If there was a MAME console would you buy it?

[homerhomer]

Since the technology is cheap this imaginary console would focus on packaging and controls.

First off, the game would have to be packaged in something like a DVD jewel case or a Genesis box. Included would be nice inserts of the game, instructions and what ever else collectors might like.

Each game might come with a controller that resembles the original arcade controller

Ikari Warriors would come with special rotary joystick
Marble Madness would come with a track ball
Asteroids would come with a 5 button layout controls

** I do understand the paperboy would be ridiculous

Just curious of what you all think.

[Edmond Dantes]

I would actually buy this.

Yes, Paperboy would be silly, but if the company was actually willing to do something that truly lets me recreate the arcade experience at home like this, then I would be all over it.

[XYXZYZ]

I used to think of a console like this, like a Neo Geo AES for other arcade games. It would function essentially like a supergun with proper cartridges rather than the aesthetically sloppy circuit board wired to a small box. Cartridges would come in a Genesis-like box, and would have the original artwork and a picture of the original arcade machine right on the box. I'd also like to figure out a way to include marquee, bezel, and control panel art. Maybe joystick overlays for each game, kind of like how Intellivision had those controller inserts. Or each game could come with stickers! And they'd all come with one of those little paper arcade machines you can cut out and put together yourself.

[buzz_n64]

I would totally buy this. These would be the first games I get-

MICHAEL JACKSON'S MOONWALKER
GUNFORCE 2 / GEOSTORM (JAP)
THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE AVENGERS
DONKEY KONG

[sheath]

Since I already have an HTPC and MAME set up the only reason I would buy this would be for the physical copy of these games. It also wouldn't hurt if the MAMEBOX would actually come set up to play the games like a console would, I get so sick of trying to get control schemes to work I hardly ever play games in MAME. Also, the box's emulation would have to aim for total accuracy not just high level emulation like most MAME games use. Otherwise it would be little better than one of those shoddily emulated the PS2 and Xbox got.

Oh, and for Arcade games unlimited continues should not be an option.

[XYXZYZ]

Oh, and for Arcade games unlimited continues should not be an option.

I generally agree with this, but I do think it's a good thing to have with four player beat-em ups and "party" kind of games where you're just sitting around with friends mashing buttons until the end of the game.

[XianXi]

I have a supergun which is basically the homemade version of that type of console.

Do you mean the games would be licensed as a normal console but kinda expanding on the idea of the Neo Geo since it's arcade perfect and not a port?

[sheath]

I generally agree with this, but I do think it's a good thing to have with four player beat-em ups and "party" kind of games where you're just sitting around with friends mashing buttons until the end of the game.

Yeah, I don't think I have any buddies that would want to actually play through a beat-em up multiple times to get it down. The Simpsons on XBLA shares limited continues and the only guys I know that will play it haven't wanted to since the first time we played it. The same guys played all the way through X-Men with me, but only once. ;)

[sloan]

Of course.

I, Robot
Gaplus
Make Trax
Crazy Climber
Rygar
Super Pac Man

The gaming fun would be endless.

[123►Genei-Jin]

nope.
MAME and it's ROMsets keep getting updated way too frequently, I rather keep managing and tracking everything on my PC.

[hellraiser]

Would t2 come with a pair of cool guns?

[TonyTheTiger]

It really depends on the setup. If we're talking essentially a gussied up consolized MAME cab then probably not. But a relatively inexpensive equivalent to a Neo Geo for other arcade hardware? Yeah, definitely. Hell, a CPS-1/CPS-2 console alone is something I'd pounce on. But, yeah, price and volume would be the biggest issue. I'm not sure how much I'd be willing to pay for one old arcade game, particularly if it has gotten an arcade perfect release on one of the many compilations out there.

[Edmond Dantes]

Cartridges would come in a Genesis-like box, and would have the original artwork and a picture of the original arcade machine right on the box. I'd also like to figure out a way to include marquee, bezel, and control panel art.

You could include control panel art right there in the case.


I would totally buy this. These would be the first games I get-

MICHAEL JACKSON'S MOONWALKER
GUNFORCE 2 / GEOSTORM (JAP)
THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD
CAPTAIN AMERICA AND THE AVENGERS
DONKEY KONG

You have good tastes, my friend. I would kill to have a good console version of Geostorm.

Add to that: X-Multiply, Gunforce 1 (its flawed but I like it), R-Type Leo, Armed Police Unit Gallop, and probably about a million fighting games as well.


Since I already have an HTPC and MAME set up the only reason I would buy this would be for the physical copy of these games. It also wouldn't hurt if the MAMEBOX would actually come set up to play the games like a console would, I get so sick of trying to get control schemes to work I hardly ever play games in MAME. Also, the box's emulation would have to aim for total accuracy not just high level emulation like most MAME games use. Otherwise it would be little better than one of those shoddily emulated the PS2 and Xbox got.

Well, the "console" could be just a JAMMA board, and the "cartridge" could just be the chips to the original game... cartridge-ized. I guess? Or did I just fail technology forever there?


Oh, and for Arcade games unlimited continues should not be an option.

Or rather, it should be something you set with a dip switch. Those who want unlimited continues can have them, those who don't can turn them off.

I do think "off" should be the default.

[sheath]

Well, the "console" could be just a JAMMA board, and the "cartridge" could just be the chips to the original game... cartridge-ized. I guess? Or did I just fail technology forever there?

Or rather, it should be something you set with a dip switch. Those who want unlimited continues can have them, those who don't can turn them off.

I do think "off" should be the default.

If we're talking about real hardware it wouldn't be MAME anymore. Even with JAMMA there would be a ton of games that wouldn't be compatible. My Zaxxon and Shinobi cabinets aren't JAMMA compatible because they predate it, at least I assume that's why. I wanted to take my Shinobi cabinet and figure out the wiring for the Arcade board to the cabinet so I could put my NEO GEO and Samurai Shodown in there too.

There's plenty of room for two circuit boards, but I couldn't find any wiring diagrams when I tried. It's basically like trying to figure out how a Genesis and SNES output RGB, power and controller lines and making them cross compatible. If a company wanted to make a Multiple Arcade Machine Box they could probably just establish a standard and make their carts or disks compatible. Carts would either need the real hardware or chips powerful enough to emulate real hardware and at that point we're right back to the problems introduced by emulation.

[XYXZYZ]

Well, the "console" could be just a JAMMA board, and the "cartridge" could just be the chips to the original game... cartridge-ized. I guess? Or did I just fail technology forever there?


Sort of, JAMMA is just a wiring standard. It means that all the different signals will always be on the same pins on every board, so you can plug any board into any cabinet with a JAMMA harness and it will work without problem. It has nothing to do with the processor or the way the game works, just the output signals.

So to do this cartridge based arcade system, you'd have to program every game from scratch, just like the old console ports. If you truly wanted the original game ROM (Like the Neo Geo AES), you'd need the original processor for that game as well, and then you're essentially talking about a supergun. (which is really just a video encoder in a box)

[XYXZYZ]

If we're talking about real hardware it wouldn't be MAME anymore. Even with JAMMA there would be a ton of games that wouldn't be compatible. My Zaxxon and Shinobi cabinets aren't JAMMA compatible because they predate it, at least I assume that's why. I wanted to take my Shinobi cabinet and figure out the wiring for the Arcade board to the cabinet so I could put my NEO GEO and Samurai Shodown in there too.

Actually Sega System 16 doesn't predate JAMMA, Sega just decided to go with their own wiring standard. I guess to sell more dedicated cabinets.

It sounds like you need a standard JAMMA cabinet, if you want to use your Shinobi cabinet for that I'd recommend completely replacing the System 16 harness with a JAMMA harness, then get a System 16 to JAMMA adapter to play your Sega games. Of course, you'd need additional modification to play Neo Geo on JAMMA.

[sheath]

Actually Sega System 16 doesn't predate JAMMA, Sega just decided to go with their own wiring standard. I guess to sell more dedicated cabinets.

It sounds like you need a standard JAMMA cabinet, if you want to use your Shinobi cabinet for that I'd recommend completely replacing the System 16 harness with a JAMMA harness, then get a System 16 to JAMMA adapter to play your Sega games. Of course, you'd need additional modification to play Neo Geo on JAMMA.

That's interesting, I remember reading Rosen was advocating a standard Arcade wiring system before the "crash". I wonder if the crudely constructed "super gun" I inherited with my NEO GEO board would help with turning that Shinobi cabinet into something. I still need to replace the monitor too, but have never been able to justify the cost. It would be pretty danged cool to have a working cross compatible Arcade cabinet, since my Shinobi cabinet is just plyboard with generic wood print I could create my own decals and everything.

[XYXZYZ]

If you have a supergun, I suppose you could replace your monitor with a television and use that. I doubt the video would look as good though. Ever thought about a MAME box for your cab?

Does anyone here know if a supergun with a TV looks as good as an arcade monitor?

[Compute]

Arcade-quality controls with every game? That sounds expensive, especially on games with odd custom controls. You could program an FPGA to be the logic/etc on these boards and make a cart of some kind, but that will cost a boat load of time. You'd be better off building a Supergun and picking up the boards you want (and x-to-JAMMA adapters where necessary).

[OldSchoolGamer]

nope.
Mame and it's romsets keep getting updated way too frequently, i rather keep managing and tracking everything on my pc.

this.

[sheath]

If you have a supergun, I suppose you could replace your monitor with a television and use that. I doubt the video would look as good though. Ever thought about a MAME box for your cab?

Does anyone here know if a supergun with a TV looks as good as an arcade monitor?

I already have mame on my htpc, but yes I thought about putting another older. Pc I have in the cabinet. I think I would rather convert the cabinet to Jamma so I can see some of these games on real hardware again.

[BydoEmpire]

I'd buy it if the price was right.