MAME Arcade Machine

AcidRaZor

AcidRaZor

New member
I love my dad to bits. He's the reason why I love games so much (especially arcade games) so this year for his birthday I want to do something special for him.

He already loves his PS2 I gave him a couple of years back and because I'm travelling for business a lot he is busy playing his "karretjie" game on my Xbox as well.

I want to build him an Arcade machine with MAME32 on it so he can enjoy all the classics (we own a small Cafe in my home town which has 3 machines and he's constantly playing on it)

My dad is close to retiring now and I figured I want to build him one in June for his birthday.

Has any of you geekoids attempted something like this and completed one? Tips? Plans? etc?

I'm thinking of going to an arcade vendor and actually buying the outershell and screen outright and just plugging in a PC with a graphics card capable of the screen in there.

Advice would be appreciated!
 
Wow, I wish you were my son!

Are most of the older type clone arcade machines not similar, ie with a PC inside. It that case you own one already.
 
ernstn said:
Wow, I wish you were my son!

Are most of the older type clone arcade machines not similar, ie with a PC inside. It that case you own one already.
Click to expand...

Nope, they run on a main board with a chip or something that has the ROM inside. They can switch chips to change the games (providing its not a shooting or driving game requiring a different setup)

Did find a few local guys who sells the machines but saw a price of R53k and I was like WTF?
 
try for an old, broken arcade machine (shell in good enough condition) - the board and screen are disposable.

afaik those screens use a different input, but you'll have to check.

arcade's which have broken hardware is 100% fine, as you'll probably scrap it anyway - you just need the box so find a place which buy/sells/repairs these things (Think there is one in JHB somewhere - google it) and buy a non-working one as they are cheaper

then install the stuff.

look for nice UI's on the web, to hide mame32's windows look

Install on Windows 95/98, change boot screens and hide taskbar/etc....

go to a graphics shop and get 2 printed vinyl graphics of something cool and classic, and stick it on the side (or get them to do it)

good luck!
 
One of the guys in our office was working on having a custom two seater cabinet built, using those arcade joysticks they demo'd at Rage last year
He promised me the blueprints, apparently rather uncomplicated
I'll ask him and post here if I mange to get them.

And BTW, you up for adoption anytime ?
 
Only got as far as building an arcade style joystick for my MAME 32 and totally loving it, esp The KOF, Street Figher & MK Series
 
Xerowing said:
One of the guys in our office was working on having a custom two seater cabinet built, using those arcade joysticks they demo'd at Rage last year
He promised me the blueprints, apparently rather uncomplicated
I'll ask him and post here if I mange to get them.

And BTW, you up for adoption anytime ?
Click to expand...

RE: Adoption, depends if you have a british or american passport so i can claim ancestory and get a visa no questions asked.

RE: MAME, what controls at Rage? Links? It would be great to find a South African supplier here. I remember YEARS ago they had a stand alone control system like that but can't for the life of me remember a name or a company
 
I think the controls are going to be the most difficult part.

Do you want your dad to stand the whole time that he is playing games.

Standing is fine when you are young but the last thing I want to do while I game is stand around. I guess that is why the Wii did not woo me.
 
bokka1 said:
I think the controls are going to be the most difficult part.

Do you want your dad to stand the whole time that he is playing games.

Standing is fine when you are young but the last thing I want to do while I game is stand around. I guess that is why the Wii did not woo me.
Click to expand...

lol, he already stands and plays for a few hours every day at the arcades we have at work so I'm sure he won't mind. He'll LOVE being able to pause the game (which Mame does)

Time flies so frigging fast I hope I can organize something before his birthday!
 
Wood shop class FTW.
The links I sent you should help a bit, now its only hard work that lies ahead.
Please finish it and post the pics so we can envy you.
 
mame solution

try these guys: Gameworx Amusements in durban, they offer a complete range of goodies to get your mame cabinet up and running - 031 5722469 / 0845858453 joysticks, keyboard controllers, coin functionality etc
 
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