PS2 standalone cab

[BobbyG66]

Has anyone built a cabinet designed exclusively for a console?
I have only seen the Nintendo cab that was built by a kid years ago...

I was thinking about building something just for my PS2. It would have a driving wheel built in, but use regular controllers, microphone for karaoke and dance pad.

It would also store all the games and accessories.

Is this a good idea?

[versapak]

If it is something you would like to have, then it is a good idea.


I built my arcade machine with an Xbox, though mine is pretty much a standard cab. I wanted to use an Xbox so I could play modern fighters on it, as well as other various arcade control friendly console games, and also us MAME.

It has worked out excellently for me.

If for whatever reason I wish to use a different controller, I have an adapter so that I can just plug it into one of the memory ports.


With a PS2, there is a lot of games that would play great on an arcade cabinet. It has a great set of light gun games, as well as a vast number of fighters. I have actually thought about putting one into my cabinet, and installing a switch box.

[elvis]

I'm in the process of starting designs for a Dreamcast/Playstation cab.  I'll put both consoles in the same cab with some switching on the wiring so that they both use the same TV and controls.  If I ever decide to get newer consoles, I can chuck them in there too.

They will give me access to console ports of more recent arcade games that I want to play, while the MAME cab stays around for dedicated old school gaming.

Of course, this project is a long way off yet.  I've still got to finish my cocktail and kid's mini-upright off first.  So many cabs to build, so little time! 

I've seen plenty of folks build Dreamcast cabs due to the huge amount of Naomi ports to DC (thanks to similar hardware) making it a very cost effective Naomi alternative.  My boss has a PSX cab too, but that seems only to ever have Tekken3 running.

[geomartin]

I went this route with my Dreamcast.  I would highly recommend the X-Arcade interface kit.  It only cost $59 and saves you from hacking controllers.  This also allows you to swap other consoles in and out by changing the adapter on the X-Arcade.  I bought the DC adapter and can change between my MAME computer and the DC by opening the coin door changing the adapter and the a/b switch on my VGA adapter.  Takes than a minute!

Geo

[elvis]

Getting X-Arcade gear (or anything US-based for that matter) here in Australia costs me a fortune in shipping.  I'm talking AU$50 (US$40) bare minimum for small items and it just scales from there with weight.  So you're talking AT LEAST US$100 all up for me to get X-Arcade stuff over here.

I managed to nab a 4 pack of dreamcast controllers off ebay for AU$25 including shipping (US$20 all up - $5 per pad).  2 of these I'm hacking into cabinet controls, as I'm not afraid of a soldering iron, and have 2 spares if I completely stuff it up.

[Franco]

I would love to build a dedicated Dreamcast cab but at the moment I am going to have to settle on hacking a DC setup into my existing cab.

Ive just hacked some pads and have ordered a DC VGA box and also a VGA switch box like the one below so I can easily change between the DC and computer VGA outputs. I went for a four way box just incase I want to add a PS2 or something similar in the future.

I say go for it, I would love to see a dedicated PS2 cab.

[Goz]

I went this route with my Dreamcast.  I would highly recommend the X-Arcade interface kit.  It only cost $59 and saves you from hacking controllers.  This also allows you to swap other consoles in and out by changing the adapter on the X-Arcade.  I bought the DC adapter and can change between my MAME computer and the DC by opening the coin door changing the adapter and the a/b switch on my VGA adapter.  Takes than a minute!

Geo

This is a pretty good solution especially for multiple consoles or blending consoles in the same machine as MAME(tm).

Instead of swapping cables you should be able to use a SERIAL data switch similar to the one here

I'm hoping to test this tonight on my console / mame cab with a 4 port model (Xbox, Dreamcast, Gamecube, and MAME).

-Goz

[aktham]

My RGB Scart to Jamma project should be done soon. I had it built mainly to play SFIII3s and to avoid the CPS3 version. I will post pics as soon as it's completed.

[Dave_K.]

Starting out as a PS2 dedicated cab is the right solution as you can easily connect your psx/ps2 hacked controls to any other console (or Mame/PC!!).  Switching between consoles is a very tricky topic and discussed to death so I won't get into it.  I will say this, keep it simple, isolate everything with molex connecters, and settle for manually plugging/unplugging each console and connector when you switch your cabinet around to use another console.  Trust me taking the simpler/manual approach will have your cab up and running with anything in no time at all.

[elvis]

Starting out as a PS2 dedicated cab is the right solution as you can easily connect your psx/ps2 hacked controls to any other console (or Mame/PC!!).  Switching between consoles is a very tricky topic and discussed to death so I won't get into it.

Got any links to the discussion?

I'm planning on running unique ground wiring for each control set, and using a very simple switch to choose which interface is activated.  It really shouldn't require a huge amount of difficulty at all, unless I'm grossly underestimating it all.  I've hacked plenty of pads before, so I don't see what that method shouldn't work.

Even trickier: I was thinking I'll be using a game A/V selector to choose which console is displayed through the TV in the cabinet.  The one I was looking at has RCA Audio + Video as well as S-Video.  As I'll be using S-Video, the RCA-Video (yellow plug) will be free, and I could even wire that up as the switch for the ground on the controllers.  That way when I select a particular video input, I automatically get the controllers to match.

The only drama I can forsee there is any pad that needs separate grounds for different inputs.  In that case, I'll fall back to manual plugging.

[Dave_K.]

Got any links to the discussion?

These topics have been discussed in depth over the last 3 years.  You'd have to do a search (narrow down to just "consoles" section).  You could search for molex, switchbox, centronics, and diode, and it should bring up the relavant threads.

In short, a switchbox will work for controls , but you have to include ground in each connector.  And for any normal size panel, you'd have to use some expensive centronics type switchbox and cables (40-50 pins).   Since you are using a TV and AV selector, at least you will have a simple solution for video/sound...most people forget about this in their switchbox plans.