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planning Donkey Kong bartop... need yer halp
ChurchOfSolipsism:
This $%&/(%"!§"$ computer just deleted my almost complete post :angry: so bear with me if I keep it as short as possible the second time around.
I'm planning to build a Donkey Kong bartop; I'll be using a 13" TV with a SCART port (?) and a 60-in-1-vertical pcb. Now there are still some questions left to be answered before I can start work, and I'd be grateful if you people could help me out. I tried searching the forum, but couldn't find the info I need or the info wasn't very clear. If there's already a thread, I'd be grateful if you could link me to it. Cheers. Anyway:
- I read that I can connect an arcade pcb to a European TV, provided it has Scart input, without having to interpose an RGB switch or similar. (I know that I'll have to make a Scart connector, but I'm good with a soldering iron so that shouldn't be too difficult). Does this really work? (Just asking because it essentially makes Superguns almost redundant for us, doesn't it?)
- So, provided this works, all I need (besides the TV and controls) for the hardware is a pcb and a Jamma wiring harness (like this one http://www.arcadeshop.de/Steckverbinder-Jamma-Kabelbaum_301.html )?
- Does anyone here have the exact measures for the original DK cab (including the size of the buttons etc.)?
- I read that there are more or less original versions of the 60-in1-pcbs and bootlegs; can anybody tell me if the one that arcadeshop.de sells is legit? Or should I order one of the really expensive ones from lizardlick? What are the drawbacks of the cheaper versions? I'm not a hardcore Donkey Kong connoisseur/ player, so the odd sound effect her and there won't bug me much...
javeryh:
I highly recommend that you just use MAME for something like this. You will be able to play a lot more games than what comes with a 60-1 and connection to the monitor shouldn't give you any trouble. I don't have exact dimensions but if you check Jakobud's site he has plans there that are either exact or close enough. As for the hardware - take a look at Mike's Arcade - they sell just about everything that goes into a DK cabinet. There are lots of people around here who have built something DK-related (including me). I'm sure you will get plenty of help.
apfelanni:
a scart tv , the fitting mamepc to scart cable , a computer p4 or better , a keyboard controller like ipac and some quality buttons and sticks . thats all it takes . forget bout the 100x pcbs . spare the cash for other components. in case u dont want to plug in lots of original game pcbs theres no need for the jamma stuff.
BobA:
Everyone seems to discourage using the 60 in 1 boards but they are quite easy to use and give you a jamma compatible cab for very little cost. The link to the PCB is illegal on this forum and the board is also illegal as no 60 in 1s are legal. Some are more dependable than others so buy from a recognized supplier and you should not have any problems. There have been some dk bartops built and some look very nice. Search may find them for you.
Sorry I am in Canada and ther are no SCART connectors here for me to comment. I used the switch on the 60 in 1 to output VGA as used monitors are very easy to get. All you need it 2 or 3 play buttons 1 joystick 1p and 2p start and 1 coin in unless you set to free play. A trackball is optional. Any arcade PS or a PC PS will work.
ChurchOfSolipsism:
@ javeryh and apfelanni: Cheers for the tips fellas. Re: the 60-in1-thing, I already have a mamefied Candy Cab and a (vertical) bartop for shmupping that play everything I want to play; this time, I'm going for the authentic PCB-experience, including a 4-way-stick. I know that the 100-in-1 upwards units are nothing but (relatively cheap) Mame-PCs, but according to everything I've read the 60-in-1-units are the real deal - no emulation, which is what I want. By the way, I checked out all Donkey Kong bartop threads, but there's still some info I'm lacking.
@BobA: Thanks for the info, I removed the link to the 60-in-1-pcb. Re: the monitor, I don't know man, if I can't emulate the scanlines via Mame, won't the picture look not-arcade-athentic at all? As I said above, I'd like this thing to be as authentic as possible (as far as it's reasonable).
So, does anybody else have experience with Jamma setups and Scart-TVs?