a few newbie questions about CP parts

[Thraxster]

So I've decided to build myself a custom MAME cabinet from the ground up. Hopefully as cheaply as possible. I'd like to ask the other here about some of the parts I've been looking into buying for my Control Panel. I'm just looking for some pro's and con's from personal experience. I'm typing this in a bit of a hurry before work.

In the interest of saving space, I'm looking at an OMNI-Stick joy stick http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=195 I'm wondering about longevity and functionality/feel.

Ive been looking at buttons and switches from http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=373 Does anyone have experience with Versa-Micro adjustable switches? I want a switch that wont make extra noise beyond my pounding on it, with a short throw for response. I imagine the adjustable switches wear faster. I'd also like to know if the switches included with their buttons(standard soft touch) are any good or if i should upgrade to the premium soft touch.

I think im gonna get a groovygamegear 3 in trackball.

I intend to get a pair of lightgun pistols and atleast one shotgun so i can play all my favorite old shooters. I dont want to get a gun that works like a beefed up Wii-mote, I have no ideas yet as to what might best suit my purpose. anyone have suggestions?

Lastly the control interface.

I want 2 joysticks with 8 buttons apiece plus player and coin buttons. 4 pinball buttons(two to a side) 4 or 5 function buttons, a trackball with 2 or 3 buttons and hopefully some lightguns. By my novice count thats 42 switches that need to be wired in.

 Ive been considering a http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/ke72.html even tho I'll have to manually adjust the keymapping if i decide to play something other than mame. Upside being space to expand to maybe a 4 player CP if i ever decide to.

Otherwise i thought about getting a http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=76_80&products_id=303 and leaving out 2 of the pinball buttons. The UI size of this card make me want to use it.

Well it's gettin late, I have to get off to the salt mines, Thank you in advance for any help or advice you can give me. I'm really excited about this winter project and im almost done planning and blueprinting. The control panel is the last thing i need to finish. Then it's off to buy some wood!

[darcyp]

Instead of dropping buttons, one thing you could consider is wiring 2 buttons to the same input. Instead of wiring seperate pinball or trackball buttons, you could wire them into some of the player 1 or 2 buttons, since you won't be using the player 1 and 2 buttons during these games. For example I wired my 4 way joystick up to my player 1 8 way inputs, it saved me 4 inputs and I have never had any problems with it.
I have never used the omni-stick, but i would recommend seperate 8 way and 4 way joysticks. It doesnt take that much room up on the CP, and doesnt have to take any extra inputs. That way you have joysticks that work really well for their respective games, and not one that is ok at everything. Good luck!

[Thraxster]

Thanks!, I can't believe I didn't think of that. I guess in the scope of all the plans that it'd be easy to over look. I will do that! Make a secondary 1st player setup with the same inputs! Thanks again!

[Turnarcades]

For a first time build I'd recommend steering clear of the complications of light gun setups, as no current offering is perfect and it'll just give you headaches. If you really want them, add them later when you've learned a little and have the budget for them.

Also, in the interest of saving money you could also stay away from other analog controls for now. Just a thought.

[Thraxster]

I should've mentioned that due to the cost of a gun that it would be done most likely afterwards when I could get everything I'd need and when the cabinet settled. I'm planning every detail I can muster. Reading everything that seems useful. I just need to finalize my CP's parts and work everything into useable space in a comfortable way. I'm not handy with computer design so it's all by hand.

[Turnarcades]

I should've mentioned that due to the cost of a gun that it would be done most likely afterwards when I could get everything I'd need and when the cabinet settled. I'm planning every detail I can muster. Reading everything that seems useful. I just need to finalize my CP's parts and work everything into useable space in a comfortable way. I'm not handy with computer design so it's all by hand.

Picking the right PC is no isue as by now anything up to about 10 years old will cover most bases. People are still using P2's and 3's in budget and compact builds, so anything P4 and up will do most of the stuff you'll likely need. When it comes to software though, you may want to start working on that now. It took me 2 months of planning in the initial stages trying out various front-ends and configuring emulators to launch from them, and as it's the way it works and plays that will ultimately make or break your arcade machine, it's important to set something up on your desktop or intended PC first then tailor it to your final machine spec.

[Thraxster]

Holy Crap! I have not planned anything beyond the win XP that i have installed on it already. I know nothing about front ends, the most i can say about those is they exist. I read a bit about TinyXP but im not gonna bother with it. The system im using is a Pentium Dual Core each at 2.2 Ghz with 3GB of ram and a 500 GIG HDD  onboard nvidia 7600 but will be using a slightly OC XFX 8600 GT.

Might I ask what front end software you use. I think you know your stuff pretty well so I'd like your recommendation.

I was going to just open mame from the desktop, or have it autorun at startup and go from there.  There will be a Keyboard/Mouse drawer directly below the CP.

I need to do more reading in more sections here im sure.   Thank you again, I appreciate the helpful input.   im gonna putter around lookin for front end software posts and the like.

[Drnick]

Hyperspin or Mala would probably be a good choice of front end.  If it is just for Mame then Mala, if you plan on having other emulators, Nes, Snes, Genesis etc then I would go down the Hyperspin route.  And it's taken me the best part of 6 months to get Hyperspin set up just how I want it, but then again I am emulating every console that I could up to and Including the Dreamcast

[HanoiBoi]

You appear to have done some research, but wondering if you missed some things?

I don't have any experience in many of the items that you'd inquired about, so I can't speak to those, but wanted to throw a couple things out there...

Have you been to Ultimarc.com?  They have CP parts and what I believe to be one of the most widely used Keyboard encoders; the I-PAC2 (32 inputs, $39) or I-PAC4 (56 inputs, $65).
http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=2

Also, joysticks often mentioned and enjoyed are the Mag Stik Plus and the U360.  The MagStik Plus is 4way/8way TOP switchable, but without the ugly (my opinion) visible switch of the OMNI-Stick.
http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=6

If you don't get the answers that you are looking for on pushbuttons, don't spin your wheels.  They're cheap enough that you can grab what you think you'd like for starters and change them out later if you choose.  Mine have a click, but I don't find it annoying in the least.

Best of luck on your build!

[Thraxster]

AHH thats right, i forgot about that card. forgot the whole website really.  I think when i order the buttons im going to order a couple other switches so i can trade em around and see how much they differ.  The switch on top of the onmistick prodigy is a bit imposing for a classic feel. Thanks for these links.


heres an interesting question, I was wondering what kind of angle anyone else has their CP sitting at. Ive got mine slated for 100 degrees from the front top.  where the A is in the crude ascii rendering.   Ive got the monitor coming off that at 110 degrees. erm, angle CBA that is.
C
|
B_
\   --  ___
  \            -- ___
    \                   A\
      \                    \
        \____________\

[Turnarcades]

AHH thats right, i forgot about that card. forgot the whole website really.  I think when i order the buttons im going to order a couple other switches so i can trade em around and see how much they differ.  The switch on top of the onmistick prodigy is a bit imposing for a classic feel. Thanks for these links.


heres an interesting question, I was wondering what kind of angle anyone else has their CP sitting at. Ive got mine slated for 100 degrees from the front top.  where the A is in the crude ascii rendering.   Ive got the monitor coming off that at 110 degrees. erm, angle CBA that is.
C
|
B_
\   --  ___
  \            -- ___
    \                   A\
      \                    \
        \____________\

I don't really work in angles, but as a rule of thumb we drop around 2" for a 7"-14" panel front-back width, So for example, if I'm reading it right, if 'B' to 'A' on your drawing was between 7" and 14", then the height of 'B' from the base line should be 2" higher than 'A' is. Other formulas may vary depending on the cabinet type and style, but this works for us.

With regards to software, many start by using MAME32 (MAMEUI) auto-launching at startup and navigated with the joystick, but for a multi-platform setup, better emulator performance and display consistency, you should check out either a lightweight front-end like Mamewah or Mala, or something mostly pre-configured like the now-popular Hyperspin (though be advised once you dress it up HS is quite a demanding and 'heavyweight' front-end). Windows can be completely hidden in a few simple steps, and you won't need TinyXP if you do it this way as certain performance-sapping services won't start at all, whilst others can be stopped using services.msc from the 'run' option in your start menu. Having to have regular keyboard or mouse intervention is the sign of bad planning and really not required since the early days of arcade building, so do it right and you'll only have to break out those things when you wanna do some configuration editing.

[Thraxster]

Thank you, im planning an 18 inch front to back depth CP, so ill drop that 2 1/8th instead of the 3 i had planned.

I'm not too concerned with the looks of the front end. I checked out Hyperspin very briefly and it looked/felt alright for me, but im gonna check out several others before i decide. I wont likely dress up the appearance right away. Id rather get it playable sooner. Then i can play when i want to play and tinker with a second setup when it suits me.