Ninja Gaiden -> MAME

[Kayden]

I found a cabinet on Craigslist that was just too good to pass up.

What I want to do is turn it into a MAME machine; and I have a lot of questions.

The PC I'm going to use doesn't have a video card, so I figured I might as well buy one that supports the arcade monitor.  The one I came across is about $100; almost what I paid for the whole cabinet.  I think that's a bit much for a rebranded radeon 9250/2400.  I've already cut the VGA cable off an old crt and I'm pretty sure I know what pins go where.

So, my first question is: Am I better off getting a card that supports the monitor or a newer monitor that works with more video cards? 

I'm going to replace the whole CP, but I don't know how many buttons I should put in.  I mostly want to use it for playing scrolling shooters like Raiden, but I can also see me wanting to use it for games like Marvel Vs Capcom.  Should I go with 6 buttons for each player?  Also, what is the recommended stick?  I've heard good things about HAPP and was looking at their website, but that really doesn't tell me how they feel.  What's the difference between the Super, Ultimate and 49 way?

On the subject of buttons, I want to get illuminated buttons.  I read somewhere that you could configure the buttons to only light up if they're used for the game you're playing; how do you do that? 

Is there a "best" usb button-plugger-in-thing?  Does it depend on how many devices you want?  The only controls I see myself using are 2 sticks, 12 (?) action buttons, 2 Player start buttons and potentially a light gun at some point.

How do I hook up the speakers in the cabinet to the PC?  Is it as simple as splicing on a 1/8th" audio jack?

How will powering the monitor work if I remove the existing board?  How will the power for the monitor and PC integrate or coexist?

[Flake]

Crap dude thats a lot of questions.  I've been on a kick lately lobbying for the old pro's to lighten up with their responses like "read the wiki", "learn how to use the search button", etc.  Unfortunately for you, I think in this case thats appropriate.  You are asking a ton of questions in one post that have more or less all been answered already.  I would suggest you search for your answers (using the search feature) on your own for now then try and limit your new thread posts on specific topics you maybe couldnt find answers to or need more discussion related to your specific situation.

I will offer one piece of potential advice to get you started - if you have a working arcade monitor and no videocard then there is a specific video card out there at Ultimarc called the Arcadevga card.  It will automatically supply the proper resolutions to your arcade monitor.  However, I've never used it and certainly never worked with it so my knowledge of the card ends there. 

Good luck.

[CheffoJeffo]

I've been on a kick lately lobbying for the old pro's to lighten up with their responses like "read the wiki", "learn how to use the search button", etc.  Unfortunately for you, I think in this case thats appropriate. 

Shall *I* get off of *your* lawn now ?

 

The PC I'm going to use doesn't have a video card, so I figured I might as well buy one that supports the arcade monitor.  The one I came across is about $100; almost what I paid for the whole cabinet.  I think that's a bit much for a rebranded radeon 9250/2400.  I've already cut the VGA cable off an old crt and I'm pretty sure I know what pins go where.

Before you judge, please tell us what the card is, because you may not be understanding what the card actually is and does.

OTOH, you can do video interfacing for cheap, but .... wait for it ... Read The Wiki.

Also, what is the recommended stick?  I've heard good things about HAPP and was looking at their website, but that really doesn't tell me how they feel.  What's the difference between the Super, Ultimate and 49 way?

Again, Read The Wiki and then you can refine your questions a bit. "What is the recommended stick" is like asking "What is the best beer" ?

In addition to the Read The Wiki advice, which I understand is annoying, start by making a list of the games you "have to" play, those you "want" to play, etc. Things like monitor orientation for those games will be important (if playing vertical games was important to me, I would never play on a 19" horizontal arcade monitor etc.)

Let us know what you have (pics are good), what you want and we can give you better specific advice.

Since Ninja Gaiden is JAMMA, you may also want to do a search for JPac.

Is there a "best" usb button-plugger-in-thing? 

TDH-11TY12.

[javeryh]

What's up Kayden?

I'm going to replace the whole CP, but I don't know how many buttons I should put in.  I mostly want to use it for playing scrolling shooters like Raiden, but I can also see me wanting to use it for games like Marvel Vs Capcom.  Should I go with 6 buttons for each player? 

Since you are planning to MAME this cabinet my advice would be to go with a layout that will allow you to play the most games properly.  IMO, I think 2 joysticks with 6 buttons (or 7 if you HAVE to have all 4 Neo Geo buttons in a line) per player is a good start.  I'd put a 3" trackball in the middle and a spinner above that.  Admin buttons such as coin, pause, exit, etc. are up to you.  Take a look at the Control Panel Database to give you some ideas.  Something like this if you can imagine a trackball in the middle:

Also, what is the recommended stick?  I've heard good things about HAPP and was looking at their website, but that really doesn't tell me how they feel.  What's the difference between the Super, Ultimate and 49 way?

This is a tough one.  As you are probably learning, there are lots of different control schemes for the various games (4-way, 8-way, 2-way, 45 degree 4-way, etc.).  The Ultimarc 360 stick is fully programmable and it integrates with your front end or MAME to act like it should depending on what game you launch.  The downside it that there aren't any switches so it might feel a little weird at first.  This is the stick that I use on my cabs.  They just work.

On the subject of buttons, I want to get illuminated buttons.  I read somewhere that you could configure the buttons to only light up if they're used for the game you're playing; how do you do that? 

You should visit GroovyGameGear.com.  Randy sells illuminated buttons plus the LED-Wiz which will control all of the LEDs.

Is there a "best" usb button-plugger-in-thing?  Does it depend on how many devices you want?  The only controls I see myself using are 2 sticks, 12 (?) action buttons, 2 Player start buttons and potentially a light gun at some point.

I typically use an iPac but I'm sure the KeyWiz from Randy works great too.  It does depend on the amount of inputs you want - just make sure you have enough before ordering.

How do I hook up the speakers in the cabinet to the PC?  Is it as simple as splicing on a 1/8th" audio jack?

Probably.  Since this is a MAME rig though I'd scrap the speakers in the cab and buy some 2.1 Radio Shack ones.  The last set I bought brand new was $10 and it comes with a sub and sounds great.

How will powering the monitor work if I remove the existing board?  How will the power for the monitor and PC integrate or coexist?

The easiest solution is to get a SmartStrip.  Everything plugs into it and once you press the power button on the computer (which you can wire to anywhere on your cabinet using any pushbutton), everything else will come on automatically.

[Kayden]

Hi Javy! 

Wow, that Ultimarc 360 is kinda slick.  It's USB and you can hook buttons right up to it?  Looking at the mapping software makes me think it's definitely the way to go.  It says each stick supports 8 buttons.  That'd be 6 action buttons, start, and coin (it'd be cool to hook it up to the coin slot like you did  ).  I've never used mame like this before, is there anything else I would need that wouldn't be covered?  How do you choose games and such?

Unfortunately, pointing me at the wiki just gives me more questions.

Looking at the Jpac, I gather it the PCI looking connection is supposed to connect to some kind of control harness, but it looks like all my wires are separate anyways.  If I go with plugging the buttons into the joystick, then I'd only need to use it for the video, but it looks like I can do that with soft15. 

On the video front, the AVGA2 was what I was talking about.  As a PC guy, I find $90 for that card to be ridiculous.  It's essentially a 5 year old card with a reflashed bios.

I'm not sure, but I think I'm also confused about the LED-Wiz.  You plug one lead from the LED into one post and then you daisy chain the other leads to a ground post, yeah?  Then you can use software to set up different options like flashing and such?  Does it integrate with your emulator to know what buttons are used?  I take it the Electric Ice buttons are just transparent shells and you buy the RGB driver to make them different colors or you can insert your own single color LED?  Can you combine the RGB driver and the LED-Wiz to do something like have the buttons a game uses be blue and the buttons not being used red?  That would be really cool.  It also looks to control the buttons themselves, so I assume I can just use this for any admin controls that don't fit on the joy sticks?  Or would it make more sense to just run all the buttons through it since it's controlling the lighting anyways?  I suppose some lighting effects depend on a button being on the same number control post as the LED post? 

 

After looking, I can't seem to find an answer for my monitor power question.  Do I just leave the existing power stuff in there for the monitor and disconnect the logic board?  I read that this may not work as the power supply notices a lack of current draw and doesn't put out anything...  Would I just leave the existing board plugged in and running, just without any form of in/output?

On a totally unrelated note, I found the original paperwork inside the cabinet, but it had a Joust manual and a bunch of Joust stickers...  Is that weird?

Yar, thar be piczures in these here forums: