Questions about building an arcade cabinet.

[SuperShadowRyan]

Ok, I know what I want to do. I am going to get a Virtua Fighter 2 cab.

here are my questions:


1. This is just in general, is all the data of an arcade game stored in the motherboard?(Or you might call it chipset)

2. If 1 is true, what do I need to get to have the arcade game up and running?
I've seen this:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rrje0yVPlJY[/youtube]

Look at the first 5 seconds.
What kind of monitor do I need? How do i connect it to such monitor?

3. I need the controls for the game. Can i get them anywhere or should I just build my own?

3-2. speaking of controls, If I were to build my own, how would I configure them to the game... or is that in the guide?

3-3. Just out of curiosity, if I were to walk into some arcade, would the buttons on a Tekken 3 arcade machine be microswitch or leaf? those are the ones I like.

4. Is there anywhere I can buy the motherboard/chipset for the game?

thanks.

[xmenxmen]

start here:

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm

1st off, u need to decide if you are going to be building a mame cabinet or going after a true aracde cabinet.  They are quite different.

[SuperShadowRyan]

start here:

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm

1st off, u need to decide if you are going to be building a mame cabinet or going after a true aracde cabinet.  They are quite different.

Real arcade cab. The motherboard part was the tip-off for that. Besides, MAME cant emulate VF2... unless you dump it, but i dont have a device for that.

[SuperShadowRyan]

err...hello?

[Gehrig]

Patients, it's only been 30 min since your last post.

Get the game manual.  Hopefully it tells you what pin outs to use for the controls and monitor.  This game uses a Med Res monitor which are not cheap.  You can't use a Standard Res Monitor on the game.

If you have no electronics experience I suggest checking out Randy Fromm's website.

For the PCB, I would just keep checking on Ebay.  Don't buy a board that says it has not been tested.

[SuperShadowRyan]

Patients, it's only been 30 min since your last post.

Get the game manual.  Hopefully it tells you what pin outs to use for the controls and monitor.  This game uses a Med Res monitor which are not cheap.  You can't use a Standard Res Monitor on the game.

If you have no electronics experience I suggest checking out Randy Fromm's website.

For the PCB, I would just keep checking on Ebay.  Don't buy a board that says it has not been tested.

and where would I get the game manua- Dont tell me i have to buy the MANUAL.
Can I look it up online somewhere?
and what is med-res? Computer monitor? HDTV? More?
and can someone answer my MAIN question, about the motherboard?

[SuperShadowRyan]

oh, one last thing. Is there a guide on this site that tells you how to make an arcade cab with the pcb? If there is, then Ill check there.

[Kevin Mullins]

Manual - http://arcarc.xmission.com/PDF_Arcade_Manuals_and_Schematics/Virtua%20Fighter%202.pdf

Yes, all the data of an arcade game is stored in the motherboard.
Some, not all, have a hardrive as well.

The buttons you walk up to are most likely microswitch type. You can always tell if they "click" or not. Leaf switches do not click.

As far as what you need to get it up and running depends on what all you actuallt do get with the cabinet.
Power supply, wiring harness, buttons, joysticks, etc.

As for the monitor, you will need an actual medium resolution 25khz monitor or a new multi-sync monitor. (spendy either way)

As for a guide.......there are many web sites such as the one posted above already. The thing to do is read up a bit on the different compnents and what they are and do. There's really not a whole lot to it in order to understand at least the basics of it all. But each machine may have slight variances from one another. This is where the individual manuals come in to play..... a must have for each individual game.

[SuperShadowRyan]

alright, Ill look into that. But my main question is, see the video I posted? I want that, And then I will Put it into a cabinet. Sorry, If I asked the question you awnsered... I dont know if I did or not.

[SuperShadowRyan]

btw, what do you do with these cartridges?

[Jack Burton]

First of all, it seems like you are pretty much starting off with almost zero knowledge of this hobby, so I would recommend you read, read, and then read some more about how arcade machines work, what kind of monitor you need, safety, cabinet conversions, how to wire, the JAMMA standard, and any other of a hundred other things.  This basic knowledge will make things go much faster and smoother and save you a lot of headaches.

Secondly, the video you posted is of a Japanese arcade machine.  So it isn't a matter of whether it is a microswitch or leaf button since it's a whole different thing.

This is the kind of cab a Virtua Fighter game should truly be played on:

http://www.coinopexpress.com/products/machines/cabinets_only/Blast_City_569.html

This is a sega Blast City cabinet and is pretty common for Japanese fighting games use.  It would serve you extremely well in what you're wanting to do.  This may look a little pricey, but they can sometimes be found used for considerably less.


EDIT:

OR

You could look around for the odd pc monitor that supports 25khz modes.  They are rare, but when found will cost a fraction of the cost of a new arcade monitor.  Check monitorworld.com for 25khz capable monitors like NEC XM series, Sony PVM series, and Mitsubishi Megaview and Diamond series. 

[SuperShadowRyan]

First of all, it seems like you are pretty much starting off with almost zero knowledge of this hobby, so I would recommend you read, read, and then read some more about how arcade machines work, what kind of monitor you need, safety, cabinet conversions, how to wire, the JAMMA standard, and any other of a hundred other things.  This basic knowledge will make things go much faster and smoother and save you a lot of headaches.

Secondly, the video you posted is of a Japanese arcade machine.  So it isn't a matter of whether it is a microswitch or leaf button since it's a whole different thing.

This is the kind of cab a Virtua Fighter game should truly be played on:

http://www.coinopexpress.com/products/machines/cabinets_only/Blast_City_569.html

This is a sega Blast City cabinet and is pretty common for Japanese fighting games use.  It would serve you extremely well in what you're wanting to do.  This may look a little pricey, but they can sometimes be found used for considerably less.


EDIT:

OR

You could look around for the odd pc monitor that supports 25khz modes.  They are rare, but when found will cost a fraction of the cost of a new arcade monitor.  Check monitorworld.com for 25khz capable monitors like NEC XM series, Sony PVM series, and Mitsubishi Megaview and Diamond series. 

yes, i have very little knowledge of arcade machines. Is there a guide that all the info. for working on an arcade cab with a pcb? is it here?

and im looking at a cab for VF2 for $250.

[Jack Burton]

Is there anyway you could post a picture of the cab you are thinking of purchasing?

Is it this one?

http://www.klov.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10329

[SuperShadowRyan]

it's this.

[Kevin Mullins]

and im looking at a cab for VF2 for $250.

You'll need ti find out what all will come with that cabinet before anyone can help with what you are missing.
Also..... study the manual to know what is supposed to be in there.

btw, what do you do with these cartridges?

Those are for the Sega ST-V system - http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=711

Virtua Fighter 2 does not use that system - http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=714&gid=2044#2044
Once again...... study the manual on the game you wish to install.

I know it sounds like we just keep repeating this information, but until you have a starting point otherwise it's hard to give out specific information. We're more than happy to help.... but you have to start somewhere if you plan to build a dedicated arcade machine. There's a basic sequence you have to follow in a sense if you're just starting to learnm.

1. What dedicated game do you want?
2. What cabinet do you have?
3. What parts are already in that cabinet?
4. What parts are missing?
5. etc
6. etc

Tell us what that cabinet has in it already before you buy it for $250.
For that price all that should be missing is maybe the monitor and the game pcb at the most. IMO

[SuperShadowRyan]

1. Virtua Fighter 2
2. I don't have one, but i want one similar to the real cab for virtua fighter.
3. None.
4. everything.
5. That's it. I just want a cheap fix for VF2, and I think building one around the PCB would be cheaper.

[SuperShadowRyan]

the cab im looking at is from ebay, and says this:

This game is in very good condition, fully operational and has a dedicated cabinet.  The game can be set to free play or coin operation, the coin mechanisms and locks are not included because most people buying these games are putting them in the basement.  For an additional $40 I will include fully operational coin mechs and locks.  This game is being sold on an "asis" basis and does not come with a warranty.  See additional posts for more pics (or send me an email).

[Jack Burton]

That is a very nice deal for 250$, especially if the monitor works.  That cab looks clean and is of a very good design. 


I would go ahead and pay the extra 40$ for the coin door.  It looks better, and feels better to put in actual quarters instead of using a coin button.

Keep in mind that when you buy this cab you do not have to limit yourself to just the game that comes in it.  Virtua Fighter is a standard JAMMA game, and there a literally thousands of other games that will fit into that cabinet.  You may have an issue with the monitor not syncing to the correct frequency however.   But even then, you would still be able to play any standard JAMMA game that can run at 25khz.

[SuperShadowRyan]

Oh, crap. My parents say I cant have it.

So if I cant do that, here is what sums up my cab.

I want to build a standard 2-player, Hori-like joystick controls, arcade cab modeled after Virtua fighter 2, modeled around the PCB of Virtua Fighter 2. I want it to be a coin mech, and have coin doors, it needs a test switch, and some nice art. The art i can design, (Photoshop)
but I need to print it out. I will find a decent monitor, and find someone to put the monitor in action. I dont need a PC, i just need the PCB, and I think i can find someone also to do the woodworking. I need to find out the dimensions of a VF2 cab. and I think that building one is cheaper, If I can't have that one.

long story short: a cheap home-built VF2 cab.

[Kevin Mullins]

If that is a fully working machine for $250 ....... then that will be much cheaper than piecing it together and building it from scratch. 
(granted only if it stays at $250)

[Fozzy The Bear]

long story short: a cheap home-built VF2 cab.

If you want a dedicated machine like this, then it's MUCH cheaper to buy a real one than to build one from scratch.

Personally I don't think that you really know what you want.  I think you'll find that you get bored with a dedicated machine very quickly. It doesn't sound like you plan on having or collecting multiple machines.

The very first thing you should do is to buy Saint's Book "Project Arcade" and read read read. Then come back here and ask us specific questions when you have a problem to solve. At the moment it's all a bit in the air and not defined enough.

Building a machine from the ground up around a dedicated board is both expensive and difficult to achieve. I don't think you quite realise, how expensive......  You can certainly forget $250.  If you build a dedicated from the ground up you'll be looking at more like $700 to $1000.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[Jack Burton]

Yep, everything that has been said is right and I would like to add one more thing:

You should probably find  a cheap cabinet near where you live, something under 100$.  You can then add a tv, pc, and controls for a good MAME cab.  This will let you get used to the idea of owning an arcade machine.  That is, the ordeal of moving the thing, installing controls, wiring, etc. 

[SuperShadowRyan]

long story short: a cheap home-built VF2 cab.

If you want a dedicated machine like this, then it's MUCH cheaper to buy a real one than to build one from scratch.

Personally I don't think that you really know what you want.  I think you'll find that you get bored with a dedicated machine very quickly. It doesn't sound like you plan on having or collecting multiple machines.

The very first thing you should do is to buy Saint's Book "Project Arcade" and read read read. Then come back here and ask us specific questions when you have a problem to solve. At the moment it's all a bit in the air and not defined enough.

Building a machine from the ground up around a dedicated board is both expensive and difficult to achieve. I don't think you quite realise, how expensive......  You can certainly forget $250.  If you build a dedicated from the ground up you'll be looking at more like $700 to $1000.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

yeah, but until I am sure I am going to be able to dedicate time to this, I wont spend any money. Can I just hook up different PCB's to the cab? One PCB at a time? I only play fighters, and Virtua fighter 2 doesnt work on mame. Many of the games I want Do not work on mame.

[SuperShadowRyan]

Yep, everything that has been said is right and I would like to add one more thing:

You should probably find  a cheap cabinet near where you live, something under 100$.  You can then add a tv, pc, and controls for a good MAME cab.  This will let you get used to the idea of owning an arcade machine.  That is, the ordeal of moving the thing, installing controls, wiring, etc. 

Could I get a Cab with a monitor already installed? thats all the REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hard work done. The rest is art, controls and hooking things up.

[mccoy178]

These threads bring a smile to my face.  Take your time kid.  It's like taking a flight on an airplane, you can wish you were getting there faster, but it's still going to take the same amount of time.  I have the general feeling that if you don't buy an already finished cabinet, you will need to start at a much more simple level and put some time into this.  There is no way to do this overnight.  Also, I would strongly suggest using mame and researching if Virtua Fighter is emulated in any of the consoles like Dreamcast or PS1.

[SuperShadowRyan]

These threads bring a smile to my face.  Take your time kid.  It's like taking a flight on an airplane, you can wish you were getting there faster, but it's still going to take the same amount of time.  I have the general feeling that if you don't buy an already finished cabinet, you will need to start at a much more simple level and put some time into this.  There is no way to do this overnight.  Also, I would strongly suggest using mame and researching if Virtua Fighter is emulated in any of the consoles like Dreamcast or PS1.

Virtua fighter 2 is not for ps1. Dreamcast emu is faulty. And I need the arcade version. And cant I just hook up different PCB's? And If I were to build a Cab, I need most of my materials already in front of me. Otherwise, I lose confidence. I want to start right away, and i want it to feel like a Virtua Fighter 2 cab. I need specifics. I need the Dimensions of a good Fighting game cab for two players. Sorry, I cant think of things to say right now.

[SuperShadowRyan]

Well, what materials would you reccomend to me for starters? Like what kind of wood, where to get PCB's, and coin mechs and doors, blah blah blah... WAIT! If I convince my parents to buy me the cab... then I can just get the PCB's and replace the controls to 6 button, right? Otherwise, continue with what I said before.

[SuperShadowRyan]

I think i have found my example of how it would look.

http://www.arcadepinball.com/basement/mameham/index.htm

The screen would stretch to the monitor's size, but that's all I would want to change.

err... and minus the trackball and whatever that silver thing is. I only play games that use buttons.

[leapinlew]

I think i have found my example of how it would look.

http://www.arcadepinball.com/basement/mameham/index.htm

The screen would stretch to the monitor's size, but that's all I would want to change.

err... and minus the trackball and whatever that silver thing is. I only play games that use buttons.

I don't know if it's coffee or drugs but either way - cut it in half. 

[SuperShadowRyan]

I think i have found my example of how it would look.

http://www.arcadepinball.com/basement/mameham/index.htm

The screen would stretch to the monitor's size, but that's all I would want to change.

err... and minus the trackball and whatever that silver thing is. I only play games that use buttons.

I don't know if it's coffee or drugs but either way - cut it in half. 

err... WTF?

[javeryh]

I think you should slow down and think about what you want.  If you truely only want a VF2 cab then buying a working one is probably your cheapest option.  Fozzy was right on with his price estimate.  I'd also echo his sentiment that you will likely get bored with a dedicated machine.  You can build a MAME cab and modify it to play other games with the flip of a switch.  A lot of people put Dreamcasts inside for example.

[SuperShadowRyan]

I think you should slow down and think about what you want.  If you truely only want a VF2 cab then buying a working one is probably your cheapest option.  Fozzy was right on with his price estimate.  I'd also echo his sentiment that you will likely get bored with a dedicated machine.  You can build a MAME cab and modify it to play other games with the flip of a switch.  A lot of people put Dreamcasts inside for example.

yes, but let me get my point accross. MAME CANNOT EMULATE VIRTUA FIGHTER 2. NOR DO I HAVE THE CORRECT MACHINERY TO DUMP IT.
I can just buy PCB's and hook them up differently. I can stand it.

[Jack Burton]

I think i have found my example of how it would look.

http://www.arcadepinball.com/basement/mameham/index.htm

The screen would stretch to the monitor's size, but that's all I would want to change.

err... and minus the trackball and whatever that silver thing is. I only play games that use buttons.

This is something you can handle.  I know you really want to build your dream VF2 cabinet first, but you need to do this to ensure that all your screw-ups (and you will screw something up) will be done on this relatively cheap cab.  


This is my recipe:

1.  Find a gutted cabinet for under 100$.  Don't worry about monitors or controls.  

2.  Find a saturn and a copy of Virtua Fighter 2.  Should cost more than 50$.

3.  Buy some cheap X-arcade joysticks and buttons.

4.  Find a 19" television.

5.  Hack some saturn controllers for your controls.  You can alternatively ask someone to do this for you in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum.  

Put the stuff in the cab.  Voila, your first cab.


IF you insist on building your own, then I recommend MDF board and lots of time.   This is not something that someone who has little knowledge of woodworking and construction can do in a day, or even a week probably, and that is if they are following designs.

[Jack Burton]

I'd also like to add that Virtua Fighter 2 was released for the PS2 in Japan as part of the Sega Ages collection.   You would need to mod a ps2 to play this in your cab, but it would also mean that you could play Virtua Fighter 4 and hell of a lot of really awesome PS2 arcade ports.

And there is a version of VF2 for PC that is apparently even better than the PS2 version.

[Fozzy The Bear]

I'll echo what MegaUltraSuper said there..... I think he's giving you a good route to go down.

Secondly!  Take note of what I said earlier. The very first thing you should do is to buy Saint's Book "Project Arcade" and read read read you can get it from Amazon.

Thirdly.... if it's just that you want to play the arcade version of that game, you could use a "Supergun" and not build a cabinet at all. That way you could connect the actual arcade board directly to an ordinary TV set and use some console controlers. Saint's Book explains what a "Supergun" is.... GO BUY THAT BOOK FIRST!!

I repeat again! GO BUY SAINT's BOOK!! "PROJECT ARCADE" and read it! it'll give you a far better idea of what you are doing and lots of inspiration. It'll answer a lot of the questions you are asking.

ALSO!! Follow this link! and again Read Read Read: http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[SuperShadowRyan]

1.ok... yes, I know its in Sega Ages, but ive heard the framerate dropps and Im not gonna mod my ps2 for it.
2. Sega saturn vers. of VF2 doesnt cut it. the backgrounds are still shots. And why cant I just
Plug in different PCB s?

And I will do that method, but I will do it with a ps2 and hori fighting sticks (I cant find normal ones and the enhanced ones are so damn expensive.) Can anyone point out good places to find stuff like a gutted cab, and PCB's? I want arcade versions of Virtua fighter and tekken 3, Dammit! Just the PCB's! no one awnsers the PCB question! He is giving me a good route, but I will use that for a second one.

[Fozzy The Bear]

I want arcade versions of Virtua fighter and tekken 3, Dammit! Just the PCB's! no one awnsers the PCB question! He is giving me a good route, but I will use that for a second one.

Like I said! Build or buy a supergun!...... You can plug different boards into it. As for boards... Ebay!

AND GO BUY SAINT's BOOK DAMMIT!!

There's no instant answer here, this is going to take time effort and money. You're not going to be able to do this overnight. Plan on at least three or more months.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[SuperShadowRyan]

I'd also like to add that Virtua Fighter 2 was released for the PS2 in Japan as part of the Sega Ages collection.   You would need to mod a ps2 to play this in your cab, but it would also mean that you could play Virtua Fighter 4 and hell of a lot of really awesome PS2 arcade ports.

And there is a version of VF2 for PC that is apparently even better than the PS2 version.

sigh... ITS THE F***ing backgrounds. Still shots. They p*** me off. I know im being picky, but I think I should sum it up for everyone just what I want.

2 arcade cabs, one for actual arcade games, and one for my ps2.
Arcade games: Virtua fighter 2, Tekken 3, Marvel vs. Capcom (not Read Only Memory 's, the PCB's that I can buy.
Both cabinet styles: nice fighting game style, 6 button, 8-way joystick. Kinda looks like the one I posted earlier.
Ps2 control: 2 Hori like Joystick controls with the same kind of layout.

There. That good enough?

AND I AM GOING TO BUY SAINT'S BOOK DAMMIT!!!

Yelling aside, I will.

[Fozzy The Bear]

OK..... I'll try again..... But this is the last time.....  TRY LISTENING! 

You can plug the original arcade boards into a SUPERGUN..... Which will let you run them on an ordinary monitor or an ordinary TV set.. You will be running the original game board without having to build a full cabinet.

Go read the WIKI link in my last post.... here... I'll paste it again: http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/

There is no instant answer to what you want to do! Time and Money are what you need to think about.

Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)

[leapinlew]

I'd also like to add that Virtua Fighter 2 was released for the PS2 in Japan as part of the Sega Ages collection.   You would need to mod a ps2 to play this in your cab, but it would also mean that you could play Virtua Fighter 4 and hell of a lot of really awesome PS2 arcade ports.

And there is a version of VF2 for PC that is apparently even better than the PS2 version.

sigh... ITS THE F***ing backgrounds. Still shots. They p*** me off. I know im being picky, but I think I should sum it up for everyone just what I want.

2 arcade cabs, one for actual arcade games, and one for my ps2.
Arcade games: Virtua fighter 2, Tekken 3, Marvel vs. Capcom (not Read Only Memory 's, the PCB's that I can buy.
Both cabinet styles: nice fighting game style, 6 button, 8-way joystick. Kinda looks like the one I posted earlier.
Ps2 control: 2 Hori like Joystick controls with the same kind of layout.

There. That good enough?

AND I AM GOING TO BUY SAINT'S BOOK DAMMIT!!!

Yelling aside, I will.

Ah, I gotcha. What you want is to build a cabinet to play PS2 games. It's not too hard. You can then play some of those fighters. Only 1 cabinet needed!