Can 1 computer run more than 1 cabinet?

[theinkdon]

   The answer is probably No, but thought I'd ask since I couldn't find anything about it.  I'm on my first build, and probably like most people, already daydreaming about future builds.  With LCD panels these days, there's no real need for a cabinet to be much deeper than the thickness of the LCD plus the depth of the control panel (ala the Vigolix cabs).
   I got to thinking that it would be neat to have several machines, each dedicated to a specific game or set of controls (I know some of you have that, and/or real arcade machines), but that all that empty cabinet space is going to take up a lot of room once you line 4 or 5 of them up.
   So I thought of wall-mounted cabs, and found some examples.  Markc74's Terminus from 2008 is basically a bartop, but he mounted it to a wall:

This commercial model from 8linesupply.com is intended to be wall-mounted:
And my favorite so far, I think this is ripsnort's, posted in 2011:

I can imagine building 4 or 5 of those, but cutting them off below the CP, and attaching them together along a wall.  Probably not cut off flat, but angled down either at the existing angle at the front of the CP, or more acute, like from that outer corner down tangent to the top of the circle in the side.  Each would have dedicated controls and artwork for say, Asteroids, Centipede, Dig Dug, Galaxian, and Donkey Kong.  And sides adjacent to a neighbor could be left off, and connect two cabs with cams and pins like Ikea furniture. 

So finally, back to my question:  is it possible that one computer could drive all those cabinets?  I don't know a whole lot about processors, but could a quad-core run 4 instances of MAME at the same time?  I don't think the inputs (buttons & joysticks) would be a problem, because with just a few inputs per cab you could assign different letter inputs on each i-Pac, so each instance of MAME would just look for its particular inputs.  The output is probably where the plan falls apart though.  I've heard of video cards that can drive 3 monitors, but 1) they're expensive, and 2) can you go beyond that?

A Raspberry Pi in each cab is probably the way to go, huh?  Five of those are probably cheaper than whatever computer might even be able to do that.

But besides what's driving them, has anyone ever done this, or seen pictures?  I've got a space in the basement where the new cab is going that also contains a foosball table.  One machine in there will work, maybe two, but not more.  Something like this though would let you cram a bunch of machines into one space.  Anyway, back to work.

[JDFan]

Sounds like the builds 2084 did in his Out of Wall Space thread ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,141265.msg1461909.html#msg1461909 )

[markc74]

+1 for out of wall space. I would love to do that with full size cabs in a slim design. There was a slim Nintendo build recently that encapsulated it perfectly.

+99 for reminding me about a crazy idea i had 7 (make it 8 now!)years ago.

With regards to running more than one cab from 1 machine. It's not worth it imo. Too much hassle when u can run mame on a throwaway pc or a pi. Even if u could get it working (which I'm not sure is even possible) if the pc dies you'd lose all your machines rather than one.

Keep the software/hardware simple or you'll never even play it 

[theinkdon]

Sounds like the builds 2084 did in his Out of Wall Space thread ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,141265.msg1461909.html#msg1461909 )

Wow, those are beautiful, thanks for posting that!  I thought I'd want just a bank of slim generic cabs with appropriate artwork, but I love how all those capture the essence of the full-size originals.  Off to read that thread.

Markc74:  good points about KISS.  I've been reading up on Pi's, and that seems easy enough.

[brihyn]

So we agree that it would be a stupid idea to actually try to do this, but we haven't answered the original question of "is it possible to run multiple cabinets from a single pc"?
i can't find any reasoning that would prevent this from being possible. I think it'd be tough to have each instance of mame.exe run full screen on different monitors, but is it actually impossible? and using a kade in each cp, couldn't you run multiple CP's?  And using just the oldest roms, how many instances could you run (assuming it's possible) on an average quad-core?
I almost want to try this just to see if it's possible (not in multiple cabs but at leaast multiple monitors/kades).
So, can it be done???

[JDFan]

So we agree that it would be a stupid idea to actually try to do this, but we haven't answered the original question of "is it possible to run multiple cabinets from a single pc"?
i can't find any reasoning that would prevent this from being possible. I think it'd be tough to have each instance of mame.exe run full screen on different monitors, but is it actually impossible? and using a kade in each cp, couldn't you run multiple CP's?  And using just the oldest roms, how many instances could you run (assuming it's possible) on an average quad-core?
I almost want to try this just to see if it's possible (not in multiple cabs but at leaast multiple monitors/kades).
So, can it be done???

Don't see any reason it couldn't be - I know you can set up several instances running on the same system in windows on  a single screen so would think having them assigned to different monitors is just a matter of setting things up -- Only thing I'd wonder about would be keeping them all active at the same time, since using 2 instances on the same monitor only keeps a single window active at a time and you have to change focus to get the other window active - much easier and less hassles to just use a pi or old PC system for each than trying to use a single system for several units ( probably cheaper also !)  also would think eventually the performance on all of them would suffer if several were in use at a single time depending on the requirements of each.

[paigeoliver]

The raspberry pi is never the answer unless your project has to be gameboy sized.

Computers that people will give you for free are far more powerful than the pi is. Just use a separate computer for each machine. If space is a concern then old netbooks with broken screens can be squeezed into anything.

[XxTookie38xX]

Maybe with 1 pc server with Windows server and application service and some other pc's connected with active directory. I Will try this and make a tutorial if it runs good (maybe i can test virtualisation too)


Envoyé depuis midgar, entre deux raids sur les réacteurs mako

[markc74]

Wouldn't you need to route the audio to separate cabs too?

[brihyn]

OOhhhhh...Audio...yeah, that could be the problem. Wonder if you could somehow separate two mono-audio instances into two separate channels from a stereo output...ie game one is left channel, game two right.
I don't disagree that this "shouldn't" be done, but as a self proclaimed hacker, I want to know "if" it can be done.

[theinkdon]

The raspberry pi is never the answer unless your project has to be gameboy sized.

Computers that people will give you for free are far more powerful than the pi is. Just use a separate computer for each machine. If space is a concern then old netbooks with broken screens can be squeezed into anything.

Very good point.  I was still in the mindset of needing a Core 2 Duo or better to "run MAME", forgetting that the older games I'm really interested in don't need all that.  I'll have to scout around for some old computers.

And the audio, good point, hadn't thought of that. 

[Doozer]

OOhhhhh...Audio...yeah, that could be the problem. Wonder if you could somehow separate two mono-audio instances into two separate channels from a stereo output...ie game one is left channel, game two right.
I don't disagree that this "shouldn't" be done, but as a self proclaimed hacker, I want to know "if" it can be done.

Under Linux using with the alsa routing feature it can be achieved
Mame1 -> stereo down mix -> left speaker
Mame2 -> stereo down mix -> right speaker

Or if you install a second audio card
Mame1 -> audiocard1
Mame2 -> audiocard2

[paigeoliver]

Pretty much any computer made since 1999 or so can run all of mame full speed (minus the 3D games and a few other exceptions, almost all of which have analog controls). It is just a matter of using an older mame version.

The raspberry pi is never the answer unless your project has to be gameboy sized.

Computers that people will give you for free are far more powerful than the pi is. Just use a separate computer for each machine. If space is a concern then old netbooks with broken screens can be squeezed into anything.

Very good point.  I was still in the mindset of needing a Core 2 Duo or better to "run MAME", forgetting that the older games I'm really interested in don't need all that.  I'll have to scout around for some old computers.

And the audio, good point, hadn't thought of that.

[monkeybomb]

The raspberry pi is never the answer unless your project has to be gameboy sized.

Computers that people will give you for free are far more powerful than the pi is. Just use a separate computer for each machine. If space is a concern then old netbooks with broken screens can be squeezed into anything.

Paige, I think you would save you quite a bit of time if you could convince the mods for an anti Pi sticky.  For what it's worth, you're right every time and I appreciate the crusade.  I ignored the warning, because it was cheap enough to tinker with anyway, but the outcome met your expectations.

[PL1]

The raspberry pi is never the answer unless your project has to be gameboy sized.

Computers that people will give you for free are far more powerful than the pi is. Just use a separate computer for each machine. If space is a concern then old netbooks with broken screens can be squeezed into anything.

Paige, I think you would save you quite a bit of time if you could convince the mods for an anti Pi sticky.  For what it's worth, you're right every time and I appreciate the crusade.  I ignored the warning, because it was cheap enough to tinker with anyway, but the outcome met your expectations.

Good idea, Monkeybomb.   

A "When NOT to use a RasPi in your build" (or similar) thread could add a cautionary perspective, describe the Pi's inherent capabilities/limitations, and help to define reasonable expectations for those who do decide to use one.

As long as the thread is fact-based instead of Pi-hate-based, it could be an excellent candidate for sticky-fication.


Scott

[Admiral688]

The raspberry pi is never the answer unless your project has to be gameboy sized.

Computers that people will give you for free are far more powerful than the pi is. Just use a separate computer for each machine. If space is a concern then old netbooks with broken screens can be squeezed into anything.

If you know what you are doing then there is nothing wrong as long as you are using a RPI2. I have several builds using them with pre-1988 games with absolutely no issues at all.

[michelevit]

People are migrating from desktop pcs to laptops, tablets and even smartphones.
There is an abundance of super cheap perfectly good pcs on the used market that will run mame all day everyday.
I'm able to find a perfectly good pc with speakers, monitor and keyboard mouse for 40-60 bucks.
If you need to save space you can decase it and board mount it too.