Multi Jamma Project

[Goz]

I was thinking one of my next projects might be a Multi-JAMMA system. What I mean by this is running multiple JAMMA boards in a single machine with a beefy power supply and using the Multi JAMMA board from multigame.com.

Anyone have any experience with using this system?

I am thinking a long the lines of a 9 in 1 board or larger for the classics and some alternative controler games like police trainer (guns) and maybe a JAMMA Golden Tee board (trackball), etc.

Yes I know i can play these games in MAME, but think it'd be fun to be more authentic in bastardized multigame sort of way.

-Goz

[fredster]

So are you building a multiplexer board?  You hot swap the input based on a switch setting with no software?

Sound cool, but they make those board that can support up to 6 or 8 boards.  They are kinda pricey, $140 for two and then I think (cause I don't remember the company) but $30 for every two boards after that.

It would be cool to have like jamma games, 5 or more, in a machine that can be selected by a momentary switch.  Have a standard Jamma cab with 3 buttons, 1 joy - 2 players.

I like the idea of it.  But I don't think it would be practical for oddball controls, just standards IMHO.

[Goz]

Yeah the unit by Multigame is the one that can handle up to 8 JAMMA boards. So far I'm in the research stage and it appears to be the better solution as it allows you to use a std computer power supply and each of the adapter boards have a molex connector.

The other option I am looking at is this one but it maxes out at 2 JAMMA boards.

 I'm pretty sure one of the JAMMA's will be a 9 in 1 with the classics and then I'm torn on whether another board would be a 4 slot MVS or not. I guess the biggest hurdle will be the $. I'm sure I'll have a gun game in there as I have a set of new optical guns laying arround which I will likely side mount into the cab instead of mounting on the CP. It would be nice to have a trackball game as well.


If anyone else is considering a 4 in 1, 9 in 1, 39 in 1, etc board let me know and maybe we can get a freight discount.

The multi boards aren't too bad as far as cost

4 in 1 USD230
9 in 1 USD330
39 in 1 USD530

Here are some of the games that are available on these boards:

Ms Pacman / Galaga / Frogger / Donkey Kong / Donkey Kong Junior / Donkey
Kong 3 /Galaxian / Dig Dug / Magic Brush / Mr. Do / Space Invaders / Pac Man
/ Galaga 3 / Gyruss / Tank Battalion / 1942 / Ladybug / Burger Time
Mappy / Centipede / Millipede / Jr Pacman / Pengo / Phoenix / Time Pilot /
Super Cobra / Hustler / Space Panic / Super Breakout / New Rally X /
Arkanoid / Qix / Juno First / Xevious / Mr Do's Castle / Moon Cresta /
Pinball Action / Scramble / Super Pacman

[paigeoliver]

The 9 in 1 and 39 in 1 boards are VERTICAL, while most JAMMA games are horizontal.

My suggestions is this.

Clay's Multi-Jamma kit.

Arcadeshop JAMMA MultiWilliams
Neo Geo MVS 4 or 6 Slot motherboard (w games).
Playchoice 10 (Single monitor) motherboard w/jamma adaptor.
Whatever games are personal favorites.

[Rocky]

I've done 2 "poor man's" multi-JAMMA games.

[RayB]

There some jamma multi-board adapters that use a remote control to switch games (maybe even Clay's??)

[Goz]

From what I have read, Clays lets you change by button press but not seen anything about a remote. I guess it could be done with an X-10 switch and a remote.

-Goz

[Stingray]

I'm pretty sure one of the JAMMA's will be a 9 in 1 with the classics and then I'm torn on whether another board would be a 4 slot MVS or not.

Okay, I'm not at all familiar with these things so I'm going to ask what may be a stupid question. I have a two slot MVS cab. If I bought one of these things and installed it in place of my MVS board and then installed my MVS board on it I could play MVS and JAMMA games in the same cab, correct? Is there more to it than this? This is something I'd seriously consider doing if I understand correctly.

-S

[Goz]

I'm pretty sure one of the JAMMA's will be a 9 in 1 with the classics and then I'm torn on whether another board would be a 4 slot MVS or not.

Okay, I'm not at all familiar with these things so I'm going to ask what may be a stupid question. I have a two slot MVS cab. If I bought one of these things and installed it in place of my MVS board and then installed my MVS board on it I could play MVS and JAMMA games in the same cab, correct? Is there more to it than this? This is something I'd seriously consider doing if I understand correctly.

-S

That is correct.  If you get the device from Multigame (Clay) you can have up to 8 JAMMA boards per cab. Since the MVS board is JAMMA it is just another JAMMA connection. The setup from Multigame comes with 2 of the widgets (cant remember the name) that you need for each JAMMA board which connects to the MULTIJAMMA boeard via IDE cable and has a molex connector to provide it power. So out of the box you can toggle between two JAMMA boards via a button. Each additional widget thing costs another $23 bucks.

Its damn sexy.

I had to ditch the 4 in 1 / 9 in 1 idea though becuase of monitor orientation. It seems the 4 in 1, etc are all vertical and only support a joystick. So if I did get one, I'd have to play centipede with a joystick.

[Stingray]

Okay, I'm going to have to give this some serious consideration. One of those JAMMA multi-Williams boards in my MVS would be very, very sweet.

-S

[dirt]

i am starting a multi-jamma project as well. i have an empty dk cab that i am restoring then wiring it with a vertical jamma setup. the games i have ready for it are:
dig dug
mr.do
crazy kong
the boards i still need to get are:
dk
dkjr
dk3
i have already made jamma adapters for the boards i have and i have an adapter for the nintendo boards. i am also planning to put a multi-jamma set up in my golden tee so i dont have to open it up all the time to change boards. if anyone gets the multi setup please post your experiences with it.


dirt

[Stingray]

Yeah, I'd like to hear from someone who's done it before too.

-S

[SirPoonga]

You do realize you need a place to put all those boards AND cool them off since they are all powered up.

I've been thinking of something like that for a vertical cocktial cab.  But I'd have to make an "addition" to the cabinet to hold the boards.

[RayB]

Clay's kit comes with two 12-volt fans