Noob Looking To Build an Arcade Machine

[SuperGojira2001]

Hello! My name is SuperGojira2001, i'm new to this website (although you may know me from PCPartPicker). I recently got interested in DIY arcade machines, but I have no idea where to start. I learn't about this JAMMA thing and there tons of different game boards. The Pandora's Box looks cool but to save money I want that 60 in 1 board. I also checked out MAME, but it looks very hard with all of the different versions and special roms that only work with X etc. So I want to stick with an actual game board. As for everything else I have no idea. I do build PC's so I know a bit about electronics. I don't know how to wire everything and all of the parts I need. What I'm worried about most is the cabinet (going for a simple bartop btw). I have no skill in wood-working and I'm worried I'll screw up. So I was wondering if there was a place to buy cabinets, and if so how do I make sure it's compatible with parts? So if anyone can link me with parts/guides/tips that would be great! I'm just building a simple 1-2 player bartop so nothing too fancy. Going cheap as possible without being too low-quality thanks!

[PL1]

Welcome aboard, SuperGojira2001.   

For a good place to start, see the FAQ here.

For bartop kits, check out Haruman's thread here.

Regarding boards like Pandora's Box, 60-in-1, etc.:  Please don't ask for links since the ROMs on them are unlicensed so linking to them violates Rule 5. (BTW the multi-game boards like those aren't "actual game" boards, they are running an old version of MAME)


Scott

[SuperGojira2001]

Thanks I'll read those links later. I wasn't asking for roms just mentioning those pre-made boards. So all bartop cabinets from that site will work with a 60 in 1 and it's compatible parts? 

[Nephasth]

I was with you until "bartop"...

[yotsuya]

I dropped off at Pandora's Box.

[SuperGojira2001]

I dropped off at Pandora's Box.

I dropped off at Pandora's Box.

Why?

[n3wt0n]

Welcome aboard - this is an amazing forum for information and the people here typically speak from experience so be willing to learn from their mistakes. Not all the information comes nicely sugar-coated and wrapped with a bow but it is meant to help you make the best arcade machine possible. If you can deal with that you should do okay. 

[n3wt0n]

I wasn't asking for roms just mentioning those pre-made boards.

Since the premade boards are typically using roms copied from original hardware they fall under the same rules regarding questions about sources for mame roms.

[yotsuya]

Part of my interest is seeing the computer/front end setup. Those XXX in 1 boards are glitchy and I just personally have no interest in them. But it should work fine for you.

[SuperGojira2001]

I wasn't asking for roms just mentioning those pre-made boards.

Since the premade boards are typically using roms copied from original hardware they fall under the same rules regarding questions about sources for mame roms.

Ok. Can you help me find a guide to put together an arcade machine like how I'm describing?

[mgb]

You're in that guide now.
The best place to learn about this hobby and building a mame machine is this forum.
Take a good long read on the wiki. Lots of info there. Plus there are tons of great info in the different builds posted here.
Also be aware, not all advice on this site is for the timid.
Many here may come off as harsh to some but they mean well and those who endure it will come out the other end with a lot more wisdom in the hobby.

[SuperGojira2001]

You're in that guide now.
The best place to learn about this hobby and building a mame machine is this forum.
Take a good long read on the wiki. Lots of info there. Plus there are tons of great info in the different builds posted here.
Also be aware, not all advice on this site is for the timid.
Many here may come off as harsh to some but they mean well and those who endure it will come out the other end with a lot more wisdom in the hobby.

Ok, I'm open to learning. Do you this could fit a 19" monitor? http://shop.harumancustoms.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=56

[ed12]

if u are doing a bar top ?
I would want to point u to raspberry pi 1/2/3
there is a great thread of know there and a ton of support. >look on our forms<.
your over head hardware and software will be less + plus pi's as we call them have ready made open source software
U can talk about and not have to have a concern about "rom's"
the +'s are hands down for noob's

ed

[SuperGojira2001]

if u are doing a bar top ?
I would want to point u to raspberry pi 1/2/3
there is a great thread of know there and a ton of support. >look on our forms<.
your over head hardware and software will be less + plus pi's as we call them have ready made open source software
U can talk about and not have to have a concern about "rom's"
the +'s are hands down for noob's

ed

I've always wanted to do a Raspberry Pi project, I'll check it out.

[mgb]

Just keep in mind before deciding  on what to use for the machine, what exactly you're looking to get out of it.
Some guys come into this fresh and they wanna build a budget machine and when asked what games they hope to play on it, the answer usually goes something like "I wanna play everything and I want all the annoying blind of Hyperspin"
Something like a Pi is not gonna play the laterms 3d games and all that.
Also be prepared that if you go with a pi, you will hear it from some here that it's a bad idea. I won't say it because I've never tried it but there also many here who have had great success running classics on a pi
Good luck, keep reading.
As far as the wood working part, there are many great Barton kits available for sale on this forum.
You may also wanna consider converting a used actual arcade machine for a stand up arcade.

[ed12]

well after reading and owning a pi , I can speak for its ease of use , and you are correct that more intense games pi cannot handle.
I am sure 1 day it will push the area of intense games , but for a noob it is a great cheap way to get your feet wet as it is said

ed

[SuperGojira2001]

Just keep in mind before deciding  on what to use for the machine, what exactly you're looking to get out of it.
Some guys come into this fresh and they wanna build a budget machine and when asked what games they hope to play on it, the answer usually goes something like "I wanna play everything and I want all the annoying blind of Hyperspin"
Something like a Pi is not gonna play the laterms 3d games and all that.
Also be prepared that if you go with a pi, you will hear it from some here that it's a bad idea. I won't say it because I've never tried it but there also many here who have had great success running classics on a pi
Good luck, keep reading.
As far as the wood working part, there are many great Barton kits available for sale on this forum.
You may also wanna consider converting a used actual arcade machine for a stand up arcade.

I know a lot about PC's and I know a Pi won't but very powerful. I'm just looking to play games like Donkey Kong and Mrs. Pacman etc. I'm just worried as I heard MAME or other emulators can be a huge pain in the @$$. As for finding a used/broken arcade machine and upgrading/repairing it I would LOVE to do that. But I still need to be similar with the internals, and what games or cabinets are better for upgrading.

[MTPPC]

Everyone's first MAME multi-game should be a 2-player 6-button fighter. Add a 4-way joystick if you find the 8-way intolerable.

[SuperGojira2001]

Everyone's first MAME multi-game should be a 2-player 6-button fighter. Add a 4-way joystick if you find the 8-way intolerable.

Ok.

[mgb]

Everyone's first MAME multi-game should be a 2-player 6-button fighter. Add a 4-way joystick if you find the 8-way intolerable.

Unless you're more interested in vertical 4 way games.
There's really no right or wrong to what your first build should be. It's all about what you want to play

[lilshawn]

a bartop is not without it's own set of challenges (limited space being a big one.) usually requires a lot of customization to get things in there and working. you have a lot of things you need to figure out how to jam it all in there and close the door still you know?

If I were you, I'd start out with some kind of kit first. maybe a smaller cocktail style cabinet.

lots of room... you don't have to worry so much about how you are going to jam 15 components in it. see how it goes...make some mistakes...

then if you feel comfortable with how it went, you can tackle another project like a bartop...or build your own...and so on

[ed12]

as this  op is either fishing?  3 threads and counting ?
1 where I think everyone went wtf.
all the advice so far has been advice >dam good advice so far as I have seen<.
this op needs to make there mind up
graigs list is like ebay garbage
so garbage in garbage out.

op get a bar top
start there
if u like the out come ?
then go for bigger
THE BEST ADVICE I SEEN TODAY SO FAR WAS >>>>read<<<< or get the BOYAC book

ed

[SuperGojira2001]

as this  op is either fishing?  3 threads and counting ?
1 where I think everyone went wtf.
all the advice so far has been advice >dam good advice so far as I have seen<.
this op needs to make there mind up
graigs list is like ebay garbage
so garbage in garbage out.

op get a bar top
start there
if u like the out come ?

I was just thinking of other possibilities, yeesh!
then go for bigger
THE BEST ADVICE I SEEN TODAY SO FAR WAS >>>>read<<<< or get the BOYAC book

ed

[Jamesbeat]

I have both a raspberry pi bartop and a pc based upright.
I love the classics, and the pi can run those just fine (at least in my non-expert opinion, advanced users may notice errors in emulation).
I have always said though that the pi was a means to an end for me, I have no particular loyalty to it. Looking for a project for my pi was the reason I got into arcade machine building, but I wasn't about to shoot myself in the foot of there was a better option.

For a bartop playing mostly classics, the pi is a good solution, but when I built my upright and had room for a pc, a pc is what I put in there.
Everything was easy to set up, and it runs pretty much everything I'm interested in.

I'm going to give you my standard advice that I give to everyone contemplating a bartop build: consider an upright instead!

It feels so much better than a bartop, and takes up no more room.

A bartop needs a bar to put it on, otherwise you need to put it on some kind of table or stand. When it's on a stand, it has the same footprint as an upright anyway, so why not build an upright.

If you're thinking that a bartop will be easier to move around, you are right to an extent, but a decent sized bartop is still too heavy/unwieldy to be actually portable, and you will probably find that you tend not to move it around much anyway.

My upright is on casters and is actually easier to move around than my bartop.

I bring my bartop to our work Christmas party every year, and it's a real pain to lug the thing around.
Now that I have an upright, I'm going to dismantle my bartop and use the guts to make a 'barstick' so that I have a truly portable machine for parties etc.

Unless you actually have a bar that you want to put it on, the bartop has no real advantage over an upright.