Darksoft's CPS2 Multikit Tech Support Thread (No Killing B-Boards!)

[bloodhokuto]

OK!
I finally have success!

I gave up on my Pheonixed Progear, as that B board has issues for sure, and picked up a Gem Fighter that had been phoenixed (cheers chapddr).

It was a rev7 with GPAL - great! then I noticed that the jumpers were off, I had to desolder and resolder a few points. Oh dear I am **** at this kind of thing.

I picked up a new soldering Iron and desolder pump and got to grips with desoldering well enough, except for one point which I just could not get some residue seemingly off. The other easy task of applying blobs of solder to the correct points was a nightmare, the solder didn't want to stick to the board points - just to the tip of the Iron. I used flux on the board so it should have stuck alright. Anyway, after much spazzing I somehow got blobs of solder where it should be.

I then did continuity testing and somehow my absolutely shocking work seemed to be solid.

I had dismantled the Multi pcbs from the Progear board without breaking any pins and so I then remove the chips from the Gem fighter board (I can't believe that there were so many chips on this board (I also will never know how to put them back in the right place because I forgot to take a photo of the chips in place doh!)

I managed to connect the multi to my Gem B Board and then tested it ... only to not get it working. I checked the connections and noticed that some pins weren't in 100% and so carefully pushed them in more ... still wouldn't work.

Before i gave up and chucked the lot in the bin and had a closer look at the setup and I noticed that there was a change better or worse when I plugged in the LCB cable plug to the main multiboard and suspected that I needed to ensure that perhaps some pins were in too much, so the others were almost indecipherably off. I used a bit of magic-hands to massage the board into what I thought was a more even alignment and lo and behold it started working!



I haven't had the guts to put the multiboard back into the CPS II case just yet, I figured that I don't want to fiddle around with it whilst it is working, or I'll never get it going again.

The select button on the LCD screen came off in the post, and there is no way that I can fit a new button, so I now poke at it with the chopped off end of a Q-Tip

I'll also have to live with not having auto-reset because I am clearly a hazard when I try to use a soldering iron.

Just a few things that I wouldn't mind clarifying;

1) The avalaunch 15/05/31 pack, does anyone have a list of the full names / regions? I am not talking about fixing the folders, I just want the list, so I can learn it.
2) SSFII X I noticed that the attract mode has no sound, every other game is ok, any reason why this game doesn't have it?
3) When I finally get the balls to put the Muti back in the Case I want one of those stickers to put on the B Board (as my Gem fighter had no label anyway. Where do I order this from? I'm sure I saw a post showing them, but it's not in this thread.

[mrjamma]

hi mate,

regarding no attract mode music in ssf2x - once the game loads up, just press the 'TEST' button on the side of your CPS2 board (next to the volume buttons), or if you have a test button wired into your arcade cabinet.

This will bring up the games settings - in there, you'll see 'game configuration' - this has an option 'demo sound' - turn that on, save and exit

Bear in mind, these settings save, and are valid, up until you change your game using your LCD screen (whereby it flashes a new game).

Actually on another note - when a game flashes from the rom files on our SD cards - what settings are being used for each game - are they retained from the rom files themselves i.e. whatever settings were last set & saved by the person who actually dumped the roms?
Or, are all settings always starting off as 'capcom default', until such time a user edits them?

[leonardoliveira]

Game EEPROM is on A BOARD. From the CPS2 point of view, flashing a different game is same thing as replacing the B board with a different one. On boot a game will read the EEPROM and if it doesn't find it's own EEPROM signature, it formats and reset the EEPROM to "CAPCOM defaults".

[mrjamma]

Thanks Leo, so in short, Capcom have defaulted to 'no demo sound' on SSF2X, unlike some other games. In short, press TEST button, and set it up to have demo sound, and it will keep that setting until changing game.

[funkycochise]

I suppose that's also why some some similar games behave differently regarding coins amount for example.
I don't remember which one was concerned, but in Japanese region it takes only one coin and in USA region, it needs two.

So there's nothing we can change about those default settings, except going 'test mode'...

[Braintrash]

I just got a mail saying my board was shipped.

It's Wednesday and it was promised for shipping Monday. We all know deadlines are meant to be delayed by large amount of times, so two days feels like nothing for me and I am very happy to see that Darksoft really worked hard for everything to go as best as possible.

Think about it: I placed my order very late while I was one of the very first to express interest. Still, I am getting one, which is incredible and while I had to wait, I will get an updated one with add-ons. Hey, the wait is quite worth it!

I know this is a dream becoming true to many — I myself never bought anything CPS-2 because of insanes prices and all the troubles of that system — and that they want to get their treasure as fast as possible. But, patience is a virtue and, in the end, I have nothing but praise for Darksoft, which I support (ie. donated money) since the CPSIII and I have never regretted that.

Thank you!

[leonardoliveira]

I suppose that's also why some some similar games behave differently regarding coins amount for example.
I don't remember which one was concerned, but in Japanese region it takes only one coin and in USA region, it needs two.

So there's nothing we can change about those default settings, except going 'test mode'...

For example, Brazilian CPS2 games were sent to arcade operators in a sort of "rental" business model. Because of that their default settings are completely different than that US/Euro/Japan games have for their default.

Also, most of them have no free play option and display a software coin counter when you push all the player 1 or player 2 buttons during attract mode...

[FrancoB]

OK!
I finally have success!

The select button on the LCD screen came off in the post, and there is no way that I can fit a new button, so I now poke at it with the chopped off end of a Q-Tip

If you wanted to order a [new button from ebay] I would happy fit it for you for free if you're not confident in doing it yourself.

[fluxcore]

Game EEPROM is on A BOARD. From the CPS2 point of view, flashing a different game is same thing as replacing the B board with a different one. On boot a game will read the EEPROM and if it doesn't find it's own EEPROM signature, it formats and reset the EEPROM to "CAPCOM defaults".

I presume the defaults are therefore stored in the ROMs, in which case it should be possible to 'preset' the game to however you like it by modifying a few values in the ROM?

[bloodhokuto]

If you wanted to order a [new button from ebay] I would happy fit it for you for free if you're not confident in doing it yourself.

You're a Marvel (vs Capcom) Franco!

I'll order the replacement, then I'll have a closer look and see if I think I can do it ... expect a pm in due course.

[MitsurugiW]

If you wanted to order a [new button from ebay] I would happy fit it for you for free if you're not confident in doing it yourself.

You're a Marvel (vs Capcom) Franco!

I'll order the replacement, then I'll have a closer look and see if I think I can do it ... expect a pm in due course.

They are through-hole and not very difficult so you may be able to do it yourself.

[darksoft]

HI EVERYBODY,

We are happy to announce that we have finally finished our forum. There we can freely talk about all our products, solutions and several other topics, which may not be aligned with the rules of this forum, which by the way we love, or with other forums.

Please join here:
www.arcade-projects.com

We will continue to give our best support to all the AO users under this thread as we have always done. However in order to get the latest news, make sure you register at arcade-projects and have a look around at the sections that we have prepared. We hope you'll enjoy them.

Cheers!
www.arcade-projects.com

[darksoft]

I run out of PALs so no more shipping this week for those people who orderd a complete set or a PAL. I ordered some extra PALs that will arrive next week and I'll continue shipping.

Notice that 2nd batch is almost shipped out. I'm shipping now end of 2nd batch and 3rd batch!

[totoroslayer]

Hey Darksoft, do you have the part number for those long pins? I need to replace some on my board.

[darksoft]

Hey Darksoft, do you have the part number for those long pins? I need to replace some on my board.

I have some left. PM your order # please.

[bloodhokuto]

If you wanted to order a [new button from ebay] I would happy fit it for you for free if you're not confident in doing it yourself.

Well, again, thanks for your kind offer, but I managed to get the broken button off and put a new one on.

The button height isn't the same (its a bit shorter), although it will do. Not sure why the stock ones are so long anyway. The only thing is that when I soldered the new button on, the solder went a dull cloudy colour. I know that is not a good sign, but it seems to be working fine, so finger's crossed that it stays that way.

hi mate,

regarding no attract mode music in ssf2x - once the game loads up, just press the 'TEST' button on the side of your CPS2 board (next to the volume buttons), or if you have a test button wired into your arcade cabinet.

This will bring up the games settings - in there, you'll see 'game configuration' - this has an option 'demo sound' - turn that on, save and exit

Bear in mind, these settings save, and are valid, up until you change your game using your LCD screen (whereby it flashes a new game).

Actually on another note - when a game flashes from the rom files on our SD cards - what settings are being used for each game - are they retained from the rom files themselves i.e. whatever settings were last set & saved by the person who actually dumped the roms?
Or, are all settings always starting off as 'capcom default', until such time a user edits them?

Forgot to say thanks for this too, cheers!

[leonardoliveira]

The original buttons are long so they are longer than the display height in case the device get fitted on some casing it won't require the casing to have a recess/lower height area for the buttons.

The point is allow the board to be assembled on the cab panel.

[FrancoB]

If you wanted to order a [new button from ebay] I would happy fit it for you for free if you're not confident in doing it yourself.

Well, again, thanks for your kind offer, but I managed to get the broken button off and put a new one on.

The button height isn't the same (its a bit shorter), although it will do. Not sure why the stock ones are so long anyway. The only thing is that when I soldered the new button on, the solder went a dull cloudy colour. I know that is not a good sign, but it seems to be working fine, so finger's crossed that it stays that way.

Glad you got it sorted

I'm guessing that they used lead free solder on the boards. Unless you got it all off it does tend to go dull when mixed with lead free solder. As long as it's working it should be fine.

[waiwainl]

My 3D printed case arrived today, I'm not sure if this is how it was intended to install but I like it.

Could you share the 3D design? I like to print one as well.

[glossectomy]

Generally how long should if take to arrive in the states after shipping?