Mamewah - best layout sizes for arcade monitor?

[Fuzzguitar]

Hi all,

Just starting on my second cab, this time with a real arcade monitor - from the early 90's so probably standard resolution I believe.

My question is what's the best size to make my Mamewah layouts?

My arcade pc's desktop is curently at 640x288 which I gather is the res to use.

I can't use the layouts from my last cab (they were 1024x768 for a pc monitor) as much of the display is cut off entirely... which would make sense I know. Though I didn't have time to make any up just for testing purposes today.

Should I make all future layouts in 640x288?

Or would it be smarter to make them smaller still and then physically increase the size of the monitors width and height adjustments so that my games come closer to taking up the entire screen (well, horizontal ones of course).

I notice Mamewah has a "classic" layout at 368x240 for example, could that do the trick?

Hopefully I'll get more time to experiment soon.

[Brad]

I actually use 640x480 on my 19" arcade monitor with no problems. I'm sure it's not the recommeded way but it works for me. I'm getting ready to mame my 26" cab and I was going to use 1024x768?

Brad

[Fuzzguitar]

I wouldn't use that size, sounds like you'd run into the problems I had.

Arcade monitors, I'm referring to older ones without PC support (like most floating around in old machines) just can't display that size resolution.

I'm pretty sure that most people here that buy the fancy new WG monitors only ever go up to 800x600 too.

I think now there's one brand I heard mentioned here starting with "B" that may go that high but to me I can't see the point, the higher you go the further your menus/frontend will look from your games.

So I've decided that I'm going actually lower, not higher in res than you for my layouts - just wanting to know some sizes others use that work well on original standard resolution arcade monitors?

Again, I'm using Mamewah and the AVGA. The reason I keep asking is my cabinet is in storage and I can't try different settings out myself until next week, I do have all week to make a layout though

[Brad]

See the AVGA handles all of that for you. I also use the AVGA without problems using those resolutions. It's just not really very pure. My arcade monitor is an old 15khz variety too. 640x480 is a nice size on my 19" monitor but I think my 26" monitor would benefit with a resolutuon of 1024x768? I'm wondering how this looks.

Cheers

brad

[youki]

On a 15khz screen, if you don't want see flickering you must use a resolution with a maximum height of 288 rows.

Then you have to choose the resolution you prefer for your layout.

Personnaly , i use 640x288 on my ArcadeVGA.

[Fuzzguitar]

Cheers Youki,

Good advice by the sounds of it.

I'll start making my layouts for Mamewah in that size, even though it feels weird, like a widescreen format, I thought going lower would be the answer - just means I can't fit in as many fancy detailed graphics.

BTW what avatar do you have, to me it looks like Gatchaman, though not the 70's version - is it Gatchaman Fighter (a sequel series) or maybe even the 1990's OAV's?

I think I'll have to check out your FE now too

[youki]

Hi,

Of course when you are designing your 640x288 layout  on a PC screen in another resolution like 1024x768 ,it looks like widescreen format.  But when you use the layout in 640x288 you don't really have this impression.

640x288, is a good choice if you want make layout with a list on a side and an snap on the other.

Because most of the game (at least old game)  don't have a resolution that exceed about 320x256 , so if you use a 640x288 layout , you could dedicate the half of your screen to the snap or the video and the other to the list. This way the Video or snap will not be streched. Visual quality will be better.

If you chose a resolution like 368x240  , your "snap" zone will be obviouly lot of smaller than the game original resolution and you will loose detail.

BTW what avatar do you have, to me it looks like Gatchaman, though not the 70's version - is it Gatchaman Fighter (a sequel series) or maybe even the 1990's OAV's?

My Avatar is "Actarus, prince of Euphore"  the pilot of Goldorak robot . (That 's french names) , i don't know his name in other country, but it is the pilot of "Grandizer"  , or "Grendizer" .    He appear's in the 3rd part of the Mazinger trilogy.  It has been extremly popular in France at the end of 70's .

[Minwah]

I notice Mamewah has a "classic" layout at 368x240 for example, could that do the trick?

That is the mode I use...I don't like 640x288 as it looks stretched and also 368x240 just looks more like a real arcade game mode (because it is!).

It's all down to personal choice really, try some modes and see what you like best...

[Fuzzguitar]

Ahh cheers again to you both - great to see while I've been gone people have remained as friendly as ever around here.

Youki I've never seen Mazinger in any form but I do like my anime (currently watching Genesis Climber Mospeada) and will hopefully get to check it out. Without doing a google I'd say just from the style it looks like Tatsunoko productions made it to me. They also produced Speed Racer & Gatchaman (dubbed as Battle Of The Planets in other countries).

Minwah, I'm somewhat of a purist too so I thank you for the suggestion and will try your mode out also.

Is your desktop also at 368x240?

Sorry to ask pretty simple things I could check myself but again, my cabinets are in storage and not handy right now.

[Fuzzguitar]

BTW Minwah ignore the desktop res question, I saw in another older post you have it set to 640x480 for the extra real estate.

Gotta love the search function on this forum - it actually works unlike so many other forums I visit.