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Help a beginner start his setup
leapinlew:
The Xbox is a decent solution really.
Depends on a few things:
1. The kind of games you want to play
If your just wanting classics, don't want to play too many demanding games and only want to play joystick games - you'd probably be content with an xbox.
2. 1st gen xbox's can be had for a decent price.
3. Ease of setup - if your already familiar with how to setup the xbox. It's probably easier/quicker to do than messing around with a computer.
As for building your own cab or buying a pre-built one. Your call - the UAII seems like a solid unit and you'd probably be happy with it. My first cabinet was a refurb of a Nintendo cabinet. The cabinet itself was free, and I had to work within the constraints of that particular cabinet. I ended up buying quite a few tools. Total cost for my 1st cabinet was probably around 1k. So, I don't think the UAII units are that bad of a deal.
The controls.... ask 100 people - get 100 opinions. Check out the Ultimarc 360's if you go with a computer - it has the ability to map on the fly. It acts like a 4 way when it needs to and an 8 way when needed. Good stuff.
project86:
Here's a rough list I came up with by browsing some of the vendors here as well as some other places. All prices are rough and usually rounded up a bit to account for tax, shipping, and small items I might be forgetting. Better to think too high than too low while planning...
UAII cab: $600
ArcadeVGA video card: $100
Keywiz Max: $40
Wiring Kit: $20
Ultimarc Estick X3 (standard 2 player config plus another 1 kept in 4way mode): $50
Happ Buttons X30: $40
SlikStik Fighter Stick blank: $150
decent PC speakers: $50
That brings the total to just over by budget of $1000. All I'd need then is the PC, which I could build for under $200. Am I missing anything or making any bad choices?
CheffoJeffo:
--- Quote from: project86 on January 20, 2007, 05:03:11 pm ---1) What cab would be the best way to go, keeping in mind I can't build my own?
a) UAII pre-built kit for $585 shipped. I'd just have to screw it together, which I can handle.
b) Locate a local seller who will sell me a cheap used cab, price=unknown. This could be good if it came with a useable monitor.
c) Find someone around here to build it for me, price=unknown.
--- End quote ---
While it depends HEAVILY on what you want to play on your machine (which you really need to answer first), I will almost always say B from a cost/benefit perspective.
--- Quote from: project86 on January 20, 2007, 05:03:11 pm ---2) What to use for the "guts" of the system?
a) Just use a PC, which I can easily build.
b) Use a modded Xbox. I know this works, but not sure how well.
c) Use one of those multicart Jamma boards. If it has hundreds of good games, and easily plugs in to a used cab, then that would simplify things. Again, I don't know the story about how well these work.
--- End quote ---
Any of those are reasonable options ... if you choose C, then definitely go with B above (just make sure the cab is wired JAMMA)
--- Quote from: project86 on January 20, 2007, 05:03:11 pm ---3) Controls. So many options!
a) HotRod stick for $100
b) Xarcade stick, not sure which one would be best
c) Slikstik: several options, but the only one in my price range is the fighter at $279. The other option is to get one of their blanks and add my own buttons/etc. This would still be expensive.
d) have someone around here make it for me. price=unknown
--- End quote ---
I would say neither of A or B. But it really depends on what controls you want, what games you want to play, and how you end up answering the previous two questions.
You REALLY need to decide what you want to play and have a look at the controls involved, monitor orientation, etc. Remember that vector games will not look as good on a normal raster arcade monitor (so you may want to use an SVGA montor) Do not feel that you need to support 1000s of games ... pick what you want (this will be key when it comes to controlling price)
As far as costs go, my first MAME box ran about $450 total ($150 for working cabinet, $150 for ArcadeVGA and IPac, $75 for joysticks and buttons and $75 for misc wiring, paint, etc.).
Cheers
project86:
I'm sorry I didn't give enough info about what I wanted. I'd like a horizontal monitor. I'm not too concerned with the very very old games. I was born in 1980, so the prime of my gaming days was around 1989-1995ish. Lots of NeoGeo, Street Fighter types is what I played mostly. I do have an appreciation for the older games as well, but not enough to buy a $100+ track ball (for example).
CheffoJeffo:
Your choice of controls is appropriate then. If you are going to use your TV, then you don't need the ArcadeVGA and can save yourself some $$$.
With that configuration, I would have a look for a cabinet locally ... around here, I would expect to get a suitable cabinet, with monitor (in which case you would need the ArcadeVGA), for less than $150. (In fact, you may just want to buy a NeoGeo ... they go for $150-300 here with 25" monitor and my NG gets more play than any of my MAME cabs).
Having said that, I don't see a problem with buying the cab kit ... it is a reasonable solution.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Cheers.
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