Finally, a MAME cabinet update. - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

photon · 07-25-2011, 08:20 PM

So I'm laying out my cabinet and have to make a few decisions...

First, controls.

The big circle is where a trackball would sit and the square around it is a metal plate that holds it, so that space isn't usable for anything.

My first decision is to use a trackball or to fill that space and do something else with it.

I've included a 6 button layout and joystick that fits even with the trackball there.

I've also included 3 other potential joystick sites, one above each player, and one above the trackball site, potentially for 4-way joysticks so that those kinds of games can be played properly.

The alternative is to fill in the square with wood and I can then use that site for a single 4 way joystick, and maybe a spinner to go with it.

Seems to me I'd play more 4-way games than trackball games. And a spinner just for Tempest

The other stuff I have to decide is just what I want for graphics on the side.

Here's the profile:

One idea would be a Joust theme, and the large joust graphics would fit in the tall narrow spaces:

(Smaller of course)

Or I guess I could just do a montage of classic arcade characters.

Rathji · 07-25-2011, 08:43 PM

Montage for the side graphic for sure.

As for the controls. Fit whatever you can in there in my view. I had a friend who opted out of a trackball for another set of controls, and with the use the machine gets, the 3rd and 4th controller are almost never in use. Every time we played he would say he wished he would have put in either a trackball or spinner.

For me, I would have 2 sets of double joysticks ( I love me some Smash TV) and a trackball.

photon · 07-25-2011, 08:50 PM

Lol I hated most 2 joystick games, with the exception being Karate Champ!

Missle Command though is probably enough to leave in the trackball.

I found this thread with a layout that seems ok, not too busy but has what is probably a 4 way and a spinner at the top, plus two buttons, and the trackball in the middle.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=70519.0

Gobsgraham · 07-26-2011, 07:48 AM

Leave the trackball in and buy mag stik plus joysticks. Pull up and turn and it is 4-way. Put a spinner up with your administrative buttons and you have everything you need without making a huge overpopulated CP like...

photon · 07-26-2011, 10:04 AM

Yeah I've read about the mag sticks, mixed reviews though I'm probably being waaay too picky. Does solve the issue for sure.

Hack&Lube · 07-26-2011, 10:25 AM

^ lol, that's abusrd. Doesn't that guy realize he could just use a trackball for a mouse?

I think that I were to build a racing arcade machine, I would just combine it with a normal racing rig (seat + triple monitors) that could be used for PC/console racing as well. It could also double as a flight simulator cockpit.

photon · 07-26-2011, 10:49 AM

Or there's this:

http://1uparcade.rmfx.com/

Hack&Lube · 07-26-2011, 10:54 AM

^ beautiful, if someone actually built that and it really had authentic Tron and Star Wars Arcade controls.

Hack&Lube · 07-26-2011, 10:57 AM

On a MAME machine, short of using an actual classic CRT, is there any way of accurately replicating the scanline interlaced effect of classic games? I find that the filters in MAME don't seem to do this satisfactorily and you either are left with some bad looking interpolation or the software putting a bunch of black lines on the screen that don't have the correct pitch and separation of a real CRT.

What display are you planning to put in yours Photon?

photon · 07-26-2011, 11:09 AM

I'm starting out with just a regular 27" TV and using the S-Video connector (still have to find a video card). It won't look as good as an actual arcade CRT and a proper video card like the ArcadeVGA (http://www.ultimarc.com/avgainf.html), but good enough to start with apparently without having to spend $$.

Mazrim · 07-26-2011, 11:25 AM

Hurray on the 6 button layout. If I were to suggest anything, it would be to use Sanwa buttons with cherry switches and a Sanwa ball top stick with a square gate. To me, that is the perfect arcade control setup.

photon · 07-26-2011, 11:29 AM

Yeah I don't like the feel of convex buttons, I like concave ones. And I'm getting the ball top option for the joystick.

Hack&Lube · 07-26-2011, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Yeah I don't like the feel of convex buttons, I like concave ones. And I'm getting the ball top option for the joystick.

Yeah, I'll all for balls and not the rounded cones. I like a mix of convex and concave so your fingers have a bit of tactile feedback as to where they are positioned without looking down.

fredr123 · 07-26-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Yeah, I'm all for balls and not the rounded cones. I like a mix of convex and concave so your fingers have a bit of tactile feedback as to where they are positioned without looking down.

Heheh

Hack&Lube · 07-26-2011, 11:59 AM

^ on porpoise

Mazrim · 07-26-2011, 12:25 PM

It's personal preference, but I've never been a big fan of concave buttons because for whatever reason I find myself having trouble sliding over to other buttons quickly (kills me on MvC3 and assist/hyper assist buttons as I usually don't have my hand down there ready to press them). Without the right switches a concave button really feels like pressing a plunger too.

That being said, Sanwa buttons are flat, not convex.

photon · 05-28-2012, 07:39 PM

Quite the old bump, but finally had some time to do some stuff with it, got all the controls installed on the console anyway. Eventually there'll be some artwork on the console to cover the big square, but I kind of like the black

photon · 05-28-2012, 07:44 PM

Cutting those button holes was a bit nerve wracking with the spade bit I had.. "cut 10x faster" means "cuts crazy amounts of wood with each revolution". Thought I was going to wreck the whole thing.

I had one of those other flat bottom bits, but it took forever to drill with that.

Worked out though.

Had to do some chiseling (fun fact, I didn't know I had chisels) to get the console top to close with the joysticks mounted. And I'm not sure I'm totally happy with the length of under-mounting them, but if it bugs me I can rout out a recess under the wood to get me another 1/4", or if I really want I can do the same on the top to get another 3/4" (though bolts will be visible).

Now wire everything up, get it all running with a monitor, then work on getting the TV installed and running.

Then I can worry about artwork.

Flash Walken · 05-28-2012, 08:55 PM

Chiseling is a wonderful way to spend your spare time.

Nage Waza · 05-28-2012, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

Now wire everything up, get it all running with a monitor, then work on getting the TV installed and running.

Then I can worry about artwork.

Let me know how it works out with the tv and graphics card, I am still on hold for video. I have everything else ready to go, just not sure about my screen. I have a standard Dell 16 inch CRT screen that fits, but is super heavy. Do you think an LCD is much worse than a CRT monitor?

I am also thinking of a second monitor for the back of the unit, maybe something high end, that can be used for other purposes outside of Mame. I can just turn the cabinet around to use the back.