What to buy for a MAME control panel (EU)

[Raitsa]

Hi guys.

I am going to finish a control panel for the cabinet below.

I have been using an X-Arcade as a temporary solution for a long time but now its time for something better.

Thinking of these:
2 joysticks
trackball
12 buttons in total for both player 1 and 2
1 Player button
2 Players button
Pinball buttons on the sides
USB-cable connection to the PC instead of ps2

I am located in Finland, so EU is preferred to buy from.
I only play MAME stuff.

So, what do I need and where should i buy em from?

Using a modern PC with the latest MAME + Win10.
Intel I7-2600K, Akasa Freedom Multi platform cooler
Gainward GTX 980 Triple fan
Crucial M4 256GB SSD
Asus P8P67 PRO B3
Kingston Hyper X Blu DDR3 12gb
Chieftec ATX 750W PFC
Cooler master HAF-X

[paigeoliver]

If you only play Mame then you only need 6 buttons per player and not 8.

[Raitsa]

Thanks paigeoliver, ok, edited my question to 6.

[PL1]

Thinking of these:
2 joysticks
trackball
12 buttons in total for both player 1 and 2
1 Player button
2 Players button
Pinball buttons on the sides
USB-cable connection

There are many fine vendors to choose from, but it's hard to go wrong with Ultimarc.

Encoder: Either the Mini-PAC (comes with a pre-fab wiring harness) or I-PAC.

Trackball: The U-Trak is plug-and-play with either encoder above.

Pinball buttons: Check out the GoldLeaf buttons.
Remember that these pushbuttons have 2.8mm Quick Disconnect tabs while many other buttons have 4.8mm tabs.

Joysticks and other buttons: Depends on your game list and personal preferences.   
What games/genres do you play the most?  SHMUPS?  Fighting games?  Games from the '80s?


Scott
EDIT:  By "USB-cable connection", do you mean that you want the encoder to connect via USB (not PS/2) or do you want an external USB connector so you can connect a gamepad for console games.

[Raitsa]

Thanks a lot PL1, USB meaning usb to pc connection preferred over ps2.
No need for consoles or gamepads.

I prefer the oldies from the 80's but Raitsa jr, at 7 years, might prefer other games than the old man.

[keilmillerjr]

Ultimarc is in England. Look on their website.

Pro tip: Your cabinet is for arcade, not dishes. Get rid of those lame drawers and doors.

[Automark]

I ordered always in germany @ http://www.arcadeshop.de

[Raitsa]

This is how my shopping cart looks now at Ultimarc, looking ok to you guys so far?



So, now maybe the most important things left to choose: joysticks.

Which ones do you guys recommend?

[Titchgamer]

Depends on you and what you want to play.
There are many answers to that question LOL

[Raitsa]

I think i am gonna go with these, is this everything thats needed?
Trackball is  left out on purpose for now.




 

[Osirus23]

That's a really fancy and expensive stick. Do you really need the analog features? If you just need a normal stick that 99% of games will use you can buy a regular switch kind and wire it to that Mini-PAC.

[Raitsa]

Yeah i dont need it really.

So you suggest buying J-Stik Ball-Top or similar? I prefer the ball top ones.

Or are there even better options here: http://www.ultimarc.com/store/section.php?xSec=6

[PL1]

I think i am gonna go with these, is this everything thats needed?
Trackball is  left out on purpose for now.

Since buttons are inexpensive, you may also want to consider:

- P1/P2 Start buttons

 

- Some other pushbuttons to compare to the Goldleafs

     

The other question is which size QDs will you get for the Mini-PAC harness?

Goldleaf buttons have 2.8mm (0.110") tabs.

The other buttons have 4.8mm (0.187") tabs.

You may want to hold off on ordering the Mini-Pac until you decide which buttons you want to use.

If you want some buttons with 2.8mm tabs and others with 4.8mm tabs, you can either:

1. Order the harness with 4.8mm QDs.  Try to avoid wiggling the 2.8mm tabs loose and/or use pliers to gently pinch the contacts tighter.

2. Make adapter wires with a male QD on one end (connects to harness) and a female QD on the other. (connects to the microswitch tab)


Scott

[Raitsa]

Big thanks for the help here guys, now the cart looks like this:



Goldleafs have 2.8mm connector tags so for the Mini-PAC I chose the right one which is for 4.8-2.8mm connectors.

Looking good now for MAME only?
Well, the 2 extra buttons are for there for perhaps for some future pinball use.

[PL1]

Goldleafs have 2.8mm connector tags so for the Mini-PAC I chose the right one which is for 4.8-2.8mm connectors.

Looking good now for MAME only?
Well, the 2 extra buttons are for there for perhaps for some future pinball use.

2 Goldleafs for pinball flippers.

P1 and P2 each get a joystick, 6 Goldleafs for player buttons, and a Start button.

That's everything you have in your cart now.

Are you planning on using "shifted functions" for admin functions like P1 Coin, P2 Coin, Exit, Pause, etc. or would you prefer dedicated admin buttons?

https://web.archive.org/web/20160809113045/http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=FAQ#Number_of_admin_buttons

Number of admin buttons

Commonly used admin buttons/function include P1/P2 Start (1/2), P1/P2 Coin (5/6), Pause (P) and Exit. (ESC)

To keep guests or children from accidently messing up their cab configuration, many individuals choose to not include a Menu (Tab) button and disable the shifted function for Menu. (P1 Start + joystick right on I-Pac)

There are several schools of thought concerning admin buttons -- some people prefer dedicated admin buttons, while others prefer using "shifted functions".


Dedicated admin buttons:

    PRO + Button functions can be clearly labeled on the panel art or using inserts in translucent buttons.
    CON - Too many buttons can be confusing and make a panel look cluttered.

Commonly used dedicated admin buttons include P1/P2 Start, P1/P2 Coin, ESC (exit), Pause, and others. Some console emulators may also require additional functions so be sure to install and configure desired emulators before building your panel.


"Shifted functions":

    PRO + Can make the panel look less cluttered.
    CON - When the "shift" button is pressed, any button pressed at the same time will output the associated shifted function. This may trigger an unintended function (exit, pause, menu, etc.) during a multi-player co-op game when one player performs a shifted function and the other player continues playing.

"Shifted functions" require a button/input to act as the "shift" button -- P1 Start on the IPac, HWB on the KADE, and Shazaaam! on the KeyWiz.

Pressing P1 Start and P2 Start will cause an IPac to output ESC. (exit)

Include an instruction card on the control panel overlay or screen bezel so family members and guests can figure out how to operate the cab.

Scott

[UEDan]

Wow, you just wanna throw money at this thing eh?
That computer spec is completely overkill.

If you like overkill, you're doing great so far!

[yotsuya]

I think i am gonna go with these, is this everything thats needed?
Trackball is  left out on purpose for now.

Since buttons are inexpensive, you may also want to consider:

- P1/P2 Start buttons

 

- Some other pushbuttons to compare to the Goldleafs

     

The other question is which size QDs will you get for the Mini-PAC harness?

Goldleaf buttons have 2.8mm (0.110") tabs.

The other buttons have 4.8mm (0.187") tabs.

You may want to hold off on ordering the Mini-Pac until you decide which buttons you want to use.

If you want some buttons with 2.8mm tabs and others with 4.8mm tabs, you can either:

1. Order the harness with 4.8mm QDs.  Try to avoid wiggling the 2.8mm tabs loose and/or use pliers to gently pinch the contacts tighter.

2. Make adapter wires with a male QD on one end (connects to harness) and a female QD on the other. (connects to the microswitch tab)


Scott

Ugh. Don't recommend those last two types of buttons.

[Raitsa]

Thanks again PL1, I think I am gonna go with the shifted functions, looks like thats what i've been using with the old setup and had no problems with that.

[Raitsa]

Changed the joysticks.
Andy´s marketing words made me do it.



Shall i press the order button now?   

[thewisteron]

I see you went back to the U360s 

If it makes you feel better, I bought 4 of them for my 4player panel. I don't regret it.

Combining those with your PC specs, are you sure you're only going to be playing old school MAME on this thing? 

[Raitsa]

Yeah back to the U360s, they just seem so... cool you know.

I wanna make this a good one, for me & my son to enjoy for many years.
For now only MAME but probably pinball, C64 and other stuff as well in the future.
Havent really familiarized myself with the other more modern & powerful stuff yet.

[PL1]

Shall i press the order button now?   

The other thing that you mentioned earlier is a U-Trak trackball.   


Scott

[Raitsa]

Yeah sorry about the trackball:
to be frank, i dont think i have ever used a trackball outside of an arcade so thats where i am gonna save some money now.
I dont really feel I miss any of the trackball games...

I could always add it afterwards if i feel like i need to add it.

[Raitsa]

I put in the order above, thanks a lot for all of you who helped me out.

[ugleymatt]

Do you need the miniPAC? I thought the 360 sticks would allow you to wire the buttons into them and then they connect via usb?

[Raitsa]

Not sure myself.

Hopefully i did not order an unnecessary part.

[Raitsa]

Stuff ordered from Ultimarc (UK) on Saturday, received on Wednesday (Finland), fast service, thanks Andy