Star Tech Journal
Issue: 1991-November - Vol 13 Issue 9 - Page 6
•
STAR*TECH Joumal
November 1991
Capcom Street Fighter II Bootleg
Copies Are On The Street
Bill Johnston
Johnston's Video
Buffalo, New York
SUBJECT
Bill Kidwell of AAM.A enforce-
ment advised me at the AMOA
show that there are 3 varieties of
copy boards. The flat board with
no Rom boards or balcony boards
is complete and dependable, and
sure looks a lot easier to repair
than the Capcom system board.
Although wholesale is $300 -
$500, these copy boards are illegal
in the USA and often retail at
twice the price.
ADVICE
Buffalo Bill advises all" board us-
ers to strictly avoid the copy
boards, as they are a sure trip to
court TV hell! Besides, why buy a
copy board at $1000 when paral-
lels are available at only $1195
and will be legal on December
first, 1991 (when they may be
even less expensive).
In the meantime, Capcom boards
without the silkscreening of the
CAPCOM logo are appearing in
Canada as $1000 factory kits with
all accessories.
What the hell does this mean? It
raises the old question of who's
running the midnight shift at
Technos when the unscreened
boards were showing up in the
parj:J.llel marketplace in the
Double Dragon boom days.
ONETIIE<>RY
TheJ apanese are wise to diversify
their markets, that's for sure, and
these boards must be backdoor
Capcom since they are direct
clones. We can only presume that
Capcom is seeking customers at
all avenues and price levels simul-
taneously, as this is profitable for
them.
If confronted by an authorized dis-
tributor, they can claim ignorance
and point their finger at Korea or
wherever, while they profit in the
secondary marketplace.
Just a theory from here, but a very
profitable one.
~'
Taito Continental Circuit
Steering Assembly Replacement
Todd Erickson
Summit Amusement
St. Paul, Minnesota
PROBLEM
The steering assembly used by
Taito in this game is the same
basic unit that they used in Chase
HQ. Unfortuneatly, this steering
assembly is rated far below ac-
ceptable.
SOLUTION
I had my Chase HQ updated with
a Happ Controls 360° steering
unit and increased my earnings
by 25% in the same location.
Using the 360° in place of a 270°
steering assembly requires only a
dip switch change on both Chase
HQ and Continental Circuit.
INSTALLATION
Happ Controls manufactures a
kit for Chase HQ but not specifi-
cally for Continental Circuit (sd).
To install the Happ steering as-
sembly requires only minor con-
trol panel modification. Namely,
enlarging the hole and rotating
the new assembly 90° for
clearence of the steering Pcb.
BoTrOMLINE
Driving games have been my best
video games for longevity. I feel
upgrading your Taito Chase HQ
and Continental Circuit (sd) will ~
not only increase your earnings
but also eliminate service calls. In
fact, I have had no service calls on
any of my Happ Controls steering
assemblies to date.
STAR*TECH Joumal
November 1991
Capcom Street Fighter II Bootleg
Copies Are On The Street
Bill Johnston
Johnston's Video
Buffalo, New York
SUBJECT
Bill Kidwell of AAM.A enforce-
ment advised me at the AMOA
show that there are 3 varieties of
copy boards. The flat board with
no Rom boards or balcony boards
is complete and dependable, and
sure looks a lot easier to repair
than the Capcom system board.
Although wholesale is $300 -
$500, these copy boards are illegal
in the USA and often retail at
twice the price.
ADVICE
Buffalo Bill advises all" board us-
ers to strictly avoid the copy
boards, as they are a sure trip to
court TV hell! Besides, why buy a
copy board at $1000 when paral-
lels are available at only $1195
and will be legal on December
first, 1991 (when they may be
even less expensive).
In the meantime, Capcom boards
without the silkscreening of the
CAPCOM logo are appearing in
Canada as $1000 factory kits with
all accessories.
What the hell does this mean? It
raises the old question of who's
running the midnight shift at
Technos when the unscreened
boards were showing up in the
parj:J.llel marketplace in the
Double Dragon boom days.
ONETIIE<>RY
TheJ apanese are wise to diversify
their markets, that's for sure, and
these boards must be backdoor
Capcom since they are direct
clones. We can only presume that
Capcom is seeking customers at
all avenues and price levels simul-
taneously, as this is profitable for
them.
If confronted by an authorized dis-
tributor, they can claim ignorance
and point their finger at Korea or
wherever, while they profit in the
secondary marketplace.
Just a theory from here, but a very
profitable one.
~'
Taito Continental Circuit
Steering Assembly Replacement
Todd Erickson
Summit Amusement
St. Paul, Minnesota
PROBLEM
The steering assembly used by
Taito in this game is the same
basic unit that they used in Chase
HQ. Unfortuneatly, this steering
assembly is rated far below ac-
ceptable.
SOLUTION
I had my Chase HQ updated with
a Happ Controls 360° steering
unit and increased my earnings
by 25% in the same location.
Using the 360° in place of a 270°
steering assembly requires only a
dip switch change on both Chase
HQ and Continental Circuit.
INSTALLATION
Happ Controls manufactures a
kit for Chase HQ but not specifi-
cally for Continental Circuit (sd).
To install the Happ steering as-
sembly requires only minor con-
trol panel modification. Namely,
enlarging the hole and rotating
the new assembly 90° for
clearence of the steering Pcb.
BoTrOMLINE
Driving games have been my best
video games for longevity. I feel
upgrading your Taito Chase HQ
and Continental Circuit (sd) will ~
not only increase your earnings
but also eliminate service calls. In
fact, I have had no service calls on
any of my Happ Controls steering
assemblies to date.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).