The Wild World of PSX Arcade PCBs! Taito G Net, Konami Crypt Killer and More! PS1 Arcade Hardware

[@mistahsnart]

I was an arcade tech in the late 90s, and every week I was fixing Crypt Killer. People were BRUTAL on those shotguns. I was constantly ordering replacement pumps from Happs.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha oh I believe it. I’ve repaired a few myself. People must have beaten the hell out of them. But in their defense the pump mech def isn’t as beefy as it should be IMO

[@sunderark]

Namco 11 and Namco System 12, that's all I got. Soul Edge and Tekken 3 respectively. There was a time they were dirt cheap. One of them has a Good Morning error though.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

They are still pretty cheap all things considered. But considering how good the console ports are I never really added them to my collection

[@GamerGee]

5:15 g Darius. I wish I could get a good sound test working so I can accapelle NET WORK

[@fungi6612]

Doesn't really surprise me on how many PS1 based arcade games there were. The PS1 boards were cheap to produce and easy for developers to port there games to the home market.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

They def weren’t expensive

[@METR0lD]

The one I'm most familiar with is Tetris The Grand Master. I love that someone created a hack to convert it to boot on a PS1 so I was able to get it working on my MiSTer through the PS1 core.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

People love their Tetris. Not surprised it has a hack out of all the games

[@METR0lD]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Tetris is life! 🤩

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I will readily admit it…it’s not for me

[@chestercopperpot9294]

I’ve got the Japanese Winning Eleven game in my garage which I have never used. Has the card reader on the control panel and the cards.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Fun game to have. Gotta play it

[@PossumMedic]

I used to make parts for NCR bank machines 😆 just a random coincidence. Thanks for the cool vid! :D

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Haha random but fun detail!

[@monstermug]

i love seeing actual real hard ware talk. Thank you and well done

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Always fun to talk about weird hardware. More weird hardware coming soon!

[@dorfus]

Yes hi hello I’m in Japan right now and and I am finding that they are in fact giving these boards away on every street corner

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Grab me a six pack!

[@TrashfordKent]

Echoing some of the other comments, I hadn’t realised there were PSX based PCB’s👍

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I am surprised by that. Pleasantly so :)

[@TheRootBeerKing]

That taito board reminds me of a mega drive with all the addons lol

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Genesis tower of power lol

[@Charlie-Cat.]

Hmmm. I never seen a video like this before on KZbin like yours VGE. So this will be interesting to see. Thank you for sharing this with us bro. 8^) Anthony..

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Series should be a fun time

[@casualSeth]

I have Tekken 3 and Street Fighter EX pcbs - so pretty standard stuff. Not really looking to get anything else PS1 related except maybe Rival Schools and now maybe the Taito G-Net.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Rival Schools is on my list of boards I’d like. Might be on the list for this series too ;)

[@Fuuntag]

I love topics like this, very creative idea for a video, well-done 😊.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@Witchboard1]

I don't recall seeing caps used in place of a battery from the manufacturer, but I used to swap out the batteries on Pole Position boards with supercaps.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Batteries. Just the worst when it comes to all gaming hardware

[@jockel9502]

Don’t you forget about Aqua Rush! That game owns.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Totally a fun one :)

[@TeamPandory]

Thumbs up for that intro 😊😅

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

haha did you figure out where the audio comes from yet?

[@TeamPandory]

@@VideoGameEsoterica shh. I'm watching the video 😁 I was thinking Seeegaaaa. But that's probably because I've recently been binging Yakuza Zero

[@TeamPandory]

​@@VideoGameEsotericarewatched the intro. And uh. No ... Maybe that hyper Olympic games that you kept talking about ? :-) Man, interesting stuff. Love it. I hope you show off the bowling ball test in the next video 😂

[@wildside4822]

Wow, the aluminum housing is nice. Will not rust either?? Makes me think why more producers didnt use similar

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Wait till you see the next arcade pcb in an aluminum box I show. Makes this look TINY

[@kennylauderdale_en]

Does that mean mister will support Fisherman's Bait: Marlin Challenge one day?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Nothing as of yet but you never know!

[@funnyguy150]

I had dismissed picking up a G-Net as for me it was lacking a must-have title (I like RayCrisis but it's no RayForce). But if you can load on G-Darius and other titles? That's a different story. Are there any compromises, is it only Taito FX stuff, etc? Would love to see a video!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Maybe I’ll do a vid in the future but there isn’t much to “show”. Load a file onto a chip, flash it, load a file onto a card…play gsme

[@ruiner_9]

Oh man, this reminds me of the old PS1-based arcade game emulator I used to use all the time. I can't remember for the life of me what it was called, but it played the old Namco arcade games really well. EDIT: It was called Zinc! It emulated Sony ZN-1 and ZN-2, Namco System 11/12, and Konami GV/GQ stuff.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

And I learned something new today. Never heard of Zinc!

[@shadicpro21]

I used thet emulator a lot years ago! Sadly it's very old but MAME now emulates these systems really well.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yes MAME works great for basically all PS1 based stuff

[@AndikaThe2000]

Yeah i totally remember using it back then. Like, one of the best PS1 arcade board emulator i try. And Zinc was still even better run on my 2014 PC (For now, having a SSD that i pop in it to my PC case while my secondary hard drive for a game might be still right there.) than on current MAME version in my opinion,

[@bedwablackburn]

I'm always down for mod videos. I find them fascinating

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

A lot of people do it seems even if they never plan on doing the mods themselves

[@bedwablackburn]

The other thing I'm curious about is if some of these games (that weren't also simultaneously developed for home use) might be able to be played on PS1 (or other PS hardware) similar to the triforce games can be played on a Wii/GameCube with the right applications.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Mostly no as 90+ of the PS1 arcade hardware has increased specs, so even if someone wrote some driver / boot mods to the game…hardware isn’t the same

[@bedwablackburn]

Well phooey. Also makes me curious if the inverse could be done, despite that being a silly thing

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

That I bet could 100% happen. I’d say G-Net would be the best target. But you’d lose audio on disc. Maybe Konami GV would be better

[@Jokerwolf666]

That is pretty cool! I had no idea Sony made arcade boards.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

They made SOOO MANY

[@BurritoKingdom]

Namco has arcade boards based on PlayStation 1, 2 and 3. Usually Namco adds more RAM and runs the CPU and GPU at higher frequencies.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Namco used PlayStation hardware the most out of everyone. Even when people transitioned to PCs in a box Namco went PS3

[@AndikaThe2000]

Well i'm having a love with Sony for being a PlayStation was a best console to make, especially bring its based as an arcade by Sony's know. And the PS2 one wasn't only a based being as a arcade since i'm getting interested. That includes Capcom for what make ZN series that i appreciate, Taito because of G-Net, and even Namco.

[@shotgunl]

Though I played quite a bit of SF EX at the mall (though only saw EX2 at an amusement park's arcade), and the System 11/12 Tekken games + Soul Blade and Soul Calibur...the PSX-based arcade games I probably played the most of were some of the DDR games. Fun stuff. There are plenty of PSX-based games I've missed (and I've meant to try Crypt Killer for sure) because, though I've played some on MAME....they've all been the ones I've already played back years ago haha. Actually, I have to say that I didn't realize Konami's Nagano '98 game was an arcade port...or if I knew, I completely forgot. I've seen a fair bit of hate for that game, but I quite liked the N64 version. I rented it, and then went out and bought it when the price dropped a bit.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Gotta play Crypt Killer. So fun and janky. Just how I like em

[@AnthonyCotto]

Do any of these games run on original Playstation hardware like how there's a modded iso of TGM?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Not that I am aware of no

[@dsnein]

Capacitors as batteries is totally a thing. Most famous example is probably the cap that goes bad on original Xboxes. Usually, such as in that case, anything 1 farad or higher that has a slow enough discharge rate to act as a battery is nicknamed a super capacitor. There’s a lot of potential for new versions of super capacitors to help by replacing batteries on electric grids.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

In this instance though it still seems like an expensive choice vs popping a coin cell in a holder and calling it a day

[@StardustX7]

I really love the theme of this new serie, back in the days I used to play a lot on zinc, I was really sad when development stopped, I hope someday modern ps1 emulators will support PS1 based arcade hardwares, I love MAME but when it comes to that kind of games I really prefer to be able to play with modern emulators rendering enhancements I'm really looking forward to the next episodes of the serie.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I hope/wish some of these would come to MiSTer. Maybe one day

[@sHiNkAoLaSu]

great vid, thanks! does your G-Darius ver2 have music issues? mine does. not sure there has been a re-hack of the rom where this is fixed :(

[@sHiNkAoLaSu]

ver1 music works for me, more or less (drops on some bootups, not others, weird)

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It does here and there

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I havent played it in a bit so Id have to see what it does again

[@sHiNkAoLaSu]

@@VideoGameEsoterica that's really weird :( I'm considering buying a Darius ver2 board because of this tbh, game is awesome^^

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Bring your wallet. Not cheap!

[@LetsPlayKeldeo]

Awesome video so cool !

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@LetsPlayKeldeo]

@@VideoGameEsoterica i am more of a home console guy then arcade but these "cross over" boards are super interesting to me

[@Idelacio]

Ironic how much Sony pushed into the arcade space with the Playstation. Must have made Sega sweat...

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Def took a bite out of their bottom line I’d imagine

[@AndikaThe2000]

It was only up to PS3 for some reason that i only know, that includes Bandai Namco will use Windows PC board as an new generation arcade for now on.

[@LargeFatherGames]

That Taito board is so cool looking.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

And very unbalanced. Things just hanging off in random directions

[@sHiNkAoLaSu]

I do own a ZN2 and a G-Net. I might get another board at some point^^

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I'd get a Namco one myself

[@SamMcDonald83]

Kinda dumb question, but I guess that last board can't play stock PlayStation games?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It cannot. Outside of differences in boot sequencing each disc is coded to match an eeprom chip on the board. I’m sure it wouldn’t be TOO hard to spoof it though. Konami stuff from this era is basically all reverse engineered (I did M2, others did Viper, others did Cobra and Hornet)

[@joseluki]

Can the board play PSX games with the HD adapter you have?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

No. It will not play standard games

[@pcostel1]

Can the baby Phoenix boot off of burned discs or is there a security chip you need as well?

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

To be entirely honest with you…I’ve never actually tried

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Looked it up. I did remember after I read it. So long as the disc and the eeprom code match yes. You can swap eeproms to boot diff games too. Standard early/mid 90s Konami security style

[@pcostel1]

@@VideoGameEsoterica I saw a light gun game on the system 16 list; I thought you would be all over that.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

It’s on my list :)

[@ngbf2900]

The G Net is the only arcade PCB I own. As MAME emulation for Shikigami no Shiro (Castle of Shikigami) hasn't been accurate for a long time (playable but no slow down, sound sucks). PS2/Xbox/PC ports aren't bad but they're locked to 480i/480p and less slow downs than the G Net. The PC version imo has the closest feel. I'm probably too fussy. I wonder if a Mister core for G Net may eventually come..

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

No word yet on any PS1 based arcade cores for MisTer but I do hope it happens too

[@mikel6989]

I love puzzle bobble. I bet that size of the screw is 3.8mm. Should be the same as a n64. My guess anyway, 4 was too big and 3.5 was too small.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Who doesn’t? If someone said they didn’t like it I’d be worried for them lol

[@mikel6989]

@@VideoGameEsoterica did you try the same size gamebit as an n64? 3.8mm. I saw u try 4 and 3.5

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yep. Nothing fit. Odd shape

[@TheRealDealDominic]

Take a dremel disc and make a cut so it's now a flathead ;)

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Would you believe of all the tools I own…no dremel?

[@striderhiryu973]

i have a konami pcb for dancing stage fusion but i dont know which is

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Interesting. The rhythm boards are one thing I don’t collect

[@balaam_7087]

Just out of curiosity, where do you find these awesome items like the arcade pcb’s and whatnot? I wouldn’t even know where to look 😅

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Its a mix. Friends, arcade people I know, YAJ and rarely eBay

[@AndikaThe2000]

Did you know that the Tetris Grand Master a Sony-Capcom ZN 2 arcade title were port to PS1 by a fan? It was a easy port of it.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I saw that back in the day and someone else mentioned it

[@AndikaThe2000]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Well when i see that port of the game, i haven't even try it. Not even on the ZN2 one. At least it was also being part as an Arcade Archives thanks to Hamster bring the game to home for real. But hopefully, i would try the game between the ZN2 arcade and ZN2 to PS1 port after i try the NES, Game Boy and Genesis Japanese one back then.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yes would be interesting to compare the two side by side

[@AndikaThe2000]

@@VideoGameEsoterica Agree and. Who knows which better version for the game, but i'll see what i see.

[@ciaranmccarthy]

Very interesting!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Its a fun look at the variants for sure

[@dbnpoldermans4120]

Tetris The Grand Master got ported to the PlayStation illegally. I have 2 versions -one with music -one without music to mix in my own music It is perfection Also got ported not long after officially to ps4, etc

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Tetris is a game I just straight up suck at

[@dbnpoldermans4120]

@@VideoGameEsoterica which means you do not play it a lot. You might one day 'discover' it's beauty. I'm a Tetris nut myself!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

My wife plays one of the GM Tetris games on the Type X2 sometimes

[@dbnpoldermans4120]

@@VideoGameEsoterica she's a keeper

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I like her. But I’m biased

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

G net is on the short list of Arcade boards I might pick up. Will I? probably not.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I think its worth it, especially with the mod bios

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

it's something I was looking into for a while I have most of it's games in Mame and find them to be pretty fun. Would be a nice companion to my collection of weird Japanese PS1 games.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I love G-Net the most because it just feels like a console. Swap games via card. If it was in a nice case it would be PS1.5 to me

[@PopeTheRevXXVIII]

Yeah, games are super absurd for it yet either. They're fun from what I've played too.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Sadly some cards have gotten $$$ lately. But everything has it seems

[@adventuretaco7140]

Nice awesome topic!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Should be a fun time. Ten more coming!

[@adventuretaco7140]

@@VideoGameEsoterica hell yeah!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Now I’ve gotta plot the next hardware series for fall

[@akatsukione2377]

Imagine if Arc System Works had its first arcade game in one of these That would be Guilty Gear: The Missing Link in its arcade version Just imagine it Where do you think it would be on: - Namco System 1X Series or... - ZN Series

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Either would work with the extra ram. More animations.

[@thegreatjonzini]

Viva la g-net!

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Such a fun platform. My fav of the PS1 based boards. Probably because Bubble Bobble

[@thegreatjonzini]

@@VideoGameEsoterica I'd love to have the RC de go remote control controller. Or hack something together.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

I’ve seen those controllers. Fun stuff. Could probably use a NegCon controller I bet

[@AndikaThe2000]

Basically my favorite PS1 arcade based board alongiwth Sony-Capcom ZN series.

[@PixelGod240]

Awesome

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Glad you like it!

[@voteDC]

The PSX is a PS2 based digital video recorder released in 2003.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Sony also uses PSX to describe PS1

[@fakeshemp9599]

​@@VideoGameEsoterica i second this sentiment 👍

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Tomato tomato

[@valentine_puppy]

I don't doubt the master level of Knowledge this KZbinr has. I am sure he has University level Knowledge of this. It is always fun to see in depth guides on things like this. Now, I personally am a Sega fan. Love them and while I am a fan I am also not too much that I can't point out the problems that were, unfortunately, part of their in-house business with CSK. I could go into that but typing it all out and arguing online just isn't my thing. I'd much rather calmly and civilly discuss it with open minds. Anyway, this is getting too long as it is. All I am trying to say is, Sony "Worked closely with Sega Engineers" and all of a sudden after SOJ head Nakayama Shhh canned the partnership with Sony as he correctly stated that Sony had no full understanding of Consoles at that point. Albeit they did do MSX. I highly doubt the PlayStation coming out right after the Nakayama incident had nothing to do with Sony's engineers "Working Closely" with Sega's that a similar set of hardware specs to an internal failed Arcade Sega Hardware called Jupiter. Has anything to do with this console and subsequently the Arcade hardware based on it. But, Hey What do I know, Right? Still, very cool video.

[@AndyDo]

OG Xbox frantically copying this idea but 'saving money' by using cheaper crap caps.

[@VideoGameEsoterica]

Yeah that cap is pretty notorious for dissolving into a pool of acidic goo