Author Topic: CAVE CV-1000 PCB serial number codes explained (with PCB production estimates) (Read 24116 times)

EOJ · « **Reply #30 on:** June 07, 2019, 06:32:16 AM »

Yes, more info on AK LE would be great. I do not know what sort of serial number system was used on those. It is possible they started at -00300 or -00301 and went up from there, since regular AK serials only go up to -90209 or -00300. So -30308 would indicate PCB number 38.

BTW, on a somewhat related note I have seen Mushi Matsuri 1.5 serial MHN-20005, so we know at least 25 were made.

peg · « **Reply #31 on:** June 12, 2019, 01:54:00 PM »

There's also this: http://collectedit.com/collectors/shou-time-213/arcade-pcbs-281/mushihime-sama-cave-festival-ver-1-5-japan-by-cave-31982

It appears to be a Mushi Matsuri V1.5 with serial 3970 (or 3920, hard to tell), indicating a Matsuri version converted from a regular Mushi. So apparently there are more than just the MHN- serial numbered boards.

EOJ · « **Reply #32 on:** August 21, 2019, 12:05:29 AM »

I've noticed something interesting about Akai Katana PCBs. The first 100 or so appear to be freshly made PCBs. See, for example, this PCB from tops (serial AK-20002, which means it was the 22nd one made):

https://www.tops-game.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=5499

Only one date stamp on the back, and the date stamp is from August 2010.

However, mine and two others I've seen with the RUN number 2 (e.g. AK-XX2XX), including this one currently on YAJ, are clearly reprogrammed DDP DFK PCBs, because there is a date stamp from May 2008 and another from August 2010. Anyone have one with a RUN number of 1? Basically, I wonder when they started reprogramming older PCBs to fill in the AK production.

EDIT: I see forum member Monouchi's PCB has a RUN number of 1! Hopefully he will let us know how many date stamps are on his PCB.

Monouchi · « **Reply #33 on:** August 21, 2019, 02:39:27 AM »

I hadnt notice. Yeah my pcb is AK-70105.
I will check for stamps tonight and grab some pics.

EOJ · « **Reply #34 on:** August 21, 2019, 02:44:37 AM »

Awesome!

Monouchi · « **Reply #35 on:** August 22, 2019, 01:16:40 AM »

My Akai pcb has two stamps on the same white sticker:
08.5.09 and 10/08/09

EOJ · « **Reply #36 on:** August 22, 2019, 02:30:39 AM »

Thanks for checking! So, it is just like mine. And now we know they started reprogramming DFK PCBs beginning at least at the 175th Akai Katana PCB.

zak · « **Reply #37 on:** January 15, 2020, 09:54:40 AM »

Quote from: EOJ on June 07, 2019, 06:32:16 AM

Yes, more info on AK LE would be great. I do not know what sort of serial number system was used on those. It is possible they started at -30300 and went up from there, since regular AK serials only go up to -90209 or -00300. So -30308 would indicate PCB number 38.

BTW, on a somewhat related note I have seen Mushi Matsuri 1.5 serial MHN-20005, so we know at least 25 were made.

Mine is AKU-20303

EOJ · « **Reply #38 on:** January 15, 2020, 09:10:31 PM »

Thanks for the info! Looks like you have PCB #23, and they made at least 38. My current hypothesis based on these data is they actually made 350 Akai Katana PCBs (same as SDOJ!), but didn't sell the last 50, so converted them into AK LE (and added new serial code stickers, but interestingly retained the AK serial code numbering system). This would mean there are no more than 50 AK LEs out there.

What kind of date stamps are on the bottom of an AK LE PCB?

peg · « **Reply #39 on:** January 16, 2020, 03:36:33 AM »

I think you are right about that, although it is kind of weird they would print new serial stickers and start at 300 instead of 1. Is it possible that they weren't converted and always intended to be sold as limited versions, any idea on the time-frame when the LV was released relative to the normal version?

EOJ · « **Reply #40 on:** January 16, 2020, 03:44:14 AM »

August 2010 for Akai Katana
November 2010 for AK LV

Good idea that the serial number system for both games was planned from the start, and thus the last 50 were always planned to be AK LV.

The "U" in AKU probably stands for "User" (home user ver).

EOJ · « **Reply #41 on:** September 15, 2020, 10:11:20 PM »

Tops added a DFK BL PCB to their stock today. It is serial number DDB-00200 = (200th PCB out of 200 made). This is significant, because I believe it is the first time we have found the 200th PCB from a postulated run of 200 PCBs. If we ever find a higher serial, however, we will have to adjust our estimate upward.

https://www.tops-game.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=5672

ookitarepanda · « **Reply #42 on:** September 16, 2020, 10:06:52 PM »

Quote from: EOJ on September 15, 2020, 10:11:20 PM

Tops added a DFK BL PCB to their stock today. It is serial number DDB-00200 = (200th PCB out of 200 made). This is significant, because I believe it is the first time we have found the 200th PCB from a postulated run of 200 PCBs. If we ever find a higher serial, however, we will have to adjust our estimate upward.

https://www.tops-game.jp/products/detail.php?product_id=5672

I just want to pipe in that I read that and thought it was really effing cool. I know that this whole thing is a niche within a niche within a niche... but as a numbers guy, it is deeply satisfying to see. It's like all of the data has accurately made its predictions, and that makes this PCB kind of special. It's probably the last DFKBL ever printed!

EOJ · « **Reply #43 on:** September 16, 2020, 10:51:35 PM »

Yeah, I thought it was pretty cool too.

I had been wondering if they went up to -90109 for the Black Labels or if they rolled over to -00200. So this solves that mystery.

EOJ · « **Reply #44 on:** September 29, 2020, 08:46:16 PM »

Update on the production estimates -- I moved DFK 1.5 from the "common" category to the "somewhat common" category and revised its extant production to 500 ~ 550, due to good evidence that 200 of the original production were reprogrammed to Akai Katana by CAVE.

EOJ · « **Reply #45 on:** November 30, 2020, 02:26:22 PM »

Quote from: EOJ on January 23, 2019, 04:37:33 PM

For the time being, I will mark the total production as 350, as the serial number data available to me does not support a higher production. If anyone finds a PCB from the second run under 10164 (or over 10255), please let me know and I will adjust the estimate upwards.

This auction on YAJ shows a PCB with the serial SDO-10262:

https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/x746841637

In the above quoted message the highest I had seen prior was SDO-10255. The lowest serial in the second run (that I have seen) remains SDO-10164. If the second run really was sequential, we could hypothesize SDO-10164 was the first PCB of the run, with SDO-10264 being the last.

F86 · « **Reply #46 on:** September 05, 2022, 05:10:46 AM »

DS MBL 00001-00005 are (or were) 2008/09/24 Location test ver pcbs

EOJ · « **Reply #47 on:** May 24, 2023, 02:11:19 AM »

I updated the Mushihimesama Cave Matsuri 1.5 PCB estimate to 50 (maybe higher), due to finding an MHN-40003 serial, which means at least 43 were made. I previously estimated 25 ~ 50.

The PCB is shown in this video at the 22:25 mark:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8vRTTSaM2c

Here is a screen grab:

bitkid · « **Reply #48 on:** November 15, 2023, 06:49:25 PM »

Any idea how many Medal Mahjong Moukari Bancho PCBs were made? I found these completed auction links:
1. MB-40004 - https://aucview.aucfan.com/yahoo/168263776/
2. MB-90000 - https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/1111621324

So if these were the extent serials, would that mean that at least 90 boards were made? Someone on the STG Discord estimated probably less than 100 produced.

EOJ · « **Reply #49 on:** November 15, 2023, 06:56:13 PM »

Yes, so far the evidence suggests 100 were made.