Archive for October, 2007
Indy Arcade Auction, Jr. Pac and Styf’s
We started the morning off with a power walk for Nokes.
When we got back, I got packed up and headed to the Indianapolis Fairgrounds for the Fall USAmusements Arcade Auction. Pretty good turnout this time, some classics, a good amount of pinballs, and a lot of games in general with some cheap deals on less popular games and average prices on the stuff you are interested in. I did my thing, played some, took photos, took prices, wrote down names, etc. But by 1:00, I figured I had seen and done enough so I headed home.
At home I made a couple of calls. I talked to Rich Ford about a number of things for about an hour – hour half. One of which was that he finally got my payment two weeks after I sent it. Talk about a lesson learned in always sending larger money orders via priority mail.
After that call I talked with Dad for a bit, and then I played a whole bunch of Jr. Pac-man, procrastinating a little bit but more just enjoying a game that I have sought after and worked for for 8 months and had sit at the house for two weeks before it was finally finished.
Just before 5 Sarah asked if I would take her and Nokes to the orchard, sounded like fun. We got fresh apples and cider and I got a donut. We took Nokes on a little walk of the now truncated grounds (new housing division in back). Sarah said tomorrow she would be making apple crisp for breakfast with what she got today. How awesome!
When we got back I worked for over 2 hours on finishing up a website launch. It was a lot more work that I thought it would be. Around 8 the Styf’s came over to visit, they had been out to Red Lobster right here by our house for dinner. That was great to see them, felt like it had been ages, and they go to see Nokes again and said he had grown.
When they left, I was tired from a long productive day. I watched some ALCS baseball between the Red Sox and Indians and hit the hay.
Figuring out OL, OH Dig Dug PCB error
I have gotten a little motivation back, and took a little time to investigate this further.
I had been going back and forth with Bob Roberts on this chip, and without even looking at my board I was able to kind of figure out with his help that this chip was plug in play, which meant it should be socketed and no soldering necessary. Plus, since it was PnP, that meant I didn’t have to burn anything to it either. He said the chips are very sensitive and this is fairly common.
In the Dig Dug manuals, it says that a OL and/or OH error are due to a bad RAM. It just depends on what version of the Dig Dug PCB you have to find the location on the board. If you have Revision A, the position is 9M, and if you have Revision B of the PCB, then it is position 4K.
I thought for sure these positions would be printed in the manual, but they weren’t. I pulled the board out and did a comparison of component side elements on the board to the two drawings in the manuals. I have a Revision B Dig Dug PCB, so that meant my bad RAM was at 4k.
Here are some photos of the PCB. I circled the 4k labeling, it might be hard to see. Also a photo of the bent RAM and the RAM in the socket.
I took a look, and it was obvious. There my RAM set, with the front leg bent and barely in the socket. I was floored, how had it worked up until now? It might be as simple as taking that chip out, bending the leg back, and the game might work. Well, I did just that, and it didn’t work. So I am guessing that after so much time of it being almost bad corrupted the chip.
I am checking with Bob to see if he has that chip. The number on the top of the Chip says JAPAN 2E1 HM6116P-3. Would like to get a larger order of stuff to bring down the total cost for the one part, but if it means getting the game sold, I may not wait.
We saw a lot of Dave tonight
We lifted after work, around 4:30 – 5.
When Sarah and I got home, we had some dinner and then I was determined to finish up this Jr. Pac-man cabinet, it had only been sitting at my house for two weeks now.
I went and exchanged some bolts, and then with a lot of trial and error, by 8:45 I was playing the game in a non finished setup. Sarah was on the phone talking with mom and when she finished, we headed out. Dave had invited us over to Tom’s house to watch the episode of “The Office” for the week. It was actually pretty funny…long, but funny. Tonight was the first 2007 ALCS baseball game, and the Red Sox trounced the Indians.
He offered us a drink, and showed us the astonishingly extensive liquor cabinet. I had the opportunity to make up some Pina Coladas, so that is what I did.
We left pretty early, around 10:30. Sarah sat down and watched a little bit of tv before going to bed. I finished my monitor mount brackets and setup the Jr. Pac-man where I wanted it to stay, and finally got to play some games on my new stools. I also watched an episode or two of Scrubs.
Jr. Pac-man finished!
It took me another four days of jockeying around, but I finally finished the Jr. Pac-man late late tonight.
Here is what I ended up doing…
I had some short white power coating shelf brackets from Lowe’s.
The Glob Cherries done
The cherries are done, now all that is left is The Glob. I got a great photo now from Rich to work with, so I can start at any point. I don’t think I’ll probably use all the characters, but better to have them then need them and not have them. He mentioned possibly doing stencils, which would mean the color matching from my end wouldn’t be as big of a deal, but I would need to do another process as the The Glob kickplate is designed, doing the separations for it.
Indianapolis testing centers and time tables for the GMAT
Found out today some information for the next step. I don’t have to have taken the GMAT before I submit my application, but I have to have an estimated time frame that I anticipate I will.
I found it a touch difficult finding information about the testing centers in Indianapolis. Apparently there is only one location in all of the city? It is on the northside, by the pyramids, and the testing is done by Pearson.
But, there are two positive things. It appears that tests are given on almost a daily basis. So, as long as I choose enough in advance my options aren’t too limited. Plus, I found out that the largest amount of lead time I would need is 20 days. That is the maximum amount of time that it should take them to grade the test and have it in the hands of the university of choice.
I figure that if I get the exam in sometime in late November, I should be right on track. I am eyeing the 17th, a Saturday, which after I take the practice exam would give me one month of crazy work to study and prepare for the exam and then hopefully be done with it. That isn’t too long of a time to endure.
Supposedly everything you need is at MBA.com. The site is nicely designed, and is very informative. I don’t know why I found it so hard to believe that the only testing location in Indianapolis is the Pearson location. I had to sign up on the website to have access to most of the information, and it was a lengthy process. I knew that I would be using the site more than likely as I went through this process so it was worthwhile.
I just wish this was spelled out a little more in most university literature.
The Glob – Monkey, Pig, & Rabbit vector artwork done
Got a chance to finish up the final touches on the monkey riding the pig today, and the rabbit was a two day trace of probably less than a hour total. Of course there will need to be some major color matching done for the monkey riding the pig, it seems to be way off. That is what sampling from the photo gets you. Feels good to have all of the animals traced (I think), and be moving onto The Glob himself.
I think I will need some better photos to work from of The Glob, but he isn’t that complex so I wouldn’t be surprised if I could get him cranked out pretty quick and be onto making the custom kickplate artwork, the fun part.
