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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: markrvp on May 17, 2005, 03:10:04 pm

Title: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - SUCCESS!!
Post by: markrvp on May 17, 2005, 03:10:04 pm
I am currently building a Mini-Pacman cabinet for my son Ryan's birthday in a couple of weeks.
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: MinerAl on May 17, 2005, 03:20:04 pm
Wow.

It would be worth $14 to me to go get a Pav-TV with the big red joystick and nice labeled places on the PCB to solder/splice to.

Your deductions look right to me, but I only have your pictures to go from.
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: markrvp on May 17, 2005, 03:29:06 pm
Quote from: MinerAl on May 17, 2005, 03:20:04 pm
It would be worth $14 to me to go get a Pav-TV with the big red joystick and nice labeled places

Do you mean the Pac-TV? 
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: MinerAl on May 17, 2005, 03:31:25 pm
Heh... these stupid fat fingers of mine...

Yeah, the PacMan/Galaxian/DigDug/Bosconian/Rally-X 5-in-1 TV Game.
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: markrvp on May 17, 2005, 03:48:53 pm
I think I saw one at Gamestop.  If I fry this one, I'll get the new one.
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: greven grevs on May 17, 2005, 06:01:33 pm
it looks like you're spot on for the direction buttons and from my experience hacking controls [pc , dreamcast , psx , ms pac] all the grounds have been connected.
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: fl0yd on May 17, 2005, 06:17:55 pm
Quote from: greven grevs on May 17, 2005, 06:01:33 pm
it looks like you're spot on for the direction buttons and from my experience hacking controls [pc , dreamcast , psx , ms pac] all the grounds have been connected.

I agree about the common grounds.

It's hard to tell about the directions since the front and back aren't perfect overlays.  Could you solder a jumper wire and tap the 4 suspected contacts while you have it turned on?  That way you won't spend all your time and found out that it was wrong.
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: markrvp on May 17, 2005, 06:43:05 pm
Quote from: fl0yd on May 17, 2005, 06:17:55 pm
Quote from: greven grevs on May 17, 2005, 06:01:33 pm
it looks like you're spot on for the direction buttons and from my experience hacking controls [pc , dreamcast , psx , ms pac] all the grounds have been connected.

I agree about the common grounds.

It's hard to tell about the directions since the front and back aren't perfect overlays.
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: Tiger-Heli on May 18, 2005, 07:35:21 am
Common Ground - Just use a Multimeter on the Ohms setting and touch the two points - if it zeros, they're common.

Old school gamepad hacking trick - You can carefully score (using a knife or preferably a Dremel) between the contact points - pink lines on attachment.  This give you a large area on either side of the score line to solder to, or at least allows you to be sloppier with your soldering.
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: NiN^_^NiN on May 18, 2005, 09:24:36 am
Your deductions are right

Go ahead and start soldering and enjoy :)
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - PCB HACK QUESTIONS
Post by: markrvp on May 18, 2005, 09:43:13 am
Thanks everybody for your help! 

Please follow this project in Project Announcements starting next week as I should have more questions/results.
Title: Re: Hacking Namco 5-in-1 Pacman - SUCCESS!!
Post by: markrvp on May 19, 2005, 11:50:02 am
MiniPacman has now been successfully hacked.