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MiSTercade

A JAMMA interface for MiSTer FPGA with cabinet video, audio, controls, mappings, and updateable controller firmware.

Buy MiSTercade Latest firmware

Match firmware and mappings to your hardware

MiSTercade V2 and V1-family controller boards use different firmware and USB identities. Flash only the package named for your hardware and install only one mapping variant for that version.

Verify cabinet wiring before power-on

A reversed or incorrectly wired JAMMA harness can damage hardware. Button 4 uses the CPS-II kick harness. Buttons 5 and 6 normally use the kick harness, but the CHAMMA switch can route them to JAMMA pins 26 and 27 when the cabinet is wired for CHAMMA. Verify the harness before enabling it.

Shared setup and version differences

MiSTercade adapts MiSTer FPGA for use in JAMMA arcade cabinets. It combines analog video, cabinet controls, audio, and maintained per-game controller mappings so a MiSTer can operate as a cabinet-ready system without an external supergun.

  • Shared on both versions

    JAMMA controls, cabinet audio, CPS-II/CHAMMA options, and per-game mappings work the same way after the correct hardware profile is selected.

  • MiSTercade V2 video

    Uses Direct Video through the short HDMI bridge and the V2 HDMI DAC for analog cabinet RGBS. Remove the bridge to use the lower DE10-Nano HDMI display output.

  • MiSTercade V1 video

    Uses the DE10-Nano GPIO analog-video path for cabinet RGBS. It does not use V2's short HDMI bridge.

  • Version-aware setup

    Hosted profiles and the mapping installer keep V1 and V2 settings, firmware identities, and controller mappings separate.

Cabinet connections and limits

Output Connector Formats Limits
V2 cabinet video Lower DE10-Nano HDMI → short HDMI bridge → MiSTercade V2 → JAMMA edge RGBS Uses Direct Video through the V2 HDMI DAC. Standard V2 routing does not provide analog cabinet video and HDMI display output simultaneously.
V1 cabinet video DE10-Nano GPIO analog-video path → MiSTercade V1 → JAMMA edge RGBS Does not use the V2 short HDMI bridge. Choose the V1 profile matching the cabinet monitor frequency.
Cabinet controls JAMMA edge and CPS-II kick harness Player 1 and Player 2 controls Button 4 uses the kick harness. Buttons 5 and 6 use the kick harness unless CHAMMA routing on JAMMA pins 26 and 27 is intentionally enabled.
V2 HDMI display Lower DE10-Nano HDMI port HDMI Remove the short V2 HDMI bridge and connect the display here. The V2 bridge connector feeds the analog path; it is not a display output.
Cabinet audio JAMMA edge Amplified stereo or cabinet-compatible output Start at a low level and adjust for the installed cabinet speakers.

Quick setup

MiSTercade V2 — analog cabinet

Use this when: Connecting MiSTercade V2 to a 15 kHz or 31 kHz JAMMA cabinet monitor.

  1. Power off the cabinet and MiSTer before making connections.
  2. Set DE10-Nano SW3 toward the board center; leave SW0, SW1, and SW2 off toward the board edge.
  3. Confirm the JAMMA harness orientation, then seat MiSTercade fully.
  4. Connect the DE10-Nano USB bridge and the short HDMI bridge to MiSTercade.
  5. Install the V2 15 kHz, V2 31 kHz, or V2 31 kHz upscaled profile that matches the monitor.
  6. Install the V2 Standard / OSD mapping profile with the mapping installer.
  7. Power on and verify video at a conservative brightness before adjusting RGB controls.

MiSTercade V2 — HDMI display

Use this when: Testing or operating MiSTercade with a digital display instead of the cabinet monitor.

  1. Remove the short HDMI bridge cable between the DE10-Nano and MiSTercade.
  2. Connect the display to the lower DE10-Nano HDMI output.
  3. Install the MiSTercade V2 HDMI profile.
  4. Keep the USB bridge connected so cabinet controls can enumerate.
  5. Install the desired V2 mapping profile.

MiSTercade V1 — analog cabinet

Use this when: Using original MiSTercade V1 hardware.

  1. Power off the cabinet and MiSTer, then set DE10-Nano SW0 toward the board center; leave SW1, SW2, and SW3 off toward the board edge.
  2. Confirm JAMMA orientation and connect the USB bridge. MiSTercade V1 does not use the V2 short HDMI bridge.
  3. Use the V1 2025 firmware identity unless a legacy installation specifically requires the deprecated V1 identity.
  4. Install a matching V1 2025 mapping profile; do not combine V1, V1 2025, and V2 mapping INIs.
  5. Install the V1 15 kHz or V1 31 kHz profile that matches the cabinet monitor.

Downloads

  • MiSTercade mapping installer

    Recommended interactive installer. It detects MiSTercade hardware, removes conflicting profiles, and backs up replaced files.

    Download

  • MiSTercade V2 firmware 0.7.12

    Current GP2040-CE UF2 for MiSTercade V2 controller boards.

    Download

    2.32 MiB · SHA-256: 129c6dca7a0cac38fd3788bae0a311b103c23b0ad9443cf2a0b912e74d77b83c

  • MiSTercade V1 2025 firmware package

    Firmware updater package for V1 hardware using the recommended V1 2025 identity.

    Download

    19.6 KiB · SHA-256: f1f4753f822eae5c4af632fe05d858fa4f275319f54a2e2e8e7f9f0013fdd1d3

Install controller mappings

Use the hosted installer for the safest mapping setup, or download one reviewed profile manually.

  1. Open MiSTer over SSH or use its local terminal.
  2. Download the mapping installer from the hosted Downloads section above and save it as /tmp/mistercade_mapping_installer.sh.
  3. Run sh /tmp/mistercade_mapping_installer.sh and follow the prompts.
  4. Choose map files unless support specifically asks you to test GameControllerDB.
  5. Choose Standard for normal coin behavior or Freeplay when Start should also insert a coin.
  6. Keep OSD/menu enabled unless the cabinet must prevent the Down + Start menu shortcut.
  7. Run update_all after installation so the selected mapping database is downloaded.

Notes:

  • The installer backs up changed files and removes conflicting MiSTercade mapping profiles.
  • See the mapping profile page for direct INI downloads and a compact comparison of all choices.
  • V2 uses USB VID 16D0 and PID 1358. V1-family hardware uses VID 16D0 and PID 10BE.

Update controller firmware

V2 uses a UF2 workflow; original V1 hardware uses the packaged updater.

  1. Confirm the installed hardware version before downloading firmware.
  2. For MiSTercade V2, hold the JOY1 PROG or JOY2 PROG button while connecting USB so the controller appears as an RPI-RP2 drive.
  3. For MiSTercade V2, copy the V2 UF2 to each controller drive that needs updating and wait for it to reboot.
  4. For MiSTercade V1, download and extract the V1 2025 package, then follow its STM32 updater instructions. Do not copy a V2 UF2 to V1 hardware.
  5. Re-run the mapping installer after a firmware identity change so the mapping filename matches the reported USB VID/PID.

Notes:

  • Update one controller at a time and verify it enumerates before updating the second side.
  • Do not use V2 UF2 firmware on V1 hardware.

Troubleshooting

HDMI display has no picture

  • On V2, connect the display to the lower DE10-Nano HDMI output, not the MiSTercade HDMI bridge input.
  • Remove the short V2 HDMI bridge cable used for analog cabinet video.
  • Use the current MiSTercade V2 HDMI profile; direct_video=2 is the normal automatic setting.

Analog cabinet video has no picture

  • On V2, confirm the short HDMI bridge is installed, SW3 is toward the board center, and SW0–SW2 remain toward the edge.
  • On V1, do not install the V2 HDMI bridge; confirm SW0 is toward the board center and SW1–SW3 remain toward the edge.
  • Use the V1 or V2 profile that matches both the installed board and the monitor frequency.

Cabinet controls do not respond

  • Power off and reseat the USB bridge between the DE10-Nano and MiSTercade.
  • Check that both controller sides enumerate over USB and that their status LEDs behave normally.
  • Re-run the mapping installer and choose the profile matching the detected hardware version.

Colors are green, clipped, or incorrect

  • Confirm the cabinet expects RGBS and that vga_mode=rgb is set.
  • Return the RGB level controls to a conservative position, then adjust each channel evenly.
  • Inspect the JAMMA harness orientation and video-ground connection before further testing.

Mappings change unexpectedly or do not download

  • Keep only one MiSTercade mapping downloader INI for the installed hardware version.
  • Run the installer again to remove conflicting V1, V1 2025, V2, Standard, Freeplay, OSD, or no-menu profiles.
  • Run update_all and review its Downloader log for the selected mapping database.

Frequently asked questions

Which mapping choice should I use?

Start with map files, Standard, and OSD/menu enabled. Choose Freeplay only if Start should insert a coin, and choose no-menu only if you need to disable the Down + Start OSD shortcut.

Should original V1 hardware use legacy V1 or V1 2025?

V1 2025 is the recommended identity and mapping set. Legacy V1 remains available for installations that cannot migrate yet.

Can I use MiSTercade with an HDMI display?

Yes. On V2, remove the short analog-video bridge, connect the display to the lower DE10-Nano HDMI output, and use the V2 HDMI profile. V1 cabinet video uses the analog IO path and does not use that bridge.

Why do buttons 4 through 6 not work through the JAMMA edge?

Standard JAMMA does not carry all six action buttons. Button 4 uses the CPS-II kick harness. Buttons 5 and 6 normally use it too, but can be routed to JAMMA pins 26 and 27 when both the CHAMMA switch and cabinet wiring are configured for CHAMMA.

Cables and accessories

Sources

Open this guide on another device

QR code for the MiSTercade guide

Open the current online guide

Public-safe product source: public-docs/data/products/.