[RENAMED] Linked Play on a Dual Cabinet?

[kjhydock]

Hello All!

I recently came into possession of a rather well used Final Lap 2 system. For the most part, the only thing I could salvage other than the cabinet were the controls. I'm asking for a reality/feasibility check from the experts out there so I don't end up utterly over complicating a simple process. Background on myself - I'm a pretty handy DIY'er and electronics technician by trade, so most of what I'm talking about is just another fun job for me. A couple topics I'd like help on:

To start, I understand FL2 and other side to side cabinets are networked internally. I'll be building in a modular control panel and a USB hub to allow the maximum compliment of games possible, including MAME, console emulators, PC,...etc. It's obvious for these reasons that I need two computers, but what about two player arcade games that obviously only have one "computer" controlling them (think DDR or Time Crisis, which have a screen for each player).

In this situation, would it be as simple as installing a video switch for the second monitor when I want to use both monitors for a single game?

How about the controls in this situation? Can I wire the left AND right controls into the left cabinet, but just the right controls on the right cabinet? Would this cause input issues for the left system when the systems are playing independently?

At the moment these are my only questions, but I'll continue to use this thread as I hit new mental blocks. Thanks everyone for your time!

[severdhed]

So, if I understand correctly, you plan on installing two computers, but would also like the right side to be usable as the left side's player two? I guess it depends on what type of monitor connectors and encoders you are using. For instance, assuming vga for monitors and an ipac for each cabinet, make sure left cabinet has dual monitor output on the video card. Configure the ipac on the right pc to use different keys than they one on the left. You could then have the right cabinet iPac and monitor running through a kvm switch. That way with the press of a button, you could switch the controls and video between a stand alone unit, and a second player for the other cabinet

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[kjhydock]

Sorry! I had to put this project on the back burner. I got engaged and other little things. However, I didn't stop my planning for this build.

Some details - A-PACs will be used since I'll have a modular 270* steering wheel and High/Low shifter on each cabinet side. I will be bad and use 27" 16:9 modern monitors because I do plan on making the computers "budget" powerful so they will be capable of playing modern PC games as well. Sorry if this is sacrilegious.

So I think figured out how to make the left side "hi-jack" the right side to play a single cabinet, two player game, utilizing "two" cabinets. I'm going to use a momentary switch to toggle a USB and HDMI switch; little bit of soldering and warranty voiding, but no big deal. With the push of a button, it should switch the right monitor display to mirror the left display and switch the A-PAC for the right side to the left side computer. Make sense? This operates on the assumption that you can use two A-PACs input to one computer and to my limited knowledge, I think it should work since it is just like plugging in a second controller.

My NEW question pertains to something I wrongfully assumed was incorporated in MAME - LINKED PLAY.

This machine was linked previously and I'd like to be able to have LINK capable games, well link . Say if I did want to play Final Lap 2 linked play like this cabinet was originally intended to do, is it possible with the two separate PCs I plan on installing? All the threads I've search on for this came up with computer science geniuses who have made it possible on one computer with multiple instances of MAME, but that had its own issues.

Thank you severdhed for your replay.

[matsadona]

Not sure about the current status of MAME supporting link functionality. However the M2 emulator does (as far as I know), if you can move away from Final Lap and play some never racing games.
There should be plenty of information in the Driving & Racing section.