mame cabinet question

[alomar721]

just wondering if anybody can help me out. i want to build my own arcade cabinet. i am going to use an x-arcade joystick dual. a regular TV and my modified x-box. i saw the planes on mameroom website. is that the way to go. or i have the option of buying an stripped out arcade cabinet.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6242175406&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1. do you think i can make this one into my own cabinet. i thank you for any help you can give. another web site formun was no help thank you Scott

[Timoe]

Have you bought the x-arcade joystick yet?

In regards to the Mame-Room plans you saw, are you planning on building that design or buying a kit to just put it together?  Will you be cutting your own material, I mean?

If you plan on building your own, dont buy the x-arcade.  You should build your control panel to custom fit your arcade cabinet.  It will be more solid, look cooler and be built of better parts.

If you already bought the X-arcade, then your plan still sounds fine.

[alomar721]

no i havent bought the x-arcade joystick not sure if i want to go through and build my own joysticks and for the cabinet nothing yet was just wondering if i shoulh by mame cabinet plans or stripped out cabinet. thanks scott

[pointdablame]

no i havent bought the x-arcade joystick not sure if i want to go through and build my own joysticks and for the cabinet nothing yet was just wondering if i shoulh by mame cabinet plans or stripped out cabinet. thanks scott

if you are going to build the cabinet, you can build the control panel.  You don't actually "build" the joysticks or other parts.  You just cut holes in the control panel and put them in.

Trust me, if you can build the cabinet, build your own CP.  A custom cabinet with an Xarcade sitting on it NEVER looks good.

[alomar721]

thanks just trying to get some info. was hoping that cabinet fro sale already in mich.  area. what do you think about the stripped cabinet is that hard to change into a mame cabinet. thanks scott

[pointdablame]

thanks just trying to get some info. was hoping that cabinet fro sale already in mich.  area. what do you think about the stripped cabinet is that hard to change into a mame cabinet. thanks scott

IMO, taking a gutted cabinet and converting it is much easier than building yourself.  It's definitely a good option... just don't mame a classic cabinet!  Get a generic conversion cabinet and go to town on it.

[alomar721]

where do i get a generic cabinet from thanks scott

[danny_galaga]

where do i get a generic cabinet from thanks scott

just keep looking in ebay. the guys here will post what are 'generic' as such. im not an expert, but basically what EVERYONE is afraid of is people mameing (or maiming i guess!) classic cabs like defender, galaga, space invaders etc. if its still in reasonable condition most people feel you should restore rather than mame. but of course whatever you buy is your choice. for instance i have a fantasy of buying a harley davidson and then taking to it with an orange gun and flame thrower and then posting it on the net! but thats just me 

this is an excellent example of a restoration of a cab that could easily have ended up being badly mamed:


http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=20395.0;all

[DrewKaree]

for instance i have a fantasy of buying a harley davidson and then taking to it with an orange gun and flame thrower and then posting it on the net! but thats just me 

I may have to post your whereabouts and a pic of Bigfoot Danny and have you severely thrashed.  Twice if necessary.  Three times just for fun. 

[Havok]

Star Wars cabinets make great MAME conversions. You can rip out the yoke and sell it for parts, then attach a 4 player panel using the hole from the yoke as a mount point.

























































Just kidding! Never Mame a classic, unless it's Mr. Do - Ultracade owns the rights to them now...

 

[alomar721]

just trying to get ideas. on what to do i have a limited budget.

[pointdablame]

just trying to get ideas. on what to do i have a limited budget.

If you have a really limited budget... just quit this hobby.  It's a damn black hole where your spare dollars just disappear to... there's no avoiding it.

Your best bet is to check eBay for cheap cabs.  You can also post an ad on RGVAC, and check your yellow pages under Amusement companies and also Vending Companies.  Call around and see if they have any non-working cabs to use.  If you put a bit of effort into it you can find a cheap cab.  It depends on where you are located of course, but it's not uncommon to find a $100 cab around me with a working monitor and usable controls, not to mention all the little hardware pieces that add up if you're building your own machine.

[Timoe]

This is a GREAT place for ideas.

[Roughy]

See, the beauty of a limited budget is that you can generally slightly expand it if you progress over time.

That is, it'll take you a little bit to build your first CP--it's not exactly difficult, but there are things to learn.  People here will say "it'll all just fall together"--and it does.

Do some research, some homework.  Design some CPs graphically, get some feedback.  Find something you like and make a cardboard replica.

There's a good chance you can build an even better CP than the X for less--and I would have, but I did some fancy-schmancy upgrades.

It's worth it in the end.

[alomar721]

thanks for all the info guys the only reason i am on a limited budget is i am having surgery on my foot at the end of the month. so i don't get paid from work that's all. figure while i am off i get ideas and maybe pick up a cabinet. thanks so far for the information i have gotten. another site i was on nobody help me out. you guys have already helped me in alot of ways and given different ways to go. hope to still hear ideas from you guys and girls thank you.
Scott

[alomar721]

when to a guy that sell pinballs and arcade and pool tables asked him if he had an empty cabinets and he said he might but iot will run about $200.. thought was a little high without knowing the cabinet and it being stripped. so have to try some more tommorrow or thur.
scott