Shijia Yi
| Shijia Yi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| AKA | Shijia; KT009; WW-QF022 |
| Type | Sitdown |
| Released | 199X |
| Dimensions | 890 (reported) x 670 (reported) x 1430 (reported) mm |
| Wiring | JAMMA |
| Monitor | 15/24/31 (reported) kHz |
| Rotatable | Yes |
| Weight | 59 (reported) kg |
The Shijia Yi is a Chinese-produced sitdown arcade cabinet and a direct clone of Sega's original Sega Astro City design.
The cabinet is also commonly referred to simply as the Shijia. Surviving photographs show the name SHI JIA YI prominently displayed on the illuminated upper marquee.
The cabinet uses standard JAMMA wiring and is reported to use a multi-frequency CRT supporting 15, 24 and 31 kHz video.
The cabinet is known under at least two model-number systems: WW-QF022, associated with Guangzhou Qingfeng Electronics, and KT009, associated with Guangzhou Macrown Animation Technology Co., Ltd.
The exact relationship between the two companies in relation to this cabinet has not yet been established.
Name
The cabinet has previously been documented under the shortened name Shijia.
Surviving photographs clearly show the Roman-letter name:
SHI JIA YI
on the cabinet's illuminated upper marquee.
For this reason, Shijia Yi is the preferred cabinet name, while Shijia is retained as an alternative shortened form.
The original Chinese characters represented by the Roman-letter branding have not yet been established.
Manufacturer
Surviving documentation associates the Shijia Yi with both Guangzhou Qingfeng Electronics and Guangzhou Macrown Animation Technology Co., Ltd.
Qingfeng used model numbers beginning with the prefix WW-QF, with this cabinet recorded as WW-QF022.
The same cabinet is also associated with the designation KT009. Macrown is known to have used KT model numbers for arcade cabinets.
It is not presently clear whether:
- Qingfeng manufactured the cabinet and Macrown resold it
- Macrown manufactured the cabinet and Qingfeng resold it
- Both companies produced their own versions
- One or both companies acted primarily as exporters or distributors
- Both sourced the cabinet from a common third-party manufacturer
Until further primary documentation is located, neither company should necessarily be regarded as the sole original manufacturer.
Relationship to Sega Astro City
The Shijia Yi is a direct clone of Sega's original Sega Astro City cabinet design.
The relationship is apparent in the overall cabinet architecture, including:
- Tall rounded white cabinet body
- Deeply recessed CRT display
- Broad two-player control panel directly below the monitor
- Rounded upper cabinet section
- Illuminated marquee area above the monitor
- Narrow lower cabinet body
- Similar overall side profile
- Similar sitdown playing position
The cabinet is not an exact mould-for-mould reproduction of the Sega original.
Differences include:
- A larger and more upright upper marquee assembly
- Different artwork
- Altered lower-cabinet detailing
- Different control-panel trim
- Minor differences in overall proportions and construction
Despite these differences, the underlying design is unmistakably based on the original Astro City.
There is no evidence that Sega manufactured, licensed or distributed the Shijia Yi.
Monitor
The exact factory monitor size has not yet been conclusively verified.
The cabinet has previously been documented as using a 25-inch CRT, but surviving photographs show a cabinet whose proportions closely follow the 29-inch Sega Astro City. Until original manufacturer specifications or measurements from a surviving example are located, the 25-inch figure should therefore be treated cautiously.
The monitor is reported to support:
- 15 kHz
- 24 kHz
- 31 kHz
If correct, this would allow the cabinet to operate with standard-resolution, medium-resolution and VGA-frequency arcade hardware.
The CRT can be installed in either horizontal or vertical orientation.
There is no dedicated monitor-rotation mechanism, so changing orientation requires the CRT assembly to be manually repositioned.
The original CRT tube and monitor chassis have not yet been conclusively identified.
Design
The Shijia Yi closely follows the general proportions and layout of the Sega Astro City, while incorporating a number of visibly different external details.
Surviving examples show a predominantly white cabinet with a darker lower body and a large illuminated upper marquee carrying the SHI JIA YI name.
The CRT is deeply recessed beneath a dark monitor surround, closely echoing the presentation used on the original Astro City.
The two-player control panel projects forward from the cabinet beneath the monitor.
Previously reported dimensions are approximately:
- Width: 670 mm
- Depth: 890 mm
- Height: 1430 mm
- Weight: 59 kg
These figures have not yet been verified against original manufacturer documentation and should therefore be regarded as provisional.
Controls
Surviving photographs document at least two different control-panel configurations.
One example is fitted with a conventional two-player arcade arrangement consisting of:
- Two joysticks
- Multiple action buttons for each player
- Player start controls
Another photographed example has been fitted with a specialised multi-button panel apparently intended for gambling or amusement-style software.
This alternative panel should not necessarily be regarded as the original factory configuration, as surviving examples are also documented with conventional video-game controls.
The cabinet uses standard JAMMA wiring.
Wiring
The Shijia Yi uses standard JAMMA wiring.
This allowed it to operate as a general-purpose cabinet capable of accepting a wide range of contemporary arcade PCBs.
Identification
Known identifying characteristics include:
- SHI JIA YI branding on the upper marquee
- Shijia shortened name
- WW-QF022 model designation associated with Guangzhou Qingfeng Electronics
- KT009 model designation associated with Guangzhou Macrown Animation Technology Co., Ltd.
- Strong direct resemblance to the Sega Astro City
- Multi-frequency monitor support reported as 15/24/31 kHz
- Horizontal or vertical CRT installation
- Manual monitor rotation
- Standard JAMMA wiring
- White rounded upper cabinet body
- Deeply recessed monitor
- Broad two-player control panel
Internal manufacturer labels, model stickers, electrical plates and original sales literature may help establish the precise relationship between the Qingfeng and Macrown versions.
Gallery
-
Shijia Yi -
Shijia Yi with conventional two-player controls -
Shijia Yi running Vs. Super Mario Bros. -
Shijia Yi with matching stools
