Document Title: [JAMMA Tech.html (html file)]
This Video Game Pinout Data Sheet Was Typed In By James R. Twine.
EMail: jtwine@jtwine.com
-> JAMMA/AAMA Standard Connector <-
Updated on 02/22/99: Added AAMA pins, and other AAMA connector
information.
Name Of Game(s): Many!
Notes: Not all games will use all pins, and some kits may have extra
connectors for more/different controls! i.e. Street Fighter II
and Ikari Warriors. Some boards, for example, bootleg/pirate
Street Fighter II-Champion Edition boards, (may) use the
unused/spare pins for the extra button(s).
(Pins marked with a "(*)" are optional/spare/undefined.)
[56-Pin PCB Connector]
Solder Side | Parts Side
________________________________|___________________________________
GND | A | 1 | GND
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
GND | B | 2 | GND
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
+5 | C | 3 | +5
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
+5 | D | 4 | +5
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
-5 | E | 5 | -5
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
+12 | F | 6 | +12
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
- KEY - | H | 7 | - KEY -
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
Coin Counter # 2 | J | 8 | Coin Counter # 1
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(*) Lock Out Coil # 2 | K | 9 | (*) Lock Out Coil # 1
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(Left) Speaker (-) | L | 10| (Left) Speaker (+)
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(*) Right Speaker (-) | M | 11| (*) Right Speaker (+)
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
Video Green | N | 12| Video Red
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
Video Sync | P | 13| Video Blue
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
Service Switch | R | 14| Video GND
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(*) Tilt Switch | S | 15| Test Switch
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
Coin Switch # 2 | T | 16| Coin Switch # 1
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
2P Start | U | 17| 1P Start
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(TB:H-Dir) 2P Up | V | 18| 1P Up (TB:H-Dir)
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(TB:H-Clock) 2P Down | W | 19| 1P Down (TB:H-Clock)
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(TB:V-Dir) 2P Left | X | 20| 1P Left (TB:V-Dir)
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(TB:V-Clock) 2P Right | Y | 21| 1P Right (TB:V-Clock)
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
2P Button 1 | Z | 22| 1P Button 1
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
2P Button 2 | a | 23| 1P Button 2
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
2P Button 3 | b | 24| 1P Button 3
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(*) 2P Button 4 | c | 25| (*) 1P Button 4
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
(*) Service Switch 2 | d | 26| (*) Undefined / Spare
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
GND | e | 27| GND
----------------------------|---|---|-------------------------------
GND | f | 28| GND
--------------------------------------------------------------------
[15-Pin Player 3/4+ PCB Connectors]
|---|-------------------------
| 1 | GND
|---|-------------------------
| 2 | +5 VDC
|---|-------------------------
| 3 | Coin Counter
|---|-------------------------
| 4 | (*) Service
|---|-------------------------
| 5 | Coin
|---|-------------------------
| 6 | Start
|---|-------------------------
| 7 | Up
|---|-------------------------
| 8 | Down
|---|-------------------------
| 9 | Left (Center?)
|---|-------------------------
| 10| Right
|---|-------------------------
| 11| Button 1
|---|-------------------------
| 12| Button 2
|---|-------------------------
| 13| Button 3
|---|-------------------------
| 14| Button 4
|---|-------------------------
| 15| (*) Undefined/Spare
|---|-------------------------
[5-Pin Video PCB Connectors (extra monitors)]
|---|-------------------------
| 1 | Red
|---|-------------------------
| 2 | Green
|---|-------------------------
| 3 | Blue
|---|-------------------------
| 4 | Composite Sync
|---|-------------------------
| 5 | Gnd
|---|-------------------------
mtr game developer year
---------------------------------------------------------------------
H '88 Games Konami 1988 JAMMA
1941 Capcom 1990 JAMMA
V 1943: The Battle of Midway Capcom 1988 JAMMA
H 3 Wonders Capcom 1991 JAMMA
H 9 Ball Shoot Out Bundra JAMMA
V Aero Fighters McO'River 1992 JAMMA
H Air Buster Namcoi/Kaneko 1990 JAMMA
V Ajax Konami 1988 JAMMA
V Alabaster Taito 1989 JAMMA
H Alien vs. Predator Capcom 1993 JAMMA
H Aliens Konami 1990 JAMMA
H/V Ameri-Darts Ameri Corp 1989 JAMMA
V American Horse Shoes Taito 1990 JAMMA
H Apache 3 Data East (DECO) 1989 JAMMA
H Arabian Fight Sega 1992 JAMMA
H Arlington Horse Race Strata/Incredible 1990 JAMMA
V Arm Champs Jaleco 1991 JAMMA
V Assault Atari (Namco?) 1988 JAMMA
H Astayanax Jaleco 1989 JAMMA
V Asuka 'N Asuka Taito 1988 JAMMA
H Ataxx Leland 1990 JAMMA
H Atomic Punk Irem 1991 JAMMA
H Avenging Spirit Jaleco 1991 JAMMA
H B.Rap Boys Kaneko 1991 JAMMA
H Bad Dudes Data East (DECO) 1988 JAMMA
H Bad Dudes vs. Dragon Ninja Data East 1988 JAMMA
H Badlands Atari 1989 JAMMA
H Batman Atari Games 1991 JAMMA
H Battle Toads Electronics Arts JAMMA
V Battleantes (Battlantis?) Konami 1987 JAMMA
V Bermuda Triangle S.N.K. JAMMA
H Bio-Ship Paladin American Sammy JAMMA
H Bionic Commando Capcom 1988 JAMMA
H Black Dragon Capcom 1987 JAMMA
H Black Tiger Romstar 1987 JAMMA
H Blades of Steel Konami 1987 JAMMA
H Blandia Taito/Allumer JAMMA
H Blasted Midway 1987 JAMMA
V Block Block Capcom 1991 JAMMA
H Block Out Technos/California 1990 JAMMA
H Bloody Wolf Romstar 1989 JAMMA
H Bloxeed Sega 1989 JAMMA
V?) Boot Camp Konami 1987 JAMMA
H Bottom of the Ninth Konami 1989 JAMMA
V Bowl O Rama I/T 1990 JAMMA
H BreakThru Data East (DECO) 1985 JAMMA
H Brute Force Leland 1990 JAMMA
Bubble Symphony Taito JAMMA
H Buster Bros. Capcom 1990 JAMMA
H Cabal Fabtek/TAD 1988 JAMMA
H Cadash Taito 1990 JAMMA
H Cadillacs and Dinosaurs Capcom 1992 JAMMA
H Cal.50 Caliber-Fifty Romstar/Seta 1989 JAMMA
V Capcom Bowling Capcom 1987 JAMMA
H Captain America and the Avengers Data East (DECO) 1991 JAMMA
H Captain Commando Capcom 1991 JAMMA
H Carrier Air Wing Capcom 1990 JAMMA
Castle of Dragon Romstar JAMMA
H Caveman Ninja Data East (DECO) 1991 JAMMA
H Champion Wrestler Taito 1990 JAMMA
H Championship Bowling JAMMA
H Chelnov: The Atommic Runer Data East 1988 JAMMA
H Chinagate Kitcorp/Romstar 1988 JAMMA
V Chopper I SNK 1988 JAMMA
H Cisco Heat Jaleco 1990 JAMMA
H Clutch Hitter Sega 1991 JAMMA
H Cobra Command Data East (DECO) 1989 JAMMA
H Combatribes Technos 1990 JAMMA
H Contra Konami JAMMA
H Cool Pool Catalina 1992 JAMMA
V Coors Light Bowling Capcom 1989 JAMMA
H Cotton Sega/Success 1991 JAMMA
H Crime City Taito 1989 JAMMA
H Crime Fighters Konami 1989 JAMMA
Crude Busters Data East JAMMA
H Cyberball 2072 Atari 1989 JAMMA
H D.D. Crew Sega 1991 JAMMA
H Dangerous Dungeons Game Room 1992 JAMMA
H Dark Adventure Konami 1987 JAMMA
H DE Block A/S 1991 JAMMA
H Dead Angle Fabtek/Seibu 1988 JAMMA
H Desert Assault Data East (DECO) 1991 JAMMA
V Devastators Konami 1988 JAMMA
H DJ Boy American Sammy 1989 JAMMA
H Double Axle Taito 1991 JAMMA
H Double Dragon 3: The Rosetta Ston Taito (Technos?) 1990 JAMMA
H Double Dragon II: The Revenge Technos/Romstar 1989 JAMMA
H Double Dribble Konami 1986 JAMMA
V Downtown Romstar 1990 JAMMA
H Dragon Breed Irem 1989 JAMMA
V Dragon Saber Namco 1990 JAMMA
V Dragon Spirit Atari Games 1987 JAMMA
H Dark Stalkers The Night Warriors Capcom 1994 JAMMA
V Drift Out A/S (Visco Games?) 1991 JAMMA
Drift Out 94 Namco JAMMA
H Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom Capcom/SSI 1994 JAMMA
V Dyger SHP 1989 JAMMA
H Dynamite Duke Fabtek/Seibu 1989 JAMMA
Dynamite Mike? JAMMA
H Dynasty Wars Capcom 1989 JAMMA
V Dyno Bop G/P 1990 JAMMA
H E.D.F. Earth Defense Force Jaleco 1990 JAMMA
H Eco-Fighters Capcom 1994 JAMMA
Elevator Action 2 Taito 1996 JAMMA
H Empire City 1931 Romstar 1987 JAMMA
H Escape from the Planet of the Robers 1989 JAMMA
Extermination JAMMA
H Exterminator PRM (Gottlieb?) 1989 JAMMA
V F-1 Grand Prix Video System 1991 JAMMA
H Fighter's History Data East JAMMA
H Fighting Golf S.N.K. 1988 JAMMA
V Fighting Hawk Taito 1988 JAMMA
H Final Fight Capcom 1990 JAMMA
H Final Lap Atari 1988 JAMMA
V Final Round Sega 1989 JAMMA
V Fire Trap Data East (DECO) 1986 JAMMA
H Forgotten Worlds Capcom 1988 JAMMA
H Four Trax Atari 1989 JAMMA
V Free Kick Merit Industries/? 1988 JAMMA
V Gal's Panic Kaneko 1991 JAMMA
V Gal's Panic 2 Kaneko JAMMA
V Galaga 88 Atari 1988 JAMMA
H Gang Wars SNK 1989 JAMMA
H Gate of Doom Data East 1990 JAMMA
H Ghouls 'n Ghosts Capcom 1988 JAMMA
H Gold Medalist Romstar 1988 JAMMA
H Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Sega 1992 JAMMA
H Golden Tee Golf STA 1989 JAMMA
V Gondomania Data East (DECO) 1987 JAMMA
H Great 1000 Mile Rally Kaneko JAMMA
V Grid Seeker: Project Storm Hammer Taito 1992 JAMMA
H Growl Taito 1991 JAMMA
H Gryzor JAMMA
H Guardians of the 'Hood Atari Games 1992 JAMMA
V Guerrilla Wars Tradewest/S.N.K. 1988 JAMMA
H Gun Baron Jaleco 1991 JAMMA
H Gundam Jaleco 1991 JAMMA
H Gunforce Irem 1991 JAMMA
V Gunnail NMK JAMMA
H Hacha-Mecha Fighter NMK JAMMA
H Hammerin' Harry Irem 1990 JAMMA
H Hard Head Sharp Image/Suna 1988 JAMMA
Hat Trick Hero 95 Taito JAMMA
H Hatris Video Systema 1990 JAMMA
H Haunted Castle Konami 1988 JAMMA
? Heavy Barrel Data East 1988 JAMMA
? Heavy Barrel Data East 1988 JAMMA
H Heavy Unit Grand 1989 JAMMA
H High Impact Football Williams 1991 JAMMA
H Hippodrome Data East 1989 JAMMA
H Hit the Ice Williams 1991 JAMMA
H Hook Irem 1992 JAMMA
V Hot Shots Tennis Strata/Incredible 1990 JAMMA
H Hydra Atari Games 1990 JAMMA
H Ikari Warriors 3 Tradewest/S.N.K. 1989 JAMMA
V Kageki Romstar (Taito?) 1988 JAMMA
H Karate Blazers McO'River 1991 JAMMA
H Karnov Data East (DECO) 1987 JAMMA
V Ki Ki Kai Kai JAMMA
H Klax Atari Games 1990 JAMMA
H Knights of the Round Capcom 1992 JAMMA
H Kuri Kinton World Games 1988 JAMMA
V L.E.D. Storm Capcom 1988 JAMMA
V Last Duel Capcom 1988 JAMMA
Last Mission Data East (DECO) 1986 JAMMA
V Legion Nichibutsu 1987 JAMMA
H Legionnaire Fabtek/TAD 1992 JAMMA
H Lethal Enforcers Konami 1992 JAMMA
H Life Force Konami 1986 JAMMA
V Lightning Fighter Konami 1990 JAMMA
H Lucky 8 Line GRH 1989 JAMMA
H M.I.A. Missing In Action Konami 1989 JAMMA
H M.V.P. Sega 1989 JAMMA
H Magic Sword Capcom 1990 JAMMA
H Magical Crystals Kaneko 1991 JAMMA
H Martial Champions Konami JAMMA
Mega Twins Capcom 1990 JAMMA
V Mercs Capcom 1990 JAMMA
V Meta Fox Seta? JAMMA
H Metamorphic Force Konami 1993 JAMMA
H Midnight Resistance Data East (DECO) 1989 JAMMA
V Mission XX Data East (DECO) 1982 JAMMA
H Moonwalker (Michael Jackson's) Sega 1990 JAMMA
H Mortal Kombat II Midway 1994 JAMMA
H Mortal Kombat III Midway 1996 JAMMA
H Mortal Kombat 4 Midway 1997 JAMMA
Muscle Bomber Duo Capcom 1993 JAMMA
H Mustang Demo 1990 JAMMA
Mutant Fighters: Death Brade Data East 1991 JAMMA
H Mutant Warrior JAMMA
V MX 5000 Konami 1987 JAMMA
H Mystic Riders Irem 1992 JAMMA
H N.Y. Captor Taito 1985 JAMMA
V Namco Classics Volume 1 Namco 1997 JAMMA
V Namco Classics Volume 2 Namco 1997 JAMMA
H Nastar Warrior Taito 1989 JAMMA
H NBA Jam Midway 1993 JAMMA
H NBA Jam: Tournament Edition Midway 1994 JAMMA
Nemo Capcom 1990 JAMMA
H Neo-Geo 2 Player Cabinet SNK 1990 JAMMA
H New Dyna Blaster: Global Quest Irem/Hudson Soft 1992 JAMMA
H Ninja Clowns Strata 1991 JAMMA
H Ninja Gaiden Tecmo 1988 JAMMA
Ninja Kids JAMMA
Ninja Spirit JAMMA
H Nintendo Super System Cabinet Nintendo (S.N.K.) 1991 JAMMA
H Off the Wall Atari Games 1991 JAMMA
V Omega Fighter UFL/American Sammy 1989 JAMMA
H Opertaion Thunderbolt Taito 1989 JAMMA
H Oscar Data East 1987 JAMMA
V Out Zone Romstar/Toaplan 1990 JAMMA
H P-47 Jaleco 1989 JAMMA
H P.O.W. S.N.K. 1988 JAMMA
V PacMania Atari 1987 JAMMA
V Paddlemania S.N.K. JAMMA
H Paladin (Bio-Ship Paladin?) American Sammy 1990 JAMMA
H Pang Mitchell Corp JAMMA
H Peek-A-Boo (R-rated) Jeleco JAMMA
V Peggle Strata/Incredible 1991 JAMMA
H Pig Out Leland 1990 JAMMA
H Pipe Dream Demo 1991 JAMMA
H PiPi&BiBis Toaplan JAMMA
H Pit-Fighter Atari 1990 JAMMA
V Poker Dice STA 1991 JAMMA
V Pound for Pound Irem 1990 JAMMA
H Power Instinct Atlus 1993 JAMMA
Powered Gear Capcom JAMMA
H Prehistoric Isle JAMMA
H Primal Rage Atari Games 1994 JAMMA
H Psycho Soldier SNK 1986 JAMMA
H Punk Shot Konami 1990 JAMMA
H Pushman American Sammy 1990 JAMMA
H Pyros Taito 1987 JAMMA
Quiz Capcom World 2 (Japan only) Capcom 1992 JAMMA
H Quiz of Dragons Capcom 1992 JAMMA
H R-Type II Irem 1990 JAMMA
H Rabbit Punch Midway 1987 JAMMA
H Rad Action UPL/World Games 1987 JAMMA
H Rad Rally Sega 1991 JAMMA
V Raiden Fabtek/Seibu 1990 JAMMA
V Raiden DX Fabtek JAMMA
V Raiden II Fabtek/Seibu 1993 JAMMA
H Rainbow Islands: The Story of Buble 2 1988 JAMMA
H Rampart Atari Games 1990 JAMMA
H Rastan Taito 1987 JAMMA
H Relief Pitcher Atari Games 1992 JAMMA
H Renegade Taito 1986 JAMMA
H Riding Fight Taito 1992 JAMMA
H Rim Rockin' Basketball Strata/Incredible 1991 JAMMA
H Road Riot 4wd Atari 1991 JAMMA
H RoboCop Data East 1988 JAMMA
H RoboCop 2 Data East (DECO) 1991 JAMMA
V Roller Games Konami 1991 JAMMA
H Rolling Thunder Atari Games 1986 JAMMA
H Rough Ranger Sharp Image/Capcom JAMMA
H Run & Gun Konami JAMMA
H S.P.Y. Special Project Y Konami 1989 JAMMA
H Salamander Konami JAMMA
V Search and Rescue SNK 1990 JAMMA
H Shadow Dancer Sega 1990 JAMMA
H Shadow Force Technos 1993 JAMMA
H Shogun Warrior Kaneko JAMMA
V Sholin's Road JAMMA
H Shuuz Atari Games 1990 JAMMA
H Sidearms Romstar (Capcom?) 1987 JAMMA
H Silent Dragon Taito 1992 JAMMA
H SilkWorm Tecmo 1988 JAMMA
H Skins Golf Irem JAMMA
H Skull Atari 1989 JAMMA
H Skull & Crossbones Atari Games 1989 JAMMA
V?) Sky Adventure S.N.K. 1989 JAMMA
V Sky Shark Romstar/Taito 1987 JAMMA
V Sky Soldiers Romstar 1988 JAMMA
H Slam Masters: Tournament Edition Capcom 1993 JAMMA
H Sly Spy Data East 1989 JAMMA
H Smash T.V. Williams 1990 JAMMA
H Snow Bros.: Nick & Tom Romstar/Toaplan 1990 JAMMA
H Soccer Finals Leland 1990 JAMMA
H Solar Warrior Memetron 1987 JAMMA
V Space Position Sega 1986 JAMMA
V Speed Rumbler Capcom 1987 JAMMA
H Spider-Man: The Videogame Sega 1991 JAMMA
H Spinal Breakers American Sammy 1991 JAMMA
H Sports Match Fabtek 1989 JAMMA
Star Fighter JAMMA
H Steel Talons Atari 1991 JAMMA
V Strata Bowling Strata/Incredible 1990 JAMMA
H Strato Fighter Tecmo 1991 JAMMA
H Street Fighter II Capcom 1991 JAMMA
H Street Fighter II: Champion Editi Capcom 1992 JAMMA
H Street Fighter II: Champion Editi Capcom 1992 JAMMA
H Street Smart S.N.K. 1989 JAMMA
H Strider Capcom 1989 JAMMA
V Strike Gunner S.T.G. Tecmo 1991 JAMMA
H Strikeforce Williams/Midway 1991 JAMMA
H Sunset Riders Konami 1991 JAMMA
V Super Contra Konami 1988 JAMMA
H Super Dodgeball Leland (Technos?) 1988 JAMMA
H Super High Impact Football Williams/Midway 1991 JAMMA
V Super Pinball Action Tecmo 1991 JAMMA
H Super Pool 3 JAMMA
V Super Qix Romstar 1987 JAMMA
H Super Ranger JAMMA
H Super Street Fighter II Capcom 1993 JAMMA
H Super Street Fighter II Turbo Capcom 1994 JAMMA
H Super Volleyball Data East 1989 JAMMA
H Superman Taito 1988 JAMMA
H Survival Arts American Sammy JAMMA
V Tail to Nose Demo 1992 JAMMA
H Tank Force Namco/Irene 1991 JAMMA
Task Force Harrier American Sammy 1989 JAMMA
H Tecmo Knight Tecmo 1989 JAMMA
H Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMN Konami 1989 JAMMA
H Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: TurTime 1991 JAMMA
H Terminator 2 Williams 1991 JAMMA
H Terra Force Nichibutsu 1987 JAMMA
H Tetris Atari Games 1989 JAMMA
H The Berlin Wall Kaneko 1991 JAMMA
H The King of Dragons Romstar (Capcom?) 1991 JAMMA
H The Main Event Kaneko 1988 JAMMA
H The Main Event Konami 1988 JAMMA
The New Zealand Story Taito JAMMA
H The Punisher Capcom 1993 JAMMA
H The Simpsons Konami 1991 JAMMA
Three Wonders Capcom 1991 JAMMA
V Thunder & Lightning JAMMA
V Thunder Dragon Tecmo/NMK 1991 JAMMA
H Thunder Fox Taito 1990 JAMMA
H Thunder Strike Game Room 1992 JAMMA
Thunder Zone Data East 1991 JAMMA
Thunderbolt JAMMA
H Thundercade Sega 1988 JAMMA
H ThunderJaws Atari Games 1990 JAMMA
H Tiger Road Romstar/Capcom 1987 JAMMA
H Time Killers Strata/Incredible 1992 JAMMA
V Time Soldiers Romstar/S.N.K. 1987 JAMMA
H Toki Fabtek/TAD Corp 1989 JAMMA
V Top Gunner Konami 1986 JAMMA
H Top Secret Capcom 1987 JAMMA
H Total Carnage Midway 1992 JAMMA
V Touchdown Fever S.N.K. 1987 JAMMA
V Tri-Sports Midway 1989 JAMMA
V Truxton Midway/Taito 1988 JAMMA
V Turbo Force MCR 1991 JAMMA
H Turtle Ship Philko Corp 1988 JAMMA
H Turtles Lost in Time Konami 1992 JAMMA
V Twin Cobra Romstar/Taito 1988 JAMMA
V Twin Eagle Taito 1988 JAMMA
V Twin Eagle II Romstar JAMMA
V Twin Hawk Taito 1989 JAMMA
H Two Crude Data East (DECO) 1990 JAMMA
H U.N. Squadron Capcom 1989 JAMMA
V U.S. Classic Golf Taito 1989 JAMMA
H Undercover Cops Irem 1992 JAMMA
H V'Ball (U.S. Championship Beach V Taito 1988 JAMMA
Vampire (Japanese Dark Stalkers?) Capcom JAMMA
V Varth: Operation Thunderstorm Romstar/Capcom 1992 JAMMA
H Vendetta Konami 1991 JAMMA
V Victory Road Tradewest/S.N.K. 1987 JAMMA
H Vigilante Data East/Irem 1988 JAMMA
H Violence Fight Taito 1990 JAMMA
H Warriors of Fate Capcom 1992 JAMMA
H Wheel of Fortune Gametek 1989 JAMMA
H Willow Capcom 1989 JAMMA
H Wizard Fire Data East (DECO) 1992 JAMMA
H World Cup '90 Tecmo 1990 JAMMA
H World Rally Atari Games JAMMA
H World Soccer Finals Leland 1990 JAMMA
H WWF Superstars Technos 1989 JAMMA
H WWF Wrestlefest Technos 1991 JAMMA
H X-Men 4 Player Konami 1992 JAMMA
H X-Men 6 Player Konami 1992 JAMMA
H X-Men: Children of the Atom Capcom 1995 JAMMA
H Xexex Konami 1991 JAMMA
H Mortal Kombat Midway/Williams 1992 JAMMA?
H Neo-Geo 4 Player Cabinet SNK 1990 JAMMA?
H Section Z Capcom 1986 JAMMA?
Space Invasion (Commando?) Capcom JAMMA?
V Stormin' Party Taito JAMMA?
H Street Fighter Capcom 1988 JAMMA?
Tank Busters? Tehkan JAMMA?
Zero Wing Williams? JAMMA?
From: noel@umbc2.umbc.edu (Noel Tominack, ACS, X3861) Newsgroups: rec.games.video.arcade.collecting Subject: My Data Communications Paper Date: 4 AUG 94 12:05:03 GMT Well, some people wanted to see it, so I thought I would post it here. My paper talked about the evolution and implementation of the JAMMA standard. Most of the material is from this newsgroup, hope you all like it. I was told the other part of the paper was riddled with inaccuracies but I hope this one is better. If you all see something that isn't right, please let me know __________________________________________ * Noel J. Tominack (noel@umbc2.umbc.edu) | * University of Maryland Baltimore County | * All opinions are mine mine mine! | * ________________________________________| p.s. I got a B in that class -------------------------BEGIN INCLUDED TEXT------------------------------ The Video Game Industry Learns from the Data Communications Industry by Noel Tominack INTRODUCTION When an innovative technology is successful in one particular field or application, it is the nature of other industries to try and copy this success by trying to apply the technology to meet their own needs. This cross- pollination of ideas brings technologies together that nobody thought were related, much less possible. This paper will focus on what the video game industry has picked up from the data communications industry. Its not too surprising, since both have recently rapidly advanced because of advances in computers. The first part with deal with how an ailing branch of video games was revived by taking a lead from the RS-232 standard; and the second part will cover how Local area network principles were applied to handheld video games to add a whole new aspect to their performance. THE JAMMA STANDARD When the RS-232 standard was first introduced, it was little more than an agreement on what each connector RpinS would do. But over time it had become the de facto standard for serial devices. Modems, printers, and serial cards all adhered to the RS-232 standard. Because of this standardization, its possible to hook up a printer or modem manufactured 15 years ago to your band-new PC and it will work. So what does that mean to the video game industry? For the manufacturers of arcade machines, it means a lot. Now, for the sake of this paper, the arcade machine will be broken down into two basic parts. The first is the RboardS (also referred to as the logic board, or printed circuit board--PCB for short) which houses the ROM chips of the game itself and related microchips. The second is the RcabinetS which is the wood cabinet which houses the monitor, the power supply, the control panel, the sound system, and the coin mechanism. The two together make an entire arcade machine, and this section deals with how the board and cabinet communicate with each other. In the early 1980s, the video arcade business was booming and arcade were springing up all over the countryside. Demand for machines was high and all the manufacturers were concerned about was selling new video arcade machines, not compatibility. According to Steve Ozdemir, president of the Video Arcade Preservation Society "you can go to the KLOV1 and find any manufacturer who produced games in 1982 and also in 1986, and I can assure you that those two games are NOT compatible in any way!" Mr. Ozdemir goes on to add "In fact, if you pick randomly any two games from one manufacturer, you'll probably have two incompatible games that will never be backward or forward compatible--the hardware changes too quickly!"(1) In the rush to put new products out on the market, arcade machine manufacturers decided not to worry about compatibility between different boards and cabinets. The arcade boom was quite strong and the demand was still great for whole machines. There is also another reason arcade manufacturers kept making incompatible machines "This also has a lot to do with the secretiveness of the time--many boards werenUt even marked, companies were afraid of the competition reverse engineering" says Chris McBride, another Video Arcade Preservation Society member(2) One of the most interesting cases of incompatibility has to do with 2 Atari games, Asteroids and Asteroids Deluxe. They use identical wiring harnesses and cabinets. However, when one board is put into the other's cabinet, play is nearly impossible. "The left and right rotation buttons are reversed, pressing start will add credits to the machine, and putting coins in will start your game."(3). Obviously there was a need for some standardization, at least within the individual companies. Now there was some compatibility at the time within a single manufacturers' line. At Williams Electronics, swapping the ROM chips and control panel was enough to convert Stargate/Robotron/Joust into one another. Both Bally-Midway and Nintendo used the same harness on their Pac- Man and Donkey Kong series games respectively(4). That way the arcade operator only needed one cabinet and could purchase conversion "kits" for far less than a full game. It was a win-win situation; manufacturers could save on building and shipping costs since they didn't need to make as many cabinets, and operators could save the shipping costs of a 300-pound machine, as well as space in their arcades(2). But it would take outside events to accelerate this trend, and that is exactly what happened in 1983. Just as quickly as the boom in the arcade business came, it went. The arcades that sprang up closed and the ones that managed to remain open had far less income to spend on whole games. During this time there were still no industry-wide standards for boards and cabinets, so arcade operators would "hack" old cabinets to get new boards to work in them. Several manufacturers also went out of business or merged with other companies, reducing the number of number of manufacturers. By late 1984, there was a small boomlet in the arcade industry, as the personal computer market expanded, it drove down the price of memory and microprocessors. Now video games could have better graphics than ever. But still the problem remained, how to expand the industry with little expense on all sides as possible. That is when someone came up with the idea to standardize the connections between the boards and the cabinets. This is what brought on the JAMMA standard. The JAMMA (short for Japanese Amusement Machine Manufacturers Association) wiring standard uses a set of pre- defined pinouts for power inputs, control inputs, and audio/video outputs. The idea being that once a cabinet is wired with a JAMMA connector, all you have to do is plug in a new board to convert a game. Its not always that easy with some of the more complex games or the ones that have special controls, but the idea is sound (5). The idea is sound because it was proven with RS-232 decades before JAMMA. If all the manufacturers adhere to the same standard, it makes it easier for manufacturers to make compatible products. Any JAMMA board can be put into any JAMMA cabinet (at least for testing purposes). Since the wiring harness was standardized, third parties could manufacturer wiring and cabinets, thus lowing the cost of producing a game. Also, an arcade operator could now easily convert a game and bring the new one into service quickly, a big plus in a busy arcade where game turnover is high. Unlike the complete incompatibility problems of the early 1980s, any arcade board manufactured from 1987 on will work in any JAMMA cabinet. The JAMMA standard used a 56-pin edge connector on the board (see Appendix 1) with inputs and outputs common to most video games. These include power inputs (5 volts for the game and 12 volts for sound); inputs for 2 joysticks and 2 buttons for each; analog RBG video output with negative composite sync; single-speaker sound output; and inputs for coin, service, test, and tilt (the former to accept game credits and the latter to maintain the board). While JAMMA is a standard, it does have some limitations "The different game manufacturers couldn't decide which way to turn a monitor for vertical [screen orientation] games. Consequently, some games come out upside down" says arcade machine guru Richard Schieve (5). Also, since the wiring is only for one speaker, games with stereo sound need another output. Recent trends in arcade machines are having more than two buttons (particularly for the genre of fighting" games) and the use of 4-player games. While these games maintain the original JAMMA harness, they employ secondary harnesses to handle the extra inputs(6). Another way arcade manufacturers buck the JAMMA standard is a 'back to the future' solution--ROM chip replacements for conversions within a manufacturers. All of Konami's 4-player games and the sequels to popular "fighting" games can be converted with ROM upgrades. Unusual applications of the JAMMA standard are SNK's Neo Geo System, the "Super Gun", and the adapting of older games. While the Neo Geo System uses a JAMMA harness--the system uses replaceable ROM cartridges to change games, and the system may house from 1 to 4 separate games2. The "Super Gun" is a consumer electronic device that allows a person to play JAMMA-compatible games at home using their TV and a wide variety of controllers. Finally, hobbyists and arcade operators are breathing new life into old games by adapting them to fit into JAMMA harnesses(5). The JAMMA standard allowed an industry on the verge of collapse to bounce back and made life simpler for anyone involved with arcade games. With the advances in game technology, there is talk of creating a JAMMA II standard to overcome the limitations that JAMMA now has. While this is a good example of how the video game industry has learned from the data communications industry, lets look at a more direct technology transfer. [part about handheld videogames using LAN technology deleted becase the Game Boy segment has inaccuracies and besides, theis is a newsgroup for arcade machines anyway] CONCLUSION The video game industry was founded on the advances of microprocessors and computer technology; and as this technology grew to include data communications; that too worked its way into the video game industry with very visible and successful results. Up until 1985, arcade machines were often complete incompatible with other games, even from the same manufacturer. This created a lot of problems compounded by a sudden bust in the arcade industry in the mid-1980s. Economic need and end-user demands required a set of standards to make life easier for the arcade operators. Because of the JAMMA standard, all arcade games use the same wiring harnesses and can work in any JAMMA cabinet, reducing costs for manufacturers and operators, not to mention simplifying the whole process of game conversions. But as the arcade machines require more and more inputs and outputs, the JAMMA standard may be superseded by a new industry-wide standard for future machines. References 1. Ozdemir, Steven--Video Arcade Preservation Society President, Email 2. McBride, Chris--Video Arcade Preservation Society President, Email 26 feb 94 3. Jefferys, Doug RAdapter to Plus Asteriods Deluxe Board into Asteriods Harness (and vice versa)S, Copyright 1993-- available via gopher from wiretap.spies.com 4. McBride, Chris--Video Arcade Preservation Society President, Email 28 feb 94 5. Schieve, Richard RJAMMA Cabinet Revisited and What IUm Up toS Usenet 19 Jan 94 6. Deitch, Johnathan RControl Panel Wiring 101S Usenet 28 Apr 1994 Footnotes: 1 The KLOV refers to the "Killer List of Videogames" which lists and describes every arcade machine manufactured to date 2 SNK also makes a home version of the Neo Geo system which utilizes a stadard television and uses the same cartridges as it's arcade counterpart
