Im building a MAME cabinet....

[SuperShadowRyan]

but i have MANY probs with planning.


one thing is the selection of games. ive seen people do this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2N70E0EVtA&feature=related[/youtube]

the frontend that he selects his games with... i want that. but i also want to use my pc for pc perpouses. if there is no way to do this, then ill buy a cheap cpu.

and well, can you use a pc monitor by itself or do you have to take apart a monitor? i want as LITTLE to do with that as possible.

and i have something like photoshop. (paint.net) so using this, i want to create  the designs. can someone teach me how to do this or is there a guide somewhere?

And if this is complicated, i have a backup plan for an arcade cabinet...

how about this... i hook up my ps2 to a monitor and get some hori joysticks and mount them... how 'bout that?

but i want the mame cabinet as my primary solution. Thanks. Muchas Gracias.
Good bye and thanks for all the fish.

[polaris]

no offence but you are requesting roms and will not get the answer you're looking for on this site.
please delete the request from your post and the other questions will likely get answered.

[DaveMMR]

SuperShadowDancer, I can't even begin to count the number of forum and Mame rules you're trying to circumvent with your post.  Try the FAQ posted at the top of the forum to answer all of the questions you'll wish you never asked.

For the other things - well, it's time to start reading through posts and searching.  You basically asked "How do you build an arcade cabinet from start to finish?". 

[SuperShadowRyan]

i changed it

[SuperShadowRyan]

SuperShadowDancer, I can't even begin to count the number of forum and Mame rules you're trying to circumvent with your post.  Try the FAQ posted at the top of the forum to answer all of the questions you'll wish you never asked.

For the other things - well, it's time to start reading through posts and searching.  You basically asked "How do you build an arcade cabinet from start to finish?". 

well, sorry, im new here. i can follow things but i need some specific things down...
damn my habit of not looking through things first!!! sorry. ill look around. but... forget it....

[polaris]

i meant use the modify button and delete it from the original post, or the site owner will bomb the thread most likely

[SuperShadowRyan]

srry, hit quote on accident

[SuperShadowRyan]

sorry if i bothered you with my n00bish rambling... in mame im a noob. this is just the coolest thing ever, and i just want specifics from the community.

The person who can help you is always right down the tube.

(i made that up. lol.)

[Franco]

 

I think this post should be sticked and labeled as 'How and what not to post'

Post hell, in 5...4...3...2.........

[SuperShadowRyan]

okay,.... sorry....

[polaris]

EDIT you beat me to it 

[DaveMMR]

SuperShadowDancer, I can't even begin to count the number of forum and Mame rules you're trying to circumvent with your post.  Try the FAQ posted at the top of the forum to answer all of the questions you'll wish you never asked.

For the other things - well, it's time to start reading through posts and searching.  You basically asked "How do you build an arcade cabinet from start to finish?". 

well, sorry, im new here. i can follow things but i need some specific things down...
damn my habit of looking through things first!!! sorry. ill look around. but... forget it....

I wasn't trying to be rude but you asked like ten threads worth of questions in one post.  There are stickied threads at the top of the main forum you should read through, not to mention the main site, to save yourself some time.  Also, there's Saint's book. 

Oh and so you don't repeat yourself:  Asking where to find roms is a no-no.  Telling people where to find roms is also forbidden.  Read the rest of the rules before continuing. 

Secondly, while using an actual coin door with working mechs is fine (can't have the arcade experience without it), you shouldn't really imply that you'd charge people for it.  You see, using MAME as a commercial item is frowned upon by the MAME devs.  Member Santoro sells some really excellent tokens and I have a bowl handy for when friends come over. 

Now before overwhelming yourself - seriously that will hijack any attempts at progress - make a list of things you want in your arcade cabinet.  Then make a plan - drawings, schematics, lists, whatever.  Start from the top/beginning of your project and search the site (many questions get answered numerous times) as you go along.   When you need a specific issue ironed out, then turn to others for advice/help.  But don't start worrying about artwork and coin doors when you're still cutting wood. 

Welcome and good luck.

[SuperShadowRyan]

there, i weeded out most of the crap... lo siento...

[FrizzleFried]

One last "no no"...


...MAME doesn't work with coin mechs for a reason.  There ARE ways to make it work,  but those ways aren't discussed here either.  Essentially,  if MAME Devs don't want it done,  we don't talk about it here.

As for the front end,  that looks like MAMEWAH... (front end = menu system).

[SuperShadowRyan]

all right, ill look that up elsewhere, just can someone help me with the other stuff?

[SuperShadowRyan]

i am VERRRY sorry for all this... i dont know what to expect from a new forum...

i act like a total idiot sometimes.

[FrizzleFried]

i am VERRRY sorry for all this... i dont know what to expect from a new forum...

i act like a total idiot sometimes.

Excitement gets the best of us all from time to time.  Hell,  I got banned from mameworld.info when I first started (I'm back though! w00t!)..

[SuperShadowRyan]

SuperShadowDancer, I can't even begin to count the number of forum and Mame rules you're trying to circumvent with your post.  Try the FAQ posted at the top of the forum to answer all of the questions you'll wish you never asked.

For the other things - well, it's time to start reading through posts and searching.  You basically asked "How do you build an arcade cabinet from start to finish?". 

well, sorry, im new here. i can follow things but i need some specific things down...
damn my habit of looking through things first!!! sorry. ill look around. but... forget it....

I wasn't trying to be rude but you asked like ten threads worth of questions in one post.  There are stickied threads at the top of the main forum you should read through, not to mention the main site, to save yourself some time.  Also, there's Saint's book. 

Oh and so you don't repeat yourself:  Asking where to find roms is a no-no.  Telling people where to find roms is also forbidden.  Read the rest of the rules before continuing. 

Secondly, while using an actual coin door with working mechs is fine (can't have the arcade experience without it), you shouldn't really imply that you'd charge people for it.  You see, using MAME as a commercial item is frowned upon by the MAME devs.  Member Santoro sells some really excellent tokens and I have a bowl handy for when friends come over. 

Now before overwhelming yourself - seriously that will hijack any attempts at progress - make a list of things you want in your arcade cabinet.  Then make a plan - drawings, schematics, lists, whatever.  Start from the top/beginning of your project and search the site (many questions get answered numerous times) as you go along.   When you need a specific issue ironed out, then turn to others for advice/help.  But don't start worrying about artwork and coin doors when you're still cutting wood. 

Welcome and good luck.

and the coin thing... didnt know that. of course i could hand out free quarters at the end of a party, or just give people free play... im really undecided... i guess ill draw it on paper, even though i suck at drawing...meh.

[SuperShadowRyan]

i am VERRRY sorry for all this... i dont know what to expect from a new forum...

i act like a total idiot sometimes.

Excitement gets the best of us all from time to time.  Hell,  I got banned from mameworld.info when I first started (I'm back though! w00t!)..

true, dat. arcades rule.

[SuperShadowRyan]

now all i need is the answers to the other questions (especially the monitor one)

[SuperShadowRyan]

btw, to be less vauge, im on a 300$ budget. (ill stretch to 400 if absolutely nessesary)

[DaveMMR]

now all i need is the answers to the other questions (especially the monitor one)

Okay... I'll bite.

the frontend that he selects his games with... i want that. but i also want to use my pc for pc perpouses. if there is no way to do this, then ill buy a cheap cpu.

Most people throw a cheap/used PC in their arcade cab and save the powerhouse for the desk.  Others throw money at their dedicated arcade PC but they want to play higher end games and not limit themselves to MAME.   If you just want MAME games, go cheaper.

and well, can you use a pc monitor by itself or do you have to take apart a monitor? i want as LITTLE to do with that as possible.

Why would you take apart a monitor?  If you take it apart, it will stop working and you may hurt yourself.   If you mean "decasing" the monitor, well I'll stop being a smart ass and tell you that you don't have to take the case off unless you want to do it for aesthetics or you can't fit it the cab (this is why you should build around your display).

If it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it.

and i have something like photoshop. (paint.net) so using this, i want to create  the designs. can someone teach me how to do this or is there a guide somewhere?

You may want to check with Google on this.  "Photoshop Tutorial" is a good start.  Get plenty of snacks and make yourself comfortable - it's not a program you can learn in five minutes if you want to design (besides, you'd be better off with Illustator for this).  I would put this on the bottom of your priority list.  That's just sprinkles on ice cream right now.   

And if this is complicated, i have a backup plan for an arcade cabinet...

how about this... i hook up my ps2 to a monitor and get some hori joysticks and mount them... how 'bout that?

Yeah, you can do that too.  But the software aspect of my project - even with my inability to compile MAME (new post from me coming soon on that) -- was the easiest part IMO.  Then again, I'm not much of a carpenter, painter, planner, or dancer.

but i want the mame cabinet as my primary solution. Thanks. Muchas Gracias.
Good bye and thanks for all the fish.

Thank YOU for the Douglas Adams ref.

btw, to be less vauge, im on a 300$ budget. (ill stretch to 400 if absolutely nessesary)

Buy an old cab with a monitor for cheap, throw some paint on it, hope the joysticks work and connect a PS2 or old computer or PCB in there.   

[polaris]

but i want the mame cabinet as my primary solution. Thanks. Muchas Gracias.
Good bye and thanks for all the fish.

Thank YOU for the Douglas Adams ref.

the one thing that would have kept saint from PH ing the thread

[SuperShadowRyan]

now all i need is the answers to the other questions (especially the monitor one)

Okay... I'll bite.

and well, can you use a pc monitor by itself or do you have to take apart a monitor? i want as LITTLE to do with that as possible.

Why would you take apart a monitor?  If you take it apart, it will stop working and you may hurt yourself.   If you mean "decasing" the monitor, well I'll stop being a smart ass and tell you that you don't have to take the case off unless you want to do it for aesthetics or you can't fit it the cab (this is why you should build around your display).

If it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it.

btw, to be less vauge, im on a 300$ budget. (ill stretch to 400 if absolutely nessesary)

Buy an old cab with a monitor for cheap, throw some paint on it, hope the joysticks work and connect a PS2 or old computer or PCB in there.   

yeah, i just wondered about the monitor section. will it be any better? will it cover up the extra plastic? will it look like a cabinet? i might as well check.

[DaveMMR]

now all i need is the answers to the other questions (especially the monitor one)

Okay... I'll bite.

and well, can you use a pc monitor by itself or do you have to take apart a monitor? i want as LITTLE to do with that as possible.

Why would you take apart a monitor?  If you take it apart, it will stop working and you may hurt yourself.   If you mean "decasing" the monitor, well I'll stop being a smart ass and tell you that you don't have to take the case off unless you want to do it for aesthetics or you can't fit it the cab (this is why you should build around your display).

If it makes you uncomfortable, don't do it.

btw, to be less vauge, im on a 300$ budget. (ill stretch to 400 if absolutely nessesary)

Buy an old cab with a monitor for cheap, throw some paint on it, hope the joysticks work and connect a PS2 or old computer or PCB in there.   

yeah, i just wondered about the monitor section. will it be any better? will it cover up the extra plastic? will it look like a cabinet? i might as well check.

You need a bezel to cover it up.

[SuperShadowRyan]

ok. i gotta go. bye.

[weasel-like_animal]

Hey man, I understand how it feels to be completely lost as to how these things build up...

First, read, read, read. I bought Saint's book (linked above) and read it cover to cover before I posted a single thing on here. It will honestly answer a LOT of your questions.

Its hard to say how to start out. I originally wanted to build my cabinet, build a new CPU, etc. etc. I realized that I just don't have the time, tools, or the space to do that. (You'll figure it out really quickly too!) I ended up getting a used JAMMA cabinet with a working monitor, using an old PC, buying an ArcadeVGA, building my control panel, and viola, its up and running.

If you want this to be quick and simple, just to play games, you don't need a cabinet. You can always hook video out on a video card to a TV and build a portable control box. I'm sure its *almost* as fun.

Good luck. Oh, and don't ask where to get "R" words on the forums. 

[tomsurfnj]

The bezel thing was something I was confused about. After I got a free golden tee cab I had to take it apart because it was too big for my hallway. The bezel was just some thick construction paper cut to fill up the gaps around the monitor. It surprised me that there was not more to it. Just take your time and research first. Check out the examples other people have made. Good luck.

[Cakemeister]

For your budget, your best bet is to do what weasel-like animal and DaveMMR said. Get a working JAMMA cabinet and a JPac to connect it to your PC. A JPac is $57 + shipping and you should be able to procure a working JAMMA game for under the rest of your budget.

Or you can spend a little more and future proof by getting a ArcadeVGA board and an encoder of your choice from Ultimarc or Groovy Game Gear.