Finished Dual Monitor Revamp

[ccarlesco]

I finally finished my main cabinet and I thought I might share a few pictures.

I've built at least 10 different Mame Cabs but I have always sold them and I've been procrastinating on my own cabinet.  My wife doesn't mind my hobby when it makes money but this one I had to sneak the parts in. 

It's based off a PGA Tour Tournament Golf game - The original cabinet had all of the features I've been looking for:
27" Flat Hi-res Monitor
Large Control Panel
Large Overhead Marquee with room for a second monitor

I've incorporated a KVM switch to toggle between the original game and the Mame PC
The overhead monitor switches to the marquee or flyer of the game you are playing

The Control Panel uses mostly Ultimarc hardware
2 Mag Stik Plus
U-hid Interface  (Highly Recommend)
UltraStik Analog
Spintrak Spinner
Stainless Steel Dragon Warrior Joystick handles

The CP has a 3D carbon fiber laminate under Plexiglass - I found that Lexan is easier to cut but it scratches too easily.

An unexpected benefit of UltraStik is that N64, Dreamcast, PS2 and Gamecube games play great do to the analog support!
I was even able to play Street Fighter IV on it using my PS3!

Anyway I really do love this cabinet,  I left it running nonstop for the last week.  My wife is going to kill me when she see's the electric bill...

[mccoy178]

Great looking cabinet!  How did you make the marquee?

[cmoses]

I understand how a KVM works with (2) computers and I realize that your MAME machine and your PGA Tour Golf game are just two computers so switching the keyboard mouse and monitor are easy.  Can you explain how that works with the control panel? 

I understand the control panel parts that go through a keyboard controller easily swapping, but how about a trackball or spinner that are usually USB?

[ccarlesco]

I ordered the Marquee from www.mamemarquee.com  - I found the graphic on the internet and uploaded the file to him.

The KVM part was a little complex.  The kvm switches the USB / Video and audio.  But the PGA PC seems to use a proprietary interface so I routed the original cables to an AB switch and I flip the switch to reroute between the PCs.  The strange thing about the PGA cabinet as it seems to be using keyboard inputs for the buttons if you run the game diags but when you actually play the game the keyboard seems disabled.

[mayhem]

what software u using for the Second monitor ...

[mccoy178]

Thanks for the reply!  I was referring to the round part itself.  Is this an old PGA Golf cabinet?  I couldn't tell from your original post.  If you made it, that was what I was wondering about.

[ccarlesco]

It's actually a newer PGA Tour cabinet they make 2 models This is the high-end one.  I think was built in 2006-2007.

The marquee software is marquee magician - you can find it in the forums over at gameex.  You could also do the same thing using batch files but the magician program is nicer.

[ivwshane]

Looks great!!!

Do you have any plans to put some artwork or something next to the second monitor?

[ccarlesco]

The material on the left and right of the monitor is brushed aluminum so it looks pretty cool as it is.  I was thinking about creating different logos or graphics on transparent vinyl or overlays. 

The marquee monitor and edges are behind a glass window so I could stick the transparent graphics to the glass and change them out.  I will definitely be doing for the main marquee up top.

[Ginsu Victim]

I was attempting something similar here, only there was a problem with the graphics card and the monitor not getting along. http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=90725.0

[mayhem]

ccarlesco yeh im using the same software my self. Need to get it to run vids though wich it doesn't cope with. Written by tempest.

[mccoy178]

Thanks for the explanation!  The cabinet looks great!

[ccarlesco]

You could create a batch file to open a video with irfanview or wait for a new version of marquee magician.