An arcade system board is a dedicated computer system created for the purpose of running video arcade games. Arcade system boards typically consist of a main system board with any number of supporting boards.
The earliest non-microprocessor based arcade system boards were designed around codeless state machine computers with the main board and any support boards consisting of discrete logic circuits comprising each element of the game itself. The next generation of arcade system boards, with the inclusion of microprocessor based technology, incorporated the game program code directly on the main system board via game code stored in ROM chips mounted on the main board.
Later arcade system boards, including the DECO Cassette System, SNK's Neo-Geo, Capcom's CPS-2, and Sega's NAOMI, separated the system board from the game program itself, akin to a home video game console and cartridge/CD/DVD/Hard Disk. This method benefitted both manufacturers and arcade game owners. Once the system board was purchased, the owner could switch out the games at a fraction of the price and with less effort, and the manufacturers could produce fewer of the costly system boards and more of the less-costly games.
Currently, the company with the record of the highest number of original arcade system boards is Sega.
PONG (1972-1976)
Atari 6800 Based (1976-1979)
Atari 6502 Black & White Raster (1976-1980)
Atari 6502 Color Raster (1977-1989)
Atari 6502 Vector (1979-1980)
Atari Centipede Hardware (1980-1983)
Atari Cyberball Hardware (1989)
Atari Gauntlet Hardware (1985-1988)
Atari Hard Drivin' Hardware (1988-1993)
Atari Missile Command Hardware (1980-1983)
Atari Kangaroo (1982-1983)
Atari Star Wars Vector (1983-1985)
Atari System 1 (1984-1987)
Atari System 2 (1984-1988)
Atari 68000 Based (1982-1992)
Atari DUAL 68000 Based (1989-1990)
Atari G1 (1990)
Atari G42 (1991-1992)
Atari Arcade Classics Hardware (1992)
Atari GX2 (1992)
Atari GT (1994)
Atari Cojag (1994-1996)
Atari Playstation (1996)
Atari Phoenix (1996)
Atari Flagstaff (1996-1997)
Atari Seattle (1997-1998)
Atari Media GX (1998)
Atari Vegas (1998-1999)
Atari Denver (1999-2003)
Bally Sente Sac 1 (1984-1987)
Bally Sente Sac 2 (1987)
Crystal System (2001–2003)
Capcom Commando Hardware (1985-1988)
Capcom Section Z Hardware (1985-1987)
CP System (1988–1995)
CP System II (1993–2003)
CP System III (1996–1999)
Cave 1st Generation (1994–2001)
Cave CV1000B (2004–2007)
Cave CV1000D (2008–2012)
Cave PC Based (2009)
Cubo CD32 (1995-1999)
DECO Cassette System (1980–1985)
DECO Laserdiscs (1983-1985)
DECO 8-bit (1986-1988)
DECO 16-bit (1987-1990)
DECO 32-bit (1991-1995)
DECO Simple 156 (1993–1996)
DECO MLC System (1995–1996)
Eolith System (1998–2001)
Eolith 16-bit (1999)
Eolith Vegas (2002)
Eolith Ghost (2003–2005)
eX-BOARD (2008-2010)
FG-2 (1995–1996)
FG-3 (1998–2000)
Gaelco GAE1 (1994)
Gaelco GAE2
Gaelco GG-1v (1998)
Gaelco 3D (1996–1998)
Gaelco PowerVR Based (1999-2002)
Gaelco PC Based (2003–2005)
VP101 (2002-2004)
PolyGame Master (1997–2005)
PolyGame Master 2 (2007–2011)
PolyGame Master 3 (2012)
IGS PC Based (2004–)
Incredible Technologies 8-bit Hardware (1988-1992)
Incredible Technologies 32-bit Hardware (1992-2002)
Incredible Technologies Eagle Hardware (1999-2005)
Incredible Technologies PC Based Hardware (2005-)
NEXUS 3D (2006-2007)
Irem M-10/M-15 (1979-1980)
Irem M-27 (1980-1981)
Irem M-52 (1982-1983)
Irem M-62 (1984-1986)
Irem M-63 (1984-1985)
Irem M-72 (1987-1990)
Irem M-73 (1991)
Irem M-75 (1988)
Irem M-77 (1988)
Irem M-81 (1989-1990)
Irem M-82 (1989-1990)
Irem M-84 (1989-1991)
Irem M-85 (1990)
Irem M-90 (1991)
Irem M-92 (1991-1994)
Irem M-97 (1992-1993)
Irem M-107 (1993-1995)
Mega System 1 (1988-1993)
Mega System 32 (1993–1997)
Jaleco Tetris Plus 2 (1997-2000)
Kaneko 16-bit (1991-1995)
Super Kaneko Nova System (1996–2002)
Power System 2 (2000–2003)
Metro System (1992-2000)
MicroProse 3D Hardware (1990-1993)
Mitchell System (1988-1991)
Nintendo Classic (1981)
VS. UniSystem and VS. DualSystem (1985-1987)
PlayChoice-10 (1986-1991)
Super System (1992-1993)
Triforce (2002-2007)
Unnamed Wii-based arcade board (2008)
Psikyo 1st Generation (1993–1996)
Psikyo SH-2 (1997–2002)
NEO STANDARD (2011)
SSV (Sammy, Seta, Visco) (1993–2001)
Sammy Medal Game System (1999–2004)
Atomiswave (2003–2009)
