Another newbie? Couldn't be!

[EASports]

But it is...

OK, here we go. Did anyone read that article in Scientific American a month or two ago about the guy with a MAME cabinet? Well I did, and it spoke to me. So, long story short, I ended up here, and I want to build!

My plan is first to build just a pretty simple 2 player control panel to get my feet wet. Nothing fancy, maybe 2.5 feet by 1 foot, a couple of joysticks, 6 buttons each, and some extra buttons for the other stuff. I plan on doing a keyboard hack for this first project. I've read a lot about ghosting, but I have to ask, is it a very persistent problem, or is it pretty intermitent?

Anyways, that's gonna be my plunge into this crazy world. So I need some pointers, tips, advice, hints, suggestions, warnings, whatever people think I should know about this project, and this stuff in general.
I'd also like some info about frontends... Which and why?

Oh yeah, I should add that I'm deployed to a dreary brown location right now... Our internet is spotty at best, and many, many websites don't load. Including mame.net and mameworld.net... Thank goodness arcadecontrols loaded! But yeah, so it's a little tougher to get at all of this wonderful information, so be a pal and send me some good info!

Thanks!

[tmasman]

Honestly you won't be able to get more than 18 (if you're lucky) unghosted inputs from a hacked keyboard. Sorry to break the news to you... And the "problems" with KB hacks are persistant... It's an issue with certain key combinations either not working, or sending extra inputs...

You can hack some gamepads (sidewinders are pretty popular for this... The game port ones that can daisey chain together)...

Otherwise I'd suggest the Keywiz (http://groovygamegear.com $26.95 + about $6 shipping)...
Or you can spend 7 bucks more & not have to solder anything...

Anyhow, Don't even think of hacking a keyboard for a 2 player set-up... I've got one that works great for a 1 player set-up, but the blocking problem that most KBs have keeps you from being able to use it for that many inputs.

You could try hacking a KB & a game pad... it'd give you another cable coming from the control box, but you could avoid all the head aches...

Good luck & continue to ask any questions you might come up with.

[hyiu]

2 player with 6 buttons each and some admin buttons...

I don't think keyboard hack will do the trick...

I would suggest you get an IPAC2 or KeyWiz or some other interface...

if you're on a tight budget... then at least get 2 cheapy gameport sidewinders to hack....

I don't think a keyboard hack will work for a 2 player fighter layout....

as for other pointers.... check the examples link... and start reading.... there're reviews on almost everything....
joysticks... monitors...

you can check out plans... design thoughts... details...

just start reading.... and you should be fine...
 

good luck...

[Apollo]

All of your answers are already here on the forum. You need to go to every project on the examples page and read them first.
By the time you have done that you will know almost everything you need to know.
I suggest you invest in an IPAC2 I think you may regret doing a keyboard hack.

[CitznFish]

start here:

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=5361

[Chris]

I have a two-player, four button per player panel on a keyboard hack and I'm using just about every unghosted input.  I think that's about as far as you can go with a KB hack.   If you must have 6 buttons per player, hack a pair of gamepads or use an encoder.

--Chris

[Zapper]

The most popular frontend for cabinets would have to be MAME Wah, no mouse is needed-just use the joystick and arcade buttons to navigate. The skinning feature is great also. Game Launcher and Emulaxian are also good. If you're looking for a frontend with more of a Windows style gui give EmuLoader a try. Good Luck

MAME Wah
Game Launcher
Emulaxian
Emu Loader

[grafixmonkey]

You forgot my current favorite, 3DArcade.

http://3darcade.mameworld.net

Be ready for some rough waters configuring it, though.     It's better for giving the cab a complete "wow" sensation and for wandering aimlessly through an arcade, finding games you'd like to play...   not quite as good for just going straight to the game you want and firing it up.