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Freebie damaged Ms Pac Cocktail. What to do now?

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Wade:
I had one that was nearly as bad and I restored it, no big deal and didn't cost much either.  I have about $300 total invested.  I relaminated the whole thing, I'd suggest the same since yours has water damage and will require some repairs.

I'd keep stock sized panels and forget about a trackball.  Besides, MAME doesn't play the trackball games accurately anyway, and a Midway cocktail would look strange with panels large enough to house a trackball (IMO).

http://usergallery.myhomegameroom.com/gallery/MsPacCocktail

Wade

ahofle:

--- Quote from: Wade on April 14, 2007, 12:48:18 am ---Besides, MAME doesn't play the trackball games accurately anyway,
--- End quote ---

It doesn't?  ???

Wade:

--- Quote from: ahofle on April 14, 2007, 01:44:24 am ---
--- Quote from: Wade on April 14, 2007, 12:48:18 am ---Besides, MAME doesn't play the trackball games accurately anyway,
--- End quote ---

It doesn't?  ???

--- End quote ---

No, there is a delay from the trackball inputs to the game, on every MAME version I've tried (from .36 up to 1.x).  It isn't that noticable if you haven't played the games in ages or have nothing to compare to.  Side-by-side Missile Command, Centipede, etc. there is a huge lag in the inputs in the MAME setup.

Before someone asks, it isn't something specific to my setup - it's easy to verify this problem by launching MAME with a mouse and observing the lag.

Wade

Crowquill:
I think the wider trackball/spinner panel can work. It's an interesting design challenge. I'd originally planned on just widening the original control panel but realized that most of the space that your hands go in to play the game is created by the cut-out in the top edge. So I'm probably going to have to lower the widened CPs by that 1-inch. While it may look a little strange when directly compared to other Midway cocktails, I don't think it'll look bad at all. Since this is going to be my vertical MAME cab I want to be able to use the trackball for Centipede/Millipede. Player 2 side will have a spinner for playing Tempest, Arkanoid, etc. Basically it'll be laid out like this:

 O  ooo ( )

Joy-Buttons-TB/Spinner

In a related note, I've decided the bottom corner is just too trashed to try and save. Since this thing's made of plywood instead of particle board, the water damage doesn't really extend up that far on the cabinet. I can cut off about 2" to get into the good wood and laminate. I'll then build a base that raises it about 2.5". That way the CP is only .5" lower than usual and the table-top is only .5" taller than usual. The base will be built very similar to the Pac-man cocktail. It'll actually be almost identical to Kyle Lindstrom's Pac-Man plans since the corners were changed in it to be like the Ms Pac contruction.

I spent a bit of time stripping down the cabinet last night. Anybody need a Ms. Pac power supply and harness?

Wade:
Sounds like you have a real good idea about what you want, and have a good plan to execute it (along with the cabinet repairs).  Should be a neat build up!

FWIW, the input delays aren't just with the trackballs, they were with anything that uses a spinner.  If you have any concerns about this at all, you might want to load up your target games and play them a bit and see if you notice or mind the lag.  If it doesn't bother you, then you're in good shape.  It has always annoyed me, but I don't know if it'd cause me to omit a trackball or spinner from a future project.

Wade

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