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.
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