Updated the top post as a more formal interest thread.
Metro VG420 Multi interest and development thread?
- Thread starter twistedsymphony
- Start date
Hammy
Enlightened
As you know, i'm interested but am in no rush at all, no workshop or cabinets on hand to do anything! sort out the people who are more desperate for it first /put me at the bottom of the list ...
ForestOfDreams
Professional
I am in for 1 as soon as it is finished.
plasticfactory
Champion
100% in for one of these if you move forward. I'd love to have a backup to Sky Alert, and some of these other games look really cool. Speaking of, if you could use a Sky Alert as reference for anything shoot me a PM (though that doesn't seem to be the case).
I appreciate the offer but there's no need. Sky alert was actually the first game I got working.
XtraSmiley
Legendary
Can you clarify if this multi will work with these PCBs, as that's what I have on hand:
MT5260 Hardware [i4100 or i4220 VPU, uPD7810 Audio CPU, YM2413+M6295 or YM2151+M6295 Sampler]
MT5260 Hardware [i4100 or i4220 VPU, uPD7810 Audio CPU, YM2413+M6295 or YM2151+M6295 Sampler]
- Gun Master
- Puzzli
ForestOfDreams
Professional
I am 99% sure it has to be the less common 420 or 460 board to work.
That is the newer hardware if 5260.
Suitable Donors are listed in the first post. With example images.
It will only work with a "VG420" PCB. Ideal donors are Last Fortress -Toride and Pang Pom's.
Also note that last fortress came on both VG420 and VG460 PCBs so you want to make sure it's the VG420 version
If there's significant interest I might make an alternative VG460 version of this multi but I picked VG420 because the boards seem to be cheaper and more common.
It will not work with either of those boards.
It will only work with a "VG420" PCB. Ideal donors are Last Fortress -Toride and Pang Pom's.
Also note that last fortress came on both VG420 and VG460 PCBs so you want to make sure it's the VG420 version
While electrically the VG460 is nearly identical to the VG420 the ROM sockets are all in different places. So id have to design a completely new PCB to work on VG460 PCBs
If there's significant interest I might make an alternative VG460 version of this multi but I picked VG420 because the boards seem to be cheaper and more common.
Last edited:
ForestOfDreams
Professional
My donor is a 420 thankfully.
PCBs have arrived!
I'm happy to report that fitment is flawless, unfortunately I didn't have the right sockets I needed for a couple of the PLDs so I wont be able to actually test this until those arrive. But what you see above is essentially what the fully assembled multi looks like
I'm happy to report that fitment is flawless, unfortunately I didn't have the right sockets I needed for a couple of the PLDs so I wont be able to actually test this until those arrive. But what you see above is essentially what the fully assembled multi looks like
AlxUnderBase
Enlightened
Id like if possible to have a copy of the multi too and with a donor i will see in the future if i can find one , but this multi deserve a special place in my soul 
It took forever for the last few components I needed for this to come in but they finally did. Initial test. Initial testing is promising but there is still some work to be done.
Games load but go into a boot loop. I think my issue is with the VPU ROM mapping. If this is the case then the good news here is that this mapping is either a problem with my old code or my EPROM build script so hopefully won't require a new board spin.
Games load but go into a boot loop. I think my issue is with the VPU ROM mapping. If this is the case then the good news here is that this mapping is either a problem with my old code or my EPROM build script so hopefully won't require a new board spin.
good news and bad news.
Good news is I think I figured out what's wrong
Bad news is I think it will require a PCB revision
I didn't realize before but it seems that the upper and lower banks of the program ROMs are enabled independently for some reason and I wasn't accounting for that.
Good news is I think I figured out what's wrong
Bad news is I think it will require a PCB revision
I didn't realize before but it seems that the upper and lower banks of the program ROMs are enabled independently for some reason and I wasn't accounting for that.
ForestOfDreams
Professional
Progress is progress. Looking forward to this one.
Mahjong is fine and all that is why I happen to have the donor I like it. But your work is immaculately better, and I can still play mahjong and other games and apparently *sexy* mahjong too...
Mahjong is fine and all that is why I happen to have the donor I like it. But your work is immaculately better, and I can still play mahjong and other games and apparently *sexy* mahjong too...
while researching something I came across this video
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bj4IpoPzfo
Ape Cosplay
Professional
I find it awesome more members get their feet wet in the multi world.
You're documenting it very well and show it's really not an easy task, combining hardware design and software patching.
You're documenting it very well and show it's really not an easy task, combining hardware design and software patching.
to me the fun of the arcade hobby is learning about how all of these boards work and are designed.
As I've accumulated more knowledge it became clear to me how most multis worked and soon after was the realization that most of the EASY ones were already build!
Believe it or not I actually attempted to make a Psikyo SH2 multi but aje_fr announced his while I was part way through developing it so I abandoned that project.
This hardware became a good target partly because of how obscure it is but also because I learned a lot about how it works before anyone else did
I have a list of about 10 or 12 other Multis I might attempt after this one. I have in my mind how they need to work, it's just a matter of spending the time to make them.
the time consuming part is going over every last little detail and difference of every game to make sure you didn't miss anything
As I've accumulated more knowledge it became clear to me how most multis worked and soon after was the realization that most of the EASY ones were already build!
Believe it or not I actually attempted to make a Psikyo SH2 multi but aje_fr announced his while I was part way through developing it so I abandoned that project.
This hardware became a good target partly because of how obscure it is but also because I learned a lot about how it works before anyone else did
I have a list of about 10 or 12 other Multis I might attempt after this one. I have in my mind how they need to work, it's just a matter of spending the time to make them.
the time consuming part is going over every last little detail and difference of every game to make sure you didn't miss anything
Good news! after a few modifications I have a fully functional multi!
I just spent the last few hours stress testing a few games
This helps me confirm the changes needed to the PCB design.
Now I've got to get this in the hands of some play testers!
I just spent the last few hours stress testing a few games
This helps me confirm the changes needed to the PCB design.
Now I've got to get this in the hands of some play testers!