my mame project 2

My mame project 2

[Febr 2014]

For some reason the mame virus is back. I am starting my second project. This time a table top in Donkey Kong style. Will be a cheap(ish) setup, which will be a demo on retro computer events.

Step 1 - get some hardware

Lots of cheap pc's and tft/lcd screens. First get the monitor, then I will make measurements for the cab. I decided it would be easiest if the monitor has speakers. We will see if that will be a wise choice. Can always add speakers.

Hardware bought:

Compaq evo d510 usdt p4 2Ghz, 1gb, 80gb hd with xp.

monitor lcd 17" hp with speakers.

Step 2 - order controls

I will go for a classic look, I ordered a 2/4/8 way ball joystick (black), P1&P2 buttons, 3 blue (action) buttons, 3 black buttons, 2 red buttons for credit and maybe a ESC buttons to browse the games. I have not decided yet how many buttons I will use.

[March 2014]

Waiting for stuff to arrive.

Step 3 - setup pc

In the meantime I started to tweak XP and start to copy a fresh set of roms. I noticed that my old set of roms gave a lot of errors with new mame version. I downloaded 0.139 with complete romset. After testing a few frontends mgalaxy works best.

I started to setup mame.ini to get a CRT look on the LCD monitor. As long it is w.i.p. I will not put them here, endresult will be added to this page.

My test games are Pooyan, Varth and Rolling Thunder (vertical classic, vertical scroller and horizontal scroller).

Step 4 - Design

I have some ideas but not a ready design, I think I will make a mock-up in carton, the monitor is the central point from which the cabinet measurements will be made. I printed some art on paper to get an idea for measurements. It a kind of reversed engineering as I am not going for 1:1 size, but will shrink the sizes with the monitor as startpoint. Have som tweaking to do on the downloaded art as some colors differ, and i need some more buttons.

The original cabinet had the monitor deep in side, my table top will get a upright monitor, just behind the bezel, which will make the table top less deep (or maybe with a little angle, will be determined when the bezel is finished).

I want to keep a bit of the ratio intact of the original cabinet, but not 100%.

Bought MDF and plexiglass. Table top will be 61cm high and 45cm deep and 49 wide.

I will use 18mm MDF for the sides and 12mm for the bezel, marquee, top etc. To keep the weight low and it can be easily transported. My first cab weight a ton! I made the sideparts.

I also checked with a local printing house how to print stickers for sideart etc. Price is ok, 21 euro startup and 21 euro per m2. I hope it will be ready next week, the stickers for bezel, marquee and controls will be placed between mdf and plexiglass.

Stickers not ready yet (have to wait a week, they seem to be busy), joystick and buttons arrived. T-Molding also arrived. When stickers are ready I can start making bezel and controls. Have used slot cutter to make nice slide in the MDF for the T-molding. Keyboard interface also arrived. If I wait a week I can construct the joystick, I have to be a little patient for the stickers.

Made a simple windows 16 color bootup image, see right (system now loading).

[March 22, 2014]

I have started with the control panel. I will use 4 action buttons, P1, P2, credits, escape. Maybe I will use a autofire switch button (hidden).

I cut the MDF, made holes, plexi also. Connected all buttons to configurate Mame with controls instead of keyboard. I have a cheap chinese usb controller board. MGalaxy doesn't recognise it. Will look into it, for now a small program joytokey.exe helps.

Stickers are ready, nice glossy and deep color. I finished the controls (see photo right). Only one blue button missing. I used white 12mm T-Molding on the front edge. 4 shiny round screws around the joystick and 2 on the bottom. On the top the buttons hold the plexi in place. The top plexi is not straight enough cut, but I can hide it behind the bezel ;)

Waiting on delivery of the last blue button. Next is Bezel and Marquee, and front strip (which will hold the misc. buttons for escape and credits).

The color blue I will use is NCS 1050-B10G (which all dutch DIY shops can make for you).

[April 5, 2014]

Last blue button arrived. I also have made first step in building the cabinet from the made parts. It still is a lot of measuring and measuring it again. Will post some photo's soon. I am almost ready to ground the cabinet. After that it is painting and painting, and finish it.

Looking good already. Can't wait to play some games.

[April 13, 2014]

First layer of primer is on. Not much progress this weekend.

[April 18, 2014]

Inside is painted matt black. Joystick is being glued to the cabinet as we speak. I hope to paint the outside blue and attach the bezel tomorrow. Pictures will follow.

[Mai 30, 2014]

Project was paused because of some other priorities. Will continue soon.

[September, 2014]

After a cabinet building break, I continued the project.

Cab is finished!

[October, 2014]

Sound isn't too good from the monitor speakers. I have bought Logitech 2.1 set which will be fitted in he cab.

Overall cost so far:

PC .................. 25 euro (used)

Monitor ............. 10 euro (used)

Joystick & buttons .. 38 euro (new)

USB encoder ......... 8 euro (new)