MAME, Here I come...

[EvanW]

Hi All,

  Long time lurker, first time posting. Why? I have FINALLY bought myself a cabinet. For years my wife said we didn't have the room. Until I sneaked an older version of MAME on her computer. Now she is right into it. I picked up a Golden Tee 2005 shell that had the monitor and boards removed. Everything else is in good shape. Working marquee light, speakers, coin door. It's all there. I found a copy of Project Arcade 2 at my local Chapters and set about reading. I plan to add a 4 player control panel to this so my nephews can all enjoy it when they come over. For joysticks so far I have purchased 2 Ultra Stik 360's, and 2 Mag Stik Plus'. I just picked up an IPAC4 and some lit buttons from Starburst in Toronto. After looking through the forum for a few days (and getting led off topic on artwork and other things, I am still confused about a few items. Probably more, once I get into it. The PA2 book is a GREAT source but I can't seem to find direct answers to some of my questions. Mainly encoder types (right vs wrong for my application). I want to light the buttons on the CP (using MALA to light needed controls for a selected game), and am wondering if this is what I need:

1 I-PAC4 (already have)
1 MINI-PAC (want to use the HAPP trackball that came with Golden Tee and hook up i hi-lo spinner for playing DOT) Can the MINI-PAC interface with a HAPP 3" track ball and a Groovy Gear hi low spinner?
1 PACLED64? Not sure about this one as Ultimarc directs me to the PAC-DRIVE for MALA control (am I reading this wrong?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. And thanks to the site owners for creating and combining this wealth of knowledge!

Thanks,

Evan

[Mario]

The Minipac is a keyboard encoder, like the Ipac, so this seems an unnecessary expense. All you want is a mouse interface. Maybe get an Optiwiz trackball interface, or to save money, just hack an old mouse (which is what I did).

Mario

[EvanW]

Thanks for the tip!

[LeedsFan]

The Minipac is a keyboard encoder, like the Ipac, so this seems an unnecessary expense. All you want is a mouse interface. Maybe get an Optiwiz trackball interface, or to save money, just hack an old mouse (which is what I did).

Mario

It depends which version of the Minipac he goes for. I was just gonna say were wrong on this... but I checked Ultimarc's website and it seems they do different versions of it now. Minipac standard is keyboard and buttons only. But Minipac Opti will also handle trackball and mouse. When I bought the Minipac some time back it always handled trackball and mouse but it seems Andy decided to offer different versions.
http://www.ultimarc.com/JShopServer/section.php?xSec=3

If I were the OP I would get the Minipac Opti which will cover all his needs. It's the I-Pac 4 that is the unnecessary expense in that case.

Or... he could go for the Opti-Pac to pair up with his I-Pac he already has. (Or the Opti-Wiz as you already mentioned)
http://www.ultimarc.com/optipac1.html

[BobA]

He already has the IPAC 4 so it should be used.   I have to agree with Mario that an optiwiz and or mouse hack is the required equipment to get trackball working.  The lighting can be handled by an LEDwiz from GGG or multiple Pacdrives or the Pacled64 from Ultimarc.    The LEDwiz seems to be the one most often used.

[EvanW]

Thanks guys,

This is really helping!

[EvanW]

The part collection process seems to be moving along nicely. Here is what I have so far:

i5 w/4 gig ram
Arcade VGA 3000
27/29" Makvision CRT
2 U360 joysticks
2 Mag Stik Plus
1 Happ 3" Trackball with USB harness
1 Spintrak spinner with USB harness
1 ipac4
25 or so Happ illuminated buttons.

My question is back to the LED controller. I looked into the PACLED64 but I don't have the connectors necessary to hook my buttons to it. It seems that you have to purchase the illuminated buttons from Ultimarc to get the harness. I've been up and down the Store but can't find it listed anywhere. I really want the required buttons to light up for each game. Will I have to go with more than 1 PAC Drive? Or something else? Same issue with LED Wiz? Need more than one of those to? I liker the advertised features of the PACLED64 but no screw terminals seems to be hampering me?

Or am I just an idiot? 

Thanks,

Evan

[BobA]

The Pacled 64 comes with connector headers but no wires.  Apparently these extensions have the pins that slip into the connectors and also have the crimpons.


Extension Harness Pack    Bundle of 10 wires for addition/replacement of harness wiring for longer connections. 4.8mm or 6.3mm connectors. Use 6.3mm version for wiring Ultralux single color LEDs to PacLED64. Use 4.8mm for all other controls.       Price: $13.00

[EvanW]

Thanks Bob!...

I must have read that page 20 times over...