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Multi-PCB JAMMA Racing Cabinet recommendations

N

Nuigi

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I have a Midway racing cabinet (was originally Cruis’n USA and was converted to Atomiswave Faster Than Speed). The cabinet has the original force feedback steering assembly and pedals from the Cruis’n USA machine. It also has the original RGB (CRT) monitor and Transformer/Power Supply. There is an additional switching power supply that I think was installed during the conversion because it appears to be newer than most everything else inside the cabinet.

The cabinet no longer has the Cruis’n USA 4-way shifter, nor any of the View and Radio buttons. Instead, it now has a Low-High shifter with springs to keep the shifter in a neutral position and a Start Button and a Nitro Boost button. I want to install more Racing games into this Cabinet via RiddledTVs 6 way JAMMA switcher. So I’ve been searching the internet for machine schematics from 1995-2005. I think I’ve only found 2 other games that are compatible with the existing Input devices (NAMCO’s Dirt Dash and Atomiswave Maximum Speed). It seems that most racing machines of the time used a 4-way shifter and either JAMMA+ or Kickboard for additional inputs.

I’m fine installing an additional 4-way shifter and additional inputs in order to get this project rolling, but I’m curious if anyone knows of any (preferably small footprint) JAMMA racing PCB’s that utilize force feedback steering and Low-High shifter. I looked into NickToons Racing (Chicago Gaming Company), but that shifter assembly appears to stay in position when moved instead of springing back to neutral so I don’t think my current shifter would be compatible (If I have to install an additional shifter I’m going to install the common 4-Way and not another 2-Way)
 
Nice! Do you have any pics inside of what's happened?

The gear box centering and the lack of natural steering centering makes it a challenge.
If you are prepared to run in auto mode only then it opens a few more doors...
 
could use the shifter to drive some stripboard with an up/down counter on it :)
 
I’ve been so busy with work that I haven’t been able to open up the cabinet again for posting pics. But the feedback motor inside the cabinet is not the type that uses 2springs to center the wheel. It’s an RAE Corporation 90V DC motor with belt and pulley and Potentiometer (HAPP Controls). The wheel can be calibrated via Atomiswave settings menu (Turn all the way to left, then turn all the way to right and that’s how it finds the Center). I just found out that SNK Xtreme Rally uses the same motor, but the game only has 3 tracks and goes for approximately $500 on eBay right now (plus it’s not well received). I’m gonna keep searching. It’s really hard to find Schematics/Manuals so many Arcade Machines.
 
Is it essential you keep the hi/low shifter? want that sequential gearbox experience? you could use an Arduino nano/esp12 or something similar, cost you like $2 and a some coding and you could have it function however you like depending on the game (4 speed shifter 3/4 microswitch, traditional high/low speed shifter).

off the top of my head this is how I would do it:-
You'd need to have a means to select the shift type as different games/shift types are going to require different wiring to spoof, something like a simple toggle switch somewhere could switch between high/low mode and 4 speed shifter mode.
The high/low of your shifter will act as your inputs to the Arduino (toggle switch is also another input which determines operating mode) and then your outputs will be mimicking whatever shift type your trying to spoof (again number of output depends on what the game board needs to see and as such the shifter you're spoofing).
With a high/low shifter you only have 2 states (I think, these don't normally have neutral?) so on boot it would already select low, then selecting high would toggle and latch high until you chose low again.
For the 4 speed start in neutral, then each time you select high it increments up a gear and each time you select low drops a gear etc.
 
That sounds great accept, my coding skills are lacking. Last time I did any coding was like 15 years ago for a label printing company I used to work at. Proprietary coding language based off of BASIC. I’m more of physical switch and relay guy. But I appreciate the reply for sure.

I’m leaning towards getting the 4-way shifter with H gate and then using a relay to switch between input devices based on which PCB is powered up at the time. The 4-way shifter is used in the Cruis’n series and I think Off Road Challenge and maybe San Francisco Rush. I’m sure there are others too. I’d mount the shifter to the right side of the seat. The main thing I need to figure out from there is whether my 90V SAE feedback motor and I/O board is going to work with some of these games.
 
nem said:
That same RAE motor is used in Hydro Thunder and San Francisco Rush I believe.



https://www.arcade-projects.com/threads/sega-rally-upright-up-down-shifter.18011/

There's one here in this thread for Sega games.
Click to expand...
I love Hydro Thunder! That game uses handle bars, instead of a steering wheel. But maybe a wheel would work? The steering wheel definitely has a wider range of motion than handle bars so I have to wonder if a different POT is used. But maybe there’s a way to calibrate from the game’s setup menu
 
Are you thinking of Arctic Thunder? Hydro has a regular wheel.
 
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