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My first project: PiCade, low cost arcade emulator.
wussie:
So not too long ago I was doing some research into possible emulators I could run in my car for the kids during long trips. I came across the Raspberry Pi. For those of you who don't know, long story short it's an ARM based computer for $35 ($25 if you get the model A). I ordered one and am expecting it in a few months. While brain storming what I was going to do with my slice of Pi, it came to me I ought to do something with it when I'm not on long road trips with kids in tow. It occurred to me if I was going to already have it setup with a front end to be able to run emulators, it'd be simple to set up an arcade cab using it. That impetus has spurred me to create what will possibly be the lowest budget arcade cabinet ever. I'm trying to decide between $100 and $150. The purists in here may want to turn away now. It aint gonna be pretty. To keep it under budget I've decided (unless someone can point me to a seriously low cost source of arcade control sticks and buttons, and a cheap easy encoder option) to go with cheap USB joysticks. How cheap depends on what budget I want to stick to, and how long I want it to last before I get fed up with the controls. For everyone that didn't turn away, I'd welcome your input at this point. I have a few months to wait till I get the computer itself. My boss at work has an extra CRT TV he's giving me which will serve as the monitor and speakers for the rig (I really hope it has last channel power on) and a friend has some extra wood laying around. I've got everything for the computer aside from powersupply. I've only spent $44 so far. I can either order cheapo USB joysticks (the kind with suction cups on the bottom) and possibly keep the budget under $100, or I can go with something better, like a mayflash USB joystick for $25 each and keep the budget under $150.
Thoughts?
P-chan:
Plenty of budget (real)sticks out there, even under $10....
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=290
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=371
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65&products_id=370
capsule:
Hi Wussie,
"Real" sticks and buttons are cheap and a cheap way to connect them is to use an hacked USB gamepad. I'm pretty sure you can find an old one at some garage sale for a few bucks.
I personally used (btw, hello there, I will present my new projects very soon ;-)) "Thrustmaster Firestorm Digital 3" gamepads, bought them for 8 euros each. They are easy to hack (nice wide tracks to solder on).
You could go for a keyboard hack too but new keyboards have tiny tracks, it's very hard to solder them. BUT, keyboard hack IS the cheapest way to connect arcade controls, you can always find a dead keyboard somewhere.
I also think buying a used cab is cheaper than building your own. I had mine for 50 euros (the monitor was dead but as you said, people are giving CRT TVs or monitors away, that said a friend was moving a gave his 19" CRT monitor to me). Don't forget to consider the tools cost, you need a bunch of tools to build you own and your budget will explode immediately if you don't already have them.
I've been thinking about using a Rasperry Pi computer too in a cab, I think that's the future of retrogaming ;-)
Anyway, good luck with your project, I'm curious to see how a Pi can handle mame or other emulators.
johncl:
Great idea, I am also expecting a R-Pi and is also planning to use it either for C64 emulation or Mame. I have always wanted to do a real full standup Donkey Kong machine, but I am tempted into making a small bartop one instead using the Pi and a cheap and used 4:3 15" LCD. If you get Mame compiled and running well for the R-Pi, please keep us posted here as I would love to get hold of some compiled binaries for that. For controls I was thinking of dismantling/mounting some old digital joystick for an 8bit system (one with microswitches), preferabely something with a low stick (like the Donkey Kong one). The CP would ofc be shrunk as well, but wide enough to still be able to play it well.
JayB:
--- Quote from: capsule on April 30, 2012, 05:05:18 am ---I personally used (btw, hello there, I will present my new projects very soon ;-)) "Thrustmaster Firestorm Digital 3" gamepads, bought them for 8 euros each. They are easy to hack (nice wide tracks to solder on).
--- End quote ---
Sorry to hijack but, when you say easy to hack, how easy on the thrustmaster? Looking for an alternative to the minipac and have seen hacks on joypads done but some require drilling or a bit more work than others do. Was it just a case of soldering wires to LRUD and then buttons?
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