Mame/Recalbox Arcade machine

[PaPaBeeR]

Morning all

I am busy getting my goodies ready to build a Mame/Recalbox arcade setup. Plan is to do a 2player 6button setup. Still looking for cheap monitors (we are 2 buddies building together) and our buttons and joystick will arrive hopefully next week.

Who here has build something like this? Just looking for some tips and tricks to avoid mistakes. The plan is to do a counter top mini version and not the retro HUGE ones we all played on at the corner Cafe.

I am currently struggling with the screen angle as most are at a 10-15 degree but I am not sure you will see nicely with it being at about 1m bottom of screen height so I was thinking more 30 degree angle. Any input would be nice and if there is requests i will post a build guide as well.

 

[mzg]

Where did you source buttons and joysticks? Have a 2 year old arcade project that I need to revive.

Oh and its huge retro

 

[PaPaBeeR]

Where did you source buttons and joysticks? Have a 2 year old arcade project that I need to revive.

Oh and its huge retro

There are a few places in Cape Town that we picked up on the good 'ol Google. Here in Gauteng we have Micro Robotics, Riecktron electronics (where we are getting it from) and RS components. I also got a few places that I could import from but they have too many options and became to expensive the more I added

Like I said we are doing a simple mini (500 x 500mm base) build. Height will be 700mm.

What parts do you still need?

 

[mzg]

Technically, I don't need anything as the machine, coin slots, screen controls, button all work but it looks like a 20 year old machine that has been (badly) sprayed black.

I want to renew everything except screen and internals so some kind of vinyl wrap and new buttons/joysticks. I would have liked to keep original control and buttons but the buttons are obviously a little worn. Hopefully, I can use the joysticks but not looking likely. I can live with a bit of ghosting on the screen as it adds to the authentic feel.

Its one with the vertical screen and older games, actually have no place to put it as I have since moved house so have to make a plan for that as well.

 

[PaPaBeeR]

You can try these places for the vinyl and maybe even buttons and joysticks.

Online Order | Arcade Blaster
Home | Eurasian EntertainmentEurasian Entertainment | Amusements & Gaming

THey are in Cape Town so you should be able to get it easier. If you have the complete old unit do you want to keep it as is or make it to play custom roms? We are using a Raspberry Pi setup with recalbox to play SNES, Mame, N64 GBA.... all different emulators on it.

 

[el3venth]

Before you lay out the buttons, have a look at this:
Joystick Controller - Panel Layout

Also great other tips on that website.

 

[PaPaBeeR]

Thanks [MENTION=145]eleventh[/MENTION] That first blue pick is the basis of my layout as well Just not sure about the spacing at the moment, I am waiting for the buttons to arrive to see exactly how big the ring around it is before starting with the actual cutting.

Have a laser cutter at work so will design it all over and over until i am happy and have it cut then.

 

[mzg]

It looks almost exactly like the one I sold in the thread below. Has a 150-in-1 (or someting like that) mame setup so its pretty much already working the way I want.

As you can see it just needs the vinyl and matching buttons/joysticks

This one sold at the time but the one I have left looks pretty much the same.

http://carbonite.co.za/f13/school-arcade-machine-71523-post476414/

Has the galaga, 1942, time pilot, donkey kong, pacman, etc. All the good games. Vertical screen limits the games but I prefer that vintage.

Basically games I used to play from primary school all the way through high school



Sent from my LG-D855 using Tapatalk

 

[mr.B]

Just finished my own build.

I have a CNC so cutting out design was easy, are you going to be using a raspberry pi?

 

[PaPaBeeR]

Just finished my own build.

I have a CNC so cutting out design was easy, are you going to be using a raspberry pi?

Also have a laser cutter at my disposal but cant decide it i want a new perspex look or a wood one. Yes I will be using a Pi2. Buddy is using a Pi3. Already have the Recalbox setup running, Using my PS4 remote to test it all at the moment.

 

[mr.B]

I've used 12mm Superwood painted black; looks awesome.

 

[RVZ]

Who here has build something like this?

I've done a few, planning on doing another one soon. Here is a build log of one of them.

Arcade Game Project

Not sure if all the pics will still be there, but here's the end result.

View attachment 56225

View attachment 56226

 

[PaPaBeeR]

I've done a few, planning on doing another one soon. Here is a build log of one of them.

Arcade Game Project

Not sure if all the pics will still be there, but here's the end result.

View attachment 56225

View attachment 56226

Looks schweeet! What angle did you fit the screen? What emu setup are you running? I am having a hard time getting my Metal Slug roms to work with Recalbox. Simpsons, Cadillac and Dino's and Punisher work 100% but all metal slug mame roms wont work. I guess I have the wrong versions with the emu I am using but this is all new to me.

 

[RVZ]

Looks schweeet! What angle did you fit the screen? What emu setup are you running? I am having a hard time getting my Metal Slug roms to work with Recalbox. Simpsons, Cadillac and Dino's and Punisher work 100% but all metal slug mame roms wont work. I guess I have the wrong versions with the emu I am using but this is all new to me.

No idea about the angle anymore. It was running Mame, with the Hyperspin frontend (HyperSpin Home - HyperSpin Forum), works very well with video previews for all games. Yup, probably wrong version or wrong rom.

 

[mzg]

I've done a few, planning on doing another one soon. Here is a build log of one of them.

Arcade Game Project

Not sure if all the pics will still be there, but here's the end result.

View attachment 56225

View attachment 56226

Damn that looks nice! I hope mine ends up looking something like that.

Notice the horizontal screen that allows for a different set of games, mine is vertical. Can rotate though.

 

[PaPaBeeR]

Also planning a horizontal screen. Buddy had someone who had 2 screens for us but he dropped us now. Hopefully that joysticks and buttons arrive later this week.

 

[linuxxx82]

Also have a laser cutter at my disposal but cant decide it i want a new perspex look or a wood one. Yes I will be using a Pi2. Buddy is using a Pi3. Already have the Recalbox setup running, Using my PS4 remote to test it all at the moment.

hi there,
i also builing one at the moment, and i also think your setup will be sick ( the the square box type , (...and not the corner cafe..lol)
im using my Pi 2 and chinese knock off wireless controller, as a matter of fact, i have just tested it and all good to go with one controller.


my challenge would be how to connect another wireless controller ( not sure if there will be pairing issues) or should i go the USB for the second controller?
a friend on instagram told me i can get the ROM packs, so chuffed about it..
please keep me inform of your progress, i may not going the hardcore route the way you do but all the best for this project

cheers
Pc

 

[linuxxx82]

View attachment 56511

 

[Cyst]

Looks like there are quite a few of us doing this sort of thing.

I have a semi old flat HD TV screen lying around. I think it's one of those 36" things (maybe a little smaller).

So I also got the idea to build one of these.
I've just ordered the USB controllers and two sets of joysticks and buttons for a 2 player configuration.

I'm not sure I'm going to do a cabinet yet. Maybe some modular thing where you can remove the controllers and have the Raspberry and screen seperate.

 

[PaPaBeeR]

View attachment 56511

This is semi how I want mine to look.

Looks like there are quite a few of us doing this sort of thing.

I have a semi old flat HD TV screen lying around. I think it's one of those 36" things (maybe a little smaller).

So I also got the idea to build one of these.
I've just ordered the USB controllers and two sets of joysticks and buttons for a 2 player configuration.

I'm not sure I'm going to do a cabinet yet. Maybe some modular thing where you can remove the controllers and have the Raspberry and screen seperate.

Latest update, still trying to get the monitors we need. But going to 17-19" as we need to keep it small so the wife doesnt complain too much

Our joysticks and buttons are in Customs at the moment so hopefully they get released soon so I can start with the actual build.

On the note of the wireless controller I dont know if yours has a dongle or if it is bluetooth or wifi. The Pi2 doesnt have built in wifi or blurtooth as far as i know so there should be a way to get 2 connected. I used my PS4 controller wired and it worked so easy. had a bit of a delay but that can be fixed.

I will post pics here when we start the actual workings.

 

[PaPaBeeR]

Ok so just before Christmas I finally got all the buttons and controllers and started the laser cutting. went with perspex in the end as it is easier to just design and cut t out. Yes it is ridged enough and holds up pretty well.

View attachment 58822View attachment 58823View attachment 58824View attachment 58825

So I started off by designing the control layout and doing a cut out from a cardboard box to see if the spacing is correct. All the things felt good and in the right place so I also made a 2Player test to see if there is enough space between each player.
View attachment 58826

Once this was done and the spacing seemed right I did the cut out with laser cutter.

 

[PaPaBeeR]

View attachment 58827View attachment 58828View attachment 58829View attachment 58830View attachment 58831

After the cut I had to fit and test them out and it all worked perfectly. Some of the edges did not align 100% but with a small file it was ready to be glued.

I then did the design for the marque and speakers, the side panels were already designed and just needed to be cut.

 

[PaPaBeeR]

View attachment 58834View attachment 58835View attachment 58836View attachment 58837View attachment 58838

With the side panels on I had to get teh screen mount/stand sorted before I got the top/speakers setup ready. I used normal tape just to keep it all together. Dont mind the dirty hectic office, I was on a roll

 

[PaPaBeeR]

View attachment 58847View attachment 58848View attachment 58849View attachment 58850View attachment 58851

Had to cut a hole to make the volume control usable. With everything starting to look like an arcade machine It was pretty exciting.

 

[PaPaBeeR]

View attachment 58852View attachment 58853View attachment 58854

Had to check all the wiring, to make sure it is all solid. cut a front panel to hide the mess behind the screen. and did some gaming. Still have to finish the back panel and also have lots to do with the roms configuration but it works and I am happy.

 

[Cyst]

The lazercut perspex looks so much neater and cleaner than using superwood.

Also, from experience, don't leave the thing outside in the sun :'(

 

[PaPaBeeR]

The lazercut perspex looks so much neater and cleaner than using superwood.

Also, from experience, don't leave the thing outside in the sun :'(

Thanks for the info. It was in the study so far, but no moved it to the "stoep". it is closed off and has closed curtains so shouldnt be a problem.

 

[linuxxx82]

Hey Guys,

quick question, some one on here said there are alot of places in cape town they could get the buttons and joysticks,, where axactly?
better so , I might go the route of JAMMA box using Pandora Box 3 or 4?... but where to get this stuff, the places here in cape town with the likes of Black ball all told me to fly a kite as they not selling it to the public, instead have to purchase their machines..PFFFT.
My idea is simple,,to build a two player fight stick, connect RPI with picade and configre the buttons with Retropie,
doing this, i can take the fight stick with me and plug it in mu buddies TV and play...;-)

NOW, WHERE WOULD I FIND THESE JOYSTICKS AND BUTTONS MAN


many thanks

 

[linuxxx82]

where did you get the buttons and joystick?.. im in the southern suburbs... thanks

 

[linuxxx82]

Ok so just before Christmas I finally got all the buttons and controllers and started the laser cutting. went with perspex in the end as it is easier to just design and cut t out. Yes it is ridged enough and holds up pretty well.

View attachment 58822View attachment 58823View attachment 58824View attachment 58825

So I started off by designing the control layout and doing a cut out from a cardboard box to see if the spacing is correct. All the things felt good and in the right place so I also made a 2Player test to see if there is enough space between each player.
View attachment 58826

Once this was done and the spacing seemed right I did the cut out with laser cutter.

where did you get the buttons and joystick?