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Moon Patrol Free Play and High Score Save Kit

Product information "Moon Patrol Free Play and High Score Save Kit"

The HighScoreSaves Moon Patrol Free Play and High Score Save Kit upgrades documented compatible original Irem Moon Patrol arcade hardware with Free Play, permanent Top 5 high score saving, adjustable attract sounds, Practice Mode, menu-driven settings, separate score tables, Backup and Restore, Reset Button support, Flip Screen, RAM and ROM diagnostic tests, ROM Saver, and optional Wi-Fi leaderboard support while retaining the original Irem arcade PCB.

Moon Patrol Compatibility & Requirements

Compatible PCB: Documented compatible original Irem Moon Patrol arcade PCB
Processor: Z80 processor
Processor Location: Compatible 40-pin CPU socket
Soldering: Not required when the Z80 processor location is already socketed
ROM Saver: Supports removal of designated original program ROMs as directed in the installation guide
Cabinet Support: Documented upright and cocktail cabinet configurations
PCB Cage: Cabinets equipped with the original PCB cage may require the cage to be removed because the installed save kit adds board height

Installation: Plug-in installation when the original Z80 is already socketed. The Z80 is installed on the kit as directed in the installation guide. If the processor is soldered directly to the PCB, a qualified arcade technician must install a compatible 40-pin socket before the kit can be used.

Moon Patrol Settings Menu Video

See how to enter the Moon Patrol settings menu and review the available options and controls.

What This Kit Adds

Free Play Start Moon Patrol without inserting coins while retaining traditional Coin-Up operation when desired.
Permanent Top 5 High Scores Permanently stores the Top 5 supported Moon Patrol high scores after cabinet power-off.
Battery-Free Serial EEPROM Stores supported score data using nonvolatile serial EEPROM instead of batteries or NVRAM.
Adjustable Attract Sounds Configure attract sounds for 25%, 50%, or 100% of supported attract-screen rotations.
Attract-Mode Protection Helps reduce prolonged static-screen display and monitor burn-in risk during idle operation.
Menu-Driven DIP Settings Change supported Moon Patrol settings on screen without repeatedly accessing the physical PCB DIP switches.
ROM Saver Supports removal of designated original program ROMs when installed as directed in the Moon Patrol installation guide.
Practice Mode Start at selectable checkpoints to practice difficult Moon Patrol sections without repeatedly beginning from the start.
Game Menu Quickly select supported lives settings or Practice Mode starting points.
Separate High Score Tables Maintains separate supported score tables for 2-, 3-, and 4-lives settings.
Backup & Restore Back up the saved high-score table and restore it later for service, events, parties, or tournament use.
Reset Button Support Restart the game without cycling cabinet power when the feature is enabled.
Flip Screen Full flip-screen support is included for compatible cabinet configurations.
Built-In RAM Test Includes a diagnostic RAM test to assist with troubleshooting original Moon Patrol hardware.
Built-In ROM Test Includes ROM diagnostic testing for supported Moon Patrol hardware.
Free Play Continue Behavior Continue mode is automatically disabled while Free Play is enabled.
Upright & Cocktail Support Supports documented compatible upright and cocktail Moon Patrol cabinet configurations.

Standard vs. Wi-Fi Kit

Standard Kit

Permanently saves supported scores locally and provides Free Play, attract sounds, menu settings, Practice Mode, separate score tables, Backup and Restore, Reset Button support, Flip Screen, diagnostics, ROM Saver, and other documented local features without requiring an internet connection.

Wi-Fi Enabled Kit

Includes the same local features plus compatible Wi-Fi hardware for supported online score uploading and leaderboard participation.

Wi-Fi can be disabled without affecting local score saving or normal gameplay. Wi-Fi-enabled kits use compatible 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks.

Moon Patrol Kit FAQ

Which arcade PCB does the Moon Patrol kit support?

The kit is designed for documented compatible original Irem Moon Patrol arcade PCBs.

What if my Moon Patrol cabinet has a PCB cage?

Not every Moon Patrol cabinet has a PCB cage. If yours does, the source recommends removing the cage and securely mounting the original PCB directly inside the cabinet because the additional height of the installed save kit will not fit properly inside the original cage.

Which processor is required?

A Z80 processor is required. The PCB must have a compatible 40-pin socket at the processor location.

Does installation require soldering?

No soldering is required when the Z80 processor location is already socketed. If the Z80 is soldered directly to the PCB, a compatible 40-pin socket must be installed first.

How many high scores are saved?

The kit permanently stores the Top 5 supported Moon Patrol high scores using serial EEPROM storage.

How do I enter the Moon Patrol settings menu?

With cabinet power off, hold Player 1 Start while turning the cabinet on. Release Player 1 Start when the on-screen prompt tells you to continue.

What does Practice Mode do?

Practice Mode allows Moon Patrol to start at selectable checkpoints so specific sections can be practiced without replaying from the beginning.

Does the kit maintain separate score tables?

Yes. Separate supported high-score tables are available for 2-, 3-, and 4-lives settings.

What diagnostics are included?

Built-in RAM and ROM diagnostic tests are included to assist with troubleshooting supported original Moon Patrol hardware.

Does the kit support upright and cocktail cabinets?

Yes. Documented compatible upright and cocktail configurations are supported, and Flip Screen support is included.

Is Wi-Fi required?

No. Standard kits save supported scores locally. Wi-Fi is optional for supported online leaderboard features.

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Average rating of 5 out of 5 stars


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2 reviews

September 23, 2025 2:07 AM

Review with rating of 5 out of 5 stars

Installed just fine & lots of options.

Moon Patrol seems to be the black sheep in the Williams lineup with a 3-board sandwich that the others don't have. This kit fits right next to the long sound board, maybe even a little too close on mine. I had to adjust the four mounting screws on the sound board to angle it a bit to make room but it's sturdy. The kit also extends past the bottom of the boards and can bump the coin box when the sandwich is positioned in its usual mount spot inside the cabinet. I fixed this by adjusting the position of the wood block on the near side of the boards (when looking in from the back) so the boards can't slide and bump the kit. Not a big deal and should be stable for life.

September 23, 2025 12:27 AM

Review with rating of 5 out of 5 stars

Easy to install, makes it fun to play my game again

As my title says this is totally easy to install and it does make it fun to play my game again looking at the high scores and not having to coin up all the time. These are super high quality as well.