iCade 60-in-1 Multicade System, Games List, And Manual

 

Hi! Welcome to our Encyclopedia of Multicade Systems.

Provided below is our information regarding the subject multicade system. It is intended for your information only.

 

Today, it would appear that the iCade 60-in-1 JAMMA PCB multicade system is available and in use everywhere. (351,000 results on Google in less than one second.)

 

For a refresher in how to play its classic games, visit the Killer List Of Video Games (KLOV) site.  There you will find game play instructions, screen shots, photos, and tons of interesting historical information. 

It is a visit that is bound to bring back lots of fond memories of playing your favorite games in your favorite arcade.

  

The 60-in-1 popularity appears justified because of:

• the games list (see below),
• the just-like original game play and game sounds, 
• the system's great record of dependability (hardware v. 2),
• the system's navigation simplicity, and
• the fact of high score save (until system powered off).

 

For maximum gaming value, pay close attention to the control panel:

As you will likely discern from the following games list, the ideal control panel to best play all 60 games would be a control panel outfitted with these controllers (laid out left to right):

• Pinball flipper buttons, side cabinet mounted.
• 4-way diagonal joystick.
• 8-way joystick.
• 4-way joystick.
• 3 control buttons.
• Trackball.
• 2 start buttons.

This photo shows how a control panel could be packed tightly with controllers to properly control all but one of the 60 games.

 

There are very many 60-in-1 machines with very inadequate control panels. They are outfitted with only a 4-way joystick and 2 or 3 control buttons. Such machines can properly play only about one-half of the 60 games.

Even machines with better control panels - outfitted with a 4-way joystick, 3 control buttons, and a trackball - still are inadequate. Because, the twelve 8-way joystick games would not be properly playable. Without an 8-way joystick, 1/2 of the character moves would not be possible.

 

Whether in coin-op or freeplay, the 60-in-1 does not offer a continue mode, even it was offered in the original game.

  

A.  Here are the iCade 60-in-1 classic arcade video games:

Pac-Man Series -

Original controller : 4-way joystick (best). Alternate controller : an 8-way 360-degree joystick plays quite suitably.

1. Ms. Pac-Man
2. Pac-Man
3. Jr. Pac-Man
4. Super Pac-Man
5. Pac-Man Plus
6. Ms. Pac-Man (Fast Mode)
7. Pac-Man (Fast Mode)
8. Jr. Pac-Man (Fast Mode)
9. Pac-Man Plus (Fast Mode)

Galaga Family Series -

Original controller : 2-way right-left joystick (best). Alternate controller : 4-way and 8-way joysticks : same play.

1. Galaga
2. Galaga (Fast Fire Mode)
3. Galaga 3
4. Galaxian

Donkey Kong Series -

Original controller : 4-way joystick (best). Alternate controller : 8-way joystick (acceptable).

1. Donkey Kong
2. Donkey Kong Junior
3. Donkey Kong 3

Trackball Games -

Original controller games #1 & #2 : trackball (best). Alternate controller : 8-way 360-degree joystick (next best).

Original controller games #3 & #4 : spinner (best). Alternate controller : trackball (next best), and joystick (acceptable).

Best overall controller solution for play of all four = trackball.

1. Centipede**
2. Millipede**
3. Arkanoid** 
4. Super Breakout**

Video Pinball -

Original controller : side mounted flipper buttons (best). Alternate : none suitable.

1. Pinball Action

Balance of games list -

Original controllers : 8-way joystick are indicated (12) (best). Alternate controller : 4-way joystick (usable, but limits character movement).

If no indication, either 2-way left-right (7), or 2-way up-down (1), or 4-way (18), or 4-way diagonal (1), all of which games being played or suitably played with a 4-way joystick.

1. 1942*** (8-way, 2 buttons)
2. 1943: The Battle Of Midway**** (8-way, 2 buttons)
3. 1943 Kai**** (8-way, 2 buttons)
4. Amidar
5. Bomb Jack (8-way, 1 button)
6. Burger Time
7. Congo Bongo (Like Q*bert, plays only with a diagonally mounted 4-way joystick, 1 button)
8. Crush Roller
9. Dig Dug
10. Dig Dug II (8-way, 2 buttons)
11. Frogger
12. Gun Smoke*** (8-way, 3 buttons, can be set for 1 button)
13. Gyruss (8-way, 1 button)
14. Hustler, The
15. Jumping Jack
16. Juno First (8-way, 2 buttons)
17. King And Balloon 
18. Ladybug
19. Mappy
20. Moon Cresta
21. Mr. Do
22. Mr. Do's Castle
23. New Rally X
24. Pengo
25. Phoenix***
26. Pleiades
27. Pooyan
28. Qix
29. Scramble*** (8-way, 2 buttons)
30. Shao-Lin's Road*** (aka Kicker)
31. Space Invaders
32. Space Panic***
33. Super Cobra***
34. Tank Battalion
35. The End
36. Time Pilot (8-way, 1 button)
37. Van-Van Car (8-way, 1 button)
38. Xevious*** (8-way, 2 buttons)
39. Zaxxon

 

Special information about game controls:

**Indicates a game that plays best with a trackball.  Installation, or not, of a trackball would be determined by the size and configuration of the control panel. 

So, the 4 games that play best with a trackball might not be feasible for some cabinet types with smaller control panels. 

However, the 4 games can still be played very well with an 8-way joystick.

If the control panel will permit, a trackball or 8-way joystick can usually be installed.

 

***Indicates a game that requires 2 (or more) buttons to play - for example, both a fire and jump button.  Most of the classic games, however, only require none or 1 button - such as, Space Invaders with only a fire button. 

So, the approximate 8 games that require installation of additional buttons (7 require 2 buttons, and 1 requires 3 buttons) will also be determined by the size of the control panel.

When the control panel size permits (and it usually does), installation of 2 buttons (fire and jump) is the minimum, but 3 buttons is preferred.

 

****Indicates a game (there are 2) that requires 2 sets of player controls to allow two-player simultaneous play.  There is usually not room on a classic game's control panel for comfortable play with two sets of player controls.

One set of controls is standard, since most of the classics are played with two players taking turns.  If two sets of controls were desired and possible, they could be added.  But, that addition would likely preclude the use of other controllers. Or, require a larger cabinet with a larger control panel.

 

 B.  iCade 60-in-1 Multicade Setup And Operation:

1.  The printed circuit board (pcb). 

Here is a photo of an early version of the 60-in-1 pcb (hardware v. 1).  A later version pcb (hardware v. 2) is physically only slightly different, and the component arrangement is essentially the same.  The gold plated JAMMA pinout fingers are located at top of either of the pcbs.

 

2.  Volumn control. 

Volumn is adjustable both manually and virtually.  Manual adjustment is accomplished by rotating the the small (about 1/8" diameter) brown notched knob located bottom left in the photo.  The photo is of the top left quadrant of the pcb.  Using a small flat-head screwdriver, turn the knob counterclockwise to decrease the volumn.

Follow the directions in the iCade manual for virtual adjustment.

 

3.  Hard DIP switch. 

The hard DIP switch is located in the upper left quadrant of the pcb.  In the photo, it is blue with a bank of four white switches.  The iCade manual explains the setting values for each of the four switches.  The switch #4 will be the one most often used, as it toggles between the play mode and the system adjustment mode.

The iCade also features soft (or virtual) DIP switch settings for adjusting the system and for adjusting each game.  All of the setting values are specified in the manual.  Hard DIP switch #4 allows access to the soft DIP switches.

 

4.  System boot up. 

When you power on the multicade, about three minutes are usually required for system boot up.  The status of the boot up process is shown at the top of the monitor screen.  When each of the games have been initialized, the menu screen will appear.

 

5.  Freeplay navigation - selecting and starting a game. 

• When at the menu, or at a game's attract screen, press the Player-1 or Player-2 start button to enable scrolling. 
• Use the Player-1 joystick to scroll through menu pages. 
• When the desired game is found, and it is yellow highlighted, press the Player-1 or Player-2 start button to load the game.
• Or, to preview the game (without starting the game), press the fire button (the button closest to the joystick). A red PREVIEW window will flash. Preview will end after about 10 seconds, and return to menu page.
• When game loaded, press Player-1 or Player-2 start button to credit and start the game for the appropriate number of players.
• Game must be over to return to menu (there is no exit).

 

6.  Troubleshooting.

When you first power on the machine, you should see on the game board:

 

1) A steady always-on green LED located about top center of board (the power-on indicator).

 

2) And, a quick display of the bank of three LEDs (orange, red, and green) located to right of the green power-on LED.

 

3) Then, the orange LED will begin flashing (the boot-up indicator).

 

4) When boot-up complete, flashing will change from the orange LED to the green LED (the game ready to play indicator).

 

5) If the red LED is seen at any point, steady or flashing, the board has problems and is bad.

 

C.  iCade 60-in-1 PCB Operation And Settings Manual:

Click any page for an expanded view.