Help with first arcade machine!

[strykerX_X]

 I have decided to build a bartop arcade machine in my shop class, I am designing it based on the Weecade. Today I got the side panels cut out. The toughest part of the project for me will be the controls, I have already ordered the  buttons,joystick and a usb adapter. My problem, is that I don't know how many buttons Maximus Arcade takes to control, and if you can use the main playing buttons to control it?I plan on having 6 main playing buttons, what other buttons do I need (exit,back, 1 player, or credit?)

This is the usb adapter I ordered: http://www.ebay.com/itm/140600745381?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
It has the ability for up to 12 buttons and a joystick.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I WILL POST LOTS OF PICTURES WHEN I'M DONE.

[ghettodish]

Besides the game-play buttons I have 3 more (p1 start, p2 start, coin1).

p1 + p2 = exit game
p2 + Joy1 left = enter
p2 + joy1 right = tab
p2 + joy1 up = volume

[strykerX_X]

Besides the game-play buttons I have 3 more (p1 start, p2 start, coin1).

p1 + p2 = exit game
p2 + Joy1 left = enter
p2 + joy1 right = tab
p2 + joy1 up = volume

Are you using Maximus Arcade? What do you need a tab button for?
Mine is going to be single player.
Would this work?
1- one player button
1- exit button
6- playing buttons
1- Pause
1- Back button
2- buttons for volume up and down
1- 8 way joystick

Can one of the playing buttons be used to add credits, or does the 1 player button add credits?

[Thenasty]

1 player button is START for Player 1.

You can use any combination of button9s) in the MAME config.

ex: P1 Joy UP AND P1 Start = Coin 1

so when you push the Joy UP and press START 1, drops a COIN for credit for ya (this is just a sample, you can use any keys you want)



or in your example: Use the VOLUME up / down keys, so when you PRESS both at the same time, you get Credits for p1 (default = 5)

[ghettodish]

Besides the game-play buttons I have 3 more (p1 start, p2 start, coin1).

p1 + p2 = exit game
p2 + Joy1 left = enter
p2 + joy1 right = tab
p2 + joy1 up = volume

Are you using Maximus Arcade? What do you need a tab button for?
Mine is going to be single player.
Would this work?
1- one player button
1- exit button
6- playing buttons
1- Pause
1- Back button
2- buttons for volume up and down
1- 8 way joystick

Can one of the playing buttons be used to add credits, or does the 1 player button add credits?

On most of my panels I have a coin1 button between P1start and P2start.
The extra buttons in question don't have to be mounted on the control panel. I have installed buttons on the tops of cabinets and behind coin doors.
The Tab button is used to get to in-game menus.
I'm using mameuifx to start games. Sometimes I use the Mala frontend.

What are you gonna use for speakers? I use cheap, usb-powered computer speakers. I take them apart, put circuit board (with volume controller) behind the coin door, then mount the speakers where they need to be with extended wires. Once the volume is set I rarely change it. No need for dedicated buttons.

What is the Back button used for?

You wont need a Pause button. Set up your mame to save the game-state when exiting. So instead of hitting pause (like when the phone rings) just hit your exit button. When you restart your game it picks up where you left off.

[markronz]

Save states won't work on every game out there.   Whether you have dedicated buttons, or if you use button combinations, my admin keys I find "essential" for ME are:  Pause and Exit.   Pause and Exit would be their function while in MAME.  You could set the buttons to have different functions in your front end.   Like Exit would be Back in the front end.  And Pause would be Add to Gamelist or something.   Oh, and I have a coin button, but I guess I don't call this "admin".  In the end, this is the answerless "what admin buttons do I need" question.   If you search the forum you will see tons of threads that surround the "admin buttons" topic.