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--- mame_cabinet [2011/01/08 01:32] – nein
+++ mame_cabinet [2013/11/21 20:35] (current) – moved jarrett
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-====== VHS MAME Cabinet ======
-**Description**
-In case you haven't noticed, there's a full sized four player arcade game in the corner at the hackspace.  The idea is to convert this into a four player MAME system.  The cabinet is
-[[http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.houseofarcades.com/v/vspfiles/photos/Used-BLITZ99-2T.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.houseofarcades.com/Used-NFL-Blitz-99-Arcade-Machine-p/used-blitz99.htm&usg=__gFmS0accsGr1eXH8-IfeRV2gZkA=&h=250&w=187&sz=25&hl=en&start=15&sig2=Wy0HLzqHtFUKMRNwOtxa4Q&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=9b6WAZSrNOzC-M:&tbnh=111&tbnw=83&prev=/images%3Fq%3Darcade%2Bblitz%2B99%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=lks2TK-5ENy5sga53PmyAQ|Blitz 99]]
-Update: So the XBox idea didn't really fly - mostly because I couldn't find a JAMMA to XBox converter that supported four players and we need something to happen with that MAME cabinet soon, as it takes up a lot of space.
-Please modify as you see fit.  I know at least one of you (was it Dallas?) has built a MAME system before.
-[[http://http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2380049/VHS_Mame.skp|Blitz 99 Sketchup model!!]]
-**Currently**
-I have discovered that that JAMMA protocol actually only supports 2 players with 3 buttons each, so it appears that our cabinet is JAMMA Plus, which is a pretty loose spec.  I took a close look at it on Dec 23, and I think we're in good shape.  Ultimarc offer two products, the [[http://www.ultimarc.com/jpac.html|J-Pac]], which is a JAMMA to PC interface, and the [[http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac1.html|I-Pac]], which is a button to PC interface.  The issue was that I really wanted to use the J-Pac interface, which should allow us to use the built-in monitor, but it only supports two players.  Eventually, after some searching, I found that there is a mode where you can connect an I-Pac to a J-Pac to get full 4 player ability.  There's even some space for some extra buttons if we want to go that route down the road.  I have ordered the JPac, and it's arrived.  I'm still waiting for the IPac.
-There is currently a motherboard and processor that can be used as the MAME pc, but it still needs RAM, a hard drive, power supply (and case?).  After some research, it appears that the JPac will pass the signal from the PC to the arcade monitor, but these monitors run at 15Khz, which is too low for most modern video cards.  We'll either have to find an old card (and maybe an old pc that will run it), or go with the VGAArcade card from Ultimarc, which will be another $90.
-The I-Pac Jan 4th.  I installed the WinIPAC software that came with it.  The issue with using the IPAC-2 and the J-Pac together, is that both will send the same keyboard keystrokes, as both the IPac and the JPac with think they are Players 1 and 2, when really, the JPac will control Players 1 and 2, and the IPac will control Players 3 and 4.  To do this, I found the standard MAME key assignments for Players 3 and 4 at [[http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac2.html|http://www.ultimarc.com/ipac2.html]] under the section that says IPac 4 only.  I then opened WinIPAC and reassigned the keystrokes based on that website.  Note that there is still room on the IPac and JPac for three more buttons each, but I've left those spots unassigned for now.
-**Next Steps**
-  - Build a PC running MAME
-  - Test J-Pac interface
-  - Test I-Pac running through the J-Pac
-  - Research MAME frontend
-  - Think of clever name for project
-**Parts List**
-  - Additional buttons
-  - system to run MAME
-  - killer graphics (vinyl?)
-  - new plexi that would allow for better layout of controls (I have some waiting down at VCL)
-  - coat of paint ??
-  - articulating beer holders ??
-**Enhancements**
-Some of the ideas that have come up are:
-  * Add three additional buttons to all players so we can get some sweet Street Fighter action going on.
-  * Add the ability to use four wireless controllers?
-  * Add a projector in the top marquee area?
-  * Some sort of haptic feedback ??
-  * Audio out to 5.1?  NOTE: The current JAMMA spec is only for mono audio, but we could likely do something clever with the audio out from the PC.
-**Other information**
-[[http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_examples.php|Build your own controllers]]
-[[http://www.csse.uwa.edu.au/~wittkamp/mame.html|Good XBOX example]]