External controll box hooked to PC (no cab)

[Chris_The_Ninja]

I don't really have the room for a cab in my house, but seeing my uncles mame cab made me think creativly in my own world. I have a box in my closet that I use as a file server currently (P3 700, 512MB ram, 360gb combined hdd space, 17" monitor, graphics card with tv out) and I would like to mame with it.

Ideally I'd like to hook it up to the TV, and have a box (basically like the controll box on a cab, but minus the rest of the cab), either sitting on my lap, or build with it supports so I could have per say 2 chairs and this box in front of me for 2 player games, and just be able to put the chairs away and put the controll box away in my closet when not in use. Sorry if this sounds mangled its like 2AM.

Anyhow I don't see any problems in manufacturing the box and hookup and all that, my real question is what type of connections am I looking at (for like a standard arcade controll pad) are needed, and what is the cable lenth restrictions?

If anyone has had experience with long cables before, I'd like to know if it's possible (I know how bad USB can get after a few feet).

Or would it just be better to build a pc into this cp box and have the output for the tv and such.

The cp box without the pc would be my preference, as I wouldn't have to get more pc parts to finish it.

FYI. I am a PC tech, and I have tons of experience wiring and soldiering, so that part isn't really a problem, I'm just not sure of the interfaces that would use and the length restrictions.

[paigeoliver]

You don't have a 2 foot by 3 foot bit of floor available? That is all the space you need for a 19" cabinet. An end table takes up the same chunk of space.

[stuzza]

If you're just going for a simple joystick and button setup with an IPAC, you can just use a standard PS2 cable which you can get in all sorts of lengths - 2m, 3m, 5m 10m etc..  I think 10m would probably be way long enough for what you need.

[Chris_The_Ninja]

I don't really have that much space, when I look at it, I'd either be covering a vent, access to the closet, getting rid of my dresser, or a choice of getting rid of 2 shelfs.

As for the PS2 stuff, I know it's my bad for not hunting the forum down, but thats all it needs? a simple ps2 cable for a whole bunch of buttons like that? how many players can you have at once? I'd love to have a 4 player type set up that I could just disassemble and store when I'm not using it.

For example. I'm thinking of kind of a reverse drum set idea.

Bad drawing, but say a drum set looks like this in an above view
 /-----\
/        \

quite basic like that, then I'd like to have my cp somewhat reversed like:
\        /
 \-----/

Having P1 and P2 in the middle, P3 on the left and P4 on the right, odd design I know but it's my imagination.

If not, will P1 and P2 work? I'm just browsing possible options right now, so anything really goes as long as it isn't too hard to make.

Thanks in advanced.

[Chris_The_Ninja]

After poking around a bit, I really don't think I have the time to work on that large of a project, nor will I be able to transport it when I move in july. I think it would be alot easier to just have a cp box that could be partially disassembled and stored in a much smaller space.

[Hoagie_one]

a big box with folding legs like a folding table....hmmm, idea.....hmmmmm

[LordDamo]

a big box with folding legs like a folding table....hmmm, idea.....hmmmmm

Now thats a cool idea! You da man wif da smarts Hoagie!

[Hoagie_one]

Even better, make the box with an LCD projector built in so you can place the box near any wall and play mame on a 50 inch screen, lol.


LOL  Now im getting silly

[LordDamo]

Even better, make the box with an LCD projector built in so you can place the box near any wall and play mame on a 50 inch screen, lol.


LOL  Now im getting silly

I like your way of thinking though! Imagine playing life size Metal Slug!!!

Need to stick an amp inside, and speaker wire concector clips on either end to plug in some thumpin' subs . . . . .

(Now, where's that catalog I had the other day with projector's on sale?)

[electricd]

I once hooked my cab's output to my 110' projector....very very big pac man!  

[Hoagie_one]

mmmmmmmm pacman the size of my living room

[electricd]

Yea it was pretty cool, but my dog wasn't happy about it...he tried to attack the screen numerous times.  He does the same thing when my son is watching Blues Clues on the big screen...weird!