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Just found out about IGS PGM, lots of questions

I've also come across this kind of cart lately. I understand repros of expensive games, but why reproducing it and at the same time slapping together a title no one wants?

Epgaluda + Dragon World II https://aliexpress.com/item/1005007461413065.html

Ketsui + Oriental Legend https://aliexpress.com/item/1005007803494213.html
(I understand Ketsui is a good one and Oriental Legend just a meh one, correct me i I'm wrong)

Also this supposed-to-be 4-in-1 KOV, I assume only the "plus" version is worth it and the other are just language variants? https://aliexpress.com/item/1005008803545786.html
 
If you aren’t looking to upscale the image (I.e. OSSC to HDMI), then yes, just the MD2 scart to a CRT TV is needed. However, the those settings were to compensate for the PGM outputting a wired sync signal.
On an arcade chassis, you can compensate quite a lot with the adjustment pots.
On your TV, you may be stuck with an image that is shifted to the left, curling at the top or if your TV is really picky, no image at all.
Personally I have only really seen the image shifted to the left on my TV set.

As the for ‘multi-carts’… the sellers are really just making use of spare rom capacity to cram in an extra title to stand out next to their competitors. If it was a Cave 4in1 then they’d be on to something, but then you’ve just built a proper multi cart and everything is different.

(There are approximately 173 KOV titles, variants and hacks that are all really just changing P1 rom so easy to fit more into one cart. Just stick with KOV Plus, KOV Superheroes Plus & KOV 2 Nine Dragons for more than enough variety, before you worry about the KOF and Street Fighter hacks…)
 
nam9 said:
If you aren’t looking to upscale the image (I.e. OSSC to HDMI), then yes, just the MD2 scart to a CRT TV is needed. However, the those settings were to compensate for the PGM outputting a wired sync signal.
On an arcade chassis, you can compensate quite a lot with the adjustment pots.
On your TV, you may be stuck with an image that is shifted to the left, curling at the top or if your TV is really picky, no image at all.
Personally I have only really seen the image shifted to the left on my TV set.

As the for ‘multi-carts’… the sellers are really just making use of spare rom capacity to cram in an extra title to stand out next to their competitors. If it was a Cave 4in1 then they’d be on to something, but then you’ve just built a proper multi cart and everything is different.

(There are approximately 173 KOV titles, variants and hacks that are all really just changing P1 rom so easy to fit more into one cart. Just stick with KOV Plus, KOV Superheroes Plus & KOV 2 Nine Dragons for more than enough variety, before you worry about the KOF and Street Fighter hacks…)
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I see. Thank you or your reply.

One of these sellers sent me a video of the consolized PGM working, connected to a TV, and now that you mentioned, the image IS shifted to the left!

About the carts: wouldn't it be just easier to sell repros of the popular games? I mean, how hard is it to make a repro of Ketsui? Are they cheap / easy to find?

What about those that are really sought after, like Demon Front or Gladiator?
 
hombreimaginario said:
About the carts: wouldn't it be just easier to sell repros of the popular games? I mean, how hard is it to make a repro of Ketsui? Are they cheap / easy to find?

What about those that are really sought after, like Demon Front or Gladiator?
Click to expand...
ALL the Cave carts you see are repros. The Cave games originally came as standalone PCBs. The repro carts have some design issue with improper voltage that should reduce their lifespan, hence the interest in Fluffy carts that do it right.

Some games are harder to copy.

Before you go deep on either expensive originals or shoddy repros, keep in mind that James from RetroHQ is actively working on a ROM cart.
 
nam9 said:
On an arcade chassis, you can compensate quite a lot with the adjustment pots.
On your TV, you may be stuck with an image that is shifted to the left, curling at the top or if your TV is really picky, no image at all.
Personally I have only really seen the image shifted to the left on my TV set.
Click to expand...
Just saw someone recommend this JAMMA sync offset adjuster. Haven't tried it myself.
 
9999 Damage said:
ALL the Cave carts you see are repros. The Cave games originally came as standalone PCBs. The repro carts have some design issue with improper voltage that should reduce their lifespan, hence the interest in Fluffy carts that do it right.

Some games are harder to copy.

Before you go deep on either expensive originals or shoddy repros, keep in mind that James from RetroHQ is actively working on a ROM cart.
Click to expand...
How / where can I buy Fluffy carts?
(Sorry, my bad if this has been talked to death, as I said I learned about the PGM less than a month ago)

I'm aware of the RetroHQ cart, though. Looks promising!
 
hombreimaginario said:
Just curious: what's everyone's controller of choice when playing PGM? Neo Geo controller? Arcade stick? Something else?
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Some people swear by original Neo Geo pads and sticks, but I love arcade parts. They're durable AF and you can replace/upgrade them as you learn more about your needs. For example, I find what I want from a lever is totally different in fighting games (loose like Sanwa JLF) vs. shmups (tight like Seimitsu LS-56).

I personally bought my 4-button DB15 sticks from Retro Stockpile on Ebay. Looks like they're OOS now.

Thread: DB-15 Joystick Options
 
hombreimaginario said:
Then I found this other one which looks a bit confusing as it seems to feature 4 controller ports on the front but then it seems to feature 2 players only on another picture, even shows the 2-player component/thingie on another:

Click to expand...
Update: taking advantage of some coins + coupons + summer sale I caved in and decided to order this one, after some nice and clarifying communication with the seller. Just the following day, he emails me, says costs have risen and he can't affort to provide the item at the original price (it's still listed as available for such price) and that I would need to cover that extra 30 or 40 €.

So I reported it to Aliexpress as these "last minute extra charges" are not supposed to be allowed. It took a while to explain to the agent / chatbox / whatever, but the order was cancelled and, apparently, the seller got a strike or warning or whatever that is, and I received a silly coupon.

So yeah, I'm still PGMless 😅
 
hombreimaginario said:
Update: taking advantage of some coins + coupons + summer sale I caved in and decided to order this one, after some nice and clarifying communication with the seller. Just the following day, he emails me, says costs have risen and he can't affort to provide the item at the original price (it's still listed as available for such price) and that I would need to cover that extra 30 or 40 €.
Click to expand...

Which seller was it?
 
nam9 said:
On your TV, you may be stuck with an image that is shifted to the left, curling at the top or if your TV is really picky, no image at all.
Personally I have only really seen the image shifted to the left on my TV set.
Click to expand...

(Not actually mine)
 
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nam9 said:
Seems pretty legit.
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What i meant is the seller sent that video as a proof of "how good this product is" and the image really is shifted to the left. 🤦

Also, after that I've seen a different seller feature the same video, so now I don't know which one is reliable, if any.
 
Without built in adjustments that’s the best image you’re going to see. Again, these boards are designed for an arcade cabinet that generally offer full control of imagine sizing and positioning. Hence no real need to have everything perfectly aligned.

As to the video, it’s probably one guy or one workshop producing these and selling via a few different AE shops. Nothing sinister.
 
nam9 said:
Without built in adjustments that’s the best image you’re going to see. Again, these boards are designed for an arcade cabinet that generally offer full control of imagine sizing and positioning. Hence no real need to have everything perfectly aligned.

As to the video, it’s probably one guy or one workshop producing these and selling via a few different AE shops. Nothing sinister.
Click to expand...
I’m not saying it’s “sinister”. Just that it feels like many sellers don’t seem to really know what they’re selling.

About the video, it surprises me that it’s being used as a proof of how everything looks and works great but… well, it doesn’t really. That’s all :)
 
Think you are gettign down into cultural differences now. That and diminishing returns...
If you aren't going full arcade monitor/chassis route, then there will be some compromises.
This is one of them.
 
Trying to embed this video but it seems X is not supported as "media":
https://x.com/wickerwaka/status/2066012848502018304

So it caught my attention that even on MiSTer / on the PGM core, the image that the PGM provides is shifted to the left too. I think it's great that the core adds funcionality to either adjust the position on the TV or even shrink / stretch it (even horitontally only if you need it) to fit :)
 
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