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Looking for suggestions please
GCS:
--- Quote from: ahofle on October 09, 2006, 03:04:00 pm ---A multisync arcade monitor is probably the best solution (handles original arcade resolutions, while also going up to 800x600 for windows) . They are expensive though.
--- End quote ---
If I go this direction will I then need to switch to an ArcadeVGA card as well??
--- Quote ---Are you using composite output, or s-video? Also, you must be using mame32 to select games if you can't see which game you are selecting. Try out a front end instead. You can also go into your windows settings and use really big fonts/desktop icons to make things a little clearer. If I were you, I'd keep the tv as it is not worth the upgrade unless you were moving to a true arcade monitor.
--- End quote ---
Composite input as thats all this TV has (that an RF/Coax input). Basically no matter what res I run the desktop it sucks. Making fonts bigger just makes things larger. I guess it could just be crappy TV output on the card (radeon 7200 I believe).
Yes I am using MAME32 to select my games. Its easy and the kids have a good understanding of it as well.
Thanks
Greg
GCS:
--- Quote ---Greg -
Do you use it as a computer? I found, once I setup my cabinet and use a decent front end, it works fine. Are you using a front end?
If it does more than just play games, I could see why you would want to make the text more crisp. If it's just an arcade machine, what front end are you using now?
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Never bothered doing anything else with it (would like to but likely to never happen). It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to use a front end. Will it really make that much of a difference even though windows 2000 will be its starting point??
I need make sure it stays simple for the kids. Right now all they do is select the icon for the game they want. They are fine with things as they are but for me it sucks because I need to invest some serious time on this to get all the buttons remapped on several games (mostly 4 player games) and things are so annoyingly fuzzy I can't see to get it done so I basically say the heck with it. This has come to light more lately because every Friday for 2 hours we do family game night (MAME cab, pinball, and board games). It provides us with a lot of fun and some dedicated time with the kids. Its been a big hit at the house for the last 6-8 months but it sucks when doing X-men, TMNT etc we keep resetting the game when all of us are playing.
Thanks again.
Greg
leapinlew:
--- Quote from: GCS on October 09, 2006, 03:25:17 pm ---
--- Quote ---Greg -
Do you use it as a computer? I found, once I setup my cabinet and use a decent front end, it works fine. Are you using a front end?
If it does more than just play games, I could see why you would want to make the text more crisp. If it's just an arcade machine, what front end are you using now?
--- End quote ---
Never bothered doing anything else with it (would like to but likely to never happen). It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to use a front end. Will it really make that much of a difference even though windows 2000 will be its starting point??
I need make sure it stays simple for the kids. Right now all they do is select the icon for the game they want. They are fine with things as they are but for me it sucks because I need to invest some serious time on this to get all the buttons remapped on several games (mostly 4 player games) and things are so annoyingly fuzzy I can't see to get it done so I basically say the heck with it. This has come to light more lately because every Friday for 2 hours we do family game night (MAME cab, pinball, and board games). It provides us with a lot of fun and some dedicated time with the kids. Its been a big hit at the house for the last 6-8 months but it sucks when doing X-men, TMNT etc we keep resetting the game when all of us are playing.
Thanks again.
Greg
--- End quote ---
Ok... now I get it. I think a frontend will solve alot of your problems. I have plenty of kids playing my cab.
All they do on mine is pull the joystick down or up to select a game and hit 1player to start. There are screenshots to show which game your on as well as a large font name that is easy to read on a tv.
Check out Mala. It's easy to setup and once it's setup it really makes the arcade cabinet feel more game like. Out of all the front ends I've looked at - Mala was the easiest to setup.
original_maxlamer:
--- Quote from: GCS on October 09, 2006, 03:25:17 pm ---It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to use a front end. Will it really make that much of a difference even though windows 2000 will be its starting point??
--- End quote ---
Putting the frontend in the "startup" folder of your startmenu will make the frontend launch when windows starts, then you dont need to navigate windows with fuzzy text to get to the frontend.
And if you want to make things easier for yourself doing adjustments/settings, just hide a redundant/cheap computer monitor inside the cab. My keyboard and monitor sit in the base of the cab just behind the coindoor, so its just a case of reaching in to switch on the monitor and grab the keyboard.
torez:
What is the resolution your video card sends to the tv? Did you try 640x480?
I would suggest downloading latest drivers from ATI.
Also, couple of years ago I had ATI All-In-Wonder 8500DV, but my output to 20" monitor was very crappy. My newer ATI card does a great job displaying on tv now. As video cards are getting very cheap now, you can get a decent one from ATI or Nvidia for under $100 that should suit your needs. You could try getting one and if you don't like it, just return the same week for a full refund.
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