Building 1st CP!!

[del]

Hi All,

I'm about to (consider)start building my 1st Control panel. It will only be a control panel as I don't currently have room for full blown cabinet   . I want to build something that I can play on the following consoles I have:-

PSX / PS2
Dreamcast
PC with Mame
Neo Geo MVS (2 slot) + supergun

Currently the only arcade type control i have is a Converted dreamcast Arcade stick wich works on my neo geo supergun, any idaas? I like shoot'em ups, soccer & fighting games. I'm based in the UK and would also like to hear from other UK based aracde gamers out there, like where do you order you're arcade parts from and stuff?,

Any help guys?

Thanks

Del.

[CthulhuLuke]

Well being in UK, you're closer to Ultimarc then the US and Canadian bunch of us.  www.ultimarc.com  under the joysticks section, he has a whole list of joysticks and buttons.  If you want official joysticks that almost all american arcades use, then go over to www.happcontrols.com I'm pretty sure they have a camp setup over there in the UK.  If not the shipping probably wouldn't be too bad from the US.
   Ok, as for the interface, make sure you DO NOT hack a dreamcast pad to your set of interfaces, because otherwise the DC's gnd will draw +5v from all the other pads and none of them will work unless your dreamcast is on and plugged in. So what you want to do is first pick up a 5 dollar offbrand psx controller, I highly suggest the Pelican digital pads, they're very cheap and easy to replace if broken in the process of soldering.  Then go over to ebay, and look up psx to dreamcast or psx to dc  and find a total control 1 convertor.  Or you can buy one here, this is the EXACT one I have on my dreamcast, and it works flawlessly, http://www.ps2modchip.com/search.php?page=dc7  Ok, for the neo geo hack, if you're computer is too slow to run NeoRage0.8c * www.anigames.it * or you are hardcore like my bro, then here's a layout for hacking yourself the controller though a joystick port.  http://www.gamesx.com/controldata/superneo.htm  And for the pc part, you either can hack a sidewinder for 5 bucks, http://shop.store.yahoo.com/surpluscomputers/micsidjoy.html  or go on ebay and look up psx to usb to get one of those convertors.
   -Good Luck
     -CthulhuLuke

[Hellfromabove]

Hi I don't live in the UK but I have some stuff to say. If you want it to work on all those consoles what you could do is get a cheap PSX/2 controller, DC controller, and USB controller and hack them to work for the systems. I have no experience in hacking Neogeo pads because they don't sell them here but if you want a board that works on MVS then you can go to www.massystems.com. They have boards that you can buy that work on systems that are specially made by them.Also, you can buy one of these boards to work on multiple systems (one to work on DC, PSX/2, Negogeo, PC Keyboard Hack). YOu can buy one board for each controller. One board per controller. Hope this helps you. I know what you are going through. I am building my first CPs right now and soon am going to be making a cab. Thanx.

-See Ya!!!

[Nyrine]

Happs do indeed have a sales office in the UK - look on happcontrols.com / Contact for their info.

I had the pleasure of dealing with a very helpful young lady called Karen.

Pushbuttons were about UKP1.30 each, and the Competition joysticks UKP 9.68, P&P was UKP7.95 for my order - 4 joysticks and 44 buttons.

When I get around to building a 2nd panel (need to finish the first =P) I will definately order from them again.

[del]

Thanks guys,

Nyrine, I have just spoken to karen at Happs UK, I'm now constructing a list of parts to email to her for a quote. I have decided to just build a two player mame CP using I-pac to begin with, as I have recently discovered my soldering skills weren't as good as I 1st imagined  

Hey where are the UK guys (& girls maybe!)!! com'on I know your'e here somewhere!!    

[Nyrine]

Well, I'm in Swindon.

[Grasshopper]

Don't forget Suzo (UK). Their prices are on a par with Happ (UK). I dealt with someone called Jed Price - very helpful.

[GSXRMovistar]

I

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Grasshopper,

Who is Suzo (UK)?? any info for them.

[GSXRMovistar]

http://www.suzo.co.uk