please share your hind-sight

[stevejt]

Some time in the next week I am about to build my first mame machine.  I know what to do, I have carpentry, electronic, and computer skills.  What I am asking here, is can anyone save me any problems?  ANYTHING you know now, that you wish you knew BEFORE you built your first machine?  Any tricks that can save me any time, or cursing?  Common problems?

I have a few different arcade cabs, so I have not deceided which type to use.  500mgz puter. 21" computer monitor,(a steal for $50 at a show).  Ipac 2.  Happs track ball, with a ps2 mouse hack, that I already tested.  Assorted used sticks and buttons,(new ones on back order from x-arcade, yes those cheap ones...lol).  I am building this for me and my sons.  But I am hoping to sell it in the near future, and build a bigger one.  I am PROBABLY going to build a control panel from scratch.  Hopeing to make it easily and quickly removeable.  I want it to look good, but not take too much time to do.  I don't want it to be something I see here on another post being made fun off...lol

Any advice or tricks you guys that have done this a few times times can offer??

Thanks!

Steve

[javeryh]

Make sure you don't build it too big for the doorway it will eventually have to go through...

[Minwah]

You've already hacked a mouse...I've done one also but I wouldn't bother again.  At $9 Oscar's (very nicely) pre-hacked mice are a steal - www.oscarcontrols.com .

[stevejt]

I appreciate the idea.  I thought about using oscars.  Doing it myself was quick and easy.  And I like the mouse I used, less than $5 too.  It's board is only 1 1/2 by 2 inches.  Looks like it could be cut down alot smaller too.  I plan on eventually mounting it IN one of the trackball arms, the way the optic board is mounted. 

[JustMichael]

Do NOT hook up the controls until the cabinet is done.  If you do hook up the controls to "test" them out before the cabinet is done, it will probably take you an addition 2 to 3 months to finish the cabinet.   

[stevejt]

I understand that! That is so "me".  Thanks, I would have "tested" it as soon as possible.     I will do my best to resist all urges for pre-completion tests.

Steve

And as for the fitting through the door-  I learned all about that buying 2 cabinets that didn't fit through the door to my basement.  So my game room, has a "wing" in the garage...  (I may joke about it, but in all honesty, it really pissed me the &$%# off!)

Steve

[spystyle]

I wish I would've used modular control panel, and rotating monitor on my fist cab.

But above all, after I built my 1st cab I wished I would have made it a 2 player.

Use a big screen. No smaller than 21" viewable.

Wear ear plugs and safety glasses whenever you are cutting.

My 2 cents,
Craig

[Jabba]

I based my design off the Lusid plans because I was excited to get started and they were very clearly laid out. I feel the cabinet is too tall for my personal taste. For my next cabinet, I will reproduce a classic machine that I used to play in the 80's. Something like Marble Madness, Tempest, Centipede, Joust, Defender, etc.

Jakobud has great plans.

[Chris]

Look carefully at the footprint of that huge 3" trackball.  I ended up having to build a whole new panel to accomodate it.

21" monitors are deep.  Make sure you have enough space behind it.

[Hoagie_one]

never loan out items for documentation or for machining unless you are confortable with the fact that you may never see them again. 

[locash]

For my first panel, I went with Happ's Universal Joystick.  I don't know what I was thinking, probably something like "They cost more than the Supers, Competitions, and the Ultimates, they must be better".  While they are easier to mount than the other, I didn't like the way they feel or look and have since replaced them.

[thrdbace]

this is great stuff...im going to start in a few weeks also...looking to build a smaller design as well:

something like the attached.

[stevejt]

Why is that picture names DORKmachine?  lol

Steve

[thrdbace]

why do you think?

[stuzza]

If you can, get a friend (or perhaps your sons) to help you when you're doing all the woodworking etc..

[Mameotron]

Last of all, TAKE YOUR TIME!

[thrdbace]

whats so bad about the x-arcade stuff??

a joystick is a joystick...unless you're planning on building a hall of fame mame machine...whats the difference?  they get the job done right?

[stevejt]

I appreciate all the advice, keep it comeing.

I already know the x-arcade sticks won't be my favorites, they look too short.  BUt since this is my first mame machine, almost ALL spare parts, and I plan on trying to sell it, (since almost all spare parts, anything would be a profit), - I deceided to go with the $5 sticks, instead of more expensive ones.

As far as all joysticks being the same?  It makes a huge difference to many people.   I have about 20 arcade machines in my basement (don't ask...),(and those f-ing 2 that don't fit...) so  I can tell you joysticks make a HUGE difference.  I have an x-men (4p) and a Turtles in time, (in a tmnt cab).  Cabs are identical, monitors are identical, game type and controls identical.  Sticks LOOK the same, BUT, turtles has leaf switch sticks.  I HATE THEM!!!!!!!!!!  (anyone local want to swap for ms bases??)   The sticks take away from the game play, since my mind tends to be on them sometimes.  I have heard some say they like them better.  Rampage dedicated sticks, (pretty oroginal) have an AWESOME feel, while the newer Rampage world tour has short sticks with a heavy feel.  My favs??  You'er gonna laugh- the goofy looking (IMO) ones in P.O.W....  The P.O.W. game sucks, (imo).  I got the dedicated cab cheap with an excellent monitor in it.  So it's my jamma test cab, (too many boards too...  you know, just ONE more...)  If I could get a case of those tall, skinny, bright things cheap, every game in my basement would have them.  As tall as they are, they have the shortest movement of any stick I have ever seen.  (Any one have any they want to swap?) They would have saved me dozens of lives in any raiden game.  So I guess, NO they are all NOT the same...

oops...  Did I just vent about joysticks?  Sorry...   Morons in the traffic today must have pissed me off a little more than I thought....

Have A Nice Day!

Steve

[thrdbace]

what is so bad about the x-arcade sticks?  why do they suck?

[Santoro]

Here is the 'Lessons Learned' section from my cab site.