Wannabe vertical candy cab project (WVCC)

[rablack97]

Oh man, you got a Taito EGRET II?
Jealouuuuuuuus!

I have two. 

Damn that's about as romantic a setting anyone on here could want....

[harveybirdman]

Damn that's about as romantic a setting anyone on here could want....

Don't get me started on his PCB collection!

[arcadeswede]

I've been trying to find a method to export roms listed in my gamelist to a folder.
I finally found a script that did just that and I made a guide for myself to remember: https://docs.google.com/document/d/139NHsRW8Rxgn1sgFctIqiIbrUVhwL74pLLMa-gLvpi4/edit

BadMouth is using a similar (but MUCH easier) method in the All Killer, No Filler Gamelists Part 1 thread.
However, since I already had a list I didn't want to type in copy xxxx.zip _folder to a new document so I used this my method instead.
If I had known about BadMouth's method I would have used it from the beginning but hey, this works for me.

EDIT: I'm now using the same method as BadMouth. It's much easier and thanks to yamatetsu I could convert my gamelist in no time.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5bps08cRR5leGFQTFNvYUFzR0E/view?usp=sharing

[BadMouth]

I've been trying to find a method to export roms listed in my gamelist to a folder.
I finally found a script that did just that and I made a guide for myself to remember: https://docs.google.com/document/d/139NHsRW8Rxgn1sgFctIqiIbrUVhwL74pLLMa-gLvpi4/edit

BadMouth is using a similar (but MUCH easier) method in the All Killer, No Filler Gamelists Part 1 thread.
However, since I already had a list I didn't want to type in copy xxxx.zip _folder to a new document so I used this my method instead.
If I had known about BadMouth's method I would have used it from the beginning but hey, this works for me.

Yours is probably the smarter way, but I work with what I know. 
I have a google spreadsheet that the games are listed on.
The last column is a formula that constructs the copy line.
All I have to do is copy and paste that last column into notepad...well actually just copy the cells or you end up with a lot of blank lines below them. 

(see the formula in the bar at the top)

[arcadeswede]

Looks like we're doing it almost the same way

I tried your batch file with the suggested md _verticalshmup line.
Works awesome! I wish there was a way for me to make a similar script but use just the romnames instead. Like, these romnames with the extension.zip should be copied to this folder.
But, I'll probably be faster to rename them all by hand or find a renaming program then figuring out how to make that script.

[yamatetsu]

You can use an editor that has a macro feature for that. I recommend notepad++, which is free (https://notepad-plus-plus.org/).

Go to the top of your roms.txt. Click at the first position to make sure that the cursor is positioned before the 1 of 1942. Go to the 'macro' menu, select 'start recording'.

Type 'copy ' (without the '), hit the 'end' key to go to the end of the line.

Type '.zip export\' (without the '), then hit the 'home' key to go to the beginning of the line.

Hit 'arrow down' to go to the beginning of the next line.

Go to the 'macro' menu, select 'stop recording'.
In the 'macro' menu, select 'run a macro multiple times', then 'run until the end of file'.

Voila, you have got your batch file.

[arcadeswede]

You can use an editor that has a macro feature for that. I recommend notepad++, which is free (https://notepad-plus-plus.org/).

Wow! That worked great! I really like having only one batch file to deal with like BadMouth does so I'll be using his method now for sure.

This morning I quickly installed the light, speakers and a white strip of wood under the controlpanel.


Starting to look pretty good but I noticed that the light shines inside the cab. I have to isolate that somehow.

Tested some games again like Mushi Mushi Pork but the game had a lot of slowdowns. It was running as low as 50-70-100%. Checked the CPU and GPU performance but nothing was maxed out. Bad rom?

I have a Intel 2 Core Duo 3Ghz, 4GB RAM, HD Radeon 512MB GPU.
Is my computer to weak because of the super resolutions enabled? I don't see any problem with my hardware though?

[emphatic]

Tested some games again like Mushi Mushi Pork but the game had a lot of slowdowns. It was running as low as 50-70-100%. Checked the CPU and GPU performance but nothing was maxed out. Bad rom?

Try comparing it with actual PCB or 360 port gameplay videos on YouTube. The CAVE CV1000 emulation is very rough.

[Malenko]

Starting to look pretty good but I noticed that the light shines inside the cab. I have to isolate that somehow.

Go to a hobby store (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc) and get some black felt. Its like a 50 cents, put it over your speakers n stuff to block the light.

[BadMouth]

For the cave stuff make sure HLSL is turned off, especially any scaling.
On my cab, I'm still running them on an older build of MAME that was a little less demanding than the current version.
IIRC, it was version .142
It was taken down after Cave complained.  You can probably still find it out there by searching mame 142 cave.
I think that is your best course of action.  That or an older build of shmupmame that included them.

The cave games have also been added back to Demul if you have a new video card.
My old video card doesn't like the new demul directx11 plugins very well.
I didn't try the cave games, but I was getting 13-16 fps on Crazy Taxi which runs full speed on Demul .5.7.

The PC I've been testing my gamelists on is identical to the one in my cab, except it has more RAM.
A lot of the games that are playable on my cab with MAME v.142-146 choke when trying to play them on v.170 

I'd like to build a killer new pc, but I can't justify the cost of one for the cab, when I also want one for the driving cab, and another for pc games at a desk. 

[arcadeswede]

I tested Muchi Muchi Pork and other games I had problem with on my other computer with an i7 3,5Ghz CPU, 16 RAM, 2GB GPU and the games worked flawless. Even though 0.170 is demanding for Cave games and such, a better computer would fix that, right?

[harveybirdman]

There are some guys over at the SHMUPS forum that say that even with a super fast rig that some of the Cave SH3 games are off...

Take it for what it's worth though, if you played them pretty easily with a faster machine then I'd say that's the best fix available short of buying the original hardware (which by the way cost around 1200 bucks a pop for most of those games)

[emphatic]

The XBox 360 ports are decent, but you'll need either a hacked machine or a Japanese one, like I went for. Mushihimesama is available for Steam though, and comes with the amazing 1.5 Matsuri mode. DeathSmiles is on it's way to Steam too. It's becoming a decent platform for shmups. 

[arcadeswede]

I think a have to live with some games not working 100%. Maybe they never will but next step would be to get a faster computer, but I can't afford that right now. I need to move on with Mala and finish up the snaps and gamelist.

Another "problem" I have is the high-pitch tone coming from my Hantarex monitor. It's really loud and I'm used to CRT's having a high-pitch sound but this is a little too much.
I started a thread about in the Monitor/Video section: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,149779.0.html
There's probably nothing I can do about it but it's worth a shot! A lot of people are blaming the flyback transformer for being worn out.

I want to get monitor and software part done first and then the next step it to start working on the cab itself.

[Malenko]

The XBox 360 ports are decent, but you'll need either a hacked machine or a Japanese one, like I went for. Mushihimesama is available for Steam though, and comes with the amazing 1.5 Matsuri mode. DeathSmiles is on it's way to Steam too. It's becoming a decent platform for shmups. 

AFAIK the cave shooters are not region locked except espgalauda limited edition (black label is unlocked)

[smass]

I just wanted to say that this project has inspired me greatly for my next project.  Vertical Candy cab all the way.  Awesome work so far

[emphatic]

AFAIK the cave shooters are not region locked except espgalauda limited edition (black label is unlocked)

Japan exclusive:
Ketsui Extra
DOJ BL Extra
DDP DFK BL (disc version with Ketsui Mode)
Mushihimesama HD (now available on Steam)
Deathsmiles II X

There are more CAVE titles that were originally only Japan region, but since has been released for EU/US by Rising Star Publishing. 

[Malenko]

AFAIK the cave shooters are not region locked except espgalauda limited edition (black label is unlocked)

Japan exclusive:
Ketsui Extra
DOJ BL Extra
DDP DFK BL (disc version with Ketsui Mode)
Mushihimesama HD (now available on Steam)
Deathsmiles II X

There are more CAVE titles that were originally only Japan region, but since has been released for EU/US by Rising Star Publishing. 

Yeah I fact checked after :/
Mushihimesama Futari Ver 1.5
Espgaluda II Black Label
Muchi Muchi Pork! & Pink Sweets: Ibara Sore Kara
DoDonPachi SaiDaiOuJou
Are all Japanese releases that work on US systems.  I thought Ketsui extra was a PS3 game (and not region locked)


I have the bug princess on steam, its a blast.

[emphatic]

I thought Ketsui extra was a PS3 game (and not region locked)

Yes, it was released some years later. It's not published by CAVE, not the 360 port either. You're better off playing this in MAME however, as while the port is decent, it runs faster than the original game (57hz vs 60hz), at least the 360 port.

There are some very good arrange/extra modes available for the ports too, but I wouldn't suggest anyone choosing them before playing the arcade games first of all. On the other hand, I really don't like ESPGALUDA II arcade mode, I much prefer the Black Label and the Omake! mode exclusive to the 360.

Sorry for the off topic rant.

[arcadeswede]

Long time, no update!

My workflow kinda stopped after I discovered that some games didn't run very well on the computer I was using. I felt that it was no point of customizing and configuring it to perfection which includes the frame_delay and such.

Thing is, my videoediting PC is a powerful one. Muchi Muchi Pork for example (as I have mentioned) plays flawless on this PC. This is bugging me!
I'm starting to think it's my GFX-card that's too weak (only 1 GB memory) in my Mame PC. I'll see if I can find another GFX-card and try swaping it out.

I've learned alot though since the last time I posted something.
A friend of mine got himself a very nice SEGA Astro City cab. I was super jealous but since he don't know anything about monitors I helped him get it working.



Now I have a lot of experience with a candy cab and I will use this while finishing up the Wanabee Vertical Candy Cab.

Also, I found an Xbox 360 in the dumpster with a broken DVD drive. The drive won't read discs, laser might be broken, so I've ordered a new one.
Anyway, while I've been working on this Xbox, I started to look for shmups for the 360 and there is A LOT of great shmups for this console!
Too bad this console I found is a PAL and as we all know, having a NTSC-J console is the way to go. So I've been googling as a maniac, trying to find a way to play NTSC-J games on this PAL console but there is no way even if you flash/hack.
There's some region-free shmups but there's also a lot of great ones that are not.

I need to put this aside and focus on getting my Mame PC to work once and for all. I will borrow a better GFX card from my co-worker and I'll start from there. I need to finish this!

[emphatic]

So I've been googling as a maniac, trying to find a way to play NTSC-J games on this PAL console but there is no way even if you flash/hack.

Your Google-Fu is weak! If the PAL 360 you've found can be J-Tag or glitch hacked, then they will work just fine. I know, because I have one just like it here along with my NTSC-J machine.

Just putting a chip in it to play burned games won't work though.

[arcadeswede]

They will?
I thought the DVD-drive still didn't accept disc from other regions! Nice then!

Too bad my Xbox can't be jtagged. It has a newer dashboard that doesn't work with it as far as I've read but as you said, my Google-fu isn't the greatest

I'm hoping you're right about this.

[yamatetsu]

You should look for RGH (glitch hack), not jtag. A glitch hacked console doesn't need the DVD drive, it plays the games via the harddrive.

[Malenko]

hit up SNAAAKE he sells modded 360s

[Jamesyan]

good job, guy

[arcadeswede]

Well, this project has come to an end. This cab is too big for our apartment. We need the space for desks. I do a lot of video editing and my wife will be studying next year.

The cab is in pieces and in storage. I don't think I'll put this back together. I rather build a new cab but this time make it a lot smaller. As I said, our apartment isn't very big so I'm thinking about doing something like a Capcom Mini-cute or a small version of an Astro City or a mashup?
I don't know. We'll see.

Thanks for all your input during this short process. See you guys on the forum!

[Malenko]

Well, this project has come to an end. This cab is too big for our apartment.

Aw! I was really looking forward to seeing this cab finished.  Maybe you can just build a stand alone controller to tie you over?

[arcadeswede]

Yeah maybe. This project kinda stopped since my computer was too slow for some games. The hardware was starting to fail on me so I didn't make any progress after that.

When I got the time I'll start a new project, smaller build and see what kind of cab I'll end up with. I would like to have a cab though. Feels nice rather than just a controller.

[harveybirdman]

dang man, I would have loved to see this finished... if you're ever interested in sharing the MALA layout files I wouldn't mind grabbing a copy.

[arcadeswede]

Of course!
I'll share them here when I got the time. Still need a lot of snaphots from all the games though, it makes a big difference.

If you planning on using my layout in a future project, be sure to give me some cred That would be nice!

[emphatic]