iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 20/08/2026

Playing some Mushihimesma Futari for a monthly high score competition. As the Gradius announcer likes to say “You need some practice!” 😅 #arcade #shmup

0142

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 05/08/2026

OMG! It came with a manual!!

2170

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 28/07/2026

Here’s another update on this faulty Namco System 2 board - this time with far too many details on diagnosing TTL logic parts and a bit of ROM hacking. shootthecore.tech/repair/namco...

081

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 20/07/2026

More light reading for arcade repair fans! In-progress report on a Namco System 2 where 11 games run perfectly, but 3 hang at startup. Isolated the fault to the Video board, ruled out socketed chips, and spent way too much time chasing a GAL red herring! tinyurl.com/sat8hhf5

tinyurl.com

Namco System 2 – ShootTheCore.tech

1112

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 18/06/2026

Repaired a Cave CV1000 #arcade board with faulty color amps, resulting in a dim picture with a yellow tinge. Thankfully, the amps are off-the-shelf parts, and one swap later, now the image is bright, colorful and tinge-free. Detailed write up at jammarcade.net/cave-cv1000-...

1277

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 08/05/2026

Yuck-battery guts! Glad it didn’t spread to the board…

0131

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 28/04/2026

<sigh> It’s so aggravating when a microscopic leg randomly snaps off of a TSOP-48 SMD flash chip when soldering it to a board. Fortunately I have a spare handy but it takes hours to flash with my current NAND programmer. 😅

0141

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 26/04/2026

Random Game Saturday! Find him before he finds you. 💀

171

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 14/04/2026

I fixed up an Arika Fighting Layer #arcade board running on Namco System 12 hardware this weekend. It started up with a scary FIRST POWER ON DATA ERROR message, but replacing the RTC chip sorted it out. Full writeup at jammarcade.net/fighting-layer

2599

Reposted by ShootTheCore

Tim Nicholls @woodpunk.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

I radically improved arcadeRTFM.com this week. It's now a fully indexed archive of arcade repair/operator manuals plus schematics. It has details for 7,800+ arcade machines and 2,400+ manuals. You can search by game, manufacturer, year or even chip! Share it wherever you think it might be useful.

Screenshot of the Arcade Manual Archive website arcadeRTFM.com (dark mode) showing detailed technical specifications for the classic Sega Out Run arcade machine (sitdown/upright Rev B, 1986). The page includes hardware specs (2x Motorola MC68000 @ 10 MHz, Zilog Z80 @ 4 MHz), raster horizontal display (320×224 at 60.05 Hz), audio chips (YM2151 OPM and Sega PCM), controls (1 player, steering paddle, pedal, 1 button, 2 coin slots), a full DIP switch settings table for coin credits, cabinet type, demo sounds, time adjustment and difficulty, plus links to downloadable service manuals and schematics. Site header reads 'ARCADE MANUAL ARCHIVE' with stats 7,821 machines and 2,405 service manuals; search term 'out run' is active.

714977

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 27/03/2026

Just in time for #marchintosh , this Powerbook 1400cs was just gifted to me. Featuring a 233 Mhz PowerPC CPU, 64 MB RAM, 800 MB hard drive, Zip 100 drive, and 28.8k baud modem, this time capsule is in really nice shape! Now I need to figure out how to load some games onto it. 😎

1132

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 26/03/2026

A CPS3 #arcade cart came in for service after suiciding due to a dead battery. It wouldn’t work after flashing the Darksoft UltraBIOS. I noticed missing solder next to the clock crystal, so I addressed that and now the cart works great! I wish all repairs went this smoothly. 😁

0172

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 10/03/2026

I’m taking a short break from repairing #arcade boards to actually *play games* on them once in a while. Currently drilling Deathsmiles MBL, Dogyuun and Viewpoint for a monthly #shmup score competition.

1120

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 28/02/2026

#RandomGameSaturday this time is Zelda Four Swords Adventures. Four players each link a GBA to a GameCube console to embark on a unique adventure where the TV screen is a shared space but each player can split from the group to explore separately on their own screen. A peak couch co-op experience!

1171

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 26/02/2026

I finally sorted out the remaining issues with the sound on this Golden Axe 2 Revenge of Death Adder #arcade board. Detailed writeup at jammarcade.net/golden-axe-i...

3519

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 17/02/2026

I helped a friend calibrate his Sony KV-36FV16 CRT today. The greypoint range dialed in nicely except for a tiny blip in the 0-10% IRE that barely matters. The geometry is also surprisingly good for a flat screen Sony!

0100

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 15/01/2026

Post a game you remember playing that nobody else remembers.

010

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 15/01/2026

I just published a detailed writeup of this repair on JammaArcade. jammarcade.net/seibu-kaihat...

jammarcade.net

Seibu Kaihatsu SPI & Raiden Fighters 2 – JAMMArcade.net

1131

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 14/01/2026

A busy evening tonight repairing both a Seibu Kaihatsu SPI #arcade board and Raiden Fighters 2 cart. SPI Revive by Trap15 brought the SPI board back, and reflowing the solder on several SMD ROMs fixed the jailbar graphic corruption in RF2.

0110

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 08/01/2026

I thought I was done with this Sega System 32 #arcade board but playtesting revealed that it would still freeze up periodically. It seems that another TTL clock buffer just to the left of the one I just replaced is bad as well - I even cross-tested it with two testers to be sure. Very strange. 😑

0140

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 01/01/2026

I got a dead Sega System 32 #arcade board up and running again yesterday. Culprit was a dead TTL clock buffer chip. Full writeup on the diagnosis coming soon.

1468

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 20/12/2025

For this #RandomGameSarurday it’s Landstalker on the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive. Isometric adventure games are one of my favorite genres and this is a shining example of one, with a sprawling world, clever puzzles and excellent presentation. Some of the jumps are very difficult to pull off though.

0110

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 13/12/2025

For this #RandomGameSaturday I have Capcom’s Cadillacs & Dinosaurs. An excellent beat-em-up based on an obscure comic book and TV show, it’s much, much better than its Sega CD cousin. Plus - Q Sound audio! 😁

2265

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 10/12/2025

It seems that some folks (including myself) have misplaced their programming cables for the Darksoft CPS3 UltraSIMMs. Thankfully a 3D printed holder exists for the fancy ends that let me use a generic IDC crimping tool to build new cables. Thank you Frank Zhao of Ecellerator for creating & sharing!

1190

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 15/10/2025

If anyone likes hearing me lecture on arcade boards, I just posted a 45 minute tutorial video on installing the new Darksoft Namco System 2 Multi kit. youtu.be/x3UTDccPb5g?...

youtu.be

Darksoft System 2 Multi Installation

YouTube video by ShootTheCore

0132

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 27/07/2025

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! 😎

1222

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 03/07/2025

It’s very Xexex in my workroom tonight. #arcade #shmup

1271

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 01/06/2025

Repaired a UPL Black Heart #arcade #shmup board this evening. The NMK 902 custom chip used for rendering the FIX layer for the title screen and HUD failed. Swapped in a replacement from a Thunder Dragon donor and now it works great.

1242

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 16/05/2025

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.

1142

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 29/04/2025

Just traded some JAMMA boards for an Exa-Arcadia setup. There’s enough here to keep me busy for a long time! #arcade #shmup

3221

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 13/04/2025

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.

0141

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 29/03/2025

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.

080

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 06/03/2025

I’m going to try my hand at BGA reballing. This should be interesting…

3200

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 24/02/2025

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. 😎

4292

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 23/02/2025

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!

1161

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 23/02/2025

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. 😁

2266

Reposted by ShootTheCore

Sid Menon @beamsplashx.wethoughtaboutgames.com · 14/02/2025

happy valentine's day

top half: the text "you are the gradius thing to ever happen to me" with the ship from gradius
bottom half: the text "you r my type" with the ship from r-type

131245446

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 12/02/2025

Sign me up - they had me at Jeff Minter. 😎

291

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 02/02/2025

Scanline Sunday Display: Mitsubishi Diamond Pro 91TXM Game: Metal Dragoon on MSX

1727

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 02/02/2025

Random Game Saturday for me this time is Son Son 2 for PC Engine. A colorful, fun plaformer, it’s an overlooked Capcom gem.

1171

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 24/01/2025

I just repaired a bootleg Cave DDPDOJ #arcade #shmup board. It had a damaged clock crystal and wouldn’t boot. One part swap later and now it’s running like a champion! 😎

3310

Reposted by ShootTheCore

LumpyTouch @lumpytouch.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

I just released my latest biggest Gorefield fangame: GAR-TYPE! Launch trailer: youtu.be/i-9hIsEsSSo?... Itch link (downloadable version is here, recommended for fullscreen play): lumpytouch.itch.io/gar-type Newgrounds link: www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/...

1031299

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 29/12/2024

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

0263

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 23/12/2024

I just posted a detailed write up on how I used tools created by Buffi and Alamone to repair a faulty Art asset flash chip on a Cave Muchi Muchi Pork CV1000 #arcade board. Happy Holidays! jammarcade.net/cave-cv1000-...

0122

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 22/12/2024

Random Game From Your Collection Saturday! I have a soft spot for games with an isometric view and Landstalker is one of the best ones!

3160

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 14/12/2024

It’s a good day to dump a Cave CV1000 #arcade board. Major kudos to Buffi for his research and scripts that make this possible.

1120

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 14/12/2024

It’s Saturday - TIME FOR ANOTHER GAME FROM YOUR COLLECTION! Any R-Type is good R-Type but R-Type III is my favorite game in the series.

2180

ShootTheCore @shootthecore.tech · 14/12/2024

Give me a single screenshot from a video game that immediately makes you hear the soundtrack in your head.

3383