Green horn needing guidence (long post, maybe)

[DesiredOutcome]

Hey BYOAC.

New here and new to this world. So new in fact that i only started thinking about this endevour yesterday after watching Metal Jesus Rocks youtube about his MAME cab update. And i thought to myself, that would be super cool.  Well what I didnt realize is how overwhelming this process has been thus far. My first obstacle is deciding how nostaligic i want to get. I like the idea of a retro cab, but not the retro leg pain from standing. So im leaning a sit down model.  But keep as much tradtional arcade controls as possible. Then i discovered that i can put almost any game i want on this darn thing. So I'm like why the F not! Play everything retro up to ps2 era stuff. Then i found out that once you start adding console games you need to add more buttons and your CP gets crazy. (Disappointed)

I have no clue where to start.

What do i need in terms of hardware to run retro plus a select few console games? How many buttons needed for games like street fighter,  xmen etc

Will console style controllers be easier than adding more buttons?

What software is user friendly for idiots like me? Im looking into launchbox as my front end because its literally idiot proof (atleast to me) i dont know what emulators are good and what to use for the different platorms, same with roms. No clue where to go for them or how to properly install them. That needs to be throughly researched on my part because its "illegal"

What vendors for buttons, sticks, wiring and such does the board recommend?
Are there wiring tutorials for buttons and sticks you guys can pass on?


Again Im really new to this. So please be gentle

Im looking for ease of use. Something that even a mentally disabled veteran like me can piece together and enjoy.

[Scassidy24]

Welcome

Assuming you will be using windows.  Any version as far back as XP is fine.

Emulators
Super Nintendo:  ZSNES
PlayStation One: ePSX
Nintendo 64: project 64

Those are all I use but you can get Atari and sega and nes emulators very easily just look around the www.

Setting up and acquiring arcade games will be your biggest task. You'll have to do a ton of research and be patient it takes a long time. If your totally green to it I suggest you go to Mames official website and grab a copy of mame and some of the very few legal mame Roms to acclimate yourself to how it needs to be set up on your computer. From getting it running to integrating your front end.

Arcade machines and console games don't really mix that well.  I use a couple USB game controllers for console games and keep the arcade control panel simple. Just 6 button fight stick set up for 99% of the games you'll play and if you want to look at spinner or trackball that's enough to pack into a control panel any more any it get ugly and not nostalgic

That should give you days of work. And lots to chew on

It's rewarding to finish a cab

Oh and I do recommend you stick to the classic upright cabinet. Just get a couple bar stools it keeps with the nostalgia.   And a coin door that actually works.   It really makes for a nice finished product that will wow your friends

I recommend groovygamegrear for all of your arcade controls.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Le Chuck]

Dude, welcome.  Read this entire thread.  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,118612.0.html

Then hit up the hall of fame and read any thread that gets mentioned more than once.  Absorb those and we'll fill in the blanks. 

[DesiredOutcome]

I figured i wasvover thinking it.

Do i need to come up with a nifty way to rotate lcd screens? I read on here that you need both vert and hor options to get the most out of mame.

[DesiredOutcome]

Dude, welcome.  Read this entire thread.  http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,118612.0.html

Then hit up the hall of fame and read any thread that gets mentioned more than once.  Absorb those and we'll fill in the blanks.

This is gold thank you.

I can have someone make the cab itself as I do not possess the necessary tools and room to build it properly. As well as add a rotator for the screen so I can do both vert and hor settings. As well as just a normal 2 player 6 button CP for ease of use. I thought about it and the only people I'll be playing with wont be over all the time and it will be just be me and the kids.

What I was thinking for the software was getting Launchbox for the front end. Mame and SNES, NES and Sega emulations and then add light guns for the games that use those. I live in an tech hub, so finding a high powered comp on the cheap really shouldn't be an issue. I know enough to do that myself. I was more concerned with the cab and what I needed to get up and running as far as software.

I find it ironic we can talk about emulations but not the stuff the emulations were created for. I feel like this is in the same territory as weed. Everyone knows what its about, most know how to get it and use it.  But no one wants to talk about it 

I'll continue to lurk.

[Le Chuck]

Just as a note, much easier to get a large LCD to fill your entire bezel area and use display settings to maximize horizontal and vertical gaming rather than go through the trouble of rotating a screen.

This coming from a guy who as built a rotating screen cab in the past.

[DesiredOutcome]

Just as a note, much easier to get a large LCD to fill your entire bezel area and use display settings to maximize horizontal and vertical gaming rather than go through the trouble of rotating a screen.

This coming from a guy who as built a rotating screen cab in the past.

Awesome! Thank you