Double Dragon Arcade Game

[McCrae]

I intend to build an arcade game for the game Double Dragon. I have been looking for info online for a few days, and have read the FAQs and intro on this site, but I am still confused as to how I get the Double Dragon game onto a personal computer. I know I can buy a circuit board for Double Dragon on ebay, but how then do I transfer the game to a PC? Is this the easiest way? Is there some way that I can download Double Dragon directly from the internet without having to buy the circuit board?

Thanks in advance for the help.

[grueinthebox]

Is there some way that I can download Double Dragon directly from the internet without having to buy the circuit board?

Unfortunately, due to the "questionable legality" of the issue, we're unable to provide that sort of information here (falls under the category of ROM requests)...  I'll say it IS possible, but stop there.

In the way of advice, however, I'd say that if you're primarily interested in having a machine dedicated to Double Dragon, you'd be  far better off buying a working machine running Double Dragon than building from scratch.  Will be cheaper and far easier in the long run.

[McCrae]

grue, thanks for the response.
You say that buying the working Double Dragon machine would be cheaper, but I happen to have a PC that has recently become obsolete, along with a few extra speakers and a monitor, all of which I can use for the project. So I figure that, since I plan to build the cabinet, the project won't be too expensive. And besides, I'd like to build my own.

So I guess my question is: legally, is the best way to get the double dragon game onto my computer buying the circuit board from ebay? And once I do have the circuit board, how do I get the game onto my computer?

[IG-88]

When I first started out these two sites helped me out alot if you want to emulate the game(s):

http://www.mame.net/mamefaq.html

&

http://www.mameworld.net/easyemu/

Click on the MAME button on the lest hand side on easyemu and start reading! It's alot I know, but once you get an idea of whats all involved with ROM's and Emulators and such you'll have a better idea of what to look for and what to ask on this forum.

[grueinthebox]

Totally respect the spirit that leads you to desire to BYO.  Even without the monitor and computer, though, the cost of wood, hardware, molding, encoders, controls, etc. adds up pretty quick.  Be sure to price out everything and get a realistic budget together before you start buying. 

Regarding offloading the "game" (code) from the arcade boards to your computer...  By virtue of the fact that you're asking, I'd say it's safe to say that you're not going to be doing that yourself.  Basically it entails removing the ROM chips from the board and reading them individually into the computer using special hardware (a process commonly referred to as "dumping").  There aren't a whole lot of people who are setup for and experienced with doing this.  I'll certainly not discourage you from buying an original PCB to maintain a semblance of legality in use of the ROM images, but you'll almost certainly end up just downloading the ROMs from the internet for use with an emulator.  I'm not aware of any of the legal ROM services that have Double Dragon available for purchase...

[RayB]

In my opinion, you are way better off just USING the original game board. Why go with a PC? (I know you said you have an old one lying around, but you can use that for something else).

If you got the circuit board, you have everything you need to play the game 100% as it was originally intended to run. No PC booting screens. No configuring software. No risk that the game runs at a lower frame-rate than it should, no slow loading time, etc.

OH, just occurred to me maybe you don't want to buy an arcade monitor.

You know what, it's very cheap to get a used arcade cabinet. Look around for one that is already set up for JAMMA boards and you'll be good to go.

(Sorry if this post is not keeping in the BYO spirit but it just seems like the most sensible and cost-effective option if all you want is one game).

[SirPoonga]

I agree, it would be easier to just use the existing board instead of pc.
Where you planning on using the pc monitor?  The original arcade was a 19" standard arcade monitor.

Since either route requires a cabinet, controls, wiring, I assume those constant as that is not where the price differnece will be.  And I am going to assume build a new cabinet with new parts.

If you need to get a monitor, as this would be the most expensive part, a used but in good condition 19" standard monitor is not that bad, considering it is the most popular sizr monitor for arcades.

Then you'd just need to get a standard arcade power supply, those are like $14.

Then some speakers, again, cheap.

Then it is a matter of wiring everything to jamma (and getting a jamma harness from bob roberts).

You also have to realize that double dragon isn't really worth anything these days.  you could probably pick one up somewhere for $200, then have it shipped.

I think I am a rare example BUT I have a Double Dragon II cabinet (with Double Dragon I and II boards).  I got it for free.  When I was looking around for a cabinet to put a pc in I came across a local vendor and he had cabinets in his warehouse that he would be glad someone take off his hands so he'd have more room.  Out of the lot I picked the best looking cabinet.  It happened to be a fully working Double Dragon II is decent enough condition, just no monitor.  I decided to build a cabinet instead afterwords and I plan on refurbishing the cabinet (as I stole some parts form it for the other cabinet).  Unfortunately due to events like unemployment I just haven't been able to buy a monitor for it.

However, you probably could make a double dragon cabinet with used parts.  Just find an empty jamma cabinet locally, with monitor preferably.  Without monitor I'd say pay no more than $20 unless it is in mint mint mint condition.  But any generic jamma cabinet will do.  A jamma cabinet is just a cabinet that is prewired with a jamma harness (and probably a standard power supply and speakers) so all you need to do is add the game board.  Hopefully you can get one with 2 player, 3 buttons each player.  Otherwise you will have to modify the control panel.
If it doesn't come with a monitor you can probably find a decent used standard arcade monitor  for under $80, sometimes in the $50 range.
You can get a Double Dragon I (and II) board off ebay for $5-$10.

The only way you can legally emulate Double Dragon is if you dumped the roms yourself from a board you own, and keep the board.

[McCrae]

RayB and SirPoonga, thanks a lot for the advice. I was not aware that I could hook up the arcade game straight from the board through a jamma harness. Thanks for the tip--since I'm only going to be playing Double Dragon, I'm going to go with this plan. I realize that it probably is more practical to buy an old cabinet set up for jamma, but my buddy and I love the idea of starting from scratch. I'm going to start looking for supplies. Is there a specific type of jamma harness I should buy, or are they all the same?

[arcadefever]

if you really do like the game, just buy it

[RayB]

JAMMA harnesses vary only in quality and some cheap ones don't have a wire connected to the -5 volt spot. Only matter if your game board needs -5v.  I buy my harnesses from Bob Roberts. Top quality.