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Metro VG420 Multi interest and development thread?

twistedsymphony said:
to me the fun of the arcade hobby is learning about how all of these boards work and are designed.

As I've accumulated more knowledge it became clear to me how most multis worked and soon after was the realization that most of the EASY ones were already build!

Believe it or not I actually attempted to make a Psikyo SH2 multi but aje_fr announced his while I was part way through developing it so I abandoned that project.

This hardware became a good target partly because of how obscure it is but also because I learned a lot about how it works before anyone else did :D

I have a list of about 10 or 12 other Multis I might attempt after this one. I have in my mind how they need to work, it's just a matter of spending the time to make them.

the time consuming part is going over every last little detail and difference of every game to make sure you didn't miss anything
Click to expand...

Honestly aje_fr isn't much competition when he locks his products behind an australian only distributor and a forum that wont allow registration to even post.

I think you'd bury him if you competed with him tbh.

I encourage your work. You appear quite good at it.
 
@XtraSmiley
@ForestOfDreams
@Mageta the Lion
@djsheep
@Hammy
@Darksoft
@plasticfactory
@bodgit
@AlxUnderBase
@JohnRambo'sKnife

UPDATE for you all! on the interested list.

I've got this project pretty much all buttoned up except for 2 things
1. Minimizing the custom Logic Chip
2. PCB Assembly

For item #1, I wanted to have a single PLD with a jumper to set your donor board and simplify things, unfortunately I haven't been able to get the logic simplified enough to compile multi-donor versions of the PLD. meaning the current solution is you'd need to specify your donor so I can send you the right chip, kind of annoying but not a huge problem. If anyone has good advice on how to minimize PLD logic, let me know, I think it's possible with FIELDS and TABLEs to replace the boolean-logic but I've yet to get that to function.

For item #2, I designed the PCBs to be 100% through-hole, which is nice for DIY and troubleshooting but has proven to make getting these pre-assembled at quantity a problem. there are kind of 2 options here

Option 1. sell it as a kit that you solder yourself and/or identify installers in the community that can do the build for people who can't do their own soldering (installation does require some small amount of soldering/de-soldering on the mobo, so it's unavoidable anyway). I really don't want to be doing this myself as I have ideas for other new Multi's I'd want to pursue and I'd rather spend my time developing instead of soldering work. With this option I could be shipping within a month or less, however long it takes to get the PCBs fabbed and tested.

Option 2. push the release out two months or so to get the assembly process dialed in and raise the price about $80 to have assembly done. Then the only only soldering work you'd have to do is on the mobo to prep it for the multi.

thoughts/opinions on all of this?
 
twistedsymphony said:
@XtraSmiley
@ForestOfDreams
@Mageta the Lion
@djsheep
@Hammy
@Darksoft
@plasticfactory
@bodgit
@AlxUnderBase
@JohnRambo'sKnife

UPDATE for you all! on the interested list.

I've got this project pretty much all buttoned up except for 2 things
1. Minimizing the custom Logic Chip
2. PCB Assembly

For item #1, I wanted to have a single PLD with a jumper to set your donor board and simplify things, unfortunately I haven't been able to get the logic simplified enough to compile multi-donor versions of the PLD. meaning the current solution is you'd need to specify your donor so I can send you the right chip, kind of annoying but not a huge problem. If anyone has good advice on how to minimize PLD logic, let me know, I think it's possible with FIELDS and TABLEs to replace the boolean-logic but I've yet to get that to function.

For item #2, I designed the PCBs to be 100% through-hole, which is nice for DIY and troubleshooting but has proven to make getting these pre-assembled at quantity a problem. there are kind of 2 options here

Option 1. sell it as a kit that you solder yourself and/or identify installers in the community that can do the build for people who can't do their own soldering (installation does require some small amount of soldering/de-soldering on the mobo, so it's unavoidable anyway). I really don't want to be doing this myself as I have ideas for other new Multi's I'd want to pursue and I'd rather spend my time developing instead of soldering work. With this option I could be shipping within a month or less, however long it takes to get the PCBs fabbed and tested.

Option 2. push the release out two months or so to get the assembly process dialed in and raise the price about $80 to have assembly done. Then the only only soldering work you'd have to do is on the mobo to prep it for the multi.

thoughts/opinions on all of this?
Click to expand...

DIY aka option 1 for me in case will goes out 👍🏻
 
Regarding Option 1: 100% through-hole so no smd soldering of any kind? (I have unsteady Hands and SMD is a really big hurdle for me)
Besides that i have no preference between 1 or 2.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Sounds like you're all awesome DIYers after my own heart! :D

I've moved forward with the PCB order in anticipation of selling this as a DIY kit

1st post has been updated with Anticipated Pricing
twistedsymphony said:
Anticipated Pricing
$87 = DIY Kit, includes PCBs and all parts (minus EPROMs) necessary to solder together the multi
+$14 = Optional Rotary switch in place of standard DIP Switch selector
+$43 = EPROMs necessary for the kit (4x 27C322, 3x27C160, 1x27C801)
+Shipping = (Varies based on your location, anticipated ~$15 in the USA)
*Note: it's unclear how import tariffs may effect pricing so actual pricing may change
Click to expand...

So yeah, did my best to keep this economical.
I really wanted a rotary switch for game selection as I feel thats much nicer than dips but it's a EXPENSIVE part so I'm making it an option
EPROMs are an optional add on as well if you need them.
I'll likely want to poll people as to whether they want the rotary switch and/or eproms with their kit so I can pre-order those parts.
 
Blank board or with the parts is fine with me, whatever is best for you! should have the bits around to build one...

God knows when i'll be setup again and got the board running to actually start messing with it..
Probably it's the reset cap if i'm lucky! i see your design also accommodates for it with the little cutout! good thinking!

You made this very well, nice and easy regular dip parts etc. No messing about - same as how i like to make stuff.
 
VG460 paper fit check
IMG_20250402_155420527.jpg
 
skusuma said:
Will all VG460 boards work as a donor? Will VG460 - (A) board work?
Click to expand...
I have never seen a version other than the "VG460-(A)" If you know of one I'd love to see some pictures.

currently now I'm having some issues getting my test circuit on the VG460 to work, so as of right now there are no guarantees this will come to fruition.
 
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