Ms Pac Man Cocktail 4 player Xbox conversion.

[TonyDanza]

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Preamble:
I've been wanting to do this project for years. Recently i had a Ms Pacman cocktail all but fall into my lap, i couldnt turn it down. I'm a very DIY kinda guy and I didnt want to buy a premade Xpad (or whatever you kids use these days ). A while back a friend of mine and I soldered a NES controller to an xbox controller by soldering from the NES chip legs right onto the pads of the xbox controller... simple and effective. I can apply the same concept to an arcade system, the xbox is a cheap, compact, fast booting all in one system, IMHO better than a PC. Another goal of mine was to preserve the working coinslot --simple-- i'd wire the BACK button on the xbox (already used for coins in MAME/KAWA for xbox) to the coinslot. I've just aquired a 19" 4:3 LCDTV w/ component in, i'll be ripping this down to the raw LCD and mounting it in the cabinet to give it a modern feel as well clear out a TON of space inside the cabinet.


ISSUES:
-----This section will be updated as issues arise and get solved.-----
but wait, how will you wire the analog triggers to buttons?
Simple. There's three points moving in a vertical line. Upper being one, center being two, bottom being three, on both Trigger points. Connect the bottom two points on either side and it registers a full depression of the trigger.

But wait... 4 player pacman cabinet?
Hell yes, i'm going to add on a sidepanel with 2 more control sets. The 2 side controls will be player 1 & 2 and the ends (original positions will be 3 & 4)



SHOPPING LIST
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The Playdium Store (Toronto, ON)

Happ Competition 8-way Joystick (black) x4 = $60
Happ pushbutton w/horizontal microswitch x24 (A/B/X/Y/L/R) = $48
1,2,3,4 player pushbutton with horizontal microswitch x4 =$10
Total = $118+tx = $133.34

Pics
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The day i got it.


TV that i'm gutting/mounting


Diagram of tabletop, top down

[FrizzleFried]

That is a nice looking Ms. Pac cocktail.  It's a shame you're going to destroy it.   

You also do know that LCD's absolutely suck in a cocktail setting as the image gets dimmer the further off center you sit and unless you plan on standing over the cab looking directly down at it you're going to experience a much dimmer image...right?

To test how bad it will be,  turn on the tv,  lay it down and sit at the appox. angle  you'll be at while sitting at the cocktail.  I've found that LCD's are worse from top to bottom than from side to side for whatever reason.  Some LCD's are better than others.

[SirPeale]

That is a nice looking Ms. Pac cocktail.  It's a shame you're going to destroy it.   

+1000000.  Don't destroy that cocktail!

[Franco B]

I've gotta echo Frizz and SirPeale. It does look to be in lovely condition. I would imagine you would be able to find someone willing to trade another table and some $$$ for yours.

When you do find a table to mame (Hopefully not that one ) I would check out your monitor as Frizz suggested. The viewing angles on some LCDs, especially older ones, are awful and that appears to be a fairly old LCD.

I would put the LCD on a table etc at the same height of a cocktail and check out the viewing angles from all four sides before you decide to use it.

[FrizzleFried]

...plus if you're going to use an LCD,  why not use a PC compatible VGA/DVI LCD instead of a TV?   You'll get much better control of the image on screen and it'll cost you less money to actually hook it up.

That said... it would be a real shame if you destroyed that cocktail.  At least find a gutted one or one already JAMMAtized.  Everytime someone destroys a dedicated arcade cab,  a kitten is killed.  Please don't kill a kitten.... please.   

[TonyDanza]

Wow, this was certainly not the response i was expecting..... Either way, the cabinet was basically free, my plan for years was to build a cabinet but this was considerably cheaper. I kind of feel like i'm committing a cardinal sin on this board in my first post!

If it appeases anyone (space considering) i'll be keeping the original board in there and wiring the what i assume to be S-video?? (correct me if i'm wrong) into the LCDTV as a second input and preserving the working Ms Pac Man. However i will be removing the tube (and keeping it stored in working order).

If anyone has a broken Ms Pacman motherboard or tube and is in Southern Ontario/Northern NY/Michigan I'm located in Toronto and would be willing to sell it to you to fix your broken cabinet.

[TonyDanza]

You also do know that LCD's absolutely suck in a cocktail setting as the image gets dimmer the further off center you sit and unless you plan on standing over the cab looking directly down at it you're going to experience a much dimmer image...right?

Newer LCDs have a very broad viewing angle. If it becomes a problem i might have to tilt the screen slightly forward to compensate. Thanks for pointing that out though, i didnt think of that.

[TonyDanza]

...plus if you're going to use an LCD,  why not use a PC compatible VGA/DVI LCD instead of a TV?   You'll get much better control of the image on screen and it'll cost you less money to actually hook it up.

I thought of that. a 19" used LCD on craigslist is 70-90$ and i'm grabbing that LCDTV on saturday for 90. Another reason i didnt use a standard computer LCD is they dont have component/Svideo/Composite thats needed to hookup and xbox and convertor boxes are 60-100$.

[FrizzleFried]

Wow, this was certainly not the response i was expecting..... Either way, the cabinet was basically free, my plan for years was to build a cabinet but this was considerably cheaper. I kind of feel like i'm committing a cardinal sin on this board in my first post!

If it appeases anyone (space considering) i'll be keeping the original board in there and wiring the what i assume to be S-video?? (correct me if i'm wrong) into the LCDTV as a second input and preserving the working Ms Pac Man. However i will be removing the tube (and keeping it stored in working order).

If anyone has a broken Ms Pacman motherboard or tube and is in Southern Ontario/Northern NY/Michigan I'm located in Toronto and would be willing to sell it to you to fix your broken cabinet.

You are destroying a classic arcade machine... exactly what MAME is NOT about.   MAME is about preservation,  not destruction.  Please... reconsider... how much you got the cab for is irrelevant... it's a classic arcade machine.  Build your own or find an already destroyed (gutted) cabinet.  As mentioned above,  there are folks who would trade a gutted cab + cash for that machine.

And yes,  what you're suggesting to do IS a cardinal sin on this forum.  


PS: You're not going to be able to wire up the original PCB to a regular TV without some modification... but again... PLEASE reconsider...

[FrizzleFried]

You also do know that LCD's absolutely suck in a cocktail setting as the image gets dimmer the further off center you sit and unless you plan on standing over the cab looking directly down at it you're going to experience a much dimmer image...right?

Newer LCDs have a very broad viewing angle. If it becomes a problem i might have to tilt the screen slightly forward to compensate. Thanks for pointing that out though, i didnt think of that.

That would sure look funny when sitting on each "end" of the cab though,  no?  And if you're looking for just a horizontal machine,  why not get an upright (gutted) instead of a cocktail?

[TonyDanza]

That would sure look funny when sitting on each "end" of the cab though,  no?  And if you're looking for just a horizontal machine,  why not get an upright (gutted) instead of a cocktail?

I live in a townhouse in Toronto, not enough room for a upright cabi. The cocktail barely fits as it is. Well i really appreciate your input and i'll start trolling Craigslist for a trade. Again, if anyone near southern ontario is interested its now for sale/trade. Whats a Ms Pacman cocktail worth in working condition? I'm sure that i could sell it and the money could buy me a cabinet and all the guts to throw in it.

[FrizzleFried]

That would sure look funny when sitting on each "end" of the cab though,  no?  And if you're looking for just a horizontal machine,  why not get an upright (gutted) instead of a cocktail?

I live in a townhouse in Toronto, not enough room for a upright cabi. The cocktail barely fits as it is. Well i really appreciate your input and i'll start trolling Craigslist for a trade. Again, if anyone near southern ontario is interested its now for sale/trade. Whats a Ms Pacman cocktail worth in working condition? I'm sure that i could sell it and the money could buy me a cabinet and all the guts to throw in it.

Uprights take less space than cocktails.   Think about it.  A cocktail needs space on each end... and upright?  Nope... you only need 24-25" total space width wise. 

I am very happy you're reconsidering...as will be most that frequent this website.  Be sure to check out KLOV.COM and their forums...there are a number of folks from Ontario there ...perhaps someone has a can they'd trade with you?

[OverRide]

Make sure you do your home work and spend lots of time searching these boards and asking questions.  To me it sounds like you are rushing into this and it could end up a half destroyed ms pac half finished mame cab. I don't mean to insult you, but the end product might leave you disappointed.
Make sure you have thought through all your options is all.

Ms. Pacman put that lipstick on for you you know.

[OverRide]

Good call!!

I am from Ontario. Would love the cab, but not in the budget.

Get an account at cgcc.ca and post some pics in the coin-op board and wait for the offers to come in.

[TonyDanza]

Make sure you do your home work and spend lots of time searching these boards and asking questions.  To me it sounds like you are rushing into this and it could end up a half destroyed ms pac half finished mame cab. I don't mean to insult you, but the end product might leave you disappointed.
Make sure you have thought through all your options is all.

Ms. Pacman put that lipstick on for you you know.

Thanks, I've been collaborating on google wave and IRC with several people with strong electronics backgrounds and lots of modders. If you have google wave PM me your address and you can see my whole effort. I'll be editing my original post (as time allows, im at work) to reflect what i have on google wave.

The last thing i want to do is rush this project. I've stressed that it'll be done when its done and i want to do it right.

Its not an insult at all. I've been trolling this forum for a while and finally signed up for an account, i've seen some incredible projects on this board which is why i've come here for your collective advise, positive or negative its all taken into consideration.

[TonyDanza]

Good call!!

I am from Ontario. Would love the cab, but not in the budget.

Get an account at cgcc.ca and post some pics in the coin-op board and wait for the offers to come in.

Thanks! just registered a moment ago... What do you figure its worth? its in 100% working order with the exception of the coin lights and the lights behind the joysticks.

[OverRide]

Good call!!

I am from Ontario. Would love the cab, but not in the budget.

Get an account at cgcc.ca and post some pics in the coin-op board and wait for the offers to come in.

Thanks! just registered a moment ago... What do you figure its worth? its in 100% working order with the exception of the coin lights and the lights behind the joysticks.

I have no idea. I think it is worth a good chunk of change.
The people on the board are great. Ask them and you will get a legit answer along with offers.

[FrizzleFried]

Worth depends a lot on location.  Here?  $350-$500 for a nice Ms. Pac depending on who you talk to.   That said,  I've seen `em go for $800 or so in other markets.  A lot depends on how many people are in your area.

[emphatic]

Well i really appreciate your input and i'll start trolling Craigslist for a trade.

 

You won't regret this. I know when I was kinda fresh into this hobby, and looking back now I'm so happy I've never done anything bad to any classic machines.

[TonyDanza]

Worth depends a lot on location.  Here?  $350-$500 for a nice Ms. Pac depending on who you talk to.   That said,  I've seen `em go for $800 or so in other markets.  A lot depends on how many people are in your area.

Cool. i threw an ad up on Craigslist and we'll see what happens.