Building a customized Arcade - 2 players. xbox, MAME

[consolas]

Hello everyone!

I just decided to build a customized Arcade Machine for me and my girlfriend - specially for her, to play Puzzle Bobble.

I have been reading a lot about this and follow a few sites you guys have here, on a few threads.

I have a few questions but my main one is: is there any disadvantage in using a board from an old xbox360 controller instead of an IPAC-2 board, for instance?

Since I want to use joystick with the 8 directions enable, I don't think the IPAC-2 would suffice either.

Is there any lag or known disadvantages in doing this?

The IPAC goes from 35$ where an old used xbox controller can be found for 20$ or so..

Thanks a lot guys!

Ricardo   

[PL1]

I have a few questions but my main one is: is there any disadvantage in using a board from an old xbox360 controller instead of an IPAC-2 board, for instance?

Since I want to use joystick with the 8 directions enable, I don't think the IPAC-2 would suffice either.

Bienvenidos a BYOAC, Ricardo.

The 8 directions come from only 4 switches.
Up, Up+Right, Right, Right+Down, Down, Down+Left, Left, Left+Up.

Either an IPac or hacked gamepad will work.

The only thing that might make the gamepad hack tricky is that some have 2 different grounds.  There are several threads that talk about that.

The advantage of the IPac is that you don't need to solder.

The advantage of the gamepad is the lower expense.

There are several other lower-cost encoders that you might consider.

Vigo has the ZD ReMatch if you want a gamepad-type encoder.

Degenatron's AVR Encoder is a keyboard-type encoder.

Depending on the software you want to run, there are advantages to both.


Scott

[consolas]

Hey Scott!

Thanks for the warm welcoming (by the way, I'm Portuguese, not spanish:)) and for the cared answered!

I now understand the advantages and disadvantages of getting either the IPAC or the xbox controller.

I will look into the ground situation. I'm not pro when it comes to welding but I think I can manage. Either way, the IPAC is an awesome solution as well.

Since I want two players, I would have to buy 2 xbox controllers - in this case the IPAC would be better since I just need one, correct?

Regarding the joystick and the 8 positions, I saw a board (when searching for the ipac) that allow for rotational movement or something like that - I thought that was for the joystick, probably is for trackballs or something.

I will learn more about this. I appreciate your input, I now have a starting point!

Thank you

Ricardo

[HaRuMaN]

Is this for the original Xbox?

I hack Xbox controllers.  Both the Duke and the S controller have common grounds all the way.

[consolas]

Hey Haruman

What do you mean original xbox controllers? Well, they are real xbox controllers and not third party ones if that is what you meant:)

But like I said, building an arcade for two players would get more expensive buying two controllers, right?

Ricardo

[HaRuMaN]

Well at one point you said xbox, and then you said xbox 360.  So, original xbox meaning this:



And yes, they have to be official controllers.  And yes, you would need two.

[consolas]

Well at one point you said xbox, and then you said xbox 360.  So, original xbox meaning this:



And yes, they have to be official controllers.  And yes, you would need two.

My bad, absolutely correct! I'm talking about xbox360 controllers but I guess I can go with the original one, both work and have joystick right? So all is good:)

So I think the board is the way to go, cause I want two controllers.

Nice!! Thank you!!

I've also learned about a really cool "interface", the hyperspin. Seems pretty cool!

[consolas]

I am now starting a list of required material regarding the connections and everything, I don't know yet which cables I need to buy so that is the next step.

You guys are great, thank you very much!!

[PL1]

Thanks for the warm welcoming (by the way, I'm Portuguese, not spanish:))

Arrependido sobre a confusão.   

Since I want two players, I would have to buy 2 xbox controllers - in this case the IPAC would be better since I just need one, correct?

One IPac, 2 controllers, 1 ZD ReMatch, or a Xin-Mo (several suppliers carry them) whichever you prefer.

Regarding the joystick and the 8 positions, I saw a board (when searching for the ipac) that allow for rotational movement or something like that - I thought that was for the joystick, probably is for trackballs or something.

The 12-position rotaries are for Ikari Warriors and similar games.



Scott

[consolas]

Roger!! Thank youuuu!!

[consolas]

Updates:)

I've been reading about this and as soon as I get your input (100% trustworthy in you guys) I will place my first order regarding building an arcade!

As far as I'm concerned, I want a cabinet where I can play MAME games AND xbox 360 games ( I will installed a xbox - not a permanent solution cause I may want to get it out/in several times ). I want to have two players.

I think the items I need are:

- http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html but the ipcad 2, cause is more recent: http://www.ultimarc.com/images/ipac2_top.jpg
I think for 2 players, this is enough and I wont need the larger one ( the IPAC-4).

- 2 joysticks and 16 buttons (8x2) - don't know where to buy these from but I've been told the  Sanwa JLF  are the best ones around to take a punch (fighting games). To the random puzzle bobble type games is enough as well. Don't know where to buy these from, though.

- cables to connect the joystick and buttons to the Ipac

- a cool UI, gonna go with http://hyperspin-fe.com/. Don't know any other but this seems very nice and easy to use.


what do you guys think?

Thanks a bunch!

Ricardo

[HaRuMaN]

You'll need the iPac AND the xbox 360 adapter:

http://www.ultimarc.com/xbox360.html

Or you could used hacked Xbox 360 pads on both your Xbox 360 and PC.

[consolas]

Oh boy...I didn't understand that. I think you already tried to explain that to me but I didn't get it - now I do:)

Well, need to find a solution then cause I really wanted to have both systems: xbox360 and the pc with mame.

I saw a really cool project of an xbox360 inside a cabinet but that was it - maybe it's not possible/recommended?

[HaRuMaN]

Oh boy...I didn't understand that. I think you already tried to explain that to me but I didn't get it - now I do:)

Well, need to find a solution then cause I really wanted to have both systems: xbox360 and the pc with mame.

I saw a really cool project of an xbox360 inside a cabinet but that was it - maybe it's not possible/recommended?

Sorry, I was mistaken with my post, reread it, I changed it.  ^

I didn't realize Andy had come out with Xbox 360 adapter for the iPac.

You'll need the iPac AND the xbox 360 adapter:

http://www.ultimarc.com/xbox360.html

Or you could used hacked Xbox 360 pads on both your Xbox 360 and PC.

[HaRuMaN]

Note that the iPac - 360 adapter doesn't have the Guide button, where a hacked pad would.

[consolas]

Ok, so it is possible - awesome.

What I feel is I will end up needing the IPAC-4 instead of the IPAC-2, in order to have both xbox and mame connected.

I understand on the end of the controllers everything is connected to the IPAC. But from that point on I need "2" outputs: one for the pc and one for the xbox (where I would use this adapter.

Am I completely off on this?

[HaRuMaN]

Ok, so it is possible - awesome.

What I feel is I will end up needing the IPAC-4 instead of the IPAC-2, in order to have both xbox and mame connected.

I understand on the end of the controllers everything is connected to the IPAC. But from that point on I need "2" outputs: one for the pc and one for the xbox (where I would use this adapter.

Am I completely off on this?

Nope, just the Ipac 2.  The controls just hook up to the Ipac 2, and then the Ipac 2 would either hook to your PC or Xbox 360.

[consolas]

Ok, so it is possible - awesome.

What I feel is I will end up needing the IPAC-4 instead of the IPAC-2, in order to have both xbox and mame connected.

I understand on the end of the controllers everything is connected to the IPAC. But from that point on I need "2" outputs: one for the pc and one for the xbox (where I would use this adapter.

Am I completely off on this?

Nope, just the Ipac 2.  The controls just hook up to the Ipac 2, and then the Ipac 2 would either hook to your PC or Xbox 360.

How can I hook them to both pc and xbox? I want to have both systems inside: I could get a splitter or something that I would press to enable either mame gaming or xbox gaming.

I don't know, maybe I'm not making myself clear eheh but this is all very new to me!

[consolas]

Joystick and buttons -> IPAC -> 'splitter' -> (adaptor) xbox360
                                                                -> pc
                                               
Is this correct? Or should I just get 4 xbox360 controllers (or original xbox controllers, if they are easier to hack) and connect 2 to the pc and 2 to the xbox?

I would still need a way to switch between the system being used - if I had 4 players, the player 1 and 2 would be for the pc for instance and 3 and for for the xbox but this besides taking a lot of space is just awful and ugly!

[HaRuMaN]

Not sure how a splitter would work with an Ipac.  Maybe Andy at Ultimarc could help with that question.

I know people have used a USB KVM switch with hacked 360 controllers for Xbox 360 / PC and it has worked well.

Controls -> Hacked 360 Controllers -> USB KVM -> Xbox 360
                                                                            -> PC

Only 2 hacked controllers required.

[consolas]

Not sure how a splitter would work with an Ipac.  Maybe Andy at Ultimarc could help with that question.

I know people have used a USB KVM switch with hacked 360 controllers for Xbox 360 / PC and it has worked well.

Controls -> Hacked 360 Controllers -> USB KVM -> Xbox 360
                                                                            -> PC

Only 2 hacked controllers required.

sweet! Gonna look into that. Will ask Andy at Ultimarc nevertheless what he thinks about it!

Thank you very much for all your help, buddy!!!

[HaRuMaN]

No problem!

You from Brazil?

[consolas]

I'm from Portugal!:)

[HaRuMaN]

Cool deal.  If you do end up ordering from Andy, you'll get your stuff super quick then.   

[consolas]

I will, almost 100% sure. I was looking to get the sanjwa or whats its name - I have been told they can go to war and return!:)

Just waiting for his answer and I will either go with the xbox 360 hacked or the IPAC.

[consolas]

Got an answer from Andy and apparently you can have both systems running as long as the IPAC connects directly to the switch and from that point, the switch connects to the PC via PS/2 and to the Xbox via the Xbox adapter.


With all this taken into account and bearing in mind this is my first real 'build' something big project, I think I'll stick with just Mame for now and later on I'll add the Xbox to the system:)