Galaxian

[SithMaster]

Im going to be working on my galaxian cab tommorrow and wanted some advice.  First off the cab is down to the bare wood and is missing quite a bit of parts.  The serial is 29159 i think (the right number is in level42's topic) and it has the orig tmolding (textured stuff).

The theme was going to be either a) Robotech with the three veritech forms on the sideart b) the seeker corps from g1 transformers.  still not sure which is cooler.

I want to use this monitor eizo
and was going to decase it then mount using two oak boards and bolt it on.  im thinking of adding a board under the monitor using metal braces attached from the inside for extra support.  when i measure everything up using the oak boards only gives me about 2 inches width of wood crossing the width of the cab.  hope that makes sense.  basically im worried the wood will be too thin to hold the weight after i cut it to make the curve for the monitor to move into as seen in many monitor mounting pics such as level42's.

Also has anyone had experience using this type of cab for two players (two sticks and 2 buttons each or 3 depending)?  When i stood in front of it there seemed to be enough room if i held my arms a certain way (the same way i did when playing tmnt 4 player) close together.  this is a little different because of the side panels but ill have to make a test cp to be sure.

are there any vert shooters that have marquees that would work with my cab?  i found three i like on ebay a sky shark (looks good but doesnt fit my theme), a steel gunner 2 (love the robot art but the 2 would look odd) and an astro blaster.  does anyone have measurements of these?  otherwise im going to have to go custom.

i count 16 inputs
      2x sticks at 8 inputs total
      2x buttons per player 4 inputs total unless i go to three
      2x coin input total 2
16 is being safe since if i find a game i like with three i can add the buttons but so far i havent found any that i play.  getting a keywiz seems like a waste since i dont need the extra inputs.  aside from the infamous tokn16 i dont think there is anything specific to 16.  so either i get a keywiz or i find a hack i can do from a gamepad.

which leads me to dos or win98.  win98 is being used regardless but i havent tried the boot tutorials here yet and im sure i can get the boots to be quick.  then i can hide the bios boot with a second vid card and use a frontend (already started tinkering with mamewah).  so i guess win 98 it is.    i dont think there is anything less than 20 dollars to use for inputs so i guess ill have to get a keywiz.

is there anything im forgetting?  i really just need insight into the pc monitor weight issue since im incredibly paranoid that moving the cab a little will cause widespread structural failure.  i dont mean moving it across a room since i will remove the monitor for something that drastic but for moving it away from the wall its against to remove the monitor so something like what im describing doesnt happen.  thanks for reading.

[IG-88]

After reading your post I'm not quite sure if I understand how you are mounting your monitor. If you haven't messed with a  21" PC monitor before I can say that mine are fricken heavy! With that being said tho, some guys around here go way overkill on structural support which only makes the entire cab weigh more I believe. I have one, in a half finished cab out in the garage that is setting on a 1"x 2" frame with a 1/2" piece of ply on top. The frame itself is just screwed to the inside of the cab with 1 1/4" sheetrock screws. I've moved it several times and never had a problem with it. Here is a crude pic of what I'm talking about:

[leapinlew]

I have some opinions on this.

1. Do I understand correctly that you plan on having 2 joysticks with 8 buttons each in a Galaxian cab? If so - that will be uncomfortable to use for any amount of time.

2. The keywiz is your best bet. It's inexpensive as long as you get the version that connects best for you.  I prefer the connections with the small turn style screws to hold the wires in place.

3. Make the marquee. Even if it's just a few small graphics and some text you'll be glad you did.

4. Go with Windows over DOS.

5. Consider some admin buttons - such as pause, change emultaor or a dedicated quit button.

[Kaytrim]

i count 16 inputs
      2x sticks at 8 inputs total
      2x buttons per player 4 inputs total unless i go to three
      2x coin input total 2

Lew, I think he is talking about 2 or 3 buttons per player.

SithMaster, I agree with Lew about adding some admin buttons.  I would also suggest that you add a start button for each player not just a credit button.  The KeyWiz will give you the options you are looking for.  I prefer the screw terminals as well.  Though if you are good a soldering iron the eco model would be a good way to go.

Have fun on your build and take plenty of pics.

TTFN
Kaytrim

[leapinlew]

i count 16 inputs
      2x sticks at 8 inputs total
      2x buttons per player 4 inputs total unless i go to three
      2x coin input total 2

Lew, I think he is talking about 2 or 3 buttons per player.

SithMaster, I agree with Lew about adding some admin buttons.  I would also suggest that you add a start button for each player not just a credit button.  The KeyWiz will give you the options you are looking for.  I prefer the screw terminals as well.  Though if you are good a soldering iron the eco model would be a good way to go.

Have fun on your build and take plenty of pics.

TTFN
Kaytrim

Ahh, your right. Thanks. Start buttons! lol, can't believe I missed that.

[SithMaster]

Instead of having dedicated start buttons i was considering using the player's primary fire button to save space.  I wasnt going to have credit buttons but use the coin door switches since i plan on getting a door for it eventually.  actually a pause button should be included and a way to get out of a game.  does anybody know how the neo geo multicart systems left a game to go into another?  ive never played one before but i have seen one play the demos and such would you have to wait for the game you want to play to pop up and then hit start?

yeah if anything ill get the keywiz with the terminals since my skills with soldering are lacking.

ill dig up the before pic i have from when i got the cab and ill try and get some of what ive done so far.

IG-88 that looks like what i was referring to.  since i already have the boards cut and the holes drilled to match up with the bolts ill build something like what you have to hold the monitor up from the bottom.  did you screw it in from the outside?  i was thinking of metal brackets so i would have to drill holes through the side panel.

[IG-88]

IG-88 that looks like what i was referring to.  since i already have the boards cut and the holes drilled to match up with the bolts ill build something like what you have to hold the monitor up from the bottom.  did you screw it in from the outside?  i was thinking of metal brackets so i would have to drill holes through the side panel.

No, it's screwed from the inside. Right thru the 1 x 2's into the inside of the cab. Watch the length of your screws and don't counter-sink them much and you shouldn't have a problem of them poking out the outside. I feel confident that the shear strength of the screws are way more then I'll ever need. You could also add some glue to make yourself feel better tho it's probably not needed.

[SithMaster]

I get it now.    Its just like the original monitor ledges only lower and the monitor rests on it.  That should make things much easier.  I guess i will get the monitor and then some sheetrock screws and a 2x4.  Probably means my mobo has to be moved now but i have to switch it for something better anyway.

[Kaytrim]

does anybody know how the neo geo multicart systems left a game to go into another? 

IIRC the machine allowed you to chose the game after a credit was detected.

[SithMaster]

Today i had 10 minutes so i drilled a hole for my joystick (Competition).  it was bottom mounted and it really looks like none of the shaft is above the cp.  So i was thinking of recessing it by maybe a 1/4".  Oh and the cp is 3/4" thick.

Good news is im getting a 21 inch monitor (20inch viewable) and ive acquired a p4 2.66ghz pc (only 128mb ram but i can always get more).  so the only thing im lacking to get everything working is the encoder which ill get once the woodworking is done and everything is mounted (monitor, cp, and pc).

im a little worried about the sound.  the galaxians only had one speaker but i want to have another for better sound.  the thing getting in the way of this is i dont want to cut out another hole for another speaker.  any ideas?

Ill have to get pics up soon.  still need to get the pics.

[Level42]

Well.....since you're going to convert it anyway, the speaker is in the top, behind the marquee.....it's not very much in sight if you make a hole on the left and a hole on the right and put a grill or maybe even speaker-cloth over it..........

(Yikes, did I just write that, me, mister "Keep it original"


I still love the idea of the speaker being mounted directed to the monitor/bezel. It's suchs a brilliant and simple concept, it's the only way to make it appear that the sound comes directly from the screen.

[SithMaster]

Some good news, i bought a 21inch pc monitor (syncmaster 1100+).  Going to try and mount it tommorrow if i get the chance.

Bad news, the pc i was going to use has only 128 ram and for some reason has 40 something processes running in addition to a virus that keeps trying to connect to the internet.  Ive run adware and spybot and im going to try avg soon after i dl the updates to a folder to install with avg.  And mamewah is grief so im going to find some guides.  but what ive read so far makes me think somethings wrong with my download.

As for the speaker i had wanted to keep it original as well.  Lets see if i have a pic

thats how i got it but at least now i have a door, bulbs replaced with fluoresent screw ins, and im working on the cp.  the mounting it to the bezel is a good idea (id be worried about the magnets if unshielded and the weight) but depending on the size of them (at least 2) it would mean the monitor would have to be smaller or the speakers would.  I was thinking id keep the original hole and just get some cheap pc speakers and use them.  others im going to have to get creative to avoid cutting it up.

[SithMaster]

How do i open a pc monitor?  All i see are two oval tabs(?) on the sides towards the top of the case.  I press them but they only go in a little though i think they are hiding screws holding the case together.  Does anyone know how to open one of the samsung syncmaster 1100+ models.

edit:just got the case opened and now im thinking ill remove the bezel as well.  it has these plastic tabs sticking out that would obstruct the oak boards i will be using to hold the monitor up.  it would also mean i wouldnt have to drill holes for the bolts to go through the bezel as would have been needed.

mounting it will be a huge undertaking.  im worried (constantly) it will either split the wood or one side of the cab will collapse.

edit: ive noticed this before but thought nothing of it, my cab is missing a board of wood that would go behind the coin door to prevent (i assume) people from opening the door and messing with the pcb and monitor.  i was thinking i can add a board that can also support the monitor though it means drilling through the sides to attach it with screws.

i like ig-88's idea but im worried i that  all the weight will just be transfered to the metal cage on the inside.  would that be better than using the bolts?