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The best place, bar none, to go is Build Your Own Arcade Controls. Hint: Happ is spendy. Consider Imperial/Betson. Google for them, and you can find TBs for $30-ish. Oscar Controls Sells a nice TB Harness->USB adaptor for around $12.

Now, can you use a circular saw without losing important bodily appendages? _that's_ the real trick, you bet.

And you can build your own arcade cabinet to get the real experience.

besides mameworld... there's the venerable
ArcadeControls.com with it's excellent community forum/msg board

*shrug*

e

Frostillicus Rotating Control Panel Mame Cabinet

1up's original rotating cabinet PacMamea

None of these projects would be possible without ArcadeControls.com and it's excellent Message Board/Community

Discussion of Top 20 most inspirational mame cabinets

*shrug*

E.

My point was that people do this all the time. Check out Build Your Own Arcade Controls. There are plenty of projects using an existing Arcade cabinet. If you are interested in building a control panel, that is "THE" source of info.

Ultimate MAME box? That's a bold statement. Granted, it's nice.. but nothing really revolutionary. There are some much better examples of cabinets with original artwork or insane designs such as: 1-up's Pac-Mamea, Mamestation II.. It's a very nice box tho. I'd prefer swappable control panels to a one panel jammed with controls, but eh.. to each his own. For tons of examples, go to Build Your Own Arcade Controls.

So many times it'll make your head spin.

This is nothing new. Check out Arcadecontrols.com . Folks have been building there own arcades for awhile now.

If you want to check out an utlimate Mame box, take a look here:
1UP's Arcade
This dude has a spinning control panel.

...I am too (Aaron's been a big help, thanks buddy!), and so is Cmdr Taco (what do you call it when Slashdot gets Slashdotted?), and so are a bunch of other folks. Plenty of examples found here:

http://www.arcadecontrols.com

Hello. There's a driver for PS-PC parallel port adapters in the Linux Kernel (2.4 at least). The file 'Documentation/input/joystick-parport.txt' contains a schematic for an adapter and mentions that it's DirectPad Pro compatible. The DPP web site doesn't appear to be there any more, but there's a mirror.

The PC can only output CVBS or S-Video (anyone seen a PC Video card that outputs component video?)

Why not build your own cab and slap MAME on it. It's what I'm doing. It's very easy to do.
Arcade Controls Everything you need to know about creating your own Arcade Game.
MAME
Lucid's Arcade Cabinet DesinGet your cabinet plans here.

You don't need an over-priced pre-fab. Build your own machine. It'll take more time, but it'll be lots cheaper.

I know that a lot of MAME home arcade hackers use just the same technique to make input controllers for their cabinets. You might even have enough extra inputs with a 104-key keyboard so you could wire up the joysticks!

I mean, come on man, if you're gonna do it, do it right!

• 18 inputs, up to a 9 x 9 matrix for 81 inputs.
• 24 inputs, programmable via keyboard or rs-232 port, up to 12 x 12 matrix for 144 inputs.
• 24 inputs, programmable via keyboard only, up to 12 x 12 matrix for 144 inputs.
• 72 distinct inputs, programmable, trackball support.
• Daisy-chaining two encoders together for more inputs.

For those among us who would rather do it themselves, there's no reason to buy the EMS USB2 adapter listed above, as long as the machine you're using has a parallel port. For the cost of a few small parts at Radio Shack (or any other similar store) you can build your own with the easy instructions listed here. And trust me, it's incredibly easy to do.

Note: the link for the driver listed on that page is out of date. If you are planning on using this with Win9x, you can get the driver from here. For Linux, the gamecon kernel module is all you need. For Windows 2000/XP/etc, you're on your own...I'm almost certain drivers for it exist, but I have no idea where, or how well they work. Anyone else have any information about this?

hey,

i built it using an mk2 cab i purchased off a friend for $300, a pc w/ a duron 1300, 512mb ram, and a trident blade t64 video card. interfacing between the pc's ps2 port and vga out with the joysticks, buttons, and arcade monitor done largely with the help of andy warne's j-pac.

all games run perfectly, with the exception of newer 3d additions to mame, such as cruis'n world. i've done a/b comparisons between mk2 running off the actual game board and emulated with MAME, and i cannot tell the difference.

it took a lot of work to get it right, but it was definately a labour of love. the hardest part was getting my video card to output at low horizontal refresh rates and resolutions that are compatible with both the monitor and various games - but you can now bypass all this hassle by purchasing andy warne's new arcadeVGA, a new radeon-based video card made for outputting video compatible with 15khz arcade monitors! no special software or configuration, you just pop this into your pc and you're all set. i wish this card was available 4 months ago when i got started.

good starting points:

Build Your Own Arcade Controls
J-Pac and ArcadeVGA
Happ Controls (however you can save some $$$ by not getting it from their online store, and finding a local distributor)

good luck!

I don't know how good you are with electronics, but an old keyboard, a dremel, and a controller from a used game shop works great.

I dremelled out a sega genesis (joystick) controller (cost: $8 - can't find a picture - they're HUGE) for a cheapie emu machine for a friend, and wired it to a keyboard encoder (cost: free, if ripped from an old keyboard lying around) a la this keyboard hack FAQ (check under "hacking a keyboard").

It looks cheesy - didn't bother to hide the keyboard controller inside the joystick case, even though it's probably big enough for a briq in there...

Didn't take that much soldering. Hardest part was tracing the keyboard leads over mylar and dremeling the joystick PCB so it wasn't common ground anymore.

Anyway - don't know if this is acceptible, if whoever is getting it is too picky, and you're not confident about your skills, maybe not...

A few old video games had good ones, but I don't remember their names ...

Tempest was probably the most well-known.

Here is how to make one. In the Emu/Arcade scene they're called "spinners". Have fun!

See? I can be informative. Creepy.

"It is truly amazing the amount of people who have spent their time to keep them from dying out." Not to mention the many arcade game and console collectors who are restoring these monuments to good times and originality in gameplay.

And then there are the MAME cabinets

:)

If anyone decides to put together your own MAME cabinet, please, for the love of all things holy, do NOT use a rare classic cabinet to do it in!!! There are a ton of cabinets built for conversion kits, and crappy JAMMA games can be had for $50-$200 in these cabs.

If you come across a classic cabinet in your hunt for a machine to "MAME," please consider restoring it. There are many resources available on the net and usenet for parts and assistance in doing so. I've put many a converted classic back together and it's a real thrill to see a long-dead machine come back from the dead.

...that has rolled their own cabinet.

There are also some really cool examples at the Build your own arcade controls FAQ.

For the price of a high end PC setup (around $2,000US) you can have your self a kickass arcade machine, including the dedicated PC it takes to run MAME. I took the plunge last year and havn't regretted it for a minute.

Wife hates it tho...:)

...that has rolled their own cabinet.

There are also some really cool examples at the Build your own arcade controls FAQ.

For the price of a high end PC setup (around $2,000US) you can have your self a kickass arcade machine, including the dedicated PC it takes to run MAME. I took the plunge last year and havn't regretted it for a minute.

Wife hates it tho...:)

I wonder how long it will be before an unscrupulous arcade operator puts a JAMMA connector on a chipped X-BOX and runs it in his arcade

How would this differ from an unscrupulous arcade operator putting a computer into a cabinet and running regular MAME on it?

I've never seen one personally but I have seen many reports of the word "MAME" showing up on supposedly-genuine arcade machines in various bars and so on.

Many people use MAME in a stand-up arcade box for their own personal amusement (check here and here for information on how to build them and many examples of completed and in-progress projects. It's when folks put them into their businesses to collect quarters that things become a bit dodgy, in my opinion, but that has been going on long before the xbox was even thought of.

I wanted the same thing for my PC when I started playing Tekken 3 on it. In my search to buy such a thing I stumbled upon Arcade Controls. This is a TERRIFIC site that has all the info you could possibly want about building your own actual arcade controls for your PC. Includes many how tos and examples including links to arcade parts suppliers. Stuff runs around $10 for the stick and $1.50 for a button so it's not that expensive of a project. For the really adventureous there's also information about building your own actual arcade using your PC and various emulators to power it. But that's getting a little OT so I'll stop there.

http://www.arcadecontrols.com has a lot of information about hooking pushbuttons up to keyboards and so on.

him: I want software for linux that does x

them1: software, shmoftware! Linux users are men! Write a script! Bootstrap the damn thing!

them2: I tore apart a sega dreamcast and converted my 27" jamma console into a multimedia photo archival unit. Check out the links here

them3: Why in gods name would you want to archive something as stupid as photos anyway? I just take pictures of my computer, and put them in a directory called /pub/computer/nerd/my/pc/

The question is not why or when or how but Is there any software available! Jeesh guys, its a simple question.

Of course, I don't know the answer to that question either, so file this one under a troll I guess.

GameSX - Great site, I've been an active reader for about a year. Lots of information on video game systems.

Arcade Controls.com - Information on building your own arcade controls for emulation and other hobbies.

Sex Pistols Pinball - This guy redid a old pinball machine into a Sex Pistols pinball machine, neat.

The sBox - A Preslashdoted story. Read it here.

CmdrTaco even likes emulation - He made his own MAMEcabinet

For the reasons already explained in another post, plus the site is the worst offender when it comes to annoying popups and requirements for clicking on a million links before reaching anything meaningfull.

For real info on building your own cabinet go to:

http://www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm

For the latest arcade ROMs go to :

http://mame.dk - This is the site the arcadeathome guy tried to eliminate from the face of the earth.

I like your idea of dealing used arcade games. But you're right; the maintenance / refurbishment of these aging beasts would eat your profits.

Perhaps the most lucrative solution would be to build arcade machines from scratch and equip them with some cheap amd box and a 19 inch tv set and a video-out card. Run ArcadeOS on it and include perhaps one demo ROM and package an actual old card that matches the ROM for legal reasons. Explain to the purchaser how they can install over 2000 of their own ROM files on the hard drive, but never provide these (again, for legal reasons). Make additional money by selling different controller panels with spinners, double (or quadruple) joysticks, trackballs, etc.

Now there's a business plan.

I like your idea of dealing used arcade games. But you're right; the maintenance / refurbishment of these aging beasts would eat your profits.

Perhaps the most lucrative solution would be to build arcade machines from scratch and equip them with some cheap amd box and a 19 inch tv set and a video-out card. Run ArcadeOS on it and include perhaps one demo ROM and package an actual old card that matches the ROM for legal reasons. Explain to the purchaser how they can install over 2000 of their own ROM files on the hard drive, but never provide these (again, for legal reasons). Make additional money by selling different controller panels with spinners, double (or quadruple) joysticks, trackballs, etc.

Now there's a business plan.

Look at the work MAME users have done with their systems, most of the stuff in The Build your own arcade controls page are keyboard hacks of some kind, from taking apart an old keyboard and changing things around, to buying a programmable keyboard encoder, such as the I-PAC and the Hagstrom electronics products. It's really easy and most of the work has already been done for you, you just need to reprogram(with their utility software, and hook up switches.

The only shipping product I know of is the ArcadePC from Hanaho, which has gotten rave reviews.

However, Paulo Sergio Coelho has a web site for his DOS and Windows based VGA to TV (similar refresh as low res arcade monitors) drivers that work with a variety of video cards with claims of superior quality as compared to standard tv-out cards I think. I believe source code can be gotten if someone wanted to look at some sort of port or at least a good starting point. Other links of interest:

Tomi Engdahl has several must-visit links - VGA to TV information center, VGA to RGB + composite sync -converter, and connecting Matrox MGA to TV among others that are probably worth visiting, and the Fixed Frequency Video FAQ is probably on the list as well. I would also definitely visit the TV and Monitor CRT (Picture Tube) Information by Samuel Goldwasser. This is getting kind of wordy, for more links hit the "Tech & tips" link on my web site and then the "monitors" link, and/or the "finishing" link and then again the "monitors" link. OH! Also you might contact Brian of PC2Jamma and who is also the author of ArcadeOS to see if some sort of port would be possible.

Hope that was of some use :)

Hooking up your control is VERY easy. Here is everything you need:
An I-PAC (it is a keyboard encoder from http://www.spaceinvaders.uk.com/)
some .187" female quick disconnects (you can get these from Radio Shack Online part #910-1775)
some wire (any from 16 up to 22 gauge)
a small flat head screwdriver (for connecting the wire to the I-PAC)
a knife or wire strippers (for stripping the wire)
a pair of pliers (for crimping the quick disconnects on to the wire)

Once connected up, your controls will act like a standard keyboard.

If you have any questions head over to the message board on http://www.arcadecontrols.com and ask. Someone will happily answer them.

Arcade 2000 (Jeff Kemper) has been running into a number of problems fulfilling orders, staying in touch with his customers, returning money, etc. If you take a look at the Build Your Own Arcade Controls FAQ at http://www.arcadecontrols.com and ask around the forums you'll find a number of people who have been ripped off or screwed over by Arcade 2000. If you take a look around there are plenty of other reputable solutions such as Hanho Games, Inc. known for their excellant HotRod Joystick and their ArcadePC arcade game cabinet.

If you're more interested in building your own cabinet check out the BYOAC FAQ or my friend Sithspawn's page about his cabinet. We both built MAME cabinets over the summer. Took a few months, but it's worth it. There's nothing quite like scrolling through a menu of 2000-some arcade, NES, SNES, SMS, etc games and playing with nice classic-feeling controls.

Arcade 2000 (Jeff Kemper) has been running into a number of problems fulfilling orders, staying in touch with his customers, returning money, etc. If you take a look at the Build Your Own Arcade Controls FAQ at http://www.arcadecontrols.com and ask around the forums you'll find a number of people who have been ripped off or screwed over by Arcade 2000. If you take a look around there are plenty of other reputable solutions such as Hanho Games, Inc. known for their excellant HotRod Joystick and their ArcadePC arcade game cabinet.

If you're more interested in building your own cabinet check out the BYOAC FAQ or my friend Sithspawn's page about his cabinet. We both built MAME cabinets over the summer. Took a few months, but it's worth it. There's nothing quite like scrolling through a menu of 2000-some arcade, NES, SNES, SMS, etc games and playing with nice classic-feeling controls.

Build your own arcade controls

Arcade OS frontend for cabinets

On that site about making your own controls, there's a whole collection of links to sites people have put up to document their own cabinet construction projects... there's a hell of a lot of successful efforts out there!

Build your own controls FYI

Aside from disclaimers (which as far as I've ever been able to tell mean squat in courts), you can contact your insurance company about an umbrella policy. IANA(insurance agent), but this can cheaply buy you something like a million dollars in coverage for miscellaneous lawsuits that aren't covered by anything else.

Unfortunately, in my case they turned me down. They claimed that because I was in the computer field, that running a web site about arcade controls (which has zip to do with my job - network admin) was work related. I decided to give up and wait a while before trying to find someone who had a clue and try again.

At any rate, because I couldn't get the coverage, I chose to restrict certain content on my site, and instead provided links to other sites with the material I was afraid to host. With recent events I'm even a bit worried about that but I'm not changing anything yet. It bites, but I have a family to think about and am poor enough as is.

Be interested in seeing what you finally choose to do, please post!

--- saint

But Im a wimpy geek that works 40 hours a week. I have no where near enough time to put one of these together. So I was going to find someone to do it for me. I found Arcade 2000. It seemed great, he seemed like a really nice guy. After a few weeks I was ready to order from him, then got an email from some former customers.

"Dont buy from Arcade 2000" they said. Upon further investigation, I realized this guy handn't shipped a single machine, and took over 6 months to give refunds, some didnt get refunds at all.

So what Im trying to say is: Dont buy from Arcade 2000 (or at least buy at your own risk), and I still want to buy an Arcade Machine, anyone know where I can get one?

http://www.arcadeathome.com has message boards as well as links to homebuilt projects some including plans.

http://www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade.htm has message boards and is more focused on building the control panel from arcade parts easily purchased online. Also with examples.

Vermifax