Whats the best method for me to create a mame from this cabinet?

[flint52]

Hello, i've been reading around this forum and online and i am still having a problem deciding what would be best/cost efficient way to create a multi jamma/mame cabinet. I have a arcade cabinet that was another game at one point and is now Vendetta. Works just fine, game is just boring after a while. I also have a small form Leveno Desktop (Pentium 4 processor) The monitor is a decent size and no burn problems. Ive been reading online and it seems 6 buttons for each player would be ideal. So i guess my question is what would be the best setup? Do i need a new wiring harness? Should i get all new buttons? Any ideas would be great.

Thanks
Ryan

[BobA]

You have to first indicate if you want to keep a 4 player cab.   I am going to assume that you do. If you do the players 3 and 4 do not need 6 buttons, 4 would probably do. To keep it jamma and also Mame you need a jpac and to make it 4 player you have to add and ipac.   To make it multi jamma you need a jamma switcher. Either a 2 or 6 board switcher.  You can keep the current harness but will have to reroute your wires for player 3 and 4 to the ipac.  The wires for player 3 and 4 probably go direct to the PCB right now.

[flint52]

BobA, thanks for the reply,  i would like a 4 player but i dont think i have the room for it as the "vendetta" was modified to fit inside the cabinet i currently have. If i decide not to keep it jamma and just a mame cabinet what would i need to do?

[Jack Burton]

If you just want to MAME it then it should be pretty easy.

If you want six buttons then you can either fashion a replacement control panel or drill holes in your existing one.  A common way to do this is to take a piece of plexiglass and have your new holes drilled in it, then apply a layer of very dark tint or a black sticker underneath.  Then attach it over your old control panel. 

Depending on the condition of your JAMMA harness you should be able to keep it.  Look and see if there is a connector for a third button for each player that is not hooked up.  If it's still there you're good to go.   You can just buy a J-pac from ultimarc and use it along with an ArcadeVGA card to allow your PC to interface with the cabinet.