The ultimate Board Based Arcade Game?

[Shredder1]

Here's the thing..

I don't like Mame much, becuase it dosn't really capture the quality of the original game... so, here's what I'd like to do.
Build a four player cabinet downstairs for the enclosed porch.   I want it to be able to play Jamma, and Non Jamma games...  Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, Simpsons, Popeye, Pacman, Mortal Kombat.  Is this something easy to setup?

Also, I'd like to build a racing cabinet, most probably one player, but maybe two if I save up enough.  Again, I'd like to go board based.   Any tips on this one is appreciated..

Finally, I'm going to need an easy way to connect multiple boards( probably ten per cabinet), and switch between them..)

These are going to come in great when we have the occasional familly party.

Thanks!

[DaveMMR]

I'm probably a little out of line here, but if you don't like Mame because it "doesn't really capture the quality of the original game", I don't see how'll you be satisfied with a cabinet that could, theoretically, play a TMNJ board then Star Wars, then Simpsons, then Popeye, etc.   I say that because something like you sugested will completely destroy the quality of the original game - especially since most of these games had different controls and monitors (vector for SW).   Right there, there's some comprimise - more than if you just used built a Mame cab and implemented some swappable/modular/frankenpanel solution for controls.  That's the way I see it.

Perhaps you should look into buying many individual dedicated cabs.  Just clear out some space.

Good luck. 

 

[Shredder1]

I'm not concerned about the Controls switching, but more the hardware the cabinet will run on.  It's the mame software that I don't like.  I'd rather have the original boards .  I don't mind if the cabinet isn't as excat as it should be, because space is limited here .

[DaveMMR]

This may not be what you're looking for but it's a start:
http://www.arcadeshop.com/multi-pcb/multi-pcb.htm.

I hear what you're saying, by the way.  Having a dedicated game board over an off-the-shelf computer motherboard with Windows hiding in the backround has that certain je nais se quois.  I was under the impression you were talking "all around package" (controls/monitor/cabinet/space rank lights). 

[johnperkins21]

Well, technically you need to own those boards to play them on MAME anyway. So, if you want to play them, you have to buy the boards. Good luck in your quest, as I would like to see this work for you so that I can have hope for the System 2 games that I so desperately want to play.

[KDOG]

This is more of what  you are looking for
http://www.multigame.com/jamma.html

[Shredder1]

Ahh, the Multi Jamma Board is what I'm looking for!

now... a few questions.

Where can I go to learn about non Jamma Boards?  I'm not even sure what they are called, term wise. 

Can I run these games on a regular TV Monitor?  I'm going to save up and buy a 23" HDTV LCD and stick it in there to further make it more compact . I remember Star Wars needing a specialized monitor, so if it won't work on that, maybe I need a multi Jamma PCB with Star Wars on it...

Thanks!

[arcadefever]

i just one add something,

i start with MAME , and i've to say THANKS to that program and the all team behind it , and thanks to the guys on that forum.

i start with a   mame cab first , but later i decide to collect original games/board , BUT if you dont like MAME that much, it doesnt make any sense to have a multi jamma baord runing with a tv   

if you want the perfect stuff, then get the perfect stuff.

buy a dedicated jamma cab with a real arcade monitor, then get some other jamma pcb
and just plug them inside.

you can also add the multi jamma from clay. (and run multi jamma boards)

but starting  with MAME is the best solution ... IMO 

[somunny]

I don't like Mame much, becuase it dosn't really capture the quality of the original game...

+

Can I run these games on a regular TV Monitor?  I'm going to save up and buy a 23" HDTV LCD and stick it in there to further make it more compact

= Huh?

If you're looking to preserve the original quality of the game, TV's and LCD's aren't exactly the way to go.  I used a 27" computer monitor in my cab but I don't give a hang about the original quality - I just want to play! 

Steve

[DaveMMR]

Just see if you can buy yourself a cheap Jamma cabinet ... perhaps an old SFII that you can buy for a song.  Then you can stick in your multi-Jamma and be done with it, plus have an actual arcade monitor too (assuming your purchase came with one. (sidetrack: I wonder if you can use that multi-game PCB in the multi-Jamma slot for a cabinet that'll play a ridiculous amount of games - without mame!).

Star Wars is a Vector monitor game and, AFAIK, not Jamma.  Even if it was, it's a vector game so "that's it and that's all". 

Illegalities aside, if you're going the TV route (which is fine), I would just stick with Mame.  A television won't do any justice to the "quality" of the original PCBs.

 

[CheffoJeffo]

Your short list of games includes both raster and vector monitors with both vertical and horizontal orientations, analog yokes, four-way sticks, eight-way sticks. It's the dogs breakfast and not practical for a single cabinet.

You COULD get an RGB convertor from Jrok and connect real arcade boards to a TV (except for the Star Wars, where you are SOL without a vector monitor), but you can run into overscan problems (where you only see part of the picture).

You can make/buy JAMMA adapters for lots of non-JAMMA boards:

http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm#JAMMA

I love my Multi-Jamma and recommend them highly, but it won't do monitor rotation and mixing controls beyond the standard JAMMA can be a problem.

Also, real boardsets can be finicky and a pain to trouble-shoot when they go bad (the sound board in my Joust is just driving me crazy .. I miss my 'flap-flap').

I have to agree with arcadefever -- start with MAME (I did) and then build from there.

Or, as DaveMMR says, get a vanilla JAMMA cab and pick up a few boards (which is what I did next).

Just don't try to do everything in one "real" cabinet, because it just won't work and you won't be happy.

Cheers.

[Shredder1]

Hmm..

I guess I could go one Jamma, one vector/classic, and one driving game cab. I'll have to research the different options and see what would be the easiest to put together.  I had a real arcade monitor once in my current cab.  Needless to say, when  I moved out around, I wasn't careful with it, bent the neck, and it never worked again.  That's why I'm hoping to get an easy to store Flat Panel t his time around. 

I actually do have a JROK converter.  Sitting and hooked up in my current cab right now.  Have they upgraded it for HDTV use? 

[arcadefever]

i think that cheffojeffo give you the best answer...

for the vector cabs, they're a pain  my tempest as always give me problems and the vector monitor is really hard to found and cost mucho $$$$$

[TOK]

Can you elaborate on the Vector/Classic thing? Are you thinking you're going to be able to run old raster, plus B/W and color vector games in one machine? The monitors are completely different, and running vector games on a non vector monitor is easily as huge a compromise as running MAME vs. actual hardware.
Vector machines are also notoriously finicky, and just doing a multi-vector game using dedicated harware won't be easy. You should just decide on the one vector game you want and get it. Honestly, you sound like you'd be 100 times better served by MAME, since much of what you're saying doesn't really make sense.

If you still feel the need to have a dedicated machine, get a horizontal JAMMA. That'll play the newer fighting and 4 player games.

[CheffoJeffo]

Vector machines are also notoriously finicky, and just doing a multi-vector game using dedicated harware won't be easy.

Unless all you want is a SW/ESB or a Tempes/Vortex/Aliens or a Sega Vector MultiGame.

Mixing and matching beyond that would be hard.

Man would I love to put that Sega Vector Multi in a Star Trek cockpit ...

Cheers.