RayB's AMUSEMENT 360 - STATUS: Almost done

[JonnyBoy]

Your CPO looks great. I really love the style.

[arcadefever]

Your CPO looks great. I really love the style.

i agree with you i love that cpo
the style is very retro and well done very clean
good job 

[CheffoJeffo]

Looking good, RayB ... damn good !

Love the clean lines and the topfires.

Cheers.

[driph]

Another praise post for your CPO, I like the clean design and style. Well done.

[RayB]

Thank you for the compliments.

When I wrap this baby up I plan on writing a "post-mortem". I've discovered little things here and there along the way and still am discovering more. Little things people might not think of...

For example... My P1 joystick is too close to the edge of the cab. My hand sometimes touches it. I'm currently using short shafts. I should probably use my long ones. Especially if I am to use these in games like Assault or Battlezone.

Also, for strictly 1 player 1 joystick games, I should configure them to use the P2 joystick. The P2 joy is closer to the middle, so for a game like PacMan, it would be better suited than the P1 joystick.

This will lead to confusion though, for anyone who doesn't know how I've configured it. I find already that people don't know what button to use.

[markrvp]

The P2 joy is closer to the middle, so for a game like PacMan, it would be better suited than the P1 joystick.

This will lead to confusion though, for anyone who doesn't know how I've configured it. I find already that people don't know what button to use.

Just configure Pacman to use both joysticks.

[RayB]

Another post-mortem note:
I should have included how to use my front-end in the design of the CP art.  Simple "next" and "previous" arrows next to buttons A and B would have sufficed, as well as "Select" below my player 1 start button. (Otherwise nobody but me knows how to navigate the menu!)

[RayB]

Found some decent weather stripping and added a strip under the control panel (where it rests on the glass).

Wired up the Exit and PAUSE buttons. I reprogrammed MAME so that Exit is no longer ESC. This means now that no one can exit the front end.

[RayB]

Follow-up:
Regarding the FE navigation instructions, I'm going to print out and paste some new symbols. A couple arrows and the word "select". If it looks bad, I'll just peel em off.

Other issue I noticed when playing was difficulty in figuring out what controls to use. The FE is limited, but it shows screenshots. So what I figured I'd do is add graphics to EVERY SCREENSHOT that shows what controls to use! Check out my sample in this thread: http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=48391.0

[Frosty]

That CP has a great 80's feel to it: from the fonts to the lines, that's tough to capture.  Nice work...

[bb040]

i know this is a little late but did you try using some heat when you were doing your cp?...a little heat from an hairdryer might have made the difference..But it still looks great

[RayB]

i know this is a little late but did you try using some heat when you were doing your cp?...a little heat from an hairdryer might have made the difference..But it still looks great

AHHHHH no! In fact I HAD read about using a hairdryer, etc, but then I didn't do it! And I don't even know why! Stupid me...

[RayB]

It's been more than 2 years since my last update. Last night I finally installed clamps to hold the control panel down. Can you believe this??

I suppose 6 months from now I might install the marquee light, and then in a year finish up final touches, like lighting up the coin door and start buttons.

Stay tuned!

[RayB]

I still have not lit the marquee.  But I did hook up my mini flexible keyboard.
 

[King Nerd]

I picked up a 18" fluorescent fixture and a cool white bulb from RONA here in Brampton and it ended up being $26 something after tax.
Real easy to install.

[RayB]

I picked up a 18" fluorescent fixture and a cool white bulb from RONA here in Brampton and it ended up being $26 something after tax.
Real easy to install.

Oh I have one. I also have a sound-activated cold cathode tube for some ground lighting.
Just haven't added them.
 

[RayB]

Well, 5 years and still not "100%" yet.
Yesterday I installed a florescent light for the marquee. The power cord was kind of short, so instead of trying to extend the wiring, I just mounted it a bit far back, a good 12 inches from the marquee. The marquee is still completely lit and at a good brightness. So all is good!

Now I have a new issue: Light leakage.

Ground lighting being installed today.

[OTTOgd]

What's the high score on 1942???

 

[RayB]

What's the high score on 1942???

 

LOL 
I *just* noticed this post.  Funny guy.

So Saturday night, had people over for fun and games. Turn on MAME cabinet... nothing. :-(  Hopefully just a dead power supply.