Author Topic: Converting a dead Galaga (Read 3020 times)

Callindril · « **on:** October 20, 2004, 11:19:13 pm »

Hey there,

Always been intersted in doing this kinda thing, but was never able to get my hands on an old dead arcade machine...but now I have...An old Galaga machine that the main-board is fried on...

The main problem I forsee is the control panel...the Galga panel only has room for 1 joystick, and 1 action button....its pretty small and cramped to add a 2nd joystick and 4 buttons for each...

I unhooked the 3 flip-latches that held the panel in place, and was wondering how it would work if I got a longer piece of wood, and attached those 3 flip-latches so that it would hold it in place...

Im worried that the 3 latches might not be enough to hold a longer piece, and was wondering what kinda support would be good to add to the underside to give it more support...

Are there any kind of wood-working plans out there that migth give me some ideas opn how to accomplish this?

Thanks!
Cal

DaemonCollector · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2004, 11:27:25 pm »

poor galaga cab...

Should try to restore it.

p.s. Just realized this is your first post. Welcome to BYOAC

Callindril · « **Reply #2 on:** October 21, 2004, 12:05:59 am »

If I could find a replacement motherboard for it that didnt cost an arm and a leg, it would sure make my wife happy...

Second best idea, make it a Mame Cab so we can play all our other favorites on it too...

Ken Layton · « **Reply #3 on:** October 21, 2004, 12:45:31 am »

Send the board to El Dorado Games for repair/exchange. I think it runs around $100.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2004, 03:04:39 am »

A complete Galaga is a poor Mame cabinet choice. A very poor choice. If you happen to live anywhere near St. Louis I will come pick that Galaga up, and drop you off an empty black cabinet and toss in a big VGA monitor to put inside.

Oh, and for the record that cabinet will hold a full streetfighter 2 layout. I have seen plenty of them converted in that manner. Don't extend the control panel, it will look really, really stupid.

Matter of fact, don't do anything to the machine at all. Just post it for sale/trade on the rec.games.video.arcade.marketplace newsgroup. You should have no problem getting someone to come to your house, take that machine away, delivering you an empty conversion cabinet and giving you some money for your troubles.

Apollo · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2004, 03:30:12 am »

Please don't screw with this cab if it is in saveable condition. If you have the room just store it and get yourself another cab to mame. If you are new to this which I guess you are, by the time you have finished your first project you are going to want to fully restore that Galaga cab to its former glory. In my opinion one of the best games and coolest cabs ever manufactured.

SOAPboy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2004, 03:39:25 am »

i acually agree..

find a non classic game cabinet like i did.. capcom bowling worked perfect and i doubt anyone would care about it

seriously tho, dont destroy a galaga cab..

now, if you dont hack it up, so its fully restorable, i see no harm in tossing a computer in it and making your own CP withough destroying the orig..

just dont screw up the orig stuff man..

paigeoliver · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2004, 03:47:08 am »

That is an insanely common cabinet though. Even thinking about Maming out a complete one is pure idiocy, even if it can be "reversed". Sell it off to someone else and buy an empty.

Maming out a complete Galaga is the equivalent of taking a 2 year old truck and chopping the rear half of it off to use as a trailer.

I know all these newbies THINK that empty cabinets are hard to find, but they are wrong. I have a basement full of them, FULL of them. I tell a lot of people to post requests on RGVAC for cabinets. A lot of those requests get ignored because mamers always ask for free cabinets and tend to have an incredible "flake out" rate.

Minwah · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2004, 04:50:14 am »

Welcome to the board...

Once again, please don't MAME that cab tho

Gunstar Hero · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2004, 01:44:16 pm »

I don't see why you couldn't use an original size Galaga/Galaxian/Pacman control panel for a stick and 4 buttons... even a 2 player setup.

It's a metal panel, right? Just fashion a new one (or better yet have a new metal one made) put the old Galaga one aside and go to town.

But really, if you want a MAME cab, and you don't have a mad on to have a Galaga looking one, get something with a bigger control panel. 2 players at once in front of that machine will be... cozy.

Still, a Galaga MAME might look pretty slick. I would love to find an empty/dead Asteroids and MAME it.

dirt · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2004, 02:18:55 pm »

if you are in the socal area i have a couple of cabs that would work for you instead of maming the galaga.

dirt

Crazy Cooter · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2004, 03:25:41 pm »

Let me at it. I'm in MN and will also work something out if you're around here. Post a pic of it if you can.

pointdablame · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2004, 06:08:59 pm »

O dear god, don't kill that Galaga..... restore it or get another cab. Everyone else is right... its easy to get another cab and you'll have no trouble finding a nice conversion..

RayB · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2004, 06:50:42 pm »

Galaga is the #1 most sought after arcade game bext to Ms Pac Man... that should say it all.

Callindril · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2004, 12:27:56 am »

Well, thanks for the thoughts anyway...

I live in the Northern VA area, abou 30 miles outside DC, so none of ya that offered are close enough to do anything....

I just found out there is an auction in MD on the 30th of this month, so maybe Ill head up that way and see whats available....

paigeoliver · « **Reply #15 on:** October 22, 2004, 12:35:47 am »

I think Peale lives in Virginia, maybe he has something.

rchadd · « **Reply #16 on:** October 22, 2004, 09:21:52 am »

Keep Galaga Alive!

bid on this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=13718&item=6126202634

keep eye out for a working galaga board - is the one you have really not repairable?

and use an old generic jamma (non classic) for mame - or build one like i did.

maraxle · « **Reply #17 on:** October 22, 2004, 10:45:01 am »

Quote from: Callindril on October 22, 2004, 12:27:56 am

Well, thanks for the thoughts anyway...

I live in the Northern VA area, abou 30 miles outside DC, so none of ya that offered are close enough to do anything....

I just found out there is an auction in MD on the 30th of this month, so maybe Ill head up that way and see whats available....

I'm in Richmond, and I have a friend here who has a ton of empty cabinets - uprights (Nintendo-style, Taito cabinets, a nice Double Dragon, and many others), cocktails (Asteroids-type and Ms. Pac-Man type), and sit-down cabinets (Daytona USA). Email me at webmaster AT jhanson DOT com and let me know what you would like for the Galaga cabinet. I can help you work something out.

SirPeale · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2004, 11:04:12 pm »

Quote from: paigeoliver on October 22, 2004, 12:35:47 am

I think Peale lives in Virginia, maybe he has something.

I'm in Vermont, but I'd almost consider driving down for a complete Galaga.

Apollo · « **Reply #19 on:** October 22, 2004, 11:28:08 pm »

When you say "the main board is fried" what do you mean exactly? Is it burned or has it just stopped working? If It's just stopped working you may be able to have it repaired, possibly very cheaply.

paigeoliver · « **Reply #20 on:** October 23, 2004, 02:44:48 am »

Dude, I can tell you how to FOR SURE revive your Galaga and make it stone 100 percent reliable too, AND hardly spend any money.

Carefully pull your existing galaga board and harness, sell them, on ebay. You should get around $125

Buy a new JAMMA harness and power supply from bob roberts and a brand new JAMMA galaga board ($95) from Electronicamuse.

All new guts, total outlay less than $100.

Callindril · « **Reply #21 on:** October 23, 2004, 01:11:21 pm »

Well, suprisingly enough, I showed the board to a friend of mine who is very into electronics, he took it home, did something to it, brought it back, and voila! its working!!!

He said it was filthy under/in all the socketed chips, and he removed them from the sockets,. cleaned the pins and the sockets and now its wokring like a champ again...

So now I have the working galaga, but still want a mame cab with 2/4 player action...

anyone wanna trade

Apollo · « **Reply #22 on:** October 23, 2004, 04:01:59 pm »

He he you're such a bit*h. Told you it might be an easy fix.

maraxle · « **Reply #23 on:** October 23, 2004, 04:04:11 pm »

Quote from: Callindril on October 23, 2004, 01:11:21 pm

So now I have the working galaga, but still want a mame cab with 2/4 player action...

anyone wanna trade

Email me at the address I listed above, and I can get you in touch with my friend. He likes Galaga, so he'll probably hook you up.

rchadd · « **Reply #24 on:** October 23, 2004, 04:10:39 pm »

don't you just love a story with a happy ending???


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Author Topic: Converting a dead Galaga (Read 3020 times)

maraxle

maraxle