4 way dedicated cabs?

[reptileink]

So the arcade fan in me has been racking my brain for the next build. I've almost completed the "6,000 games in 1"  monster that my kids mostly play these days. These have 8 way sticks, and yes, some games suck to play this way.

Thinking about either a bartop or full arcade for just Mame, but would I be happy with just 4 way sticks? I mean, I grew up in the 80s, so most of my favorites I believe are 4 way, but early 90s games like Killer Instinct, MK, etc I am pretty sure used 8 way? Sorry for the noobness, but I didn't pay attention to how games were built back then, just pumped quarters in.

I guess my question(and sorry if this is covered somewhere) is this; How many games utilize 4 way? This will just be a 2 player cab, or 1 player even if it's a bartop.

Thanks guys! Can't wait for spring!

[Token]

This list shows 208 4-way games. Back in '03, Paige Oliver compiled a list of 4-way (& 2-way) vertical games, which is the way to go, IMO.

4-way two button vertical sounds like the ideal bartop.

[reptileink]

But doesn't a vertical screen mess with horizontal games? I guess it determines  what games I like, but I am not a big player of vert games. Golden Axe, Wrestling, side scrollers were my biggest ones. Will a vert screen work ok with these?

[BadMouth]

MAME can display the horizontal game on the vertical screen.  It will just be smaller.
(and vice versa)

The types of games you mention all use an 8-way joystick.

You can make your own lists based on all kinds of criteria with this:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,136193.0.html

[vwalbridge]

Put a 42" screen mounted vertically in your cab and you can have horizontal and vertical games without compromising screen size/aspect ratios. Just like token did for Moonshot.

Also, RetroArch can be helpful when it comes to screen sizing/rotation/aspect ratios. Also has some impressive shaders built right in.

[Token]

But doesn't a vertical screen mess with horizontal games? I guess it determines  what games I like, but I am not a big player of vert games. Golden Axe, Wrestling, side scrollers were my biggest ones. Will a vert screen work ok with these?

Yeah, I was saying you could build a cabinet designed to only play 4-way vertical games. Vert just seems to go better with 4-way joys.

Based on the games you listed, maybe an 8-way horizontal would better suit your needs.

You could curate a pretty sweet list of games that fit the following criteria:

- 8-way joys
- No more than four buttons
- Horizontal screen

[monkeybomb]

I don't know why you would double up on your horizontal 8 way MAME cabinet.  One is enough imo.  I would get a real Jamma cabinet with boards if I were getting a second cabinet that is like the first.

I have one full size MAME cabinet with a horizontal monitor and I always wanted a bartop, so I picked up one of Haruman's Golden Age Vertical bartop kits last year.  It's the perfect supplement to the other cabinet and absolutely love it.  I put in a 4 Way Galaga / Ms Pacman reunion joystick and I end up playing Mr Do, Pengo and Ms Pacman more than anything else.  I split my time about 50/50 between the full size cabinet and the bartop.  I wouldn't consider playing Golden Ax, wrestling games or anything similar on the bartop. 

Link to the kit if you are interested:
http://shop.harumancustoms.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=56

[paigeoliver]

Almost all 4-way games alternated players, no need for two joysticks.

[severdhed]

once i built my 4 player cabinet, i converted my old 2 player horizontal cabinet into a vertical 4way classics cabinet, it is awesome.  it has a single 4 way stick 3 buttons and a trackball with a vertical monitor.   the kids play the other cabinet more, but when i want to play, i pretty much strictly go to the 4 way cab.

[yotsuya]

I have a 4 way vertical dedicated cocktail. I play all the classics on it. If you take the 4 way vertical classics seriously, take the plunge. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

[Peabo]

I did a 4-way bartop and used a 18" 4:3 monitor and run both horizontal and vertical games on it.  I suppose you could use a switchable 4-8 way, but you already have an 8 way cabinet.  Mine gets used 3-4 times a week and there's no shortage of games on it.  I have mame 2-4 way games, NES, Sega genesis(the reason for 3 buttons) and Atari 2600 available to play on it.  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,146245.0.html

[reptileink]

All good input, thanks everyone. I think maybe I was mis-understanding what a 4 way and 8 way do. I was thinking that an 8 way would be more for console games, and a 4 way for "classics"

Can't fit a 42" in a bartop

My first "mame" machine is more stocked heavily with consoles and very little Mame games I could get working.

I would love a dedicated cabinet, and might just try and go that route with boards, but I am pretty limited in my knowledge of monitors, wiring, etc, and too poor to buy everything brand new...lol. If I could find a working cabinet that might be better, but I figured making a dedicated theme, and using Pi or whatever would be the best of both worlds, as now, my Punisher cabinet isn't themed after the game, but the character. 

[leapinlew]

I started with 4 way games and I have a 4 way dedicated cabinet with vertical arcade monitor. Controls are leafs using a WICO balltop and leaf button.

To preserve the look of my Galaga cabinet, I only have 1 button. I lost a few games, but nothing worth putting in another button in the CP.

The games that I like to play, but are horizontal are ZooKeeper, Tapper and Popeye. The majority of classics are vertical though.