DDR Marque Lamps

I've been working on a DDR (Konami) game, 6th mix. I fixed the worst problem (somehow, the top speaker harness was disconnected).

While I was up there, it was hard not to notice the two dead marquee lamps - they were Japanese lamps (metric size), so I ordered them from someone on epay, and he sent along the FL-20SSW18s.

I installed them, and nothing. I'm suspecting the starters have gone (FG1E), but I'll check power to the displays first.

Does anyone have experience with these? What is the most popular failure mode - the starter or the ballast or what?

Natch, it's a beautiful, Japanese ballast as well. This will be fun.