Show suggestion: Build a Mame arcade cabinet

[jhelfand]

Build a Mame arcade cabinet. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAME_arcade_cabinet)

Admittedly, this would have to be a multi-part series. I think building a home arcade cabinet would have would have mass appeal to Systm fans. I have built several and there's nothing like the old school goodness of 80's video games and unlimited quarters.

It has "hacking" elements of working with keyboard encoders, building spinners, etc. Parts are super easy to get, the Mame software is free (http://mamedev.org/) and nothing feels like mashing real buttons and wrenching on real joysticks.

I've seen some very creative projects that combine the arcade with jukebox features, as well. Ultimately a totally doable project for a novice to expert.

I'd be willing to help if you have more questions or need help researching this idea.

Best of luck! I hope you guys take over the world of tech entertainment!

Cheers,

- Jeff

[sh1fty]

I love the idea and I think I'll build one regardless of Systm. Thanks

[cbudden]

Didn't they build one on hak.5?

[jhelfand]

Didn't they build one on hak.5?

I went and checked out the two videos that cover the project. I think it's great for awareness at a super high level, but doesn't contain anywhere near enough content for someone to succeed. Plus it's a mini-cab. Unless you're still living in a dorm room and lack space (who needs a bed anyway?) building a full size arcade cabinet is the way to go.

Thanks for the post though. I never watched Hak.5 before. Love the Leo Laporte cameo!

[sugarsickness]

Yeah, the hak5 segments on it were pretty darn brief if I remember correctly. Would love to see the systm crew do it.

[optimus]

Sounds good! The Hak.5 cab segments were too thin.

[tempesta]

When i watched the hak5 eps with the cab segments i thought they were fine, now i have a machine waiting here to become a MAME cab, i've got no idea.

So yeah, this would be awesome.

[movingrushmore]

I would love this. I've been thinking about it for awhile now and would love a systm tutorial.

[scoobydiesel]

This would be very awesome!
They could also put the finished product in the new rev3 offices.... theyd get the work done faster o_o;

[atom12]

Great idea! I'd love to see Dave and Pat tackle this.

[nextgenxbox]

I Love This Idea!!!

[drandolph]

I've been watching this thread with great interest and I'm happy to see so much interest in the idea. So I've been sitting in pitch meetings and trying to wrap my brain around the idea and see what can be done. Saying that...

What aspects would everyone want to see? There is so many different parts and areas to cover. Would you like to see the different controller boards? Different button, switches, joysticks? Are you interested in the computer mountings? Display options? Do you want to see us show off our amazing skills at wood working? j/k Are you curious about the graphics on the side of the cabinet?

One thing you should know is that with SYSTM we try to focus on one simple idea. Lately we have been getting the basic concepts out of the way to help people catch up, build a table,tools, pcb etching, AVR's and so on. We think we are almost idea with getting that extreme basics out of the way so we can start doing real projects.

With that said if I can convince everyone that a MAME cabinet is a good show I need to know the 5 focused points that everyone wants to know. So let us know what you want to see happen.

[tokenuser]

Split the project up.

1. Basic MAME style arcade controller. You don't need a full on MAME cabinet to be able to use one of these for your own gaming goodness.

2. Basic Construction Techniques. Wood working, channel aluminium. Not sure what sort of project would lend itself to this concept ... but, now you have the workbench episode complete, time to break out the big power tools and go all Norm Abrahms on us. While this episode would feed onto a MAME arcade box nicely, it is also a great reference show for robotics, or any other project contruction.

3. Building a MAME Computer. ot so much about the build, but about the software, ROMs, etc. At the end of the show, you end up with a MAME computer.

Hmmmm.

Suddenly you have 3 seperate shows that pull together to form GIGANTA SHOW! (sorry, a little Tekzilla big lizard melodrama goes a long way).

Pull together all three episode - build a case (supply plans online), refer people to the construction show for assembly tips, install the MAME computer (already built), install the MAME controller (probably "unguts" the controller from the previous episode and remount it), and install a monitor.

Bingo. 3 standalone episodes, plus a single pull it all together episode.

[atom12]

Split the project up.

1. Basic MAME style arcade controller. You don't need a full on MAME cabinet to be able to use one of these for your own gaming goodness.

2. Basic Construction Techniques. Wood working, channel aluminium. Not sure what sort of project would lend itself to this concept ... but, now you have the workbench episode complete, time to break out the big power tools and go all Norm Abrahms on us. While this episode would feed onto a MAME arcade box nicely, it is also a great reference show for robotics, or any other project contruction.

3. Building a MAME Computer. ot so much about the build, but about the software, ROMs, etc. At the end of the show, you end up with a MAME computer.

Hmmmm.

Suddenly you have 3 seperate shows that pull together to form GIGANTA SHOW! (sorry, a little Tekzilla big lizard melodrama goes a long way).

Pull together all three episode - build a case (supply plans online), refer people to the construction show for assembly tips, install the MAME computer (already built), install the MAME controller (probably "unguts" the controller from the previous episode and remount it), and install a monitor.

Bingo. 3 standalone episodes, plus a single pull it all together episode.

Tokenuser hit the nail on the head. Really looking at how to do this from scratch. For me, I would be looking at how to do the woodworking and putting all the pieces together.

[tempesta]

I wouldn't mind seeing some keyboard hacking. you know, prying off everything and using it for input from joysticks n buttons.

mind you...you could skip that if im the only one who cares...and just pick up a pre-built joystick/button setup or something.

[raggededge]

I think you could work on a mame machine over the whole year, little by little. There are a lot of different aspects to building one, and each one is equally rewarding. Woodworking, control panel, wiring, monitor, mame setup, roms (and the gray area of downloading they reside in), coin doors. Links to various sites like http://www.arcadecontrols.com.

Here is mine:
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=41086.0

[lasthand]

It would be so cool to do this! I'd like t olearn where to find the parts to make a control panel. I was thinking a key board hack. And pick up an old pc and montior to run the set up and do some cooling. Make my one light system and get a 2.1 sound system going.

[scienceking]

I'd also be interested in any hints on inexpensive yet effective tools/supplies to get for the basic wood/metalworking. I've always wanted to get more into that type of stuff and this seems like a good project. All I really have right now is a dremel I use to modify project boxes.

[drandolph]

Thanks to everyone that kept talking about this topic. Don't hold me to it but as it stands I have gotten a green light on a mame cabinet. I'm working on an attack plan and trying to figure on how to put my own personal touch on the project. This is going to be fun. So keep posting ideas and thoughts here. Just a few notes. One we can't show where to find games, sorry, legal issues. Two, a computer is a computer is a computer in a mame style arcade cabinet so i wouldnt expect much focus on machines. Gaming PC would be a whole other show.

Ideas to think about and let me know what you all think of them:

Audio Amp's and speaker mountings
light boxes
cabinet graphics
wood working on a budget
control systems
button and controller options
screen options
working with plastics

Keep it coming and we will try and do the subject justice.

[masherscf]

Thanks to everyone that kept talking about this topic. Don't hold me to it but as it stands I have gotten a green light on a mame cabinet. I'm working on an attack plan and trying to figure on how to put my own personal touch on the project. This is going to be fun. So keep posting ideas and thoughts here. Just a few notes. One we can't show where to find games, sorry, legal issues. Two, a computer is a computer is a computer in a mame style arcade cabinet so i wouldnt expect much focus on machines. Gaming PC would be a whole other show.

Ideas to think about and let me know what you all think of them:

Audio Amp's and speaker mountings
light boxes
cabinet graphics
wood working on a budget
control systems
button and controller options
screen options
working with plastics

Keep it coming and we will try and do the subject justice.


You should make it a mini-series. One episode is not enough more such a large build.

[tempesta]

control systems
button and controller options

I still say buy the button and sticks off the net, and hack a keyboard :D

[raggededge]

Some Answers for Daves questions:

Audio Amp's and speaker mountings - IMO, since the cabinet is so large, it really comes down to how much you want to spend. Having the little speakers above the monitor puts the sound right at your level. The bass cabinet can go inside the cabinet. Any modern computer speakers will sound way better than any arcade ever did. Mine can shake the house while playing some old classic games :-)

light boxes, and cabinet graphics - This guy does some of the best graphics and lighting I have seen (http://www.knievelkustoms.com/neonmame.htm)

wood working on a budget - Rent or borrow what you can't buy, I rented a table saw. Other than the table saw, you will need a router, jigsaw, circular saw, and a few bits for a drill to cut holes for controls (spade bits and hole saw bit)

button and controller options, - hack your own, or buy a hagstrom trackball/spinner interface (http://www.hagstromelectronics.com/products/trackball.html). Ipac keyboard encoder for all the buttons (http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html) Happ controls for a lot of other stuff like buttons, trackball, coin door, monitor, even the t-molding for the cabinet (http://www.happcontrols.com/) Ebay is always full of arcade parts. You can also scavenge old broken machines for parts.

screen options - LCD (not too authentic, but easy), TV (Authentic, but doesn't look very good), Arcade Monitor - Buy used and deal with it's frequence and resolution, get the ProVision from Happs Controls (easiest, but $500 plus shipping)

working with plastics - this is easy, use Lexan instead of plexiglass to cover the marquee, and control panel.

Also, maybe you could get John St. Clair on your show, he wrote THE book about all this (http://www.amazon.com/Project-Arcade-Build-Your-Machine/dp/0764556169)

Hope that helps

[raggededge]

I have the Project Arcade book right here in front of me, and there is a good part of a chapter talking about hacking regular PC keyboards to use them as arcade controllers. There are some shortcomings called ghosted keys, but there are some work arounds.

[scienceking]

If you wanted to have something that could work better than anything you'd be able to whip up yourself, and would be easier, you could just use some joybox PS2(or any console) controller to USB adapters, and buy some of the really high end arcade pads you can get in Akihabara and modify them to fit in your case.

[dudemako]

I actually came here tonight to suggest a MAME arcade cabinet, but you guys beat me to the punch. I was looking forward to a winter project, any help Dave & Pat could give would be greatly appreciated!

[movingrushmore]

I'm stoked about the MAME cabinet. Can't wait!

[tempesta]

Yeah this one will be a dead set winner.

[mjh2901]

If you are trying to do a mame show or a mame cabinet show. Maybe split it down. Controls are really hard to do.

If you build a mame cabinet thats an entire show before you pute in the monitor and video machine. Why not make it easy

Asume a working mame computer and use a design that allows an Xarcade stick to be used. Then you can stick to the actual cabinet build.

Then you can revisit the computer setup, perhaps install a coin door system and your own controls in a later episode

[rileyper]

I would love to see them make a mame arcade cabinet, i never could figure out mame and would love it explained(haven't had the chance to tweak it)

[optimus]

VERY much looking forward to this episode.

[raggededge]

I just watched the hak5 3x03 (http://www.hak5.org/) episode about the 1984 arcde place. Great show! I recommend watching all the way to the end when the guy explains the electronics behind the original Pong game.

[lasthand]

I just watched the hak5 3x03 (http://www.hak5.org/) episode about the 1984 arcde place. Great show! I recommend watching all the way to the end when the guy explains the electronics behind the original Pong game.

It is scary how all are being drawn to Revision3

[gta_bmx]

How about also building a replica of the world's first arcade video game? Pong. The cabinets were about 2 feet high and sat on bar counters. They were yellow. Atari put one in the Andy Capp's Pub in Sunnyvale, CA in 1972, and so many people stuffed quarters into it that the coin mechanism jammed.

These Pong cabinets sort of looked like modern day bar video game consoles -- the ones with touchscreen controls and about 30-40 games to choose from.