Simple plan, what does everyone think?

[Arcade82]

After like 5 years of mulling over what to do for my arcade machine I think I'd be satisfied with a more simplified, classic style arcade system.
Here's the plan, a regular cabinet, painted black and generic, blue t-molding. The control panel will fit within the walls/sides of the cabinet as opposed to my original plans of having that big ass Mortal Kombat style box that sticks out. 2 competition joysticks, 7 buttons per person. In the center, a Ms. Pac-Man stick and a couple buttons for that. 2 start buttons and some buttons to operate the interface. I had a hard ass time trying to figure out all these frontends earlier in the year so are there any that are simple to use and will allow for me to just use windows and the windows version of mame?
27" tv which is perfect since for the classic games that originally used a vertical display on a 19" monitor will have the same exact size when displayed on a horizontal 27" monitor.

I'm gonna have to stick a computer in there as well, anyone know of a good place to get a computer with windows installed for cheap but with a nice processor and a nice harddrive? I really wanted to make a custom computer off of newegg but if I have to pay for windows that'd suck.
I haven't been into this stuff for a while.. is any of this stuff now off the market or anything like that? Anything better out on the market?

Does anyone have a good example of a cabinet similar to this? Custom made or an original one that has a classic style cabinet with the control panel within the walls of the cabinet itself.
Where's the best place to buy the parts? Anyone know some good, reliable, cheap eBay sellers?

I originally all year wanted to make a 4 player cabinet but it'd never get used and would take up a ton of space.

[Demon-Seed]

Hey
This sounds along the lines of what I am after as well! I want the 27" tv but not the bulky controls that stick out..keep me posted too!!
I started a post yesterday asking for cabs with 25-27" tvs.....may help

Jim

[thebrownshow]

You might have a problem fitting two seven-button layouts PLUS a 4-way stick in the center if you're planning on having the panel fit inside the cabinet (like you said, as opposed to an extended CP like Mortal Kombat).  I've got a Dynamo-style cabinet (Street Fighter II-style) and my two six-button layouts barely fit.  Anything more than that would likely get crowded.

[Demon-Seed]

Hey
Yea I know..I made a mini stand up and manged to fit 2 player joys and 6 buttons per and it was only 24" wide... As for fitting a seprate 4 way I doubt it...I mean 2 joys and buttons would be the limit..however..do they not make a joystikc that has a switch right on the top for 4 / 8 way switching???

thx
Jim

[AC.]

Does anyone have a good example of a cabinet similar to this? Custom made or an original one that has a classic style cabinet with the control panel within the walls of the cabinet itself.

Mine has the CP within the walls of the cab, and old Asteroids cab. Might looked cramped but it works well.  computer is nothing amazing but is does the job.
http://www.carnine.net/arcade/

[Demon-Seed]

Ah I see you flipped your buttons around..that is unique..although I am not sure I would like it...works though!

[AC.]

Yeah, they would not fit well otherwise.  From the games I play, I don't often use the other buttons.

[Arcade82]

For a 27" TV I think the system will be a bit wider than what was normal back in the day.. so I think it should fit

now i'm wondering if the extra width is gonna make it look funky with that design

anyone know good, easy, able to be controled with joystick/buttons frontend that works with MAME32?

[Hoopz]

anyone know good, easy, able to be controled with joystick/buttons frontend that works with MAME32?

Mame32 is a front end.

[Arcade82]

I want a more arcade like interface, not a windows one