The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls
Main => Project Announcements => Topic started by: gamenut on November 12, 2006, 01:26:25 am
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Ok, I'm tired of waiting for my buttons. :P
So i decided to start gutting the cab i'm going to use for mame.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01504.jpg)
I have only ever opened one of these for cleaning and repairs.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01482.jpg)
Now its time to get dirty
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01486.jpg)
Thats my friend reaching where my popeye arms won't :bat
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01496.jpg)
Apperently, this cab has had a long life. First frogger, then Arkinoid.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01478-1.jpg)
Oh Wait, The marquee is covered with some truely AWESOME marble contact paper. :duckhunt
But whats this?
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01479.jpg)
After peeling away,count'em, THREE LAYERS of crap, I find this.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01481.jpg)
An even longer life.
\Here's some pics of the CP
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01490.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01491.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01493.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01492.jpg)
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The bearing are pretty shot in the spinner. If i can find replacements i'll keep it.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01489.jpg)
I'm lovin the suround sound :groucho
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01483.jpg)
next
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01495.jpg)
PCB is out
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01476-1.jpg)
Now the monitor.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01501.jpg)
Screen cover is out
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01500.jpg)
Arkinoid bezel
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01498.jpg)
Heavier than i thought!
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01499.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01503.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01505.jpg)
Empty
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Looking good! Whats the overall plan for this thing?
Be careful with that floor... I damaged my wood floor cartin arcade games around on it.
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That's not the only machine you've got that's been reicarnated. Your Mortal Kombat used to be a Data East game - probably a Bad Dudes.
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I'm not sure what the "over all theme" is gonna be.
But its gonna be a two player(7 buttons each) pretty much fighter cab.
It will also have a track ball and spinner, side buttons for pinball.
This is my first mame project, so i'm probly not gonna go to crazy with the artsy side of this cab.
I just want to have one that functions.
I'll be adding a LEDWiz. Got to have the pretty lights >:D
I'm thinking a 23" T.V. for the inside.
Still batting around the idea of a dual monitor( *tips hat to McCoy178*).
And i might get a new coindoor.
But since i'm SOOOOOOOO new, I'm still considering a few things.
Will to take input ;D
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Well today i started working on the control panel.
I ended up cutting 3 different tops befor i got one that iwas happy with.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01518.jpg)
I'm going to smooth out the rough corners on the box.
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Great progress. I like the rounded corners as well. As far as...
I ended up cutting 3 different tops befor i got one that iwas happy with.
I would have played with cardboard first. How are you going to lay-out your controls?
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I would have played with cardboard first. How are you going to lay-out your controls?
:applaud: true true...
Do a mockup in cardboard with controls to find any hidden issues...
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You know, I've been going through all these posts for a couple of months now, and i remember seeing people do just that. Don't know why i didn't think of it today. Oh well. I've got it now.
i guess i'll keep it in mind for next time :applaud:
But porbably just a very small annoyance compared to several more to come since this is my first build.
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OH_ By the way, as far as the control layout, I'm thinking a two player-7 button w/trackball and spinner,Maybe some buttons on the side for pinball.
One question though, How many games use 7 buttons?
I'm using a modified version of the one given in the byoac book.
I really like fighter games, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 is what pushed me to build this.
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Well i had a little time today and got started on the new box for the coin door.
This piece will also add support to the CP.
It was easier to make than i thought it would be.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01524.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01520.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01521.jpg)
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Woohoo! I just got my Keywiz & LedWiz today :applaud:
Now i keep peeking out the window for the mailman to bring my buttons :'(
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So i had a few minutes today to finalize my CP Layout.
Here's a few pics
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01526.jpg)
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01525.jpg)
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;D
I got my buttons today! Thanks Divemaster :cheers:
And yesterday i had enough time to put a 24" tv i my cab.
I didn't get any pics of the process but i'll post a few of it in there when i get a chance.
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hmm, looks like your wood is bigger than mine...
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Well i've got the buttons and joys in.
And the LEDS working for the most part.
Got a 23" tv in it.
I can't read any text what so ever on it.
Games look "OK"
I'll post some pics as soon as i find my camera.
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FrankenFrogger ;D
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Bwahahahahahaha :laugh2: :laugh2:
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Ok, heres some more pics.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01527.jpg)
Heres one of the tv finally in. 24" still in the case. Thought about decasing a 27" but.......nah!
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01528.jpg)
Downloading software and setting screen settings.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01552.jpg)
Start of button wiring. I heart keywiz!
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01551.jpg)
Thats my son doing some "config" testing :D
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01570.jpg)
Thats my friend hogan. Doing some testing on the buttons and making sure the leds are correct.
Gotta give a thumbs up to Youki and all the people putting together AtomicFE.
The LED animation setup is easy as pie.
even for a supernewb 8)
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Looks great so far. Now quick take that control panel apart or you'll never get done!
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theres no kidding there :cheers:
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If you noticed, the pics with the cab screen on, you might notice that the screen is shifted down and too the left.
It only happened on a few games but those games are some of my faves. :(
I couldn't figure out how to adjust JUST those games.
How to fix it? ::)
Well i toyed around with the settings on the (right click desktop/properties/res/settings) to no avial.
The only thing that happened changed everything,all games were changed. But still down and to the left.
The next thing i tried was switching from mame32 to mame110.
It worked. All my games are centered on the big screen. But a few games don't work. grrrrrr :P
Oh well-keepn truckin right
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The next thing i tried was switching from mame32 to mame110.
It worked. All my games are centered on the big screen. But a few games don't work. grrrrrr :P
Oh well-keepn truckin right
What version of MAME32 were you using? Maybe it was an earlier version than MAME110. You can download earlier versions of mame by changing the version number in the download URL.
http://www.mame.net/zips/mame069b.zip
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Nice! I've been trying to solve a similar CP issue with mine, and I like what you've done with yours!
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screen issues too huh? PM me if you need help. I'll do what i can. :banghead:
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Well i made the mistake of making installing the tv permenantly. today i had to install a new power button for the tv.
What a pain! :banghead: Ended up turning the cab upside down in the end so i could solder the connects for the new power button.
Newbie's take heed, look where the power button is BEFORE you glue in tv supports. DEE DEE DEE ::)
Oh well,live and learn :banghead:
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Newbie's take heed, look where the power button is BEFORE you glue in tv supports. DEE DEE DEE ::)
Oh well,live and learn :banghead:
Either that or mount it so you can take it out if needed for repairs, changes in design, etc... ;)
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The picture on the TV looks great. Perfect actually.
What video card and tv combo are you using?
-D
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http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/EVGA-E-GeForce-6200-Video-Card-128-A8-N339-LX/sem/rpsm/oid/153130/catOid/-13043/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do
That's the video card i'm using.
It outputs to a monitor/flat panel tv-via adaptor/ and s-vid.
The TV i'm using i got at wal mart for $125. Durabrand, a/v input in the front, but no s-video.
I picked up one of those $14 "Any dvd player to TV" converters. It will take s-vid and convert to regular TV co-ax.
I think the picture is ok, just not great.
But i got pretty lucky not knowing what to buy.
Here are a couple pics to show you how it looks.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01695.jpg)
Here's one of the FE w/snap
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01696.jpg)
And another
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01698.jpg)
A close up of the snap
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01699.jpg)
An in game pic
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01690.jpg)
Here is one of how text looks.
if i get a chance i'll take some small vids of in game play to show you how it looks.
And now some up dates
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01692.jpg)
I did some wire clean up. Not too worried about it since this is my first cab and i have to take it all apart later anyway.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01693.jpg)
I did some primer paint on the bare wood.
(http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o270/gamenuts/DSC01694.jpg)
I'm not going to do anything to the main sides untill i get the artwork figured out
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Nice so far!
I modified the same cabinet (mine was originally a Space Firebird). It's nice to see what it was supposed to look like inside--mine was already hacked up when I got it.
I wonder if your control panel will be too high. I originally had mine about that high (maybe a little higher) and it was uncomfortable--then again I'm not a really tall guy either.
I later lowered it down to the height of the original panel and it's much better.
If you look at my webpage, you can see I will need to completely redo the CP to properly integrate it with the cabinet (I built the control panel 5 years before getting the cabinet). I like your false front / pedestal better than the "outriggers" I put on mine.
http://dgbrown.h-body.org/videogames/cabinet/index.html
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I'm really surprised your video quality came out that good, because if I remember right, the component would always end up being the weakest link here as it is your TV's input. So even though you use something else to translate S-Vid to component, it should always end up looking like component. Not that it matters at least on the classics (which to me looked kinda blurry anyways, cept some of those crisp vector games).
I've had to buy new TVs before cuz all I had around the house were component.
Like your setup, funny about that marquee - I don't know so many on here can get enough of that sticky mess off of sideart and marquees to bother with stripping em.
O, and that dragon wall art looks preatty awesome.
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Art is a sickness, a disease.
And some times you just have to get it out. Even if it lands on the walls or the floor. ;D