What do I need now?Help a newbie decide

[Ed ONeill]

Ok so the computer is built, the mame roms are in,and  the video game is waiting to be converted to mame.

So now I need to get this thing going.....
I want to build a 2 player mame machine that will play everyting
I plan on using track ball and spinner.If this is even possible.

Now,having said that I want to play virtually every rom.

 I am really unsure of what I need to buy from ultimarc, should I buy the mini pac, ipac,optipac. I've been on the site many of times I am just unsure of what exactly I need. I also don't really understand the inputs ,example  the ipac2 has 28 inputs but is each button 1 input and each joystick 1 input ?

Please help!

Signed
ED

[GGKoul]

I would by a IPAC4 & Optipac from Ultimarc.  The IPAC4 has 56 inputs.  So allows for 4 joysticks with 8 buttons each and some admin commands.  Its a very easy interface use.  You may not think you need a 4 player interface.  But if your building a 2 player cabinet with the plan of playing every rom.  By having the IPAC4, your able to play those 2 player dual joystick games.  Like Smash TV and Robotron.  Since the IPAC4 will allow you to hook up 2 joysticks per player.

Also purchase Optipac. It allows you to hook up 1 or 2 Trackballs & 1 or 2 Spinners at the same time.

So by getting a IPAC4 & Optipac.  You'll be able to play 95% of the game out there.  Then you need to purchase a Durin Interface if you plan on adding 2 rotaries.  

Hope this helps
-GGKoul

[Nailz]

It's only a 2-player machine....  don't you think the IPAC-4 is a bit overkill?  Geez.

I would recommend getting the Mini-PAC, it has the 28 inputs of the IPAC-2 and you can hook up your trackball.  All you need from there is an Oscar spinner which can go directly into your usb port.  Odds are you aren't going to be playing any games with bot a trackball and a spinner, ever, so you are covered.

I'm building my 2-player bartop and just ordered the following:

T-stick Plus
Mini-PAC
ultimarc trackball
Oscar spinner (whenever he opens back up)
plus whatever buttons you may need...

[GGKoul]

If you dont want to play those dual joystick games.  Then a IPAC4 is overkill and the minipac or ipac2 would do.

Regardless of which one you buy, any of the IPACs will make your life alot easier.

[steve_pss]

I have to agree with Nailz. If your only using 2 joysticks why pay the extra money? The minipac seems like a great deal and whether you get your spinner from Oscar, SlikStik or hack you own you can use the USB or Ps2 input.

[Ed ONeill]

Ok so If I buy the minipac I shouldn't need anything else right?

BTW -  I forgot about games that have dual joysticks. I should mention that I never really played any of those 2 joystick games.........

 Yes I have never played robotron ! There you happy it now out in the open Ed O'Neill has never played robotron..... LOL

Signed
ED

[Nailz]

Ok so If I buy the minipac I shouldn't need anything else right?

BTW -  I forgot about games that have dual joysticks. I should mention that I never really played any of those 2 joystick games.........

 Yes I have never played robotron ! There you happy it now out in the open Ed O'Neill has never played robotron..... LOL

Signed
ED

Yep, if you get the Mini-PAC, you are good to go as far as encoders are concerned.

[Tiger-Heli]

Ok so the computer is built, the mame roms are in,and  the video game is waiting to be converted to mame.

So now I need to get this thing going.....
I want to build a 2 player mame machine that will play everyting
I plan on using track ball and spinner.If this is even possible.

Now,having said that I want to play virtually every rom.

 I am really unsure of what I need to buy from ultimarc, should I buy the mini pac, ipac,optipac. I've been on the site many of times I am just unsure of what exactly I need. I also don't really understand the inputs ,example  the ipac2 has 28 inputs but is each button 1 input and each joystick 1 input ?

Please help!

Signed
ED

I think I'll start with your last question and work up -
For standard digital joysticks - you need 4 inputs each (up, down, right, left)  You also might want a 4-way/8-way switchable joystick as 4-ways won't work on 8-way games like fighters and shuump's and 8-ways get stuck on classics like Pac-Man and donkey kong.

To play EVERY game, you'll need to add -
spinner - Tempest
Trackball - Centipede
270 degree wheel and pedals - Outrun
360 degree wheel (could use spinner) - Sprint, Indy Heat
Analog Joystick - Afterburner
yoke - Star Wars
Positional Gun - Operation Thunderbolt?, Terminator 2
Mounted Lightgun - Operation Wolf?
Pistol lightgun - Area 51
Handlebars - Paperboy, Hang-On
Baseball Bat joystick - Relief Pitcher
Rotary joysticks - IKARI, SNK games
49-way joystick with unique centering - Sinistar (and wait for an interface for it.
8-direction positional spinner joystick for Tin Star, Frontline,
Spinner with handle for 720 degrees.

Oh, and a hacked stationary bicycle for Prop Cycle (and this might not be a complete list).

Regarding interfaces - for joysticks and buttons, there's the I-PAC's or the KeyWiz from www.groovygamegear.com - search previous threads and decide which one does more of what you want.

For trackballs, spinners, and 360-degree wheels - there's the mini-pac or the opti-pac, or www.oscarcontrols.com sells a mouse hack to USB (or PS/2)

For 270-degree wheels, positional guns, handlebars, baseball bat joysticks or any pot-based analog interface - you can wire into the gameport, or hack a USB dual strike, or many of these devices have USB interfaces built in (also daveb is making an interface for them).

For Lightguns - I recommend the Act-Labs USB guns.

For rotary joysticks - the optical ones interface like a spinner, or the rotary ones will need Druin's interface.

For 49-way joysticks, daveb is working on a different interface for this.

Lots of info on the board, get used to using the advanced search function, and post if you have more questions.

[Ed ONeill]

Tiger-Heli

Boy did I make a mistake.  I'm sorry I wasn't too clear. I guess I mis- spoke.

I have no intentions on adding all those extra components like a steering wheel pedals,rotary joysticks, guns  etc

sorry for any confusion

Signed
ED

[Tiger-Heli]

Tiger-Heli

Boy did I make a mistake.  I'm sorry I wasn't too clear. I guess I mis- spoke.

I have no intentions on adding all those extra components like a steering wheel pedals,rotary joysticks, guns  etc

sorry for any confusion

Signed
ED

No problem, the stuff I said about interfaces still is good though.

[steve_pss]

You never played Robotron???!!!

I just reported you to the moderator.

[GGKoul]

If you wanted to play everything.. You would need to build something like this

http://unclet.arcadecontrols.com/MomsArcade/MomsArcadeMain.html

Or like this

http://www.homestead.com/xiaou2/arcade.html

[SirPeale]

You never played Robotron???!!!

I just reported you to the moderator.

He really did, too.  Don't do that again!!!!!!  

[Ed ONeill]

Ok

I really have never played robotron.

It's time to fess up ... I was always a big pinball player.

I played most of the classics video games but I think the last game I remember being NEW was tetris any video games past this I really don't know. After 1987 I rarely went into the arcades as there were other things for a young guy just out of High school to do...like night clubbing so we could chase the girls.

I am old so you have to give me some repect...like when your mom and dad used to tell you to respect your elders....LOL

So why would I want a mame machine you ask ? Two reasons

1. I actually found out about mame by accident on www.avsforum.com,it's for people who build their own hometheaters, so I figurted wow why not have an all in one video game seeing  as the lobby(part gameroom) is rather small. Here is the link you'll see what I mean  http://home.comcast.net/~coin-opcollector/

2. To releive my childhood,because my son (6) has renewed my intrested in video games .

peale and others I promise  I will try to play all the games I missed as a young kid.

Signed
ED

[krick]

A few questions before I make any recommendations...

What version of windows are you using?
What kind of cabinet do you have?
Does it have a JAMMA harness?
What kind of monitor do you plan to use?

[steve_pss]

hehe- Sorry Peale. I felt it was my civic duty.

[GGKoul]

Ed

Here's something that can help you decide what to build and how to set everything up: It's Saints (John St. Clairs) new BYOAC book thats coming out in April.  

http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=19;action=display;threadid=16854

I've posted a link to the TOC for you to review.  Also read the BYOAC FAQ posted in the Main Forum.    These will contain more then enough information for you to build your cabinet anyway you like.

And dont let the "Robotron" guys scare you away.   Post whatever question you have and usually someone will have an answer/opinion for you in an hour.

Going back to the topic.  Buy a Mini Pac and a T-Slik Plus.  As the T Slik Plus will allow you to play the 8 & 4 ways games.

Good luck with your cabinet
-GGKoul

[Ed ONeill]

A few questions before I make any recommendations...

What version of windows are you using?
What kind of cabinet do you have?
Does it have a JAMMA harness?
What kind of monitor do you plan to use?

I didn't think any of this was necessary but here it is
mindows xp or I have 98se
the main event is going to be the victim
jamma
19" H - whatever type is in the cab for now but I do plan on upgrading to a 25" when money becomes avaialable

GGKoul , I already planed on the tstick . as for reading I have read and re-read everything I could.

Signed
Ed

[RandyT]

Ok

I really have never played robotron.

It's time to fess up ... I was always a big pinball player.

I played most of the classics video games but I think the last game I remember being NEW was tetris any video games past this I really don't know. After 1987 I rarely went into the arcades as there were other things for a young guy just out of High school to do...like night clubbing so we could chase the girls.

Sorry Ed, no excuse (j/k)

I am old so you have to give me some repect...like when your mom and dad used to tell you to respect your elders....LOL

BTW, how old do you think this crowd is?  In 1987, I just returned from a 3 year Army tour in Germany  

I still love the Pins, but there's something mind-numbingly satisfying and stress relieving about a good game of Robotron.  There are probably a bunch of others that you will find yourself drawn to as well, so make sure you don't skimp too much on the capabilities of your panel.

And please, no more of that "respect your elders" stuff...you're probably a young'un in this group  


RandyT

[steve_pss]

Im only 33 myself. All I did as a young'in was waste my early youth on video games tho. Still hard to believe the scumbag that ran the arcade didn't kick me out and ask why I wasn't home doing 5th grade homework..

[krick]

A few questions before I make any recommendations...

What version of windows are you using?
What kind of cabinet do you have?
Does it have a JAMMA harness?
What kind of monitor do you plan to use?

I didn't think any of this was necessary but here it is
mindows xp or I have 98se
the main event is going to be the victim
jamma
19" H - whatever type is in the cab for now but I do plan on upgrading to a 25" when money becomes avaialable

The reason I ask is that if you are running windows, have an already wired JAMMA cabinet, and you plan to use the cabinet's existing arcade monitor, the easiest setup is probably to get an ArcadeVGA video card and a J-PAC from Ultimarc.  If you want to have 4 player controls, you can get an I-PAC2 as well and cascade it into the J-PAC.

This is the setup that I am currently using in my cabinet.


By the way, does your cabinet look like the one here?...
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=8599

If so, that's a really cool cabinet style.  The control panel is fairly deep so I think you could toss in a trackball or two if you wanted.

[FractalWalk]

. . . there's something mind-numbingly satisfying and stress relieving about a good game of Robotron

Then you're not doing it right. After a good game, your hands should be clenched into viselike fists on the joysticks, your teeth should be ground down to near the gumline, your system should be shorted out from the pools of sweat running off your forehead and for the next few hours you randomly babble,  " . . . must . . . save . . . Mikey."

[Ed ONeill]

The reason I ask is that if you are running windows, have an already wired JAMMA cabinet, and you plan to use the cabinet's existing arcade monitor, the easiest setup is probably to get an ArcadeVGA video card and a J-PAC from Ultimarc.  If you want to have 4 player controls, you can get an I-PAC2 as well and cascade it into the J-PAC.

This is the setup that I am currently using in my cabinet.

By the way, does your cabinet look like the one here?...
http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?letter=&game_id=8599

If so, that's a really cool cabinet style.  The control panel is fairly deep so I think you could toss in a trackball or two if you wanted.

My cabinet is exacly like that , I should have said it was an original game and cab. As for controllers I do want to have a 2 joystick 6 buttons each player, a spinner and a trackball.

I thought I needed the arcade vga regardless of what ultimarc keyencoder I chose . Also I thought the only advantage of  jpac was so you could use your existing jamma board. Is it that much easier btw the game currently has only one button for each player .

Randy T ...Sorry about the elder comment. ...Sir...LOL

Signed
Ed

[paigeoliver]

Whee. my turn to add more control types to the list, even though you already said you wouldn't actually be buying EVERYTHING.

2-position shifter.
Cue ball positional sensor, lane, and ball return system for Super Strike, Slik Shot, and Dino Roller.
2-way return to center shifter
4 position shifter. (Actually, arcade shifters go all the way up to 8 position, but not sure if any Mame titles use more than 4 positions).
Golly Ghost guns and house (and wait for the interface).
Wizard of Wor 9-way.
Discs of Tron up/down spinner.
Golf analog snap stick (single axis).
Baseball analog snap sticks (dual axis).
Tron joystick (different than other trigger sticks due to its "just barely" 8-way movement pattern).
2-way vertical joystick for Defender and Pooyan.
2-way horizontal joystick.
Streetfighter 1 pressure sensitive buttons.
Roughly 6 different brake pedals, a dozen different gas pedals , and several clutches (there were MANY different pedals, and the pedal for one game is not definitely the pedal for the next).

Several types of dancing pads and other rythm game control setups (might not be in Mame yet, but they will be, and they are already all in simulated form in Stepmania).

Boonga Boonga butt and poking hand.
Bouncy ride on horse (used on several newer games).
Analog skateboard
Skis (possibly more than one type?)
Left-right leaning motorcycle.
Full body positional sensors.
Boxing gloves (2 types).
recoil lightgun (several games)
tracking lightgun (jurassic park series).
Roller (Major Havoc).

[krick]

I thought I needed the arcade vga regardless of what ultimarc keyencoder I chose . Also I thought the only advantage of  jpac was so you could use your existing jamma board. Is it that much easier btw the game currently has only one button for each player.

You don't HAVE to use an ArcadeVGA card.  People have used certain "normal" video cards in conjunction with a special build of MAME called AdvanceMAME.  But I think using the ArcadeVGA is far simpler.

You are correct regarding the encoder choice.  I chose to use the J-PAC because my cabinet already had a "full" JAMMA harness, complete with 3 buttons per player.  It was already wired to my monitor, so the whole thing was a plug-and-play affair.  I had mame runing on my cabinet in well under an hour.  I recently added 3 more buttons per player and the additional wiring to support them connected directly to the J-PAC.

Your JAMMA harness might very likely have wires for all three buttons, even though the game only used one button per player.

If your JAMMA harness doesn't contain all the button wires, you can certainly use an I-PAC instead.  However keep in mind that you will have to wire up the monitor as well as all your control panel.  It's not difficult, just one more step.

I chose to keep my JAMMA harness and use a J-PAC in case I decided to use my cabinet for a real JAMMA board in the future.  I suppose it might also make my cabinet a little more valuable if I decide to sell it at some point.

[GroovyTuesdaY]

Ok

I really have never played robotron.

It's time to fess up ... I was always a big pinball player.

I played most of the classics video games but I think the last game I remember being NEW was tetris any video games past this I really don't know. After 1987 I rarely went into the arcades as there were other things for a young guy just out of High school to do...like night clubbing so we could chase the girls.

I am old so you have to give me some repect...like when your mom and dad used to tell you to respect your elders....LOL

So why would I want a mame machine you ask ? Two reasons

1. I actually found out about mame by accident on www.avsforum.com,it's for people who build their own hometheaters, so I figurted wow why not have an all in one video game seeing  as the lobby(part gameroom) is rather small. Here is the link you'll see what I mean  http://home.comcast.net/~coin-opcollector/

2. To releive my childhood,because my son (6) has renewed my intrested in video games .

peale and others I promise  I will try to play all the games I missed as a young kid.

Signed
ED

Wow ed, thats a pretty nice entertainment room! ONE DAY!!!! ONEEEEDAY, i will also have a room like that lol.   I like the look of it thats for sure.   With all those kids, you definately need that big couch hehe.

Good luck with your planning.

groovY~