Dragon's Lair Fans - Arcade Lifestyle

General Chat => Arcade Lifestyle => Topic started by: Superully on March 24, 2011, 07:13:32 PM

Title: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Superully on March 24, 2011, 07:13:32 PM
(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/news/digdug.jpg)

Last saturday, a euro dig dug was offered up on a german arcade forum (http://www.arcadezentrum.com/forum/showthread.php?12366-DigDug-ab-zu-geben&highlight=digdug) for nothing more than a crate of beer. the first binding promise would get it! although i prefer the american dig dug over the euro version, nothing beats free. PLUS only recently i had picked up a cocktail table glass bezel for the "seller", so this would be a nice chance for the exchange. even better: the pickup location was pretty close!

so i typed my reply, waited a couple of hours and finally got the answer i was hoping was: it's yours, ully!!! :-*

making an appointment was very easy, so a mere couple of days later right after school on wednesday i jumped into my car and headed off. here's what's coming up :arrow:

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5556382378_1497ff5ba9_b_d.jpg)

statistics for starters

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5055/5556381654_70ccee4a0f_b_d.jpg)

a little less than 150 kilometers - a piece of cake!

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5555796897_cdded4fba3_b_d.jpg)

don't forget to bring "the money" ;)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5105/5556382162_b046a03e9f_b_d.jpg)

there's an important election coming up this sunday (well, at least some people think so), so election posters are everywhere >:(. but as you guys know, i don't care anymore about politics, more important is that the weather rockzzz!!!

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5097/5556381322_34a2492e98_b_d.jpg)

on the road, there's a lot of digging going on

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5555795863_0fde20190e_b_d.jpg)

i'm passing by the famous egg-shaped 3d imax movie theater

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5183/5556383584_0ab95ffa68_b_d.jpg)

upon approaching nuremberg, signs warn the driver of traffic jams - and here we go!

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5268/5555798385_e01c3c18e1_b_d.jpg)

i'm "creepcrawling" into the city

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5101/5555798061_1c0104b1a1_b_d.jpg)

anyone care for a used car? ;) :P

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5252/5556382684_2eb8249ea6_b_d.jpg)

arriving at the seller's location, the gates are closed

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5556384068_b4ddf3586a_b_d.jpg)

open sesame 8)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/5556383864_9457880b77_b_d.jpg)

the first thing you see upon entering is a bunch of old american cars. this is not the seller's profession, but his hobby: he imports them from the states and then restores them to former glory!

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5555799813_878d75e8df_b_d.jpg)

when he was in the usa, he found this one sitting by the side of the road and brought it over

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5142/5556384586_3b8a059c4f_b_d.jpg)

another nice one inside (at least if you care for cars)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5067/5555800975_0602502a47_b_d.jpg)

also inside, some arcade games ...

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5070/5555799419_5cdd5bd409_b_d.jpg)

... and what i came for: the euro dig dug!

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5017/5555800383_4109388d92_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5556385050_46419661e0_b_d.jpg)

the cab is in ok condition, monitor is working, but displays only garbage on the screen. my first plan of attack (when the game eventually reaches the front of the restoration assembly line in 2018) is to remove that ugly woodgrain vinyl and slap on the fabulous us sideart. although the cab shape is a little bit different, i'm pretty sure it's going to fit if i have it printed on white with enough spare vinyl around it! dig dug deserves some nice sideart - such an awesome game!

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5555800647_1482877a40_b_d.jpg)

the overlay is ok for now ...

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5556387270_cb69af81cf_b_d.jpg)

... but will eventually be replaced! just recently a german guy has done a full restoration of the euro dig dug and he's going to send me the vector file of the cpo so that i can have it printed

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5189/5556387576_ff95ff08e0_b_d.jpg)

the cab loaded up in my car

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5556386974_4e1b1165d0_b_d.jpg)

it even came with the original manual - man, i want to pump up those monsters badly :twisted:

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5556386740_0e3f8242ef_b_d.jpg)

on my way back, more digging ...

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5555801257_fed2c04faf_b_d.jpg)

... and some serious dugging going on

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5131/5555801593_ba1b8943b9_b_d.jpg)

statistics for experts

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5556387800_e6c723e14d_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5308/5555803511_a92917834b_b_d.jpg)

one country, two counties, 299 kilometers, 4 hours 40 minutes on the road - this roadtrip is OFFICIALLY OVER!  

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5229/5555803245_4abc4ff443_b_d.jpg)

saying goodbye to another nice roadtrip - and remember: nothing can beat FREE! :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Vnera on March 24, 2011, 08:07:01 PM
Free!!

And whit some side art the cab wile look just as good as a American version!
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: level42 on March 24, 2011, 08:53:16 PM
However much I hate woodgrain, it's original and it should stay ! Boo-hoo.

Nice catch though !
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: scr33n on March 24, 2011, 09:23:46 PM
Nice and free (almost ... the case of beer  :D) great catch Ully congrats  :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Belike on March 24, 2011, 09:31:42 PM
I really like this cab, nice catch Ully! ;)
Does it have the original Atari pcb?
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: baritonomarchetto on March 24, 2011, 10:41:45 PM
Nice catch, it was worth the price ;)

Ully, where are the images of the inside of the machine, you lazy dutchman  :D
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Q*ris on March 24, 2011, 11:16:36 PM
Not so easy to find for that price nowadays, congrats!
...and if the seller ever cares for throwing a Q-bert or a blue DK in the trunk of one of his imported cars, I'm always OK to share the shipping costs  ;)
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Belike on March 24, 2011, 11:18:26 PM
Nice catch, it was worth the price ;)

Ully, where are the images of the inside of the machine, you lazy dutchman  :D
Ully is german. ;D
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: level42 on March 24, 2011, 11:29:18 PM
I think he's very aware of that....probably a joke.....
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Alpha1 on March 24, 2011, 11:48:45 PM
Woodgrain should stay. If you are lucky it will have the Namco version pcb.
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Superully on March 25, 2011, 07:00:43 AM
Woodgrain should stay.

woodgrain sucks, but i agree that it is original ...

If you are lucky it will have the Namco version pcb.

i'm no expert in pcbs at all. the seller had an additional set of dig dug pcbs (which he kept for himself), those were two pcbs stacked on top of each other and he told me the didn't fit in the cab because the pcbs in the cab had a connector on top of the pcb which his spare set didn't have. additionally, the pcbs inside the cabinet (there are two of them) are sitting next to and not on top of each other. here's a picture i have from the inside of the cab (which was taken by the seller).

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5557441661_2d43437a45_z_d.jpg)

@alpha1: why lucky? anything special about the namco version? is it hard to find a replacement? i'm just asking because a guy on klov had a similar screen problem and in his case the pcb was shot!

@bela: didn't you bring a pcb from your abandoned warehouse trip? which version do you have?
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on March 25, 2011, 07:02:24 AM
Nice catch Ully !

now how are you going to check the sideart to see if it fits ?  ;) :wink: ;) :lol: :P 8)
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Superully on March 25, 2011, 07:11:23 AM
now how are you going to check the sideart to see if it fits ?  ;) :wink: ;) :lol: :P 8)

don't know if i even want to do it because of the originality factor - however, that woodgrain looks so lame compared to the us version. will have plenty of time to think about it though ...

regarding that pcb: i've just checked, the atari version is one large board, i don't know which version the seller had with those tow boards on top of each other. i'll ask him for pics!
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Belike on March 25, 2011, 07:45:22 AM

@bela: didn't you bring a pcb from your abandoned warehouse trip? which version do you have?

There was an original Dig Dug, but it's pcb was a  Double Dragon (non working) :-\
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Alpha1 on March 25, 2011, 09:32:35 AM

@bela: didn't you bring a pcb from your abandoned warehouse trip? which version do you have?

There was an original Dig Dug, but it's pcb was a  Double Dragon (non working) :-\

Quite a lot of the Atari Ireland Namco licensed machines had Namco pcbs as I guess it was just the same length of time to get them than ordering from Atari in the USA.

US Atari Namco licensed games all have the Atari version boards.

I put the value of a Namco boardset (DigDug, Galaga, Pole Position etc) at a far higher value than the Atari equivilent.



In regards to DigDug, Atari 'stretched' the pcb out to fit it in the cabinet. You have a normal 2 layer pcb that has just been opened flat.

Oliver
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Alpha1 on March 25, 2011, 09:38:00 AM
The Euro DigDug in the flyer has a US overlay and sideart

(http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/flyers_video/atari/11004902.jpg)

You could get that sideart and I have seen it for sale on eBay US twice in 11 years - however it goes for like $200+

If you were to put sideart on i'd look at doing it like in the flyer!

Oliver
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Superully on March 25, 2011, 01:49:40 PM
The Euro DigDug in the flyer has a US overlay and sideart

hmm, are you sure that is a us overlay on that euro dig dug? do you have any idea whether the american overlay fits on the euro cabinet (http://www.arcadeshop.com/pics/dig-dug-upright-cpo.jpg)?

You could get that sideart and I have seen it for sale on eBay US twice in 11 years - however it goes for like $200+
If you were to put sideart on i'd look at doing it like in the flyer!

totally cool, i never knew there were sideart stickers for the euro dig dug. now "all we need" are some nice photos for the vector king - and reproductions could be made! ;D

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5557968591_0860c3df90_z_d.jpg)

does anyone have better pictures of that sideart?
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on March 25, 2011, 01:53:20 PM
i can "steal" alot of parts from Zorg  ;D

http://vectorlib.free.fr/DigDug/ (http://vectorlib.free.fr/DigDug/)
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Superully on March 25, 2011, 02:23:07 PM
i can "steal" alot of parts from Zorg  ;D

you could, but we don't know how that sideart looks exactly, do we? all i can spot on that flyer is the dig dug logo, the rest is blurred ...
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Superully on March 25, 2011, 04:17:37 PM

just went over to The Storage and snatched a couple of pictures! here's the inside of the cab from the back - very dirty i would say :shock:

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5558245601_924640db58_b_d.jpg)

the audio regulator board

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5021/5558245297_fcc4aa9a28_b_d.jpg)

and finally - the pcbs

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5053/5558244987_cefbf99542_b_d.jpg)

i've also received photos of the stacked pcbs from the seller which is supposed to be a dig dug board as well - but i doubt it. the roms are labelled DG (and not DD), the entire setup is completely different. out come the pcb experts ...

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5558828530_76d8026802_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5558828358_f3e1cc3754_b_d.jpg)

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5558828428_2018602784_z_d.jpg)

anyone? ???
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: level42 on March 25, 2011, 04:37:06 PM
I put the value of a Namco boardset (DigDug, Galaga, Pole Position etc) at a far higher value than the Atari equivalent.
Interesting that you think so. From what I've read about the Namco PP boards, they had loads and loads of design troubles and Atari fixed the hell out of them.
Thus, following this logic, the Atari boards should be more reliable. I guess DD is a less "demanding" game though....

But I can see that the Namco boards are simply more rare and thus higher valued....

@Ully, that's the most naked AR-II board I've ever seen, looks like it's only used for the audio amp.

About the side-art, there are similar side-arts for Centipede mini's and I think some more games. Would be totally cool to use that indeed !
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: level42 on March 25, 2011, 04:42:23 PM
Centi mini sideart NOS (just to prove it existed):

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/nos-atari-centipede-mini-cabaret-original-side


http://www.barncade.com/forsale/centipedeminisideart/
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Superully on March 25, 2011, 04:48:10 PM
About the side-art, there are similar side-arts for Centipede mini's and I think some more games. Would be totally cool to use that indeed !

agreed, but without pics this is going to be difficult. i'm going to start a thread on klov, perhaps we get lucky there ...
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: jcp on March 25, 2011, 05:24:34 PM
Centi mini sideart NOS (just to prove it existed):

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/nos-atari-centipede-mini-cabaret-original-side


http://www.barncade.com/forsale/centipedeminisideart/
Want  :spaceace: !
-> http://www.arcadecrusade.com/gallery/v/gamerooms/savit4l8r/The+Condocade/Centipede+cabaret/centipedeside.JPG.html

Ully : great catch (and of course, the original art is the right way) ;).
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: baritonomarchetto on March 25, 2011, 07:04:10 PM
I think he's very aware of that....probably a joke.....

Yes, in the writing flow german became duch  :oops:
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: level42 on March 25, 2011, 07:08:16 PM
Centi mini sideart NOS (just to prove it existed):

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/nos-atari-centipede-mini-cabaret-original-side


http://www.barncade.com/forsale/centipedeminisideart/
Want  :spaceace: !
-> http://www.arcadecrusade.com/gallery/v/gamerooms/savit4l8r/The+Condocade/Centipede+cabaret/centipedeside.JPG.html

Ully : great catch (and of course, the original art is the right way) ;).

Yeah, although that is original, I kinda like the black background one better for the mini's:
http://coinopart.com/art/index.php?option=com_rsgallery2&page=inline&id=591&catid=8&limitstart=120
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: jcp on March 25, 2011, 07:42:18 PM
Thanks André for the link : very interesting for my Centipede mini (and the pink color is ok with an euro cab).
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: DarthNuno on March 26, 2011, 07:12:13 AM
Once again, a great road trip, a well detailed history with very great pictures... thanks for that Ully  :-*

Of course, all the honors on the homepage  ;)  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/news/digdug.jpg)

I would personally keep the 'wooden side art' as is, in order to keep the Euro identity of that cabinet, but I understand it doesn't look too good like that.
Anyway, no one will see its sides when the cabinet will be in your game room, close to others games  ;)

Good job on this one, even if you'll start the work in a long long long time (I have the same problem  :P)

 :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Superully on March 26, 2011, 08:18:28 AM
Of course, all the honors on the homepage  ;)  :arrow:

(https://www.dragonslairfans.com/news/digdug.jpg)

how cool is that banner? "INSERT BEER TO PLAY" - absolutely hilarious ;D thx a lot, bruno, brilliant job!

regarding the sideart: i'm most likely going to keep it original, but i need that sideart. some guy on KLOV also suggested checking out the Dig Dug cabarets sidearts because he thinks those are identical, but i haven't been able to come up with a picture of a Dig Dug cabaret WITH sideart either ... damn!
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Laschek on April 05, 2011, 07:37:31 PM
i've also received photos of the stacked pcbs from the seller which is supposed to be a dig dug board as well - but i doubt it. the roms are labelled DG (and not DD), the entire setup is completely different. out come the pcb experts ...

(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5103/5558828358_f3e1cc3754_b_d.jpg)

Bootleg of 1942 (even different pinout to the original). I just found 2 of them in a box while searching for a certain PCB.
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Superully on April 05, 2011, 07:43:36 PM
your pcb identification skills are amazing, sascha! just WOW!!! :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: level42 on April 05, 2011, 07:52:38 PM
There's one or two Dig Dug PCB's on offer on KLOV right now...

And the same seller is offering a Millipede board which I'm interested in....
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Laschek on April 05, 2011, 08:00:39 PM
your pcb identification skills are amazing, sascha! just WOW!!! :spaceace: :spaceace: :spaceace:

I knew right away that I had such a PCB but I wasn't sure about the game and had no clue where to look. Pure coincidence that I now found even 2 of them while searching for a different PCB.
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Nic-fryer on July 30, 2013, 10:29:29 AM
Hey Ully,

Is there a resto thread for this?
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Luigi on July 30, 2013, 12:37:11 PM
Missed this thread when I joined the forum.

My DigDug could use a new CPO as well....did you get the vector file?

Muddymusic from Jamma+ in UK has put a new CPO on his Euro DD...I don't know how much it will be to have it printed and shipped to Germany.
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: muddymusic on August 04, 2013, 11:27:05 AM
Yes I finished my Restoration recently and had the cpo reproduced. I worked out I could have it printed and shipped in Europe for £31.50.

(http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/uploads/3438/resto_digdug_29.jpg)
(http://www.jammaplus.co.uk/forum/uploads/3438/resto_digdug_48.jpg)
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Belike on August 04, 2013, 03:24:27 PM
Looks mint, nice job. ;)
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: mac:lame on August 04, 2013, 11:42:40 PM
looks like uncle hotrods garage in nuremberg :) the dd comes originally from me. i remember that i draged it out of very shabby tavern, deep in bavaria's wasteland :) uaaahh,...*shiver*
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: Etienne MacGyver on August 05, 2013, 08:06:54 AM
Looks great indeed !

What is the material called where they printed it on ?
Title: Re: [Roadtrip] Dig Dug - nothing can beat FREE
Post by: muddymusic on August 05, 2013, 09:04:07 AM
It's printed on good quality adhesive vinyl with a Matt laminate, it has a light texture and is a very good match to the original one as you can see in the first picture.

I'll put a thread up about my retoration later, my cabinet was in bad shape when I got it, but is lovely now!