Dreamcast Arcade - How do you do this? (vid included)

[geneshifter]

I stumbled across this and I am going to have to try it:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VYDoCSHM7Y0

It says in the description that is is running with a Dreamcast and a JAMMA interface with an arcade monitor. Does anyone know what a JAMMA interface is and how to set up something like this? I must have.

[CosmicMonkey]

Putting a Dreamcast in a cab is quite a simple thing to do. There are ready made kits such as the Super (http://www.excellentcom.net/super1.asp) and kits for other consoles such as PS2 and Xbox. These kits generally provide credit functionality, which you're not gonna use at home and they are quite expensive.

Easiest way to put a DC in a cab is to hack a couple of pads to a JAMMA fingerboard to provide controls and use a modded DC VGA box to output a 15/31Khz signal to your monitor. You will need to amp the audio though, which means either a small amp or (as I do) use an external powered sub for overall better sound quality. In fact, it's pretty much the same for putting any console in a cab: you hack a couple of pads and an RGB Scart cable and wire them to a JAMMA fingerboard.

[Pantechnicon]

This is a half-baked idea, but I wonder if it's possible, instead of building a full-blown JAMMA rig, to use something like an X-Arcade or a Hanaho Hot Rod in conjunction with one of those adapters that lets you attach a PS/2 keyboard to your Dreamcast? You might have to do some control reprogramming, and I have no idea where you'd put a VMU, but it seems possible. Does anyone around here have the hardware and free time to try this out?

[CosmicMonkey]

I don't understand why you'd want to complicate things and use a crap X-Arcade with a converter when you can use an official DC arcade stick? If all you want to do is play DC shooters in TATE mode you just need to turn your telly on its side. Preferably a TV with RGB Scart connection.

If you have an arcade cab, then use a Super or get your soldering iron out.

[Pantechnicon]

I don't understand why you'd want to complicate things and use a crap X-Arcade with a converter when you can use an official DC arcade stick?

I'm not trying to complicate anything, but rather simplify matters for the benefit of the OP. The context of his post (i.e. - "What's a JAMMA interface?") suggests that he may not be that knowledgeable about such things. It's all well and good to come in and make suggestions about hacking this and modding that if one's audience is well-versed in the jargon. If not, then there's nothing wrong with suggesting more low-tech solutions as well. Maybe he wants to just play Ikaruga with an arcade stick without necessarily going through the autodidactic route to home arcade machine designing. If so, then I suggest the following:

http://www.x-arcade.com/dreamcast.shtml

[geneshifter]

I'm not trying to complicate anything, but rather simplify matters for the benefit of the OP. The context of his post (i.e. - "What's a JAMMA interface?") suggests that he may not be that knowledgeable about such things. It's all well and good to come in and make suggestions about hacking this and modding that if one's audience is well-versed in the jargon. If not, then there's nothing wrong with suggesting more low-tech solutions.

http://www.x-arcade.com/dreamcast.shtml

Yeah, you're correct. I'm not knowledgeable at all about this stuff and that's why I posted this. I have never modded anything but I'm fairly certain I could do it because I have worked with electronics and soldering in the past. To tell the truth, though, if just running the games in TATE mode with an X-arcade stick would work, that's all I would need.

[CosmicMonkey]

I have no idea why you'd want an X-Arcade, they're crap. Use an official DC arcade stick and then mod it with some lovely Sanwa components.

To simplify matters, you want to play your DC shooters in TATE mode, yes? Well you either turn your telly on its side or use an arcade monitor. If you want to output your DC to an arcade monitor, you just need to hack up a DC Scart cable or use a DC VGA box.

[Lerxstnj]

You might have to do some control reprogramming, and I have no idea where you'd put a VMU, but it seems possible. Does anyone around here have the hardware and free time to try this out?

You put the VMU into a DC controller plugged into 3 or 4, since the X-Arcade (or other arcade controller) is most likely only using ports 1 and 2.
If you have the real DC arcade controller, then the VMU slot is there.

I have multiple DC arcade setups. It's much cheaper than buying real arcade machines and I can swap disks whenever I want to change games.
I never tried an arcade monitor, only use old tvs and one with crt and vga adapter.

[isufje]

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/arc_dc1.html

This is the step by step guide to get a DC hooked up to a JAMMA Cab. If you can't afford a JAMMA Cab., I'd recommend a decent sized RGB monitor and maybe a MAS STICK http://www.massystems.com/. That's a relatively cheap way to go.

[jwm2]

If you dont mind spending some money you can find jamma to dc converters on ebay from time to time. They usually go for about $150-250+, so you'll have to spend some cash to get one.