Build an arcade for little kids - raspeberry pi 2 - questions!

[reptileink]

Did you see my link?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAPP-Arcade-Control-Panel-Kit-14-HAPP-Push-Button-2-HAPP-Joystick-/251343306708?hash=item3a853a7fd4:m:mge-DLVQtoAIctZyClqMP1A

No, I did not! Thanks! Even with shipping it seems an awesome deal! Uff...was feeling REALLY disapointed with the previous value as I was making the math and just wouldn't be able to make it!

Thanks!

Edit.: Ok so this is more or less the same price as Ultimarc. I think what is making it so expensive is the IPac and the wiring kit.

I'll try the wiring kit elsewhere, I think that one I can find cheaper in ebay. The rest, well, no chance.

Thanks anyway buddy!!

I'm no expert on encoders, but Ipac doesn't always have to be the way. Here is a whole page of encoders that would probably do the trick, but may require more programming than the Ipac.  Jamma loom from Ebay is the cheapest wiring kit you can get, and comes with most of the wire ends AND daisy chain! Just cut the end off!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARCADE-MACHINE-JAMMA-6-BUTTON-WIRING-LOOM-HARNESS-/281820649931?hash=item419dd1d9cb:g:wtYAAOSwEppURSEF

[consolas]

Did you see my link?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAPP-Arcade-Control-Panel-Kit-14-HAPP-Push-Button-2-HAPP-Joystick-/251343306708?hash=item3a853a7fd4:m:mge-DLVQtoAIctZyClqMP1A

No, I did not! Thanks! Even with shipping it seems an awesome deal! Uff...was feeling REALLY disapointed with the previous value as I was making the math and just wouldn't be able to make it!

Thanks!

Edit.: Ok so this is more or less the same price as Ultimarc. I think what is making it so expensive is the IPac and the wiring kit.

I'll try the wiring kit elsewhere, I think that one I can find cheaper in ebay. The rest, well, no chance.

Thanks anyway buddy!!

I'm no expert on encoders, but Ipac doesn't always have to be the way. Here is a whole page of encoders that would probably do the trick, but may require more programming than the Ipac.  Jamma loom from Ebay is the cheapest wiring kit you can get, and comes with most of the wire ends AND daisy chain! Just cut the end off!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ARCADE-MACHINE-JAMMA-6-BUTTON-WIRING-LOOM-HARNESS-/281820649931?hash=item419dd1d9cb:g:wtYAAOSwEppURSEF

Nice!! To be honest, I never really looked at more encoders beyond IPac cause I follow what most of you guys use, cause you know WAY more about this than I do. But I think ditching it is the way to go. Will look at your link!

Again, thank you very much for the time you are spending with this!

[reptileink]

Realized I didn't include the link for the encoders.... 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xarcade+encoder.TRS0&_nkw=arcade+encoder&_sacat=0

[yotsuya]

Just so you know, those are JOYSTICK encoders, not KEYBOARD encoders. There is a difference.

[consolas]

Oh, nice one there.

I saw something before - it was a weak encoder but seemed to do it's job.

Let me check - if they are having a small selection of games, even a "locked" encoder (ie.: you can't map the keys) will suffice - I can draw an instruction manual (with lots of graphics and fun stuff) for them to see which are the buttons for each game.

Here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arcade-DIY-2-USB-PC-Encoders-2-Joysticks-18-Buttons-For-Arcade-Video-Mame-Parts/252085860376?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3Dd96f11328d3541f9ab233406661e2979%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D262021077032

Below 100€ and I'm guessing everything is there. It will take ages for it to arrive though and I wanted this to be finish before December (Christmas and all! Wanted a nice gift for them!)

Can't have everything, I know.

I think this will work!

[yotsuya]

Me personally, I only use keyboard encoders. I-Pac or KADE FTW.

[consolas]

Ipac and Kade are keyboard encoders whereas the one I posted is a joystick encoder. Is that it?

Don't know the difference: joystick enconders have lag or something? Or are only usable for...joysticks?

[monkeybomb]

Ipac and Kade are keyboard encoders whereas the one I posted is a joystick encoder. Is that it?

Don't know the difference: joystick enconders have lag or something? Or are only usable for...joysticks?

Joystick encoders tell the computer your buttons are on a joystick.  A keyboard encoder tells the computer that your buttons are pressing specific keyboard keys.  I always used keyboard encoders in the past, but the frontends now make it just as easy to use the encoders.  I don't see any reason to avoid them.

[yotsuya]

Ipac and Kade are keyboard encoders whereas the one I posted is a joystick encoder. Is that it?

Don't know the difference: joystick enconders have lag or something? Or are only usable for...joysticks?

Joystick encoders tell the computer your buttons are on a joystick.  A keyboard encoder tells the computer that your buttons are pressing specific keyboard keys.  I always used keyboard encoders in the past, but the frontends now make it just as easy to use the encoders.  I don't see any reason to avoid them.

There's less out of the box you have to do with keyboard encoders as opposed to joystick encoders. Besides, most of the joystick encoders I see on eBay are cheap Chinese ones that I've had issues with in the past due to poor soldering. I prefer quality over cheap prices.

[PL1]

More encoder options from the wiki:

http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=Keyboard_Encoders

http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=Gamepad_Encoders

Ipac and Kade are keyboard encoders whereas the one I posted is a joystick encoder. Is that it?

Don't know the difference: joystick enconders have lag or something? Or are only usable for...joysticks?

Keyboard encoders send keystrokes and are seen as keyboards by Windows.

Gamepad encoders send button presses and are seen as gamepads by Windows.

KADE can be either one (or several other variations), depending on the firmware you load.

There are several ways to do a 2-player (joystick + 6-buttons per player) + admin buttons (Coin 1/2, Start 1/2, Pause, Exit, etc.) on a single KADE.

Check out this thread on the KADE Forums for more details.


Scott

P.S. Since KADE is open-source, you can "roll your own" miniArcade with a Minimus AVR -- see link in sig for vendors.

[consolas]

More encoder options from the wiki:

http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=Keyboard_Encoders

http://newwiki.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?title=Gamepad_Encoders

Ipac and Kade are keyboard encoders whereas the one I posted is a joystick encoder. Is that it?

Don't know the difference: joystick enconders have lag or something? Or are only usable for...joysticks?

Keyboard encoders send keystrokes and are seen as keyboards by Windows.

Gamepad encoders send button presses and are seen as gamepads by Windows.

KADE can be either one (or several other variations), depending on the firmware you load.

There are several ways to do a 2-player (joystick + 6-buttons per player) + admin buttons (Coin 1/2, Start 1/2, Pause, Exit, etc.) on a single KADE.

Check out this thread on the KADE Forums for more details.


Scott

P.S. Since KADE is open-source, you can "roll your own" miniArcade with a Minimus AVR -- see link in sig for vendors.

Thanks for all that information, appreciate it!

Kade seems a really cool encoder as well - unfortunately it doesn't drop the price on the controller by that much but it is a start! It is 2/3 € cheaper. Taking into account the general order will have less weight, it will also decrease the shipping price. - checked the math, I save around 13€!

Thanks again for the info!

Edit.: Just got word the used PC I wanted to get is already taken, so in order to use PI I can't use anything other than IPac, from what I understood. I also read that I can directly use the GPIO (is that right?) port from the PI to connect directy into the controllers.

So much stuff to learn! I'm going to check that out and if that is true, those are good news.

[geeteoh]

I've used those zero delay cheap joystick encoders on my PI arcade projects. They require no drivers. They come with all the button wires and a USB cable. No problems yet. I mapped my FE and emulators to it easily.

[consolas]

I've used those zero delay cheap joystick encoders on my PI arcade projects. They require no drivers. They come with all the button wires and a USB cable. No problems yet. I mapped my FE and emulators to it easily.

Perfect! Thanks for the input!

[consolas]

Will get this.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zero-Delay-PC-Enocder-20-LED-Light-Push-Buttons-Joysticks-For-Arcade-Mame-Kits-/252085783887?hash=item3ab17bcd4f:g:u8wAAOSwgNRV79db

I think they have lights and all. I'm guessing they are not the best buttons and joystick around but I have to get a move on. I was thinking about using the GPIO of the Raspberry PI but I think, for two players, I can't have the top+left kind of movements in the joystick, which might be needed.

I will place this order later on so if no one really warns me about this or say it is REALLY bad, I think I'll go for it.

(Hate to buy this cheap material but I can't do much more right now - with experience will come more understanding and thus, better choices)

------

Better yet, I can go with this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HAPP-Arcade-Control-Panel-Kit-14-HAPP-Push-Button-2-HAPP-Joystick-/251343306708?hash=item3a853a7fd4:m:mge-DLVQtoAIctZyClqMP1A (that Reptileink so gently shared) and buy a separate zero delay encoder, that would work fine as well.

[consolas]

Just ordered the buttons from ebay, my first purchase from Ebay.

And just now I got the information (at my work) that this won't take the 3-4 weeks to deliver, this will take a lot longer AND will be retain in customer services and stuff.

Jesus...

Well, I will continue to work the wood and assemble the monitor and all. We will see how this goes. I still have to correctly configure the PI as well so I have some work before the buttons arrive.

I will post progress pictures of the woodworking if any of you guys are interested in knowing how this goes.

I'm going to do something on this lines: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/12/fa/01/12fa0165c79f86882b10dab7350714f5.jpg

Main reasons: small, compact. This is important as I don't know where they will place the machine.

Less wood = less weight. Also, I don't know exactly how or where I'm going to assemble this because I have a really small door in my VERY small "garden" so I don't think the machine assemble will pass through the door! aha

The corners need to be rounded up, in case a little rascal hits the arcade while running near it or something.



Controllers and stuff price: 35€

[paigeoliver]

That cabinet is a clone of a Defender cabinet, should be 24.5" wide. Doors just aren't that narrow.

As for weight, build it out of plywood and not MDF and it will be about half the weight.

Just ordered the buttons from ebay, my first purchase from Ebay.

And just now I got the information (at my work) that this won't take the 3-4 weeks to deliver, this will take a lot longer AND will be retain in customer services and stuff.

Jesus...

Well, I will continue to work the wood and assemble the monitor and all. We will see how this goes. I still have to correctly configure the PI as well so I have some work before the buttons arrive.

I will post progress pictures of the woodworking if any of you guys are interested in knowing how this goes.

I'm going to do something on this lines: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/12/fa/01/12fa0165c79f86882b10dab7350714f5.jpg

Main reasons: small, compact. This is important as I don't know where they will place the machine.

Less wood = less weight. Also, I don't know exactly how or where I'm going to assemble this because I have a really small door in my VERY small "garden" so I don't think the machine assemble will pass through the door! aha

The corners need to be rounded up, in case a little rascal hits the arcade while running near it or something.



Controllers and stuff price: 35€

[consolas]

Thanks for the input.

I already got the MDF and the main reason was plywood may require some extra skill dealing with voids, when cutting. Sometimes the whole thing seems to chip out.

Since I don't have a lot of time, I went with the standard I see here.

Also, the weight is really bad to get the cab around but once is there is better, it doesn't budge that easily.

And the door I was taking about is a custom door made by the previous owners so if kind of doesn't respect any standard measure

A person fits barely.

[consolas]

Already did some cuts. Already did some mistakes. Already tried to fix those mistakes! aha

I found out it is really hard to some straight cuts with a jigsaw - I think I was using the wrong blade and went too fast for it to do a straight cut. By straight, I'm not only talking about a straight line, I'm also talking about a straight cut throughout the whole thickness of the wood - it is kind of wobble like with waves.

I'll try to sand it up later on. I'm more worried about the inside pieces (the ones that will support the walls and roof and floor) to be as straight as possible so the cab is as steady as possible.

What a fun and hard project! ahah

I do not own a circular saw, this is being used with a jigsaw. I will post some pictures.

And @paigeoliver, the door is no wider than 52cm, I can barely pass a 22inch monitor there - aha. I will have to assemble everything at my house, my girlfriend is already happy about it but she is a good sport! aha

[JDFan]

To get a straight cut with a jigsaw it is easiest to use a piece of wood (or metal bar) like a 2x4 or 1x2 etc. and clamp it to the surface you are going to cut using the distance of the width of the edge of the jigsaw to the blade away from the cut line - this will keep the jigsaw from moving while cutting as it butts up against the 2x4 (or 1x2) as a guide - then just go slow and be sure to keep the jigsaw at 90 degrees to the wood you are cutting ( if you lean the jigsaw it will cut that direction so use downward pressure and keep it level )

OR if you are doing several cuts buy a cut edge guide :

[consolas]

Thanks JD.

I started using a piece of wood that I have and thought was perfectly straight...I was fooled by it! aha

And I think I wooble my hand too much - I will take it down a notch and do it slowly.

Will look at that guide though. Seems awesome! Thanks

[paigeoliver]

52 cm is 20 inches. Almost no furniture will fit through that, and you shouldn't be trying to build anything behind such a barrier.

[consolas]

52 cm is 20 inches. Almost no furniture will fit through that, and you shouldn't be trying to build anything behind such a barrier.

I can't cut mdf at my house and I can't just cut it outside, like in the parking lot!:)

I'm just doing all the cutting on the "garden" and glue the support wood on the walls of the arcade. Then I'm gonna bring everything to my house and "assemble" it here.

Not the best way to work but it will do.

[consolas]

Hello everyone!

The buttons finally arrived! I will make sure tomorrow to get a lot of pictures of the small work progress I've made and also pictures from the buttons.

It took over a month to get here, costumes and stuff takes too long. Also, due to other things, I haven't made any progress at all.

Hopefully it will change

Found a new game to add to the list: windjammers!

Thanks guys!