Just starting...looking for advice

[krazy_kenny1]

I've wanted to build a MAME cabinet for a long time, and I think that time has finally come.  I'm really good with computers...not so much with the woodworking, so I'm looking to start with an existing cabinet.  I already have piles of suitable computer parts laying around, along with a 21" trinitron CRT I could use.  So basically I just need to find a suitable used cabinet, design and build the control panel, and put it all together right?(sounds so easy  )

I had considered using linux, but I think I'll just go with XP for simplicity's sake.  My only real questions have to do with the control panel since it's somewhat out of my area of expertise.  I think I want a 2 player console with 2 joysticks, 6 buttons each, a spinner, trackball(doubling as a mouse), and the player 1 and 2 start buttons.  Can the start buttons double as left and right mouse click, or is there a reason to have separate buttons for that?  Can the coin slots be configured so that when you push them in, MAME detects it as a coin inserted?  Also, what is a good joystick for both 4-way and 8-way games?  Is there one that can be configured to either 4-way or 8-way for individual games?

I've been reading about the various methods of connecting the various controls to the PC.  Based on the control panel requirements I've just listed, can someone suggest the best way to connect them all to the PC?  Also, what software do you think I should use?  I'd like some sort of front-end that would allow me to run certain roms with certain versions of MAME since some of my roms only work with certain MAME versions.  I'd also like a nice, easily navigable user interface of course.

Finally, any other advice or suggestions would be most welcome.  I'm still looking for a cheap, gutted cabinet near the DFW area if anyone can help me out there.  Thanks 

[Kaytrim]

Kevin,

Check with the guy running this sale.  He might be able to help you find a cab.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=67036.0

[javeryh]

I've wanted to build a MAME cabinet for a long time, and I think that time has finally come.  I'm really good with computers...not so much with the woodworking, so I'm looking to start with an existing cabinet. 

Welcome.  We would make an excellent team since I'm good with the woodworking but not so much the computer.

I already have piles of suitable computer parts laying around, along with a 21" trinitron CRT I could use.  So basically I just need to find a suitable used cabinet, design and build the control panel, and put it all together right?(sounds so easy  )

Easy?  Heh, you'll see....  

I think I want a 2 player console with 2 joysticks, 6 buttons each, a spinner, trackball(doubling as a mouse), and the player 1 and 2 start buttons.  Can the start buttons double as left and right mouse click, or is there a reason to have separate buttons for that?  Can the coin slots be configured so that when you push them in, MAME detects it as a coin inserted?  Also, what is a good joystick for both 4-way and 8-way games?  Is there one that can be configured to either 4-way or 8-way for individual games?

1.  Yes, the start buttons could be wired as the right and left mouse buttons but so can any other buttons on your cabinet - I think most people double up the functionality of the "action buttons" for convenience because the Start buttons are usually not near one another and kind of out of the way.  It's up to you though.

2.  Yes.  You can turn the coin reject button into an "insert coin" button for MAME

3.  For an all-in-one joystick solution I really like the Ultimarc 360.  If you use it with the MaLa front end you can program it to go into 8-way, 4-way, 2-way or anything upon loading up a game.  I also have the T-Stik from Ultimarc but you need to manually change the configuration depending on the game you want to play - it's easy and works well too.
  

I've been reading about the various methods of connecting the various controls to the PC.  Based on the control panel requirements I've just listed, can someone suggest the best way to connect them all to the PC?  Also, what software do you think I should use?  I'd like some sort of front-end that would allow me to run certain roms with certain versions of MAME since some of my roms only work with certain MAME versions.  I'd also like a nice, easily navigable user interface of course.

I like the iPac and OptiPac - you might be able to get away with the minipac since you don't plan on having many buttons but I'm not sure if that supports a trackball AND spinner.  

I don't know anything about running different versions of MAME depending on the game selected but I'm sure someone has figured it out.  As for the Front End, I like MaLa and Gamelauncher so far.

Good luck and keep on reading!  

[stuckpixel]

Modding an existing cab, especially if you have limited wood working experience, is probably what I'd suggest.

If you do know someone who is pretty decent with a saw, building your own can be fun (and then you get to design _everything_ how you want it). It is considerably more work though, especially if you want a traditional arcade style cab.

Biggest piece of advice I can give is to take your time. I've built one cab previous, and I was so anxious to get it built that I cut corners. While it got me up and playing a week or two sooner, it never really hit the level of 'awesome' that I had hoped for. Make sure that when you do this, you do it RIGHT so you want to keep this cab around for a long time.

[krazy_kenny1]

Kevin,

Check with the guy running this sale.  He might be able to help you find a cab.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=67036.0

Thanks! 

[Tiger-Heli]

Looks like you got the bases covered pretty solidly.

Can the start buttons double as left and right mouse click, or is there a reason to have separate buttons for that?

Not a problem for MAME - as Javery mentioned, the action buttons might be better for proximity.  If you plan to run other emulators on the cab, or PC games, there could be a problem as some of these can't be configured to use mouse clicks.

Can the coin slots be configured so that when you push them in, MAME detects it as a coin inserted?

Yes. http://1uparcade.robandmitsue.com/projects-coinbuttons.html

Also, what is a good joystick for both 4-way and 8-way games?

There isn't one. 

Is there one that can be configured to either 4-way or 8-way for individual games?

I use the www.groovygamegear.com Prodigy - short throw, but excellent 4-way and good 8-way stick.
They also have the 49-way (with a new version coming soon) but this needs it's own interface board.
Ultimarc has the U360 and MagStick.
I think those are all the above panel swappable options, there are others if you don't mind opening the panel to change the mode.

I've been reading about the various methods of connecting the various controls to the PC.  Based on the control panel requirements I've just listed, can someone suggest the best way to connect them all to the PC?

Funny you should ask - http://www.mameworld.net/tigerheli/encoder/index.htm

For the buttons, either the KeyWiz, GP-Wiz, I-PAC or Mini-PAC.
For the spinner - the TT2 from GGG which has it's own interface and can connect the trackball as well.
Otherwise, the opti-pac, opti-wiz, or mini-pac, or many trackballs have their own built-in interfaces.

Also, what software do you think I should use?  I'd like some sort of front-end that would allow me to run certain roms with certain versions of MAME since some of my roms only work with certain MAME versions.  I'd also like a nice, easily navigable user interface of course.

Most any decent frontend will do that.  I use EmuLoader, but for a desktop CP, it's not arcade optimised and it's windowsy.  MameWah is popular.  Easy to set up graphically, but can be tough to configure.  MaLa or Atomic FE are also very popular and easier to setup.

[paigeoliver]

One suggestion. Don't get married to a control panel layout until you get the cabinet in front of you. Street Fighter + trackball + spinner won't fit on most cabinets, and 90 percent of the ones it will fit on really need a 25"+ monitor. Although if you are willing to forget about 2 player action then single player joystick, trackball, 6 buttons will fit on just about any cabinet.

If you are going to drop something, then drop the spinner if you have actual people who will play with you, otherwise drop the player 2 controls.

My current rigs run DOS and XP respectively, although I actually prefer windows 98 for cabinets.

[Joystick Jerk]

You do have the book, yes?

Amazon.com link to Project Arcade (link shortened by saint)

[Kaytrim]

Nice reply there Tiger, nothing that I can add there.  I didn't have the time to go into detail in answering the question posted.

Kenny, any luck on the cab?

Kaytrim

[krazy_kenny1]

Nice reply there Tiger, nothing that I can add there.  I didn't have the time to go into detail in answering the question posted.

Kenny, any luck on the cab?

Kaytrim

Nah, I figured I'd just bug you guys if I had any questions 

[krazy_kenny1]

Nice reply there Tiger, nothing that I can add there.  I didn't have the time to go into detail in answering the question posted.

Kenny, any luck on the cab?

Kaytrim

Nope...still looking

I've had a few become available, but they weren't the style that I wanted.  They had screens that were angled back really far, which I don't want.  I'm actually starting to really like this cabinet since the screen is angled how I want and the control panel looks to have ample surface area:

http://www.klov.com/images/M/cMortal_Kombat_3.jpg

Still I'd settle for anything else that doesn't have the screen angled back further than that one.  I emailed S&B Amusements in Austin to see if they have anything for me.

[krazy_kenny1]

Well...no luck with S&B.  Back to square one I guess

[krazy_kenny1]

Well Tornado Terry (his awesome all-you-can-play arcade is local to me) says he has this cabinet in excellent condition:



He described it as "empty(no game boards)" so I don't know if that means it has a screen(probably not).  It's exactly the cabinet style I want.  He's asking $200.  Does that sound too high at all?  I'm going to go look at it this weekend so what should I look for?

[ArtMAME]

That is an Atari War cabinet.  It would make a great MAME cabinet.      Any of those Mortal Kombat style cabinets would work.

I paid $300 for a High Impact Cabinet in great cosmetic condition at my first auction, and I was quite happy.  I made it into an awesome MAME cabinet.  It had a monitor that was not working, so I put a 27" TV in there with component inputs and it looks great.  Check it out.

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

I made swappable control panels but you would be able to do an all-in-one control panel for yours.  It would have plenty of room for the controls you want.  Also you would be able to enjoy vertical games at the correct size if you use a  25" monitor or TV.

$200 sounds fair if it has a good monitor glass, good marquee, good side art, coin door.      If it has wiring, power supply, or monitor inside, that would be a bonus.  Anyway, you don't really need any of the inside stuff if you are going to use a PC platform and PC monitor or TV, so don't lack of inside parts be a deal breaker. 

Just look at the cosmetic and structural condition of the cabinet, and if you are satisfied with it, then it would be a good deal.

[krazy_kenny1]

That is an Atari War cabinet.  It would make a great MAME cabinet.      Any of those Mortal Kombat style cabinets would work.

I paid $300 for a High Impact Cabinet in great cosmetic condition at my first auction, and I was quite happy.  I made it into an awesome MAME cabinet.  It had a monitor that was not working, so I put a 27" TV in there with component inputs and it looks great.  Check it out.

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

I made swappable control panels but you would be able to do an all-in-one control panel for yours.  It would have plenty of room for the controls you want.  Also you would be able to enjoy vertical games at the correct size if you use a  25" monitor or TV.

$200 sounds fair if it has a good monitor glass, good marquee, good side art, coin door.      If it has wiring, power supply, or monitor inside, that would be a bonus.  Anyway, you don't really need any of the inside stuff if you are going to use a PC platform and PC monitor or TV, so don't lack of inside parts be a deal breaker. 

Just look at the cosmetic and structural condition of the cabinet, and if you are satisfied with it, then it would be a good deal.

Hey, if your cab is basically the same as mine could you maybe tell me how tall it is?  I'm trying to figure out if it will fit laying down in the back of my friend's truck.  Thanks!

[ArtMAME]

73" tall.  I transported mine on its back in my pickup truck. I only have a 5' bed (60") and with the tailgate open it extends to 80".  If the truck bed is shorter than the cab, just use some ratchet straps to hold the cabinet on the truck bed.  I use 2 or 3 straps and secure them in different places in case one fails, it still has others holding it.  Good idea to take a buddy with you, these cabs are heavy.

[krazy_kenny1]

73" tall.  I transported mine on its back in my pickup truck. I only have a 5' bed (60") and with the tailgate open it extends to 80".  If the truck bed is shorter than the cab, just use some ratchet straps to hold the cabinet on the truck bed.  I use 2 or 3 straps and secure them in different places in case one fails, it still has others holding it.  Good idea to take a buddy with you, these cabs are heavy.

Thank you    Ya, it's a 5' bed, but I think we have some ratchet straps

[Joystick Jerk]

I used that style of cab for my first Mame cab, and I'm using it again for my current build. I think it's the best looking of the modern cabs, and really epitomizes the "arcade" look. You should be quite happy with the results that cab can offer.

One thing to keep in mind as your building is that it needs a deeper than normal CP. Most CP plans and designs you see out there call for a CP about 5 to 6 inches in total height, whereas with these cabs you need a CP that's at least 8 inches high in total. It's something that can be easily overlooked if you just look at CP plans and don'y measure beforehand (which I almost did the first time!).

[welshmark]

Another place you may want to check is craigslist.  Here in Austin there's been quite a few on there recently (some were even being given away).  Just try different combinations of "mame cabinet" and "arcade cabinet".  I haven't gotten any as I want to build my own, but I've been tempted a few times.

[krazy_kenny1]

Well everybody...I bought a cabinet that's exactly the style I want!  It's in excellent condition.  It looks like this:



Everything is included except the monitor (I'm going to put a tv in it though anyways).  So I get all the original controls (which will be replaced), powersupply, art and lighting, coin mechs...everything but the screen.  I'll probably just leave the old side art and stuff on there at first and get it up and running.  I can do custom art and marquee later once I have a functional cabinet.  I bought it yesterday, but didn't bring it home due to rain.  In the mean time, Terry is going to remove the screen I didn't buy and clean it up for me (lots of dust on the outside).  I should have it home sometime this week and then I can figure out my control layout and start ordering parts 

[ArtMAME]

Congrats!!! 

You will have a lot of fun with the project. 

Be sure to check out my thread, I converted a similar cabinet and it came out great.

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

Make sure to take lots of pictures and document your progress as you go so you can share with others.

Enjoy. 

[krazy_kenny1]

Arrgggg....the 10 day forecast shows rain everyday.  I wanna bring it home

[ArtMAME]

See if Terry has some plastic wrap used to wrap up video games.  It comes in a roll and it sticks to itself...  You can use a big tarp in conjunction with the wrap to make the cabinet water proof for transporting it...

May want to wrap it up even if the forecast does not call for rain...  If you don't wrap your games, rain usually comes out of nowhere just to soak your uncovered game...

Or just wait till it stops raining...