Hi all

gt6freak

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Hi everyone,

I'm new to arcade machines, although I've been collecting 8bit computers for a long while. I've cut my collection of those down to mostly only Spectrums/ZX81s now, but have in the past owned a large selection of different 8bit computers from the late 70s/early 80s (e.g. Oric, Dragon, C64, Nascom, VIC20, Atari, Pet etc.). I also loved my Amiga 500! I trained and worked as an electronics engineer for about 15 years and am generally handy at fixing stuff. I also like fixing up classic cars (hence the moniker) and electric guitars/valve amplifiers.

I'm hoping to eventually get hold of a small collection of the early games, like Space Invaders, Pacman, Defender, Phoenix, Scramble, Asteroids, Hunchback. I like the bespoke hardware on the early machines. Perhaps I'll get warmed up with a generic console first, maybe a cocktail cabinet, and collect some PCBs for it. I'm new to the jargon - I've just learnt what JAMMA is so please bear with me!
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Any advice on how to spot an original machine vs a later remake or knock-off would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Mark
 

cliff_poole

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That sounds awfully familiar
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.

I studied electronics, started collecting 8-bits, and play/build guitars, effects and valve amps. I'm also in Reading too.

I bought myself a JAMMA cab in '97 and since then have been collecting and repairing PCBs. It has become a bit of an obsession really, I now have over 200. Once you start you just can't stop
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DanP

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Hi Mark, welcome along. Sounds like you're treading the same path as many of us on here. Some of those games you mentioned will be difficult to get working on a standard Jamma setup (Defender for example) due to their strange wiring looms, not impossible though. Asteroids is a Vector game (totally different type of monitor) so you'll need a dedicated cab for that.

Dan
 
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