Help with planning a Xbox based Bartop build

[mann0mann]

Hey there,

I'm semi-new member here to BYOAC. Just a quick background/into- I joined about a month ago and have been digesting as much info as I can.  I recently picked up a clone of Maximus's Little Mrs. PacMan build that a member took on here, it seemed like he sort-of gave up a the end and never really finished it properly.   I just wrapped it up, & got my hands dirty on a full wiring job of an JAMMA cocktail arcade.

I've been wanting to build my own arcade of some kind and I've been all over the map in terms of what I want.  I had originally wanted to build something JAMMA-based.   But after playing the 60-in-1 board in this cocktail I just finished, I kinda hate it.  It's crap and the only real good solution I see JAMMA based is the ArcadeSD which is pretty pricey.

The other option is a PC-based MAME system, which looking into a little - I feel like the initial setup of something like Hyperspin would take alot of time and work.  I enjoy the building/wiring side of things, I really don't want to spend days tweaking and setup software.

What I really want is the convenience and ease of use that a JAMMA based system would give me, but with a better variety of games...which is what brought me to the console section.  I would really build a bartop that anyone could walk up, start a game and play.  Something for my kids, their friends/family. 

I've tried doing as much research as I can, but having never played a soft-modded xbox before and only relying on youtube videos etc.  I had some questions...wondered if anyone could help. 

I definitely have figured out I don't want to try and soft mod a xbox myself, so I would prefer to just buy one done.  I'm sure I could figure it out, but at home I'm using a mac these days and I know trying to do it on that platform is only going to make more headaches and it seems like it's a little more than I want to take on for this.  So I will try to find one done if I can.

My questions are on what you guys think fit the bill for what I'm after...I've seen CoinOps 5, I've seen the Visions/Visionary stuff.  Based on what I want to build...what do you think I want in modded xbox?  I hear some people ---smurfette--- about coinops saying it's a bunch of bloatware and that the visions overlay slows things down.  From what little i've seen it seems like CoinOps gives me what I'm looking for in terms of ease of playability?  Would that be correct? 

Again having never played on an modded xbox before, is building a two player arcade even worth it?  Do the emulators support 2 player very well?  I've heard that they do, but only recognize one controller in many instances where the game is only played by one player at a time.  What I'm really after/asking is...building a cabinet as a "two-player" cp.  Does that even make sense when based on an xbox?

My other question has to do with controller/game play, it looks like when you hack an xbox controller to arcade controls you loose the directional joysticks and only end up with essentially a d-pad translated over to the arcade joystick.  Does that end up becoming a big limitation on alot of the games?  I'm guessing that on the newer titles it would....

Anything else I should be aware of? or advice/direction you could give me?

Thanks in advance for the help!

[jmike]

Welcome mannOmann
        yes there is lots of info to digest here. I recently purchased and xbox with coin-ops and Vision and like it very much. I am planning on building either a bartop or pedestal control panel for it (still undecided).
Here are some projects from other members that have used an xbox...

Vision Box
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,133965.0.html

Popeye Bartop
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,131566.0.html

As for the controller set-up I'd leaning towards using a KADE device, it's already pre-programmed for an xbox.
http://kadevice.com/about-kade/

Hope this helps or at least clears things up a bit.  Here are some more threads to look over.

HaRuMan (offers controller hacks)
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,76185.0.html

Snaake (xbox mods) (I purchased my xbox from Snaake)
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,62557.0.html

 

[monkeychunkuk]

Wait before you give up on Hyperspin maybe I can help? I set it up on on a local forum member on here in exchange for some bits for my new machine.soft mod Xboxs are cool but you are limited the expansion and options on hyperspin are amazing you can run current games like mine craft and Skyrim etc from the menu

I only mention it because you said you got board with the 60-1 setup and feel you maybe hit the same bump with the Xbox

Pm me if you would you like help.

[mann0mann]

Thanks for the help guys.

I'll send you a PM right now MonkeyChunkuk

[cleevondeath]

Anything you need to know about modding an X-Box, and stocking it full on games, Coinops is the place to go. I learned a ton, and there is a section on building a bartop arcade. Never hurts to check.

http://coinopsproject.freeforums.org/portal.php