Looking to get a supernova "supergun". Any competi

This is going to introduce the age-old problem of overseas shipping and nobody in Japan shipping abroad, but I just got a Sigma box + controller. I'm quite happy with the set. New, it's a bit pricey (40,000 yen) but I got them used in perfect condition for 26,000. I'm quite happy with it.

 

Which Sigma did you end up getting? I'm glad you went with Sigma!

 

Hello all! First post here!
Great site, exactly the sort of thing I've been looking for!

Anyway, a SuperGun is a very easy device to build. You can cobble one together using an AT power supply, a $5 Radio Shack speaker, a $70 jrok rgb to NTSC convertor (www.jrok.com), and a Jamma loom!

But, if you don't want to build, you can check out gw trading. They sell a SuperNova-type SuperGun: http://www.gwtrading.com/hga.shtml

From what I'm hearing, the MAS Systems model is slightly better than the GW trading unit. I'd say build one, but there are alternatives!

 

Well, since something tells me that you'll have no problem building a controller, it doesn't look like a bad deal...but...we're venturing into the price range of a full JAMMA cabinet...

I assume space is your problem then...

 

Looks OK. Keep in mind that the Sigma units use a special fingerboard/adapter to interface the Jamma connector to the actual unit. These are hard to find (but easily made), so keep that in mind when you purchase one.

 

Sigma units are much sexier than MAS ones. Building a SG is a good solution for someone with talent (wonder why I have yet to see a DIY SG of Sigma quality...) looking for a temporary/minimalist solution to play their boards.

 

True. In fact, the MAS unit is placed in an unnecessarily huge box. Open the box and you'll find that the contents take up less than 20% of the interior space! You can transplant the guts into a better case or project box (basically just a Powersupply, speaker, wires, and video encoder). The joysticks are supposed to be top notch though!

 

Understood.

Unfortunately, those are the only two Supergun makers I can think of offhand. Well, there are some UK based dealers that make ultra-compact Superguns (raven games, I think?). Trouble is, they won't be of much use to you since they are generally made to output to SCART Tv's.

 

Assembler:
That's the one I have, but it's silver. Remember -- that doesn't come w/ a controller, which run 15,000 yen new.

FYI -- that box runs 26,000 yen new, so $175 already in the states is by no means a bad price.

Again - I'm very happy with it.

 

this one looks fine:

http://www.arcadeheaven.co.uk/supergun.html

 

If you're really going for top-notch video quality you may want to look into something that outputs RGB (for instance, via SCART) - do you have a scart tv?

 

No one outside western Europe has SCART that means very few people (like 10) have RGB-capable TVs. Even fewer know what RGB is.

If you can run RGB video on your TV, it defeats the main purpose of a Supergun, which is to make JAMMA boards playable on your average (Taiwanese) TV.

If you live in a SCART country, you can just solder wires from the JAMMA harness directly to a SCART connector and voila.

 

Pretty much. Though you could buy a ravengames unit and buy/retrofit it with a Jrok convertor. But then we're getting back into the realm of spending more $$ and investing more time into the project.

If you can get it, a CPS Changer is a nice device that also functions as a Supergun....but those are pretty pricey.

 

If you're going to put a Jrok inside a Ravengames SG then I don't know what to say to you haha. Do people have something against REAL Taiwanese/Japanese Superguns? Ones that are manufactured opposed to you know, made in some guy's basement.

I don't see why Europeans buy Uberiaesque SGs at all, they can just buy a couple freaking connectors and some wire and make it within a hour for themselves, for around 10GBP. I can make it for around $10 albeit the JAMMA connector. Connect up a AT(X) PSU and you've got yourself a really ugly Supergun not far from a Uberia/Ravengames SG.

 

sound coming from? umm sounds like a project for summer...

 

Here's a pic of my setup in action (with a newly purchased, rather expensive Ketsui PCB running)



While I do like the controller, it's a bit big... takes up a lot of space. Sigma does make a PSX converter, but if you're going to play shooters, I'd recommend against that.

FYI -- for 2500 yen, they've got an S-Video cable. Downside? Price, and it's video only, so you have to use the headphone jack for the phones.