Bartop project - "Irish Luck"

[Jouster]

Start of new page...so I'm moving my punch list to here.

Recent activity: [Updated 7/30]

• Removed old / nonworking PC
• Acquired new PC
• Installed Tiny XP - Beast Edition
• Reconfigured start-up for PC (/noguiboot switch right now)
• Removed GP-Wiz and reinstalled Key-Wiz (this is because the PC I got keeps throwing keyboard errors if it doesn't detect one & I've found no way to bypass them.)
• Rewired the CP and other buttons...removed non-ground soldered wires for quick disconnect capped wires
• Switched 19" monitor for 17" monitor installed vertically
• Made Mala layout
• Make smart power strip
• Install monitor plexi & bezel art
• Troubleshoot MAME config

Still to do:

• Rig up new power switch
• Umm...design bezel art (maybe not...we'll see)
• How could I forget playtesting???

I've spent the whole weekend working on the cab...mostly trying to get the new PC setup and then installed into the cab.  The PC is a small form factor(SFF)...the only things vertical on the board is the CPU fan and heat sink, RAM, and a PCI riser that I can't boot without.  This is nice in the fact that it is fairly low profile...on-board video, LAN, USB, PS/2 & audio.  However, this SFF has a couple of issues...the PCI riser needing to be installed is one of the major ones...and the other is that the power button is a tiny little button on the motherboard...no wires or jumpers to extend it.  So I'll need to either desolder the button or find the power points and solder some wires on to the mobo.

I also spent some time rewiring everything.  With the new SFF board...I needed to rearrange some stuff in the cab.  I had a decent wiring job done already...but it was better looking than it was functional...the wire I used was solid core...and therefore not very flexible.  It didn't fit in the little space I had for everything there (Key-Wiz, button bottoms, U360 bottom, USB cable.  By rewiring, I saved a decent amount of space and also gained the flexibility of using smaller, stranded wire.  However, I need to finish checking all the connections on the Key-Wiz...some buttons are not making a good connection all the time.  I'm using the end of an IDE cable...I'll add some pics later...for the Key-Wiz connections.

I spent lots of time this weekend on artwork.  I put together a MaLa layout for the now vertical system.  It isn't anything original...I saw some others that I liked, and tried to duplicate some of those aspects into something that ties into the theme.



I still need to put some more directions in the lower left corner...to tell the user how to navigate.  I'd hate to be disturbed if I'm in the other room drinking a beer...and have to walk over to show some idiot how to go from game to game or list to list.

I'm sure at least someone is wondering why in the world I would go with a smaller monitor...and normally I'd be right there with you...but there were actually three reasons.  1. Most of the games that I have installed are vertical games...doesn't make much since to have the majority of games have to be shrunk...does it?  2. The 19" monitor didn't leave much of any room for instructions on the sides.  The 17" leaves nearly 3" down both sides.  3. I decided to use the front panel of the monitor as the black bezel...both the casing and panel of the 17" are slimmer than the 19".  I thought I had measured correctly to put in the monitor glass/plexi, but apparently not.  I can't put any plexi in front of the 19"...unacceptable.

I have recently run into an issue...this only just happened too btw.  I had the machine running fine and was able to play a few games of Pac-Man and Mrs. Pac-Man with just the joystick plugged in.  Then I installed the Key-Wiz and the new layout...I had problems with some of my button connections...but was able to play...then I rebooted or something...don't recall exactly what was done between it working and not...but then I couldn't use the joystick.  I started going through MAME config options through MaLa...but now I can't get any games to run...I get the starting screen...the ROM boot screen...then back to MaLa.  And now I can't even back to the joystick not working.

So, I'm calling it quits for tonight...figured I'd be better served by posting this than getting pissed at the cab.

Jouster

[Jouster]

Well, more progress made this weekend:

I started on a new power solution.  The old solution was a simple power strip with the on/off button extended.  This worked because I had an AT system before.  The new system is not, and didn't leave the old solution as viable.  I bought the 12V relay that has been mentioned on here in the "one button" threads...and spent WAY longer than should have been necessary to get it fitted into the strip.  Not having a Dremel really made it take much longer!  I had to mark and then use a knife to cut the plastic pieces...then use some pliers to remove them.  After finally getting the inside hollowed out enough, I had a devil of a time getting the wires to solder onto the copper strips.  It was such a pain that I even tried using quick disconnects (they fit onto the strips perfectly.)  However, the wire I was using did not want to bend enough...so after getting everything soldered and/or connected...I had to undo it.  I found some slightly smaller wire laying around and used that instead.  It worked much better and I was able to get the hacked strip back together and sealed up.  I tested it and it is working.

I also had an extra push button (I originally thought I'd use 4 player buttons, but dropped to 3) I had drilled a hole in the back to let the power strip's cord come out...it was the same sized hole needed for a button...so I installed the button and wired it up to the motherboard's power button.  A single button press now turns on the computer which then turns on the speakers and monitor.  (My marquee LEDs are feed from my Key-Wiz.)  I also had a small rectangular hole for the power strip's switch.  I decided to use the power plug off of the power supply for the computer that died on me.  Then I used my router and made the hole big enough to hold the outlet.  I still need to hack the end off of the strip's plug and wire it to the outlet.  The cab has a nice cleaner look to it now with a detachable power cable and a nice green push button on the back.

One other thing I did was I picked up some black poster paper at Wal-mart and cut my bezel.  Nothing fancy right now, just needed to finish the look for the front.

I'd post some pics...but my camera doesn't appear to be working...not sure if it a battery thing or not...

Jouster

[xmenxmen]

I am really starting to think the "Irish Luck" thing is not quite there with you.... 

[Jouster]

I am really starting to think the "Irish Luck" thing is not quite there with you.... 

Why do ya think we drink so much??

Jouster

[Chris G]

Just caught up with your project thread.  Believe it or not, you've actually made much faster progress than I have, particularly on the art.  Great job so far and git 'er done!

 
Chris

[Jouster]

I took Irish Luck with me to a friend's house last Friday...this is a buddy of mine that I've known since 2nd grade.  He had been living in Ohio the last four or so years doing his residency.  He moved back to Florida a little over a week and a half ago.  It was a small group, only 6 others...but I was able to get some real world testing on it.

I learned something...most people would rather ask how to do something than look it over and figure it out for themselves.  I will definitely need to put some instructions on the monitor glass.  The directions I have on my MaLa screen helped...but people still kept asking how to start (plus I had to explain that they still needed to coin up first).

Anyway...it was kinda funny that the wives seemed to be more interested in it at first.  And everyone had that one game that they played...Q-bert, Frogger, Joust II...not the ones I would have thought would be most played...but whatever.

The setup seemed to handle the punishment well...so I'm pleased with that.  However, I didn't have it set to save high scores like I thought I did.  Forgot to move the hiscores.dat file into the MAME folder apparently.

My buddy will be having another party this weekend...I'm planning on taking IL again...with highscores saving now...and more people planning to be there...it should be some more good exposure.

Jouster

[Kaytrim]

That is an interesting idea.  Taking your bartop to a party.  I tend to think that the party would be where the bartop is.  I guess it works, mountain, Mohammad and all.  I am glad to hear that you are getting the bugs worked out.

TTFN