ArPiCade?

Don't want to mess with DOS but encourage others to edit some script lines to bypass a frontend? Really?

Unless you plan on using the GPIO of the pi, you need to have your own encoder and/or usb joystick. As for the rest, these pi-cade addons are nothing more than gio breakouts with some wonky hdmi to cga converter and a single asic amp. You can get virtually the same effect by using a Jpac + AMD card or onboard AMD northbridge.

Again, the pi as a definitive solution that some people claim is nonsense. It's hardly a viable solution.

Maybe I missed it but I thought that we're specifically discussing the ArpiCade here with all the wonky add ons already built in and preconfigured. The Arpicade has a built in video AMP and can run 240p/15khz natively. Most anyone can edit one line of code in a text file on an SD card from their PC which is all that is needed. And right now, at this point in time, it is being supported by the guy who designed, the guy who sells it, and this community. There's a lot of value in that for the non techie.
 
Don, it sounds like you have ulterior motives. You really come across as an unpleasant person who is desperate to push people away from a Rasberry Pi. You have expressed your opinion, perhaps it is time for you to move on to another thread.

Posting the reality of setting up a pi compared to a pc is now considered an ulterior motive?

Quite interesting.....

Maybe I missed it but I thought that we're specifically discussing the ArpiCade here with all the wonky add ons already built in and preconfigured. The Arpicade has a built in video AMP and can run 240p/15khz natively. Most anyone can edit one line of code in a text file on an SD card from their PC which is all that is needed. And right now, at this point in time, it is being supported by the guy who designed, the guy who sells it, and this community. There's a lot of value in that for the non techie.

The ArpiCade is just another generic pi to jamma peripheral with a third party hdmi to cga converter bolted onto the top. highscoresaves isnt the first to do this.
 
The ArpiCade is just another generic pi to jamma peripheral with a third party hdmi to cga converter bolted onto the top. highscoresaves isnt the first to do this.

... regardless it is still easier than setting up a DOS PC with a JPAC for the layperson and nice people will help you make it work
 
The OP asked if it was easy to setup for a "thick-headed" person. It couldn't have been simpler. I received in the mail yesterday the Arpicade and an Asteroids Multi-Kit.

It took a lot longer to get the Asteroids Kit setup (2 wires had to be soldered).

I did order the "image" on the SD chip. So that made it very easy.

For me it was plug and play.
 
ooooo, oooo, ooooo Mr. Kah-teer!

I know about generic hdmi->vga adapter into J-pac into arcade monitor....
I spent a bunch of time dicking with it and the J-pac wouldn't properly "amplify" the signal so it was faded and wouldn't sync.

The arpicade indeed was plug n play in a jamma/cga arcade monitor. i also got the predone sd image from HSS. I don't use it because it has far too many games that don't interest me...but it was indeed plug n play no fuss.
 
Awesome... I definitely like "plug-n-play".

Can you tell me who is the best to buy from (highscoresaves?) and who is offering the SD setup? I imagine that getting a preconfigured SD is the best way to go if you don't know anything about setting up these things.

I'd always been a bit curious about doing a full-fledged PC/MAME rig, but messing around with DOS and/or getting the JPAC and whatever other essential peripherals really just didn't interest me. I might be sacrificing horsepower for the more demanding games, but it seems the best option for this type of thing is the Pi.

Does anyone know about these other Pi-to-JAMMA converters? Is the one on highscoresaves the "best"? I didn't even know about the others that were mentioned.

Thanks for all the input, by the way!
 
I doubt you can do a consumer report of which one is "best."
the technology idea is the same since it is an open source thing.
one of the new versions which I don't think has a name is done by an engineer who was just curious about it all and made a pcb. he is on one of the retropie FB groups but I don't recall his name. i don't think he was at production stage, yet.

they are all going to be a variation of this stuff:
Have some form of Linux image on the SD card that has a UI for the user.
Set the Pi output to an option compatible with the monitor.
convert hdmi to vga
amplify the signal
send an audio signal onto the jamma wires.
use an encoder for joystick/button interface
match up the button interface with the jamma harness.

On BYOAC there is a variety of talk about composite outputs and stuff that is over my head in the techni-specificities, but the Pi can do a ton of video output styles. Sky is the limit. You can even output video over the 3.5mm jack typically used for audio....
 
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ooooo, oooo, ooooo Mr. Kah-teer!

I know about generic hdmi->vga adapter into J-pac into arcade monitor....
I spent a bunch of time dicking with it and the J-pac wouldn't properly "amplify" the signal so it was faded and wouldn't sync.

The arpicade indeed was plug n play in a jamma/cga arcade monitor. i also got the predone sd image from HSS. I don't use it because it has far too many games that don't interest me...but it was indeed plug n play no fuss.

that's a monitor issue. They have an amp you can buy or build for that. That should be a relative purchase considering all of the other material you must buy just to get a pi in running form.

I was very very specific about my criticism. I guess people just don't read between the lines very well. As far as i'm concerned, the Pi is great for making mame bartop kits or to have something with limited capabilities. If you want to toss mame into an already existing cab or a scratch built standup cabinet, go with a full PC. The flexibility with a PC is endless.
 
There are a lot of people who want to throw a board like the 60-in-1 or the Arpicade into a Jamma cab and not have to worry about setting things up.

The Arpicade is for them.

They will love it.

Nuff said.
 
that's a monitor issue. They have an amp you can buy or build for that. That should be a relative purchase considering all of the other material you must buy just to get a pi in running form.



I was very very specific about my criticism. I guess people just don't read between the lines very well. As far as i'm concerned, the Pi is great for making mame bartop kits or to have something with limited capabilities. If you want to toss mame into an already existing cab or a scratch built standup cabinet, go with a full PC. The flexibility with a PC is endless.



I did read between the lines. Flexibility adds complexity. If you want simple the ArpiCade is the way to go IF it can play your personal game list reasonably well.
 
I was very very specific about my criticism. I guess people just don't read between the lines very well. As far as i'm concerned, the Pi is great for making mame bartop kits or to have something with limited capabilities. If you want to toss mame into an already existing cab or a scratch built standup cabinet, go with a full PC. The flexibility with a PC is endless.

You don't seem to read between the lines. No one in this thread wants to shove a computer into an arcade cabinet. It is obvious you have zero expierence with the ArPiCade.

Simplicity > flexibility.
 
I have set up MAME with several different configurations, frontends and computers.

I have set up Retropie on a Raspberry Pi 3 using AttractMode as the front end. GGA monitor with a vga input. (HDMI to VGA converter worked easy enough)

I have used the Arpicade on two Jamma cabs. One for me, one for a friend of mine,

In my personal opinion the Arpicade is the best...hands down. The support from Dee2eer is great and Joe at High Score Saves is one of the best in the business in after the sale support.

One thing to note, I am a mid forties guy that wants to play the Pacmans, Donkey Kongs and Galagas of the world...as do my friends. I have no interest in the more modern fighter games or any consoles.

I enjoyed my time setting up MAME on the PC's but I was constantly running down issues and having to hold folks hands when they inadvertently messed something up. No matter how hard I tried to shield windows and certain keystrokes, hotkeys, whatever... from the game user...it was always popping up sooner or later...usually right in the middle of a party when the last thing I wanted to do was go mess with the cabinet.

My vote..Arpicade and High Score Saves.
 
You don't seem to read between the lines. No one in this thread wants to shove a computer into an arcade cabinet. It is obvious you have zero expierence with the ArPiCade.

Simplicity > flexibility.

the raspberry pi is literally a computer. the ArPiCade just another clone peripheral.
 
that's a monitor issue. They have an amp you can buy or build for that. That should be a relative purchase considering all of the other material you must buy just to get a pi in running form.



I was very very specific about my criticism. I guess people just don't read between the lines very well. As far as i'm concerned, the Pi is great for making mame bartop kits or to have something with limited capabilities. If you want to toss mame into an already existing cab or a scratch built standup cabinet, go with a full PC. The flexibility with a PC is endless.



Ok.
The monitor is actually fine as it works with real pcbs and the bitkit I have been testing, and arpicade. But I will avoid further debate on that unless you are offering to come over and fix the monitor for me. :)

I don't think anyone is suggesting pi plays games better than a good pc with mame. The pi is fun and easy.

I loaned a pi mini cab setup to a church youth group with retropie. Zero issues since last fall, and it gets heavy rotation each week. I made a couple pi setups for friends- one in a homemade cab and one in a nes cart. Zero problems experienced over many months now.

Pi is also a social phenomena which is fun like the older apple Ii or c64 era. Big group to share and learn from. Perfect community engagement for us techno nerds.
 
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