The MiSTer Multisystem 2 Arcade (JAMMA Edition) is a specialized “all-in-one” board designed to bring the MiSTer FPGA experience directly into authentic arcade cabinets. Here are the key factual points from the video:
- Direct Arcade Integration: The board is designed with a JAMMA connector, allowing it to plug directly into original arcade cabinet wiring. This makes it a “drop-in” replacement for faulty or missing original game boards.
- Purpose-Built Design: Unlike previous versions that required multiple add-on pieces, this is a single, standalone board. It was “shrunk down” to fit easily inside cabinets and keep costs lower for arcade operators and hobbyists.
- Authentic Controls: It features specialized inputs for original arcade hardware, including optical trackballs, spinners, and full analog joysticks. This allows games like Road Blasters or Food Fight to play exactly as they did originally.
- Enhanced Audio: The board includes a high-quality “Class D” stereo power amplifier. While standard JAMMA is mono, this board can drive stereo sound for systems that support it (like Neo Geo or various Atari games).
- Video Flexibility: It is designed for low-resolution arcade monitors (15kHz) but can also output higher resolutions for modern screens if the board is used outside of a traditional cabinet.
- Expansion Options: It includes a “Control Dock” interface for extra buttons and features. This allows for four-player setups (like TMNT) or driving physical cabinet features like flashing police lights or force-feedback steering wheels.
- Full MiSTer Compatibility: It is 100% compatible with the existing MiSTer ecosystem. It runs all standard cores, including consoles like the PlayStation or NES, alongside arcade games.
- Connectivity: Despite its small size, it is packed with six USB ports, a headphone jack, an SD card slot, and even a USB-C power option if you don’t want to draw power through the JAMMA harness.
- Physical Protection: The final version is expected to come with a simple 3D-printed case to protect the electronics while mounted inside a cabinet.
