BYOAC OLD Wiki - User contributions [en]

How to MAME - the basics

2007-06-02T03:52:11Z

Shorthair:

Though MAME isn't necessarily the most important part in building your own arcade cabinet, in whatever variant, it is the most used emulator to play arcade games - cabinets are often referred to as 'MAME cabs' - and many are not familiar with how to set up and use it.

Step 1: download MAME32.

Step 2: get rom zip files. They must be zipped!

Step 3: put rom files in rom folder (which is inside MAME32 folder).

Step 3.5: if you have a control panel (ie: Hot Rod, SlikStik, etc) find the respective ctrlr file and put it in the ctrlr folder.

Step 4: Click on MAME32 exe (the one that has an orange cabinet icon).

It will load and automatically check for rom files. Click on the 'Available' folder; it should show you all the games you have roms for.

*Unless you have 'command line' (CMD) experience, DO NOT use the basic MAME binary. Mame32 has its own GUI (general user interface) with many mouse-accessible options. After exploring these parametres and the effects they have, you'll have a much better idea of how MAME works. DO NOT EXPECT IT TO RUN 'OUT OF THE BOX'. It most likely will, given you've done the proper preparation, but it will be easier to use if you explore it some.

*DO NOT, especially if you're first checking out MAME on a PC monitor, expect it to look like you remember in the arcade. IT WON'T. Different hardware, simple as that. For information on 'authenticity', look in Monitor/Video.

MAME - a basic tutorial

2007-06-02T03:51:16Z

Shorthair:

* [[How to MAME - the basics]]
* [[Configuration]]
** [[basic]]
** [[writing your own files]]
* [[Artwork]]

Main Page

2007-06-02T03:28:58Z

Shorthair: /* Main Arcade Cabinet Portals */

__NOTOC__
{{Welcome}}
<div style="background:#f9f9f9; padding:0px; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; margin-bottom:5px;">
{| cellpadding="10" width="100%" style="background:#f4f4f4"
|style="width:50%" valign="top"|
==Main Arcade Cabinet Portals==
* [[MAME - a basic tutorial]]
* [[Basics|Arcade Cabinet Basics]]
* [[Examples|Project Examples of a cabinet]]
* [[Building|Cabinet Design and Building]]
* [[Controls|Control Panels and Interfaces]]
* [[Video|Monitors and Video]]
* [[Finishing|Finishing and Artwork]]

* [[Vendors|Vendors - Where you buy your stuff from]]

* [[Software|Software and Emulators]]
|valign="top"|

==Site Index==
* [[:Category:Index|Site Index]]
* [[Special:Popularpages|Most Popular Pages]]
* [[Glossary]]
* [[Community Portal]] - To add or edit pages!
* [[Contents]] - Old Contents/Index page

==External Links==
* [http://arcadecontrols.com Main BYOAC Web Site]
* [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/ BYOAC Discussion Forum]
* [[Project Arcade|Project Arcade - The Book]] - Written by Saint - the BYOAC sponsor
|}
</div>

[[Category:Portals]]

Software

2007-05-26T19:42:55Z

Shorthair:

__NOTOC__
{{Portal|name=Software}}
[[Image:Typical-software.png|right|260px]]
A variety of '''Software''' and '''Emulators''' allow you to play a huge number of arcade, console and PC games on a computer. The software used as a foundation of a home arcade machine generally consists of an ''emulator(s)'' to run specific games (called ''roms'') on a computer and a ''front-end'' to provide a menu system to allow players to select from a list of games. Recently, the desire for multiple uses of an arcade cabinet and/or enhancing the game-playing experience have brought about the use of additional software, perhaps to play a PC game, allow use of the cabinet as a jukebox, or for lighting and configuration enhancements.

Software has gone through great leaps and bounds since the inception of this hobby. As an example, in the late 90's, a common route many people were choosing was the [http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/ PC2Jamma] method originally conceived and implemented by Brian Lewis. Typically, MAME was used as a game emulator, ArcadeOS as the front-end, and DOS as the operating system, since this allowed the use of real arcade monitors. Since then, hardware has been developed to make using an arcade monitor from other operating systems simple, and more complex front-ends and emulators have been developed to utilize PC hardware better.

'''F Y I '''

Emulation software inherently draws from the resources of your computer. (A no-brainer, yes.) This means that not only computer specs, but operating system used, type of emulator, version, and even a particular game (which also may be different in subsequent versions) are all serious factors in how well games will run on your system.

Additionally, particularly if using an OS, all the potential complications that can affect any software, apply. As well, corrupted files (rom, cfg, etc) can be culprits in slow emu performance. Sometimes just deleting some of these and having them automatically generated (except your roms, of course - these have to be re-installed) will help. Sometimes, it's something overlooked in the general settings.

==Arcade, Console and Computer Emulators==
* [[Arcade Emulators]]
* [[Game Consoles]]
* [[Handheld Consoles]]
* [[Home Computers]]
* [[Computer Components]]
* [[Other Emulation]]
* [[Simulators]]
* [[Pinball]]
* [[TV Games]] - Hardware based small devices, that hold retrogames

==Front-Ends & Menu Systems==
* [[Front-Ends]]
** [[Screens, Titles & Extras]]
** [[Wrappers|Wrappers]]
* [[Hiding Windows]] - How to hide Windows.

==Jukebox, Music and Multimedia==
* [[Jukebox Software]]
** [[CD Ripping]]
* [[Multimedia Software]]

==ROM images==
Emulators require ROM image files to work. The ROM files contain game data such as program code, grahics and sound.

* [[ROMs]]

Be aware that many ROM images contain copyrighted material. See [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROM_image#Legal_Status_of_ROMs this] Wikipedia section for more information about the ''legal status of ROM images''. '''Note that it is not allowed to post ROM image requests on the BYOAC forum. Many other arcade hobby related sites follow this rule too.'''

==ROM Managment==

There are a variety of utilities out there for managing your roms. They can let you see what you are missing, rename your roms, re-organise etc..etc...

A widely used and powerful utility is [[ClrMamePro]]

== PC Games ==
If you have a PC powering your cabinet, you might as well try a few other games to play on it.
* [[Cabfriendly games]]
** [[Arcade Games]]
** [[Classic Games]]
** [[Pinball]]
** [[Simulators]]
** [[Remakes]]

==See Also==
* [[Design applications]]
* [[Utilities|Various software utility]] - Various utilities for your arcadcab

[[Category:Portals]]
[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Software]]

PC Monitors

2007-05-25T01:46:40Z

Shorthair:

The simplest, most direct route to setting up a display, a '''PC monitor''' will provide decent quality and is comparatively inexpensive. It is also the simiplest to set up. As opposed to a television or authentic arcade monitor, all that is required to display games on a PC monitor is to attach the monitor to your PC's VGA connector.

However, as stated before this price comes at a cost. Games tend to look "pixelated" (blocky looking graphics) due to the high resolutions that PC monitors run at. Enabling scan-lines (black lines across the screen) can make the quality better but it still does not compare to the quality that can be achieved on a television or better yet, an arcade monitor.

It is important to note that original arcade machines were run at quite a few different resolutions, and some of these resolutions will look better than others on a PC monitor. A simple PC monitor connection will never be able to give you a truly "authentic" arcade look due to these resolution considerations, but software tweaks and resolution adjstments can create an acceptable picture.

Fans of Vector arcade games should consider the following fact when considering PC monitors: The higher resolutions available on PC monitors create what many consider a "better" picture when emulationg vector graphics (compared to TVs or standard arcade monitors). This is because the higher resolution (generally SXGA and higher, though XGA will do, even on a 27" CRT) makes for much smoother graphics (lines) and greater anti-aliasing. (The latter is in regard to an object or line in motion, and how continuous it appears. On raster-type monitors, due to how they draw, there is usually a perceptible watery effect.) With the high prices of Vector monitors and the Zektor Vector Generator [http://www.zektor.com/zvg/ ZVG Homepage], a PC monitor could create an inexpensive alternative to a vector machine for those willing to sacrifice a bit of authenticity for a smaller budget.

==See Also==
* [[Video]]

[[Category:Video]]

FYI: Arcade Authenticity

2007-05-25T01:41:12Z

Shorthair:

This is to clear up any possible misundertandings or miscomprehensions about what this term means. Arcade authentic does not mean ''a method of creating image representations according to some industry standard''. The term is purely a general inference to the way any particular game - that is to say, any particular game cabinet a person experienced - appeared to operate. More specifically, ''the way YOU saw the game operate''. This is what is sought after by 'purists'. It has nothing to do, inherently, with the image ''quality'', in any particular case or set of cases, but rather the qualities of the image. The subjective part is in whether someone prefers what they experienced with the original hardware, or if they prefer a more modern rendition of a game's graphics, etc.

==See Also==
* [[Video]]

[[Category:Video]]

Power Options

2007-05-23T19:29:39Z

Shorthair: /* Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS's) */

{{WorkInProgress}}
__notoc__
In building your cabinet, you might forget that a PC is running at the heart of it and you don't want to be opening it up each time to turn it on. Also, you may want your cabinets' components (PC, monitor, speakers, marquee light etc.) to power on and off simultaneously with each other, to add to the illusion of a real arcade machine. Depending on what operating system you are using, simply unplugging the PC may cause problems if the operating system is not given time to properly power down.

There are several options to consider...

=='Smart' Power Strips==
[[Image:Smart_Strip_LCG4.jpg|right|thumb|Bits Ltd. Smartrip power strip]]
A popular approach is to use a Smartstrip or similar 'smart switching' power strip. Smartstrips can provide constant power to some components just like a normal power strip, but their most attractive feature is their automatic switching ability.

One component (typically your PC) is plugged into the blue 'Control' outlet. Other cabinet components are plugged into the switched outlets; these components will remain unpowered until your PC (or whatever is plugged into the blue Control outlet) is switched on. This means that all components will power on when your PC is switched on, and more importantly once your PC completes its shutdown procedure the other components will automatically power off. Using your PC's power switch to turn on and off all components of your cabinet in this way is probably the most popular option for PCs running modern operating systems.

Alternatives to the Bits Ltd. Smartstrip include the Mini Power Minder and the PowerMite DD (sold by BYOAC member Whammoed).

A simple relay and USB cable can be added to most regular power strips to add 'smart' functionality to them. When a voltage is detected in the USB cable, the relay supplies power to the outlets (see [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=20939.0 CrashWGs forum thread] for more details). However considering the effort required, it may be wiser to go for a retail option.

==Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS's)==
[[Image:UPS.jpg|right|thumb|Typical small UPS]]
Generally regarded as the safest way of doing things, though not necessarily the cheapest, is to use a small Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) in your cabinet. UPS's are intended to provide temporary battery backup power if there's a drop-out, as well as protect against power spikes.

Many models include a serial or USB functionality that can safely initiate your computer's shutdown procedure once power has been cut to the cabinet; the computer will run on the UPS's battery power until it has shut down. When used in an arcade cabinet this means that you can just pull the plug on the whole cabinet and the computer will then safely shut down.

==Standard Power Strips==
Another approach is to use a regular power strip and, again, hacking an extended-wire intermittent switch to where the strip's switch is, and mounting that somewhere on the cabinet. Then, in the computer's bios settings, 'power on after interrupt' or something of that nature is selected. When power is restored, by turning the strip on, the computer senses this and turns on.

This solution is recommended for DOS based PCs that don't require a shutdown procedure such as Windows based PCs. The computers hard drive can also be damaged ff the computer is writing information to its hard drive when power is cut.

==The Power Switch==
Once you've determined the best power solution for your situation, the final step is to mount an on/off switch to an accessible position on your cabinet.

If your cabinets' power is controlled by your computer (as in the Smartstrip solution), you can wire an extended switch from your computer case's power button and mount it somewhere on the surface of the cabinet. The computer could also positioned so that its power switch is accessible through a hole in the side of your cabinet.

Swappable Control Panels

2007-05-22T22:37:51Z

Shorthair:

A '''Swappable Control Panel''' is a control panel designed to be switched out as an entire unit. The entire panel may be removed and replaced by another, typically by just removing the locking mechanism and disconnecting a large wiring connector. This offers the flexibility to swap in different control panel layouts for different games.

The advantage of a swappable control panel is its simplicity, ability to incorporate artwork and ability to support more than one layout for a particular arcade. The disadvantage is that you may need to purchase duplicate controls, wiring is a little more complex, and you can still support only a limited number of layouts. However, of the non-static control panel alternatives, the swappable control panel is considerably less complex than either [[Modular Control Panels]] or [[Rotating Control Panels]].

==See Also==
* [[Controls]]
* [[Sturcade]]
* [[Offy%27s MAME Project]]
* [[Tomorrowland Arcade]]

[[Category:Controls]]
[[Category:Index]]

Video

2007-05-22T20:32:01Z

Shorthair:

{{Portal|name=Monitors and Video}}
Various options are available to display the games you wish to play. Everything from oversize 27" arcade monitors to classic vector and narrow arcade monitors and controllers are available to install in your cabinet. This portal provides an overview of the main video options available to you. Browse these sections to learn more about those options.
* [[FYI: Arcade Authenticity]]
* [[Video Overview]]
* [[Arcade Monitors]]
* [[PC Monitors]]
* [[MultiSync Monitors]]
* [[Televisions]]
* [[ArcadeVGA|ArcadeVGA Video Card]]
* [[Video modes and scanlines]]
* [[AdvanceMame]]
* [[Custom display modes (Windows) - Powerstrip | Custom Windows Display Modes with PowerStrip]]
* [[Custom display modes (Windows) - Soft-15khz | Custom Windows Display Modes with Soft-15khz]]
* [[uvc|UltraCade's uVC Video Converter hardware]]

==See Also==
* [[Basics]]
* [[Examples]]

[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Portals]]
[[Category:Video]]

FYI: Arcade Authenticity

2007-05-22T20:25:31Z

Shorthair:

This is to clear up any possible misundertandings or miscomprehensions about what this term means. Arcade authentic does not mean ''a method of creating image representations according to some industry standard''. The term is purely a general inference to the way any particular game - that is to say, any particular game cabinet a person experienced - appeared to operate. More specifically, ''the way YOU saw the game operate''.

This is what is sought after by 'purists'. It has nothing to do, inherently, with the image ''quality'', in any particular case or set of cases, but rather the qualities of the image. The subjective part is in whether someone prefers what they experienced with the original hardware, or if they prefer a more modern rendition of a game's graphics, etc.

Video

2007-05-22T20:12:23Z

Shorthair:

{{Portal|name=Monitors and Video}}
Various options are available to display the games you wish to play. Everything from oversize 27" arcade monitors to classic vector and narrow arcade monitors and controllers are available to install in your cabinet. This portal provides an overview of the main video options available to you. Browse these sections to learn more about those options.
* [[FYI: Arcade Authenticity]]
* [[Video Overview]]
* [[Arcade Monitors]]
* [[PC Monitors]]
* [[MultiSync Monitors]]
* [[Televisions]]
* [[ArcadeVGA|ArcadeVGA Video Card]]
* [[Video modes and scanlines]]
* [[Custom display modes (Windows) - Powerstrip | Custom Windows Display Modes with PowerStrip]]
* [[Custom display modes (Windows) - Soft-15khz | Custom Windows Display Modes with Soft-15khz]]
* [[uvc|UltraCade's uVC Video Converter hardware]]

==See Also==
* [[Basics]]
* [[Examples]]

[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Portals]]
[[Category:Video]]

Power Options

2007-05-18T03:11:14Z

Shorthair:

In building your cabinet, you might forget that your PC is inside it and that you don't want to be opening it up each time to turn it on. Or, you might realise this before it's too late and wonder what options might be available.

A popular approach is to use a Smartstrip. This device provides constant power to some components, such as your computer, and will switch on current to other outlets on the strip when the computer is turned on. The next part is to wire in an extended switch from where the original button within the front of the computer case is connected and mounting it somewhere on the surface of the cabinet. (One could also possibly situation their computer such that it's front is up against a wall inside the cabinet, and then a small hole can be made to easily access the button.)

Another approach is to use a regular power strip and, again, hacking an extended-wire intermitent switch to where the strip's switch is, and mounting that somewhere on the cabinet. Then, in the computer's bios settings, 'power on after interrupt' or something of that nature is selected. When power is restored, by turning the strip on, the computer senses this and turns on.

The first approach is probably the better, in that the Smartstrip is designed with quality surge protection in mind, and is decently priced.

A third option, particularly if one is concerned about surprise power interruption, is an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and either making the power on button accessible, as in the parenthesized suggestion in approach #1, above, or hacking the power button as suggested in approach #2. (It is uncertain whether UPS's can operate similar to a Smartstrip.)

Main Page

2007-05-18T02:47:10Z

Shorthair: /* Main Arcade Cabinet Portals */

__NOTOC__
{{Welcome}}
<div style="background:#f9f9f9; padding:0px; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; margin-bottom:5px;">
{| cellpadding="10" width="100%" style="background:#f4f4f4"
|style="width:50%" valign="top"|
==Main Arcade Cabinet Portals==
* [[Basics|Arcade Cabinet Basics]]
* [[Examples|Project Examples of a cabinet]]
* [[Building|Cabinet Design and Building]]
* [[Power Options]]
* [[Controls|Control Panels and Interfaces]]
* [[Video|Monitors and Video]]
* [[Finishing|Finishing and Artwork]]

* [[Vendors|Vendors - Where you buy your stuff from]]

* [[Software|Software and Emulators]]
|valign="top"|

==Site Index==
* [[:Category:Index|Site Index]]
* [[Special:Popularpages|Most Popular Pages]]
* [[Glossary]]
* [[Community Portal]] - To add or edit pages!
* [[Contents]] - Old Contents/Index page

==External Links==
* [http://arcadecontrols.com Main BYOAC Web Site]
* [http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/ BYOAC Discussion Forum]
* [[Project Arcade|Project Arcade - The Book]] - Written by Saint - the BYOAC sponsor
|}
</div>

[[Category:Portals]]

Video

2007-05-08T23:38:17Z

Shorthair:

{{Portal|name=Monitors and Video}}
Various options are available to display the games you wish to play. Everything from oversize 27" arcade monitors to classic vector and narrow arcade monitors and controllers are available to install in your cabinet. This portal provides an overview of the main video options available to you. Browse these sections to learn more about those options.

* [[Video Overview]]
* [[Arcade Monitors]]
* [[PC Monitors]]
* [[MultiSync Monitors]]
* [[Televisions]]
* [[ArcadeVGA|ArcadeVGA Video Card]]
* [[Video modes and scanlines]]
* [[Custom display modes (Windows) - Powerstrip | Custom Windows Display Modes with PowerStrip]]
* [[uvc|UltraCade's uVC Video Converter hardware]]

==See Also==
* [[Basics]]
* [[Examples]]

[[Category:Index]]
[[Category:Portals]]
[[Category:Video]]

ArcadeVGA

2007-05-08T23:36:09Z

Shorthair:

[[Image:ArcadeVGA.jpg|thumb|ArcadeVGA videocard|240px|right]]
'''ArcadeVGA''' is a video card, that was made specifically for Windows, that allows people to use an old [[arcade monitor]], typically using a 15khz signal.

Most modern PC's monitors consider 31Khz or higher signal, wich given problems with using in a real arcade monitor. Modern video cards typically disable 15khz to prevent users from being used by the driver. This may get this pretty hard to get this to work on a Arcade monitor (even with Advanced MAME).

ArcadeVGA supports many MAME<sup>tm</sup> based resolutions, so you don't need any software scaling in most games. But some resoulutions may not work on your arcade monitor, so these may need to be disabled with a resoulution tool.

'''ArcadeVGA 2'''

There is now an updated version of the ArcadeVGA, the ArcadeVGA 2. Available in both AGP (based off the ATI Radeon 9250 chipset) and PCIe (based off the ATI Radeon X550, with 512mb of video memory) the ArcadeVGA 2 is capable of, along with the original 15khz resolutions, 25khz resolutions as well as PC resolutions up to and including XGA (1024x768). Additionally, it has dual outputs (one VGA, the other DVI - as well as S-Video, though this output isn't recommended by Ultimarc) which, along with the drivers on the accompanying disc, enable simultaneous dual-monitor support (though, the ports are specific: VGA port strictly for arcade monitors, DVI port for PC monitors).

<br style="clear:both;"/>
==See Also==
* [[Video]]

==External Links==
*[http://www.ultimarc.com Official homepage for ArcadeVGA]
*[http://mamewah.mameworld.net/downloads.htm M.A.M.E. Resolution Tool (support ArcadeVGA direct)]
*[http://www.ultimarc.com/download.html Quickres Utility]

[[Category:Video]]
[[Category:Index]]