Author Topic: I've decided to MAME my Space Invaders Deluxe Now with pictures (Read 4312 times)

AlanS17 · « **on:** October 30, 2006, 10:41:38 am »

Ok, now that I got your attention with that topic, let me explain!

I've had a SID for nearly two years that I've been having video trouble with. Fixing it is beyond my capabilities. I even got a replacement monitor to no avail. For all I know, it could be a board probelm or a power problem. I just don't know enough about that stuff to trouble shoot. However, the thing is in nearly perfect cosmetic condition except for the front glass, and I'd really like to see it working.

So I think I'm going to replace the guts with a MAME setup. It'll continue to play SID and original Space Invaders, but I'll probably set it up to play other 2-way vertical one button games like Galaga and Galaxian. From the outside, nothing will change.

What do you all think? Practical or sacriledge?

More Cowbell · « **Reply #1 on:** October 30, 2006, 10:51:28 am »

You'll get mostly shouts of "Sacriledge!" from many of the folks here. I think it's perfectly fine as long as you don't hack a ton of holes in it. Just leave all of the original parts in it so someone else can restore it in 2050 or something. Good luck!

AlanS17 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 30, 2006, 11:02:09 am »

Well from the outside it'll look 100% original. You would never know it was a MAME machine aside from the boot sequence (and of course, the game select screen).

It'll never be useful in an arcade anymore, but it'll still play the original game exactly as it was meant to be played. So the essence of the game is preserved. At least that's my reasoning.

As for the original parts... I would at least remove them because I don't want them to get damaged. I wouldn't leave them in there. I'm inclined to just sell them to recoup some of the cost I've already put into the machine, though. The motherboard and power supply look good-as-new and ought to be worth something. Plus I've got two monitors in "iffy" condition.

Dervacumen · « **Reply #3 on:** October 30, 2006, 01:16:18 pm »

Go for it, it's yours. If someone wants to pay you a fair price and arrange to take it off your hands (i.e. pay for the shipping) so they can save it, fine. Then you'll have enough $$ to buy a different cabinet that people aren't so sensitive about. More than likely though you'll be asked to keep something in a state that you just can't justify for yourself just to make them feel better about it.

This is BYOAC. There is no requirement to restore classic games here, although you should to be willing to ignore a lot of comments.

Of couse, restoring is pretty cool if that's your thing.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2006, 01:20:13 pm »

Well I was too impatient to wait for responses so I've alreaedy starting building a PC and getting a monitor prepped. I haven't touched the SID yet, but that'll come soon enough. I've pretty much decided I'm gonna do it. I'll post pictures when I've got progress to report.

Lewis Black · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2006, 01:38:06 pm »

SACRILEDGE!

glad to oblige.

nostrebor · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2006, 03:53:59 pm »

My 280ZZZAP (same hardware) was giving me video problems and a 2 minute tweak fixed them. The voltages were set fine at the power supply, but were low at the game board. I used this site as a guide:

http://www.elektronforge.com/tech_help.htm

Now we are honing out driving skillz to a razors edge, error free.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2006, 04:57:18 pm »

Well I hadn't touched the machines in a couple of months. I went back to check it out with the link you left me. Now the video has collapsed down so a single line. I'm getting tired of dealing with it.

More Cowbell · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2006, 05:53:45 pm »

I did the same thing with my Defender, Berzerk, and Hyper Sports. They started out as empty cabinets so I figure I've done a good deed by bringing them back to playability. You're doing that too.

nostrebor · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2006, 09:51:02 am »

Quote from: AlanS17 on October 30, 2006, 04:57:18 pm

Well I hadn't touched the machines in a couple of months. I went back to check it out with the link you left me. Now the video has collapsed down so a single line. I'm getting tired of dealing with it.

Sorry it didn't fix it.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 31, 2006, 10:58:49 am »

Oh it's not a big deal. On the contrary, it's validation that my game board and power supply are probably fine and actually worth something.

Stingray · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2006, 04:46:56 pm »

Quote from: nostrebor on October 30, 2006, 03:53:59 pm

My 280ZZZAP (same hardware) was giving me video problems and a 2 minute tweak fixed them. The voltages were set fine at the power supply, but were low at the game board. I used this site as a guide:

http://www.elektronforge.com/tech_help.htm

Now we are honing out driving skillz to a razors edge, error free.

This fixed my Space Invaders as well.

Have you tried cleaning the edge connectors?

-S

AlanS17 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2006, 06:13:49 pm »

Well my initial problem was a wavy monitor. Now it's collapsed down to just one line. I dont' know what to do with this thing.

ChadTower · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2006, 11:34:11 am »

Get the monitor fixed. That sounds like a transistor problem in the chassis.

ASmig · « **Reply #14 on:** November 02, 2006, 07:17:42 pm »

If it was me I'd fix it and get the multi game board upgrade for space invaders. IIRC didn't space invaders deluxe use a mirror, cardboard art, a blacklight and colored gels to create its image? There's one space invaders deluxe around here that I have been trying to buy for years now. I'd love to buy yours if you were closer.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 02, 2006, 11:58:28 pm »

Quote from: ASmig on November 02, 2006, 07:17:42 pm

If it was me I'd fix it and get the multi game board upgrade for space invaders. IIRC didn't space invaders deluxe use a mirror, cardboard art, a blacklight and colored gels to create its image? There's one space invaders deluxe around here that I have been trying to buy for years now. I'd love to buy yours if you were closer.

Yes it uses all of that. I still have all those parts, too. The machine is 100% intact in that regard. I had planned on selling this thing at one point because I was just fed up with it, but now I've got a direction and I intend to take it. I'm actually excited about owning this machine for the first time in a long time. Maybe my good parts can still get someone else's machine up and running. If I can help fix someone else'se machine, isn't that just as good as fixing my own?

I know next to nothing about fixing non-JAMMA machines, but I know every in and out about MAME. I'm just going to stick to what I know. I had always intended on getting the multi-game upgrade, but this will allow me to do all of that and more.

In response to CT's comment... I'm sure this collapsed screen can probably be fixed with a rebuild, but then there's still the distortion that I don't know how to fix. Maybe a rebuild can take care of that. I don't know. But I've already dumped $100 into this thing to achieve zero results. I don't really want to spend more money on fixing a monitor that may or may not be the problem. Plus I wouldn't even know where to find someone to do it.

quarterback · « **Reply #16 on:** November 03, 2006, 09:52:28 pm »

Quote from: ASmig on November 02, 2006, 07:17:42 pm

If it was me I'd fix it and get the multi game board upgrade for space invaders. IIRC didn't space invaders deluxe use a mirror, cardboard art, a blacklight and colored gels to create its image? There's one space invaders deluxe around here that I have been trying to buy for years now.

I'd love to buy yours if you were closer.

Where are you located?

ASmig · « **Reply #17 on:** November 03, 2006, 11:07:03 pm »

Near Warren, Ohio. The machine is at a drive in theather. Yea, we still got those.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 06, 2006, 02:08:32 pm »

I'm building a website to contain all of my projects. I'll post a link when it's up and running.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 07, 2006, 01:00:01 am »

I have a new website! Since I don't really have much in the way to report for this current SID project, I went back and filled in everything for my previous project - a classic MAME cocktail cabinet.

http://www.skloss.com/alan

As I start moving on the SID project, I'll start filling that stuff in more.

ChadTower · « **Reply #20 on:** November 07, 2006, 11:29:13 am »

Quote from: AlanS17 on November 02, 2006, 11:58:28 pm

I don't really want to spend more money on fixing a monitor that may or may not be the problem. Plus I wouldn't even know where to find someone to do it.

Any mom and pop TV repair shop should be able to fix that without a problem. It's just a b/w TV without sound or tuner. Replacing the transformer would be a bit of a pain but it sounds like yours is fine.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 08, 2006, 02:57:19 pm »

Well I've started work on it. I've emptied out the SID. There's no turning back now. You can follow progress at:

http://www.skloss.com/alan

Sorry to all those people trying to get me to restore it. This is just the way it's going to be. I took care to remove everything cleanly. Everything removed will be for sale including power supply, transformer, monitors (I have two), motherboard, and wiring harness. Even though I didn't save my own machine, I can still help someone else save theirs.

theCoder · « **Reply #22 on:** November 08, 2006, 07:58:33 pm »

I've got an idea for you. Why not start a new thread with a new title. Mention that you are starting with a gutted hull, neglecting to mention that you gutted it. That will keep the reconditioning purists at bay.

Good luck & have fun.

AlanS17 · « **Reply #23 on:** November 08, 2006, 08:00:26 pm »

Quote from: theCoder on November 08, 2006, 07:58:33 pm

I've got an idea for you. Why not start a new thread with a new title. Mention that you are starting with a gutted hull, neglecting to mention that you gutted it. That will keep the reconditioning purists at bay.

Good luck & have fun.

LOL good idea. I'll do that now.


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Author Topic: I've decided to MAME my Space Invaders Deluxe *Now with pictures* (Read 4312 times)

Author Topic: I've decided to MAME my Space Invaders Deluxe Now with pictures (Read 4312 times)