Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: craigwojo on January 25, 2018, 10:49:18 am

Title: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: craigwojo on January 25, 2018, 10:49:18 am
Hi everyone.

I am a cabinet maker / sign shop co-owner and really have no problem with the cabinet or the graphics end of the standup arcade system I want to build. But........ I am really overwhelmed looking through all the thousands of post about having this and that, use this frontend loader, use this control panel buttons and hardware...  Where and what should I do.

This is what I want.  I will have emulation for most home arcade style games to choose from (Atari, SEGA, MAME and so forth) I will not use emulation software that is sluggish and will not run smoothly.  On the console, a 2 player setup with all the needed hardware for the games (trackball, side flippers, LED buttons, also a turning knob for pong-like games) I want to use a flat panel screen 24" + size (maybe 27"?).  I need a good frontend loader for all the systems I will have on harddrive.

Also... just adding to my headache... Is there a option for a steering wheel and foot pedals to go with a arcade cabinet. Maybe an add on and remove when not needed.
Help me out with vendors for hardware and how to set everything up.

Thank you and God Bless,
Craig
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: Mike A on January 25, 2018, 10:51:15 am
Simplify. That is way too much for one cab.
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: vwalbridge on January 25, 2018, 10:52:59 am
Nah...don't listen to Mike...build this sucker. I gotta see it!
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: Mike A on January 25, 2018, 10:56:54 am
Nobody ever does. I don't know why I bother.
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: yotsuya on January 25, 2018, 11:05:48 am
Nobody ever does. I don't know why I bother.

Welcome to me about a year ago.
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: Nephasth on January 25, 2018, 11:13:45 am
Can I pick the theme?

(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C__hmgFCOdI/hqdefault.jpg)
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: craigwojo on January 25, 2018, 11:14:28 am
Recommendations for vendors for arcade controls and such?
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: vwalbridge on January 25, 2018, 11:18:01 am
Recommendations for vendors for arcade controls and such?

http://www.ultimarc.com/index.php (http://www.ultimarc.com/index.php)

http://twistedquarter.com/ (http://twistedquarter.com/)

http://groovygamegear.com (http://groovygamegear.com)
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: Mike A on January 25, 2018, 11:27:26 am
Craigslist, eBay, or KLOV.com for used controls. KLOV will have people selling New Old Stock and reproductions of popular controls.
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: jkimrey on January 25, 2018, 11:30:51 am
Nah...don't listen to Mike...build this sucker. I gotta see it!

A cabinet maker might come up with an ingenious design that can be modeled going forward :)
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: craigwojo on January 25, 2018, 01:43:21 pm
Thank you all.  I will post production and graphics when and during completion. Thank you for all your help... and if there is more, please post.
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: opt2not on January 25, 2018, 02:02:32 pm
If you can come up with a design for swapping out control panels easily and not cumbersome, while being able to properly mount the CP so that it can be solid and leveraged, then you can do nice simple sets of controls per panel.

Aside from that, if you're hellbent on getting it all on one panel, I'd suggest looking at project posts from over 15 years ago (if they still exist on the server). There are plenty of projects with "frankenpanels" from that time. It was a darker time, a forging ahead from a smaller community, but definitely a time we've all learned from.
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: barrymossel on January 25, 2018, 02:04:42 pm
Hi everyone.

I am a cabinet maker / sign shop co-owner and really have no problem with the cabinet or the graphics end of the standup arcade system I want to build. But........ I am really overwhelmed looking through all the thousands of post about having this and that, use this frontend loader, use this control panel buttons and hardware...  Where and what should I do.

This is what I want.  I will have emulation for most home arcade style games to choose from (Atari, SEGA, MAME and so forth) I will not use emulation software that is sluggish and will not run smoothly.  On the console, a 2 player setup with all the needed hardware for the games (trackball, side flippers, LED buttons, also a turning knob for pong-like games) I want to use a flat panel screen 24" + size (maybe 27"?).  I need a good frontend loader for all the systems I will have on harddrive.

Also... just adding to my headache... Is there a option for a steering wheel and foot pedals to go with a arcade cabinet. Maybe an add on and remove when not needed.
Help me out with vendors for hardware and how to set everything up.

Thank you,
Craig
What games do you want to play? Oldies? Then you should probably go for a 4:3 screen, as those games weren't widescreen. For the consoles I would use (bluetooth) controllers like the 8bitdo ones. Or USB controllers. Seems nicer and more authentic imo. I don't bother playing SNES games with arcade controls actually.
And did you look into a design (of the cabinet) yet? All those controls will make the control panel rather large, or very crowded (certain controls get in the way when using others).

https://paradisearcadeshop.com/ (https://paradisearcadeshop.com/)
http://ultimarc.com/ (http://ultimarc.com/)
http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/ (http://groovygamegear.com/webstore/)
https://www.arcadeshop.de/ (https://www.arcadeshop.de/)
https://www.arcadeworlduk.com/ (https://www.arcadeworlduk.com/)

Or get some cheap stuff from eBay/AliExpress just to try what kind of controls you like (concave/convex buttons, japanese/american joysticks, etc.). And eventually get the quality sister of it.
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: tony.silveira on January 27, 2018, 02:03:47 am
i still think my panel is pretty clean and laid out well and, covers all that he’s looking for
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: craigwojo on February 01, 2018, 12:46:18 pm
i still think my panel is pretty clean and laid out well and, covers all that he’s looking for

Hi Tony,  could you post a picture of it?

Thank you and God bless,
Craig
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: Drnick on February 01, 2018, 01:04:26 pm
See tony's thread below (Although it is actually in his signature too)
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,102665.0.html (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,102665.0.html)
Title: Re: Overwhelmed to say the least.
Post by: tony.silveira on February 01, 2018, 02:33:38 pm
what he said :)