Project Start
Date:
September 2000.
Project
Finished:
October 2000.
(It went fast)
Webpage
Created:
December 2001.
(This took awhile)
Total
Cost:
Approximately $200 at the time.
Tips:
Get
or borrow a router with a slotting bit(1/16th inch).
Use it to form
the groove for the T-molding; avoid Dremels.
When using contact
paper or wallpaper on the sides of the cabinet, overlap the edges so when
you attach the T-molding it holds down the paper (edges look
cleaner).
When drilling the 1-1/8 inch holes
for the control panel, draw your layout first, then cut your plexglas to
size and clamp it to your control top.
Use a paddle-type drill
bit with a center spike, cut holes out of your plexi, but only cut slightly
into the wood to mark it.
Remove the plexi and then cut the holes
all the way through the wood. This way all the holes line up properly for
assembly.
Helpful
Links:
Mame.dk
ArcadeControls
site
Contact Martian
Dude (aka Alan):
Email
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Background
Around the spring of 1998 I became aware of the MAME (Multi Arcade Machine Emulators) project,
all because my girlfriend was unsuccessful in finding Q-bert for our
Sega Genesis. So, off to the internet I went to search for some version
of the game. My main reason for pursuing this was to avoid finishing my Masters
thesis, which was required to graduate. I needed a distraction,
and boy did I find one! Q-bert was of course in an old version of MAME,
and that would have been the end of the story except that some crazy people
out there were building their own arcade machines. So a chemistry degree
and a job later, I was sort of ready.
Well, as the heat of summer started to wane into
fall, I decided to start the mame machine project. At the time
there really was a limited number of examples to emulate, so to speak.
There were only 10 or 20 examples out there with many a broken web
link, as I recall. The best example was from LuSid's site and I would have
done the standard knock-off, but I was broke. I had just bought my first
house and was strapped for cash and particularly impatient to have a
finished arcade machine. So I made mental notes (very different from
written notes) on any tricks, contruction tips et cetera from the handful
of websites. I won't bore everyone with the details of contruction, because
clearly there are better examples out there.
I will make general comments
on materials. I bought (3) 4x8 foot sheets of evil particle board, a
couple 8 foot 1x2 inch wood for bracing, and some plexiglas. The real cost
of the project comes from the electronics, monitor and so on. Well here's
where being a cheap college slob comes in handy. The monitor was $35, I
got it from a guy that buys government equipment on auction. It does have
some lines at the top under hi resolution, but they are invisible under standard
arcade game resolution. The computer is my old graduate school friend left
to die in a closet. The joystick, buttons, and T-molding came from Happs,
of course. The Looney wallpaper design and extras came from my
understanding girlfriend, so far.
MarvinCade
Features:
1.
One stuffed alien
2. 2 Player controls with 3 buttons
each.
3. 5 Additional buttons for configuration and start
keys.
4. Pull out keyboard tray and mouse.
5. Pentium II
300 system with 128 mb ram.
6. 25 cent thrift store keyboard with hack
interface.
7. 19 inch NEC PC monitor.
8. Free Coin door
(money only) for easy access to PC. (From a friendly local arcade vendor)
9. Custom designed Econo-cabinet (for
those on a budget)
10. Currently Running numerous Win base Mame
versions.
Pictures:
Note: The ugly guy below is harmless.
Just don't taunt him with Rogaine or Olestra.
Control panel with glow-in-the-dark Looney Constellations
Side art (Looney Tunes
wallpaper)
Front view with Marvin lurking above
Evil scientist at play
Recent
Update: (More for the informed arcade crowd)
I
replaced the keyboard interface with an I-Pac. The whole ghosting problem
is more severe for older keyboards. With friends over we were constantly
messing up the others ability to play, and it became intolerable. Also, as a
thought or tip, with the new J-Pac it seems easier to buy a brain dead
jamma cabinet with monitor than to build it from scratch. Since it was
introduced on Sept 11th it
seems to have been overlooked.
In the meantime I have been on an
original arcade purchasing binge. Keep in mind I have paid usually around
$50 for all my machines and they were all broken. I have a Tron,
Arkanoid (cocktail), Chase HQ, and POW (with Metal SlugX guts). As a
result I have gotten pretty good at monitor repair and each machine now
works.
In conclusion, I have one ardent prayer to the emulation
gods above please bring Metal Slug 3 to my humble emulator. It looks
really cool and I can't afford the $220 price tag for a MVS cart.
Thanks! (Prayers answered on Mame version 0.57) Oh yea... the girlfriend wants Wild West C.O.W. Boys of Moo Mesa. Thanks!
Feel free to email me any comments or
condemnations |
