Xbox bartop - Xtra Time

[robe_uk]

Hi All
I am currently putting together a xbox powered bartop running Vision, I plan to make it two player with 6 buttons each(do I even need that many?).  I dont know what other buttons I should plan for?
player 1 start
player 2 start
coin in
escape
??

I have 2 kade encoders for this project, do I need two or is one enough?

Any help/input welcome

Rob

[BobA]

I think the kade is basically a 1 player device so you would need 2.   Don't know anything about vision so you need whatever buttons are required to play games with the camera.  Your button selection will depend on what you are running on your bartop.   Emulators?  Front End?  You cannot plan your buttons until you decide what programs you will be running.

[PL1]

@BobA - Generally speaking, KADE has 20 inputs so it can handle a joystick and 6 buttons per player (20 inputs) if you use shifted functions for the admin buttons.

That said, I'm not familiar with the requirements for an XBox build, but the defaults in the KADE Loader program makes me think that you'd probably need two KADEs for a 2 player XBox setup.   

You might want to look at Degenatrons' XBox build thread with videos here.

+1 on sorting out your software and game list before deciding on the needed hardware.


Scott

[Superfrog]

I use my bartop just for Arcade games.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,131566.0/all.html

If you a fighter, then 6 buttons.
I think that the old console games will work to with my setup.

Good luck with building one 

[robe_uk]

Thanks for replies,
Nice build Superfrog, it is visionary I'll be using on the stock Xbox hard drive, may upgrade to full coinops later down the line. I must likely will use 6 player buttons as its better looking at than for, although on my name/hyperspin cab I have 7 player buttons but think it's mostly only 2 that gets used :s
Am more concerned about what admin buttons I'll need, I must look further into the functions of the kade, what to keep it simple for kids/wife to use.

Rob

[PL1]

You might want to use diodes like the right side of this diagram to access shifted functions with one button press.




Scott

[robe_uk]

Good idea Scott, so I could have the shift/admin tucked away so no-one can mess it up and leave just the player 1&2 start, coin in, quit along with gaming buttons on cp.
Thanks,

Rob

[degenatrons]

Hi All
I am currently putting together a xbox powered bartop running Vision, I plan to make it two player with 6 buttons each(do I even need that many?).  I dont know what other buttons I should plan for?
player 1 start
player 2 start
coin in
escape
??

I have 2 kade encoders for this project, do I need two or is one enough?

Any help/input welcome

Rob

Hey Rob,
I confirm that for xbox you would need 2 KADE's for a 2 player setup.
I generally mount dedicated shift buttons to use in combination with other buttons for admin functions.  To stay in shifted mode you can double-click.  It is also possible to connect an LED to KADE as a visible indicator that shift is active so recommend to use an LED button for your shifts.

You should consider disabling the default game exit combo (start+back) in the KADE customisation.  This prevents any accidental game exits!  You can then assign exit to a dedicated button or as a shifted function.

Good luck with your build.

[robe_uk]

Thanks Jon.
It's your bartops am basing mine off, wish I had seen your Cnc templates before I started my cad, am lucky to have my own DIY Cnc router.

I'll have more setup questions once I get things together.

Cheers Rob

[a1pharm]

If you don't play fighting games, and don't want to emulate SNES, N64, PSx, or Dreamcast, you only need 4 buttons per player (in almost all cases).

[robe_uk]

hi a1pharm
I hear what you're saying, but I think I will go with six 'just in case', am still very new to the whole emulation/gaming scene so being a newbie i let to have it all

Am thinking of having the coin and P1 P2 buttons on the flat area below the cp, so time for another question, do I need a coin button for each player or is one enough?

Thanks in advance

Rob

[PL1]

do I need a coin button for each player or is one enough?

Some games like Gauntlet, TMNT and Simpsons assign credits based on the coin slot used, so coin buttons for P1 and P2 are a good idea IMHO.


Scott

[a1pharm]

I agree with Scott: 1 coin button per player is important, especially if you trying to design a CP for all situations.  Keep in mind if you are using a Keywiz and are utilizing the Shazaam! button, you can hold down the Shazaam! + player button to activate a credit.

Also, I tried to future proof my CP with 8 buttons (for emulators).  I don't use them often, but I am glad they exist on my CP.

[robe_uk]

ok thanks again, have it in my mind what i want to do now, six player buttons, p1+p1 coin, p2+p2 coin, exit, shift button.

Been messing about on photoshop, more a learning exercise than any thing but i have put together a basic idea for the marquee, although am not sure about the green artwork as the bartop will not have any green on it. I called it Xtra Time using the xbox X as it will be powered by a xbox.

Cheers Rob

[robe_uk]

I've been asked for the original xbox picture I started with but don't see how to attach to a pm so i'll drop it here.

[robe_uk]

Bit more work done this evening, getting an idea now how the overall shape will look. Holes in bottom are to allow air into cab and holes on back top may have fans to pull air out.

[robe_uk]

Results of tonight's efforts,  I've made a frame which fits snuggly round the monitor out of 18mm mdf, this frame fits perfectly into the cab so the monitor can be held securely. I then used 6mm mdf which covers the monitor frame allowing only the screen to be seen, this will be painted gloss black, I have persex which can go in front of this also.

[johnm]

How are you linking the xbox to the monitor?

[robe_uk]

How are you linking the xbox to the monitor?

I got a s-video to vga converter from eBay, seems to work ok.

[johnm]

Ahh i went the component to vga route.

[robe_uk]

Ahh i went the component to vga route.

Well it's a video/s-video converter and I just plug the video out from the Xbox into it.


Anyway I couldn't resist a quick mock up of how it'll turn out, the cp will be a bit cramped and after reading some builds which have the cp over hanging the sides that seems like a good idea, but I'll continue on with this layout for this build.

Still have parts around the marquee to cut yet.

[robe_uk]

not much been happening lately, (that life thingy getting in way) but I have a question about setting up the xbox(if such talk is allowed)
I have the stock hard drive with visionary on it, front end is xbmc, is this a good combo?, i see people mention unleashed, I have really no idea about setting up, I know i should google more but sometimes there is information overload.
How do you get visionary to startup right away?  Also I though it would be cool to have the dvd drive available for watching movies so would going straight into visionary(vision whatever correct name is) be a good idea?

If you're not allowed to go into details on this forum is there any good guides out there for setting up the xbox as an arcade machine?

Thanks
Rob

[404]

Thanks Jon.
It's your bartops am basing mine off, wish I had seen your Cnc templates before I started my cad, am lucky to have my own DIY Cnc router.

I'll have more setup questions once I get things together.

Cheers Rob

I like the change. Really makes the marquee pop quite well and IMO resembles a more traditional arcade. 

[johnnygal2]

Ahh i went the component to vga route.

Well it's a video/s-video converter and I just plug the video out from the Xbox into it.

Hi - I'm looking to build an xbox bartop and am struggling to find anything to convert the video. Do you have a link for the item you bought?
Thanks.

[Johnny]

johnnygal2,
I'm going to use this one for my build:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190596379150?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[johnnygal2]

Thanks for that Johnny.