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Author Topic: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?  (Read 3336 times)

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GaryMcT

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How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« on: June 19, 2009, 10:06:31 pm »
I'm contemplating buying a Pacman machine for vertical Mame and a Defender machine for horizontal Mame.  I can get replacement control panels here for both:

http://www.arcadeshop.com/cabinets/cabinets.htm

Have any of you built multiple control schemes this way and made it easily swappable via a connector?  How did it turn out if so?

Thanks!
My blog on learning how to develop FPGA versions of arcade boards: http://garymct.blogspot.com


daywane

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #1 on: June 20, 2009, 07:33:36 pm »
only thing like that I did was Pac Man , Ms Pac, Super Pac CP swapable

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #2 on: June 20, 2009, 09:02:09 pm »
If making a modular or swappable panel, just using interfaces that have a USB connection should be sufficient as you just unplug the cable from the interface mounted on the panel and plug it into the interface on the swapped panel.

CheffoJeffo

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #3 on: June 21, 2009, 09:00:40 am »
I'm contemplating buying a Pacman machine for vertical Mame and a Defender machine for horizontal Mame.  I can get replacement control panels here for both:

http://www.arcadeshop.com/cabinets/cabinets.htm

I didn't know that Steve stocks Defender panels (and even after checking don't see any).
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daywane

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #4 on: June 21, 2009, 02:50:02 pm »
I have the GPWiz wired to a 25 pin femal port.
CPs are wired to 25 pin male port.
Radio Shack

GaryMcT

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2009, 03:53:51 pm »
I'm contemplating buying a Pacman machine for vertical Mame and a Defender machine for horizontal Mame.  I can get replacement control panels here for both:

http://www.arcadeshop.com/cabinets/cabinets.htm

I didn't know that Steve stocks Defender panels (and even after checking don't see any).

you are right.  Doesn't look like he has defender layout control panels, but he does sell early Williams-style machines. If he sells tha control panels separately, especially blanks, that would work for me
My blog on learning how to develop FPGA versions of arcade boards: http://garymct.blogspot.com


CheffoJeffo

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2009, 04:27:59 pm »
I'm contemplating buying a Pacman machine for vertical Mame and a Defender machine for horizontal Mame.  I can get replacement control panels here for both:

http://www.arcadeshop.com/cabinets/cabinets.htm
I didn't know that Steve stocks Defender panels (and even after checking don't see any).
you are right.  Doesn't look like he has defender layout control panels, but he does sell early Williams-style machines. If he sells tha control panels separately, especially blanks, that would work for me

While I don't have a Defender in the house now, I'm pretty sure that the panels from Joust/Robotron/Stargate won't fit a Defender cab ... which is why he sells overlays in two sizes -- one for Joust/Robotron and one for Defender.

 :cheers:
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GaryMcT

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2009, 10:25:38 pm »
I'm contemplating buying a Pacman machine for vertical Mame and a Defender machine for horizontal Mame.  I can get replacement control panels here for both:

http://www.arcadeshop.com/cabinets/cabinets.htm
I didn't know that Steve stocks Defender panels (and even after checking don't see any).
you are right.  Doesn't look like he has defender layout control panels, but he does sell early Williams-style machines. If he sells tha control panels separately, especially blanks, that would work for me

While I don't have a Defender in the house now, I'm pretty sure that the panels from Joust/Robotron/Stargate won't fit a Defender cab ... which is why he sells overlays in two sizes -- one for Joust/Robotron and one for Defender.

 :cheers:

Doh!  I emailed him to be sure.

Worst case, I have to make them myself I 'spose. 
My blog on learning how to develop FPGA versions of arcade boards: http://garymct.blogspot.com


GaryMcT

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2009, 03:35:11 pm »
I'm contemplating buying a Pacman machine for vertical Mame and a Defender machine for horizontal Mame.  I can get replacement control panels here for both:

http://www.arcadeshop.com/cabinets/cabinets.htm
I didn't know that Steve stocks Defender panels (and even after checking don't see any).
you are right.  Doesn't look like he has defender layout control panels, but he does sell early Williams-style machines. If he sells tha control panels separately, especially blanks, that would work for me

While I don't have a Defender in the house now, I'm pretty sure that the panels from Joust/Robotron/Stargate won't fit a Defender cab ... which is why he sells overlays in two sizes -- one for Joust/Robotron and one for Defender.

 :cheers:

You are absolutely correct! :)

Thanks for the info.  Turns out that making a Defender control panel is far easier than I had imagined. :)
My blog on learning how to develop FPGA versions of arcade boards: http://garymct.blogspot.com


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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2009, 07:22:49 am »
whats the latest on your control panel journey would like to see if you built anything yet

TOK

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2009, 07:34:31 am »
If making a modular or swappable panel, just using interfaces that have a USB connection should be sufficient as you just unplug the cable from the interface mounted on the panel and plug it into the interface on the swapped panel.

You mean having a separate keyboard encoder for each panel? That'd get spendy.
I think it would be better to have the encoder stay with the cabinet and have all inputs wired to a connector that connects it to the panel. I think people have used printer cables for this in the past.

I considered swappable panels when I did my first machine, but then decided I would rather have multiple games... I ended up with a horizontal a vertical and one with a dedicated Stargate layout that will also work for Defender and a bunch of other 1 or 2 button games.

bkenobi

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2009, 04:47:42 pm »
You mean having a separate keyboard encoder for each panel? That'd get spendy.
I think it would be better to have the encoder stay with the cabinet and have all inputs wired to a connector that connects it to the panel. I think people have used printer cables for this in the past.

I considered swappable panels when I did my first machine, but then decided I would rather have multiple games... I ended up with a horizontal a vertical and one with a dedicated Stargate layout that will also work for Defender and a bunch of other 1 or 2 button games.

So instead of spending an extra $20-40 on an extra encoder, you chose to spend a few hundred on more cabinets (including extra encoders)?  My wife would have seen right through that logic!   :laugh2:

GaryMcT

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #12 on: October 23, 2009, 04:53:20 pm »
whats the latest on your control panel journey would like to see if you built anything yet

It's still in the prototyping phase.  I keep building new versions and moving stuff around.  I think I'm pretty close though now so that I can start thinking about getting some art on there and building a final one.  I'll try to remember to put a picture up soon of where it's at.
My blog on learning how to develop FPGA versions of arcade boards: http://garymct.blogspot.com


CheffoJeffo

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #13 on: October 23, 2009, 04:55:43 pm »
My wife would have seen right through that logic!   :laugh2:

So apparently you aren't the Jedi that you would have us believe that you are ...

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TOK

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Re: How easily swappable are Pacman/Defender control panels?
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2009, 07:23:01 pm »
You mean having a separate keyboard encoder for each panel? That'd get spendy.
I think it would be better to have the encoder stay with the cabinet and have all inputs wired to a connector that connects it to the panel. I think people have used printer cables for this in the past.

I considered swappable panels when I did my first machine, but then decided I would rather have multiple games... I ended up with a horizontal a vertical and one with a dedicated Stargate layout that will also work for Defender and a bunch of other 1 or 2 button games.

So instead of spending an extra $20-40 on an extra encoder, you chose to spend a few hundred on more cabinets (including extra encoders)?  My wife would have seen right through that logic!   :laugh2:

I used to bring motorcycles in the house. She considers this great.
Ya gotta break 'em in right.  ;)