CPS-2 inquiries

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28 Sep 2002, 09:14 PM
Click_Stick

CPS-2 inquiries

A few questions about CPS-2 boards.

First, I know a few members own some. Which ones?

And with that, for how long? I know the lithium batteries die within 5-6 years... Is there any way in hell to prevent it from happening?

Supposedly you can send blue (domestic) boards to Capcom and they'll replace the battery/upload the required ROM for about $50. Does anyone actually know how to do this themselves?

I think that's it for now. Thank you.

Maybe one more random question... How much does a game board + motherboard weigh?
28 Sep 2002, 09:18 PM
Yoshi

It is possible to replace the battery before it goes dead. From what I have read, you have roughly one hour to change it before the board dies. If you perform that operation every 3-4 years, you shoudl be set for life.
28 Sep 2002, 09:28 PM
lithium

The battery change is not hard at all. You have all the time you need to do it because you solder on a temporary battery first, then desolder the dying one.

This really shouldn't disuade anyone from owning CPS2 boards. It's not a big deal.

I personally would change the battery of any new board I acquired. Rather than trust the life estimation of whoever I bought it from.
28 Sep 2002, 10:19 PM
Click_Stick

Quote:

Originally posted by lithium
The battery change is not hard at all. You have all the time you need to do it because you solder on a temporary battery first, then desolder the dying one.

This really shouldn't disuade anyone from owning CPS2 boards. It's not a big deal.

I personally would change the battery of any new board I acquired. Rather than trust the life estimation of whoever I bought it from.

Makes sense. Hmmm.

I'm certainly not de-considering [not a word] CPS-2 boards because of this... I'd just like to increase my awareness, so to speak...

I think I should start investigating "How to solder"... I've never had any experience doing anything of the sort. Or does anyone know some one that can change these batteries? I'm assuming you have some experience, lithium.
28 Sep 2002, 11:14 PM
lithium

Yeah if you have no solder experience then look into that first. It really is simple, but unlike other typical game related soldering, this one really hurts if it goes wrong.

You can always practice with some scrap piece of electronics. If you can solder a wire onto say an NES cart or something, then you're there.

If you really get into PCBs, you'll find others have suicide batteries too. So it's something worth familiarizing yourself with. The CPS1, some Sega boardsets, the CPS3 if memory serves, and others all have suicide batteries.
28 Sep 2002, 11:17 PM
Click_Stick

Well, I'm not interested in anything other than CPS-2 boards, MVS carts... and MAYBE some ST-V stuff...

We shall see what becomes of this.
28 Sep 2002, 11:24 PM
Seven Force

Quote:

Originally posted by Click_Stick
Well, I'm not interested in anything other than CPS-2 boards, MVS carts... and MAYBE some ST-V stuff...

We shall see what becomes of this.

MAYBE some ST-V stuff? Thou must look into the great carts! (Shienryu, RS, Guardian Force, Cotton Boomerang to name a few...)

Meanwhile, go HERE for a little more info CPS2/3 revival...
28 Sep 2002, 11:29 PM
NGEFreek

I love his wallpaper for his frontpage of that site ^_^

Satoshi Urushihara Chun-Li mmmm tasty.
28 Sep 2002, 11:32 PM
Seven Force

Quote:

Originally posted by lithium
Yeah if you have no solder experience then look into that first. It really is simple, but unlike other typical game related soldering, this one really hurts if it goes wrong.

You can always practice with some scrap piece of electronics. If you can solder a wire onto say an NES cart or something, then you're there.

If you really get into PCBs, you'll find others have suicide batteries too. So it's something worth familiarizing yourself with. The CPS1, some Sega boardsets, the CPS3 if memory serves, and others all have suicide batteries.

You would happen to know where I can acquire those batteries, would you?:confused:
28 Sep 2002, 11:33 PM
NGEFreek

SevenForce - give me the type of battery, serial # or whatever, I'll look around tomorrow while I'm out on one of my SMB/DH cart hunts.
28 Sep 2002, 11:48 PM
Click_Stick

Quote:

Originally posted by Seven Force

You would happen to know where I can acquire those batteries, would you?:confused:

The CPS-2 batteries? [3.6v 1/2 AA size lithium battery]

They supposedly sell the batteries at Radio Shack... So any type of cheapy electronics store will do.

Thanks for the link, Seven... It looks like the guy pasted CPS-2Shock's guide on his site.

Yes.. maybe.. Gotta take care of other stuff, first... But RS for under $100 is tempting..
28 Sep 2002, 11:51 PM
Seven Force

Thanks, guys.

It's really ironic that I can NOT find those batteries (easily) here in Japan. (All I get is "Wakkaranai..." [I don't know])
28 Sep 2002, 11:53 PM
Click_Stick

Heh heh. You can always buy them online:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...ithium+battery

Take your pick.
29 Sep 2002, 03:15 AM
Golgo13

From what I hear, As long as you play your boards ever so often and not keep them in storage for extended periods of time, the boards should be fine. Having the boards in use keeps the battery charged.
29 Sep 2002, 08:18 AM
lithium

It's not a chargeable battery. Keeping the games in use makes it so the battery isn't needed.

But we're talking constant use here, like a typical arcade that has all their cps2 stuff up and running in separate cabs all the time. Home users usually just have one A board and treat the B boards like game carts.
01 Oct 2002, 03:26 AM
Matt

Quote:

Originally posted by Seven Force
Thanks, guys.

It's really ironic that I can NOT find those batteries (easily) here in Japan. (All I get is "Wakkaranai..." [I don't know])

Well, those lithium batteries are often used in camera equipment. Because of this, camera shops are always the place to go if you need extra CPS-2 batteries. I'm sure there are plenty of those in Japan :)

But really, any 3v lithium battery will work just fine, as long as you're able to solder it in there. My 19XX board is running on a full AA battery - the local electronics shop had them on sale for $1 each :) You wouldn't want to use anything smaller than 1/2 AA, however, since the battery life would be shorter. In fact, larger size batteries mean your PCB's data is even safer than normal!

Click - if you do need CPS2 battery changes, I can do them. I don't think you really need to worry unless the board is older than 3 years or so.

- Matt
01 Oct 2002, 04:17 AM
Seven Force

With that said, maybe you can do the same for CPS3 carts-sice they too run on the exact same kind of battery. Just a thought.
01 Oct 2002, 06:25 AM
padman

Does anyone know of any how to change battery pages for the CPS3 and Sega boards?
01 Oct 2002, 04:43 PM
Click_Stick

Quote:

Originally posted by Matt

Click - if you do need CPS2 battery changes, I can do them. I don't think you really need to worry unless the board is older than 3 years or so.

- Matt

Thanks a ton for the offer... I'll definitely keep you in mind if and when the time ever comes, Matt...
02 Oct 2002, 05:38 AM
Matt

Quote:

Originally posted by Seven Force
With that said, maybe you can do the same for CPS3 carts-sice they too run on the exact same kind of battery. Just a thought.

I'm sure you could - any board with a hard-wired battery, in fact. As long as you solder on a helper cell to maintain a steady 3v, there's no reason why it wouldn't work.

- Matt
27 Aug 2003, 08:52 PM
BEBOPlover

Had to resurrect this thread.

Just got my first two CPS-2 games. I got them from Cosmic. The funny thing is that each game came with an A + B board. So, I guess I have an extra board.

I had no idea these things were so huge! Shocked does not cover fully what I felt when I first opened the box.

How do I seperate the A + B boards? They came already put together and I don't want to accidentally damage them.

I'd like to install new batteries right away, like someone suggested earlier in the thread. Anyone have a pic of what these batteries look like?
27 Aug 2003, 09:44 PM
Werewolf

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEBOPlover

Had to resurrect this thread.

Just got my first two CPS-2 games. I got them from Cosmic. The funny thing is that each game came with an A + B board. So, I guess I have an extra board.

I had no idea these things were so huge! Shocked does not cover fully what I felt when I first opened the box.

How do I seperate the A + B boards? They came already put together and I don't want to accidentally damage them.

I'd like to install new batteries right away, like someone suggested earlier in the thread. Anyone have a pic of what these batteries look like?

You can seperate them by removing 2 clips, one on each side, once you take them out you can lift the B board straight up off the A board.

I have a CPS-2 board and a CPS-3 board, I didn't change the batteries yet but I'm sure I will need to sometime, what exactly happens if the battery dies... does it make it unusable till you get a new battery?
27 Aug 2003, 10:35 PM
catty

Quote:

Originally Posted by Werewolf

what exactly happens if the battery dies... does it make it unusable till you get a new battery?

Dude, the board commits suicide if the battery dies. Replace the battery before it dies. Otherwise you'd have to send it to Capcom to have it reactivated for a hefty fee.
27 Aug 2003, 10:49 PM
MechDeus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Werewolf

I have a CPS-2 board and a CPS-3 board, I didn't change the batteries yet but I'm sure I will need to sometime, what exactly happens if the battery dies... does it make it unusable till you get a new battery?

Like Catty said, they're called suicide boards for a reason. IIRC, when the battery goes dead it wipes the boards' chips (EEPROM? ROM? What are they again?) of the game itself, so you have a dead board in your hands. Cute, isn't it?
27 Aug 2003, 10:50 PM
Matt

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEBOPlover

I'd like to install new batteries right away, like someone suggested earlier in the thread. Anyone have a pic of what these batteries look like?

If you want to take a look at the battery, just pop open the B board. The battery will be very obvious - a red Maxell on one of the corners.
28 Aug 2003, 12:18 AM
Werewolf

Quote:

Originally Posted by MechDeus

Like Catty said, they're called suicide boards for a reason. IIRC, when the battery goes dead it wipes the boards' chips (EEPROM? ROM? What are they again?) of the game itself, so you have a dead board in your hands. Cute, isn't it?

Whose the genius that designed that setup, who ever heard of a product completely dying just because the battery goes... :wtf:

Way to go Capcom, now I know why they got out of the arcade business with ideas like that :mad:

Looks like I'll have to have them replaced sooner, I'll probably have someone do it since I've never done that kind of work before |)
28 Aug 2003, 12:24 AM
Ryan

So if the battery dies and the board commits suicide, then replacing the battery won't do anything?

Do any CPS2 boards have these?
28 Aug 2003, 01:10 AM
Matt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Werewolf

Whose the genius that designed that setup, who ever heard of a product completely dying just because the battery goes... :wtf:

Way to go Capcom, now I know why they got out of the arcade business with ideas like that :mad:

The suicide battery was a brilliant idea. It meant that until very recently, there was zero bootlegging or emulation of CPS2 games. It certainly didn't affect their sales - the CPS2 supported some of the most popular games of all time.

As far as arcade operators care, the suicide battery doesn't make a difference. 8-9 years is much longer than the average arcade game's lifespan, and the fee Capcom charges to recharge the board is peanuts compared to how much a game should be earning in the first place.

The only reason why CPS2 games have been dumped at all is that Capcom got sloppy with their CPS1 port of SF Alpha and left in some of the decryption code. Even then, only one person has succesfully beaten it.
28 Aug 2003, 01:21 AM
MechDeus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valgar

So if the battery dies and the board commits suicide, then replacing the battery won't do anything?

Bingo. It's dead and the game has be reinserted into the board's memory before it'll do anything again.

Quote:

Do any CPS2 boards have these?

All the ones published by Capcom, AFAIK.
28 Aug 2003, 01:42 AM
Shine

I thought they got rid of the kamakazi battery with the CPS-3's?! God I hate Capcom.

So the games not published by Capcom on the CPS-2 don't have the battery issue?
28 Aug 2003, 03:23 AM
Eight One

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShineAqua

I thought they got rid of the kamakazi battery with the CPS-3's?! God I hate Capcom.

So the games not published by Capcom on the CPS-2 don't have the battery issue?

ALL CPS-2 boards are subject to this. (CPS-3 as well)

Dimahoo too.
28 Aug 2003, 05:17 AM
Shine

:lol: I knew Dimahoo was included thank you. :)
28 Aug 2003, 05:56 AM
Eight One

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShineAqua

So the games not published by Capcom on the CPS-2 don't have the battery issue?

I didn't think there were any third-party CPS2 boards, either. :lol:
28 Aug 2003, 06:01 AM
Shine

I thought companies other than Capcom made games for the CPS2?
28 Aug 2003, 06:18 AM
Josh

haha n00b.
28 Aug 2003, 06:29 AM
Shine

I am shame :cry:.
28 Aug 2003, 08:20 AM
Matt

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShineAqua

I thought companies other than Capcom made games for the CPS2?

They did, but Capcom was always the publisher.
28 Aug 2003, 09:59 AM
Werewolf

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

The suicide battery was a brilliant idea. It meant that until very recently, there was zero bootlegging or emulation of CPS2 games. It certainly didn't affect their sales - the CPS2 supported some of the most popular games of all time.

As far as arcade operators care, the suicide battery doesn't make a difference. 8-9 years is much longer than the average arcade game's lifespan, and the fee Capcom charges to recharge the board is peanuts compared to how much a game should be earning in the first place.

The only reason why CPS2 games have been dumped at all is that Capcom got sloppy with their CPS1 port of SF Alpha and left in some of the decryption code. Even then, only one person has succesfully beaten it.

Brillant... not, if emulation and bootlegs were their problem they could've done it without using a faulty battery system... and they screwed up on top of that so the brillant system didn't prevent shit :p

I have some questions then:

How long does the battery last, 3 to 4 years or 8 to 9... that's a big difference there so does anyone know? Also how much is it to recharge the board if need be?
28 Aug 2003, 12:53 PM
MechDeus

Quote:

Originally Posted by Werewolf

How long does the battery last, 3 to 4 years or 8 to 9... that's a big difference there so does anyone know?

I think 5-6.

Quote:

Also how much is it to recharge the board if need be?

I've read people say about $50 but I believe each country only does their region. So if your Japanese CPS2 board dies, you better speak Japanese and be willing to pay for overseas shipping.
28 Aug 2003, 01:22 PM
Recap

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

They did, but Capcom was always the publisher.

Well, Mitchell's Choko and Mighty! Pang are published by Mitchell itself in Japan. Takumi, Eighting and Cave's CP-S II games are not only published by Capcom, they are games which belong to the own Capcom but were developed by other companies / teams.
28 Aug 2003, 04:54 PM
Wildkat

Quote:

Originally Posted by MechDeus

Like Catty said, they're called suicide boards for a reason. IIRC, when the battery goes dead it wipes the boards' chips (EEPROM? ROM? What are they again?) of the game itself, so you have a dead board in your hands. Cute, isn't it?

its plain old volitile RAM. Thats where the problem is. Loose the battery back-up and poof a portion of the game needed to function is gone IIRC it was the decryption keys for the game proms, so you could still dump the proms, but they were encrypted and without the keys, useless.

It was attempt at curbing PCB piracy as emulation really didnt exist much at the time, and it did work, but it has a nasty side effect.
28 Aug 2003, 05:18 PM
Shapermc

Well if your weary about your battery replacement skills try THIS! 4 year warrenty is not bad.

Also suicide is not permenant. Razoola will try to help out the recently dead if they bite it.

Hope this helps.

EDIT: With that rising from the dead that Razoola can do, you no longer even NEED the battery. It is recomended that you remove it then leave it off.
28 Aug 2003, 05:33 PM
Frogacuda

CPS2Shock has has some success with restoring dead boards and re-uploading data, but you have Progear, right? No one's lent them a ProGear board so there's no Progear ROM dump to upload yet.
28 Aug 2003, 05:39 PM
Shapermc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frogacuda

CPS2Shock has has some success with restoring dead boards and re-uploading data, but you have Progear, right? No one's lent them a ProGear board so there's no Progear ROM dump to upload yet.

That is not true IIRC. It is just too recent of a release to produce a dump for "public" emulation release. None the less if you ship the whole thing to him he can take care of all that, esp. if you have an undumped version of something.
29 Aug 2003, 02:04 AM
Matt

Quote:

Originally Posted by Werewolf

Brillant... not, if emulation and bootlegs were their problem they could've done it without using a faulty battery system...

Please tell us how, then ;)

It's true that the batteries are a pain in the butt for us collectors, but it's not much of an issue for those who run arcade games for profit (which is Capcom's only target customer base). And because of it, there are almost no bootleg CPS2 games. Even though the CPS2 has been emulated now, pirate boards are still practically nonexistent.

As it is, if you change your batteries regularly, there's no need to worry in the first place.

Quote:

How long does the battery last, 3 to 4 years or 8 to 9... that's a big difference there so does anyone know? Also how much is it to recharge the board if need be?

They last longer than you think. Just last week, in fact, I did a battery replacement in a 9-year-old SSF2 Turbo PCB that was still fine. Of course, you often hear stories of guys with 6 or 7 year old PCBs that have died suddenly, so you shouldn't count on getting that much life out of them.

If a PCB is being run for profit, the battery will last much longer than if the board is in storage, since it's not being drained while the PCB is on. If you're a collector who only turns your PCBs on when you play them, you should be able to count on 5 years at the very least, so if you change them every 4 years you should be very safe.

BTW, I've still got plenty of 1/2AA lithium cells FS in the Trade Depot :).
31 Aug 2003, 10:06 AM
Werewolf

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Please tell us how, then ;)

Well for one they could've had a warning display before the battery dies, and they could've made it easier to change batteries... even for the arcade owner it is downtime for them which means no profits from those games, so they ether have to do the work themselves or send it to Capcom which would be more likely because I'm sure the biggest thing on the operators mind all the time is "are my CPS2 batteries low" instead of trying to run their business ;)
31 Aug 2003, 11:10 AM
voltz

I've heard they're a real bitch when the battery does go out. On some emulator site I can't put my finger on, there was discussion on how to bring a PCB back to life and I think it just involves some process about restoring the security information or something like that.

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