First of all, what's included in a swap kit for SWEI to RFM or vice-versa?
The Kit includes: PF, plunger, eproms, and should have all the new artwork ( sides, front, marquee, apron )
You can find nearly new kits for $800-$1000US (...I paid $1000US for a NOS (in the box ! ) SWE kit )
You need to swap out the PF : 5-10 min You need to replace the RFM ball-launch button by a "real" plunger for SWE : 5 min You need to swap the rom card that contains the game-specific eproms : 2-20min (*) The artwork consists of stickers, so it can not be "un-done".
That's the main CPU board. It does NOT need to be swapped. You'd only need that if the CPU you had was bad.
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What the easiest way to swap from one game to another?
It's the same process for either game. This site gives you an idea, but it's for and RFM-RFM PF swap. To switch to a SWE, you'd also need the plunger swap.
That's known as the PRISM card. It's the card that contains the game roms. BUT, that auction is only HALF the card.
There are TWO halves to this card. One half has the logic components and PCI connector that plug into the motherboard The other half (the one shown here) only has the eproms.
The only (modest) advantage of this card is that you don't have to remove all the eproms (10 of them) to make the swap.
You'd only have to "un-sandwich" the dual-card and replace the "eprom half" with the game you want.
The is only "modestly" useful because you'd save about 5 minutes swapping out the eproms, but it's not nearly as useful as if you had an extra DUAL-card which you could just pop-in.
And truth be told, the real danger is in "sandwiching" the halves together. There are two full rows of pins on either side of the cards ( about 160 pins in total) and they are very fragile. Splitting the card apart and pressing it back together adds strain to the pins and should be avoided... ( ...and the pins are VERY easy to bend and break )
So the bottom line is that if you're only going to swap games once, then you don't need an extra card. If you'll be swapping out the game weekly, then get a DUAL card. (...and the "other" half is the hard to find and expensive one !) A full dual card can easily fetch $500.
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Don't forget once you've installed the ROM's in the PRISM card, you'll need to hook up a PC to the game and flash it with the SWEP1 software using the P2K Updater. (and then do the same if/when you convert the game back to RFM) This is honestly the WORST part of doing the swap...
Also, WMS never released a RFM kit like the SWep1 kits.
Don't forget once you've installed the ROM's in the PRISM card, you'll need to hook up a PC to the game and flash it with the SWEP1 software using the P2K Updater. (and then do the same if/when you convert the game back to RFM) This is honestly the WORST part of doing the swap...
Also, WMS never released a RFM kit like the SWep1 kits.
Why?? Is it really important? If so, can you post me a link to show me how to do it?
The link I gave you was for an RFM-RFM swap.
This means that the game roms and bios are already pre-loaded with correct game software.
I was not descriptive enough in my previous post...
The eproms (Prism card) only contain the graphics and sounds, they don't actually contain the game code.
The game code is actually programmed as the Bios for the CPU and is flashed directly on the Motherboard's Flash memory. This would be exactly the same process as changing the Bios on any PC.
To do this on Pin2000, you need a PC/Laptop with a serial (null modem) port connection and the William Bios S/W for the game you want.
You must establish connectivity with the P2K CPU, run the Williams Loader program and install the Bios file you want.
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This means that the game roms and bios are already pre-loaded with correct game software.
I was not descriptive enough in my previous post...
The eproms (Prism card) only contain the graphics and sounds, they don't actually contain the game code.
The game code is actually programmed as the Bios for the CPU and is flashed directly on the Motherboard's Flash memory. This would be exactly the same process as changing the Bios on any PC.
To do this on Pin2000, you need a PC/Laptop with a serial (null modem) port connection and the William Bios S/W for the game you want.
You must establish connectivity with the P2K CPU, run the Williams Loader program and install the Bios file you want.
is it worthwhile to just have a second Prism card? I'm sure it'd cost a lot though.. anyway, I'm just curious.
Depends on how often you want to swap games...
If you think you'll be swapping it monthly, then yes get the card. (...if you can find one ! )
If you'll only swap it out once in a blue moon, don't bother.
I have an RFM, bought the SWE kit (NOS), installed it once, played it for 2 weeks (~50 games) , and swapped back RFM. Haven't touched the kit since... ( it's still sitting in the box )
Personally, I prefer RFM, ...it's just more fun !
SWE actually has a deeper ruleset (...more things to shoot for), but it's not as much fun as RFM (...the humor on RFM is the best of any pinball I know. Much better even than MM )
And the "hassle" to swap games makes it less appealing for me to do it.
The best advice I can recommend would be try a swap without the extra prism card, and based on how often you're likely to want to swap, you'll quickly find out if you want an extra one or not.
is it worthwhile to just have a second Prism card? I'm sure it'd cost a lot though.. anyway, I'm just curious.
If / when you can find a good/working PRISM card, you can expect to pay top $$ for it. (there is currently one on RGP for $500, without any ROM's) Now even if you have a spare PRISM loaded with the kit ROM'S, you still have to flash the game with the correct game code in order for it to work. Part of the reason this portion of the swap is such a pain in the a** is the fact there were only 2 P2K games, so the WMS loader is well... clunky to say the least. (that and the documentation is severely lacking)
The other option to flashing the game with the correct game code is to find / purchase a PUB card. This is a card you can load the correct game code on to, stick the PUB card in one of the CPU card slots, and the PUB card will flash the game on boot up, eliminating the need to do it via PC. But again, finding a PUB card isn't always easy, and then you still have to load the correct game code onto the PUB for each swap.
If / when you can find a good/working PRISM card, you can expect to pay top $$ for it. (there is currently one on RGP for $500, without any ROM's) Now even if you have a spare PRISM loaded with the kit ROM'S, you still have to flash the game with the correct game code in order for it to work. Part of the reason this portion of the swap is such a pain in the a** is the fact there were only 2 P2K games, so the WMS loader is well... clunky to say the least. (that and the documentation is severely lacking)
The other option to flashing the game with the correct game code is to find / purchase a PUB card. This is a card you can load the correct game code on to, stick the PUB card in one of the CPU card slots, and the PUB card will flash the game on boot up, eliminating the need to do it via PC. But again, finding a PUB card isn't always easy, and then you still have to load the correct game code onto the PUB for each swap.
D
Thanks for discouraging me guys , I truly appreciate it, I just won't bother with this all, this "swap" is even more complicated than having a wife .....
After thinking about it.....a wife is more complicated , but still, no thanks for the SWEI kit.
Thanks for discouraging me guys , I truly appreciate it, I just won't bother with this all, this "swap" is even more complicated than having a wife .....
Didn't mean to discourage you, just wanted to give you a better idea of what's actually involved with swapping the PF's in a P2K game.
And having a wife is the most complicated "game" ever!
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, I truly appreciate it, I just won't bother with this all, this "swap" is even more complicated than having a wife 
.....
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