So does anybody have a guide for how to get started on conversions? It might be above my head, but it'd be interesting to dig into some of these, but I just don't really know where to start.
are you talking conversions in general or CPS1 specifically?
I mean there are some really simple conversions out there. At the most basic form it's a matter of programing some new EPROM chips, and swapping them out with the chips on your board. This is usually "region swap" conversions or "revision upgrades" that require only swapping out 1 chip to change say a Japanese Game to English, or convert from a 4-player version to a 2-player version, or update the game to a newer revision.
Intermediate conversions requires de-soldering the old chips on the board in order to remove them, some also require changing jumpers or programing new PAL chips.
Advanced conversions require modifying the game code that gets programmed to the new chips (usually to remove piracy protection) or PALs, and/or adding wires to the PCB or cutting traces on the PCB.
Most of the time for the more advanced conversions, people here rely on an expert to have figured out how to modify the game code and what new wiring needs to be done, once someone has made available modified game code it makes doing these conversions as easy as the simple or intermediate level conversions.
For CPS1, if the original and the end game use the same C-board then it's a simple conversion, but if they use different C-boards then the game code would need to be changed to support the different C-Board, Apocalypse and some others here can provide that game code to make it a simple conversion.
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Here's a mini-guide:
To start you'll want to identify which chips you'll need and how many, look at your original PCB and check the model numbers, or if they don't have model numbers (such is the case with most Mask ROMs) you can see if the MAME source lists the model number of the chip, or you can check the number of pins and the size of the file (in the MAME ROM zip file) to determine what model chip would work. You'll want to look at this information in MAME for both the original game and the new game to compare them and understand the differences.
Next, if the game code needs to be patched or you need to program a new PAL chip then make sure you have those files in addition to the MAME ROMs.
From here you can either buy all the chips you need and a programmer that supports the chips you need to program (there are many models and not all of them can do all the chips, and some might require adapters for certain chips). Alternatively some people offer EPROM programming services and there are even professional services (such as
https://www.buyicnow.com/) you can use so if you don't want to buy a programmer or can't afford one you can buy the chips pre-programmed with what you need.
Next you'll want to remove the old chips from your board (I use a chip lifter
like this) and install the new ones.
Finally Double check that everything is inserted fully, in the right direction, and in the right location. cross your fingers and see if it works.
