What to do with the cocktail?

[NAH]

I have a coctkail cabinet and I don't know what I want to do. I have been thinking of using 4 way sticks... or 8 way.... or the new 4 or 8 way sticks.... or i dont' know
Its a vertical monitor and the players sit oppostie each other, but it would be nice to be able to play 2 player game simultaneously. So i was thinking of having a gamepad that you could use for the second player...

and on the topic of gamepads... where can i get the gameport daisy-chainable ms sidwinders? I think I want 4 of them to hack.

well, what would you do with a cocktail?

[Lilwolf]

1) if you don't have the joysticks to start off with (and going to buy them) consider getting an encoder.  will be 10 bucks more (maybe less) and MUCH better.  I can't answer any of the other questions on the joysticks for you (never hacked one)

2) What to do what to do....

Consider putting in a TStick+ that you can change from 4way and 8way from the top.  I only hear great things about them.  A little expensive considering the individuals... but on a cocktail you will probably end up playing the a ton of classics.

Then... It looks like you will build something for the controls right?  Are they really missing?  

If so, and you don't mind modifying the cabinet... you might consider seeing what it would take to make the montiro rotate.  There are a few ways to do it... and might add another thousand games to run on the smaller monitor...  NOTE:  This ONE option will take more time then the rest of the project... Do it if you love fighters only...

Next... Looks like a great cab to start with.  Good luck!

[mtd]

It would be cheaper to buy an I-Pac than hack 4 sidewinders; however if that is really what you want to do contact me.  I might still have 4 or 6 hacked sidewinders laying around that I'd sell for the price of an I-Pac .  

If it were me.  I'd not force the cocktail to be anything other than it is and that would be a single player vertical cabinet meant to play Pac Man's, Galaga, Galaxian, Mr. Do, Dig Dug, etc.  If you really wanted to add something to it, put either a spinner or a trackball on the P2 side for a few added games (Centipede, Arkanoid, etc.).  It will never be a 4-Player Midway Style cabinet, don't try to make it one.  

My 2 cents.

[delta88]

they do make great desks...

[NAH]

I do have the original controls... They are 8 way joysticks

If I did the sidewinder thing I would hack two and keep two intact to pull out and play games via gamepad. Not vey authentic but very easy. Just planning on haveing two action buttons per player.

i guess my main problem is deciding about the 4 or 8 way thing. I was thinking i could just put most of the vertical games on there, but I would want a 4 way stick to play four way games... maybe i could do a 4 way on one side and an 8 way on the other....

Also I don't plan on having all the roms on this machine... I would like to narrow it down to the really good vertical games.

mtd- are any of your sidwinders not hacked?

[mtd]

All sidewinders are hacked -- from pre - encoder days.  

Trust me go with incoders.

[bluGill]

I've been thinking about this too, for a future cabinet that may or may not ever be built...

I think I would get a 4/8way switcher, but one that switched from the bottom, then fit a knob through the bottom of the control panel to switch.   I don't think you want a 4 way on one side and an 8 on the other.  At some point you are going to want to glare across the table at your opponant in some game, and you will both need the same joystick then.

[eightbit]

The cocktails with legs like that don't have much room. I don't see a rotating monitor as a option. Its going to be tough getting the PC in there with the monitor. If you want to play horizontal games consider adding 2 players on the side with 8 way joysticks and switchable joysticks on either end. That way you have controls on 3 sides. You can play fighters horizontally with 2 players like your supposed to and classic vertical games from the ends. By adding the switchables on the ends you can play 8 way verticles along with the classic 4 ways.

Not all gamepad hacks are pre-encoder. There are some instances where a gamepad hack is done for other reasons. I wouldn't recomend it based on what you've told us.

[eightbit]

I've been thinking about this too, for a future cabinet that may or may not ever be built...

I think I would get a 4/8way switcher, but one that switched from the bottom, then fit a knob through the bottom of the control panel to switch.   I don't think you want a 4 way on one side and an 8 on the other.  At some point you are going to want to glare across the table at your opponant in some game, and you will both need the same joystick then.

Have you looked at any of the switchables? I have a t-stick and omnisticks and just got some of the new prodigy sticks and I don't see how you could switch any of them  from the bottom of the CP with a knob.

[paigeoliver]

Not all gamepad hacks are pre-encoder. There are some instances where a gamepad hack is done for other reasons. I wouldn't recomend it based on what you've told us.

Yeahm if I am hooking up a simple one player 2 button panel, then I will hack a joystick or a keyboard every time. I only spring for an encoder if it is going to be a 2 player setup. Just ordered a Keywhiz for my buddy Jake, we are making his dad a 2 player Mame cabinet for Christmas!