Main > Main Forum
My idea for a MAME and Xbox360 cabinet.
ShoryuKeith:
Ok so i've been reading around alot since posting this morning and trying to learn a bit more....
If i was wanting to use a 360 and PC in my cabinet, would it be possible to hack 2 360 wired controllers and wire them to 2 normal 8-way joysticks and buttons. being usb it would be possible to work on both the PC (mame) and 360.
Using a usb switcher i could switch between the 2 quite simply.
And i'm guessing even the start buttons from the Xbox 360 controllers could be wired to the player 1 and 2 start buttons on my cabinet CP??
Now if wanted to use mame with a coin door, could i still use an IPAC to activate my coin inserts with this setup??
(i'm hoping somebody else out there has done something similar and can help me out here)
opt2not:
--- Quote from: Turnarcades on June 12, 2009, 08:04:09 pm ---Unfortunately, this query is sadly becoming more common as the younger generation (who caught the end of the arcade era and are more into new consoles) attempt their own arcade machines and realise the demands of the two different mediums make such a project hapless. I get several e-mails a week from people asking us to create such machines and very kindly have to say simply 'no'.
--- End quote ---
It's unfortunate you're stuck holding onto that purist torch. I'm too am not a young guy, but I'm not stuck in the past either. I can and do appreciate a lot of console games out there, while playing them I'm always thinking "this game would be so much better on a proper arcade setup".
Now-a-days, all our retro favourites are being remade onto these consoles and a bunch of them are actually really good updates and play really well on a standup machine. Look at games like Pacman:CE, Bionic Commando: Rearmed, Galaga Legions, Megaman 9, and not forgetting the higher-rez-HD updates of some arcade classics like Puzzle Fighter, or Super Street Fighter II.
I'm surprised, for a guy pushing that elitest angle on not supporting "the young generation" , your backing a business that relies on newer technology via rom emulation. So consoles running these games are bad, yet PCs are ok? Seems misguided to me.
@ Fitznab
I went for the same thing, a PC/360 cabinet that can use the same controls.
Here's what I did:
- Hacked up 2 xbox 360 wired controllers, connected them to my Control Panel buttons
- Bought myself a DVI/USB Switch, connected both my PC and 360's DVI (my 360's an elite version that outputs native HDMI which I use a DVI adapter to connect to the switch)
- Connected the wired controller's USB cable to the switch, attached the USB output to both my PC and computer
- Connected the DVI output to my PC monitor
Using the switch I'm able to toggle back and forth from PC to 360 with a simple button press. Easy-peasy!
I find myself using mame for the classics that aren't on my 360 already, but I like playing on the 360 for classic games like Robotron, Time Pilot only because there are online leader boards to compete with.
Ahhh high score competition, rejuvenated onto a world-wide scale, what can be better than that?!
ShoryuKeith:
Great info opt2not.
What DVI/USB Switch are you using. Also what Joysticks are you using with the hacked controllers?
Turnarcades:
--- Quote ---I'm surprised, for a guy pushing that elitest angle on not supporting "the young generation" , your backing a business that relies on newer technology via rom emulation. So consoles running these games are bad, yet PCs are ok? Seems misguided to me.
--- End quote ---
No not at all. I simply believe that modern consoles belong in front of a TV in their hi-def glory. The expense and trouble of wiring a console into a cabinet for the sake of a few remade classics seems pointless to me, just as I think using the latest Quad-core with all the trimmings is an uneccesary length just to play the latest MAME addition, or a single arcade-worthy PC game like Street Fighter 4. There aren't enough games that come out now that would be suited to an arcade cainet as newer consoles are not really born of necessity to bring arcade feel home, as consoles were back in the day. Modern consoles and most of their games are designed for lengthy, comfy sit-down play and whilst these remakes are great I would argue the cost+complexity outweigh the gaming benefits of such an addition.
I'm sure I'm not the only one stuck holding a 'purist torch', as many will agree with this. After all, the building of a cabinet is primarily about recreating that same arcade environment and feel the classic games were played with originally, which new technology and games were not - they were designed with home console playing in mind.
I'm only 28 so can see both sides of this fairly, plus I'm not so naive I can't appreciate that an arcade building business is finite as it is of most appeal to a narrow generation span of about 20 years. Attempting to introduce these kinds of modern additions would actually kill the business early as none of the younger generation is willing to pay the kind of costs this custom work involves, and focusing the business on more modern additions would alienate and effectively scare off the niche market the business is mainly aimed at.
Those new remakes are great I agree, but if you had as many stroppy people approach you and walk off shrugging their shoulders at the cost of having such additions as I have, you'd be peeved too. More power to you if you do it, though personally I think a lot of people would look at the handful of worthwhile games available and wonder if it is worth it. :dunno
8)