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I've Decided on SpyStyle's DOS CD, so What Hardware for Galaga Only Console?
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SECONDandBOWERY:
Hey guys - this is my first post here, so please bare with me:

I'm thinking of starting a dedicated half-scale Galaga project (cosmetically similar to this one).  The main difference will be that instead of having the ability to play multiple games via MAME, I only want to be able to play Galaga.  It is crucial that when turned on, the system loads straight to Galaga's loading screens nearly instantly - no MAME or VAntAGE or any sort of frontends or Windows/Linux/Mac bootup screens!  My question, then, is thus: What is the cheapest way (and also what is the easiest way) to wire up a dedicated Galaga cabinet (2 way joystick, 1 fire button, 2 start buttons, 1 or 2 coin slots) and still have the game boot straight to Galaga upon bootup?

Thanks so much in advance and I look forward to learning as much as I can about this fascinating hobby!

Rock'n'Roll,
--Andy
MinerAl:
You could run a very small DOS or Linux install that runs the Galaga rom (in Vantage or Mame) right from the startup batch file.  It would still have to boot up, but if you used a sufficiently stripped version it would only be a few seconds.

You could get your hands on an actual Galaga arcade board.  You'd need to use an arcade monitor or an interface of some kind to another kind of monitor.

You could find a good console version of Galaga and leave that cartridge/disk in it all the time.  You'd need to interface arcade controls to the console, and the monitor would likely be horizontal instead of vertical.
Kaytrim:

--- Quote from: SECONDandBOWERY on April 07, 2007, 05:22:44 am --- It is crucial that when turned on, the system loads straight to Galaga's loading screens nearly instantly - no MAME or VAntAGE or any sort of frontends or Windows/Linux/Mac bootup screens! 

--- End quote ---

--- Quote from: MinerAl on April 07, 2007, 09:11:22 am ---You could get your hands on an actual Galaga arcade board.  You'd need to use an arcade monitor or an interface of some kind to another kind of monitor.

--- End quote ---

Andy,

The only to show just the Galaga boot screens is to use a Galaga arcade board.  Otherwise you will have the computer BIOS screens even a DOS boot screen for a few seconds.  There is a command line version of MAME that with passed parameters will start directly into a game from a DOS prompt.  Please remember that this is emulation which means that we are using a program on a PC to run another program intended for different hardware and operating system.

I am in the process of researching and possibly building a bartop machine that uses an old PC, DOS, MAME and a Compact Flash card.  Here is a link a few threads talking about it.  The second link takes you through a complete build of a machine from first cuts to setting up the computer to the finishing touches.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=58809;all
http://spystyle.arcadecontrols.com/01/index1.htm

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=59941;all

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=64846;all

leapinlew:

--- Quote from: SECONDandBOWERY on April 07, 2007, 05:22:44 am ---Hey guys - this is my first post here, so please bare with me:

I'm thinking of starting a dedicated half-scale Galaga project (cosmetically similar to this one).  The main difference will be that instead of having the ability to play multiple games via MAME, I only want to be able to play Galaga.  It is crucial that when turned on, the system loads straight to Galaga's loading screens nearly instantly - no MAME or VAntAGE or any sort of frontends or Windows/Linux/Mac bootup screens!  My question, then, is thus: What is the cheapest way (and also what is the easiest way) to wire up a dedicated Galaga cabinet (2 way joystick, 1 fire button, 2 start buttons, 1 or 2 coin slots) and still have the game boot straight to Galaga upon bootup?

Thanks so much in advance and I look forward to learning as much as I can about this fascinating hobby!

Rock'n'Roll,
--Andy

--- End quote ---

Awesome - I'm building a 50% galaga soon. I am going to use a laptop and have it boot straight into Galaga. While it's booting up you would see normal computer bootup sequence.

You could also use a jakk's plugin to a TV. I prefer the authenticity of using a Galaga rom. I plan on using Mame and allowing the machine to boot to either Galaga, Galaga fast shoot and Galaxian. Good luck with your build.
MaximRecoil:
If you use DOS MAME and install only something like DOS 6.22 on your PC, and put a line to start Galaga in your autoexec.bat file, then that is probably as close as you are going to get. If you aren't loading much else in your autoexec.bat file, you'll get to Galaga pretty quickly -- possibly even fast enough that by the time your monitor warms up enough for you to see the screen, you'll see Galaga.
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