Need help building a MAME cabinet. Software Issues

[AmericanMuffin]

So we want to build a MAME cabinet, we have everything we need, but how do I get rid of the copyright screen that says all the ROM copyright mumbo jumbo, also, the MAME 'list' doesn't look Retro enough for me, can I change that?

[AppleQueso]

You seem pretty new to this whole idea. Be prepared to do a lot of googling if you're serious about this, and take a good look around the byoac forums.

I'm gonna be nice and answer your question about the info screen thing:

First of all, I use Windows XP. Windows 7 or Vista might be slightly different. Now I'm not sure if there's a more elegant way to do this, but the way I do it is like this:

create a new text document in wordpad or notepad, put this in there:

mame.exe -cc

then save as whatever.bat in the folder where mame.exe is. Now click on that, and it'll generate a file called mame.ini. Open that file in wordpad, and look for this line:

Code: Select all

skip_gameinfo             0

change that 0 to 1, save, and you're good. You'll still get the USING THIS EMULATOR FOR GAMES YOU DON'T OWN blah blah screen on games, but only the first time you run them.

...as for the second part of your question. Learn about frontends.

[BRIK]

Yeah using a frontend, you can download heaps of different lay-outs. I used a really good frontend when I was messing around with MAME, can't for the life of me remember what it was called though. Pretty sure I used the main popular one though.

[joehero]

I use atomicfe for my frontend. Its very easy to use, has plug and play option for which system you want to run, and has hundreds of different layouts to choose from.

[AmericanMuffin]

You seem pretty new to this whole idea. Be prepared to do a lot of googling if you're serious about this, and take a good look around the byoac forums.

I'm gonna be nice and answer your question about the info screen thing:

First of all, I use Windows XP. Windows 7 or Vista might be slightly different. Now I'm not sure if there's a more elegant way to do this, but the way I do it is like this:

create a new text document in wordpad or notepad, put this in there:

mame.exe -cc

then save as whatever.bat in the folder where mame.exe is. Now click on that, and it'll generate a file called mame.ini. Open that file in wordpad, and look for this line:
Thanks. That will help a lot! I know I have to do a lot of Googling, but my Dad is REAL good at this kind of stuff, and said he'll help with hardware, also, should I get http://www.xgaming.com/store/arcade-joysticks-and-game-controllers/product/x-arcade-dual-joystick/? Or just do the button and stick layout myself?

Code: Select all

skip_gameinfo             0

change that 0 to 1, save, and you're good. You'll still get the USING THIS EMULATOR FOR GAMES YOU DON'T OWN blah blah screen on games, but only the first time you run them.

...as for the second part of your question. Learn about frontends.

Thanks, my Dad has had 20 years of experience in construction and wiring. But he said just to go with a USB set for 2 players, and I was thinking just use X-Arcade and Joy2Key to get it working. He'll build the "shell" for it, and I said I'll handle the TV, computer, etc. I'm also going to use a certain txt file in MAME to change the controls One, By. One. So is this a good plan? I also found a good layout, and Im working on finding games for it.

[Niode]

You seem pretty new to this whole idea. Be prepared to do a lot of googling if you're serious about this, and take a good look around the byoac forums.

I'm gonna be nice and answer your question about the info screen thing:

First of all, I use Windows XP. Windows 7 or Vista might be slightly different. Now I'm not sure if there's a more elegant way to do this, but the way I do it is like this:

create a new text document in wordpad or notepad, put this in there:

mame.exe -cc

then save as whatever.bat in the folder where mame.exe is. Now click on that, and it'll generate a file called mame.ini. Open that file in wordpad, and look for this line:
Thanks. That will help a lot! I know I have to do a lot of Googling, but my Dad is REAL good at this kind of stuff, and said he'll help with hardware, also, should I get http://www.xgaming.com/store/arcade-joysticks-and-game-controllers/product/x-arcade-dual-joystick/? Or just do the button and stick layout myself?

Code: Select all

skip_gameinfo             0

change that 0 to 1, save, and you're good. You'll still get the USING THIS EMULATOR FOR GAMES YOU DON'T OWN blah blah screen on games, but only the first time you run them.

...as for the second part of your question. Learn about frontends.

Thanks, my Dad has had 20 years of experience in construction and wiring. But he said just to go with a USB set for 2 players, and I was thinking just use X-Arcade and Joy2Key to get it working. He'll build the "shell" for it, and I said I'll handle the TV, computer, etc. I'm also going to use a certain txt file in MAME to change the controls One, By. One. So is this a good plan? I also found a good layout, and Im working on finding games for it.

If you're going to do that you might as well just not bother with the arcade cabinet. It's a waste of space. Either build your own controls integrated into the cabinet or just not bother at all. What's the point in having a joystick that just plugs in? Building your own controls is massively cheaper than buying an x-arcade. Plus you'll be able to fix things when they break much easier.

[dsheinem]

If you're going to do that you might as well just not bother with the arcade cabinet. It's a waste of space. Either build your own controls integrated into the cabinet or just not bother at all. What's the point in having a joystick that just plugs in? Building your own controls is massively cheaper than buying an x-arcade. Plus you'll be able to fix things when they break much easier.

Really? The Tankstick is $200 and has controls for 2 people, a trackball, and feels quite solid and well built. How much would all that (plus materials) run you in a self-made CP? How much time would it take to put together?

[AmericanMuffin]

If you're going to do that you might as well just not bother with the arcade cabinet. It's a waste of space. Either build your own controls integrated into the cabinet or just not bother at all. What's the point in having a joystick that just plugs in? Building your own controls is massively cheaper than buying an x-arcade. Plus you'll be able to fix things when they break much easier.

Really? The Tankstick is $200 and has controls for 2 people, a trackball, and feels quite solid and well built. How much would all that (plus materials) run you in a self-made CP? How much time would it take to put together?

Sure it might has it's pros and cons, but when you think about it, it's much harder and more expensive to do what you said you want, my Dad would rather save time then money, and we're also going to make our cabinet similar to this one: http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/eng/stepprojectmame.htm It's just a project he likes and wanted to do and I was game for it. Another reason not to do it is there are WAY too many parts to order at different times. If you find a kit with 16 buttons, all the microswitches, and both joysticks, I will gladly use it. We also want it to have an authentic arcade feel, it's like playing a game on an emulator compared to playing the actual game (which is what we want it to be similar to)

[t0yrobo]

I added it up for the heck of it and I learned something I didn't know, arcade trackballs are EXPENSIVE. The parts would come out to be around the same price as a X-Arcade because a freaking trackball cost $100.
However I think it's worth it for the little bit of extra time and money. You get better quality parts, whatever sort of layout you want, and it just looks better.

[dsheinem]

I added it up for the heck of it and I learned something I didn't know, arcade trackballs are EXPENSIVE. The parts would come out to be around the same price as a X-Arcade because a freaking trackball cost $100.
However I think it's worth it for the little bit of extra time and money. You get better quality parts, whatever sort of layout you want, and it just looks better.

I may look into this in the future for my own project...but the nettop I am using has no PCI slots, just USB (which leaves out the easiest solution). Is there an easy way to wire a custom CP to a USB plug?