mame or jamma

[kenkraken]

i'm planning on making an arcade cabinet, and i'm wondering which should i use? mame (as in using a raspberry pi) or jamma
and if your answer is jamma, which do you recommended ?

[DeLuSioNal29]

This topic was approved as a first post.  Please keep in mind the forum rules, however.  No links to xx-in-1 boards please.  But discussion is allowed.

Rules here:  http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_message_rules.html

Thanks!

DeLuSioNaL29

[PL1]

if your answer is jamma, which do you recommended ?

As Del mentioned, assuming you are referring to X-in-1 multi-boards, providing specific vendornames/links/hints falls under Rule 5 because the ROMs on the boards aren't licensed.

What types of games do you want to run?

If you're looking at Galaga/Ms. Pacman/Donkey Kong era titles, the RasPi might work, but if you're looking at newer titles like 3-D fighting games, the RasPi will almost certainly not work to your satisfaction.

You may want to look at the design process here to help you sort through options and figure out what questions to ask.


Scott

[harveybirdman]

 Original hardware is always best, don't use xxx in 1 boards though if you are seriously into playing the games as anything other than a novelty.

I would never use a raspberry pi with mame either but given the choice between that and a multi board I would go with the pi and mame.

[Malenko]

Jamma , so you can start collecting boards and play games without any emulation.

[keilmillerjr]

Well, mame is PC software and Jamma is an arcade wiring standard. You can have a PC wired via jamma.

[monkeybomb]

The pi is worse than the multi boards. I've had several of the multi-boards and I have never been satisfied.  I see a significant number of posts with the line "for the money" or "what I expected." None of them will get you real arcade level gameplay, so if you are dead set on those options, just do whatever with the rest.  At that point, "It just doesn't matter"

Personally, I like just using a real arcade cabinet.  You get a cabinet that was genuinely used like the games when you were a kid. They also come with crt monitors, which hopefully is the only thing you are considering.  Regardless, I recommend a jamma set-up.  You can have a mame pc and real boards and they aren't that hard to swap.

[yotsuya]

The pi is worse than the multi boards. I've had several of the multi-boards and I have never been satisfied.  I see a significant number of posts with the line "for the money" or "what I expected." None of them will get you real arcade level gameplay, so if you are dead set on those options, just do whatever with the rest.  At that point, "It just doesn't matter"

Personally, I like just using a real arcade cabinet.  You get a cabinet that was genuinely used like the games when you were a kid. They also come with crt monitors, which hopefully is the only thing you are considering.  Regardless, I recommend a jamma set-up.  You can have a mame pc and real boards and they aren't that hard to swap.

Well put.

[Jollywest]

As above, I'd go for a Jamma cab.

You can always add a mame pc/jpac setup or multi game board later without ever having to interfere with the Jamma wiring.

[danny_galaga]

Well, mame is PC software and Jamma is an arcade wiring standard. You can have a PC wired via jamma.

Yep, make it JAMMA and use a jpac. Best of both worlds if you want to try real boards down the track, which is why I wired mine JAMMA this time around (",)

[kenkraken]

This topic was approved as a first post.  Please keep in mind the forum rules, however.  No links to xx-in-1 boards please.  But discussion is allowed.

Rules here:  http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_message_rules.html

Thanks!

DeLuSioNaL29

what's wrong with xxx in 1? im a newbie at this hobby

[harveybirdman]

Input lag, tearing, music often garbled or broken. Often the harness is NOT jamma standard and requires an adapter or alteration to your JAMMA harness.

Some games are playable but most are not.  It's tempting because of the price, believe me I've been lured into the promise of Pandora's box The King of Air, but the games are so compromised I'd rather go with a PC and a JPAC despite the expense.

[opt2not]

Well, mame is PC software and Jamma is an arcade wiring standard. You can have a PC wired via jamma.

^This.

Go JAMMA and have your PC interface with it. Keeps you wiring standardized and tidy, also gives you the option of attaching real boards if you ever eventually go down that path. (slippery slope)

[Malenko]

the XXX in 1s are usually *nix builds with crummy emulators, the XXXX in 1s are usually chinese hacked builds of windows 2000 using outdated version of emulators. They are pretty much just illegal MAME boards that can output to arcade monitors and are limited to what you have.

Emulation is wonderful but I find the real deal to be better.

[kenkraken]

what should i do then? would you recommend the intel nuc or something else
also would you give me your expert opinion on this cabinet 

[Slippyblade]

what should i do then? would you recommend the intel nuc or something else
also would you give me your expert opinion on this cabinet 

...this cabinet?

Anyway, just pick up a used PC from a flea market or thrift store.  Seriously.  An old $20 P4 with Windows XP is plenty.

[eds1275]

I am happy using mame. I occasionally go to a big arcade not too far from me and enjoy a good time there using real arcade stuff. At home though I am just considering myself lucky rocking it out on my home made cab with real controls.

[kenkraken]

what should i do then? would you recommend the intel nuc or something else
also would you give me your expert opinion on this cabinet 

...this cabinet?

Anyway, just pick up a used PC from a flea market or thrift store.  Seriously.  An old $20 P4 with Windows XP is plenty.

[kenkraken]

what should i do then? would you recommend the intel nuc or something else
also would you give me your expert opinion on this cabinet 

...this cabinet?

Anyway, just pick up a used PC from a flea market or thrift store.  Seriously.  An old $20 P4 with Windows XP is plenty.

how about intel nuc with i7

[kenkraken]

what should i do then? would you recommend the intel nuc or something else
also would you give me your expert opinion on this cabinet 

...this cabinet?

Anyway, just pick up a used PC from a flea market or thrift store.  Seriously.  An old $20 P4 with Windows XP is plenty.

weird, i could've sworn i linked the link
here:

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Bartop-Arcade-Cabinet-Assemble/dp/B00F1YQLGC/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1457065433&sr=8-7&keywords=arcade+cabinet

[keilmillerjr]

I would not recommend a $20 used pc. Since upgrading my build to ssd - it boots rather quickly. I can imagine my daughter screaming if that thing took 2 minutes to boot. Real arcade boards boot instantly.

[Slippyblade]

If you are wanting a kit, I recommend Haruman's shop.

http://shop.harumancustoms.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59

[aldub516]

question... when u gave the option of mame, you said as in going with a pi.... is that your personal preference? Why not just go with an old pc? I just want to make sure youre not under some impression that pi is the only mame way to go or something lol

[kenkraken]

i'm going a intel nuc now
how is it?

[kenkraken]

question... when u gave the option of mame, you said as in going with a pi.... is that your personal preference? Why not just go with an old pc? I just want to make sure youre not under some impression that pi is the only mame way to go or something lol

i thought it was sorry

[Jamesbeat]

I'm currently using a Pi, and while it is adequate for the types of games I generally play, it's not the best solution.

A little background - I originally intended to make an emulation console out of a Pi, but then I found a better solution (Ouya) so I decided to build a bartop.

I only intended for it to be a short term novelty item, in fact I made it out of an old dresser (yes, it does look really bad).
It was such a success with my family that I decided to build a proper cabinet.

I've been gradually acquiring everything I need for the cabinet (just waiting for some slightly warmer weather) but I'm going to use my current Pi setup for now and upgrade to a PC later.

This is allowing me to spread out the cost of the build, because I don't have to buy everything all in one go.

In short, I probably would not be building a cabinet at all if it wasn't for the Pi, but I don't see it as the best solution.

If you already have a Pi and you can't get a cheap or free PC, by all means use it for now.
I'm still having a blast with my crappy bartop, and a Pi cabinet is certainly better than no cabinet at all.

One thing I do think the Pi will be great for is my future project - a 'barstick'.
I'm going to have a bunch of spare controls, wood, T molding etc left over from my build and the decommissioning of my bartop, so I'm going to build a  control panel with a a Pi inside that I can take to parties, barbecues etc.
The size, weight and cooling requirements of a PC would make this a difficult project, but the Pi is going to make it a snap.