Main > Main Forum

Coverting Make Trax into 2-player Mame

Pages: (1/4) > >>

zzaz3:

Alright, I can't find anybody who wants to buy my make trax from me and I'm not much of a fan myself.  So, despite the warnings I've received I'm going to try and convert my Make Trax into a MAME cabinet.

Since this is my first time to do this and I have a low budget, so I have a few questions.

- How should I go about converting the control panel into a wider two-player panel?

- What kind of monitor do you recommend I use?  I'm not sure what size I'll be able to fit in it or if I should use a TV or a arcade monitor.

- What type of joystick/buttons would you recommend?

- My cabinet is pac-man style.  You have to tilt your head down to see the screen.  Is there any way I could adjust the screen to be closer to eye level?

- Is it 'really' that bad to MAME a working cabinet?


Sorry if any of these questions are in the FAQ somewhere.  I couldn't find them in there.  Thanks a head of time. :applaud:

cmoses:

From my short time in the hobby, about a year, and the experiences I have gained in that short time I offer up the following opinions for what they are worth.

I originally found a Taito cabinet when looking for my first cabinet to MAME.  Not exactly the same as your cabinet but similar in design and related issues.  It was a smaller sized cabinet that originally had a 19" vertical monitor installed.  It was originally a 1 player game that had been converted into a 1943 Battle of Midway.  It had a small 2 player control panel with a joystick and 2 buttons for each person.  It also had the more laid down monitor.  I did start down the road to MAMEing this cabinet, but soon realized that it was a good cabinet to get my feet wet, but would not really give me all that I wanted.  Before making any radical changes I opted to find a better starting point for my project.   

Now to answer your questions based on my experiences.

1. Converting a small control panel is very difficult, it either requires major modification to your cabinet or making compromises that you may ultimately regret.

2. I went with a 20" LCD mounted horizontally originally, but was never really satisfied with it.  If you are thinking about a larger monitor you will be restricted by the cabinet and have to make modifications.  Also I think arcade monitors are the best option.

3. I went with U360 joysticks and Happ buttons and have been very pleased.

4. Once again if you are thinking about changing the angle of your monitor it will probably require major modifications.  Creating new monitor mounts and determining they angle will be a difficult task.

5. You will always get the don't MAME a cabinet that is working or in good shape, especially if you are planning to radically change it.  If you are making minor changes that can easily be changed back, then it is more acceptable.  Based on some of your questions, I think your will need to make radical changes to accomplish your goal.

So I found a better cabinet to MAME.  I went out and found a Mortal Kombat II cabinet by Midway.  It had already been painted black and been converted to a NFL Blitz by someone else.  It fulfilled all my needs, it had a 4 player control panel, which would allow me to make a very comfortable 2 player control panel with all the items I wanted (joysticks, buttons, trackball, spinner).  It did not have a monitor, but the cabinet would accept a 25" or 27" arcade monitor and would be more eye level and upright.  I also wasn't destroying anything as it had already been converted and these cabinets are very plentiful. 

So I would really take a look at the cabinet and figure out what your plans are before making a decision.  Really figure out what size control panel you want, what controls you want on it, what monitor your want and what size, then figure out if that is the best cabinet to be using.  It sounds like that cabinet will require significant work to get the end result you are looking for.

Hope these insights help you.



RayB:

Where did you advertise? Just here? Post on Craigslist, Kijiji, Ebay...

The reason not to MAME is:

- Artwork intact and looks good
- Complete and WORKING machine
- Working monitor

You want:
- Bigger control panel
- Different monitor
- Possibly custom art?

There are $50 "empties" everywhere all the time. Why gut a $200+ machine when all you need is a $50 shell?

On the other hand, some people "tastefully" MAME, meaning, they set up all the hardware in the cabinet in a way that just "bypasses" the original wiring, etc, use a replacement control panel and keep the original on the side, and original monitor, etc... so everything can be very easily returned back to original state. But it doesn't sound like you'd be happy with the 19" it has now.




FrizzleFried:

A Midway cabinet "converted" with a larger 2 player panel will look completely asstastic. DO NOT DO IT.  If you MUST MAME that cab,  make it a 1 player 19" cab and keep the same dimensions for the CP.



zzaz3:


--- Quote from: cmoses on June 25, 2009, 11:46:36 am ---From my short time in the hobby, about a year, and the experiences I have gained in that short time I offer up the following opinions for what they are worth.

I originally found a Taito cabinet when looking for my first cabinet to MAME.  Not exactly the same as your cabinet but similar in design and related issues.  It was a smaller sized cabinet that originally had a 19" vertical monitor installed.  It was originally a 1 player game that had been converted into a 1943 Battle of Midway.  It had a small 2 player control panel with a joystick and 2 buttons for each person.  It also had the more laid down monitor.  I did start down the road to MAMEing this cabinet, but soon realized that it was a good cabinet to get my feet wet, but would not really give me all that I wanted.  Before making any radical changes I opted to find a better starting point for my project.   

Now to answer your questions based on my experiences.

1. Converting a small control panel is very difficult, it either requires major modification to your cabinet or making compromises that you may ultimately regret.

2. I went with a 20" LCD mounted horizontally originally, but was never really satisfied with it.  If you are thinking about a larger monitor you will be restricted by the cabinet and have to make modifications.  Also I think arcade monitors are the best option.

3. I went with U360 joysticks and Happ buttons and have been very pleased.

4. Once again if you are thinking about changing the angle of your monitor it will probably require major modifications.  Creating new monitor mounts and determining they angle will be a difficult task.

5. You will always get the don't MAME a cabinet that is working or in good shape, especially if you are planning to radically change it.  If you are making minor changes that can easily be changed back, then it is more acceptable.  Based on some of your questions, I think your will need to make radical changes to accomplish your goal.

So I found a better cabinet to MAME.  I went out and found a Mortal Kombat II cabinet by Midway.  It had already been painted black and been converted to a NFL Blitz by someone else.  It fulfilled all my needs, it had a 4 player control panel, which would allow me to make a very comfortable 2 player control panel with all the items I wanted (joysticks, buttons, trackball, spinner).  It did not have a monitor, but the cabinet would accept a 25" or 27" arcade monitor and would be more eye level and upright.  I also wasn't destroying anything as it had already been converted and these cabinets are very plentiful. 

So I would really take a look at the cabinet and figure out what your plans are before making a decision.  Really figure out what size control panel you want, what controls you want on it, what monitor your want and what size, then figure out if that is the best cabinet to be using.  It sounds like that cabinet will require significant work to get the end result you are looking for.

Hope these insights help you.



--- End quote ---

Your right, you cabinet sounds almost identical to mine.  I'm dentally not going to try to MAME this cabinet.  At least not the way I originally planed to.

So where did you find your Mortal Combat cabinet?  How much did you pay for it?  I've been looking for a cheap cabinet that I could MAME, but I can't find one any where.  The only reason I bought the Make Trax is because it was the only cabinet I could find as such a good cost.



--- Quote from: RayB on June 25, 2009, 12:07:08 pm ---Where did you advertise? Just here? Post on Craigslist, Kijiji, Ebay...

The reason not to MAME is:

- Artwork intact and looks good
- Complete and WORKING machine
- Working monitor

You want:
- Bigger control panel
- Different monitor
- Possibly custom art?

There are $50 "empties" everywhere all the time. Why gut a $200+ machine when all you need is a $50 shell?

On the other hand, some people "tastefully" MAME, meaning, they set up all the hardware in the cabinet in a way that just "bypasses" the original wiring, etc, use a replacement control panel and keep the original on the side, and original monitor, etc... so everything can be very easily returned back to original state. But it doesn't sound like you'd be happy with the 19" it has now.




--- End quote ---


I have it up on craigslist.  For some reason I cant use Kijiji.  Every time I try to make a post it says I have violated the rules somehow.  But thanks for the reminder, I forgot to check there for cabinets.  I found a Tekken 2 cabinet for sale in my area that I might try to buy.

I kinda like the classic art designs, so no custom art for me.  Where can I find these 'empties'?!  I've looked everywhere for something like that and I can't find one. 


I think I might try and 'tastefully' MAME my cabinet just for game like frogger or pac-man.  That'll keep me satisfied until I can find someone who wants to buy my cabinet or until I find a empty one for sale.  Any tips on how to do this?!

Pages: (1/4) > >>

Go to full version