The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With a Single Step

[Koolmaqe]

 

Just Kidding! I'm Starting off on building an arcade (MAME Minimum), and I would like to also include more emulators for SNES and NES (Possibly Genesis). I know it's possible to install these emulators, is it easy enough to use with joystick and buttons?

Here's a little I would like to do:

1. Upright Cabinet (Not sure if making myself or buying kit) (May do the hideaway thing Where the controls are separate from the screen)

2. LCD Monitor (Will be a dell monitor, maybe 17"? Suggestions on this please.)

3. I would like 4 Players worth of controls. I am Undecided if I am making the panel myself, or buying one.

(I would also like 2 Lite guns, and a trackball, but I want to make sure it all fits, comfortably. Also 2 Drink Holders  )

4. For it to accept quarters, but also have a "Freeplay" button or mode.

5. Would like to play Vertical and Horizontal mode. Not sure if possible.

That's the basic idea.

This is what I have:

1. Older Computer w/Hookups

2. Some Cash (Maybe 300$ to work with)

3. Possible access to an older cab. (Cheyenne, doesn't work. My dad's, so I would have to ask him)

4. Old Tvs (A few)

5. Speakers (Actually kinda nice)



My wife wants to make sure we can play the Simpsons game on it (One of the reasons for 4 player)

I am fairly familiar with emulators, and any emulator I have on my PC uses a USB controller (NES, SNES, and N64)


I'm so confused on where to start though!
 

So any tips or advice, much appreciated! Any questions just ask!!

TL;DR: 


LOL.

Design steps:
1. Spousal approval (CHECK!)
2. Planning, sourcing, materials (WIP)
3. Finalize Cab design
4. Mass purchase of materials/tools
5. Build the Cab
6. Software configuration
7. Beer & Video games.

[yotsuya]

Here's what you do- give your dad $50 for the non-working Cheyenne. Sell it on KLOV for way more. Now you have more money for your project. 

[Koolmaqe]

Here's what you do- give your dad $50 for the non-working Cheyenne. Sell it on KLOV for way more. Now you have more money for your project. 

Whats KLOV? Might be willing to do that LOL.

[Slippyblade]

KLOV is the Killer List of Video Games.  It's another community kinda like this one, but more dedicated to rebuilds and restorations of original hardware.

[mgb]

Cheyenne wouldn't be the best machine for maming, plus thats a machine that should really be restored.

you mention a 17" monitor. Not gonna be too cool for a 4 player.
also with a 17", you won't be able to have vert games on a horizontal screen and will need to rotate it.

keep in mind also that with a 2 player, you can still have 4 player games like Simpsons, Gauntlet or TMNT.
There are special versions for 2 player cabs where you can select which character.

[PL1]

3. I would like 4 Players worth of controls.

Take a deep breath, count to 10, and seriously consider how often you might possibly have 3 or 4 players playing at the same time.

For most people the honest answer is either "never" or somewhere close to it.

One workaround for the several times a decade when you might have 3-4 people wanting to play at the same time is to have some Neutrik USB feedthrus so you can easily plug in gamepads for P3/P4. (or more commonly for some newer console emulators)

My wife wants to make sure we can play the Simpsons game on it (One of the reasons for 4 player)

There are two ways to do this using a 2-player panel.

1. Use USB gamepads for P3 and P4 -- most people will hardly ever play a 3 or 4 player game.

2. There is a 2-player version of the ROM that allows you to select which character you want to play instead of having to play from a given position. (same for Gauntlet, TMNT, XMen, etc.)


Scott

[lcmgadgets]

Wow, welcome aboard, Koolmage! U might find tht $300 is pretty tight for what u want. Achievable, maybe, but tight. Depends on how a few things, like how purdy u want your cab, what specific controls u want, & what u can beg/trade for, like old monitors, rather than buy. Good luck! 

[Koolmaqe]

If there is a 2 player version, I can use 2 controllers. Also, 4 players might happen often (Sister and her boyfriend live nearby) but we can work with 2 game pads. I am not set in stone about my cab choice, looking for advice still.
Does anyone know what a Cheyenne is worth?

Also, I know it would help, can I make do with a 500 budget instead?

[mgb]

You'd really have to do a little research on what the Cheyenne would be worth.
Game prices can be kinda funny. sometimes people expect them to be worth thousands and you'll see the same machine in same shape going for $200 or something.
Best bet is to take a look on KLOV and do some Googling.

Budget is all subjective to what you really have to have and what you can live without.
Its all about compromise, my friend.
In my opinion, 4 player control panels are the number one waste of money and resources. But then again, I guess I don't have that many friends.

[Koolmaqe]

I think I agree.

What monitor would I need for both vertical and horizontal games?
Or would I need 2 screens?

[yotsuya]

I know a Cheyenne sold recently on KLOV for $400. It worked, but it wasn't in mint shape, either. It all depends on condition and location. What doesn't work on it?

[Koolmaqe]

It doesn't turn on.
 
Jk.

I have no clue have to ask dad.

[yotsuya]

It doesn't turn on.
 
Jk.

I have no clue have to ask dad.

It could be something as simple as a fuse or interrupt switch. Where are you located?

[Koolmaqe]

Palm Springs area California

[yotsuya]

Damn. 5 hours away.

[mgb]

Yes very possibly something super simple.
The other possibility is that the monitor is dead so the game appears its not turning on.
Best test for that is coin it up and listen for the game to run.
Of course, I've worked on games where both the monitor was dead as well as the speaker.

[ChanceKJ]

Haha, those are my design steps.

I think a bunch more of your questions and research could be taken care of by reading the rest of my build thread, not just the first post.

I'd also sell the old cab, go out and buy some plywood and build a new one. To save money make it a two player with 6-7 buttons per player. Use a couple extra buttons for coin up and start. Grab a simple to useFront end like Maximus Arcade, throw MAME, and a couple other emulators on it and away you go. Skip lighted buttons and elaborate coin doors, grab a Lono or Ipac and a prebuilt wire harness (best would be the lono, it comes with what you need to connect everything. )

I'd head over to Paradise Arcade and just get a simple set of sticks, buttons and the lono. Nothing fancy.

If you make it through this build, save your pennies for the next big one and you what you have learned on this one.

[Koolmaqe]

Haha, I did take it from yours, and edited it for my purposes. I don't have a shop I'm making it in my garage, Lol. Ill stop by your thread again though

I think I'll try to sell the cab.

I do want coin doors, and also a freeplay button.

Im willing to do this slow. The slower I go the bigger my budget gets. If it's this year, I get 500. Over 2 years, 1000. So on so forth. I figure lightguns will be my last addition.

[Koolmaqe]

Damn. 5 hours away.

Since you know the rough area, It's actually closer to 29 Palms.

[ChanceKJ]

Yeah, totally.  Build it in bits as you go. That way you can avoid a massive build cost. 

"Mission Control" wasn't built in a Day.

[yotsuya]

Damn. 5 hours away.

Since you know the rough area, It's actually closer to 29 Palms.

I got $100 cash-in-hand for the Cheyenne non-working, $200 working. Profit for you!

[Koolmaqe]

If anyone does want pics pm me.

What's the est machine to play both PAC man and street fighter on?

[yotsuya]

If anyone does want pics pm me.

What's the est machine to play both PAC man and street fighter on?

One is a 4-way vertical game with no buttons. The other is an 8-way horizontal with 6 buttons each. I suggest you decide what it is you want your machine to do best, then go from there. Not that you can't have both, but there will be compromises.

[mcseforsale]

You can pick up a 19" monitor pretty cheap from the local Good Will.  I got a 17" for 11 bux the other day.  I didn't need a 19, so.

An old P4 with a GB of RAM should do anything you want.  2GB would be better.  I'm running old off-lease Dell GX-260s and 270s in my arcades.  You can score them by the dozen off craigslist for ~$40-50 a piece all day long.

I even have Killer Instinct 1 and 2 running full speed on mine.

As for the CP, 4 player will require a LOT of real-estate that can only be used for a handful of games.  There's a 2 player version of simpsons out there.  Just sayin'.

I'm a fan of the Knievel CP design, so that might be a good start for you to study.  It's configurable for 99% of any game I've ever played in an arcade with the exception of Tron and a couple others.



YMMV

AJ