Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum

Main => Consoles => Topic started by: LoyalistRevolt on April 04, 2008, 03:12:34 pm

Title: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 04, 2008, 03:12:34 pm
I would like you help figuring out the sound set up among other thing.....
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: HaRuMaN on April 04, 2008, 03:13:51 pm
What seems to be the problem?  I set one up before using a hacked VGA cable to Arcade monitor, and a set of amplified computer speakers for the sound.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 04, 2008, 03:19:38 pm
Well it is more like I don't know what to do now......I 'm about to hack the controler which I already know how to do and I want to make it so that you put the memory card in the top also do I need to use an arcade monitor or will a regular tv screen work?
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: Grasshopper on April 04, 2008, 03:27:56 pm
... also do I need to use an arcade monitor or will a regular tv screen work?

The Dreamcast produces a superb picture when connected to a VGA monitor, and second hand CRT ones are dirt cheap (or free) these days. So I'd definitely use a monitor in preference to a TV. It's got to be VGA though. A 15khz arcade monitor would be wasting the Dreamcast's capabilities IMHO.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: HaRuMaN on April 04, 2008, 03:31:31 pm
By all means, if you have a VGA monitor, use it...

The dreamcast DOES look really good on my 25" WG, though (Wei Ya chassis)
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 04, 2008, 04:01:24 pm
Where can I get a VGA set?
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: HaRuMaN on April 04, 2008, 04:07:01 pm
Where can I get a VGA set?

On eBay.  Here's an example:  I have this model (http://cgi.ebay.com/Sega-Dreamcast-VGA-Cable_W0QQitemZ310036242138QQihZ021QQcategoryZ41053QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 04, 2008, 04:15:29 pm
Damn only 2 hours left!
Wait do I need a whole computer for this like with drive and mem and everything?
I wish I could get this...an chance of help on the top loading mem?
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: Frosty on April 09, 2008, 06:07:40 pm
If you happen to have a standard-resolution (GCA) monitor, you can cut the pins out of a Dreamcast VGA cable for 15kHz output.   Check out the post here. (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=37411.0)

HarumaN didn't mention it in his post, but he does a kick-ass job hacking Dremcast pads...
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: northerngames on April 09, 2008, 09:08:03 pm
... also do I need to use an arcade monitor or will a regular tv screen work?
A 15khz arcade monitor would be wasting the Dreamcast's capabilities IMHO.

no actually it displays best and 100% native on a 15K arcade monitor where it cannot go native on a vga  :dunno

why?

it is based off the sega naomi arcade set that is why most games are the same becuase they actually are the same games running off the same systems  :cheers:

Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: northerngames on April 09, 2008, 11:46:08 pm
I use the more expensive adapter from arcadecabinets.UK with a built in amp

I also have used the modded vga box and it gives the same result but not as bright becuase there is no amp built into but it still could be tuned in pretty much the same by the pots on the monitor chassis .
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: HaRuMaN on April 10, 2008, 07:14:16 am
If you happen to have a standard-resolution (GCA) monitor, you can cut the pins out of a Dreamcast VGA cable for 15kHz output.   Check out the post here. (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=37411.0)

HarumaN didn't mention it in his post, but he does a kick-ass job hacking Dremcast pads...


Thanks!   ;D
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: genesim on April 11, 2008, 01:41:36 pm
The coolest thing is if you get the DC-X (a boot disc for playing imports) it actually forces games that aren't meant for VGA to output that way!

For instance, NBA Showtime doesn't work straight away....yet with the mod disc it boots great into high resolution!

For my money, Campcom VS SNK 2 is the BEST on Sega Dreamcast, and until one gets a faster computer, it is a nice cheap way to play NFL Blitz and tons of arcade 3D games in full speed!
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: HaRuMaN on April 11, 2008, 02:13:15 pm
And Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is good... if you make your own custom mix and get rid of the original annoying music.   :cheers:
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: northerngames on April 11, 2008, 05:22:04 pm
what is this thing with certain dreamcast games not working in vga?

the reason I ask is they all work with a modded vga box on a arcade monitor and I cannot seem to find a game that does not work yet  ???

is it the actual 31K signal only that makes them incompatible?
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: MazzMn on April 13, 2008, 05:35:21 pm
See this thread in Project Announcements, should help

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77871.0
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 13, 2008, 10:24:43 pm
Thanks guy but I have a huge problem right now...I have been trying to move my VMU so it could top load but when I tried to desolder it I ended up riping it off how could I make my Dreamcast top load? Also what games don't work with the VGA connector one more thing does anyone know where the hotspots and grounds are for this pad?

(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb235/LoyalistRevolt/100_0204.jpg)
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: northerngames on April 14, 2008, 11:06:43 am
look at the trace's look for one that connects to all the buttons and that is your ground side and the side's that have their own single trace are the actuall button signals or +'s.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: solderguy1 on April 15, 2008, 02:35:03 am
I'm hoping to make a DC cab later this year.  Want to start with a working cab that has two 8-way joys and 12 buttons.  Then install a DC behind the coindoor and have a secret mode that activates when the DC is turned on.  The DC 5v line will throw relays on all the controllers and AV signals to connect itself up.

Superauctions is coming to San Jose in June, so hopefully I can score a cab.  Sure don't want to build one from scratch again, my final cost on my Mame cab was way too high.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: Minwah on April 15, 2008, 09:31:46 am
no actually it displays best and 100% native on a 15K arcade monitor where it cannot go native on a vga  :dunno

I have to agree. I know a lot of people like the VGA output but it looks even better at 15khz IMO.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: Frosty on April 15, 2008, 01:37:24 pm
True.  The vast majority of the great fighting games on the Dreamcast were made for 15kHz, and actually tend to not look as good at 640x480....
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: northerngames on April 15, 2008, 11:41:18 pm
shemnue looks unbelieveable on a 15K 26" nanao  :notworthy:

better then shemnue 2 on xbox with a tv.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: lanman31337 on April 16, 2008, 11:12:33 am
Thought about nulldc by chance?  That's what i'm using in my cab.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 16, 2008, 11:58:18 pm
Need more help I have been reading this site and I can't see the point in this interface thing could someone explain....http://home.comcast.net/~jdpyle1/controls_dreamcast.htm


also I still need to find the ground in that pad I showed you.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: HaRuMaN on April 17, 2008, 09:35:52 am
Need more help I have been reading this site and I can't see the point in this interface thing could someone explain....http://home.comcast.net/~jdpyle1/controls_dreamcast.htm


also I still need to find the ground in that pad I showed you.

Look in top right side... the large, shiny green area... that's the ground.  Notice how it connects to all six of the buttons in that area?
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: northerngames on April 17, 2008, 02:39:57 pm
here's mine but everything is in one box.

4 vmu's 2 in each controller pcb is more then enough storage.

both are in 1 box and on 1 DB25 that other set-up in the link would have a switchbox mess if your doing more console down the road and the vmu port they did is not really needed either.

(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70/northerngames/6dcboxclosed-1.jpg)

(http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj70/northerngames/7dcboxopened.jpg)

I also added 4PDT toggle switch's to the joysticks and wired them in after the picture's but that would enable using the joystick to go digital or switch to analog signal but still functions like digital but at lease all games are playable this way now.

there was no way this would fit in my control panel so I found alot of space that is never used and mounted it behind the speakers up top that are behind the marquee there is alot of space up there that is a perfect home for these box's.

I just velcro'ed it up there so it can be installed and removed with no tools.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 17, 2008, 05:06:58 pm
Need more help I have been reading this site and I can't see the point in this interface thing could someone explain....http://home.comcast.net/~jdpyle1/controls_dreamcast.htm


also I still need to find the ground in that pad I showed you.

Look in top right side... the large, shiny green area... that's the ground.  Notice how it connects to all six of the buttons in that area?


wait is it under th z? could you point it out in paint?
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: HaRuMaN on April 17, 2008, 05:11:10 pm
Here:
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 17, 2008, 05:18:23 pm
So all I have to do is stick a wire there?
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: HaRuMaN on April 17, 2008, 05:23:38 pm
So all I have to do is stick a wire there?

Yes, after scraping away the green laquer... or find a gold colored hole in that area and solder a wire into it. 
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 17, 2008, 05:28:26 pm
 :cheers: if it works also I want to add you as a friend on Xbox live :)
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: LoyalistRevolt on April 18, 2008, 12:05:56 am
Didn't work :hissy: what could I have done wrong
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: HaRuMaN on April 18, 2008, 07:14:54 am
Pics?

I still offer Dreamcast Controller hacks...   ;D
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: northerngames on April 18, 2008, 01:47:52 pm
I never used any pcb layers for ground try using it on a real ground trace on one of the button grounds and put the ground wire on it.

some pcb's are layered and that method you may only be hitting a blank bare sheet of metal that connects to nothing.
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: superart on April 20, 2008, 06:36:55 pm
edit
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: superart on April 20, 2008, 06:52:17 pm
edit
Title: Re: Has anyone here made a Dreamcast arcade?
Post by: northerngames on April 21, 2008, 11:32:29 pm
there are grounds all over both sides of the pcb you can use a pin from the cord that comes into the controller you can also use any of the ground pins from the vmu pins

there is a ground on each and every button look for a line that runs to multiple buttons and that is a ground the lines that only run to each button by themselves are your signal line or (+) etc.