MAME Controls

GreatBazunka

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I am going to turn and old cabinet into a MAME machine. What controls does everyone think should be included on the control panel? I at least want two players, so what combination of track balls, joysticks, buttons should be there? I have never done this before.
 
I at least want two players, so what combination of track balls, joysticks, buttons should be there?

As many as you can physically fit. If your CP doesn't look like you spilled a 5 lb bag of skittles on it, you have failed.

Post pics when you are done!
 
As a starting point for 'things not to do', look at http://wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/

Now, if you are going to do this, in order to not make something that belongs on the aforementioned list, consider this advice: Pick a monitor orientation & control scheme and build the cab and pick the games around that.

For instance, 'vertical monitor & Single trackball + 3 buttons'. That limits the games you can play to things that work with a trackball, have a vertical orientation, and 3 or less buttons, but that's pretty much every trackball game out there. When you play them on this cabinet they will feel right, and your cabinet won't LOOK like a mame cabinet.

A really good scheme if you are into fighting games might be 'Horizontal monitor & two sticks + 6 buttons each'. That should allow you to play pretty much all of the head-to-head fighters out there plus a whole lot of other games ranging from Tetris to space invaders, etc, etc. Again, you lose some games (Missile Command and Marble Madness are right out), but your cabinet doesn't look like a MAME cab.

The important thing is to NOT try to put every control in the book onto your cab. It'll be impossible to play (they will all get in each other's way) and you'll end up on the crapmame list.
 
As many as you can physically fit. If your CP doesn't look like you spilled a 5 lb bag of skittles on it, you have failed.

Post pics when you are done!

ahahahahaha. I also recommend using a DOT cabinet. Just paint it all black and use some wicked awesome Xarcade controls. That would be sweet.
 
I did a simple 2 Joy 6 button setup,1 and 2 player start, coin door, hidden credit button, on off switch on top hidden away. It was for a friend I felt just keep it simple.

picture.php
 
yeah, a minimum of 10 joysticks, 60 buttons, a trackball (or 2) spinner

flight/trigger fire joystick

put it this way, you should not be able to move it from room to room without dismantling it.

:)
 
Damn guys... Ease up a lil.

I have done the two player cabs with 7 buttons. 6 layed out like street fighter/killer instinct. And the other to represent run for mk3.

Keep it simple. And plan to sell it cause you will learn a lot on the way. Your second cab will be much nicer.
 
You know what I haven't seen a MAME monster control panel have? A pinball shooting rod plunger. Sure it doesn't work with MAME, but who cares! Someone make it happen.
 
I did a simple 2 Joy 6 button setup,1 and 2 player start, coin door, hidden credit button, on off switch on top hidden away. It was for a friend I felt just keep it simple.

picture.php

I like that you used a dynamo and not a centipede which seems to be what mamers seem to get there filthy paws on.

Sent from my android phone
 
You know what I haven't seen a MAME monster control panel have? A pinball shooting rod plunger. Sure it doesn't work with MAME, but who cares! Someone make it happen.

Timiskander's does, the cab looks good he said the plunger isn't hooked up.

Sent from my android phone
 
You know what I haven't seen a MAME monster control panel have? A pinball shooting rod plunger. Sure it doesn't work with MAME, but who cares! Someone make it happen.

That would look hella sweet on the Star Wars Chair, actually...
 
So you face the usual conundrum. I want to play all the games in Mame but how do you fit all the controls on the panel? I mean there is 4 way joys, 8 way joys, diagonal joys, analog joys, trigger finger joys (various types), track balls, spinners, flight yokes, racing wheels (various types), rotary joys, etc. Of course you can combine several of these. For example there are analog joys that support 4 way, 8 way, 32 way, and analog operation.

You really need to decide what games you want to play and support them within reason. Personally, I'm going with multiple cabinets to limit the controls per panel to look more like traditional arcade machines and allow play without getting into weird contortions or having my arms get tired because I'm trying to use a joy that is three levels deep.

You get the picture from looking at some of the previous links to frankenpanels.
 
So you face the usual conundrum. I want to play all the games in Mame but how do you fit all the controls on the panel? I mean there is 4 way joys, 8 way joys, diagonal joys, analog joys, trigger finger joys (various types), track balls, spinners, flight yokes, racing wheels (various types), rotary joys, etc. Of course you can combine several of these. For example there are analog joys that support 4 way, 8 way, 32 way, and analog operation.

You really need to decide what games you want to play and support them within reason. Personally, I'm going with multiple cabinets to limit the controls per panel to look more like traditional arcade machines and allow play without getting into weird contortions or having my arms get tired because I'm trying to use a joy that is three levels deep.

You get the picture from looking at some of the previous links to frankenpanels.

I have found that the more games I can play on a console, handheld, or arcade cabinet the less I play it. There is something great about a machine that is dedicated to one game.

Sent from my android phone
 
I like that you used a dynamo and not a centipede which seems to be what mamers seem to get there filthy paws on.

Sent from my android phone


I rescued a cent cocktail from this fate....but the person I got it from was in the middle of doing the very same thing to an upright!
 
I like that you used a dynamo and not a centipede which seems to be what mamers seem to get there filthy paws on.

Sent from my android phone

Yeah it was a bit weathered and I fixed her up, no classic damaged. I got it from a great KLOVer and it was a wedding present for a buddy. I think MAME is a great way for people to get their feet wet. I know there are a lot of people who don't agree but some of people here started with MAME( don't lie you fellow hard core arcade nerds ). Good luck.
 
So you face the usual conundrum. I want to play all the games in Mame but how do you fit all the controls on the panel? I mean there is 4 way joys, 8 way joys, diagonal joys, analog joys, trigger finger joys (various types), track balls, spinners, flight yokes, racing wheels (various types), rotary joys, etc. Of course you can combine several of these. For example there are analog joys that support 4 way, 8 way, 32 way, and analog operation.

You really need to decide what games you want to play and support them within reason. Personally, I'm going with multiple cabinets to limit the controls per panel to look more like traditional arcade machines and allow play without getting into weird contortions or having my arms get tired because I'm trying to use a joy that is three levels deep.

You get the picture from looking at some of the previous links to frankenpanels.

You can also make multiple swappable control panels.
 
I have found that the more games I can play on a console, handheld, or arcade cabinet the less I play it. There is something great about a machine that is dedicated to one game.

Sent from my android phone

I met GreatBazunka yesterday- he's into classics, don't worry. He and his buddy came over and bought my Centipede. We got to chatting about my MAME cab and he was inquiring about what's the best way to go about things. He's using a dynamo cab, so no classics will be harmed.

The problem with BYOAC is that there just isn't that much activity. So if you ask a question, it might take a week to get it answered.
 
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