MAME hardware woes

demonofaj · Post by **demonofaj** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:35 pm

Well, my main problem is the control. I know where to buy the joystick and actual buttons...but then what? What control board or what should I buy? Also, I want to know who to do the marquee. I know how to do the lamp, but what should I print my design on?

Post by **bicostp** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:44 pm

You could probably wire up the control buttons to a cheap USB gamepad. (They're avalible in the stores for under $10 in some cases.) That sounds like the easiest way to get a USB encoder, and you know it will work with XP (or whatever your MAME cabinet will run.)

You could print the marquee onto paper, but I suggest you get a print or sign shop to do it for you. The equipment they have is much better than anything you'll ever get out of an inkjet. If you're doing the art yourself, work at a high resolution so it looks acceptable. (None of this 72 DPI screen crap, that's what the original ImageWriter worked at for pete's sake! Shoot for 300 or 600 if you can.) Have them print it onto some thin plastic, and if the bulb shows through add some paper to the back or something.

DK · Post by DK » Mon Jan 08, 2007 11:19 am

The old school way for the controllers is to solder the push buttons and joystick to a keyboard pcb.

khaag · Post by **khaag** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 12:29 pm

You could get a keyboard encoder that is designed for MAME. I used the KeyWiz keyboard encoder. It is set to MAME's default control settings, supports 1-2 players, and is reprogrammable.

http://www.groovygamegear.com

demonofaj · Post by **demonofaj** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:57 pm

Well, thank you very much for the awesome response. I looked into it. If what I see is OK, do I have to buy two control boards? (One for the 49 way joystick (I'm buying it, can help me out in MK) and for the actual buttons, right? I got this for the actual buttons (ASDF, blah)...and this for the 49 way joystick. Remember I'm using the no-solder version

. Any more help would be greatly appreciated (what cables to buy, how to program, etc. etc....sign on the MSN so we can talk for real

)

OK, that was a PM to khaag, which is also open to us all. The 49 way joystick, I am actually willing to change...because it seems unnecessary personally...well recommendations, help...all is appreciated.

ganonbanned · Post by **ganonbanned** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:59 pm

DK wrote:The old school way for the controllers is to solder the push buttons and joystick to a keyboard pcb.

Yeah, thats what im doing. I figure it will probably be easier and cheaper.

Nucklez · Post by **Nucklez** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:47 pm

I got my marquee printed at http://www.emdkay.net. He was very through, and made sure that my file looked good enough to print. He also has a selection of premade marquees you could select from. It came on a glossy thick paper that almost feels like plastic. It isn't washed out in the slightest when I turn the lights on behind it.

As for the controls, hack a keyboard or buy a keyboard encoder. I enjoyed hacking keyboards.