Double Cabinet

[blub50]

OK guys, tell me if this is a dumb idea...If you use a lcd monitor then the cabinet can be much thinner, allowing a double cabinet to be constructed back to back....controls split allowing for smaller control panels...running on two monitors...would there be a way to run both at the same time from one computer, or would it take two...I have never seen anything like I'm describing...I'm a furniture-maker and am trying to use my ability to make something cool...any thoughts or improvements on this idea would be great!!

[Player 3]

OK guys, tell me if this is a dumb idea...If you use a lcd monitor then the cabinet can be much thinner, allowing a double cabinet to be constructed back to back....controls split allowing for smaller control panels...running on two monitors...would there be a way to run both at the same time from one computer, or would it take two...I have never seen anything like I'm describing...I'm a furniture-maker and am trying to use my ability to make something cool...any thoughts or improvements on this idea would be great!!

What do you mean? Are the games you plan on running normally have two screens? A regular PC with the appropriate video card (read: any recent card) can run dual monitors.

[Drnick]

Another user on here has the same idea

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=120250.0

[PL1]

OK guys, tell me if this is a dumb idea...If you use a lcd monitor then the cabinet can be much thinner, allowing a double cabinet to be constructed back to back....controls split allowing for smaller control panels...running on two monitors...would there be a way to run both at the same time from one computer, or would it take two...I have never seen anything like I'm describing...I'm a furniture-maker and am trying to use my ability to make something cool...any thoughts or improvements on this idea would be great!!

If you are talking about two players playing one game where each player has their own monitor and their own set of controls then definitely yes--as long as your video card can handle multiple monitors.

Almost all of the cards that do that can easily output the same view to two monitors at the same time.

Not sure if games like T-Mek where each monitor shows just that player's POV will work. Does anyone have/know of a MAME system that will do this?


Scott

Edit: Found a list of MAME 2 monitor games in this thread and there's a good description of how to configure MAME for multiple screens on this page.

[capsule]

If your video card can't output to 2 monitors, then it's probably pre-AGP. In this case, you can use 2 PCI video cards... Problem solved 

[Nephasth]

VGA splitter...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=108719.0

[HanoiBoi]

Not a dumb idea.  Well, I hope not because I've given it much thought.

For the cab design, you don't need to be a furniture maker.  You just need a cab that is symmetrical from the side.  I'm thinking like the Tron cab.

I don't have my (sad) drawings with me at the moment, but I believe I came up with a way to use two systems as separate machines or to share the monitors as one game.  It would require 2 ipacs, a KVM and if I recall correctly, 2 PCs.

I'll have to find my drawings and revisit this.

[ABACABB]

Sure.  I have thought about doing something like this to make room for 4 players.  I have a 2 player cab now and I like it's setup so instead of scrapping it to build a 4 player CP, I would just build another 2 player cab to set beside/behind.  They would share the same pc but each have own monitor and controls.

[Thenasty]

I made one but with 2 monitors (1 Horizontal, 1 Vertical) in one cabinet.

I just flick a switch to switch which monitor will be in use according to the game.

[HanoiBoi]

They would share the same pc but each have own monitor and controls.

How would you do this?   Can you run separate instances of MAME on one PC?

[BadMouth]

VGA splitter...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=108719.0

+1

If you want the same thing on both screens and don't need a higher resolution than VGA can support, it makes no sense to not just use a VGA splitter.

Having the computer draw 2 screens results in more overhead.  Depending on the games you intend to play, it could result in a noticeable performance hit.
For example, Ridge Racer plays flawlessly on my laptop, but if I duplicate the screen on my TV, it chokes.
If I run only the TV screen, it runs fine. 
I know the video card supposed to be doing all the work, but some kind of extra overhead is coming into play.

[Nephasth]

Also check out this one: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=108974.0

Don't know if he ever finished it though...

[ABACABB]

They would share the same pc but each have own monitor and controls.

How would you do this?   Can you run separate instances of MAME on one PC?

Oh I don't know of running multiple mame on 1 pc, I was referring to what these other guys are talking about. Vga splitter or dual output video card so both displays would be the same.  You could have a 4 player setup without being jammed in around a single 4-player control panel was my thought on this.

Now the chances of me ever actually doing this are about 10%. The chances of my wife letting me do this are much closer to 0%. But hey, I can dream right!!

[blub50]

Thanks for all the input...I am thinking of running two games at once...spinner, flight-stick and lightgun games on one side, joystick and trackball games on the other...with 2 PCs its a no brainer...But im not computer savvy enough to know if it can be done with only one (and no drop off in performance)...it wouldnt cost all that much more to build a double cab...a used PC and a second monitor...and the nice part is you dont end up with a frankenpanel...I love  the "Aliens" machine, with its green and black color scheme...I'm leaning that way with everything lit with LEDs...

[paigeoliver]

Eh, the good use of a double cabinet is not to cram a bunch more controls on the other side, but to get a more usable 2 or 4 player experience.

If you just want the maximum controls frankenpanel experience than an island style cocktail with 4 sides of controls will serve you best.

[HanoiBoi]

Thanks for all the input...I am thinking of running two games at once...spinner, flight-stick and lightgun games on one side, joystick and trackball games on the other...with 2 PCs its a no brainer...But im not computer savvy enough to know if it can be done with only one (and no drop off in performance)...it wouldnt cost all that much more to build a double cab...a used PC and a second monitor...and the nice part is you dont end up with a frankenpanel...I love  the "Aliens" machine, with its green and black color scheme...I'm leaning that way with everything lit with LEDs...

Sure that's a no brainer.  Building two separate MAME PCs in the same cabinet is no issue.  Just be sure to think of ventilation.

I think you had everyone thinking that you also wanted the two sides to sometimes work together as one when you mentioned "controls split ..".  That's what I'm thinking, at least.