CPS-2 inquiries

[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?

[Werewolf]

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?

[catty]

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.

[MechDeus]

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?

[Matt]

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.

[Werewolf]

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...

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

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 |)

[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?

[Matt]

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

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

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.

[MechDeus]

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.

Do any CPS2 boards have these?

All the ones published by Capcom, AFAIK.

[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?