Author Topic: ok let's all tell a story on how we found BYOAC. (Read 19516 times)

Apollo · « **Reply #40 on:** August 11, 2005, 04:34:48 pm »

The local TV magazine ran a short one page article on emulation. I started to look for info on the net and ended up here. Hooked for life now I guess. The other day my wife told me not to sell one of my cabs because she liked it, I nearly cried.

ScoopKW · « **Reply #41 on:** August 11, 2005, 04:48:11 pm »

It came to me in a dream!

Nope -- found Supercade, and that linked me here.

ScoopKW

RetroACTIVE · « **Reply #42 on:** August 11, 2005, 05:04:54 pm »

I read the "Build Your Own Arcade Machine" book review on Retroblast picked the book up that same day at Borders and was perusing arcadecontrols.com that night.

Dave_K. · « **Reply #43 on:** August 11, 2005, 05:34:09 pm »

I found out about Saint and the first incarnation of this site through davesclassic forum in '99 or '00...it was a long time ago, so I forget.

bossyman15 · « **Reply #44 on:** August 11, 2005, 05:35:37 pm »

oh man! i just saw this topic on BOYAC's main front page! nice to feel like i'm special!

Jakobud · « **Reply #45 on:** August 11, 2005, 06:39:21 pm »

Geez all you youngins.... my Mame and BYOAC obcessment started with this small Slashdot article back in mid 2002:

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/07/25/1815202&tid=10

dag2000 · « **Reply #46 on:** August 11, 2005, 08:13:20 pm »

fortune cookie

MustardTent · « **Reply #47 on:** August 11, 2005, 09:24:35 pm »

Quote from: Jakobud on August 11, 2005, 06:39:21 pm

Geez all you youngins.... my Mame and BYOAC obcessment started with this small Slashdot article back in mid 2002:

http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/07/25/1815202&tid=10

Yep, that's the one that got me started too.

jerryjanis · « **Reply #48 on:** August 11, 2005, 09:44:40 pm »

I read about the Hanaho HotRod joystick, and bought one immediately. It blew my mind. After I bought that, I started digging deeper, and read about some of the arcade cabinets and modular control panels. Meanwhile, I was becoming increasingly aware that I couldn't play a satisfying game of Ikari Warriors, 720, or Discs of Tron with the HotRod. Somewhere in there I encountered this web site and started asking questions. With this message forum, there's always a team of people working on my silly little problem with me, and it's sure been fun.

JONTHEBOMB · « **Reply #49 on:** August 11, 2005, 10:34:23 pm »

I was watching the movie Soylent Green, about a year ago and saw the Computer Space cabinet. That spiked my interest and I decided to research the history of it. Through much Googleing I ended up at this excellent site and was amazed at the community that was apart of this hobby. I then got sucked in that night and read the entire Step by Step Newbie Guide. I thought to myself "I have to build myself a cabinet." I looked over that Newbie Guide at least 10 other times the next day and still sometimes go back to it. A couple of months after I started reading the Main Forum maybe once a week, but now it's increased to everyday I must visit the Main Forum, Software Forum and Consoles at the very least. I love this site!!!

Thankyou, Saint for providing this site. I probably would have never gotten started without this site and the book.

MinerAl · « **Reply #50 on:** August 11, 2005, 11:01:57 pm »

I bought a working Tron machine in 1997 at the community thrift store on half price tuesday for $12.50. I got it home and it sorta worked for a few games and then crapped out.

I hopped on the internet at work and searched for free tron emulators, and stumbled across a very early version of a certain arcade machine emulator, and kept up with it. It occurred to me almost immediately that I could "repair" my Tron with a computer and the emulator, but I didn't do anything about it for years.

The Tron machine died in a flood. Very sad. My parents thought nothing was salvagable and threw it away. Much sadder. In 2002 I found a $40 Atari Football in another thrift store, and immediately got on the internet to find parts to turn it into a Generic Arcade Machine Emulator (GAME) machine.

Found Ultimarc.

Found BYOAC.

Read BYOAC front to back a few dozen times, built my cab, and then (feeling now qualified) I got on the forums. I wish I'd been here before I maimed the A.F., Would've done a much better job.

Been here for years... try only to post something if I have something to contribute

Sinner · « **Reply #51 on:** August 11, 2005, 11:38:00 pm »

I got into MAME with version .36 and was addicted, but it sucked using keyboard and game pads...I decided I wanted to build a cabinet and see if I could figure a way to use PC joysticks...seemed like too much work, so I never did anything, then I bought an XArcade...it was just what I needed to spark the urge to build a cabinet again...I found BYOAC, when I was googling to see if anyone else had built a cab around their XArcade...I forgot about doing that and decided to build my own controls after finding this site, and buying THE book...
For the record, I really appreciate all the help people have given me since I've joined the forum...I've met a few really kewl people, learned a lot...thank you.

ften · « **Reply #52 on:** August 12, 2005, 12:05:14 am »

For some reason I decided to click cmdrtaco information on Slashdot and then saw his Jubei and knew I had to build my own. It's kind of intresting how many people found this place through his site.
Now I'm a proud owner of a woodgrain cabinet... sniff sniff

-FTen

Scott84 · « **Reply #53 on:** August 12, 2005, 12:18:32 am »

Quote from: RayB on August 11, 2005, 02:30:21 pm

I can't remember

monkeybomb · « **Reply #54 on:** August 12, 2005, 12:55:55 am »

Midway classics ---> Retrogaming ---> Hotrod ---> The main board for 6 months -----> the forums

the3eyedblindman · « **Reply #55 on:** August 12, 2005, 12:59:56 am »

I originally wanted to own an arcade machine, I think I actually wanted to buy a moonwalker, ( which I am going to build now..)but couldnt find one. On ebay I saw they had the pcb alot, but no cabinet, so I started searching for links on "building your own arcade machine". I found pocketz site ... "arcadegames.home.mindspring.com" and thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. I actually saw links to this site before hand, but never clicked on them, because it was just "build your own arcade controls" and not "build your own arcade machine" (maybe we should change the name, since it is about building the whole cabinet..) . I then emailed pocketz (whatever happened to him by the way, hes got the best machines in my opinion...) asking him to make me a step by step guide. He then reffered me to this site....I looked around for a while...and the rest is history.

Howard_Casto · « **Reply #56 on:** August 12, 2005, 02:21:06 am »

Heh gotta love the youngsters...

I've been with the site nearly since the beginning.

Back in my day everybody's systems were to slow to use mame (other than maybe pacman with frameskip turned on).

I found the site while searching yahoo (yes byoac predates a time when google was the search engien of choice) for a way to interface my snes pads to my computer to better play final fight on Callus. I soon ditched the snes pads idea and went to work on my first panel.

Only a few years later, when cps2 emulation was achieved did I start becoming an active member due to the lack of front ends and non -mame compatibility at the time. But that's a story for another day.

rchadd · « **Reply #57 on:** August 12, 2005, 06:15:33 am »

think i followed a link off www.mameworld.net

i was prompted to go there after reading an article in Personal Computer World magazine (UK) where a guy built himself a dedicated desktop controller to play defender via mame.

and the rest is history....

built one mame tabletop
now currently restoring Centipede, Gorf Upright and Cabaret, Frogger and Galaxian

Red5 · « **Reply #58 on:** August 12, 2005, 08:16:42 am »

Read the build your own cab article in Retro Gamer magazine (UK) and followed the useful links provided in that. A couple of months later my best friends Dez and Nadeen kindly bought me a copy of Saint's book for my birthday

I've only built a controller (using Ultimarc parts) so far, but it's only a matter of time (and cash) before the insanity grabs me again and I have a go at building one of those neat looking 4foot mini-cabs that seem to be popular.

aktham · « **Reply #59 on:** August 12, 2005, 08:39:03 am »

i was told to visit these forums by Mark (Mr-Megalo) a long time ago. I lurked for a long while, then i signed up a while back but i never posted until now. How many posts do i need to start posting in the buy sell trade forum?

AlanS17 · « **Reply #60 on:** August 12, 2005, 08:43:33 am »

Quote from: aktham on August 12, 2005, 08:39:03 am

i was told to visit these forums by Mark (Mr-Megalo) a long time ago. I lurked for a long while, then i signed up a while back but i never posted until now. How many posts do i need to start posting in the buy sell trade forum?

Last time I checked, it was 6.

daywane · « **Reply #61 on:** August 12, 2005, 10:44:34 am »

tried getting a old Atari 8 bit on internet. no good
Brother gave me a old 486. for internet.
I did not like it. hooked Atari to 486. heard about Atari emu. found mess...
link to Mame. links on every place pointed here.
never did emulate Atari 8bit PC

lemieux66c · « **Reply #62 on:** August 12, 2005, 12:12:20 pm »

I was looking for a way to play Bubble Bobble a few years back...and thus came across BYOAC during that search.

shmokes · « **Reply #63 on:** August 12, 2005, 01:16:14 pm »

Quote from: bossyman15 on August 11, 2005, 04:22:08 pm

why did he threated to shut this website down?

Mameroom.com. That's the site, though back when I found it that's not what it was called. It had a completely non-arcade-related name. I think it was cybertechdesign.com or something like that. Anyway, from what I remember there was a member of this board who had bought his arcade cabinet plans, but was then giving the plans away. It had nothing to do with Saint or the message board in general. Just a couple of guys he felt were interfering with his business and he wanted to stop them, collateral damage be damned. And I think he was nuts enough to believe that if this board shut down people would migrate to his message board as a replacement -- like they'd just forget what he had done or something. But it was just a goofy threat anyway. I don't think anybody took it seriously, as in nobody was actually worried that they guy could have shut down the board. I think people just felt betrayed by him since he had been a member of the community and these forums for a long time.

hanelyp · « **Reply #64 on:** August 12, 2005, 03:29:28 pm »

Not entirely sure, but I think it was a link off of http://www.epanorama.net/index.php

SNAAKE · « **Reply #65 on:** August 12, 2005, 03:47:28 pm »

First game I ever ran was cadillacs and dinosaurs on callus emulator and I KNEW there had to be a way to build my own arcade control cuz keyboard just wasnt doing it for me so I searched aol for "arcade controls" and....

Been here since the begining.
!

USSEnterprise · « **Reply #66 on:** August 13, 2005, 12:38:57 am »

google

Trenchbroom · « **Reply #67 on:** August 13, 2005, 12:55:02 pm »

A friend of mine told me about this cool website that showed people hacking keyboards and Microsoft Sidewinders and hooking them up to arcade joysticks and buttons. Said that people were buying derelict arcade cabinets (or finding them for free) and putting it all together for MAME gaming magic!

So...I came to this website while on a break at work. My buddy and myself must have sent at least 100 emails that day, back and forth talking about our plans for making our own arcade goodness. One trashed arcade cabinet, two hacked Sidewinders, one shipment from Happs (back when they wouldn't sell to the public and we had to pick a fake corporate name to buy from them--heh--) and VIOLA!

Finding this site was a memorable day, to say the least!

Matt Berry · « **Reply #68 on:** August 13, 2005, 01:14:12 pm »

I remember it well, a long, long, long time ago. I was working on building my first arcade panel. I had been talking about it a little bit on the forums at daves classics (which was "The website" back then 98 or 99).

Saint had just started his website at that time and personally invited me to check it out. Ever since that point I've been hooked. It's been a fun ride so far and I'm glad that BYOAC has been there for the majority of that time.

teef2 · « **Reply #69 on:** August 13, 2005, 03:57:21 pm »

You know, I just can't remember. Must be all those drugs frm the 60's man!

(And yes, for our more gullible readers, that was I joke. I WAS only 2 when the 60's ended!)

I know it must have been shortly after I found the Commodore 64 emulation stuff though. Probably some related link from one of the C64 sites.

Makes you wonder how Saint found it though

(Which came first, BYOAC or Saint?)

tetsujin · « **Reply #70 on:** August 13, 2005, 04:20:19 pm »

My girlfriend is an artist and she was thinking of making an arcade cabinet as an art piece - I saw the Project Arcade book in the bookstore and picked it up, thinking it'd probably be helpful. From there we decided to do a cabinet for gaming, because we both like arcades. The book, of course, led us to the website.

Teef: I can only imagine that doing all those drugs during your toddler years must have led to some serious memory loss...

(But your post makes me wonder about the potential in making a C-64-based arcade cabinet...)

BeefyD · « **Reply #71 on:** August 13, 2005, 05:51:31 pm »

I was originally hardcore into Sparcade back in the day, and thought it was great. Unfortunately, there weren't 20 billion websites back then, so I didn't think anyone made arcade games from the emulator. Then, about 3-4 years ago, I thought about the games again when I missed a working Donkey Kong Jr. arcade on eBay for like $150. Then I did a Yahoo search and stumbled across Mame... then, of course, that lead me to here a couple of years ago....

I'm not a frequent poster, but I lurk all the time. Just learnin' and learnin'....

bossyman15 · « **Reply #72 on:** August 13, 2005, 06:18:06 pm »

what a such nice stories!

this should be a sticky so we all can tell each other a bed time story

ccbearyeh · « **Reply #73 on:** August 14, 2005, 01:29:18 pm »

I came from Taiwan.

I am writing my thesis about build arcade.

I frond BYOAC on book Project Arcade and followed the URL to here.

bossyman15 · « **Reply #74 on:** August 14, 2005, 06:09:16 pm »

Quote from: ccbearyeh on August 14, 2005, 01:29:18 pm

I came from Taiwan.

I am writing my thesis about build arcade.

I frond BYOAC on book Project Arcade and followed the URL to here.

let me be the first to say... welcome to BOYAC!!!

oh and good luck on your thesis!
maybe you could post your thesis here when your done with it

finsailor · « **Reply #75 on:** August 15, 2005, 11:59:04 am »

I found MAME, and was very excited.
Don't remember if it was via google or a friend, it was maybe 4 years ago.

From browsing the links in mame.net wound up in BYOAC and stayed ever since.

After a year or so a.b.(after finding byoac and mame) I started reading these. It happened when an article in the main page transported me to this new universe.

More than a year ago I found a place here in Dallas, that had cabinets for sale. Bought a broken one, but since that progress has been painfully slow due to undecisiveness, overplanning, lack of knowledge / skills and budget.

Now I have told about mame and byoac to many many more and less enthusiastic people.

It would be nice to see forums by city to be able to meet people to easily get help on the spot and also easily buy/sell/swap parts.

Thanks Y'all

xonix_digital · « **Reply #76 on:** August 15, 2005, 12:14:29 pm »

I read about MAME years ago but wasn't very interested. BUT, I always wanted to own an arcade machine. So after I bought my first one (closer to now). I began searching for arcade resources at Barnes and Noble. There I found the Bible.

I started fixing up my Galaga cab and googled for monitor help.
(thanks guys)

And now we have pink T-Molding.
And MAME r00lz.

I started my first cab, Radicade and My girlfriend blames all of you!

w00t!

-=XD=-

ChadTower · « **Reply #77 on:** August 15, 2005, 12:35:54 pm »

I picked up a working JAMMA cab (POW) at a yard sale. POW sucks, so I was going to put MAME in it, and I ended up here.

I never did MAME that cab, it has WWF Superstars in it now.

slycrel · « **Reply #78 on:** August 15, 2005, 02:20:07 pm »

I think I came here indirectly from reading the same slashdot article that jakobud posted. I had thought about arcade machines before, but it was that article on slashdot that got me actually ready to start a project machine. Once I started many internet searches led back to these forums and the BYOAC page in general. Kind of hard to miss. =)

GGKoul · « **Reply #79 on:** August 15, 2005, 02:43:21 pm »

Quote from: BrokenBones1 on August 11, 2005, 02:50:35 am

It was a pop-up at an adult site. I clicked it thinking I was gunna see boobs.

The same thing happened to me...


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