First MAME machine - 1 month build

[Vilepickle]

removed

[Generic Eric]

Nice

You are on your way to lots of fun. 

What kind of monitor are you going to use, and what is your favorite game?

[Vilepickle]

I have a 5:4 LCD monitor that I wasn't using.  It's 17 or 18 inches but it sort of has dimensions of a 19" because of the outside edge.  Ideally I'd want a larger screen but I do admire the 5:4 aspect ratio since it's classic.

I like Galaga a lot, but I know I'm not building a vertical screen to replicate that.  I don't have a ton of good arcades in my area so it's hard to find retro stuff to play.

I also like pinball so I'm adding side buttons to the CP like the arcadecab tut.  Big fan of Street Fighter as well as other fighting games if I can find someone to play with.

One of my goals is to actually add some of the less common controls to my CP to play some of the games I couldn't on a normal controller, including Spinner and Trackball.

I've mostly been a console gamer all my life so building a cabinet is my way of branching out

[jdbailey1206]

9/8/14
While not woodworking I'm working on the PC to run Hyperspin.  I hooked up my arcade button to the power pins.  LED works too but I don't have any .25" quick disconnects yet for the power pins.  I took an existing PC power switch, soldered the long arcade wires to it, then hooked up the button with the .187" quick disconnects

That is a monster of a video card for a MAME machine.  Are you just running older games or do you intend to somehow incorporate 3D gaming also?

[Vilepickle]

I'm going to emulate 3D stuff too if I can reasonably, though I know it's probably better if you get similar controllers to those consoles (like N64...).  I'm interested to see if emulating Playstation eliminates load times on a more powerful machine, I always hated them. I actually had some good video cards available so this was my excuse to put it to use (the fall of crypto-mining with VGAs...)!

[yotsuya]

I like you, Vilepickle, because of your attention to keeping it real. Good luck on this!

[Vilepickle]

Did some work today and updated the main post with progress shots.

[Vilepickle]

Big updates since last posting!  The cabinet itself is pretty much complete and the control panel is what I'll be tackling soon.

[BEGINSTUDIO]

I'll race you VilePickle!

Just kidding.  I am about to tackle the CP on my cabinet too!  Thrilling isn't it!?  Excellent work and look forward to seeing your results. 

I am working with Hyperspin also.  All the artwork and video take up some hard drive space. 

Cheers!

[wp34]

For a guy that is newer to woodworking you are making some nice looking fast progress.  Looking good so far.

Looks like we have the same hammer.    I inherited mine from my grandfather. 

9/18/14
Practiced drilling my CP holes on some scrap so I don't mess up!

[Vilepickle]

My dad gave me mine, not sure where he got the hammer.  But it's a good one

[wp34]

My dad gave me mine, not sure where he got the hammer.  But it's a good one

Yep.  I love mine.  It is one of my favorite tools.  Just the right weight.

[Vilepickle]

More updates appended to OP.  Getting close!

Anyone have advice for powered PC speakers that needed to be turned on after they lose power completely?  I'd like them to come on via Smart Strip like my other components but the speakers need to have their own power buttons pressed if power loss occurs.  My solution is to put them in the "always on" plug and then just have them on my cab's main power, essentially.  Luckily my power inlet has its own switch so it's not a terrible solution.

[Cobolisdead]

I think that I would just go buy some $20 speakers with a manual switch.

[nordemoniac]

More updates appended to OP.  Getting close!

Anyone have advice for powered PC speakers that needed to be turned on after they lose power completely?  I'd like them to come on via Smart Strip like my other components but the speakers need to have their own power buttons pressed if power loss occurs.  My solution is to put them in the "always on" plug and then just have them on my cab's main power, essentially.  Luckily my power inlet has its own switch so it's not a terrible solution.

You also have the option of laptop PSU + Car AMP + car speakers.
A lot of the Logitech or Creative sets have a manual knob for on/off, and you'll be able to use the smart strip for powering it on/off.

[Vilepickle]

Updated with a final shot.  Spent the weekend playing some good stuff.  Golden Tee is crack, btw.

[Cobolisdead]

I am digging that side art and the marquee! I have those saved in my Ebay watchlist myself, and they look great on that cabinet!

[Vilepickle]

They turned out pretty well.  I'd prefer if the marquee "Arcade" text was a bit further up to not be overlapped with my retainer, but it's not too bad.

Upon playing I noticed my monitor also shook a bit since its stand isn't the most stable thing, so I made a custom wedge that fits snugly into the back of the monitor (there's a rectangle indentation around the power + VGA) and screwed the extended wood support to the side of the cab.  It's pretty stable now.  I wanted to have the bar go all the way across, but the width was a bit off and was pulling the monitor off to the side too far.