MAME On The MOVE- Finished ? (almost)

[Ed ONeill]

MAME On The MOVE

Ok so what would MCgyver do with an empty wine box a laptop that's not being used and a box of unused arcade controls? I know not everyone has a laptop just hanging around ...but I did (long stiory for another day maybe)

Now before anyone asks the wine box is made of wood.

Objective:: I wanted to make a mobile mame machine that didn't need to be powered from an external source.

Goal: I  didn't want to spend a lot of money to do this. The cheaper the better...oh and don't forget the Famous O'Neill motto..... if it's free it's for me. I also didn't want this to be a major project, I wanted it to be quick and simple.

Cheap Part list:
wine box - FREE
laptop (amd- xp 1800) - FREE....hanging around
Joystick (4/8 way) and buttons - FREE (or not being used)
Ozite - FREE
scrap wood- FREE
miscelaneous hardware under $10.00
Ultimarc's minipac $69 (with harness)

So I know I could have bought a ipac to do what I wanted and save money, but like I said I wanted this to be a quick and easy project. I am going to  replace the minipac with an Ipac when I build me full sized mame machine.

Now having said that I still can't complain ...just think a mame machine i less than a days time and less than $100 even if you add in the $17.50 I paid for the joystick and buttons.

So you wanna see some pictures.... Well here is what I started with









I'll post some more tomorrow.

BTW ...If you can come up with a better name by all means post it.

Signed
Ed

[AmericanDemon]

Mameboy Classic

Portocade - maybe not sounds kinda crappy  

"Its Not A Bomb, Just an Arcade!"

[walls83]

I would call it..


"THE BOX"

short and simple.

[Ed ONeill]

As promised some more pictures....  these were taken after only 3 hours of work.

If you look closely at this picture you will see I removed the cover and added in some 1x1 scraps and then painted it black I then added 3 pieces of 1x1 covered in ozite so it wouldn't scratch the laptop.


Next I added a piece of of luan covered it in ozite for the base under the laptop


Now here is a picture with the laptop in and control panel in, as well as the top cover to the case which is also covered in ozite.



I would like to add that tommorow I will be making a few modifacations like the control panel , I think the buttons are two far apart, and I may be removing coin2 button.
I will also be notching out the left sides rail to allow access to the volume button and the headphone jack ( I plan on using this in my doctors office..LOL)

I would like to know if anyone has any suggestions on some way to hold down the control panel , I have to be able to get at the joystick to take the shaft of the joystick off so the lid can close

Any comments or suggestions about my project feel free to post laugh or what ever.

BTW... AmericanDemon...Portcade doesn't sound bad either

More picture tomorrow hopefully !

Signed
Ed

[menace]

damn that's cool  i was going to do the same thig myself but have since switched tracks to another project--My name was the Arcade Tourister--Since it looks like luggage, might as well give it an appropriate name (you are welcome to the name if you want to use by the way...)

Too bad you couldn't have the panel rotate 90 degrees so it looks flush during transportation but folds up to play.  Likely outside your desired scope of work but you never know.

You should buy a space invader decal from 9the name escapes me) but that would look cool slapped on the side--like how they used to tag luggage in the old days...

[spystyle]

On the topic of portable MAME cabinets with laptop guts, see IBOX

http://www.inanna.com/~calhoun/ibox/index.html

[Ed ONeill]

Too bad you couldn't have the panel rotate 90 degrees so it looks flush during transportation but folds up to play.  Likely outside your desired scope of work but you never know.

Thanks for the compliment.

Sorry I wasn't too clear. The case will shut just like it did before I started the project when completed it will look something like a briefcase/suitcase.

If you look closely in the picture the cover is right behind the laptop screen. It's covered in black ozite so it might be hard to see. If looking at the picture of the original box from the front where the handle , what I did was move the cover from the original back to the left side.

Now in order to close the lid I need to be able to get under the control panel so I can remove the shaft from the joystick.

This is why I am looking  for suggestions on how to make the panel stay in place while playing. I tried a hinge system and that didn't work the hing would get in the way when playing. Magenets and velcro also won't work.

I was thinking of using a tnut with a bolt and wing nuts but that might get in the way.

So any suggestions.

BTW spystyle nice job...very cool !

Signed
Ed

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Ed,

That's coming along nicely! It'll be awesome to have a portable system, just don't try to bring that thing through the airport, I'm sure you'll get some extra "special" attention.  

Names: BriefMame, MameCase, Game-to-Go, Game-n'-go, BitBox, Carrycade, Arcade Attache'.

Thought you'd get a kick out of this, here's a guy that put a server in a briefcase:
http://www.mini-itx.com/projects/attacheserver/

[unclet]

Why not make it so the joystick shaft can be pulled up and out of the hole from the top.    Seems like you could do this by cutting the existing joystick shaft into two pieces (ie: flush with the control panel) then assuming the existing shaft is hollow, you could place a smaller metal rod inside the one of the shafts and then connect the other joystick haft to that one with the rod....

or

You could make it so you could screw off the joystick shaft when your done and then screw it back on when you wish to play.   The unscrewed joystick shaft would be stored in side case.

Here is a picture to explain:

[Ed ONeill]

unclet... That is just way too much work for me, my luck I'd screwit up some how

Signed
ED

[unclet]

Alright then,  how about just not using the E-Clip on the base of the shaft.   This way you will be able to always simply pull the haft up out of the hole and store it.  

I forget ... does the E-Clip ensure that the joystick shaft does not slide all the way into the hole. ... if so, then this will not work.   If not, then you are golden

[menace]

here's what I did once in similar situation:

remove existing shaft and put away in a drawer
buy a 3-4" (depending on how high a stick you like) 5/16" dia. carriage bolt and stick it in from the botton.  Then put in the spacer that was on the original joystick then throw a nut onto it from the top so that that joystick springs are just slightly compressed and the bolt has free range of movement.  Then take a coupler nut (basically a long nut and thread that on about half way.

for the joystick shaft itself, cut a piece of threaded rod (5/16" dia.) then get a wooden ball from a craft shop, drill a hole half way through it, paint it, then epoxy it to the shaft, then take some heat shrink tube and put it on the threaded rod just leaving 1/2" of threads exposed.  With this you have a stick that screws on and off as needed.

[Ed ONeill]

Alright then,  how about just not using the E-Clip on the base of the shaft.   This way you will be able to always simply pull the haft up out of the hole and store it.  

I forget ... does the E-Clip ensure that the joystick shaft does not slide all the way into the hole. ... if so, then this will not work.   If not, then you are golden

The e clip holds the spacer/ "acuator" on the stick . It's a switchable 4way / 8way   joystick Depending on which side of the acuator you use the wider side is for 8 the narrower is 4 way .

I think I am going to go to rockl;er later and see what they have for holding the panel down

menace...thanks for the suggestion but I don't think it will work with my situation.


Btw the unit is nearly complete. it should be done later today.

Thanks
Ed

[fredster]

Why don't you use those pull down clamps like on the side that holds the top together.  Just put a bracket on the side.  

If you make something that will slide and hold one side into place like a slot, then you can use the existing clamp / clasp,( whatever) on the other side to hold it.

You could order the regular arcade CP clasps.  But you could just use one from another old box or a suitcase.

That would be cheap.

[RecycledPast]

I think menace's idea might work.  Here's my quick and dirty image of what he wrote.

Then you could just screw on the ball top w/threaded rod when needed.

The only piece missing from the image is the nut used above the spacer.  
But if you plan on switching from 4 to 8 way frequently it might be a problem.

[Ed ONeill]

Yea it might work but I think I figured it out I will be using

Here is the link
http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/product_details.cfm?sku=1571&filter=34238

The part I thin k I am going to use #34238 or 34186, with t-nuts under the controls

Spent another 3 hours on the machine today and it's now done !

When I get the control panel  bolted in I will post pictures..probably tomorrow.

Thanks
Ed

[Ed ONeill]

DONE !

Well as luck has it(good luck for once)when I made another control panel it fit real tight from side to side probably due to the fact that the case was finally covered.

So on my wife's suggestion I tried using some industrial strength velcro to hold the control panel...It WORKS!...problem solved

I hate it when she is right...LOL

There are only two things I need to do. One is make a control panel overlay and the other is to make an instruction card...shirt keys etc.  Can anyone from my area help with the graphics

Anyways here are some pictures

Below is a picture of the unit closed


This is a picture with the cover opened


Notice in this picture the joystick is on and the cover for the keyboard is on (a.k.a.-extra large mouse pad)


Here is a close up of the control panel you can also see the keyboard cover better in this picture. You may also notice I deleted the second coin button and I haven't really decided where I am going to locate the 4th neo geo button . Its's either going to be on the top row right or half-way between the top and bottom row also on the right...who know I may do it over again...LOL


Any more name suggestions?

Thanks for looking
Ed

[AGGIEZ]

DONE !
Any more name suggestions?

I would cover the CP with black vinyl or atleast paint the thing black. The wood makes it look unfinished...

[Ed ONeill]

are you busting my aggies...LOL

I agree it looks unfinished but re-read my previous post. (btw also re-read the heading) .......I need help with the control panel overlay.

I know nothing about graphics design and I don't  want to paint it.  I painted the first one black and it looked horrible.

Signed
Ed

[froggerman]

How about MAME-in-a-Box, or Arcade-in-a-Box?

Nice work. I just wish my laptop had not crapped out. It would have been fine for something like this.

[Ed ONeill]

It's too bad your laptop crapped out

Funny story:
 Today being father's day I spent it with my wife and son we first went to my parents house. I brought the newly built mame because my son is  hooked. Well on the way home we decided to go to a park so my son could play for a while well sure enough there is a guy and his son there with a laptop . The son was doing some bionicle thing (kids thing) on his fathers laptop .

I go up to the guy and say "wow I thought I was the only guy to bring a laptop to the park (even though it was acctually in the trunk) on a beautiful day like today. I then went to the car got the mame machine out and we started playing some games..... who would of thought you would bump into some at a park who knew a little about MAME.

I'm still looking for some cp overlay help.

Signed
Ed

[CthulhuLuke]

a CP that small might not look the best with extensive art because the space is so crammed.   You could try to find some of that felt stuff they use to cover speaker enclosures, do you know the stuff I am talking about?  Although you might get rug burn playing a more intense game.  I like how it turned out, very sleak looking.
Name suggestions
Spycade
Spy Mame
Mame Case
"The Dude"
ok maybe not The Dude but who doesn't love Lebowski?

[Ed ONeill]

a CP that small might not look the best with extensive art because the space is so crammed.   You could try to find some of that felt stuff they use to cover speaker enclosures, do you know the stuff I am talking about?  Although you might get rug burn playing a more intense game.  I like how it turned out, very sleak looking.

That felt stuff you  are referring to is called ozite and it is completly covering the box..I do have some left over but I think I want to do something else .

As for the cp I want something simple ..just basically showing  button #s and coin up, player 1 , player2 with a solid backround

Signed
Ed

[JoyMonkey]

I'll see if I can throw a CPO design together tonight for you. Do you have dimensions for the panel and button/bolt placement?

JoyM.

[Ed ONeill]

I'll see if I can throw a CPO design together tonight for you. Do you have dimensions for the panel and button/bolt placement?

JoyM.

Thanks
Cool....I'll get some measurements done later today

Signed
Ed

[RetroJames]

Very cool -

How 'bout MAME-AGOGO

[Teknique]

sweet spy gear Ed- a must for every travelling professional.

Marc

[pcdoctor]

Finally got to see your project.
Nice!
I know this sounds crazy.
Make sure no one takes your briefcase/suitcase.
I bet they'd be in for a surprise!

[Ed ONeill]

Thanks pcdoctor

Ok I built the spinner it's currently in a small box that I made to test it out .



Here is a pic of the current control panel.


 I am going to put the green (coin) and yellow buttons (player1 =2) in a straight horizontal row to the far left .

Should I put it between the left buttons and the joysticck or should I move teh joystick as far left as I can and then put the spinner in the middle ?

Signed
Ed

[pcdoctor]

I think the spinner would be good to the right of the green button.
I guess I'm thinking Tempest though.