Quoted from dung:BSMT2000 Sound chip to date has never been remade. Data East sound boards do not exist. Pinsound is a replacement, but it doesn't work for Whitestar which right now relies on stern. Even then getting Whitestar boards (not whitestar modified which are not backwards compatible) is not happening. If you want a replacement whitestar cpu you have to get one off another game.
Capcom made around 3500 games. Flipper parts have been unaivailable for 15 years. We are not talking game specific parts. Full flipper rebuilds do not exist. Flipper links and plungers are not the most difficult part to make, where are your suppliers?
Ramps, the community begs for ramps and what do we have? Starship fantasy has been stagnant for ages. Freeplay40 stepped up and does a great job, but there is demand for dozens and dozens of titles.
In essence, your argument does not hold water.
Ramps are a good example.. several times people have stepped up and made ramps. Is the market fully satisfied?? No, and it never will be because there are a ton that simply aren't viable to tackle unless there are shortcuts (molds, or future manufacturing options) uncovered.
Whitestar... there simply hasn't been enough time for demand to build up to make that viable to tackle. How many stern WS games are out there completely dead waiting for a PDB? The demand needs to build. These boards don't self-destruct and can be repaired.. and are still relatively young. The demand hasn't built up yet.
Capcom? That's a niche problem... and will get solved eventually I'm sure. Or a better retrofit concept will come along.
You mistake my comment to mean parts will be like your local Wegmans where you will be able to just drop by and pick up whatever you want for every possible game. 'Demand' does not mean simply 'someone wants one'... as I said "If the demand is there (and economically viable)"
People are making flipper parts now.. maybe ask Rick why he hasn't tackled capcom flipper parts... since he's consolidated alot of what went to Australia and Illinois previously. My guess is they'd say the demand isn't there to support the parts run.
Ramps... another expensive part to prep and run. Losing James L. and his efforts was a big loss. Hopefully PPS's acquisition of IPB will make it easier for the next guy to tackle the problem.
We were in far worst shape 15 years ago... and the licensing issues have largely been solved now.. so now it's just about someone making a business of the need.
