How HighScoreSaves Arcade Kits Are Designed, Developed, and Tested

Every HighScoreSaves arcade upgrade kit begins with original game hardware, detailed software research, custom hardware design, and extensive testing on compatible original arcade PCBs.

Development can include reverse-engineering original program ROMs, rebuilding the game at the source-code level, designing a game-specific daughterboard, adding high-score saving and free play, creating settings menus, testing multiple PCB revisions, and preparing installation documentation.

Some projects can be completed in a matter of days. Others require months of research, programming, hardware development, compatibility testing, beta testing, and documentation. A kit is released only when development, testing, and documentation are complete.

Development Process at a Glance

Select a game based on demand, interest, feasibility, and PCB availability.
Obtain and compare multiple original arcade PCBs and board revisions.
Document original gameplay, score behavior, settings, timing, controls, and sound.
Disassemble and reverse-engineer the original program ROMs.
Rebuild and develop the game at the source-code level.
Add and test features in stages.
Design the daughterboard, schematic, PCB layout, and required adapters.
Test in software environments and on original arcade hardware.
Use beta testers on additional original PCBs.
Create the product page and installation guide alongside development.
Hand-assemble, program, inspect, and test every production kit before shipment.

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Selecting a Game Original PCBs Original Baseline Source Code Feature Development Hardware Design Testing Beta Testing Documentation Production Post-Release Support

Selecting a Game for Development

HighScoreSaves considers several factors when deciding which arcade game to support next. These include customer requests, personal interest, potential demand, technical feasibility, and the availability of original arcade PCBs.

PCB availability is especially important because development and compatibility testing require multiple original boards. A kit cannot be properly verified using only a single example when other board revisions or ROM versions may exist.

When enough original PCBs are not available, the project may be postponed rather than released with limited compatibility testing.

Some projects are abandoned when the original hardware, program architecture, or testing limitations make a dependable kit impractical. A postponed or abandoned project may be revisited later if additional PCBs, better documentation, or a workable technical approach becomes available.

Obtaining and Comparing Original Arcade PCBs

Development normally begins with multiple original arcade PCBs for the same game. HighScoreSaves compares the boards before programming begins to identify hardware differences, board revisions, ROM versions, processor types, socket arrangements, and other variations.

These comparisons help determine whether one kit design can support every known original version or whether a specific adapter, software revision, or installation instruction is required.

Compatibility is determined by the original arcade PCB and its revision. Cabinet monitors, controls, and power-supply arrangements do not determine kit compatibility.

Documenting the Original Game

Before adding any new features, HighScoreSaves documents how the unmodified original game behaves. This creates a verified baseline that can be used throughout development and final testing.

The baseline can include:

Original score-table behavior
Initials entry, when originally present
Coin operation and game-start behavior
Attract-mode sequence
Difficulty and lives settings
Gameplay timing
Control response
Sound and music behavior
Startup, reset, and service behavior

The completed kit is later tested against this original baseline to confirm that the added features do not alter authentic gameplay.

Reverse Engineering and Source-Code Development

Original arcade source code is rarely available. HighScoreSaves therefore begins by examining the original program ROMs and disassembling the machine code.

The original program is studied in detail to identify how the game handles scores, settings, game state, startup routines, controls, display routines, sound, memory, and other functions.

The disassembled program is reconstructed into usable source code. All HighScoreSaves development work is ultimately performed at the source-code level rather than through a collection of isolated binary patches.

The programming language depends on the original processor. Development may use Z80 assembly, 6502 assembly, 6809 assembly, or another processor-specific assembly language required by the original arcade hardware.

Adding Features in Stages

New features are normally developed and tested in stages. This makes it easier to verify each function independently before the features are combined into the finished kit.

Development commonly includes:

Permanent high-score saving
Free play
Player initials entry
Settings menus
Difficulty and lives options
Attract sounds
High-score table resets
Default-settings resets
Wi-Fi score submission, when applicable
Game-specific options and multigame menus

HighScoreSaves tries to keep the available options, settings-menu layout, wording, and navigation consistent across different kits. This gives returning customers a familiar experience even when the original arcade games use very different hardware.

Screen-flip support is not treated as a standard feature and is included only when it is appropriate for the specific game.

Daughterboard and Adapter Design

HighScoreSaves develops the complete hardware design for each kit. This includes schematic design, PCB layout, component selection, prototype construction, and any game-specific adapter required by the original processor or PCB arrangement.

The daughterboard must fit the available space, connect reliably to the original CPU socket, receive power through the arcade PCB, and work without changing the game’s original timing or hardware behavior.

Both prototype and production daughterboards are hand-assembled by HighScoreSaves.

Software and Original-Hardware Testing

Each new feature is tested in both a software or emulation environment and on original arcade hardware. Software testing helps identify programming errors quickly, while original-hardware testing confirms that the finished code works correctly on the actual arcade PCB.

Testing includes repeated power cycles to confirm that high scores, initials, settings, and Wi-Fi information are saved and restored correctly.

Multiple original PCBs and board revisions are tested to confirm consistent operation across every version listed as supported.

The finished kit is compared with an unmodified original PCB to verify that gameplay timing, control response, sound, scoring, difficulty, and attract-mode behavior remain unchanged.

Real-World Beta Testing

HighScoreSaves also uses beta testers before release. Testers include a mix of trusted collectors, arcade owners, technicians, and operators using original arcade PCBs in real-world environments.

Beta testers receive specific features and possible failure conditions to test. They also use the kit normally and report anything unusual that may not appear during controlled development testing.

Testers may also provide photographs of their original PCBs and completed installations. Those images can be used to improve the game-specific installation guide.

All identified beta-test issues are corrected before the kit is released.

Product Pages and Installation Guides

The product page and game-specific installation guide are developed alongside the hardware and software rather than being created only after the kit is finished.

HighScoreSaves photographs the actual supported original PCBs during development. The installation guide can then show:

The exact CPU location
Pin 1 orientation
The original CPU socket
Optional program-ROM removal areas
Adapter placement, when required
The completed daughterboard installation

The completed-installation photographs give customers a verified reference they can compare with their own work.

Installation guides are revised during and after beta testing when clearer wording, better photographs, or additional precautions are identified.

Hand Assembly and Final Production Testing

Every HighScoreSaves production kit is hand-assembled. Each completed daughterboard is individually programmed, visually inspected, and tested before shipment.

Final checks include:

Power-up and startup behavior
Game start and normal operation
Settings-menu operation
High-score saving
Settings retention
Initials entry
Wi-Fi operation when applicable
Final visual inspection

The kit is released when the hardware, software, compatibility testing, beta testing, product information, and installation documentation are complete.

Version Tracking and Post-Release Support

HighScoreSaves maintains a verified master archive for each released kit. The archive includes source code, PCB design files, programmed chip images, and documentation so the kit can be reproduced, supported, or updated later.

Software and hardware revisions are tracked with version identifiers. Depending on the kit, the installed software version may also be displayed in the settings menu.

Development does not end when a kit is released. HighScoreSaves continues to review customer feedback, newly identified PCB revisions, unusual edge cases, and worthwhile feature improvements.

When an update is needed, it may be provided through replacement programmed chips or as a downloadable update, depending on the design of the kit.

Why Development Time Varies

There is no standard development timeline for a HighScoreSaves kit. Some projects can be completed in days, while others require several months.

The amount of time depends on the original processor, complexity of the game program, number of PCB and ROM revisions, hardware design requirements, desired features, reverse-engineering work, compatibility testing, beta testing, and documentation.

Preserving Original Arcade Gameplay

The purpose of a HighScoreSaves kit is to add useful modern features while continuing to use the original arcade PCB and preserving the authentic game experience.

High-score saving, free play, settings menus, initials entry, multigame selection, and optional Wi-Fi scoring are added around the original game. The original timing, controls, sound, scoring, difficulty, and gameplay behavior remain the standard against which the finished kit is tested.

Technical Support

Contact HighScoreSaves before ordering when you are unsure about the exact game, PCB revision, processor, CPU socket, or correct kit version.

Email is the preferred support method. Clear photographs or short videos can greatly help explain a PCB, socket, installation, or operation issue. Contact sales@highscoresaves.com .

HighScoreSaves kit compatibility, included features, installation requirements, and supported PCB revisions vary by game. The specific product page and game-specific installation guide are always the final authority.