Oh man, a MAME machine 30 minutes away for $400
- Thread starter ZForce915
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Dude, that is not the cabinet you are looking for. The controls are at an angle to the screen which is a huge no-no. Those joysticks looks like Happ Supers or some other generic 8-way stick. Ever try playing a 4-way game with an 8-way stick? Terrible (although you could add a dedicated 4-way stick to the CP). I also don't see any "admin" buttons to control the front end (although they don't have to be on the CP). The TV is OK but you'd be better off with a real arcade monitor. If it was like $200 I'd say go for it and just strip it for parts. Plus, don't you want your MAME machine to have a spinner and trackball too? 
[quote name='javeryh']Dude, that is not the cabinet you are looking for. The controls are at an angle to the screen which is a huge no-no. Those joysticks looks like Happ Supers or some other generic 8-way stick. Ever try playing a 4-way game with an 8-way stick? Terrible (although you could add a dedicated 4-way stick to the CP). I also don't see any "admin" buttons to control the front end (although they don't have to be on the CP). The TV is OK but you'd be better off with a real arcade monitor. If it was like $200 I'd say go for it and just strip it for parts. Plus, don't you want your MAME machine to have a spinner and trackball too? [/QUOTE]
The man is making some real sense here.
[/QUOTE]The man is making some real sense here.
My MAME "machine" is an x-arcade dual. I think I payed 110 dollars for it? Quality stuff, I'd say.
I just hook it up to my desktop, though I could always build the bartop I want to build for it... Still, I too am poor.
http://dorino.net/arcadecabinet.png
Ever played Super Smash Bros. Brawl against a friend, with an arcade controller?
I have.
I have.
I just hook it up to my desktop, though I could always build the bartop I want to build for it... Still, I too am poor.
http://dorino.net/arcadecabinet.png
Ever played Super Smash Bros. Brawl against a friend, with an arcade controller?
I have.
I have.
[quote name='eddie291']I don't know much about MAME but isn't the price a dead giveaway? I've always thought you need to spend at least $1k to have a quality cabinet.[/QUOTE]
You thought wrong. Also, this is buying one second hand, so price is lower there, too.
A decent mame cabinet can run 500-600 dollars, including an arcade monitor, control panel's board, some good joysticks, buttons (add 100 for trackball/spinners) and materials. Use any old junker PC; MAME isn't ver demanding.
You thought wrong. Also, this is buying one second hand, so price is lower there, too.
A decent mame cabinet can run 500-600 dollars, including an arcade monitor, control panel's board, some good joysticks, buttons (add 100 for trackball/spinners) and materials. Use any old junker PC; MAME isn't ver demanding.
[quote name='dorino']You thought wrong. Also, this is buying one second hand, so price is lower there, too.
A decent mame cabinet can run 500-600 dollars, including an arcade monitor, control panel's board, some good joysticks, buttons (add 100 for trackball/spinners) and materials. Use any old junker PC; MAME isn't ver demanding.[/QUOTE]
I think it depends on what you are looking to get out of a MAME cab. Mine generally average about $1,000 each but I build them from scratch and I am meticulous. I probably spend $100 on just paint. You could slap something together or get one off of eBay for $200 if you wanted but if you have to please the wife or girlfriend in order to get it in the house you are going to have to spend a lot more. That's the beauty of it though - there are so many options that you can figure out something.
Also, like you said, all of the different options really add up. A coin door could run you $75, a trackball is $100, analog joysticks are much more expensive than ones with microswitches (I use Ultimarc 360s generally which are like $60 each without any options), buttons add up - at around $2 each you could get to $40 easy, t-molding is $20, custom art can be wildly expensive, an iPac (keyboard encoder) is like $40, etc. This doesn't even factor in the 5 million trips to Home Depot where you just drop $20 here and there on wood, glue, screws, latches and all the miscellaneous junk.
The great thing about the hobby is that there is something for everyone and it is totally up to your own imagination - but it is not cheap. My latest project was a Donkey Kong restoration (check my sig) - I think I spent $800 on it and I already had the computer AND arcade monitor!
A decent mame cabinet can run 500-600 dollars, including an arcade monitor, control panel's board, some good joysticks, buttons (add 100 for trackball/spinners) and materials. Use any old junker PC; MAME isn't ver demanding.[/QUOTE]
I think it depends on what you are looking to get out of a MAME cab. Mine generally average about $1,000 each but I build them from scratch and I am meticulous. I probably spend $100 on just paint. You could slap something together or get one off of eBay for $200 if you wanted but if you have to please the wife or girlfriend in order to get it in the house you are going to have to spend a lot more. That's the beauty of it though - there are so many options that you can figure out something.
Also, like you said, all of the different options really add up. A coin door could run you $75, a trackball is $100, analog joysticks are much more expensive than ones with microswitches (I use Ultimarc 360s generally which are like $60 each without any options), buttons add up - at around $2 each you could get to $40 easy, t-molding is $20, custom art can be wildly expensive, an iPac (keyboard encoder) is like $40, etc. This doesn't even factor in the 5 million trips to Home Depot where you just drop $20 here and there on wood, glue, screws, latches and all the miscellaneous junk.
The great thing about the hobby is that there is something for everyone and it is totally up to your own imagination - but it is not cheap. My latest project was a Donkey Kong restoration (check my sig) - I think I spent $800 on it and I already had the computer AND arcade monitor!
blindinglights
CAGiversary!
[quote name='beerme']Whatsamame?[/QUOTE]
Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator
Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator
[quote name='javeryh']I think it depends on what you are looking to get out of a MAME cab. Mine generally average about $1,000 each but I build them from scratch and I am meticulous. I probably spend $100 on just paint. You could slap something together or get one off of eBay for $200 if you wanted but if you have to please the wife or girlfriend in order to get it in the house you are going to have to spend a lot more. That's the beauty of it though - there are so many options that you can figure out something.
Also, like you said, all of the different options really add up. A coin door could run you $75, a trackball is $100, analog joysticks are much more expensive than ones with microswitches (I use Ultimarc 360s generally which are like $60 each without any options), buttons add up - at around $2 each you could get to $40 easy, t-molding is $20, custom art can be wildly expensive, an iPac (keyboard encoder) is like $40, etc. This doesn't even factor in the 5 million trips to Home Depot where you just drop $20 here and there on wood, glue, screws, latches and all the miscellaneous junk.
The great thing about the hobby is that there is something for everyone and it is totally up to your own imagination - but it is not cheap. My latest project was a Donkey Kong restoration (check my sig) - I think I spent $800 on it and I already had the computer AND arcade monitor![/QUOTE]
Aye. I never really play track ball games, so I don't even bother with them. Same for spinners.
Buttons, yes, 16 push buttons + 2 pinball buttons + 1 and 2 start = 20 buttons, = 40 dollars. That's a standard two player set up.
I prefer microswitch joysticks, to be honest, because of price and feel.
Custom art isn't something I really care about. To be honest, MAME isn't my main thing with my arcade controller. I end up playing newer fighters, or arcade-style games. Zombie Driver, Trine, SSBB, etc.
Also, like you said, all of the different options really add up. A coin door could run you $75, a trackball is $100, analog joysticks are much more expensive than ones with microswitches (I use Ultimarc 360s generally which are like $60 each without any options), buttons add up - at around $2 each you could get to $40 easy, t-molding is $20, custom art can be wildly expensive, an iPac (keyboard encoder) is like $40, etc. This doesn't even factor in the 5 million trips to Home Depot where you just drop $20 here and there on wood, glue, screws, latches and all the miscellaneous junk.
The great thing about the hobby is that there is something for everyone and it is totally up to your own imagination - but it is not cheap. My latest project was a Donkey Kong restoration (check my sig) - I think I spent $800 on it and I already had the computer AND arcade monitor![/QUOTE]
Aye. I never really play track ball games, so I don't even bother with them. Same for spinners.
Buttons, yes, 16 push buttons + 2 pinball buttons + 1 and 2 start = 20 buttons, = 40 dollars. That's a standard two player set up.
I prefer microswitch joysticks, to be honest, because of price and feel.
Custom art isn't something I really care about. To be honest, MAME isn't my main thing with my arcade controller. I end up playing newer fighters, or arcade-style games. Zombie Driver, Trine, SSBB, etc.
SlammedNiss
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[quote name='javeryh']The great thing about the hobby is that there is something for everyone and it is totally up to your own imagination - but it is not cheap. My latest project was a Donkey Kong restoration (check my sig) - I think I spent $800 on it and I already had the computer AND arcade monitor![/QUOTE]
Wow,, those are some great projects. I started on a MAME cabinet several years ago and never finished. It started out as a gutted Space Duel cab, and I built the control panel, bought a CRT TV for the monitor, and have an old P3 1Ghz PC sitting downstairs. I just never threw it all together. Someday I will though. Anyways, great work. I totally agree it's the small details that matter.
Wow,, those are some great projects. I started on a MAME cabinet several years ago and never finished. It started out as a gutted Space Duel cab, and I built the control panel, bought a CRT TV for the monitor, and have an old P3 1Ghz PC sitting downstairs. I just never threw it all together. Someday I will though. Anyways, great work. I totally agree it's the small details that matter.
[quote name='SlammedNiss']Wow,, those are some great projects. I started on a MAME cabinet several years ago and never finished. It started out as a gutted Space Duel cab, and I built the control panel, bought a CRT TV for the monitor, and have an old P3 1Ghz PC sitting downstairs. I just never threw it all together. Someday I will though. Anyways, great work. I totally agree it's the small details that matter.[/QUOTE]
I started building one about 4 years ago and just now got back around to working on it again. It started out as a few sheets of MDF and some Ultimate Arcade II plans I got online somewhere. It was almost complete except for minor issues like not having a fully functional coin door and some work that needed to be done to the MAME frontend. I just now got around to putting Hyperspin frontend on it and getting all that configured properly. Back when I started to make it I thought that building a control panel was beyond the scope of my knowlege so I bought one from SlikStik, a company which no longer exists as far as I know. Great stick. Soon I will be finished and start working another project, just not sure exactly what though.
I started building one about 4 years ago and just now got back around to working on it again. It started out as a few sheets of MDF and some Ultimate Arcade II plans I got online somewhere. It was almost complete except for minor issues like not having a fully functional coin door and some work that needed to be done to the MAME frontend. I just now got around to putting Hyperspin frontend on it and getting all that configured properly. Back when I started to make it I thought that building a control panel was beyond the scope of my knowlege so I bought one from SlikStik, a company which no longer exists as far as I know. Great stick. Soon I will be finished and start working another project, just not sure exactly what though.
bread's done