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Arcade Knowledge & News
- HighScoreSaves Arcade Kits Created Since 2015
- How High Score Save Kits Work on Original Arcade PCBs
- How HighScoreSaves Arcade Kits Are Designed, Developed, and Tested
- How to Identify Your Original Arcade PCB Before Ordering a Kit
- How to Safely Remove and Reinstall an Original Arcade PCB
- Common Arcade PCB Installation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- How to Identify Pin 1 on an Arcade CPU, ROM, Socket, and Daughterboard
- How to Remove and Reinstall a Socketed Arcade CPU Without Bending Pins
- Free Play vs. High Score Save Kits for Classic Arcade Games
- How to Inspect an Arcade CPU Socket Before Installing an Upgrade Kit
- What Is an Arcade Daughterboard and How Does It Work on an Original PCB
- Arcade Game Won’t Boot After Installing an Upgrade Kit: What to Check First
- How Arcade High Scores Are Saved Without a Battery: Serial EEPROM Explained
- What Is ROM Saver on a Classic Arcade PCB Upgrade Kit
- How HighScoreSaves Wi-Fi Leaderboards Work on Classic Arcade Games
- How Multigame Upgrade Kits Work on Original Arcade PCBs
- Original Arcade PCB vs. Replacement or Emulation Board: What’s the Difference?
- Will an Arcade Upgrade Kit Work on a Bootleg, Conversion, or Reproduction PCB?
- How to Read an Arcade Kit Installation Guide Before You Start
- Classic Arcade DIP Switches Explained
- Arcade ROMs Explained: Program, Graphics & Sound ROMs
- What Is a JAMMA Arcade PCB? JAMMA vs. Pre-JAMMA
- What Is Attract Mode on a Classic Arcade Game?
- What Happens to High Scores When a Classic Arcade Game Is Powered Off?
- Arcade Edge Connectors Explained: JAMMA, PCBs & Adapters
- Arcade RAM Explained: What RAM Does on a Classic Arcade PCB
- Classic Arcade Power Supplies: +5V, +12V & Voltage Drop
- Arcade Video Signals Explained: RGB, Sync & Monitors
- What Does the CPU Do on a Classic Arcade PCB?
- Arcade Test Mode & Service Mode Explained
- How Does Classic Arcade Game Sound Work?
- How Do Arcade Controls Work? Joysticks, Buttons, Microswitches, and Ground
- How Does an Arcade Coin Door Add Credits?
- Why Does a Classic Arcade Game Keep Resetting?
- Contact Us
Arcade Knowledge & News
Explore practical information, technical guidance, arcade history, and product news for original classic arcade machines.
The HighScoreSaves Arcade Knowledge & News section is created for arcade collectors, operators, technicians, restorers, and enthusiasts. Articles cover original arcade PCB hardware, free-play and high-score-save kits, multigame upgrades, installation practices, troubleshooting, maintenance, game preservation, and HighScoreSaves product development.
Each article is designed to provide clear and useful information while helping owners maintain original arcade hardware, preserve authentic gameplay, understand available upgrades, and learn more about the history of classic arcade games.
Classic Arcade Guides and Information
Learn how arcade upgrade kits work, how original arcade PCB components are identified, how to prepare vintage hardware for installation, and how to avoid common mistakes when working with classic arcade electronics.
Articles may also include game and hardware history, product compatibility information, HighScoreSaves development milestones, new kit announcements, Wi-Fi leaderboard information, multigame features, and important product updates.
Topics Covered
- High-score-save kit and free-play information
- Arcade PCB installation and troubleshooting guidance
- Classic arcade repair and maintenance tips
- Multigame kits and Wi-Fi leaderboard features
- Original arcade hardware and game history
- HighScoreSaves product development and company news
Arcade Knowledge Articles
Browse Arcade Knowledge by Topic
Kit Technology & Features PCB Identification & Hardware Installation & Troubleshooting Development & History
Arcade Kit Technology & Features
Learn how HighScoreSaves upgrade technology works with original classic arcade PCBs, including daughterboards, high-score storage, Free Play, attract-mode behavior, ROM Saver, multigame functions, and optional Wi-Fi leaderboard features.
Arcade Kit Technology
How High Score Save Kits Work on Original Arcade PCBs
Learn how HighScoreSaves kits install on compatible original arcade PCBs and add permanent high-score saving, free play, game settings, multigame functionality, and optional Wi-Fi leaderboard support without replacing the original game board.
The article explains how the original CPU and daughterboard work together, how scores and settings are stored in battery-free serial EEPROM, how Standard and Wi-Fi Kits differ, and how multigame selection and online score submission operate.
It also covers installation precautions, CPU socket requirements, Pin 1 orientation, original program ROMs, PCB compatibility, reversibility, game-specific installation guides, and HighScoreSaves technical support.
Arcade Kit Guide
Free Play vs. High Score Save Kits for Classic Arcade Games
Learn the difference between Free Play and High Score Save features on classic arcade upgrade kits and why the two functions solve different problems.
The article explains how Free Play allows supported games to start without inserting coins, while high-score-save functionality preserves supported score tables after the cabinet is powered off.
It also covers kits that provide both features, original-hardware compatibility, game-specific differences, and what to verify before choosing the correct upgrade for an original arcade PCB.
Arcade Game Behavior Guide
What Is Attract Mode on a Classic Arcade Game and How Does It Work?
Learn what attract mode is and how classic arcade games use title screens, high-score tables, gameplay demonstrations, instructions, sounds, and other idle sequences to attract players.
The article explains attract sounds, operator and DIP-switch settings, Free Play interaction, high-score displays, screen-burn considerations, and why attract behavior varies by game.
It also covers how supported HighScoreSaves multigame kits can use attract mode for game-selection access while keeping the original arcade PCB in operation.
Arcade Kit Technology
How Arcade High Scores Are Saved Without a Battery: Serial EEPROM Explained
Learn how supported HighScoreSaves kits preserve arcade high scores after the cabinet is powered off without using a backup battery for score retention.
The article explains serial EEPROM, nonvolatile memory, the difference between RAM and EEPROM, battery-backed memory, and how game-specific score data can survive normal power cycles.
It also covers 93C46 serial EEPROM use on many HighScoreSaves designs, saved settings, multigame score tables, original-hardware operation, and the relationship between local score storage and optional Wi-Fi leaderboard uploads.
Arcade High-Score Storage Guide
What Happens to High Scores When a Classic Arcade Game Is Powered Off?
Learn why many original classic arcade games can display high scores while powered on but lose player scores after the cabinet is switched off.
The article explains volatile RAM, nonvolatile memory, ROM, battery-backed memory, serial EEPROM, startup score tables, and the difference between displaying a score and permanently storing it.
It also covers how supported HighScoreSaves kits preserve local scores through normal power cycles, how Wi-Fi leaderboard uploads differ from local storage, and how multigame kits can maintain separate score tables.
Arcade ROM Guide
What Is ROM Saver on a Classic Arcade PCB Upgrade Kit?
Learn what ROM Saver means on select classic arcade PCB upgrade kits and how the feature can allow specified original program ROMs to be removed from active service.
The article explains how program ROMs work, how a ROM Saver-capable daughterboard can provide required program data, and why the original arcade PCB still remains the foundation of the game.
It also covers which ROMs may be removed, preservation benefits, safe documentation and storage of original ROMs, restoring the original configuration, multigame use, and important limitations.
Arcade Hardware Guide
What Is an Arcade Daughterboard and How Does It Work on an Original PCB?
Learn what an arcade daughterboard is and how upgrade hardware can add features while keeping the supported original arcade PCB in use.
The article explains how the original CPU can move from the arcade PCB to a daughterboard, how the daughterboard connects through the original CPU socket, and why Pin 1 must be checked at both levels.
It also covers socket condition, proper seating, game-specific adapters and connections, reversibility, original-hardware preservation, and first-step troubleshooting.
Wi-Fi Leaderboard Guide
How HighScoreSaves Wi-Fi Leaderboards Work on Classic Arcade Games
Learn how supported HighScoreSaves Wi-Fi kits combine local high score saving with optional online leaderboard submissions on original classic arcade hardware.
The article explains 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, the difference between local EEPROM storage and online uploading, what happens after a qualifying score and initials entry, and why the data transfer is small.
It also covers enabling or disabling Wi-Fi, operation when the internet is unavailable, original-PCB operation, and first-step leaderboard troubleshooting.
Multigame Technology Guide
How Multigame Upgrade Kits Work on Original Arcade PCBs
Learn how a multigame daughterboard can add multiple compatible games or versions while keeping the supported original arcade PCB in use.
The article explains game selection, separate high score tables, Free Play and Coin-Up operation, ROM Saver, selectable boot behavior, cabinet controls, and monitor-orientation considerations.
It also explains why original-PCB multigame upgrades are different from generic emulation systems and what hardware must be verified before ordering.
Arcade PCB Identification & Hardware
Identify the original hardware inside a cabinet and understand CPUs, sockets, ROMs, RAM, DIP switches, test and service diagnostics, controls, coin-door inputs, power delivery, video and audio signal paths, edge connectors, adapters, JAMMA and pre-JAMMA wiring, board revisions, and other hardware differences that affect upgrade compatibility.
PCB Identification Guide
How to Identify Your Original Arcade PCB Before Ordering a Kit
Learn how to safely remove, inspect, photograph, and document an original arcade PCB before ordering a HighScoreSaves upgrade kit.
The guide explains how to identify PCB numbers, board revisions, CPU types, ROM labels, socket condition, repairs, adapters, and modifications that may affect kit compatibility.
It also provides a complete photo checklist and explains what information to email HighScoreSaves when the exact PCB or correct kit version is uncertain.
Arcade Settings Guide
How Classic Arcade DIP Switches Work and What They Control
Learn how physical DIP-switch banks on original classic arcade PCBs provide configurable game and operator settings.
The guide explains common settings such as lives, difficulty, bonus lives, coinage, cabinet type, attract sounds, and other game-specific options, including how multiple switch positions can work together.
It also covers ON/OFF orientation, documenting original settings, why the correct game manual matters, and how physical DIP switches differ from software settings menus and high-score storage.
Arcade Diagnostics Guide
Why Does a Classic Arcade Game Have Test Mode and Service Mode?
Learn why many classic arcade games include test mode, service mode, self-test, or diagnostic functions for operators and technicians.
The article explains how game-specific diagnostics may test controls, coin inputs, RAM, ROM, sound, video, switches, bookkeeping information, and other hardware or settings without requiring normal gameplay.
It also covers the difference between test mode and service mode, how access methods vary by game, how diagnostics relate to DIP switches, and why a reported test error is useful evidence rather than always proving one component has failed.
Arcade ROM Guide
Original Arcade ROMs Explained: Program ROMs, Graphics ROMs, and Sound ROMs
Learn what ROM devices do on original classic arcade PCBs and how program, graphics, and sound-related ROMs serve different functions.
The article explains ROM versus RAM, program code, graphics data, sound data, EPROMs, mask ROMs, ROM labels, board and software revisions, and why chip location and orientation matter.
It also explains replacement EPROMs on original PCBs, the difference between ROMs and high-score storage, safe documentation practices, and how supported HighScoreSaves ROM Saver and multigame upgrades use program data.
Arcade Memory Guide
Arcade RAM Explained: What RAM Does on a Classic Arcade PCB
Learn what RAM does on an original classic arcade PCB and why working memory is essential for changing game information while the machine is running.
The article explains volatile memory, work RAM, video RAM, sound-related RAM, RAM versus ROM, and why many original games lose temporary information such as high scores when power is removed.
It also covers possible RAM-related symptoms, built-in diagnostics, the difference between RAM and serial EEPROM, and why a suspected RAM fault should be evaluated as part of the complete original PCB system.
Arcade CPU Guide
What Does the CPU Do on a Classic Arcade PCB?
Learn what the CPU does on an original classic arcade PCB and how the processor executes game instructions while working with ROM, RAM, inputs, video, sound, and other supporting circuitry.
The article explains CPU versus ROM and RAM, processor identification, why different arcade games use different CPU families, and why the CPU socket and Pin 1 orientation matter when working on original hardware.
It also covers how many supported HighScoreSaves daughterboard upgrades continue using the original processor and why careful CPU handling and correct PCB identification are important before installation.
Arcade Wiring Guide
What Is a JAMMA Arcade PCB? JAMMA vs. Pre-JAMMA Classic Arcade Hardware
Learn what JAMMA means, how the standardized arcade interface connects compatible game PCBs to cabinet power, video, audio, controls, coin inputs, and other common functions.
The guide compares JAMMA wiring with dedicated pre-JAMMA arcade hardware and explains edge connectors, JAMMA harnesses, adapters, conversion cabinets, JAMMA+, and additional control wiring.
It also explains why a JAMMA connector does not prove a board is original, why a JAMMA adapter does not turn a pre-JAMMA PCB into a JAMMA PCB, and why the actual board must be identified before connecting or upgrading it.
Arcade Controls Guide
How Do Arcade Controls Work? Joysticks, Buttons, Microswitches, and Ground
Learn how classic arcade joysticks and pushbuttons turn physical movement into electrical input signals that the game PCB can recognize.
The article explains joystick direction switches, pushbutton microswitches, normally open contacts, common ground wiring, JAMMA and pre-JAMMA control connections, and how the PCB reads player inputs.
It also covers why one or several controls may stop responding, how edge connectors and cabinet wiring can affect inputs, how test mode can help verify controls, and why original cabinet wiring should be documented before changes are made.
Arcade Coin Door Guide
How Does an Arcade Coin Door Add Credits? Coin Mechs, Coin Switches, and Free Play Explained
Learn how an accepted coin moves through a coin mechanism, activates a coin switch, and sends an electrical coin input through the cabinet wiring to the arcade PCB.
The article explains coin mechanisms, coin switches, coinage settings, Coin 1 and Coin 2 inputs, coin counters, JAMMA coin wiring, test-mode input checks, and why an arcade game may stop adding credits.
It also explains how Free Play differs from the original coin-credit system and why Free Play does not require removing the coin door or eliminate the value of preserving the cabinet's original coin hardware.
Arcade Connector Guide
Arcade Edge Connectors Explained: Dedicated PCB Connectors, JAMMA, and Adapters
Learn how the conductive edge fingers on an arcade PCB connect the game board to cabinet power, ground, video, audio, controls, coin inputs, and other required signals.
The guide explains dedicated pre-JAMMA connectors, JAMMA harnesses, pinouts, wiring adapters, connector orientation, physical fit versus electrical compatibility, and why the correct PCB pinout must be verified before power is applied.
It also covers dirty, oxidized, worn, or heat-damaged edge connections, conversion and reproduction hardware, safe PCB removal, and why connector style alone does not determine upgrade-kit compatibility.
Arcade Power Guide
Classic Arcade Power Supplies Explained: +5V, +12V, Ground, and Voltage Drop
Learn how classic arcade power systems deliver the DC voltages and ground connections required by original arcade PCBs.
The article explains common +5V and +12V supply rails, why voltage measured at the PCB can differ from the power-supply output, and how wiring, connectors, oxidation, heat damage, and resistance can create voltage drop.
It also covers JAMMA and pre-JAMMA power connections, edge-connector condition, low-voltage symptoms, and why increasing a power-supply adjustment is not a substitute for identifying a bad connection or incorrect hardware requirement.
Arcade Video Guide
Arcade Video Signals Explained: RGB, Sync, and How the PCB Connects to the Monitor
Learn how an original arcade PCB sends video information through cabinet wiring to a compatible arcade monitor.
The article explains separate red, green, and blue video signals, synchronization, the PCB-to-monitor signal path, JAMMA video connections, pre-JAMMA wiring, and the role of harnesses and adapters.
It also covers monitor compatibility, horizontal and vertical orientation, multigame considerations, and why an unstable or incorrect picture does not automatically prove the monitor itself is defective.
Arcade Audio Guide
How Does Sound Work in a Classic Arcade Game? PCB, Amplifier, and Speaker Explained
Learn how classic arcade sound travels from game logic and sound circuitry through amplification, cabinet wiring, and the speaker.
The article explains sound CPUs, sound-related ROMs, audio-generating circuitry, amplifiers, JAMMA and pre-JAMMA audio connections, mono and stereo differences, and how power and wiring can affect sound.
It also covers common no-sound and distorted-audio causes, how test mode can help, and why a silent arcade game does not automatically mean the speaker itself is defective.
Arcade Component Guide
How to Identify Pin 1 on an Arcade CPU, ROM, Socket, and Daughterboard
Learn how to identify Pin 1 using chip notches, molded dots, socket orientation, PCB silkscreen, square solder pads, and daughterboard markings.
The guide explains how to verify the orientation of arcade CPUs, program ROMs, sockets, adapters, and daughterboards before installation or first power-up.
It also explains why printed chip text should not be used as the only guide and what to do when Pin 1 markings are faded, hidden, damaged, or unclear.
Arcade CPU Socket Guide
How to Inspect an Arcade CPU Socket Before Installing an Upgrade Kit
Learn how to inspect an original arcade CPU socket before installing a daughterboard or other upgrade hardware.
The guide covers cracked or damaged socket bodies, weak or contaminated contacts, CPU pin condition, corrosion, replacement and stacked sockets, and previous repair work.
It also explains how to inspect solder joints, pads, and traces beneath the socket, check daughterboard fit, and determine when socket repair or replacement should come before kit installation.
Arcade CPU Handling Guide
How to Remove and Reinstall a Socketed Arcade CPU Without Bending Pins
Learn how to safely remove a socketed arcade CPU by lifting both ends evenly, protecting the PCB, and avoiding bent or broken pins.
The guide explains how to confirm that the CPU is socketed, photograph its original orientation, use the correct removal tool, inspect every pin, and identify socket damage.
It also covers Pin 1 verification, CPU installation on a HighScoreSaves daughterboard, safe reinstallation, and what to do when the CPU will not remove or seat normally.
Arcade Hardware Comparison
Original Arcade PCB vs. Replacement or Emulation Board: What’s the Difference?
Understand the difference between an original arcade PCB, reproduction board, replacement board, FPGA system, and software-emulation platform.
The article explains where a HighScoreSaves daughterboard fits, why playing the same game does not establish electrical compatibility, and how original-PCB upgrades depend on specific processors and socket layouts.
It also provides practical identification guidance so owners can choose upgrades based on the hardware actually installed in the cabinet.
Arcade Compatibility Guide
Will an Arcade Upgrade Kit Work on a Bootleg, Conversion, or Reproduction PCB?
Learn why bootleg, conversion, reproduction, and heavily modified arcade PCBs require their own compatibility check before an original-PCB upgrade is installed.
The guide covers CPU differences, ROM layouts, replacement sockets, adapters, jumper wires, revisions, repairs, and the photographs needed to identify unusual hardware.
It also explains why the game title alone is not enough and why applying power should never be used as a compatibility test.
Installation & Troubleshooting
Use safe installation practices, avoid common PCB handling mistakes, and work through no-boot, watchdog-reset, and repeated-reset problems in a controlled order before changing additional hardware.
Arcade PCB Handling Guide
How to Safely Remove and Reinstall an Original Arcade PCB
Learn how to power down an arcade cabinet, document every connection, safely remove the original PCB, inspect the board, and reinstall it without damaging connectors, wiring, components, or mounting hardware.
The guide covers edge connectors, ribbon cables, grounding wires, mounting hardware, safe handling, connector orientation, and final checks before power is restored.
It also explains what to inspect before reinstallation, how to approach the first power-up, and what to check when the game does not start correctly afterward.
Arcade Installation Guide
Common Arcade PCB Installation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Learn how to avoid the most common mistakes made when installing arcade PCB upgrade kits, including reversed orientation, bent pins, missed socket rows, loose connectors, and damaged CPU sockets.
The guide explains how to verify Pin 1, inspect sockets and pins, seat daughterboards correctly, reconnect edge connectors and ribbon cables, and complete a safe final inspection before applying power.
It also covers unnecessary ROM removal, forgotten grounding wires, forced components, and troubleshooting mistakes that can damage original arcade hardware.
Arcade Troubleshooting Guide
Arcade Game Won’t Boot After Installing an Upgrade Kit: What to Check First
Follow a safe first-pass troubleshooting process when a classic arcade game no longer boots after an upgrade kit is installed.
The guide covers PCB compatibility, Pin 1 orientation, daughterboard and CPU seating, missed or bent pins, damaged CPU sockets, adapters, ROM changes, and game-specific connections.
It also explains how to recheck cabinet wiring, return the PCB to its original configuration as a diagnostic step, interpret common symptoms, and avoid changing multiple things at once.
Arcade Reset & Watchdog Guide
Why Does a Classic Arcade Game Keep Resetting? Watchdog Circuits and Reset Loops Explained
Learn why a classic arcade game may repeatedly restart and how a watchdog circuit can reset the system when normal program execution stops.
The article explains reset loops, watchdog timing, CPU activity, RAM and ROM faults, power problems, clock and reset circuitry, socket issues, edge-connector problems, and why the watchdog is often reacting to a fault rather than causing it.
It also explains why disabling a watchdog is not the same as repairing the game, how test mode can help when the board stays running long enough, and what to verify first if repeated resets begin after an upgrade installation.
Installation Guide Basics
How to Read an Arcade Kit Installation Guide Before You Start
Learn how to read a game-specific arcade kit installation guide before removing a CPU, ROM, connector, or original PCB.
The article explains how to verify the exact guide, identify the correct CPU and Pin 1, understand ROM Saver instructions, review adapters and ribbon cables, and use installation photographs correctly.
It also covers following the documented sequence, taking your own reference photos, organizing removed parts, and completing the final inspection before power-up.
HighScoreSaves Development & History
Explore how HighScoreSaves arcade kits are designed, tested, documented, and released for supported original classic arcade hardware.
HighScoreSaves History
HighScoreSaves Arcade Kit Development and Release History: 2013–Present
Explore the documented history of HighScoreSaves arcade upgrade kits from the beginning of development in December 2013 through the latest releases. The first kit developed was the Gorf Save Kit, completed before the HighScoreSaves website launched in 2015.
The article follows the development of Save Kits, Wired CAT5 Kits, Wi-Fi Kits, multigame upgrades, and important software updates for original classic arcade PCB hardware. It also explains the May 2022 transition from wired CAT5 connectivity to Wi-Fi.
HighScoreSaves has designed 124 arcade upgrade kits across its complete product history. Some timeline entries represent multigame systems containing several supported games, so the number of dated entries is lower than the total number of kits and games represented.
Behind the Scenes
How HighScoreSaves Arcade Kits Are Designed, Developed, and Tested
Go behind the scenes to learn how HighScoreSaves develops game-specific arcade upgrade kits for compatible original PCBs, beginning with game selection, original hardware research, ROM analysis, and source-code development.
The article explains how multiple original PCBs and board revisions are compared, how free play, high-score saving, settings menus, initials entry, Wi-Fi features, and game-specific options are added and tested in stages, and how custom daughterboards and adapters are designed.
It also covers original-hardware testing, beta testing, installation-guide photography, hand assembly, individual programming and final testing, version tracking, and continued support after release.
HighScoreSaves Technical Resources
HighScoreSaves provides game-specific installation documents for compatible free-play, high-score-save, multigame, and Wi-Fi-enabled arcade upgrades. These resources are written for owners who want to install and operate kits while preserving original arcade hardware.
Browse the HighScoreSaves Installation Guides for game-specific instructions, PCB information, component locations, installation steps, and compatibility details.
Explore HighScoreSaves articles covering classic arcade hardware, kit development, installation guidance, troubleshooting, game history, and product updates.
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