a new project

[todd]

Me and my friend have decided to make a MAME cabinet.  I'm pumped, since this is my first.  We're going to follow Lusids design.  Here are my plans for it, I'd appreciate any ideas or comments and please please please tell me if I'm doing something stupid or if there will be a conflict!

# Will Follow Lusids design
#We want a four stick controls panel with 6 buttons for the inside sticks and 4 buttons for the outside sticks
#We are going to use a TV for the monitor
#We want to use the KE72 key encoder (is this overkill?  too complicated?)

Since this is going to be for our college dorm next year we definitely want four players for sports game and ninja turtles and what not.  Tell me what you think please, any comments or help will be greatly appreciated!

[Ghoward]

# Will Follow Lusids design

Good plans but buy your TV before you start! It's hard finding a 25" TV to fit into that cab with S-video. I couldn't find one so in the end went with a WG9200. You could however make the cab a little wider and put in a 27".

#We want a four stick controls panel with 6 buttons for the inside sticks and 4 buttons for the outside sticks

Are they all 8-way or are some 4-way?

#We are going to use a TV for the monitor

See my first point.

#We want to use the KE72 key encoder (is this overkill?  too complicated?)

A I-pac would be my first choice no break out boxes.

Gary

[RetroJames]

Measure your doors...be careful where you build...

[todd]

Thanks for pointing out the I-PAC, I think I'll go with that instead.  
Also, all the sticks will be 8-way.  And I'm going to put 6 buttons on each stick.  As for doors, I'm planning on building it in my garage, so I think I'm covered.

[CitznFish]

Thanks for pointing out the I-PAC, I think I'll go with that instead.  
Also, all the sticks will be 8-way.  And I'm going to put 6 buttons on each stick.  As for doors, I'm planning on building it in my garage, so I think I'm covered.

yeah, but do you intend to keep it in your garage?  More than one person has built a cab too big to fit through a doorway in their house/apt

[Magnet_Eye]

Yeah, if it's too big to fit, I'll take it.  

[RetroJames]

Thanks for pointing out the I-PAC, I think I'll go with that instead.  
Also, all the sticks will be 8-way.  And I'm going to put 6 buttons on each stick.  As for doors, I'm planning on building it in my garage, so I think I'm covered.

yeah, but do you intend to keep it in your garage?  More than one person has built a cab too big to fit through a doorway in their house/apt

And THAT is EXACTLY the kind of oversight that makes it happen!  Good Call!

When I was a carpenter, we had a phrase for it...

BOAT IN THE BASEMENT!  BOAT IN THE BASEMENT!  

[Sprucemoose]

Also, all the sticks will be 8-way.  And I'm going to put 6 buttons on each stick

You probably only need 3 buttons for the outside players.  I don't think any games that are 4 players use 6 buttons.  Also, if you are going to be moving as much as I did in College then I would make the cab 2 pieces.  You should be able to modify a Lusid design for this pretty easy.

good luck

[Witchboard]

Also, all the sticks will be 8-way.  And I'm going to put 6 buttons on each stick

You probably only need 3 buttons for the outside players.  I don't think any games that are 4 players use 6 buttons.

You'll want 4 buttons, unless you're not interested in the D&D 4 player games.

[Santoro]

When I was a carpenter, we had a phrase for it...
BOAT IN THE BASEMENT!  BOAT IN THE BASEMENT!  

I like that .  

Anyone watch Navy NCIS?  Special Agent Gibbs is building a boat in his basement.  Never saw a large door down there either.  Hmmm.

[todd]

Yeah, I thought of that and I'm planning on building it so the control panel comes off, that way it'll fit through door ways.  And thanks for the point about the outside sticks have 6 buttons, I'll probably just go with 4 like i originally intended.  

Here's another questions:

I want to play relatively newer game, like NBA Hangtime and Mortal Combat3.  Is there a minimum CPU speed for games like that?

[GadgetGeek]

Since you are leaning towards an I-Pac, consider getting one of the t-stick 4/8 way adjustables from him as well so you can switch to a 4 way easily for playing the classics.