MAME Arcade Cabinet

[Trip]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

This is something I've considered doing a number of times in the past... IMHO, I wouldn't use a PC... Get an old Xbox and softmod it. The emulators for whatever reason always seemed to work better on there...

Also, I don't understand why anyone would just do a MAME only cabinet... I have a modded Xbox with everything from MAME to Atari to N64 and literally tens of thousands of games on it... 300GB HD - easy peasy... Oh, and there's like 50 Xbox games and a good bit of music on it as well.

It won't be solely MAME, it will definitely run a variety of systems. The power plant doesn't strictly have to be one system or computer either. I can get a monitor that allows me to switch between an xbox/computer/whatever. Still planning that part. I just called it MAME, because that's just a standard thing to call these cabinets.

[Dave]

ahem

http://www.roguesynapse.com/games/last_starfighter.php

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by Trip

It won't be solely MAME, it will definitely run a variety of systems. The power plant doesn't strictly have to be one system or computer either. I can get a monitor that allows me to switch between an xbox/computer/whatever. Still planning that part. I just called it MAME, because that's just a standard thing to call these cabinets.

Yeah, I figured... there are a lot of people out there who only run the arcade shit and I think that's a waste.

My preference would be to keep it simple by having as much under one system as possible... really simplifies the wiring...

Originally Posted by Trip

I like the bench idea, but I will probably go standup. I think I like a classic look over functionality like the gallery setup.

Yeah, I wasn't planning on going conventional at all... going for pure functionality.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Yeah, I figured... there are a lot of people out there who only run the arcade shit and I think that's a waste.

My preference would be to keep it simple by having as much under one system as possible... really simplifies the wiring...



Yeah, I wasn't planning on going conventional at all... going for pure functionality.

I want to get some bar stools made up for it. My wife has all kinds of connections with custom business furniture makers. They have done some sweet shit for the university of Tennessee football stadium suite furniture.

[njchopper87]

I used to want my own arcade system, but now I just want an enormous HDTV and a good surround sound system.

If nothing else, it does seem like it would be fun to put together though. Make your own plans for a cabinet if you have to.

A quick google search came up with this though http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_cabinet_plans.shtml . The first link had diagrams all drawn out.. fucking costs 2 grand.

[Trip]

Man, there is a lot to learn about this and a lot of choices I need to make. I think I am definitely going to go for a computer setup first over a modded xbox. Probably will run Hyperspin. Just cause it provides for a lot more customization you can't do with xbox. Thinking about doing an LCD monitor over trying to find a classic CRT. OSP, the problem you are running into with emulators for arcade games is going to be mostly monitor and choice of emulators. You need a good arcade monitor/controller setup for arcade games to look right if you do a comp setup.

Want to go compie, because I am going to run LEDwiz for my buttons. I am going to use RGB buttons that will light up the color I want. So the buttons you are using for each game will light up the buttons you use and will light up the color I want them to light up. That will be pretty bad ass.

Still can't find a cabinet I want. I really like the 37" LCD cabinets on ebay, but I can't find a plan for them. I sent them asking if they would sell me the plan or maybe even a kit. I don't think I am capable of the woodworking part, but I have a friend who can if need be...

Got the most important part of this out of the way, I have a place to put the cabinet now.

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by Trip

Man, there is a lot to learn about this and a lot of choices I need to make. I think I am definitely going to go for a computer setup first over a modded xbox. Probably will run Hyperspin. Just cause it provides for a lot more customization you can't do with xbox. Thinking about doing an LCD monitor over trying to find a classic CRT. OSP, the problem you are running into with emulators for arcade games is going to be mostly monitor and choice of emulators. You need a good arcade monitor/controller setup for arcade games to look right if you do a comp setup.

Want to go compie, because I am going to run LEDwiz for my buttons. I am going to use RGB buttons that will light up the color I want. So the buttons you are using for each game will light up the buttons you use and will light up the color I want them to light up. That will be pretty bad ass.

Still can't find a cabinet I want. I really like the 37" LCD cabinets on ebay, but I can't find a plan for them. I sent them asking if they would sell me the plan or maybe even a kit. I don't think I am capable of the woodworking part, but I have a friend who can if need be...

Got the most important part of this out of the way, I have a place to put the cabinet now.

I wouldn't even consider a CRT, fuck that... LCD monitor all the way...

The thing about comps and all that... the Xbox just worked right out of the box for me... and worked damn well with all games, emulators, etc. I've fucked around with controllers and emulators in the past with PC, but it was never quite as seemless as with the Xbox.

Also, you can hack Xbox controllers to work with those arcade buttons... not sure it would work with the light-up scheme you're considering, but I never thought of that... I was just going for an easy build...

[OneSickPsycho]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRqzO1Ba7xo

[shmike]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

I wouldn't even consider a CRT, fuck that... LCD monitor all the way...

Why?

I would think the square shape and the round screen of the CRT would look much more "arcade-ish" than a flat screened 16:9 set up.

In the video you posted, that looks to be a CRT screen and fits the theme perfectly.

[Trip]

Originally Posted by shmike

Why?

I would think the square shape and the round screen of the CRT would look much more "arcade-ish" than a flat screened 16:9 set up.

In the video you posted, that looks to be a CRT screen and fits the theme perfectly.

I am going CRT now, it's cheaper and already designed to fit my cab. Going 16:9 really fucks up a lot of screen space when all the classics are 4:3.