Advice sought on MAME cab project

[GeorgeT]

Hello folks,

I have lurked in these forums for a long time, but never posted until now. Thanks to all for this friendly and informative community. I have learned a lot from you all!

I built a desktop controller and have been enjoying it for about a year. Now it's cab time. My original plan was to build a classic-style machine, using Pac-Man cabinet dimensions, 19-inch monitor mounted vertically, with simple controls including a switchable 4/8 way stick (the Ultimarc T-stick), trackball (Happ 3"), and spinner (Oscar Vortex or V2 with Tempest knob). The idea was this machine would be all about nostalgia and would perfectly replicate the gameplay of early 80s games such as Pac Man, Galaga, Centipede, etc. (Vertical only games obviously).

Now here's the problem. I was all set to build this machine when I changed my desktop controller layout for proper Defender/Stargate button placement and started playing those games on my PC. I fell in love with them (again, after 25 years!) and now I am thinking I want to go horizontal with my monitor! That screws up my whole cabinet design, but I simply can't live without Defender and Stargate... and while we're on the subject of must-have horizontal games, how about Moon Patrol, Robotron, Asteroids, Marble Madness, Tetris.... the list goes on and on.

I am thinking of going with the WG D9200 monitor. So, I ask you fine people of the BYOAC community...

1. How do vertical games look on a horizontal screen? Is it a huge compromise of authenticity? I know how it looks on my PC monitor -- playable but hardly authentic. I've read one suggestion to use tinted monitor glass to conceal the true width of the monitor. Even if this is not totally effective, is it still worth the tradeoff for all the great horizontal games? Any other comments/suggestions on using a horizontal monitor for a cab that will play TONS of vertical games?

2. If I use the WG D9200, how will vector games look? My original plan was to use a 19 PC monitor, turned vertical, at 1600x1200 with anitaliasing. I did this on my PC and Tempest looks great. (And at 1600x1200 with 75% vertical scanlines, vertical raster games look good too.) Will vector games look decent on the D9200? Tempest is really important to me -- I want it to look good.

I do not want to do a rotating-monitor contraption, nor do I have the space or resources to build two cabinets. Authenticity is one of my highest priorities in designing my cab, and most of my favorites are vertical games. Can I have my cake and eat it too??

Thanks for reading, and thanks for any suggestions,

GT

[menace]

If you are using a 19" horizontally I think you will be slightly disappointed with the vertical games since they seem to be a favourite of yours--they are appreciably smaller.  However if you were to go to a 25" horizontal,  the verticals are just about full sized and the horizontals are larger than life (my preferred setup)  Now I can't speak for the quality of the vectors on a d9200 (although i know others can) but i know its much more authentic than a pc monitor.  When you are done--it looks like an arcade mahine and not just a modified computer housing.  But we all know how time and money play into this so do what makes you happy and what you can afford to do for your hobby.