emulator will be out? The current Namco version has Galaxian and I read there would be a Galaga+Pole Position (and of course some other games) version as well.

Looks like it's already there:

http://www.jakkstvgames.com/mspacman.html

The Ms PacMan title is a bit misleading, since it also has:

Galaga,
Mappy,
Pole-Position,
Xevious.

[RayB]

They would sell more if they split off the Ms Pac with a few boring games, and made a seperate Galaga toy too with some more boring games.

but those people don't even know their stuff eh. I read an article with quotes from one of Jakk's staff and she said the games were "30 to 40 years old".

[Minwah]

but those people don't even know their stuff eh. I read an article with quotes from one of Jakk's staff and she said the games were "30 to 40 years old".

LOL  

[RacerX]

but those people don't even know their stuff eh. I read an article with quotes from one of Jakk's staff and she said the games were "30 to 40 years old".

LOL  

Breakout and Night Driver are getting close to 30, but they *are* jumping the gun there quite a bit.  

[patrickl]

Does anyone know when the version with the Galaga emulator will be out? The current Namco version has Galaxian and I read there would be a Galaga+Pole Position (and of course some other games) version as well.

Looks like it's already there:

http://www.jakkstvgames.com/mspacman.html

Ah thanks. That's the one I was looking for yes. Now to see if there is a PAL version I guess.