4 player cocktail cab layout - help

[Sam66]

I would like to make a 4 player cocktail cabinet but am having trouble getting my head around the layout.

I want 2 players on one side (for horizontal games) and another 2 players on the next side (for vertical games).  I would also like to be able to play 4 player games such as gauntlet.

My problem is that I don't know if there is a way to tell mame (or the IPAC) which controls I want to use for a particular game.

I would like the cabinet to automatically select controls A and B for  horizontal games C and D for vertical and A, B, C, and D for 4 player games.

Is this possible, and if so how ?

Thanks,  Sam66

[Smack]

I just got done finishing mine. I think it's pretty much the same thing that you're talking about. I put up a quickee page for you to see. (I'll do up a full site sometime in the coming weeks and submit it BYOAC - I've gotta clean up the panels a little.)

http://www.beerisgoodfood.com/mame.htm

I'm running 2 trackballs & 2 spinners via an Optipac.
4 Joysticks via an Ipac4. (The sticks on the end are T-sticks that you can reach though a hole cut on the bottom of the panel to flip them to 4way)

There's a coin button and player 1 start on the left and a P2 coin + start on the right. On the long side the 2 Happ supers have 6 buttons a piece. On games that are 4 player, 2 of the buttons out of the six function as a coin and p3 start and p4 start. Each 4 player game is configured differently. I changed the mappings for games such as Gauntlet so that the sticks go P1 (left end) P3 + P4 on the horizontal, then P2 on the opposite end of the machine. I changed the directional mapping for the sticks on the ends to move the characters relative to the view from each side.

I mapped the controls for player 1 to the stick on the left (end) and the left stick on the long side. and the P2 stick on the right side to stick on the right side of the long end... (got it? I'm not sure if I'm making any sense.)

I'm running Advance MAME along with Advance Menu for the front end. Games are set up to rotate accordingly. Some horizontal games are set to flip vertical though so I can play them with a trackball.

If I babbled incoherently, just let me know...

Smack
redpinata@charter.net
I'll clear it up when I get my site done.

[PCC]

Smack - very cool, good work!  I'm working on something similar; I got my inspiration from http://www.hanaho.com/products/ArcadePC/Mega/index.html

[Smack]

Thanks for the feedback!

I had seen that Hanho one a while back too. Nice and compact with the sticks on the long side being under the glass. I just converted and old video trivia game. (same style as the Galaga Cocktail).

I wonder if the sticks on that one are wired in independently so you can remap all 4.

Smack

[rampy]

Not to me too... but smack, that cocktail cabinet is f'in awesome man...

just as i'm getting close to finishing my first MAME upright it makes me want to start thinking about a cocktail cab (in the 4player style)

rampy

[Sam66]

Yea smack, that's more or less what I plan to do.  I have a couple of questions about your cab, if you don't mind.

How is the glass attached - gravity or more?

Is it smoke glass or clear?

How do you find the T sticks compared to the supers?

I assume mame stores the remapped controls on a per game basis, or do you need advance mame for this?

Excuse my ignorance but I'm just getting in to the whole mame thing : )

[Smack]

Right now the glass just sits on top, I've got a friend of mine that works at a machine shop making custom brackets for it with 1 1/4" spacing.

The glass is tinted. (I marked off the back with masking tape, spray painted, then scraped off where the monitor and controls show. I had the glass cut at a plate glass shop, they used the plexi that was on the cab initially as a template for a perfect fit.

MAME stores a global configuration for controls, but you can assign each game to verride them individually.

AdvanceMame lets you assign the orientation globally or on a per game basis.

The T-sticks are cool, not as smooth as the supers. They feel a bit stiff. Noisy microswitches. But cool. Games like 1942, gauntlet,etc. are fine. Definately worth getting for the ends of the cab.

If you have any more questions, just let me know.

Smack

[Sam66]

Thanks for all the info.  I look forward to seeing your detailed site.

No doubt I'll have more questions as I progress from the design stage : )

[Dave_K.]

I just got done finishing mine. I think it's pretty much the same thing that you're talking about. ...
http://www.beerisgoodfood.com/mame.htm

A nice professional job (I love the all black look).  But why did you put the buttons on the left side of the joystick?  Do you have 3 other friends that are left handed?

-Dave

[Lilwolf]

hahaha... I was about to say that I LOVE your cabinet... but the buttons are on the wrong side..

btw, I'm left handed and I couldn't use it  

Great way to get better scores then friends.  It would take someone a long time to realize that they couldn't get used to your control panel... after you get used to it... you should be able to beat anyone on this board at any fighting game (on your control panel).

[Smack]

It's funny, I never thought of it that way. I'm right handed and it seems that everybody that has come over hasn't said a word. (As a matter of fact, I get my fanny kicked quite often - not at Dig Dug, but other games none the less.)

When I set up the panels, I forgot that the stick was on the opposite side. It's been ages since I've been at an arcade - I can't stand the games that are out now.) I just went with what was comfotable for me.

My roomate is leftie and does't have any trouble whipping me at Galaga. I'm not really into the fighting games so much as the 80's vertical stuff and 2 player cooperative games.

Thanks for all the feedback on the cab!