Main > Raspberry Pi & Dev Board
Raspberry Pi
screamingtiger:
When you use the GPIO pins, how do you get the information to the game? Is there some sort of driver already built that allows you to do that? oitherwise you would have to build a driver. I originally wanted to use an arduino for my control setup instead of a XIN MO. But I realized either I will have to overwrite the USB header on the arduino to be be recognized as a HID, or write a driver that can use the seral communications from the arduino and translate those into joystick messages for the game.
I went with a XIN MO. Wihle it would be a cool project, it would double my project time. I am one week into this and plan to be done this weekend. If I had used Linux or any other nerdy things I would be 2-3 weeks away from completion still!
--- Quote from: 2084 on September 04, 2014, 09:14:57 am ---I'd have to disagree with the sentiment that many have shared here that the Raspberry Pi is not an appropriate platform for arcade emulation. I have now built several MAME cabs using the PI. All of these have full sized controls but hang on the wall: One that runs Robotron 2084, one Rampage, Stargate, and a Tempest. Some of them run multiple games (e.g. the Stargate will also run Defender, Tempest will do multiple Tempest versions as well as Arkanoid and a few others). I am currently almost completed with a Q*Bert that also has a knocker controlled by the PI. All of these games run full speed. Advantages over the PC are lower cost, no cooling fan, no need to download frequent 'critical updates' to the windows software, faster startup. Although it can be used with a USB interface, it is also possible to use the GPIO interface with arcade controls, an option not available on the PC. The PC has its place and I have one cabinet that uses a Windows PC (It runs Fix it Felix which is not available for the PI or MAME).
--- End quote ---
dkersten:
It all comes down to application. If you have a very specific set of games in mind, then the rpi is probably a viable solution. If you already have a computer lying around and aren't hurting for space, then using an rpi is not only costing you more money but also limiting your choices of games to play. And if your goal is to have a flexible system that can run alternate emulators and be able to evolve as time goes on, then a PC is probably your better choice.
Perhaps the most important thing to consider is that not all people have the luxury of building a cab for every dedicated game or set of games they have an interest in playing. If you have one shot at it, either due to financial restrictions, wife approval, or just room to put it in your house/apartment, why would you ever limit that ONE shot to a smaller subset of games and flexibility when you don't have to?
Personally I would only use an rpi because it would be fun to try it out, experiment with it, see what it could do, etc. Plus I already have a mame cab that is PC based, so I have the luxury of making something more limited in capability.
SavannahLion:
You already bought a XIN-MO so it doesn't matter much but for future reference. Stop thinking of the Arduino as the platform and treat it like a RAD. Then you can get away from the stupid close-coupling between hardware and software that people run into.
The Arduino is just a development tool. If you look under the hood, you'll find either an AVR or an ARM controller. If you strip the Arduino tools away from the AVR, for example, there is an entire thriving community built around that microcontroller that actually don't use the Arduino tools at all. That being said, you can find a bare bones board from Mattairtech or from PJRC without all the Arduino cruft. I use Mattairtech's 32U4 board combined with the LUFA USB library inside the Atmel Studio alot. The LUFA library includes the basics for a joystick or keyboard HID without too much work involved.
If you opt for the ARM side of things, PJRC has that covered as well and the tools and options become a little dizzying. I'm not 100% certain if there is a ready made USB library like LUFA on the ARM because, I confess, I haven't looked into that as much. I'm using the ARM with a "higher language" because the configuration alone at the microcontroller level is crazy.
nitrogen_widget:
--- Quote from: dkersten on September 04, 2014, 10:51:22 am ---It all comes down to application. If you have a very specific set of games in mind, then the rpi is probably a viable solution. If you already have a computer lying around and aren't hurting for space, then using an rpi is not only costing you more money but also limiting your choices of games to play. And if your goal is to have a flexible system that can run alternate emulators and be able to evolve as time goes on, then a PC is probably your better choice.
Perhaps the most important thing to consider is that not all people have the luxury of building a cab for every dedicated game or set of games they have an interest in playing. If you have one shot at it, either due to financial restrictions, wife approval, or just room to put it in your house/apartment, why would you ever limit that ONE shot to a smaller subset of games and flexibility when you don't have to?
Personally I would only use an rpi because it would be fun to try it out, experiment with it, see what it could do, etc. Plus I already have a mame cab that is PC based, so I have the luxury of making something more limited in capability.
--- End quote ---
It is about application.
I believe in using what you got or recycling older equipment.
I already had the RPI & don't need a PC to play dig dug, galaxian, ect.
When I fix up my old berzerk cab i'll use an old PC because I already have it.
even though an RPI would fit the bill it's spending money I don't need to.
If I ever get around to building a 4 player pedestal i'll use a newer PC with a more up to date romset to get more games & to be able to play a few PC games on it.
right now the RPI suits my purpose.
SavannahLion:
There's nothing wrong with thinking like that. I need to think more like that, but I have horror stories about my Dad who did think like that and it's kind of a struggle sometimes. :banghead:
What I was trying to get at is that it's a little silly to look at the Pi as a "cheaper" alternative than an old PC when you're already dumping $500 or more into such a build. It's that whole penny wise, pound foolish thing.
If you have specific needs that only the Pi can fill, fine. By all means, I encourage using it. But if those needs can be filled by a different combination of hardware, and you're starting from scratch, the Pi isn't always the best choice out there.
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