to convert or build ???

[sriddle99]

hi, i've been using mame for years and now that im moving to a larger house i have decided that its about time i got an arcade machine. i have two real issues.

1) should i build a cabinet from scratch or should i convert an old arcade cabinet?

2) should i use a large pc monitor or use an original arcade monitor?

please bear in mind that i dont want the cabinet to look "cheap" and i also want to play vertical and horizontal games.

thanks for your help,

sriddle99

[Texasmame]

hi, i've been using mame for years and now that im moving to a larger house i have decided that its about time i got an arcade machine. i have two real issues.

1) should i build a cabinet from scratch or should i convert an old arcade cabinet?

2) should i use a large pc monitor or use an original arcade monitor?

please bear in mind that i dont want the cabinet to look "cheap" and i also want to play vertical and horizontal games.

thanks for your help,

sriddle99

I'm widening/converting a DK Jr. cab right now.  It's not too bad to do.  I've never built one from scratch.

If you think you can get all the controls you want on it AND can get a large enough monitor to play both V and H games, I guess I would just convert.

[CheffoJeffo]

My personal preference, absent wanting a frankenpanel or totally unique cabinet, is to convert an existing JAMMA-wired cabinet with a 25" arcade monitor. It is super fast and easy to get up and running.

Something like one of the big 4-player Midway cabs is a good choice and the interfacing is easy. The video, along with P1 and P2 controls can be easily handled using a JPac and ArcadeVGA from Ultimarc. There is virtually no wiring required (need to connect buttons 4-6 for P1 and P2 to screw terminals on the JPac, but that is easy). Then, if you want P3 and P4, you can use an IPac (or Keywiz from Groovy Game Gear) for those controls. Spinners and/or Trackballs will require another interface.

I like the JPac/ArcadeVGA because it takes care of most of the wiring issues (e.g. connecting to an arcade monitor). The weak spot is that the JPac does not amplify sound, so you need to add amplification (or rip out the eisting speakers and use amplified speakers).

You may, on the other hand, want to use 49-way or Ultrastik 360, which requies non-JAMMA wiring and obliterates the advantage of the JPac.

A lot of people here build their own cabinets from scratch with spectacular results (and some not so spectacular, including me), so you may want to browse the Examples section of the wiki.

Of course, MAMEing a classic or rare cabinet may result in scorn and flames.

Cheers.

[severdhed]

i decided to convert when i started my first cabinet, and i am happy i did.  I mean, there are advantages and disadvantages to both methods, but it seems like less work to convert an existing cabinet.  i got a mostly empty cabinet for $20, i coudlnt have built one for that little money.  Yeah, you are somewhat limited to components you can use this way, but it takes alot of guesswork out of the situation too.  It is espially good to convert if you dont have alot of power tools or woodworking experience.  Everything i did to my cabinet was done with a drill, dremmel and a jig saw. 

It would have been nice to be able to say i built a cabinet from scratch, but i know with my skills, it wouldnt have turned out nearly as nice as mine did.

[ArtMAME]

I converted a non-working Midway-style cab using a 27" TV and made swappable control panels because I did not want a Frankenpanel.   I left the original graphics on and it looks great.  I stored all the original parts in case I wanted to re-convert to the original.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=54556.0

It was very easy and I love the results.  27" monitor works great for H and V games.

Now I am building one from scratch modeled after the one I converted.  I have a nicely equipped shop, and some experience in woodworking.  I  tell you, building from scratch is quite difficult, even if you have a model cab to refer to.  I could not imagine building one with no model unless you have really good plans.  I know it is possible, but it is quite a challenge either way. 

If you gonna convert, find a cab that is common like a Midway or Konami cab. These are a lot better suited to MAMEing than the classic and rare cabs anyway.

If you want to avoid scorn and flames from the forum members, just remember this:

"Please be wise, do not baster-dize..." 

[MYX]

If you want to avoid scorn and flames from the forum members, just remember this:

"Please be wise, do not baster-dize..." 

Arf arf arf arf
 

Please repost that in the goofball tron thread.

My personal feeling is BUILD. Because then you can proudly say you did. When you look opon a hand built cab, there is a different feeling than a conversion. It takes no blood, sweat, or tears to spraypaint someone elses hard work.
There is a real satisfaction that comes from pressing a button on the front and watching this thing fire up to life and knowing...Heh, I friggin did that.

[NightGod]

My personal feeling is BUILD. Because then you can proudly say you did. When you look opon a hand built cab, there is a different feeling than a conversion. It takes no blood, sweat, or tears to spraypaint someone elses hard work.
There is a real satisfaction that comes from pressing a button on the front and watching this thing fire up to life and knowing...Heh, I friggin did that.

That's exactly why I, with almost no woodworking experience (I don't think building a for when I was 10 really counts) dove right into a full-on build project. Is it perfect? Hardly. Was it expensive? Hell yeah. Is it easily one of the coolest things I've ever done in my life? You're ---goshdarn--- right it is (and I've done ALOT of cool stuff in the past).

I'm nearing completion on mine and I wouldn't trade it for a conversion project for anything. Maybe a futue project, sure, but I'm SO glad I went this route for my first machine.

[ArtMAME]

My first project was actually a build, sort of... If you can call a bunch of 2x4s and some random cuts of MDF with a PC monitor sittin on it a build... it was butt ugly!!!

Then I did the conversion which came out nice.  Now I am building one modeled after my converted cab for a friend of mine. 

I really do enjoy building, I have intentions to build a cabaret and some cocktails after I finish this one.  I knew I could not build just one, there will be many builds of all shapes and sizes in my future I asure you...

If you have the facilities and the know-how to build, by all means, do it.  If you don't, then now may be a good time to start acquiring tools, parts, experience, etc...  maybe you will have some room in that new house to start your own little workshop.  Good luck 

[More Cowbell]

I decided to build based on the fact that I wanted it to be perfectly suited to me (I'm tall). I was very happy with the product once finished and felt all of the pride of creating something awesome from nothing. I was almost disappointed when I was finished because, now what? The hobby is over? So now I find myself searching for cheap cabinets to either refurbish or refurbish/convert to MAME. I like the idea of having original cabinets and for those that I can't get all the way to original, at least I can get the cabinet looking original and throw MAME in there to reproduce the original game. I'm doing this with Defender, Berzerk, and Hyper Sports and I restored a Xevious to original playability. The wife has a hard time understanding why since all of these games are already playable on my MAME cabinet. I think I just drool at the thought of a whole arcade of games, all my own.

[leapinlew]

I started off doing a conversion. I think the 2 biggest factors to be concerned with are time and money. If you are short on either - convert. Within 2 hours of bringing my first machine home - I had it gutted, cleaned up and ready to start repairing/painting/building. I was able to finish it in 5 days. Here is what it ended up looking like:



I learned an important lesson with this arcade. Hopefully this little tidbit of advice isn't lost on you. You can't do it all with a single machine! My first attempt I tried to mount 2 sets of 8 way controls. The CP just wasn't wide enough. Now this machine only handles 4 way games in a vertical format. This machine cost me over a $1,000 because I had to buy all the tools.

My second machine was a convert from a 1976 Lemans. It turned out like this:


It's a very clean conversion.

My 3rd machine was a jukebox which I built from scratch.

Not very smooth lines, but I actually need every bit of storage this box provides. I built the entire cabinet from my own plans. Quite a bit of time is spent designing the machine.

My last machine is a half and half showcase machine. I built the TV stand and converted the pedestal portion from a Combatribes converted from a Xenophobe. Here is a pick of it nearly finished -


To be honest, building or converting are near the same as far as I'm concerned. I showed you the pictures because I've done a little of both and although there is pride in saying "I built it from scratch" there is also a bit of nostalgia saying "This was a 1976 Atari LeMans game".

If you don't have the time/money to build a machine exactly how you want, convert something. Don't make the same mistake many people do and try to get 1 machine to do everything.

[ahofle]

If you don't have the time/money to build a machine exactly how you want, convert something. Don't make the same mistake many people do and try to get 1 machine to do everything.

I'm not sure I would call it a "mistake" to try and handle as much with one cabinet as possible.  Not everyone has the money, room, or forgiving spouse to have a bunch of arcade cabinets in the house.  You obviously do and should consider yourself lucky, but I wouldn't call the alternative a "mistake".  Nice machines you have there, BTW.

[leapinlew]

If you don't have the time/money to build a machine exactly how you want, convert something. Don't make the same mistake many people do and try to get 1 machine to do everything.

I'm not sure I would call it a "mistake" to try and handle as much with one cabinet as possible.  Not everyone has the money, room, or forgiving spouse to have a bunch of arcade cabinets in the house.  You obviously do and should consider yourself lucky, but I wouldn't call the alternative a "mistake".  Nice machines you have there, BTW.

Your right, mistake is harsh and wasn't meant to be a rule that applies to everyone. I should've stressed it was an opinion. In my case, it was a mistake and I see many other people say it was a mistake on thier part as well. The biggest issue with mine was squeezing two 8 ways with multiple buttons on a 22.5" control panel. Two grown men couldn't play it comfortably at the same time.

With that being said, many people are happy with a larger control panels to handle a larger number of games and swappable panels. I suppose the best advice in relation to the control panel is build a mock-up.