VIRTUAL LIBRARY
Space Ace Virtual Library - Images and information on the major components

MANUALS
Dragon's Lair / Space Ace - Operation and Maintenance Manual (USA / Cinematronics) (63 pages)
Space Ace - Dragon's Lair to Space Ace Conversion Manual (USA / Cinematronics) (8 pages)
Space Ace - Operators Manual / Supplement to Dragon's Lair Manual (Europe / Atari) (14 pages) - SEE THE CORRECTED REPLACEMENT PAGE IN THE FOLLOWING PUBLICATION
Space Ace - Corrections to Manual (Europe / Atari) (2 pages)

SCHEMATICS
Dragon's Lair / Space Ace - Operation and Maintenance Manual (USA / Cinematronics) (63 pages)
Dragon's Lair / Space Ace - Electrohome NTSC Decoder Specifications and Pinouts (USA / Cinematronics) (4 pages)
Dragon's Lair / Space Ace - Wells-Gardner NTSC Decoder Pinouts (USA / Cinematronics)
Dragon's Lair / Space Ace - Control Panel Pinout (USA / Cinematronics)
Dragon's Lair / Space Ace - Coin Door Pinout (USA / Cinematronics)
Dragon's Lair / Space Ace - Operator Convenience Panel Pinout (USA / Cinematronics)

DIP SWITCH SETTINGS
Space Ace - DIP Switch Settings (USA / Cinematronics 1983)

Space Ace - Game Settings (On-Screen Programming) (USA / Leland 1991)
 Press and hold a FIRE BUTTON.
 Press the SERVICE BUTTON inside the coin door.
 Release both buttons.
 Use the JOYSTICK and BUTTONS to navigate the screens and make selections.


Games updated with the SA Enhancement, or the SA DIP Switch Remap, or the DL/SA Combo ROMS should follow the DIP switch charts available at those pages.
Games converted with commercial aftermarket products must follow the product documentation.

ROM IMAGES *
Space Ace - ROM Images (USA / Cinematronics) (rev. A)
Space Ace - ROM Images (USA / Cinematronics) (rev. A2)
Space Ace - ROM Images (USA / Cinematronics) (rev. A3)
Space Ace - ROM Images (Europe / Atari, and Italy / Sidam)
Space Ace - ROM Images (USA / Leland) (v1.1)
Space Ace - ROM Images (Europe / Brent Leisure, and Italy / Elettronolo)
Space Ace DIP Switch Remap ROM - (for USA / Cinematronics) - Made in 2002, this ROM reassigns DIP switch functions to match those of Dragon's Lair. (more details below)
Dragon's Lair / Space Ace Combo ROM - (for USA / Cinematronics) - Made in 2002, this ROM holds both Dragon's Lair & Space Ace on the same set of chips.
Space Ace Enhancement ROM - (for USA / Cinematronics) - Made in 2002, these ROMs make use of the laserdisc's full potential.

Diagnostics ROM Package - (for USA / Cinematronics) - Made in 2018, this ROM aids with PCB troubleshooting. (also contains the 1983 Cinematronics diagnostics archive)

* See notes on "EPROM compatibility" in the "Troubleshooting & Tech Tips" section below.

 

 

Compatible Laserdisc Players - Pioneer PR-7820 (USA / Cinematronics), Pioneer LD-V1000 (USA / Cinematronics), Philips 22VP932 (Europe / Atari, and Italy / Sidam), Sony LDP-1450 (USA / Leland), Sony LDP-3600D (USA / Leland), Philips VP380 (Europe / Brent Leisure, and Italy / Elettronolo)

Pioneer PR-7820 - Service Manual (168 pages)
Pioneer PR-7820 - General Adjustment Procedures (20 pages)
Pioneer PR-7820 - Programming Reference Guide (30 pages)
Pioneer PR-7820 - Users Guide to Programming (13 pages)
Pioneer PR-7820 - DVA System Manual (68 pages)
Pioneer PR-7820 to LD-V1000 - Cinematronics Conversion Instructions (8 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Operating Instructions (7 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Interface Guide (24 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Service Manual (81 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Provisional Service Manual (27 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Cleaning the Optics (3 pages)
Pioneer LD-V1000 - Changing the Laser Tube (3 pages)
Sony LDP-1450 - Operating Instructions (19 pages)
Sony LDP-1450 - Service Manual (98 pages)
Sony LDP-xxxx - Command Set Info
Philips 22VP932 - Service Manual (95 pages)
Philips LaserVision Deck - Service Manual (10 pages)
Philips VP312 and VP380 - Installation and Operation Manual (24 pages)
Philips VP380 - Service Manual (67 pages)

Standard LD-V1000 Firmware - The LD-V1000 players that were used in the game Badlands contain firmware that was modified by Konami.
Download the standard Pioneer LD-V1000 EPROM image.

Laserdisc Player Conversion - The original Pioneer laserdisc players are not natively compatible with any other model for a direct substitution.
PC Conversion - This do-it-yourself document instructs how to install a desktop PC, with accompanying software download, into your game cabinet to convert it from the Pioneer LD-V1000 to a Sony laserdisc player.

Aftermarket Conversion Cards - Various Laserdisc Player Conversion Products have been developed over the years to allow replacement/upgrade of the laserdisc player.

 

 

Main PCB Revisions - There are three known PCBs: v1, v1 Rev. C, and v2 Rev. A. Early version 1 PCBs (80-12035-01) have no revision marking, copper-colored traces, and serial numbers below 6000. They were only released with Dragon's Lair but can still be used with, or found in, Space Ace conversions. Version 1 Rev. C PCBs (80-12035-01 REV C) have green traces and serial numbers above 6000. The version 2 Rev. A PCB (80-12035-02 REV A) was made in preparation for additional game installments after Space Ace. Revision C arrived when the transition was being made from the PR-7820 to the LD-V1000 laserdisc player. The older v1 PCB can be modified to use the LD-V1000, and the newer Rev. C and v2 PCBs can be modified to use the PR-7820. For instructions on how to perform these modifications, including details on the laserdisc player communications, see the Dragon's Lair PCB Conversion Between PR-7820 & LD-V1000 page.

Additionally, to see the multiple modifications that kept occurring to the design of the early version 1 PCB during the production of Dragon's Lair until the design was essentially finalized near serial number 5,000, as well as detailed instructions for performing these modifications on early v1 PCBs to achieve their most stable condition, check the Dragon's Lair v1 PCB Modifications page.

Diagnostics ROM Package - To aid with PCB troubleshooting, Shaun Wood offers an improved Diagnostics ROM Redo, which also contains the archive of the original, flawed Cinematronics diagnostics package.

EPROM Compatibility - Space Ace uses type 2764 or 27C64 EPROMs or compatible, rated 250ns or faster (2764-25).
EPROMs rated slower, such as 300ns and higher (2764-30), have been reported incompatible.
National Semiconductor brand EPROMs have been reported incompatible.

European Versions - In 1984, Space Ace was licensed to Atari for production and manufacture in Europe. The cabinet is very similar to the Cinematronics release, but the hardware, including the laserdisc player, is totally different. Atari sub-licensed Space Ace to Sidam for production and manufacture in Italy. Most of the hardware for the Sidam version is the same as the Atari version, but the cabinet design is completely different. In 1992, Space Ace was licensed to Brent Leisure for production in most of Europe, and to Elettronolo for production in Italy, as conversion kits for their Dragon's Lair II games. Most of the hardware for the Elettronolo version is the same as the Brent Leisure version, as well as the cabinet itself.

Interchangeability - Dragon's Lair can be played in a Space Ace cabinet (1984) by changing the laserdisc and the EPROMS. Dragon's Lair II had a conversion kit for Space Ace (1991). The kit included a Space Ace (1991) laserdisc, control panel overlay, marquee, two red fire buttons, button labels, and one EPROM containing the Leland ROM image above. The animation stored on the 1991 laserdisc is the same as the original 1983 laserdisc, but the discs are not directly compatible with each other. The video footage is not aligned on the same track/frame numbers.

DIP Switch Remap - With the Space Ace DIP Switch Remap ROM made in 2002, your Space Ace DIP switch settings will be more closely matched to Dragon's Lair, so that no switch-flipping is needed after the EPROMs are swapped to change between games. Also, the skill level selection can now be set via DIP switch, which is helpful when using the Dragon's Lair control panel without the three skill level buttons.

Monitor to TV Swap - If the monitor in your Dragon's Lair, Space Ace, or Thayer's Quest is not up to your liking, you can replace it with a 19" TV. The Monitor to TV Swap page will show you everything you need to know.

Volume Control Wiring Error - Apparently all Dragon's Lair and Space Ace main wiring harnesses were constructed with an error. Two pins are reversed in the connector for the volume controls, shorting the right audio channel to ground and creating noise in the system. For the fix, see the Dragon's Lair / Space Ace Operator Convenience Panel Pinout.

68705 Bypass Modification - An update for early version 1 Dragon's Lair / Space Ace PCBs. See the 68705 Bypass Modification page for more information.

Joystick Sound Volume Control Hack - Now you can adjust the volume of the joystick feedback sound in Dragon's Lair or Space Ace if it is too loud or soft for your environment. See the Dragon's Lair / Space Ace PCB Volume Control Hack.

Engineering Mode - Engineering mode was designed to let the engineers playtest a scene without having to play through the whole game. To learn more about this, see the Space Ace Engineering Mode page.

LD-V1000 Boot Switch - A simple inexpensive way to build a switch that issues a play command to the LD-V1000 or LD-V1001. See the LD-V1000 Boot Switch page.

Aftermarket PCB Products - LaserCon offers modernized replacement main logic and ROM boards. [OFF-SITE]

Manufacturers:
Cinematronics (USA, 1984)
Atari (Europe, 1984)
Sidam (Italy, 1984)
Leisure and Allied Industries
(Australia, 1984)
Universal (Japan, 1985)
Leland (USA, 1991)
Brent Leisure (Europe, 1992)
Elettronolo (Italy, 1992)


The non-laserdisc arcade re-releases
(post-2000) are not covered here.

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