Two-Headed Beast -- Finished

[Nephasth]

Holy ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, 10 pages!

I wired up that VGA breakout board this morning (boring stuff, I know). Went really smooth and it looks a lot cleaner inside the cab without those hacked VGA cables. Here's a shot of the rat's nest that is my interface panel:



I'm going to run longer power harnesses for the monitors as well as their earth ground, so that they can be zip tied back out of the way. Once that's done, I'll put up some pics of under the hood...

I just posted the Beast over on the Hyperspin forums the other day. I took some new pics to post over there and thought I'd drop 'em off here for those that don't frequent those boards.





The last one was taken while the HS wheel was on the SNES bootleg for Killer Instinct (and before my last monitor repairs). Only because it lights up the majority of all the buttons and joysticks. Those are also what I have set for MAME's default control colors.

[Woodshop Flunky]

Wow!  I really... really like this build!  Everything looks top notch.  But even more than the quality and creativity of your cab... it just looks like it would be a blast to play with a friend!

Excellent job! 

[TopJimmyCooks]

Looks like it's ready for a reveal vid.   

[MacGyver]

I think I see a short in the black wire. 

Seriously though, that is an impressive wiring job.  It looks like a jet fighters wiring harness (only in black).
 

My idea of cord control is a well placed zip-tie here or there. At least I know now not to post the underside of my control panel. 

[Nephasth]

Wow!  I really... really like this build!  Everything looks top notch.  But even more than the quality and creativity of your cab... it just looks like it would be a blast to play with a friend!

Excellent job! 

Seriously though, that is an impressive wiring job.  It looks like a jet fighters wiring harness (only in black).

Thanks a lot for the kind words guys!

I decided to make a little video showing the Beast in operation. It's by no means perfect (hey, it's a Beast), but it has come a long way. I've just started messing around with different cabinet animations and really need to take some time to site down and make some new ones and some more game specific ones. Right now I only have a game specific cabinet animation for Mortal Kombat. I just threw something together pretty quick to see how it works. The video quality sucks and the volume is low, so you may want to turn up the volume on your end (no devil music this time ). But this will give you a good idea what the cab is like during use.

Looks like it's ready for a reveal vid.   

Getting closer. This isn't the "reveal" video.

[millercentral]

As so many others have said, this really is an inspirational project. The button "light rings" are the coolest use of LEDs on a cabinet I've seen yet, I'm definitely going to steal that idea for my cab refresh.

One (unrelated) question... How do you manage the dual screens? Are you mirroring the the output, or only using the second screen side for dual screen games?

[PL1]

How do you manage the dual screens? Are you mirroring the the output, or only using the second screen side for dual screen games?

Nep's running the same video signal to both screens using a VGA splitter described in his posts here and here.


Scott

[Nephasth]

As so many others have said, this really is an inspirational project. The button "light rings" are the coolest use of LEDs on a cabinet I've seen yet, I'm definitely going to steal that idea for my cab refresh.

One (unrelated) question... How do you manage the dual screens? Are you mirroring the the output, or only using the second screen side for dual screen games?

Thanks miller! As PL1 said, both screens are mirrored. The second side is actually the side players 2 and 4 play on. I'm glad I laid the players out like this, otherwise I don't think the second side would have hardly got any play.

[mytymaus007]

Wow!  I really... really like this build!  Everything looks top notch.  But even more than the quality and creativity of your cab... it just looks like it would be a blast to play with a friend!

Excellent job! 

Seriously though, that is an impressive wiring job.  It looks like a jet fighters wiring harness (only in black).

Thanks a lot for the kind words guys!

I decided to make a little video showing the Beast in operation. It's by no means perfect (hey, it's a Beast), but it has come a long way. I've just started messing around with different cabinet animations and really need to take some time to site down and make some new ones and some more game specific ones. Right now I only have a game specific cabinet animation for Mortal Kombat. I just threw something together pretty quick to see how it works. The video quality sucks and the volume is low, so you may want to turn up the volume on your end (no devil music this time ). But this will give you a good idea what the cab is like during use.

Looks like it's ready for a reveal vid.   

Getting closer. This isn't the "reveal" video.

Looks awesome great job! Just wondering what USB devices you have that are conflicting with HS

[Nephasth]

Thanks!

My USB controllers are conflicting with HS. I've got a Lono² and 2 U360s. The problem goes away when all three are unplugged, but when I plug in just one (doesn't matter which) HS stutters on startup. Apparently it's a known issue.

[mytymaus007]

Thanks!

My USB controllers are conflicting with HS. I've got a Lono² and 2 U360s. The problem goes away when all three are unplugged, but when I plug in just one (doesn't matter which) HS stutters on startup. Apparently it's a known issue.

Thats ashame I hope HS guru's are on it. I was thinking about getting u360 but i might hold off. the last time my HS stuttered like that is when i had a my weak AMD system sure enough threw that away what a waste Been running 200% ever since i upgrade to a i5 core 2500k  Good Luck!! and nice work!

[Nephasth]

The HS team isn't working on HS anymore. But they are working on HS2 and supposedly this issue has been corrected. Now it would just get released...

The stuttering doesn't really bother me. I turn the machine on and go play a few games of skeeball while I'm waiting for it to do its thing.

[BadMouth]

Did you ever get a light gun to test out?

[Nephasth]

No, they ended up being composite guns, not VGA. AimTraks someday...

[patm95]

I love that video.  I am loving those LEDs.  That is perfect with the two monitor setup doing multiplayer.

[drventure]

Hey Neph

One thing I noticed in the Vid is that your button led's seem to fade in and out +while+ windows is booting up.

I must have missed something in your build thread. Do you have an arduino or something controlling the LEDS on boot? Or is that some feature of the particular LED controller you're using?

And definitely great use of LEDs on those invader cutouts. I love that effect!

[Nephasth]

I love that video.  I am loving those LEDs.  That is perfect with the two monitor setup doing multiplayer.

And definitely great use of LEDs on those invader cutouts. I love that effect!

Thanks for the compliments guys!

Hey Neph

One thing I noticed in the Vid is that your button led's seem to fade in and out +while+ windows is booting up.

I must have missed something in your build thread. Do you have an arduino or something controlling the LEDS on boot? Or is that some feature of the particular LED controller you're using?

Hmm, I guess I never discussed that animation in this thread. I use PACLED64s for my CP lighting. One feature of Andy's LED controllers is that they have the ability to run a programmed animation without the presence of a computer, as long as they have a power source. The animation you're seeing while the computer is booting up is the stock animation programmed into the PACLED64s. The end user can program in their own animation if they so wish. Can't do this with my cabinet lighting though, as they're ran off of an LED-Wiz...

[Le Chuck]

I have great respect for the LED work and others do (Santorini comes to mind) however I can't seem to bring myself to include it in any designs I do.  Perhaps I'll eventually do a low boy with no art that is centered around lighting.  It seems that when you mix lights and art one over powers the other.  Yours, as with other great lit cabs, really highlights the lighting and form.  Kuddos for finding the right mix.

[drventure]

One feature of Andy's LED controllers is that they have the ability to run a programmed animation without the presence of a computer, as long as they have a power source. The animation you're seeing while the computer is booting up is the stock animation programmed into the PACLED64s. The end user can program in their own animation if they so wish. Can't do this with my cabinet lighting though, as they're ran off of an LED-Wiz...

Ah, that would explain it. Yeah, i'm using 3 ledwiz 32's so no cool power on anims for me. (unless it convert to a pacled, I guess).

Good to know, in any case. Thanks!

[Nephasth]

FINISHED!

Finally got around to cleaning up the wiring inside the cab...


Here's a slideshow style video covering the progress of the project:


Somehow, the last part of the credits got cutoff during the conversion of the video, here are the ones that were left out:
Mamefreak2
MacGyver
Millercentral
Mytymaus007
Patm95
RandyT
PBJ... RIP
And the rest of BYOAC!

The Beast is finally finished. There will be no more updates to this thread, unless I ever get around to adding guns to the cab. Thanks again everyone!

[yotsuya]

 

And I made the credits!! 

[Malenko]

no love for me



looks good bro!

[Nephasth]

no love for me



looks good bro!

You're 3rd on the list under Inspiration and Motivation!

[selfie]

This cab is an amazing conversion with epic wiring. 

[Nephasth]

This cab is an amazing conversion with epic wiring. 

Thanks selfie!

[Woodshop Flunky]

I've said it before, but this is a top-shelf build. 

I like to show my son the amazing cabs on this forum, but I can't show him this one.  If I did, he would wheel his back into the shop and demand I build another and join the two together.   

Again... great job!

[Well Fed Games]

Truly a work of art! As been said many times, the metal CPs + LEDs is inspired. Love the summary video too! 

[BadMouth]

Finished?   
They are NEVER finished. 

jk, EPIC build!!!!!!!

[Malenko]

no love for me



looks good bro!

You're 3rd on the list under Inspiration and Motivation!

oh yeah there I am! missed it the first time. I got left off of Pixelhuggers's credits for not doing anything, I didnt want it to happen again, lol

Im almost as happy as you are that the cab is done, HALL OF FAME for lightning and 2 monitor set ups IMO

[drventure]

Nice vid.

And even nicer cabinet! 

Those glowing invaders are the perfect touch, and they work even while the cab is booting.   

Pure Sweetness.

[Nephasth]

I've said it before, but this is a top-shelf build. 

I like to show my son the amazing cabs on this forum, but I can't show him this one.  If I did, he would wheel his back into the shop and demand I build another and join the two together.   

Again... great job!

  The reactions kids get from seeing this the first time make it all worth it. Many thanks on the compliments, but I do feel like I cheated a little since build required practically zero woodworking skills...

Truly a work of art! As been said many times, the metal CPs + LEDs is inspired. Love the summary video too! 

Thanks! Early on I planned on CPOs, but after getting the CPs from DMEN, there was no way I could cover up that beautiful metal.

Finished?   
They are NEVER finished. 

jk, EPIC build!!!!!!!

  Nope, but you got to draw the line somewhere. It's been "done" for months and getting used frequently, but the loose ends have finally been tied up. Looking forward to tweaking the Beast down the road though!

oh yeah there I am! missed it the first time. I got left off of Pixelhuggers's credits for not doing anything, I didnt want it to happen again, lol

Im almost as happy as you are that the cab is done, HALL OF FAME for lightning and 2 monitor set ups IMO

I wouldn't forget ya! I'm still wanting to copy you stuffing large monitors in tight spaces...

Nice vid.

And even nicer cabinet! 

Those glowing invaders are the perfect touch, and they work even while the cab is booting.   

Pure Sweetness.

Thanks drventure! Just a quick note, the invaders don't light during the booting process, they're on the LED-Wiz.

[drventure]

Thanks drventure! Just a quick note, the invaders don't light during the booting process, they're on the LED-Wiz.

Doh. I meant the button lights. Regardless, cool effect.

[TalentedM]

  Great job! Looks amazing!

[jmike]

     
Absolutely amazing work Nephasth. Has it really been 2 years? I still remember asking you for the Run and Gun 2 board when you were trying to sell them. I think this is one of the best (if not the best) wiring job I've ever seen. Thanks for including me in the credits.

On to the next one   



 

[lcmgadgets]

Omg. That is absolutely amazing. Sigh...

[TopJimmyCooks]

Really good stuff.  My favorite 4 player I've seen. 

[Santoro]

!nice!

[AzureKnight]

This is some very nice work, I was a huge Tournament Cyberball player back in the day and I have to say...seeing the cabinet come back to life in this fashion is incredible.  Very nice work!

-AK

[a1pharm]

   ...Wow...  just... wow... 

[kahlid74]

Great stuff indeed man!  Inspiration for a great project!