Arcade system board
An arcade system board is a dedicated computer system created for the purpose of running video arcade games. Arcade system boards typically consist of a main system board with any number of supporting boards. [1]
Design
The earliest non-microprocessor based arcade system boards were designed around codeless state machine computers with the main board and any support boards consisting of discrete logic circuits comprising each element of the game itself.[2] The next generation of arcade system boards, with the inclusion of microprocessor based technology, incorporated the game program code directly on the main system board via game code stored in ROM chips mounted on the main board. Later arcade system boards, including the DECO Cassette System, SNK's Neo-Geo, Capcom's CPS-2, and Sega's NAOMI, separated the system board from the game program itself, akin to a home video game console and cartridge. This method benefitted both manufacturers and arcade game owners. Once the system board was purchased, the owner could switch out the games at a fraction of the price and with less effort, and the manufacturers could produce fewer of the costly system boards and more of the less-costly games.
Currently, the company with the record of the highest number of original arcade system boards is Sega.
List of arcade system boards
Annex
- PONG (1972-1976)
- Atari 6800 Based (1976-1979)
- Atari 6502 Black & White Raster (1976-1980)
- Atari 6502 Color Raster (1977-1989)
- Atari 6502 Vector (1979-1980)
- Atari Centipede Hardware (1980-1983)
- Atari Cyberball Hardware (1989)
- Atari Gauntlet Hardware (1985-1988)
- Atari Hard Drivin' Hardware (1988-1993)
- Atari Missile Command Hardware (1980-1983)
- Atari Kangaroo (1982-1983)
- Atari Star Wars Vector (1983-1985)
- Atari System 1 (1984-1987)
- Atari System 2 (1984-1988)
- Atari 68000 Based (1982-1992)
- Atari DUAL 68000 Based (1989-1990)
- Atari G1 (1990)
- Atari G42 (1991-1992)
- Atari Arcade Classics Hardware (1992)
- Atari GX2 (1992)
- Atari GT (1994)
- Atari Cojag (1994-1996)
- Atari Phoenix (1996)
- Atari Flagstaff (1996-1997)
- Atari Seattle (1997-1998)
- Atari Media GX (1998)
- Atari Vegas (1998-1999)
- Atari Denver (1999-2003)
- Bally Sente Sac 1 (1984-1987)
- Bally Sente Sac 2 (1987)
BrezzaSoft
- Crystal System (2001–2003)
- Capcom Commando Hardware (1985-1988)
- Capcom Section Z Hardware (1985-1987)
- CP System (1988–1995)
- CP System II (1993–2003)
- CP System III (1996–1999)
- Mitchell Hardware (1989-1991)
- Cave 1st Generation (1994–2001)
- Cave CV1000 (2004–2011)
- Cave PC Based (2009)
CD Express
- DECO Cassette System (1980–1985)
- DECO Laserdiscs (1983-1985)
- DECO 8-bit (1986-1988)
- DECO 16-bit (1987-1990)
- DECO 32-bit (1991-1995)
- DECO Simple 156 (1993–1996)
- DECO MLC System (1995–1996)
- Eolith System (1998–2001)
- Eolith 16-bit (1999)
- Eolith Vegas (2002)
- Eolith Ghost (2003–2005)
Examu
- Examu Arcana Heart (2006-2007)
- eX-BOARD (2008-2010)
- FG-2 (1995–1996)
- FG-3 (1998–2000)
- Gaelco GAE1 (1994)
- Gaelco GAE2
- Gaelco GG-1v (1998)
- Gaelco 3D (1996–1998)
- Gaelco PowerVR Based (1999-2002)
- Gaelco PC Based (2003–2005)
- Incredible Technologies 8-bit Hardware (1988-1992)
- Incredible Technologies 32-bit Hardware (1992-2002)
- Incredible Technologies Eagle Hardware (1999-2003)
- Incredible Technologies PC Based Hardware (2004-)
- Irem M-10/M-15 (1979-1980)
- Irem M-27 (1980-1981)
- Irem M-52 (1982-1983)
- Irem M-62 (1984-1986)
- Irem M-63 (1984-1985)
- Irem M-72 (1987-1990)
- Irem M-73 (1991)
- Irem M-75 (1988)
- Irem M-77 (1988)
- Irem M-81 (1989-1990)
- Irem M-82 (1989-1990)
- Irem M-84 (1989-1991)
- Irem M-85 (1990)
- Irem M-90 (1991)
- Irem M-92 (1991-1994)
- Irem M-97 (1992-1993)
- Irem M-107 (1993-1995)
- Mega System 1 (1988-1993)
- Mega System 32 (1993–1997)
- Jaleco Tetris Plus 2 (1997-2000)
- Kaneko 16-bit (1991-1995)
- Super Kaneko Nova System (1996–2002)
- Konami Dual 68000 Based Hardware (1986-1988)
- Konami Blades Of Steel Based Hardware (1986-1987)
- Konami Xexex Based Hardware (1990-1994)
- Konami Chequered Flag Based Hardware (1987-1992)
- Konami Twin 16 (1987-1989)
- Bubble System (1985)
- Konami GX400 (1985-1987)
- Mystic Warriors Based Hardware (1993)
- Konami GX (1994–1997)
- Konami GQ (1995)
- Konami ZR-107 (1995–1996)
- Konami Baby Phoenix / GV System (1996–2000)
- Konami GTI Club (1996–1997)
- Konami M2 (1997–1998)
- Konami Cobra System (1997)
- Bemani DJ-Main (1997–2002)
- Konami Hornet (1998–2000)
- Konami NWK-TR (1998–1999)
- Konami System 573 (1998–2003)
- Bemani System 573 Analog (1998–1999)
- Bemani System 573 Digital (1999–2004)
- Konami TMNT Based Hardware (1988-1991)
- Konami TMNT 2 Based Hardware (1990-1993)
- Konami X-Men Based Hardware (1991-1992)
- Bemani Twinkle (1999–2002)
- Bemani Firebeat (2000–2003)
- Konami Viper (2000–2005)
- Konami Pyson (2001–2005)
- Konami Bemani Viper (2003–2006)
- Konami Bemani PC Based (2003–)
- Konami PC Based (2004–)
- Konami Bemani PlayStation 2 Based (2005–2007)
Limenko
- Power System 2 (2000–2003)
Metro
- Microprose 3D Hardware (1990-1993)
- Astrocade (1982-1985)
- MCR (1981)
- MCR II (1981-1984)
- MCR III (1983-1985)
- MCR-68K (1984-1990)
- Y-Unit (1991-1992)
- T-Unit (1992-1994)
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- Wolf Unit (1994-1997)
- X-Unit (1994)
- V-Unit (1994-1997)
- Killer Instinct Hardware (1994-1996)
- Midway Seattle (1997-1999)
- Zeus (1997-1999)
- Midway Vegas (1998-2000)
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- Mitchell System (1988-1990)
- Psikyo 1st Generation (1993–1996)
- Psikyo SH-2 (1997–2002)
SI Electronics
- Seta 1st Generation (1987–1996)
- Seta 2nd Generation (1993–2002)
- Seta Aleck64 (1998–2004)
Skonec
- SNK Rockola Hardware (1980-1982)
- SNK Marvin's Maze Hardware (1983-1984)
- SNK Main Event Hardware (1984-1985)
- SNK Hall 21 Based (1985)
- SNK Triple Z80 Based (1985-1988)
- SNK Ikari Warriors Hardware (1986-1988)
- SNK Psycho Soldier Hardware (1986-1988)
- SNK Alpha 68K Based Hardware (1987-1989)
- SNK 68K Based Hardware (1988-1989)
- SNK Beast Busters Hardware (1989)
- Neo Geo MVS (1990–2004)
- Hyper Neo Geo 64 (1997–1999)
- ZN-1 (1995–2000)
- ZN-2 (1997–1999)
- Taito 8080 Based (1977-1982)
- Taito SJ System (1982)
- Taito Nunchacken Hardware (1985)
- Taito Super Qix Hardware (1986-1987)
- Taito N.Y Captor Hardware (1986)
- Taito Kick and Run Hardware (1986)
- Taito Bubble Bobble Hardware (1986)
- Taito X System (1988-1992)
- Taito Ninja Warriors Hardware (1987-1989)
- Taito Darius 2 Twin Screen Hardware (1989-1991)
- Taito Toaplan Hardware (1987-1989)
- Taito The Newzealand Story Hardware (1987-1989)
- Taito AIR System (1988-1990)
- Taito Top Speed Hardware (1987-1990)
- Taito Bonze Adventure Hardware (1988-1994)
- Taito Z System (1987-1991)
- Taito H System (1988-1989)
- Taito B System (1988-1994)
- Taito L System (1988-1993)
- Taito F1 System (1989-1992)
- Taito F2 System (1988-1993)
- Taito F3 System (1992–1998)
- Taito FX-1A System (1995–1997)
- Taito JC System (1995–1998)
- Taito FX-1B System (1996–1997)
- Taito Wolf System (1997)
- Taito PPC JC System (1998)
- Taito G-NET (1998–2005)
- Taito Type Zero (1999–2000)
- Taito Scorpion (2000–2001)
- Type X (2004–2010)
- Type X+ (2005–2007)
- Type X2 (2007–)
- Type XZero (2011–)
- Williams 6809 REV.1 (1980-1985)
- Williams 6809 REV.2 (1983-1986)
- Williams Z-Unit (1988)
- Williams/Midway Y UNIT (1990-1992)
See also
References