Hello all - general questions

[shinobivsme]

Hi all, im new here so saying hello!

I registered to ask some advice, basically we want an arcade machine for our office, one that can play all the classic games but also stuff like point blank and Timecrisis (is this actually possible now)
I was looking at a 2nd hand empty Max force cabinet as I imagine its a good size for a two player cab (being that it was for a two player shooter)
now no one here has ever made anything like this so I know it would be a challenge but how much do you guys think it would cost for all the parts and how much hassle is it to actually build, we'd love to get something premade already but we don't have a huge budget.

[Slippyblade]

Buy a book.

Project Arcade
http://www.amazon.com/Project-Arcade-Build-Your-Machine/dp/047089153X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379982049&sr=8-1&keywords=project+arcade

Great resource.  Might even be available from your local library.  The only real problem you might run into is the guns.  The old-school light guns used in arcade cabs require the use of a CRT.  Most cabs built these days will be built around an LCD monitor.  For gun games on those you will need to use something like the Aimtrak guns.

https://www.ultimarc.com/aimtrak.html‎

[shinobivsme]

yea ive heard some bad things about the light guns,
the guy selling the cab can sell me a 25/26" crt as was originally fitted in the Cab, so im guessing this might be the best option for it and then just to get a tv card for the pc that I put in? he can also sell me HAPP guns

[shponglefan]

1) What tools do you have access to?
2) What is your budget?

Costs can vary dramatically depending on what features/controls/components/etc you ultimately want to have.  And you'll also want to factor in any costs of tools you might need to purchase or rent for building.

[paigeoliver]

Guns have always been problematic on mame setups. I would personally skip them.

You would use an arcadeVGA card or a video converter board to run the original monitor in an arcade cabinet, not a TV card. Arcade monitors are not tv sets.

You see a lot of LCD builds but the CRT ones are generally better as they maintain the aspect ratio of the original games, all games look good on them (not just the mid 80s forward) and you don't have to worry about any LCD display lag piling onto the already present native control lag that all emulation has (by itself it is not noticeable, but once LCD screens became the norm people started mentioning control lag).

[keilmillerjr]

Guns have always been problematic on mame setups. I would personally skip them.

[shinobivsme]

Hi guys thanks for replying! Probably around 300-450 it depends really as my boss is dead set on buying an actual point blank machine (although I don't think we will manage to get the cheap one we found) but for me I'd really love to be able to use guns. I've heard bad things about flat screens and sensor bars which is why I was looking at CRTs and actual arcade screens, but from what you are saying they are still rubbish?

[shinobivsme]

P.s. this is the cab I've seen
http://www.videotronicsuk.com/media/com_hikashop/upload/thumbnail_400x298/max_force.jpg

And a 25/26" screen for £120 http://www.videotronicsuk.com/media/com_hikashop/upload/WELLS_GARDNER_MO_4ccc647165303.jpg

[shinobivsme]

scrap that, hes got another Max force cab that looks a bit better:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b3uk2xcxy5s4nz5/N5X_amxhj0/IMG_20130926_125344.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b3uk2xcxy5s4nz5/gMHXKO-dld/IMG_20130926_125539.jpg

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/b3uk2xcxy5s4nz5/b9RK0JE9cD/IMG_20130926_125547.jpg