Multicarts: Difference between revisions
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NeoGeo multicarts are [[bootleg]] compilation cartridges, mostly (all ?) of the [[MVS hardware|arcade type]], often containing dozens of games which can be chosen from a video menu. | |||
Many of these contain multiple versions or hacks of a given game, as it can be seen on the usually provided list. | |||
See http://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/MVS_Multicart | See http://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/MVS_Multicart | ||
==Brute force method== | |||
The first multicarts worked with a complex add-on board which had to be connected to the system's [[JAMMA connector pinout|JAMMA connector]] and the cartridge itself via a ribbon cable. | |||
The board had mechanical relays (on the +5V and +12V lines) to control power to the MVS board, and a large LPC2214 microcontroller to generate the menu display itself. | |||
When a selection is made, the game code is presented to the cartridge as a binary word by the ribbon cable, the MCU stops generating video and the MVS board is powered up. | |||
Changing games requires the user to press a combination of buttons, making the add-on board cut the power and display the menu again. | |||
==Software method== | |||
A few years later, "real software" menus were made and embedded in the cartridge to run on the MVS board itself, making everything simpler and cheaper. | |||
[[Category:Cartridge systems]] | [[Category:Cartridge systems]] | ||
Revision as of 22:51, 26 October 2016
NeoGeo multicarts are bootleg compilation cartridges, mostly (all ?) of the arcade type, often containing dozens of games which can be chosen from a video menu.
Many of these contain multiple versions or hacks of a given game, as it can be seen on the usually provided list.
See http://wiki.arcadeotaku.com/w/MVS_Multicart
Brute force method
The first multicarts worked with a complex add-on board which had to be connected to the system's JAMMA connector and the cartridge itself via a ribbon cable.
The board had mechanical relays (on the +5V and +12V lines) to control power to the MVS board, and a large LPC2214 microcontroller to generate the menu display itself.
When a selection is made, the game code is presented to the cartridge as a binary word by the ribbon cable, the MCU stops generating video and the MVS board is powered up.
Changing games requires the user to press a combination of buttons, making the add-on board cut the power and display the menu again.
Software method
A few years later, "real software" menus were made and embedded in the cartridge to run on the MVS board itself, making everything simpler and cheaper.