What cabinet should I make?

jumbone

I have an old piece of shit computer that I would like to do something fun with and I was thinking of making a game cabinet. I have no real interest in arcade gaming (I think it was before my time tbh) but I do like 8 bit and 16 bit console games. I was thinking of making something that can can house the computer for emulators, a NES and a SNES. I would like to make either full size or countertop cabinet (not a bartop/cocktail table)

Screen-wise, I have a choice of either a white 19 inch CRT PC monitor or a black 19 inch LCD PC monitor.

The CRT has the knobs to change the size of the picture on screen so i'd probably shrink the screen a little to make sure you cannot see the white behind the bezel. It only has a VGA input so i'm not sure how i'd handle switching inputs, would this work:

A vga switch box with the computer and this cable plugged in [http://cgi.ebay.ie/290529878655] and then the NES connected to the adapter by composite RCA and the SNES connected using an S-Video cable like this URL]http://cgi.ebay.ie/140516947835[/URL

The LCD has both a VGA and a DVI input. I'm pretty sure it supports the analogue on DVI so an adapter could probably change it to a VGA or some other analogue input (maybe RGB scart for the SNES?)Another plus for the LCD is that it is on a stand which allows 90 degree rotation (As I said, I don't really play arcade games but I'd play the likes of Space Invaders or Galaga if I had the screen for it). A downside of the LCD is that light guns don't work on them (I have duck hunt and a zapper for the NES)

Alternatively, I could try find a cheap/free TV on adverts/gumtree as I find that old games look better on CRT and a telly would be better for the consoles (and the gun would work). That would also mean that I would have less work to do regarding speakers.

As for controls, i'd like to keep my Nintendo pads (2x NES, 1x NES Advantage 1x Orange Zapper and 2x SNES) standard so i'd probably use something like retrousb's USB RetroPorts [http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=28] [http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=29] but is there a multitap type version that will allow multiple contollers on 1 USB port? I would like arcade controls but i may just rely on the advantage or else buy a premade joystick/button board

Also, are there any sites that have plans for cabinets and photos of how they look assembled that I could have a look at to try and decide on a shape?

I'll post up the spec of the computer i'll be using later.

CiDeRmAn

Will a monitor rather than a tv run zapper guns ok?
According to the interweb you need a monitor refreshing at 60hz (presumably this changes to 50hz with a PAL game, not sure...).
Given that you have to have the Nes controllers and guns you have to use the CRT.
Its going to wind up being a great big box though, with that CRT housed in it.
With it being that size, why not go for something like a 22" monitor or something, put it into a full size cab?
Perhaps try a build of a Lethal Enforcers style cab, with holsters for the Zapper Guns?

I'm not sure how well 8/16 bit games would work in a cab format, Nes games were available in arcade formats over the years, but it could wind up looking a bit ugly, instead of having arcade controls you have a selection of controllers for every supported console sprouting for somewhere on the cab.

Why not make a small tabletop exclusively for the Nes? And drop the need for the controllers and instead make a simple set of controls on the front instead?

Could be very cool!

o1s1n

You need to build one of these!

Optimus Prime

Hahaha you have to love the Cup holder wings!

Myrddin

keithgeo wrote: »

Hahaha you have to love the Cup holder wings!

They're for 'Rad drinks of soda, when your too hot from all the Nintendo POWER'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eegQI9WM6mk

jumbone

o1s1n wrote: »

You need to build one of these!

I was actually looking at that earlier today! It's a bit of a fat bastard though, especially with the cupholder. It is a great job for a 13 year old in the 80s however.

Duck Hunt isn't a necessity per se. The NES stuff actually belongs to my brother but i'm on the lookout for one of my own (thats why i'm reluctant to mod the controllers). Then again he has had my SNES for over a year and still hasn't given it back...

I hadn't thought about zappers not working on a CRT monitor

Also, that monitor is actually a 17 or 18 inch (and a fat bastard)when I measured it so I might just use the LCD...

For now, forget about the NES so (and duck hunt unfortunately), and assume i'll emulate it. The new idea is to use an x-arcade controller URL]http://www.xgaming.com/[/URL (until I have the cash and confidence to make my own control panel) and have NES and SNES ports on the front of the cabinet for the advantage/normal pads like so:



The only problem being that they don't support a fourscore and the pc doesn't have that many USB ports. I would also be open to getting some USB sega pads for megadrive so maybe a USB hub at the front would be required.

So that makes the screen choice the only problem now I think, or if I decide to emulate everything and decide not to make my own controls yet then I have no problems!

For now, does anybody have any links to a nice looking set of plans for a PC based cabinet with a ~19 inch LCD monitor.

Also, what sort of arcade games can be played on a Pentium 2 or do i need a better computer for it as well? I know the P2 can handle SNES NES and mega drive games but I have no idea about arcade requirements.

jumbone

OK, I know its hard to follow this thread already so heres what I would really like the cabinet to do:

• Gameboy (I used to play pokemon on my PC years ago )

• NES (real or emulated)

• SNES (real or emulated)

• N64 (would require a controller though)

• Master System (emulated)

• Mega Drive/Mega Drive 2/Genesis (emulated)

or one of those licenced sega clones that are all inside the gamepad if any of ye think they're any good.

• Arcade/ MAME (no experience with mame but i would only use it for the likes of Pacman and space invaders etc...)

• A nice frontend bearing in mind the bad hardware
• Possibly a jukebox
• Anything else that would be cool on a pc cab

Myrddin

jumbone wrote: »

OK, I know its hard to follow this thread already so heres what I would really like the cabinet to do:

• Gameboy (I used to play pokemon on my PC years ago )

• NES (real or emulated)

• SNES (real or emulated)

• N64 (would require a controller though)

• Master System (emulated)

• Mega Drive/Mega Drive 2/Genesis (emulated)

or one of those licenced sega clones that are all inside the gamepad if any of ye think they're any good.

• Arcade/ MAME (no experience with mame but i would only use it for the likes of Pacman and space invaders etc...)

• A nice frontend bearing in mind the bad hardware
• Possibly a jukebox
• Anything else that would be cool on a pc cab

Tbh I'd just build a Mame cab & emulate all those systems. It'd be a massive pita changing games in real consoles all the time, swapping psu's, getting the display etc working for all of them.

A nice Jamma cab, a pc with a jpac (to function as your pcb), & Hyperspin. You'll accomplish a lot more, for much less hassle that way.

jumbone

EnterNow wrote: »

Tbh I'd just build a Mame cab & emulate all those systems. It'd be a massive pita changing games in real consoles all the time, swapping psu's, getting the display etc working for all of them.

A nice Jamma cab, a pc with a jpac (to function as your pcb), & Hyperspin. You'll accomplish a lot more, for much less hassle that way.

What is the point of a jamma cab with a pc as the pcb? could i not just use a pc running the emulators with the display coming from the video card and the contols on usb?

i'm quite obviously not a purist so i don't see the need for a cabinet wired like one you'd find in an actual arcade.

Also, is it as easy to find coinop ROMS for say NES games as it is to fing the normal sort? I'd love a working coindoor in the future but for now maybe map it too a button

Myrddin

jumbone wrote: »

What is the point of a jamma cab with a pc as the pcb? could i not just use a pc running the emulators with the display coming from the video card and the contols on usb?

i'm quite obviously not a purist so i don't see the need for a cabinet wired like one you'd find in an actual arcade.

Also, is it as easy to find coinop ROMS for say NES games as it is to fing the normal sort? I'd love a working coindoor in the future but for now maybe map it too a button

Authentic display (low-res crt), authentic arcade controls etc. If your not going for the authentic feel...just use the consoles or your pc & save yourself the time & effort.

o1s1n

jumbone wrote: »

What is the point of a jamma cab with a pc as the pcb? could i not just use a pc running the emulators with the display coming from the video card and the contols on usb?

i'm quite obviously not a purist so i don't see the need for a cabinet wired like one you'd find in an actual arcade.

Also, is it as easy to find coinop ROMS for say NES games as it is to fing the normal sort? I'd love a working coindoor in the future but for now maybe map it too a button

As Enternow said, it's all about the monitor. Arcade games look like arcade games because of the monitor. So that's the ideal route. I've seen Megadrive games running on an arcade monitor too and it looked amazing. Haven't seen the NES, but I'd say it would look great too.

Just to let you know too, getting multiple systems going in a cab is a logistical nightmare. I went this route, and although I love it, you need an absolute pile of stuff! Plus you always have to swap it in and out. It's not for most people.

Your best route would be to either to buy a JAMMA cab and JPAC/MAME pc it like Enternow said..or else build your own. Couple of lads were working on countertops ones here recently. Be worth having a look through these threads -

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056162873

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056172446

jumbone

EnterNow wrote: »

Authentic display (low-res crt), authentic arcade controls etc. If your not going for the authentic feel...just use the consoles or your pc & save yourself the time & effort.

Aside from an xarcade controller like the one i mentioned above, is there no way of having arcade contols connected by usb or even a PCI card?

I'm actually looking for a project to do (well to do this summer) and the old pc and monitors are taking up space in my bedroom so I thought an arcade-style cabinet would be a cool toy to have about the place. Unfortunately, while I like some retro gaming, I have now realised that I don't know all that much about arcade stuff.

As for low res, could i get away with DOS emulators like nesticle which have a scan lines mode or would that just look weird on an LCD?

Is there such a thing as a nintendo vs emulator? and are roms available? That seems like it could solve a few problems for me especially as mame seems to have very high requirements...

Optimus Prime

Yep the Jpac mentioned above or a ipac connect via usb, you just buy the arcade buttons and joysticks and wire them into these.

Myrddin

jumbone wrote: »

Aside from an xarcade controller like the one i mentioned above, is there no way of having arcade contols connected by usb or even a PCI card?

I'm actually looking for a project to do (well to do this summer) and the old pc and monitors are taking up space in my bedroom so I thought an arcade-style cabinet would be a cool toy to have about the place. Unfortunately, while I like some retro gaming, I have now realised that I don't know all that much about arcade stuff.

As for low res, could i get away with DOS emulators like nesticle which have a scan lines mode or would that just look weird on an LCD?

Is there such a thing as a nintendo vs emulator? and are roms available? That seems like it could solve a few problems for me especially as mame seems to have very high requirements...

Forgive me but I'm not quite sure what your looking to do here...are you just looking to build an arcade style cabinet to house all your consoles? If so, then there's nothing arcade-wise that you actually need. You'd have to pad-hack arcade style buttons & joysticks into existing joypad cables, & doing that for multiple consoles sounds like more than a project. You'd be better having all the controllers in little pull out drawers or something, all within comfortable reach of the gaming position.

If your looking to use arcade-parts such as the low res screen etc, then yeah a lot of games will look great, but only the arcadey-type games (shmups etc)...Zelda 2 on a low-res crt wouldn't do it for me personally If your going this route, I'd definitely look at emulation of the needed systems. You can configure a nice frontend with system themes for each system & then have individual game themes & preview videos for each game (I have this working on Hyperspin, it's very very nice). This way there's no faffing about hacking up controllers, the jpac will handle & interface your arcade controls to your pc etc etc.

Roms are availble for the NES Playchoice (I think that's what it was called), basically the coin-op NES games & many more.