Hello All:
After spending many night's reviewing various MAME cabinets on the net. Mainly:
- Jeff's ULTIMATE MAME Arcade Machine
- LuSiD's Arcade Flashback
- Doughcade
- ULTIMATE ARCADE II
- Brian Coney's BEAM Machine
I have decided to create 4 player all-in-one control anel for my MAME machine. As I love to play the classic 4 plyr games!!
That's why I'm posting this messagel. As you have
extensive experience creating MAME machines...
Because I'm wondering if my crazy plan is possible? If so what interface card, in your opinion, would be the best to use. (2 I-Pac with 1 Otipac / Hagstrom KE72 w/Trk Ball) --- I have recieved word from Andy, a 56 key IPAC will be out soon. So I would probably need only one IPAC ---
As what I plan to mount on my 46" x 18.5" panel is the following items:
- (4) 8 Way Joysticks (2 w/ 6 buttons & 2 w/4 buttons)
- (1) 4 Way Joystick w/2 buttons
- (1) Trackball
- (1 or 2) Ocsar Spinners
- (2) buttons above the spinner to act as mouse buttons.
- (4) Player buttons along the top
- (4) Coin buttons under each player (Like Brian's BEAM Machine)
- Include the various function buttons - ESC, Pause, F1, F2, tab...
FYI: I have created cardboard template of the various items I plan to have on my panel. And after many hours planning, I seem to have gotten a good layout for
all these items. So it can fit on one panel...
But I again have to ask, Is this possible?? Granted I understand this is a monster task for one's first project... But I'm up for the impossible.
So I have to ask, What interface would work better and be the easiest to work with? Hapstrom KE72 w/trackball or 2 IPAC & 1 Optipac?
From reviewing the many web sites... both will do the job.
But it appears that the IPAC is an easier interface to work with and the Optipac can handle 2 trackballs & spinners. Maybe it's because they have better close up pictures on the web site, so it's easier to understand where everything fits. (Note: For the IPAC: I would install the 4 way in a 8 way stick. As I wouldn't be using a 4 & 8 way at the same time. Therefore it
would free up some keys)
As I can't seem to understand how to install the various items on a KE72 nor can I find this type of setup. So you input into this matter will greatly be appreciated. As you guys are the experts and I hope you can shed some light on my monstrous task and get me started on my way.
Thanks for your Assistance!!
- Gus