Anyone MAME a driving cab?

[JLR2000]

Just was wondering if anyone has MAMEd a driving cab, like Cisco Heat or  Outrun?  Can you use a jpac and get the steering controls to work with other games like Chase H.Q. ?  I'm just wondering if the PC can recognize the steering wheel via the JPAC?

I'm planning on building a dedicated racing cab, and was thinking of using a Madcatz PSX steering wheel via a USB adapter, but I wonder if I can just get a jamma driving game and use a jpac....any thoughts, ideas, warnings, experiences welcome...

Thanks.

[JamesMolloy]

Wouldn't you need an I-pac for analogue steering wheel?

Daytona USA, Sega Rally and Ridge Racer emulation are coming along well now so a stand alone racing set up is probably worth investing money and space in.

Myself.. I'd try hacking one of these:



It's a pity you can't get commercial wheels with 4 gears. A proper gear shift makes Datona, Chase HQ etc. far more fun to play.

[NickS]

Building a mame driving cockpit cab is sonething I would love to build. I have often wondered if it would be possible to a have a set of controls on a driving cab to cover all the games. For me I guess the priority would be to able to play the games I played as a teenager in the 80'S (Pole Position, Out Run, Chase HQ etc).  Would it be possible to have a set of controls that could play both these games and also the newer 90'S games that are near to being emulated such as Daytona USA, Sega Rally, Virtua Racing etc.

[JLR2000]

Well, you need to look at what the control requirements are of the games.  I picked up a gutted Pole Position cab with no monitor, but with the steering, shifter and gas pedal intact.  I put a simple PII 233 PC running dos in it, hacked a mouse and put a 20" PC monitor in it.  I also put a switch under the pedal (really only give gas either full on or off anyway).  Running DOS and an older version of MAME, recompiled with a change to the PolePosition driver so that the Shifter works(instead of 2 switches, hi and low, it reads one switch...open,hi...closed, low).  This works great and I can also run the other "dial" control games like Super Sprint.  My idea (and the reason I started the thread) is that for newer games(like Chase H.Q.), these games don't look for dial input, but rather 8way joystick input, which you can emulate with a USB PSX steering wheel.  I'd like to get another stand up driving game, like OutRun, and get the newer games running in this cab.  I figure it would be better to use a cab built with a steering wheel instead of attaching an "home use" PC steering wheel. Haven't had too much response, so I guess no one has done this yet...

Hopefully someone has and can share their thoughts....

[aaron]

ive been thinking of the same thing now that ive finished my normal full size standup mame cab. i like to take the hardcore route though and im going to build the whole thing from the ground up ie build an f1 style  cab out of fiberglass. already have the controls spotted out, all the functionality isnt mame specific for this set as some features are specific to a couple games, but check these out..

http://www.act-labs.com/Products/racingcombo.htm

on the expensive side compared to some other wheels. but i dont like to do things half arsed!

Just was wondering if anyone has MAMEd a driving cab, like Cisco Heat or  Outrun?  Can you use a jpac and get the steering controls to work with other games like Chase H.Q. ?  I'm just wondering if the PC can recognize the steering wheel via the JPAC?

I'm planning on building a dedicated racing cab, and was thinking of using a Madcatz PSX steering wheel via a USB adapter, but I wonder if I can just get a jamma driving game and use a jpac....any thoughts, ideas, warnings, experiences welcome...

Thanks.

[anthony691]

I have a dedicated standup racing cab (1989 Atari Badlands) It has spinner like, 30 degree wheels. I am not saying I like the stand up racing thing, I am just saying it is an option.

[u_rebelscum]

Just was wondering if anyone has MAMEd a driving cab, like Cisco Heat or  Outrun?  Can you use a jpac and get the steering controls to work with other games like Chase H.Q. ?  I'm just wondering if the PC can recognize the steering wheel via the JPAC?

I'm planning on building a dedicated racing cab, and was thinking of using a Madcatz PSX steering wheel via a USB adapter, but I wonder if I can just get a jamma driving game and use a jpac....any thoughts, ideas, warnings, experiences welcome...

Thanks.

Wouldn't you need an I-pac for analogue steering wheel?

The jpac and ipac only support digital inputs like buttons or 8way sticks; neither do analog.  You can sort of play driving games in mame that expect an 270 degree analog steering wheel with digital inputs, but analog is way better.  Chase H.Q., Cisco Heat, and Outrun are games that expect an analog input.

You'll get better control with the Madcatz hack for 270 steering wheel games (inputs listed as either "AD stick" or "paddle").  Games like Pole Position play better with spinners and 360 degree steering wheels.

You can use the jpac for the buttons if you want (+ video & sound).

[paigeoliver]

My choice for a cockpit cab would have to be one of these bad boys right here.
The Sega Buck Rogers cockpit. It has that classic look of a wooden cockpit cabinet, but without the weight of being fully enclosed.

[paigeoliver]

Although I have to admit that the fully enclosed European version is pretty nice looking as well.

[kspiff]

No, don't MAME an Initial D cabinet.. Initial D is cool, I wish they had one of those cabs around here (those kids look pretty Japanese to me)..

Buck Rogers as a sit-down..?

<drool>

I used to play that game all the time on C64..

[Brad Lee]

Whichever cab you use(or build) don't forget the "armrest-mounted" spinner and buttons for Omega Race

[unclet]

I am just about to start cutting wood on my new driving cab.  I am making it from the ground up.  I have two youngsters so finding free time is hard so it will take me a while unless I decide spend many hours late at night ...like I did when making my 4-player Mame standup cab   .  

Anyway, my driving cab will have a rotating control panel which will allow for many controls.   The controls which I already have and are ready to be used are:

- Star Wars yoke
- Spy Hunter Steering assembly
- Pole Position 360degree steering wheel
- Sega HangOn motorcycle handlebar assembly
- Two trigger joysticks (with thumb and finger triggers)
- Two sets of "virtua racing" gas/brake pedal assemblies
- 4-speed shifter
- 3-speed shifter with turbo
- 2-speed "return to center" shifter with turbo button
- 2-speed Spy Hunter shifter
- Indy500Dx arcade racing adjustable seat (picking this up in two weeks if everything goes as planned)

Anything else I need...

I love Mame hobbies.......

UncleT

[planetjay]

Not yet. But I should be bringing the Turbo Cockpit Cabinet home soon.   My plan is a PSX2 and GT, GT2, and GT3. Maybe 5.1 Surround. Should be fun!

[Distortion]

Not yet. But I should be bringing the Turbo Cockpit Cabinet home soon.   My plan is a PSX2 and GT, GT2, and GT3. Maybe 5.1 Surround. Should be fun!

ps2 only supports 5.1 in DVDs and cutscenes.  You could still get some kickin prologic II action goin on, though.

[planetjay]

Still.... You see my point.

[paigeoliver]

Not yet. But I should be bringing the Turbo Cockpit Cabinet home soon.   My plan is a PSX2 and GT, GT2, and GT3. Maybe 5.1 Surround. Should be fun!

Turbo is vertical, you'll have to replace the glass. But luckily it has those LED scoreboards on the side of the monitor, so you could still squeeze a horizontal in.

Also, if you are gutting it, would you be willing to send me any innards that you would have otherwise tossed? My Turbo works, but could always use spare parts. (I'll of course pay shipping, and send you something in return).

[planetjay]

I never toss anything... Really. Ok maybe a cockpit cabinet once. After I cut it up. And one really bad Mr. Do! cabinet once. After I cut it up. And I burned a Stargate once.

But Anyway. The plan is to check the cabinet out first. Then decide if it's even doable. Chances are I'll just use it as a template and build one. I mean besides being a vertical, the shifter is on the left. And I know that in some countries that's ok, but in the US we drive on the CORRECT side of the road.   And therefore shift with the CORRECT hand.

Also I'll probably have to widen it. I mean wouldn't THIS be nice with a PSX2?

Anyway nothing is sure since after a year owning it I still haven't sat in it or managed to get it home.

[paigeoliver]

The shifter is on the left on all Turbo machines, cockpits and uprights. It really doesn't matter, as you don't shift much (once after each crash really). But if you were playing a game that did have a lot of shifting, then it could be an issue.

You probably don't want to widen it, unless you want something that won't fit in the door of your house.

A horizontal monitor will certainly fit, BUT the seat is offset to right, because the monitor is offset to the right. Installing one vertically would make the seat be a bit off center.

[Bill_S]

I picked up a gutted Pole Position cab with no monitor, but with the steering, shifter and gas pedal intact.  I put a simple PII 233 PC running dos in it, hacked a mouse and put a 20" PC monitor in it.  I also put a switch under the pedal (really only give gas either full on or off anyway).  Running DOS and an older version of MAME, recompiled with a change to the PolePosition driver so that the Shifter works(instead of 2 switches, hi and low, it reads one switch...open,hi...closed, low).  This works great and I can also run the other "dial" control games like Super Sprint.

I am in the process of getting my hands on a similar condition Pole Position cab.   Seller says he has all boards too, but with no monitor I'm thinking of using MAME to run it.  Would you be willing to share details on what all you had to do to connect everything?  Maybe some pointers or tricks, etc.
After reading some of the threads here I'm a little concerned about how to get the steering wheel running correctly.

[HeadRusch]

I'm probably going to splurge on another Oscar Model 3 spinner, and try to find some way of hacking a light, cheap wheel to it...mount it horizontally on my cab so I can play driving games with it...because super sprint, Offroad, and a few of the other driving games are always so much fun to play (STOCKER!).

I know, Oscar doesn't do his wheel anymore.....<sniff>....

However, as far as Daytona or Sega Rally are concerned, I dont know if I'd be too excited about those on mame, at least...not for another year or two (cuz you know they'll play at like 10 fps at first release)...but there are tons of PC racing games that will look great on a MAMECAB with any PCWheel and can be easily multiplayer on a home lan, which I think is where the real racing fun comes in.

[JLR2000]

I picked up a gutted Pole Position cab with no monitor, but with the steering, shifter and gas pedal intact.  I put a simple PII 233 PC running dos in it, hacked a mouse and put a 20" PC monitor in it.  I also put a switch under the pedal (really only give gas either full on or off anyway).  Running DOS and an older version of MAME, recompiled with a change to the PolePosition driver so that the Shifter works(instead of 2 switches, hi and low, it reads one switch...open,hi...closed, low).  This works great and I can also run the other "dial" control games like Super Sprint.

I am in the process of getting my hands on a similar condition Pole Position cab.   Seller says he has all boards too, but with no monitor I'm thinking of using MAME to run it.  Would you be willing to share details on what all you had to do to connect everything?  Maybe some pointers or tricks, etc.
After reading some of the threads here I'm a little concerned about how to get the steering wheel running correctly.

Sure, I'll pass on any info I can.  I'm not so sure how I did the steering hack is the best, but it works.  I just basically used a mouse and positioned the optics in line with the existing steering wheel "light chopper" wheel.....works well enough.  I also hacked the gas pedal with a regular microswitch (only on or off).  I changed one line of the PP driver to get the shifter to work.  Feel free to ask any questions....I'll pass on what I know....