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how many of you guys actually PLAY games?
ultrageek:
As ashamed as I am to admit it, I rarely play games on my cab. It's constantly in a state of flux, adding this accessory, rebuilding that part. It's actually kinda frustrating too that the software changes so fast and existing rom sets become obsolete. I put a lot of time and work into building it and I spent way too much time in the arcades as a kid, I would think I'd quit my job just to play the cab. I Don't know whats wrong with me. :-\
Namco:
Here's the process, well for me anyway.
* Get a cab.
* If it's playable, play it for a week before you tear it down. (Skip to step 4 if you're building one from scratch).
* Tear it apart and get it down to an empty wooden shell
* Woodworking (fit and reinforce monitor framework and build your blank control panel at this point, but don't install any controls!)
* Painting
* Install Monitor
* Wiring (coindoor, power, speakers, and lighting)
* Control Panel artwork, plexi, then wiring and control installation.(use an iPac, there is no real substitute)
* Install Marquee, sideart, bezel
* Then the final last step, stick the computer in there.
You should be nearly done before you even put the computer in, let alone install an OS and emulators. But if you do the control panel first, then plug a working mame computer into the monitor to "test" it, then you're done for. Efficiency drops 75% when you don't have that anticipatory "first bootup on finished cab" motivating you through the project. However, I've seen haste taint many a project too, so maybe it's a wash ;D
As for playing, I spend about 50% of my time playing on it and the other 50% configuring Mala/Mame. Since I upgraded to a new motherboard and upgraded Mame from .83 to .120, I've noticed an extra .05 second lag in Street Fighter series of games that is bugging the hell out of me. I'm sure it's D3D causing it too. Thinking of going back to ddraw and mame .83. At least mame .83 let me set -refresh 70 which is the only way I can run those low 384x224 resolutions and stay within my monitor's range.
But I digress, I don't play nearly as much as I thought I would with a cab, but if I just wanted to play, I would've been happy on the computer and keyboard. Just looking at the cab on attract mode and messing around with the insides is where I get my jollies off most of the time.
Ginsu Victim:
--- Quote from: ultrageek on May 14, 2008, 12:57:28 pm ---It's actually kinda frustrating too that the software changes so fast and existing rom sets become obsolete.
--- End quote ---
Then don't upgrade. Find a version of MAME you like and stick with it.
CheffoJeffo:
--- Quote from: dgame on May 14, 2008, 12:56:52 pm ---Went to start MAMEing my Smash TV last night, ended up playing Smash TV all night instead. Viscous circle.
--- End quote ---
That's the arcade gods trying to tell you something ... heed their warnings ...
;)
dgame:
--- Quote from: CheffoJeffo on May 15, 2008, 08:30:49 am ---
--- Quote from: dgame on May 14, 2008, 12:56:52 pm ---Went to start MAMEing my Smash TV last night, ended up playing Smash TV all night instead. Viscous circle.
--- End quote ---
That's the arcade gods trying to tell you something ... heed their warnings ...
;)
--- End quote ---
LOL! I went to try to MAME it again and it is still Smash TV. To date I have never even seen what MAME looks like on my cab with the AVGA/JPAC setup I have. I may wait until I get all the parts for my conversion before hooking it up. There is just something 'right' about playing on the dedicated cab.