negative1 Posted June 3, 2019 Author Share Posted June 3, 2019 Another review of Dig Dug: later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted June 7, 2019 Author Share Posted June 7, 2019 (edited) Arcade 1up - Dig Dug Countercade ======================================= Did a breakdown, and some testing with the Arcade 1up Dig dug machine. Its a very minimal build, with 1 new component that is not in the normal machines. Retroralph did a breakdown on the pac-man one on youtube, so if you want to see that as a video reference, it might help. ---------------------------- Parts: ------------------------ 1 joystick 2 player buttons for action / pump [1 on left of joystick, 1 on right] 2 player start/credit buttons 1 volume adjustment switch 1 on off switch cabinet ----------- 1 control panel 1 control panel plexiglass overlay - 2 large screws 1 panel under control panel in front --------------------------------------------------- 1 plain back panel - attached with 4 screws 1 top panel overhanging - to hold in marquee 1 marquee panel 1 front bezel 2 left and right panels video ------ 1 8 inch lcd screen 1 lcd controller cable converter 1 cable for lcd 1 cable for power to lcd box covering the video board - 2 small screws game -------- 1 ribbon cable to control panel 1 cable with ground from PCB to video board 1 game pcb 1 power cable 1 multi wire cable to video board box covering PCB - 2 screws ALWAYS MAKE SURE POWER IS OFF BEFORE STARTING =================================================== None of the screws were tightened much Also, although most of the cables are one way, make a not of the reversible one, with the red wires, and also which sides are plugged in. Take pictures if necessary. Tools need - Philips Screwdriver - possible smaller sized philips screwdriver - something to hold the screws I flipped the machine onto the front for this part ----------------------- 1 - detach power cable from small connector to mini plug on back 2 - Detach 4 screws on back panel 3 - Carefully unplug the mini power cord from the PCB 4 - Remove the 2 side screws from the box over the PCB, you now have access to it. ============================================================ I stood the machine up for this 5 - Remove the front 2 large screws from the control panel DO NOT LIFT OUT YET 6 - carefully pull up, and REMOVE the 2 pin cable attached to the speaker. If you yanked the control panel off, it will probably rip out the cable. 7 - Detach the large ribbon cable from the control panel, this will free up the PCB. 8 - Remove the ground screw and then you can detach the larger ribbon cable (the one with the red wires) 9 - You can also remove the smaller cable with 3 wires on it. This removes the PCB from the board ====================================================== 10 - Remove the 2 small screws from the side of the box on the back of the LCD 11 - Remove the 2 cables from the back of the lcd converter board. This gives you access to the video board, if you want to attach another one for Modding, or a different LVDS adapter. ========================================================= * To reassamble - just reverse the steps ========================================================= At this point, theoretically, you could swap in another control panel, other countercade PCB's, etc. Or just experiment. I did the reverse, and tried plugging the Dig Dug PCB, into a full sized Arcade 1UP, but of course, the video output is not compatible and just gave a blank screen. If the settings in the software can be modified to address it, it most likely would work, but of course, the control panel would have to be altered with that board too. video boards control panel blank screen later -1 Edited June 7, 2019 by negative1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted June 10, 2019 Author Share Posted June 10, 2019 (edited) Countercades on sale : $179 and $152 for them with shipping https://slickdeals.net/f/13138336-arcade1up-countercade-pac-man-centipede-dig-dug-or-space-invaders-for-152-14-ac-free-shipping?utm_source=android_app&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=external+share https://www.rakuten.com/shop/gamercandy/search/countercade/ walmart has them for $179 later -1 Edited June 10, 2019 by negative1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted June 13, 2019 Author Share Posted June 13, 2019 Thanks to Cooltoy for pointing this out. - Defender with Joust - Dedicated (but cramped) controls - Same form factor as other machines later -1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted June 13, 2019 Author Share Posted June 13, 2019 (edited) A view of the defender countercade button layout: Here is the new layout: 2 direction Joystick smart bomb thrust fire [1 player] reverse hyperspace [2 player] original: 2 direction joystick player 1 start player 2 start thrust fire reverse smart bomb hyperspace later -1 Edited June 13, 2019 by negative1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted June 25, 2019 Share Posted June 25, 2019 (edited) Saw this at costco today. https://photos.app.goo.gl/CEJgsbB2K17j1e4u9 https://photos.app.goo.gl/btLqCWpHF7ahWrir9 https://photos.app.goo.gl/LTJkW27xfUsBKR6k6 Edited June 25, 2019 by 0078265317 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted July 6, 2019 Author Share Posted July 6, 2019 Heres a look at space invaders: later -1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+save2600 Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 Seems like they've corrected the sound lag for the most part in these latest offerings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flojomojo Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 The electrons don't have as far to travel when the boards are mounted in smaller housings. ?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBerel Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 That looks like an ICade in a bigger box with more empty space around the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoyous Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 True... it also looks like an arcade cabinet in a smaller box with the same bezel around the screen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boba Debt Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 I'm in the process of converting 2 AIU games into multicades and I plan to convert a couple more. If I could find a inexpensive source for the LCD monitors I could use the AIU control panel and LCD diver board to create some countercades I plan to order Blackout edition Marques so I could even use those for the top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamemoose Posted July 9, 2019 Share Posted July 9, 2019 On 6/25/2019 at 12:48 PM, 0078265317 said: Saw this at costco today. https://photos.app.goo.gl/CEJgsbB2K17j1e4u9 https://photos.app.goo.gl/btLqCWpHF7ahWrir9 https://photos.app.goo.gl/LTJkW27xfUsBKR6k6 I tried that machine out at the Grafton, WI Costco. The knob doesn't freely turn but turns in "steps" like a switch knob. I don't recall the original playing that way. This Tempest was playable but it felt like I was competing both with the game and the controls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted September 10, 2019 Author Share Posted September 10, 2019 how to mod the video adapter in the countercade: later -1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted November 1, 2019 Author Share Posted November 1, 2019 The first sighting of the Galaga Countercade at Walmart: later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted November 2, 2019 Author Share Posted November 2, 2019 From Cooltoy: Kohl's will be having a Black Friday deal on the Arcade1Up Pac-man countercade for $149 with $45 in extra Kohl's cash thrown in. later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted January 13, 2020 Author Share Posted January 13, 2020 Countercades are being shrunk in size, smaller screen 7 inch, and smaller footprint. Good news, they will be relaunched at $99 pricepoint. later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted January 13, 2020 Author Share Posted January 13, 2020 Arcade 1UP - Countercade Multigame-mod ====================================== So, I got the Dig Dug countercade, but wasn't happy with the controls for Dig Dug 2. Also, Dig Dug was the Japanese settings, which is 5 men only, which makes it much harder to get to 1 million and killscreens. Anyways, I bought the LVDS adapter, but haven't been able to get it to work quite right, so I've given up on that for now. My plan was to add a pc, or small computer to it, for using MAME for multigames. Or to input from a game console. ------------------------------------ Issue - Small screen size, actually it isn't too bad, when sitting in front of it, but it is very small when playing horizontal based games. Solution - New Screen ======================== Issue - Bad emulation, and controls Solution - Better PC, and alternate controls with joystick, trackball and spinner ======================== Issue - Mono sound (loud though) Solution - Stereo Sound ========================== Issue - Poor screen angles and colors Solution - New Screen ========================== I ended up using a Fujitsu 13 inch tablet PC which I had not being used currently. Its a Core 2 Duo, 1 Gig ram, 80Gig hard drive. So tons of horsepower, and space for many emulators, and ROMS. This solved all problems at once, and also added pen input to the screen, so no keyboard is needed. The tablet PC has 2 usb inputs, firewire, audio in, audio out, VGA out, microphones. - 1 usb used for controller(s) - 1 usb used for keyboard or HUB Resolution : 1024x768 32 bit color Size : 12.1 inches Networking : Built In Battery : Up to 4 hours with expanded battery YES, it can be 'portable', and does not need to be plugged into wall socket. -------------------------- Bezel - Too large on original Solution - Replaced with Black Plastic Board cut to allow screen to show. ======================== Total Price - Tablet ($50-150 spent several years ago - many can be found on EBAY) - Bezel ($5 spent at Art supply store) Keyboard (already had spare) Joystick, Mouse, Trackball, Spinner (already owned). So technically it cost me $5, since I owned all the other parts. ======================= Game notes: ======================= - Software MAME 0.106 for testing. I can upgrade to much later versions for other games, but I was trying to show Arcade 1UP ones, and mostly vertical ones. OFFICIAL CURRENT Arcade 1up Games ====================================== Dig Dug - Slight glitch in sound, but can play Atari Roms, besides Namco, and alter player settings. Dig Dug 2 - Perfect emulation of both versions, and superior controls, since 2 buttons are on the right side mapped correctly -------------- Centipede - Works great, haven't put in correct settings for trackball Missile Command - Did not Test --------------- Space Invaders - Works excellent, need to tweak settings for correct sound Space Invaders Color - Works excellent, need to tweak settings for correct sound ---------------- Pac-Man - Did not test, expect it to work perfectly Pac n Pal - Tested, works perfectly ----------------- Galaga - Tested, works perfectly Galaxian - Did not test ------------------ PROPOSED BUT NOT RELEASED ========================= Defender - Works, but have to map controls correctly Joust - Works perfectly Ghosts N Goblins - Works perfectly GAMES I LIKE, BUT NOT OFFICIAL ============================== Galaga '88 - Excellent game in the series Joust 2 - Excellent Vertical oriented game, very tough Pac-Man plus - Tested, works perfectly Super Pac-Man - Tested, works perfectly Pacmania - Tested, works perfectly (will have a separate gameplay video too) ============================================================== Final notes: You can see the tablet green LED's, but when playing they are blocked by the Bezel. Also in the video, the left side appears to bent slightly, but from the front view, its fine. I need to tweak the software some more, and add some more ROMS. I don't care about frontends, and MAME GUI works fine for me. Any questions about the games, let me know. later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefish Posted January 17, 2020 Share Posted January 17, 2020 I know A1U is trying to keep a budget pricepoint, but I wish they didn't shrink the countercades Now, if they release new countercades, the sizes will clash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted January 18, 2020 Author Share Posted January 18, 2020 here's a review of the centipede countercade: (not sure why he doesn't think missile command is the same) later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted May 6, 2020 Author Share Posted May 6, 2020 nice job on this: later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 There are 99$ countercades coming later this year with smaller footprints and screens. If you want Dig Dug, Centipede or Space Invaders, get them for $125 from Arcade 1up site: https://arcade1up.com/collections/counter-cade https://arcade1up.com/collections/counter-cade/products/centipede-counter-cade Or $149 with free shipping from Walmart later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted June 15, 2020 Author Share Posted June 15, 2020 Dig dug on sale for $99 at bestbuy: Best Buy countercades down to $99 ========================= https://www.bestbuy.com/site/promo/save-on-arcade1up-countercades?irclickid=Wf6V-7WZmxyOUqY0TWXZ0S3wUki3YSQ1T3cmw40&irgwc=1&ref=198&loc=Wf6V-7WZmxyOUqY0TWXZ0S3wUki3YSQ1T3cmw40&acampID=660629&mpid=312361 later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted July 22, 2020 Author Share Posted July 22, 2020 Series 2 : Ms. Pac-man at cheaper pricepoint https://www.qvc.com/Arcade1Up-Choice-of-Games-Countercade-Tabletop-Home-Arcade-Machine.product.E234035.html later -1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
negative1 Posted July 22, 2020 Author Share Posted July 22, 2020 Ordered ms pac-man countercade. Should be here by 8/29/20 later -1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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