Who has a MAME arcade?

[rob black]

I’m debating weather to build one or not. What’s currently stopping me is I live in a 1 bedroom apartment; however I do plan to move out early 2007. So might as well start planning ahead. Here are some questions:

How hard is it to wire the controllers? & hook them up to your PC?

Am I better off buying them “Controller kits” I see on eBay?

How about using the X-Arcade joystick?

Is it possible to use dual monitors (for playing games like X-MEN\golden Axe type games)?

I see they have Virtual Cop for the PC, is there any PC Light Guns? Do the guns work with MAME games (like Police Trainer?)

How hard is it building one?

Where can I get the latest/best version of MAME? A google search brought up like 8 different versions.


Thanks for your time

[Flack]

I’m debating weather to build one or not. What’s currently stopping me is I live in a 1 bedroom apartment; however I do plan to move out early 2007. So might as well start planning ahead. Here are some questions:

How hard is it to wire the controllers? & hook them up to your PC?

Am I better off buying them “Controller kits” I see on eBay?

How about using the X-Arcade joystick?

Is it possible to use dual monitors (for playing games like X-MEN\golden Axe type games)?

I see they have Virtual Cop for the PC, is there any PC Light Guns? Do the guns work with MAME games (like Police Trainer?)

How hard is it building one?

Where can I get the latest/best version of MAME? A google search brought up like 8 different versions.


Thanks for your time

Wiring controllers is pretty simple if you use something like an encoder like the ipac. It gets a little more complex if you hack a gamepad or keyboard, but those methods are also a little cheaper so it's a matter of ease versus money.

You are "better off" buying a controller kit off eBay if you don't want to build your own.

The latest version of MAME supports using multiple monitors, so yes, it is possible.

Yes, there are light guns that work with the PC and MAME.

The latest version of MAME can be found at mame.net. The "best" version depends on what you're wanting to do with it. The "best" version for a slow PC running DOS wouldn't be MAME 32 which only runs in Windows, for example.

As for your last question ... slapping together a MAME cabinet that works isn't that hard, but building one that looks good and acts right can take a lot of elbow grease. You'll need to do a lot of software configuration and a lot of manual labor to get your cabinet exactly how you want it. In the end it's worth the effort, but that's the key word ... effort.

Good luck!

[rob black]

Thanks for the info!

I think I will build a single monitor arcade. I dont want to get ahead of myself and a do a dual.


Thanks again :D

[XYXZYZ]

Here is an online community of people who build MAME cabinets, knock yourself out.

http://arcadecontrols.com/

Here's mine- an old Pro Play cabinet with a modded Xbox running MAME.

http://videogamecollectors.com/albums/XYXZYZ-s-gaming-setup/cabinet.jpg

http://videogamecollectors.com/albums/XYXZYZ-s-gaming-setup/Xboxcab.jpg

http://videogamecollectors.com/albums/XYXZYZ-s-gaming-setup/tatecab.jpg

[srabelpawz]

Here is an online community of people who build MAME cabinets, knock yourself out.

http://arcadecontrols.com/

Here's mine- an old Pro Play cabinet with a modded Xbox running MAME.

http://videogamecollectors.com/albums/XYXZYZ-s-gaming-setup/cabinet.jpg

http://videogamecollectors.com/albums/XYXZYZ-s-gaming-setup/Xboxcab.jpg

http://videogamecollectors.com/albums/XYXZYZ-s-gaming-setup/tatecab.jpg

what frontend are you using??

[XYXZYZ]

It's just MAMEoX 128plus for Xbox. It has it's own interface.

Here's the skin I made-


http://videogamecollectors.com/albums/XYXZYZ-s-gaming-setup/MAMEGUI.jpg