Simplified understanding of making a cabinet

[dbldown768]

I know I am overly simplifying how to build a cabinet but I'm hoping I have the main idea. I basically need to layout joysticks and buttons and mount into MDF or something similar. These then connect to a IPAC controller or similar device which then connects USB to a PC. Correct?

In my head I'd really like a four player control panel for two games, the Simpsons and TMNT. Other games I would like to play are narc, street fighter and a few other similar games. The only game I would maybe need use a trackball for is for golden tee.

Does each button and each direction on the joystick get wired back to the IPAC controller?

In addition to Mame I wanted to run some Nintendo and a few other old console games.

My current plan would to build a pedestal for this control panel.

Anyone have tips or advice on controllers, 4 way, 8 way etc ?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 2

[Slippyblade]

You've pretty much got it.  Keep in mind there are different types of encoders.  Things like the iPac and the GPWiz are seen by the computer as keyboards and output keycodes.  In my first cab I used a Xin-Mo encoder.  It is connected to the controls pretty much the same way as the iPac but is seen by the computer as two USB gamepads.  Subtle difference, but it changes the MAME config a little.

As far as a 4 player CP goes, use a 6 or 7 button layout for player 1 and 2 then a 4 button on Player 3 and 4.  Square the joysticks to the screen, DO NOT angle them in.  Also, if you mount trackball in middle, do not add dedicated buttons, just assign the buttons from P1 and P2 for left/right hand trackball use.


P3(4 button)                                                     P4(4 button)
            P1(6/7 button)   Trackball    P2(6/7 button)

Keep in mind, this is my opinion only and wars have started for less.   

[PL1]

Welcome aboard, Dbldown768.

In my head I'd really like a four player control panel for two games, the Simpsons and TMNT.

Before you decide to build a 4 player panel, read a lot of the threads on the subject.

Some guys have done a 4 player build and end up several years later never using all 4 positions.

A 2-player panel with Neutrik USB jacks for gamepads is another way to handle the rare 4 simultaneous player game.

Remember that there are 2-player ROM versions that allow you to play as your favorite character from either player 1 or 2 position.   

Does each button and each direction on the joystick get wired back to the IPAC controller?

Yes.  Pressing the button connects the "daisy-chained" ground to the input.

Anyone have tips

1. Read lots of threads, especially the build threads in "Project Announcements" + bookmark relevant ones
2. The wiki is a bit out of date, but has a lot of good info
3. Slagcoin has printable button layouts


Scott

[dbldown768]

Thanks for the reply. I have been browsing through here for maybe a month. Getting some good ideas but haven't dove deep into research.

Just for sake of example, if I had an 8 way controller with 4 buttons does this take up 12 spots on the IPAC controller?

Also the USB you are talking about do you use those to say plug in a normal gamepad or controller?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 2

[PL1]

Just for sake of example, if I had an 8 way controller with 4 buttons does this take up 12 spots on the IPAC controller?

Both 4-way and 8-way joysticks have 4 microswitches = 4 inputs.

A 4-way will only activate one direction at a time, 8-way allows you to activate up to two directions at a time. (Up+Right, etc)

On the Happ Super/IL Compact, you can flip the actuator (black hourglass shape at the bottom of the shaft in these pics) to switch between 4- and 8-way -- the 8-way side is a bit larger.

Also the USB you are talking about do you use those to say plug in a normal gamepad or controller?

Yes -- they're easy to mount and look good.



Scott

[dbldown768]

Great! I just tried out the 2 player mode of a 4 player game and thinking that probably is the better approach.  This will save me some space.

Right now I can use my 360 controller on my PC wirelessly which I guess I could set up for 3 and 4 players.

I'll have to read up more on wiring etc. I also would like the idea of the 4 way for certain games and 8 way for fighting games. Isn't there a controller that does 4 way 8 way and the like full analog and there is a way to change the setting by a plate that restricts it? I swear I read that.

As for the controllers what do people recommend? I'm sure this is kind of a load question but I though the advantage of these controllers verses some kind if keyboard or gamepad hack was that when 2 users press a button at the same time it is better handled by the PC? If I just hacked a keyboard for this there is some lag or something to that effect?

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 2

[Slippyblade]

Ultrastick 360 I think is what the 4/8/Analog you are thinking of.  I could be wrong though.

As far as controller boards.  Keyboards will only recognize a certain number of keypresses, usually 3 or 4 at a time.  A fighting game like Street Fighter can easily have 7-8 inputs at the same time if you are playing with another person.  The iPac and GPWiz type boards will do not have that restriction.  Another problem is that keyboard encoders use a matrix, which can cause ghosting.  Basically it means that when you send 2 certain codes, they will combine and read as the first two PLUS a third phantom key that you did not press.  Once again, dedicated controllers do not have that problem.

[lcmgadgets]

Welcome, & good luck! Keep posting!

[PL1]

The limit on hacked USB keyboards is 6 keys, but modifier keys like Shift, Ctrl and Alt don't count toward the key count.

One dedicated controller that does have that limit is the X-Arcade Tankstick encoder.

Keyboard-type encoders like IPac and KADE don't have that limit and the KeyWiz only comes in PS/2.

Gamepad-type encoders like GPWiz and KADE don't have the limit.


Scott

[DarakuTenshi]

My advice is, do your homework and put your all into the build.

My first cab that I built about 10 years ago, though was very fun to make and play, I was very disappointed in the end product. Take time and spend the extra cash where you can to build it right the first time.

Don't get me wrong because I enjoyed building it 10 years ago, and I'm enjoying it this time around. But, maybe I would have kept my old one had I done it right.

[ChanceKJ]

My advice is, do your homework and put your all into the build.

My first cab that I built about 10 years ago, though was very fun to make and play, I was very disappointed in the end product. Take time and spend the extra cash where you can to build it right the first time.

Don't get me wrong because I enjoyed building it 10 years ago, and I'm enjoying it this time around. But, maybe I would have kept my old one had I done it right.

See, this is the school of thought I'm on.  Don't get me wrong, the others have very valid points about 2 player vs 4 players, etc, but I felt go big or go home. In fact reading your original post in this thread took me back about a month when I pulled the trigger on my build. Those were the EXACT same goals and questions I had. (Minus the pedestal, you're nuts and on your own with that :p ) but like I wanted Simpsons and TMNT with some NES/SNES. Now I'm half way through a monster, money guzzling project that will only end with tears and a high ebay feedback rating. DarakuYenshi's logic is sound... If you have some disposable income you can go a long way down this rabbit hole.

I've based my build and design goals off many of the best cabs on this site. I could not be at the point I am now without them (well, Neph caused me to be BROKE with the bad ass LED lighting ideas, but that's on his head).  Before you spend a dime, take a few more moments to learn from our mistakes (Rit dye) and our victories.  Read why we made decisions on button count, spinners, Lono2 vs Ipac, display size, etc. you will learn a crap ton of cool things (like maybe how to crimp d-Sub!), solve major design problems that will make you want to pat yourself on the back, and generally just have fun doing it all. 

Bottom line: Take your time to plan it all out. Don't spend a dime till your sure those fancy parts fit your goals, and don't cut a bit of wood until you're sure it will be the right cut...

[Felsir]

The wiki is a bit out of date, but has a lot of good info

Yeah, it would have been so good to be able to point to some of the wiki pages. :-(

To contribute to this post:
The biggest thing I learned from my first cabinet, is "what games do I actually like?" A lot of games have a rose tinted nostaligia glow around them, and were better in my memory than they actually were. So I made a list of games I fondly remember and were "must have" according to my memory. Then I installed emulators and actually played those games first. It narrowed down my list considerably. Then I based my controlpanel around that list of games.
I also went the USB optional controllers route for the 4 player games. Works great :-)