ShootTheCore
@shootthecore.tech
Video games! My retro video game repair logs, video tutorials and written materials are collected at https://shootthecore.tech
In for servicing is a Neo Geo 6 Slot MVS board. The audio used to fade out shortly after power on but a full capacitor replacement sorted that out. I swapped the old clock battery for a rechargeable coin cell too. These boards are large and in charge! 😎
July 27, 2025 at 7:26 AM
In for servicing is a Neo Geo 6 Slot MVS board. The audio used to fade out shortly after power on but a full capacitor replacement sorted that out. I swapped the old clock battery for a rechargeable coin cell too. These boards are large and in charge! 😎
With the Taito F3 arcade board, the flash Multi cart is the way to go.
highscoresave.com/darksoft-tai...
highscoresave.com/darksoft-tai...
July 27, 2025 at 3:27 AM
With the Taito F3 arcade board, the flash Multi cart is the way to go.
highscoresave.com/darksoft-tai...
highscoresave.com/darksoft-tai...
July 3, 2025 at 3:11 AM
I'm getting back to work on backlogged arcade board repairs. Latest is an Irem M92 with bent pins on the GA22 chip. It took 20 minutes under the microscope with sewing needles and desoldering braid to straighten the legs. Resoldered legs to pads, confirmed connections, and the board works perfectly.
May 16, 2025 at 6:41 PM
I'm getting back to work on backlogged arcade board repairs. Latest is an Irem M92 with bent pins on the GA22 chip. It took 20 minutes under the microscope with sewing needles and desoldering braid to straighten the legs. Resoldered legs to pads, confirmed connections, and the board works perfectly.
I’ve been tweaking the Amiga E language source code for the AmigaVision game menu launcher so that it works correctly with my Mega Drive to CD32 controller adapter.
April 27, 2025 at 2:49 AM
I’ve been tweaking the Amiga E language source code for the AmigaVision game menu launcher so that it works correctly with my Mega Drive to CD32 controller adapter.
Another Last Second Save for Random Game Saturday! This time it’s the Famicom/NES shmup Gun-Nac. Developed by Compile, it’s no surprise that it’s a quality game, but more importantly you pilot a robotic rabbit, which places it in a Hall of Honor alongside Jumping Flash and Rabio Lepus.
April 13, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Another Last Second Save for Random Game Saturday! This time it’s the Famicom/NES shmup Gun-Nac. Developed by Compile, it’s no surprise that it’s a quality game, but more importantly you pilot a robotic rabbit, which places it in a Hall of Honor alongside Jumping Flash and Rabio Lepus.
For my Random Game Saturday, it’s the PC Engine port of Taito’s Jigoku Meguri - aka Bonze Adventure. Play a priest battling your way through haunted graveyards to take on a demon king. Overall, it plays a bit like Ghosts N Goblins and the PCE port is quality.
March 29, 2025 at 9:53 PM
For my Random Game Saturday, it’s the PC Engine port of Taito’s Jigoku Meguri - aka Bonze Adventure. Play a priest battling your way through haunted graveyards to take on a demon king. Overall, it plays a bit like Ghosts N Goblins and the PCE port is quality.
I’m going to try my hand at BGA reballing. This should be interesting…
March 6, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I’m going to try my hand at BGA reballing. This should be interesting…
- Repaired a NES console with bad V-Sync.
- Replaced the capacitors on an Irem GeoStorm arcade board.
- Started diagnosing a failed Amiga 4000 main board.
- Played System Shock on PC.
- Played Battletoads on NES.
- Replaced the capacitors on an Irem GeoStorm arcade board.
- Started diagnosing a failed Amiga 4000 main board.
- Played System Shock on PC.
- Played Battletoads on NES.
February 25, 2025 at 12:31 AM
- Repaired a NES console with bad V-Sync.
- Replaced the capacitors on an Irem GeoStorm arcade board.
- Started diagnosing a failed Amiga 4000 main board.
- Played System Shock on PC.
- Played Battletoads on NES.
- Replaced the capacitors on an Irem GeoStorm arcade board.
- Started diagnosing a failed Amiga 4000 main board.
- Played System Shock on PC.
- Played Battletoads on NES.
I didn’t repair it myself - I bought it in that state. There’s a repair wire on the ROM board.
February 24, 2025 at 2:26 AM
I didn’t repair it myself - I bought it in that state. There’s a repair wire on the ROM board.
Now that the Irem M92 #arcade Multi is complete and starting to ship, I’m selling off several of my spare M92 game boards that I used in testing. Each one gets a fresh capacitor replacement and jumpers installed where the Multi requires different settings for future-proofing. 😎
February 24, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Now that the Irem M92 #arcade Multi is complete and starting to ship, I’m selling off several of my spare M92 game boards that I used in testing. Each one gets a fresh capacitor replacement and jumpers installed where the Multi requires different settings for future-proofing. 😎
My buddy's AV Famicom w/NESRGB V1.4 mod started dropping V-Sync after warming up. I reached out to Tim Worthington, the mod creator, who said to replace the MCP6561T-E/OT (sync separator) and SGM8051XN5 (composite video buffer). That fixed it - thank you Tim!
February 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
My buddy's AV Famicom w/NESRGB V1.4 mod started dropping V-Sync after warming up. I reached out to Tim Worthington, the mod creator, who said to replace the MCP6561T-E/OT (sync separator) and SGM8051XN5 (composite video buffer). That fixed it - thank you Tim!
Normally, I’d have to open up the cart, desolder the flash chip from the cart PCB using a hot air station, reprogram the flash chip with a programmer, resolder the flash to the PCB and reassemble the cart. I’d done it enough that I could do the whole procedure in an hour but it’s painstaking work.
February 23, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Normally, I’d have to open up the cart, desolder the flash chip from the cart PCB using a hot air station, reprogram the flash chip with a programmer, resolder the flash to the PCB and reassemble the cart. I’d done it enough that I could do the whole procedure in an hour but it’s painstaking work.
I’m pleased to report that the #arcade CPS3 adapter for the Open Source Cartridge Reader developed by herzmx is the real deal. I can now erase and reprogram a CPS3 security cartridge in 2 minutes! I wish I had this thing years ago. 😁
February 23, 2025 at 7:57 AM
I’m pleased to report that the #arcade CPS3 adapter for the Open Source Cartridge Reader developed by herzmx is the real deal. I can now erase and reprogram a CPS3 security cartridge in 2 minutes! I wish I had this thing years ago. 😁
I liked that game so much at the time I named my cat after it!
February 6, 2025 at 6:41 AM
I liked that game so much at the time I named my cat after it!
Scanline Sunday
Display: Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 91TXM
Game: Metal Dragoon on MSX
Display: Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 91TXM
Game: Metal Dragoon on MSX
February 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Scanline Sunday
Display: Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 91TXM
Game: Metal Dragoon on MSX
Display: Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 91TXM
Game: Metal Dragoon on MSX
Random Game Saturday for me this time is Son Son 2 for PC Engine. A colorful, fun plaformer, it’s an overlooked Capcom gem.
February 2, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Random Game Saturday for me this time is Son Son 2 for PC Engine. A colorful, fun plaformer, it’s an overlooked Capcom gem.
Great minds think alike - I’m pulling an Amiga project together right now too. I’m hoping to tackle a Neptune build soon as well! 😁
January 18, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Great minds think alike - I’m pulling an Amiga project together right now too. I’m hoping to tackle a Neptune build soon as well! 😁
I’m back at the workbench today updating a CPS3 security cartridge with the Darksoft UltraBIOS and programming a set of CPS3 UltraSIMMs. I’m not much of a fighting game guy but the art and presentation on these games is gorgeous. #arcade
December 29, 2024 at 7:07 PM
I’m back at the workbench today updating a CPS3 security cartridge with the Darksoft UltraBIOS and programming a set of CPS3 UltraSIMMs. I’m not much of a fighting game guy but the art and presentation on these games is gorgeous. #arcade