diff --git a/src/emu/video/mb_vcu.c b/src/emu/video/mb_vcu.c
index de2d0fdad88..4c92bb62b7c 100644
--- a/src/emu/video/mb_vcu.c
+++ b/src/emu/video/mb_vcu.c
@@ -156,33 +156,11 @@ mb_vcu_device::mb_vcu_device(const machine_config &mconfig, const char *tag, dev
 		device_video_interface(mconfig, *this),
 		m_videoram_space_config("videoram", ENDIANNESS_LITTLE, 8, 19, 0, NULL, *ADDRESS_MAP_NAME(mb_vcu_vram)),
 		m_paletteram_space_config("palram", ENDIANNESS_LITTLE, 8, 16, 0, NULL, *ADDRESS_MAP_NAME(mb_vcu_pal_ram)),
+		m_cpu(*this),
 		m_palette(*this)
 {
 }
 
-//-------------------------------------------------
-//  device_config_complete - perform any
-//  operations now that the configuration is
-//  complete
-//-------------------------------------------------
-
-void mb_vcu_device::device_config_complete()
-{
-	// inherit a copy of the static data
-	const mb_vcu_interface *intf = reinterpret_cast<const mb_vcu_interface *>(static_config());
-	if (intf != NULL)
-	{
-		*static_cast<mb_vcu_interface *>(this) = *intf;
-	}
-
-	// or initialize to defaults if none provided
-	else
-	{
-		m_cpu_tag = NULL;
-		//m_screen_tag = NULL;
-	}
-}
-
 //-------------------------------------------------
 //  device_validity_check - perform validity checks
 //  on this device
@@ -200,7 +178,6 @@ void mb_vcu_device::device_validity_check(validity_checker &valid) const
 void mb_vcu_device::device_start()
 {
 	// TODO: m_screen_tag
-	m_cpu = machine().device<cpu_device>(m_cpu_tag);
 	m_ram = auto_alloc_array_clear(machine(), UINT8, 0x800);
 	m_palram = auto_alloc_array_clear(machine(), UINT8, 0x100);
 
diff --git a/src/emu/video/mb_vcu.h b/src/emu/video/mb_vcu.h
index 6c079c2ff45..9b8a7827b2a 100644
--- a/src/emu/video/mb_vcu.h
+++ b/src/emu/video/mb_vcu.h
@@ -1,44 +1,20 @@
 // license: ?
 // copyright-holders: Angelo Salese
-/***************************************************************************
-
-Template for skeleton device
-
-***************************************************************************/
-
 #pragma once
 
 #ifndef __MB_VCUDEV_H__
 #define __MB_VCUDEV_H__
 
 
-
-//**************************************************************************
-//  INTERFACE CONFIGURATION MACROS
-//**************************************************************************
-
-#define MCFG_MB_VCU_ADD(_tag,_freq,_config, _palette_tag) \
-	MCFG_DEVICE_ADD(_tag, MB_VCU, _freq) \
-	MCFG_DEVICE_CONFIG(_config) \
-	mb_vcu_device::static_set_palette_tag(*device, "^" _palette_tag);
-
 //**************************************************************************
 //  TYPE DEFINITIONS
 //**************************************************************************
 
-// ======================> mb_vcu_interface
-
-struct mb_vcu_interface
-{
-	const char         *m_cpu_tag;
-};
-
 // ======================> mb_vcu_device
 
 class mb_vcu_device : public device_t,
 						public device_memory_interface,
-						public device_video_interface,
-						public mb_vcu_interface
+						public device_video_interface
 {
 public:
 	// construction/destruction
@@ -46,6 +22,7 @@ public:
 
 	// static configuration
 	static void static_set_palette_tag(device_t &device, const char *tag);
+	static void set_cpu_tag(device_t &device, const char *tag) { downcast<mb_vcu_device &>(device).m_cpu.set_tag(tag); }
 
 	// I/O operations
 	DECLARE_WRITE8_MEMBER( write_vregs );
@@ -65,7 +42,6 @@ public:
 
 protected:
 	// device-level overrides
-	virtual void device_config_complete();
 	virtual void device_validity_check(validity_checker &valid) const;
 	virtual void device_start();
 	virtual void device_reset();
@@ -81,7 +57,6 @@ private:
 	UINT8 m_status;
 	UINT8 *m_ram;
 	UINT8 *m_palram;
-	cpu_device *m_cpu;
 	UINT16 m_param_offset_latch;
 
 	INT16 m_xpos, m_ypos;
@@ -95,6 +70,7 @@ private:
 	double m_weights_r[2];
 	double m_weights_g[3];
 	double m_weights_b[3];
+	required_device<cpu_device>     m_cpu;
 	required_device<palette_device> m_palette;
 };
 
@@ -103,11 +79,14 @@ private:
 extern const device_type MB_VCU;
 
 
-
 //**************************************************************************
-//  GLOBAL VARIABLES
+//  INTERFACE CONFIGURATION MACROS
 //**************************************************************************
 
+#define MCFG_MB_VCU_CPU(_tag) \
+	mb_vcu_device::set_cpu_tag(*device, "^"_tag);
 
+#define MCFG_MB_VCU_PALETTE(_palette_tag) \
+	mb_vcu_device::static_set_palette_tag(*device, "^" _palette_tag);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/mazerbla.c b/src/mame/drivers/mazerbla.c
index 7dc96cfac2a..74f20cc242e 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/mazerbla.c
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/mazerbla.c
@@ -1466,11 +1466,6 @@ void mazerbla_state::machine_reset()
 	m_maincpu->set_irq_acknowledge_callback(device_irq_acknowledge_delegate(FUNC(mazerbla_state::irq_callback),this));
 }
 
-static const mb_vcu_interface vcu_interface =
-{
-	"sub2"
-};
-
 static MACHINE_CONFIG_START( mazerbla, mazerbla_state )
 
 	/* basic machine hardware */
@@ -1493,7 +1488,9 @@ static MACHINE_CONFIG_START( mazerbla, mazerbla_state )
 	MCFG_CPU_VBLANK_INT_DRIVER("screen", mazerbla_state,  irq0_line_hold)
 
 	/* synchronization forced on the fly */
-	MCFG_MB_VCU_ADD("vcu",SOUND_CLOCK/4,vcu_interface,"palette")
+	MCFG_DEVICE_ADD("vcu", MB_VCU, SOUND_CLOCK/4)
+	MCFG_MB_VCU_CPU("sub2")
+	MCFG_MB_VCU_PALETTE("palette")
 
 	/* video hardware */
 	MCFG_SCREEN_ADD("screen", RASTER)
@@ -1530,7 +1527,9 @@ static MACHINE_CONFIG_START( greatgun, mazerbla_state )
     */
 	MCFG_CPU_VBLANK_INT_DRIVER("screen", mazerbla_state,  irq0_line_hold)
 
-	MCFG_MB_VCU_ADD("vcu",SOUND_CLOCK/4,vcu_interface,"palette")
+	MCFG_DEVICE_ADD("vcu", MB_VCU, SOUND_CLOCK/4)
+	MCFG_MB_VCU_CPU("sub2")
+	MCFG_MB_VCU_PALETTE("palette")
 
 	/* video hardware */
 	MCFG_SCREEN_ADD("screen", RASTER)