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Main => Reviews => Topic started by: DigitalFusion on July 20, 2007, 01:36:51 pm

Title: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: DigitalFusion on July 20, 2007, 01:36:51 pm
Hey all,

  I have recently started hunting for PC games for my cab.  The MAME arcade games are good fun, but sometimes I want something with better sound and graphics.  The issue with a lot of PC games is the TV display.  There is also the issue with some games not converting well to a arcade CP and arcade style game play.  Furthermore, finding games that are 1+ player and not online multi-player is also becoming increasingly difficult.  I figured I would keep a running list here of the games I have tested on my cab, since there seems to be a decent number of us with TV displays in our cabs.

.

Tested and Working Well:

.

Tested and Working, but possible issues:

.

Tested and DOES NOT work well:
.

Future Testing

  For the record I have a 2.4G Celeron, 1G DDR memory, and a Radeon 9600XT 256mb vid card.  Feel free to suggest games to test, or suggest ones that you have tested and worked well on a TV display. 
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: IG-88 on July 24, 2007, 09:14:31 pm
No games to suggest, just wondering how this was coming along.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: DigitalFusion on July 26, 2007, 01:00:12 am
havent done any more testing... sidetracked by building a jukebox with a 12" touchscreen. 
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Hornpipe2 on August 16, 2007, 05:38:18 pm
Couple of suggestions:
* Hunter Hunted.  It's an old Sierra side-scrolling platform game.  You can play through a set of 1-player, 2-player co-op, or 2-player deathmatch missions.  Plays at 640x480 resolution.  Controls would be an 8-way and up to 6 buttons/player.  (I recently put together a CD image of this with a new installer so I could try it out with an arcade controller, but alas I don't actually have mine built yet!  If anyone else wants to try it out I am curious how it would play)  Downside:  Mouse or trackball of some sort would be required to navigate the menus.

* Lode Runner Online.  Another Sierra game, this one despite having 'online' in the title supports two players on screen at once.  It's a much amped up Lode Runner and is available as abandonware (from the programmer's site no less - search Google)
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: northerngames on August 16, 2007, 06:43:35 pm
dunno about a tv becuase I use a arcade monitor but still should look good on a tv.


DUKE NUKEM MANHATTAN PROJECT set at 640X480.

must have a 6 button player control though.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: AtomSmasher on August 16, 2007, 09:04:00 pm
dunno about a tv becuase I use a arcade monitor but still should look good on a tv.


DUKE NUKEM MANHATTAN PROJECT set at 640X480.

must have a 6 button player control though.
Good call, I forgot about that game.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: ahofle on August 20, 2007, 01:20:06 am
Feeding Frenzy
Feeding Frenzy 2
Luxor
Luxor 2
Mechatron
Chromium
Platypus

(Google "<gamename> game") to get to the links).
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Austin.Wolff on August 20, 2007, 01:42:05 am
Realistically, if i had enough pushbuttons (which I do), I could play WoW on my cab...
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Hornpipe2 on August 23, 2007, 12:12:36 pm
I am considering a Nethack cabinet : )
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: vidmouse on September 06, 2007, 03:52:48 pm
Star Wars Rogue Squadron
Star Wars Episode 1 Racer
Anachronox (barely... hard to control)
Tomb Raider + sequels, to a point
Rune (hard to control)
Mechwarrior 3

Untested but SHOULD work:
Frogger (3d'd PC version)
Sim Theme Park
Baldur's Gate
Diablo
Septerra Core (this can ONLy run at 640x480)
Blade of Darkness
European Air War
Jane's WWII fighters
Microsoft Combat Flight Sim + sequels

Tested, doesn't work
Crimson Skies
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Akuma on September 06, 2007, 05:02:12 pm
Try "Pong" in a whole new dimension called "Plasma Pong"

(http://www.plasmapong.com/screenshots/v1.3/pong1_big.jpg)

http://www.plasmapong.com/
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: DarkBubble on September 06, 2007, 09:23:22 pm
My boss, a total non-gamer, pointed me to Plasma Pong.  It's a trip and a half.  That and Grid Wars (Geometry Wars clone) belong in cabs.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: xmenxmen on September 07, 2007, 10:54:22 am
I don't see Doom or Quake in there.  Both should work fine in XP.

With the title that you are looking at, you might want to also consider the N64 emulator.  There's tons of nice games on there and graphics are similar to what you have listed.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: nexus6 on September 07, 2007, 11:10:02 am
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: nexus6 on September 07, 2007, 02:23:33 pm
doublepost
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: emerica on September 13, 2007, 07:44:26 am

Tested and Working Well:
  • Lego Star Wars II - great 1/2 player game with a selectable 640x480 rez. 


The only problem that some of us might have with this game is that your video card needs to support pixel shader 1.1. I tried this game in my cab and wasn't able to play b/c of my older video card. [/list]
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: advantis on October 25, 2007, 04:10:49 pm
By far the best PC game in my cab is NFL Blitz 2000.  Plays identical to the arcade.  It was very hard to find.  Graphics are still outstanding.

Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: jimjim on October 27, 2007, 05:32:59 am
Blitz doesn't play on XP.  :(

Great game with use of the old 3Dfx graphics. I used to play it all the time on my computer.  I recently bought it for this purpose, and I could not get it to run.  I took it to my buddies house, and same thing.  I really wanted it on my cab.  It is in the N64 emulator.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: northerngames on October 27, 2007, 03:19:51 pm
pong link abobe closed now they must have gotten in trouble for the name?
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: advantis on October 30, 2007, 12:34:02 pm
I play NFL Blitz PC CD game.  I created an ISO of it and then mounted it to a virtual drive and then put a shortcut on my desktop.  Works great on XP. 
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Dmod on October 30, 2007, 07:02:59 pm
I've been researching this as well for a driving cabinet.  I want to be able to run without a keyboard.  These seem to work so far:

Need For Speed II
Need for Speed Underground 2
Crazy Taxi
Midtown Madness


These don't seem to work as well:

Need for Speed: Porsche -  Requires keyboard
Midway Arcade Treasures Deluxe - Long loading time.  No analog controls.


Still hunting...
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Organic Jerk on November 23, 2007, 02:41:58 pm
I don't see Doom or Quake in there.  Both should work fine in XP.

Doom Confirmed!

I have a WHOLE section dedicated to Doom and Doom WADS...

Using the Doom Legacy Port (http://legacy.newdoom.com/), you can use splitscreen to have both Co-op and Deathmatch play, which is Awesome...

using Batch files (or Howard Casto's PC Games Launcher (http://dragonking.arcadecontrols.com/static.php?page=utilitydownload)) you can have the WAD's listed in the FE and load straight to them..

It's good stuff.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: LeedsFan on January 11, 2008, 04:59:40 pm
Realistically, if i had enough pushbuttons (which I do), I could play WoW on my cab...

But this site states "step up to real gaming". So it would have to be FFXI... and not kiddy WoW!    :laugh2:
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: PhoneLine on January 19, 2008, 02:38:26 pm
I currently have the PC versions of MK4, and House of the Dead 1, 2 and 3 on my cabinet using a 27 inch TV, and all look and play fine.

For the HOTD games I use 2 LCD Topgun guns.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: jono on June 30, 2008, 05:04:22 am
just picked up V8 Super Cars 3 out of the bargain bin which works pretty good on my driving cab loading alittle long about the same as outrun 2006
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: jtslade on October 30, 2008, 11:56:11 am
Interstate 76 was da bomb, if you have a wheel on the cab

 Original Tomb Raider / Tomb raider 2

Mechwarrior 2

Wing Commander series

Full throttle

Tie Fighter, (sure its good, but its no Tie Fighter)

Battlezone

old tiger woods game or PGA Pro Tour

NHL 98

you don't know jack

Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Epyx on November 04, 2008, 02:48:25 pm
Here is a fantastic *Freeware* site (a few demos too) with many, many excellent PC freeware games many of which are perfect for cabs:

http://freeware.remakes.org


Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: hms666 on November 12, 2008, 09:01:05 am
http://www.trackmania.com/en/
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: nickynooch on December 16, 2008, 11:53:26 pm
I don't see Doom or Quake in there.  Both should work fine in XP.

Doom Confirmed!

I have a WHOLE section dedicated to Doom and Doom WADS...

Using the Doom Legacy Port (http://legacy.newdoom.com/), you can use splitscreen to have both Co-op and Deathmatch play, which is Awesome...

using Batch files (or Howard Casto's PC Games Launcher (http://dragonking.arcadecontrols.com/static.php?page=utilitydownload)) you can have the WAD's listed in the FE and load straight to them..

It's good stuff.

Does that Doom Legacy port work with Doom 2 also to make the split screen multi-player mode?  That's pretty rad.  Are the batch files difficult to set up.  Using Maximus Arcade I believe I need to create batch files to make it look good.

Also, nobody listed a couple off the top of my head....

MUGEN!!!!!!!!!!!
Super Mario War
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: massive88 on December 17, 2008, 09:50:44 am
Yes DooM2 works on Legacy Doom, I love it.  Though, no one ever wants to play me in it...

The batch files are easy to setup.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Bluedeath on March 06, 2009, 10:46:53 am
moto racer 1 & 2
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Hornpipe2 on July 09, 2009, 11:31:04 am
WORMS (2, Armageddon, World Party, etc.)  Need a trackball for menu navigation, but this would be a blast on a big screen with sticks and buttons.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: King Nerd on July 11, 2009, 12:06:47 am
WORMS (2, Armageddon, World Party, etc.)  Need a trackball for menu navigation, but this would be a blast on a big screen with sticks and buttons.
I've played these games on a projector. About an 80" screen, with four people. It's INCREDIBLE.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: jimmy2x2x on June 05, 2010, 10:29:48 pm
A couple that I have on my cab

Qwak Qwak (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHC4Jr490xw#)

Steel Savour Steel Saviour Chapter 4: Life - (Low) Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thUQkWPineQ#)

Looks like SS should be demanding, but runs very smooth on humble hardware
You can pick this up very cheap on ebay/amazon

Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Epyx on June 07, 2010, 02:08:21 pm
I gotta say that Steel Saviour looks amazing...looks like one I will definitely be adding to the cab.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: XCVG on June 08, 2010, 11:29:17 am
Tyrian. It's an old vertical shooter for PC. The real version lacks sound on 90% of computer hardware (needs horribly obselete sound cards) but the OpenTyrian port works.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Edwards80 on June 08, 2010, 11:46:23 am
Another shout for QWAK. Super addictive game. To be honest it will be one of the 1st I play when my cab is done.

I managed to pick up the last of the 300 cart production run for QWAK on the GBA :-) No other games have been near my GBA since!

http://thelettervsixtim.es/ (http://thelettervsixtim.es/) is good too :)
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: opt2not on June 08, 2010, 03:11:16 pm
Typhoon 2001 (remake of Tempest 2000)
Typhoon 2001 (PC) Gameplay (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGrRwnnPtAc#ws)


Tetroid 2012:
Tetroid 2012 - gameplay video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amSgiqe68R8#)
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: shateredsoul on June 09, 2010, 02:14:08 am
don't forget Big Bang Beat.. by the way, tetroid is f'in creepy.  Never thought a tetris game would creep me out.

Big Bang Beat Combo Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0plPUeWXMag#)
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: opt2not on June 09, 2010, 04:28:02 am
  by the way, tetroid is f'in creepy.  Never thought a tetris game would creep me out.
LOL! :lol
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: opt2not on June 09, 2010, 05:39:15 pm
I wanna throw a plug in for a pretty awesome indie game:
Hydorah (http://www.locomalito.com/juegos_hydorah.php)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmCGk_Bfglc&feature=player_embedded# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmCGk_Bfglc&feature=player_embedded#)!
Really awesome for a recently made game, and it's free!
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: juksu on June 11, 2010, 05:54:03 am
One Must Fall 2097. I love this old fighting game. Runs in dosbox.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Epyx on June 11, 2010, 11:45:20 am
@opt2not

Holy crap...nice find! *HAVE* to try that as well...lots of gems being linked to on this thread...keep em coming!  :cheers:
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: IG-88 on June 11, 2010, 07:18:28 pm
Well, I haven't posted any in a while. There are several here:

http://tardis.dk/wordpress/ (http://tardis.dk/wordpress/)


Omega Race 2006 and Jakoroids I particularly like. I contacted the developer and asked him to make some code changes so the games would be more "cab friendly" and he graciously did within a few days. Try them out and see if you like them as well as I did.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Epyx on June 11, 2010, 09:52:39 pm
Quote
I contacted the developer and asked him to make some code changes so the games would be more "cab friendly" and he graciously did within a few days.

Are these changes in the versions he has for download now or by request only? Some of these look great but the first thing I noticed was strict 1024x768 resolutions on some games and no key mapping.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: IG-88 on June 11, 2010, 10:04:36 pm
Well the 2 I mentioned work with the default Mame keys now. They didn't before. I believe there are one or 2 others that are the same. I think any that he builds in the future will have the same default keys too.

I never thought about the resolution issue. I been running most of my games on LCD or large PC monitors and haven't run into that prob. Sorry wasn't thinking I guess.

 I do have a gadget out in the shop that allows large resolution games to work on standard CRT TVs. Wonder how these would look with that....
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Epyx on June 12, 2010, 04:48:49 am
Quote
I never thought about the resolution issue. I been running most of my games on LCD or large PC monitors and haven't run into that prob. Sorry wasn't thinking I guess.

No problem still some other great games at the sites.

My 2 favourite thanks to this thread right now are Hydorah and Steel Saviour.  The gameplay in Hydorah is awesome and the graphics so/so...Steel Saviour also awesome gameplay but drop dead gorgeous graphics as well...this game shines on a cab like you wouldn't believe.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Epyx on June 13, 2010, 11:45:39 pm
These great suggestions had me searching for more over the weekend...here is another one with fantastic visuals and assignable keys:

Astro Avenger 2 (http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/3352/astro-avenger-2/index.html)
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: andrewbean90 on June 16, 2010, 08:08:49 am
step mania a ddr style dancing game i would like someone to try out
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: IG-88 on June 17, 2010, 06:27:07 pm
I don't have a certain game but a link to a database of Indie games that might have some gems in them.

http://db.tigsource.com/top (http://db.tigsource.com/top)
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: shateredsoul1979 on August 26, 2011, 03:49:57 am
Snk vs capcom ultimate mugen 2007

It's the best and only Mugen game worth playing IMO

Snk vs capcom ultimate mugen 2007 intro (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVbUR7Df7xw#)
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Well Fed Games on August 28, 2011, 10:45:28 pm
Super Crate Box (indie game, free) http://www.supercratebox.com/ (http://www.supercratebox.com/) is a love letter to everything great about arcade games. If I had a horizontal cab it would be in there for sure.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: DarthMarino on October 19, 2011, 02:23:58 pm
I use the PSX emulator for Blitz and it works great.  Super smooth and looks pretty sharp.  The PSX version of NBA Jam: TE is also great on a cab.  Comparable graphics to the arcade version but with more options like hots spots and tag mode.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: wizkid32 on December 05, 2011, 03:56:46 pm
Tested, doesn't work
Crimson Skies

My copy is working, and I plan on putting it on my machine.  Can handle all sorts of resolutions, simple controls (PC type or 8-way joystick), addictive gameplay, instant play, simple interface.  Perhaps it was just your copy that had issues?
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: wizkid32 on December 16, 2011, 05:57:01 pm
Another that should work is Star Wars: Rebel Assault.  (and the sequel)  While they are far from the highest quality titles, they have a VERY arcade-like feel.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: wizkid32 on December 23, 2011, 06:18:39 pm
Plus NBA Jam Extreme, if you are running Windows 95!  Sadly, it does not work with others.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: FALSE on December 23, 2011, 07:13:36 pm
I'm just curious what CP setups people use for the mechwarrior games.
I would think you would need a ton of buttons.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: wizkid32 on December 23, 2011, 07:50:42 pm
I'm just curious what CP setups people use for the mechwarrior games.
I would think you would need a ton of buttons.

The arcade version uses an analog stick, plus a bunch of buttons.   ;D
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: FALSE on December 23, 2011, 08:59:28 pm
I'm just curious what CP setups people use for the mechwarrior games.
I would think you would need a ton of buttons.

The arcade version uses an analog stick, plus a bunch of buttons.   ;D

I didn't even think of the arcade version. Played it at chuckee cheese at my nephews birthday and it sucked.
Early in this thread (years ago), a couple people mentioned playing mechwarrior 2 and 3 on their cabs. 
Would love some info on it...
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: BobA on January 07, 2012, 10:24:09 am
There was this controller for steel batallion that looks really busy.

Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: wizkid32 on January 08, 2012, 01:26:43 am
There was this controller for steel batallion that looks really busy.

I think that is the biggest understatement of 2012!
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: FALSE on January 11, 2012, 12:42:03 am
There was this controller for steel batallion that looks really busy.

I think that is the biggest understatement of 2012!

You guys mock it but damn I want that so bad!
Dreams of a sit down cab with steel battalion, mechwarrior, heavy gear.  MMMMMMMM
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: Richard_Nixon on January 27, 2012, 09:38:53 am
There was this controller for steel batallion that looks really busy.

I think that is the biggest understatement of 2012!

You guys mock it but damn I want that so bad!
Dreams of a sit down cab with steel battalion, mechwarrior, heavy gear.  MMMMMMMM

The coolest part about it is the covered eject button. I havent used mine in years. But apparently, after a quick search, it is possible to use it on the Mechwarrior series on PC.
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: wizkid32 on January 29, 2012, 10:57:08 pm
On a site note, can anyone recommend a mechwarrior game?  I haven't played any, but they look interesting...
Title: Re: PC Games - Good for TV in MAME Cab?
Post by: rCadeGaming on March 13, 2012, 04:09:59 pm
perfect cherry blossom, imperishable night and other touhou-games (i'm not able to configure the keys. has anybody done that?)

+1.  You may not like the strange japanese aesthetic, but if you can get past that I think the gameplay is on par with any other game in this thread.  Just an amazing series for shmup fans.  Here is how I found out about it, this video explains the Touhou games as well as other bullet-hell shooters (danmaku):

http://www.blisteredthumbs.net/2011/02/ycpt-3-18-bullet-hell-games/ (http://www.blisteredthumbs.net/2011/02/ycpt-3-18-bullet-hell-games/)

More:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touhou (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touhou)

Newcomers should start with the eight game in the main Touhou series, Imperishable Night, which is arguably the best.  The first five are not so hot.  I don't know about keys, but joystick/gamepad buttons can be reconfigured.

Other suggestions:
GGPO - play fighting games from MAME online when no one's around for local multiplayer
Rondo of Blood - my favorite Castlevania game, runs on a PC Engine CD emulator
Number Munchers - play it again and tell me you're not having fun
Hydorah (mentioned above)
Tumiki Fighters