Hello All. I have been lingering on these sites for just over a month and am super stoked on a lot of these projects going on.
About a month ago, I started a project with getting a MAME machine going w/ iPAC (56 connections). I posted some pictures as well below.
After some time and consideration, I really want to enjoy the new fighters coming out for the PS3 (not a fanboy). I recently bought the 10$ connection to use w/ my PS arcade stick from gamester. Everything was plug and play... just had to set buttons for operational tasks in MAME.
I am sure most of you know where this is going...
This made me think more about how I want to go about this. I decided to spend $21 (all $ is American here on out) for the four PS1/2 controllers to a single USB and $5 per PSX (no analogs) from the local flee market. Something else I am a much longer fan of is Dreamcast EMU. For another $50 or so, I can get connectors so the PSX controller ends go right into an adapter to connect to dreamcast. This will make my all HAPP CP work with MAME, PS2, PS3 and Dreamcast w/ EMU for $90 vs $80 to get the iPAC for just MAME. I may decide to tank the Dreamcast, though I am in love with nesterdc but will save my initial design to $41 dollars. Otherwise, I can just get 4 DC controllers (not sure of the price) and dual wire them and just have a switch for the ground between the two.
Another consideration is to ONLY do consoles and not the MAME on the PC... Reason is that the DC can run MAME though I could see many limitations with game sizes and swapping CD's... Also, have NEVER used MAME on the DC.
For the CP, I was considering having it "resemble" the buttons on the PSX gamepad. They are going to be the black HAPP competition convex buttons. I was going to get the sticky vinyl decals to have the pictures on the buttons for each symbol.
I still need to order the CP parts and come up with a design. I am thinking 2 - 4 players. Don't really have any friends so 2 players will most likely be perfect for my wife and I and if family comes over. Definitely want a CHEAP trackball and spinner, eventually...
I feel like if I use the PSX controllers, I am a "poser" (sorry, comes from my skateboarding days

)
Oh and I love McDonalds

LOL j/k... I love that character.
The other funny part to my build is that, all the tools i have to use is a circular saw, a sawzal, a hand jig saw thing, a drill, a sander and a hammer

Not much of a wood worker though things come out pretty decent. I still need to consider how I want to do the top section regarding speaker placement, marquee, etc... Also, i have a 27" TV going in w/ composite and svideo. At this point, I want to finish everything up though care much more about getting the function and then worry about the artwork.
PLEASE, any feedback and criticism is greatly appreciated... Now that I have joined, my wife will feel releaved that I will work with the master minds on this forum vs asking her opinion on things that go over her head.
TIA for everyones time reading this.
