Opinions needed before i begin

[Nacimroc]

Right! I'm ready to kick off building my MAME upright cabinet. Few quick noob questions.

1. Do I really need a trackball.  I don't know that many games that need it and although it would look good they aren't cheap and it adds more work that I'm unsure I need ?

2. I bought an illuminated button from ultimarc to test and seen that its just a normal 5v bulb, not an LED. Are these prone to fail often and am I better off going without if they do ?

3. Do I need a spinner! Same as question 1! unsure if its needed! It adds more cost! Im not on a tight budget but dont want to waste money I dont need to.

4. Anyone regret not added a light gun or pedals to their build ?

5. I'm planning on using a 28'' Sanyo TV for this! Is this too big?  I'm in Ireland and its almost impossible find an arcade screen so I had this spare and a friend has identical model if things go tit$ up with mine!

As I said, I'm a complete idiot when it comes to this and hopefully i won't make a mess of it when I get around to building it!

Thanks

[GaryMcT]

For the questions about whether you need a trackball or spinner, that's entirely up to what games you like and how much space you have to work with.  Go through mameui and make a favorites list and see which ones need trackball and spinner.  For me, only one game I care about that uses a trackball is Centipede, but it also happens to be my favorite arcade game.

[Ginsu Victim]

1, Only if you feel you need it.

2. It IS an LED.

3. See #1

4. Nope, but see #1

5. If you've got the cab to support it, it's the same as having a 27" arcade monitor, which is common.

[saint]

Yes to the trackball question. That it functions as a mouse makes it extremely useful and flexible. You may not have a front end that can use a mouse at first, but later you may want to add one. You might not start with PC games on your cabinet, but there are a ton of good PC games that use a mouse that work very well with a trackball. One example is one of the PacMan PC games. You need a mouse to select the level you want to play. You could use a real mouse either wired or wireless, but you lose some of the illusion then and you have to have the mouse somewhere near the machine. Having the trackball built in already is highly recommended IMHO.

I would personally have a spinner as well, because there are many games that can use one (for instance, Breakout type of games. A ton of good ones out there). However, if you don't care for those types of games then you could leave the spinner out.

Download Hamsterball and try it - you'll want a trackball I bet

--- saint

[protokatie]

I am going to look like a major noob and possibly get exiled from BYOAC for saying this, but:
For your first CP just do the basic Joy + Button setup. Keep in mind that this doesn't mean your first (and most likely only) mame cab will be joy only. Try to design your CP so it can be removed and replaced. Once you get it all set, in the future you can make a new (and better) CP which includes the controls you want. The first CP you make will most likely suck (not on paper, but after hours of playing), so you will then know what you need to do with it. (This includes any simple joy + button only CPs, as we imagine that we have the perfect setup only to find it doesnt pan out so well).

The basis here is to start out simple, and work your way up. Once you have made CP#3 or 4 you will have it the way you want it.

(Personally, I won't have a trackball or spinners on my CP, as I do not play any games that require them (marble madness MIGHT change my mind on that tho)).

[GaryMcT]

Yes!  protokatie is right. . you will build many many iterations before you have something that you like.  i'm trying to finish my first one and I've been through many prototypes.  I'm currently fighting the urge to Frankenstein versus aesthetic preferences.

[fallacy]

you need a trackball to use as a mouse. If you have a mame cab you don't always want your mouse and keyboard out. You will want to do as much as you can with this your control panel.

[GaryMcT]

If your front end is set up right, you don't absolutely have to have a trackball.  It is handy though.  I don't have the space for one on my primary control panel, and I can get by pretty well without it.

[protokatie]

If your front end is set up right, you don't absolutely have to have a trackball.  It is handy though.  I don't have the space for one on my primary control panel, and I can get by pretty well without it.

+1
Although it can be useful to use a trackball as a mouse, I would say that it a poor argument for having one. The CP is for playing games, and that is why it is there. It boils down to a NEED issue. I personally prefer to keep the CP clean and game based. There are many people here who can give advice on how to hide a keyboard and mouse for the rare occassion when you may need it. Set-up is important.

[Nacimroc]

You kind of hit on what I was thinking! I did a mock up with some buttons and 8-way sticks and set up frontend so I don't need a mouse at all! It all works perfect without a trackball and I never came across any games I play that needed it! Think I will set it up so that the room is left for it and if I change my mind, its only 1 hole and a few bolts to knock one in!

(By the way 'Saint' - Screw you and hamsterball! Was up for hours last night playing it  )

I didn't know the bulbs were LED's!

Thanks again for replies, I wouldn't even dream of starting a project like this if it wasn't for having these forums here to find everything out!

[CheffoJeffo]

I am going to recommend Yes to the trackball issue -- not so much because you need a mouse to navigate the front-end (my first MAME cab was a 3-sided cocktail and had not trackball), but because there are a number of good trackball games out there (both old- and new-school). And you have PLENTY of room if you are using that size TV.

And, let's not forget that there are encoders that combine the functionality, so that you no longer need to buy two encoders.

For those who expect to fall into the "first CP is going to suck" category (which completely baffles me if you only have sticks and joys) -- start with a proven design like the standard Knievel.

[saint]

Let me throw this perspective out there:

1. Is there a chance you will regret installing a trackball?  I doubt it.
2. Is there a chance you will regret *not* installing a trackball? Quite possibly.

--- saint

[Ginsu Victim]

You have the room. If you have the funds, I say TRACKBALL.

[Dudeman]

Reason for trackball:
MARBLE MADNESS - If you haven't played it you are missing out.

Reason for spinner:
TEMPEST - If you haven't played it you are missing out.

Another reason for a spinner:
Tron and Disks of Tron

[severdhed]

since you have such a large monitor, your control panel should be plenty big enough to add a trackball.  but you are right, they are expensive.  my first 2 or 3 control panels did not have a trackball, but then i added one.  i don't use it alot, but there are a handfull of good trackball games that are fun to play (centipede rocks).

you will more than likely not keep your first panel...there are some here who are either just completely awesome at panel layout, or are easily satisfied...i am neither.  i am revision number 6 on my panel, and will be tweaking it a bit more here soon. so i would probably skip the artwork and stuff until you are sure it is teh way you want it.

you can always lay out your panel, leaving enough room in the middle for a trackball, without actually installing one.    you are going to have a big enough panel that your player 1 and player 2 controls should be far enough apart to fit a trackball in there anyway...  you don't want to be rubbing right up against each other when playing games anyway. 

i say forget teh spinner.  i took mine out because i never used it, my friend has one in his panel, and he never uses his either.  most spinner games can be played reaonably well using a trackball.  (unless you are one of those people who can't even believe i suggested that, but in that case, you would already know that you want a spinner)

i say go with just the sticks and buttons and try it out, but leave the room for the trackball that you will probably want to add down the road.  I highly reccomend the U-Trak from ultimarc, it works great and is really easy to mount in a wood panel.

here are the trackball games i like to play:

Centipede
Missile Command
The Irritating Maze (this game is so awesome...it is very irritating..but yet i just can't stop playing it)
World Class Bowling

[CheffoJeffo]

FWIW, trackballs are one item that people find expensive, but can be found very cheap.

The last time I bought trackballs, I got 8 used trackballs for C$60 (ops seem to regularly swap them out on GT cabs, even though there is little wrong with them).

Of those 8, I was able to clean up 7 of them into good shape. The 8th needs new rollers and bearings, but since I haven't needed it, I haven't ordered them.

[Beretta]

well im far from finished with my project so take it for what it's worth.


it's gonna boil down to a personal choice here.

ask your self 1. how many track ball games do you like?, can you live without them?
2. how much is a track ball gonna cost to install, and is it worth your money to play the games you want.. also track balls come in different sizes smaller ones are more responsive for games like centipede while larger ones are good for golf, bowling etc, which is more important?
3. can you comfortably afford the room on the CP? sounds like yes in this case
4. do you want a clean control panel.. or is having some inactive controls ok?
if you want a clean panel start looking at ways to make them swapable quickly and consider doing more then one panel, this is the route i intend to take.


me personally am not planing on having a track ball even though i do like bowling games. so im planing on making the panel as easy to swap as i can, so that later i can add a track ball panel for those games.

i can see a track ball being a lot more useful then a spinner.

[DaveMMR]

For those who expect to fall into the "first CP is going to suck" category (which completely baffles me if you only have sticks and joys) -- start with a proven design like the standard Knievel.

I always say that you can not fail with your control panel if you review and stick to basic arcade standards, get some (and listen to) advice from the boards, and test, test, test.  At any rate...

You don't NEED a trackball, but yeah there at a lot of games where you'll be glad you had one.  If you really could care less about Centipede, Marble Madness or Crystal Castles, then you must not have soul.  Just kidding.  ...then you can safely leave it out.   Using it as a mouse is bonus, but don't go through the trouble just to click on one icon every other month.   For me, a TB was a no-brainer.  Needed it; wanted it! 

Spinner I was holding off on too until literally the 11th hour.  I don't use it as much (and a TB can double as a poor-man's spinner, kind of) but I'd definitely be bummed playing Arkanoid and Tempest with anything else.  So in that respect, it was worth it.

[Nacimroc]

Thanks for replies all! After looking up prices again, I think I will get an old broken one (If i can find one) or just the ball itself and install it along with mounting holes so when I do get a little more cash I can throw one in easily. I kind of want a backlit trackball in my CP.

Going to do without the spinner I think.

Thanks again for replies! Hopefully my next thread will be the build!

[DaveMMR]

Thanks for replies all! After looking up prices again, I think I will get an old broken one (If i can find one) or just the ball itself and install it along with mounting holes so when I do get a little more cash I can throw one in easily. I kind of want a backlit trackball in my CP.

If you're installing the ball on a wood panel, you need a mounting plate.... in theory.  However, do a search for members who have successfully installed it without one.   

The spinner is actually not too bad to install down the road if you really want one (esp. the Turbo Twist 2 - just needs a button hole).

Good luck!

[Epyx]

Ill throw in my support for the trackball for the reasons mentioned already like:

- doubles as a mouse
- doubles as a poor man's spinner

One great free game was mentioned above (Hamsterball) but another is Typhoon 2001...this is a must have game if you own a trackball or spinner.

As for the 28" tv...if its SCART capable itll be fantastic (less eye strain on 15khz modes)...

Light guns and pedals (ala Logitech wheel set etc) unlike a trackball are a lot easier to add after the fact (as is a spinner based on a 1 1/8" hole) on your CP.

[bradx]

a trackball and spinner are nice, but trying to cram all that into one cab doesnt look right to me.  i havent regretted not adding pedals or light gun, but i really wish i had a spinner!  i think i want a separate cab with a 4 way joystick, spinner and trackball.  using a spare TV is a great idea and should not be a problem.