Possible 3 game Nintendo "MVS" bartop *2 questions*

[BurgerKingDiamond]

I've been thinking about what kind of project I want to do next. The idea that I like the most is a Ninja Gaiden themed NES bartop. But here's the cool part, I want to do it like a NEO GEO MVS with three cartridge slots and real NES (or a knockoff YOBO or something. the point is that it will be real hardware, not computer emulation), so I can have all three of the NES Ninja Gaiden games in at the same time (although you could put in any 3 games).

You can buy brand new 72-pin connectors online for about $10. So the basic Idea is to get 3 72-pin connectors and wire them to some kind of central switching unit that will have one output to the MOBO.

The hard part is how to do the switch... Is there anything available that would have enough pins to accomodate this, and also be able to switch 3 ways?

I think this could be a really COOOOOOL project, but I need some help working out this switch thing. With all the resourceful people on this board, I have faith that someone can help me come up with something. So I'm all ears.  

 

[BurgerKingDiamond]

I just thought of something, but I don't know if it would work.
Could you run 3 wires from each pin on the MOBO and have one wire
from each pin connected to the corresponding pin on each 72-pin connector.
So all 3 connectors will be hooked up at the SAME time.

Except you don't connect the GND pins. each GND (1 from each 72-pin connector)
will be connected to a 3-way slide switch and on the other side of the switch
to the MOBO. So only the 72-pin connector that has it's GND connected through
the switch at any one time will be active. Also, with this configuration, you
don't have to worry about possibly having more than one cartridge ON at the
same time.

All my knowledge of electronics is based off my small amount of DIY projects,
so please let me know if this is plausible or not.

Thanks.

[BobA]

If you do not want to emulate you could consider a NES multicart.  Alot easier than wiring all those connectors together.

[BurgerKingDiamond]

Thanks, but I want to do something unique and I want to have all three carts accessible from the front so that you can load it up with whatever 3 games you choose.

I acknowledge that this is going through a lot of extra effort, but I'm not interested in just being able to play multiple games. I can already do that. I'm doing it for the concept itself.

My main question how to actually switch between games and if my above method would work.

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

Not fully on topic, but some interesting projects/information here that might give you some inspiration:
http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/nes_vs/nes_vs_en.php?section_id=0
http://benheck.com/Games/Nintendo_projects/Super_NES/Soup_Up_NES.htm

[push2reject]

http://benheck.com/Downloads/NES_Famicom_Pinouts.pdf

Benheck.com is a good resource for nes hacks.  Some very cool stuff.

http://benheck.com/nes-on-a-chip-portable <= very cool

[BurgerKingDiamond]

Thanks for the Ben Heck stuff. I've been following him for awhile, he is Amazing. 

I don't think that my above question is really NES specific though, as it comes from my lack of basic electronics knowledge. In other words, I think that there r people here that could help me even if they don't know specifics about modding an NES. 

I've come up with another question also, which could apply to any arcade setup... I want to try and have each direction of the joystick and each button light up a corresponding LED when pressed. My question is whether it is ok to have one micro switch connected to 2 things at once, the controller pcb, and +5V for the LED. I drew up a diagram of what I am thinking about, using the "UP" button as an example. By pressing the switch you would close both the "UP" loop on the controller PCB, sending an "UP" signal to the NES, and it would also close the +5V loop to the LED, causing it to light up.

I don't know if this is ok though. Will this send +5V to the controller PCB and mess something up??? I have a feeling that it would, but I have no formal knowledge of electronics (I'm a mechanical engineer.... electricity is MAGIC).

[BobA]

When you close the switch on a regular button the gnd is passed thru the switch to the controller board.  You cannot pass a gnd and 5V at the same time so your switch would connect ground to your 5v and you will get an instant short circuit.  As you have drawn it the LED would be on at all times because it  is connected between 5v and gnd.  If it is not a 5 V led it would also require a resister in series.

[BurgerKingDiamond]

Damn, you're right, I looked at that diagram and the LED would be on the whole time.

[kingchimp]

This may be of interest to you.  They're lighting up buttons when you press them, but there's nothing stopping you from putting the LED somewhere else if you prefer.

http://shoryuken.com/f177/light-up-activation-button-mod-tutorial-149015/

[BurgerKingDiamond]

thanks king chimp, I'll check it out 

[Malenko]

Didnt Sears have something like this? I know it existed for Sega Genesis, I remember there being a selector button on the front and like 10 carts veiwable through plexiglass.

[BurgerKingDiamond]

@Manlenko
REALLY!!!??? I am unaware of that, but I'm gonna check it out. At least to open up and see how it works. If I end up doing this I would want to wire it up myself from scratch, but it could be useful to find this device.
 

[BurgerKingDiamond]

@Malenko
let me know if you find that multicart thing. All I find after some quick googling are single cartridges that have multiple roms on them.

[Malenko]

its called a DS-16

http://www.gamesniped.com/2009/08/30/genesis-ds-12-philips-in2it/

thats the only pick I can find of it. It was used in store kiosks and there was allegedly a NES and SNES version as well.