New to MAME

[texaslax13]

Hi!
I have been working with wood for many years now and I have no doubt in my ability to build the cabinet, I was wondering though if any of you have any tips on where to find good plans. My only other question is about the control pannel. I dont trust myself building my own. I have tryed working with electronics many times and it always turns out bad so i was looking into a X-arcade control pannel (Tankstick one). Would the size of that control pannel work? I also was looking at the side of the pannel and I saw two white buttons, what do those do? How would I use the X-arcade control pannel with a MAME build? Should I build a control pannel box and place the x-arcade inside it, is that how it should be used?
I hope some of you can help me with the questions I have.
Matt

[leapinlew]

Matt -

Welcome aboard!

I wouldn't worry about the electronics part. That is really the least of your concerns. The hardest thing to pull off is the actual wood working and all the work in entails (routing a slot, cutting straight lines, keeping things level, etc). Another difficult part is the computer aspect. Setting it up to run properly. As for wiring up the CP, products from GroovyGameGear.com and Ultimarc.Com have made this a non-event.

A good first step option is to find a stripped older cab and fix it up. There are many great examples in the projects forum of this site.

The best advice you'll hear when your first starting out is to read, read, and read.

Good luck - I look forward to reading up on your progress.

[texaslax13]

I have been looking around for a cabinet. Right now I am just looking and reading alot of information. I am not worried about the actual cabinet making, yet about programming and doing the control pannel. I will look into the websites you posted. Thanks for your reply.
Matt

P.S.- If anyone knows where I can find a cabinet in the Houston, Texas area pleaes send me a PM or email.

[cowguy]

someone was giving away tron cabinet i remember lemme find the link.
Edit: Here it is http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=68225.0  It in austin sorry maybe your up for a drive?

[texaslax13]

That would be over a 3 1/2 hour drive for me for 7 both ways, I am looking for something more local. Thanks though! I am planning on working on this cabinet over a long period of time. I don't want to rush anything, I wan't to take my time and enjoy the build. Would anyone recoment buyingm Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine? It looks like everything I need to gain some knowledge in this area.
Thanks
Matt
Is the X-Arcade even an option? it has the two buttons on each side, do they need to be used?

[Xam]

Yes...the book is very good. Some of the info is a bit dated, but you will gain a good basic understanding if you read it.

I was the opposite of you...I was secure enough in my ability to wire the cab and such, but doubted my ability to build the cabinet.

The book will give you the confidence to do it.

If you were closer to me (I'm in Round Rock) I would be more than happy to help with the wiring.

Xam

[leapinlew]

That would be over a 3 1/2 hour drive for me for 7 both ways, I am looking for something more local. Thanks though! I am planning on working on this cabinet over a long period of time. I don't want to rush anything, I wan't to take my time and enjoy the build. Would anyone recoment buyingm Project Arcade: Build Your Own Arcade Machine? It looks like everything I need to gain some knowledge in this area.
Thanks
Matt
Is the X-Arcade even an option? it has the two buttons on each side, do they need to be used?

Project Arcade! Damnit, I can't believe I forgot to mention it. Of course, definitely get that book. The author runs this site and his name is Saint.

[pointdablame]

You should definitely buy Project Arcade.  It's a great book and a must read for people in your position.  It's also written by the creator of this very site if you weren't aware of that, so it's always nice to show Saint your support with a purchase

If you have the woodworking ability, you will be a step ahead of a lot of people starting out.  There are a lot of great plans out there. http://www.jakobud.com has a lot of plans for original machines, or there are original MAME cab plans out there as well.

As for the electronics, I will echo everyone else... it's really a non-issue at this point in the hobby.  Grab yourself an Ipac or KeyWiz and its just a matter of screwing a few wires to wire terminals and slipping on some quick disconnects to your controls.  Everything is labeled so as long as you can follow a wire, you'll be fine.  Honest.  I would avoid the Xarcade.. I'm not a big fan of the switches they use, or just in general really.  A lot of folks here feel the same.  You'll likely be much happier if you build your own.

Also, if you haven't be sure to read THE WIKI  There is a TON of info in the wiki, and it will answer a lot of questions.

Check craigslist for cabs in your area.  You can also search ebay by distance from your home, which often brings up some options.

Good luck, and welcome.

[texaslax13]

Ok, my local Barnes and Noble has it so I will pick it up sometime this week. Right now I just dont have a full understanding of how everything works and I hope the book can help. I am sure I have the capability to do it, I just need to look into it.
Thanks for you help everyone!
Matt

[fjl]

I got to admit that at first I found the Project Arcade book as useless. For one thing it is outdated. But yet I continued to read on. I ended up finding lots of valuable information in it. Honestly most of that information can be found here on the forums. But it's still a good book if your just starting up. Plus while reading it, it brings up conversations with your geeky friends.

As for up-to-date hardware and software information, just ask on these forums. Lots of people willing to help. 

Just so you know, I'm more of a computer nerd than a wood nerd. So while the sofware and electrical part is easy for me, the wood working part, not so much. Luckily I'm still just doing simple wood projects before I get started on my cab. And as easy as wood working may seem(just cut straight and to the correct size) there is a lot of mistakes I am learning from. I now have a deeper admiration for proffesional woodworkers.
 

[texaslax13]

I love working with wood, I have my own wood shop. It used to be my garage but I converted it. I don't think I will have a problem building/converting/restoring a cabinet. Yet once it comes to electronics.. I get confused. I am a visual person.
Thanks
Matt

[Green Giant]

Definitely get the book.  They have some schematics for different cabs as well as detailed instructions on making a control panel.  Based mine on this with some minor changes. 

You won't actually be dealing with electronics.  If you can plug in a lamp, tv, and a few other electronics to a power strip, you can wire up a keyboard encoder.  Literally attach wire with quick disconnect, stick in hole on keyboard encoder, tighten screw on keyboard encoder, and wire the other part on the switch to ground.  There are many people out there that will help you out and lots of examples.  You won't be soldering or touching any microchips.  The encoders all power through usb.

That way you can customize your panel to your best fit.  If you have wood working skills, you have a leg up over everyone else, but you should know we all expect something bad ass now that we know you have a woodshop.

About picking up a cab in Houston, check craigslist every day.  I picked one up an old DK style cab in Sugar Land a few months ago for 50.  You don't need a full working one, just an empty shell.  But building a cab is so much more satisfying.  Nothing like telling your friends you built it and then when they ask what it plays, you can say everything.

[fjl]

I was originally going to restore a cab. I was practically on my way out the door to pick up a dead Mortal Kombat cabinet for about $150.

I ended up deciding to construct my own cab. This way it will have everything I want and be customized and designed to my liking.

Here is my old project announcement of my cab design. I've changed it a bit. Made it smaller and changed the CP some. I'll post new pictures when I complete the final design.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=62550.0

[danny_galaga]

I love working with wood, I have my own wood shop. It used to be my garage but I converted it. I don't think I will have a problem building/converting/restoring a cabinet. Yet once it comes to electronics.. I get confused. I am a visual person.
Thanks
Matt

dont get hung up on electronics. you have to know about as much about electronics as you do setting up a regular pc- provided you are using a regular pc monitor. once you understand the basic idea of what a switch does then the wiring isnt hard to follow either.

oh, and welcome to the boards (",)

[missioncontrol]

you can find some arcade plans here:


www.jakobud.com

[moriartyds]

Check out www.arcadecab.com.  The dude has some decent pictures and good descriptions for his cab.  Just click on the links next to cabinet 1 or something.  He used the Xarcade or something controller though, but it should help out. 

[Buddabing]

Glad to know there's another Houstonian on the boards. I don't have any local contacts, but read the book and you'll get a good idea on what you need. And like Danny said, don't sweat the electronics.

[Santoro]

 

Do they have LAX in Texas?  I thought that was an East-coast thing.

[pointdablame]

Do they have LAX in Texas?  I thought that was an East-coast thing.

A bunch of my friends came to Jersey on LAX scholarships, but it's apparently very popular on the West Coast as well... especially Seattle and Oregon

[Green Giant]

They have LAX, just need to be rich to play it.  Private schools all play and the richest high schools around htown play it.  My school did not make enough money so no LAX  . 

Don't forget this is Texas, we do everything here, only better.  You ever see some Texas college girls?

[pointdablame]

Don't forget this is Texas, we do everything here, only better. 

yeah like make politicians....

[Green Giant]

I see we have a fan.

[rdowdy95]

Hey Texas buddy.  I live in the DFW area.  Yeah get the book.  My thing was that I am skilled in the knowledge of the program and getting the computer done, but woodworking and electronics I sucked at.  The folks on these forums and the book helped me a great deal.  I am now not scared to do woodworking and I can do somethings with wiring as well.  Check out Dowdy's MAME Arcade in the project announcment forums.  If I can do it anyone can.

[Crowquill]

These days the best resource is to hit the wiki. There's all the basic info you need about most any type of control, cabinet, video options, etc.  Once you start getting specific concerns you can post them in the forums to get others opinions.

That said, Project Arcade is well-written with lots of photos as he progresses through the build of a cabinet. Saint explains in great detail including all of the tech and wiring stuff.  It's also great to have handy as a reference in the workshop as some detail crosses your mind. On the included CD you'll also find the plans for the cabinet that he builds in the book as well as the Ultimate Arcade II plans (which is probably the most common cab that gets built).

And even though the book gives an excellent walkthrough of the build process, make sure you spend a little time going through both the 'Examples' link on the main page and browse through the [rul=http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/board,10.0.html]Project Announcements forum[/url] to see step-by-step some of the crazy and ingenious ideas that people come up with. On the electronics front you might try stick what people have done in the last couple years. I wouldn't waste your time reading how to do keyboard and mouse hacks when there are dedicated products made to replace that and do it better. Check out the interfaces from both Ultimarc and Groovy Game Gear.

When you're ready to buy arcade parts check out the Buy/Sell/Trade forum where Divemaster, Ponyboy, and others will save you some decent cash.

These forums are probably the friendliest and most helpful you will ever find. Good luck with the project!