tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57764092011-04-21T13:52:27.476-07:00Mame Arcade CabinetMy running progress on an arcade cabinet.Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1125607387195066942005-09-01T13:07:00.000-07:002005-09-01T13:43:07.236-07:00Been a while with no posts. :)I bought a blue LED cluster from SVC when they were on sale a while back to light up my trackball. Looks quite nice. Will get a picture up shortly.I've been having some trouble with the cabinet crashing and rebooting unexpectedly, and I have a feeling the bargain-basement ram/motherboard are probably responsible, but I don't have the time/patience/money to really getBilliamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1120977927839438612005-07-09T23:36:00.000-07:002005-07-09T23:45:27.846-07:00Added script (see AutoHotkey section on right) to prevent accidental escape-key bonkage(yes, that's the technical term).Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1120466829530931902005-07-03T23:12:00.000-07:002005-07-04T01:47:09.530-07:00Swapped out the tv in my cabinet with another one (it was the living room tv until recently), and I can't believe the difference. The large discolored patch I was unable to degauss away is, of course, not present, but more importantly the screen is so much more clear! I had assumed that the blurriness I was seeing on the old tv (a Zenith) was a function of using a television instead of a monitor,Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1119323209082449162005-06-20T19:42:00.000-07:002005-07-09T16:39:38.733-07:00Added a new very fun game to the cab that I've wanted to have available for some time: EveryExtend with the help of this wonderful (not to mention free) utility: AutoHotKey.EveryExtend works alright in a cabinet (escape to quit, playable (menus and all) with a joystick and one button), but has a couple of problems:There's a dialog box that pops up every time it's opened asking whether you want toBilliamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1118139410945594932005-06-07T02:40:00.000-07:002005-06-07T03:26:45.213-07:00Spent a bit of time tweaking some software stuff I hadn't gotten around to/had been putting off, mostly windows-hiding stuff. Finally re-setup a one pixel cursor in windows.Download: 1 pixel cursor | Invisible cursorCreated a few bootscreens using BootXP,and set them to randomize. Windows once again well hidden.Added a couple more games, specifically Lego star wars and Gish. Both play very well Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1108588342133554242005-02-16T13:07:00.000-08:002005-02-16T13:12:22.133-08:00Working on cleaning up some of the cabinet's wiring, will have pics when I'm all done. Also dremmeled out some N64 female plug mounts out of scrap aluminum bar. These will be mounted the the inside of the control panel to give the plugs some support when they're being constantly yanked on. Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1105691855555761052005-01-14T01:32:00.000-08:002005-01-14T00:45:57.060-08:00Finally back up and running (though the cabinet is currently in pieces). Here are some pictures comparing my new marquee to the old one. Source image UnlitTop to bottom - ClassicArcadeGraphics, EmDKay Lit Left to right - ClassicArcadeGraphics, EmDKay Note that's direct sunlight, but it really does give an accurate representation of the relative print quality. Major differences: EmDKay Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1104143285197367432004-12-27T02:23:00.000-08:002004-12-27T02:28:55.606-08:00I received an absolutely incredible marquee from EMDKAY to replace my ClassicArcadeGrafix one. The difference is just amazing. I'm in the process of moving, so while there will be pictures, it'll be a while until they're posted. Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1098838865296777662004-10-26T17:58:00.000-07:002004-10-26T18:01:05.296-07:00New guestbook script (should be) all set up (adds a few features that were necessary, and wouldn't take much work to be set up as a forum, should the need arise).Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1096853289358611262004-10-03T18:24:00.000-07:002004-10-03T18:28:18.976-07:00DDR pad graphics have been printed and installed. The print quality is surprisingly good and the whole thing came to about $12 after tax. Well worth it, in my opinion. Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1096699955886467392004-10-01T23:49:00.000-07:002004-10-03T18:29:16.286-07:00Finalized the artwork for the dance pad. I'll be taking it to Officemax (which is a bit more expensive for the service, but I seem to have a coupon - should cost about $11 for 9 11X17" glossy prints). Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1096597560064473892004-09-30T19:24:00.000-07:002004-09-30T19:26:00.066-07:00Added Armagetron and HamsterBall and skinned accordingly. Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1096508076534502982004-09-29T18:33:00.000-07:002004-09-29T18:34:36.533-07:00Got my RMA'd video card back today! Also received a monster s-video cable as a wedding present (is that geeky or what) that should improve the picture quality a bit :)Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1095569029813081662004-09-18T21:42:00.000-07:002004-09-21T02:24:25.830-07:00Printed marquee arrived from ClassicArcadeGrafix today. Looks pretty good, but I'm particularly picky. There's a lot of banding in the dark blue areas, and it does wash out a bit when backlit (but I've been unable to find a better alternative at this time). This means the cabinet just about looks like it will when it's done. Only need to add the N64 controller mounts, clean up the wiring, Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1095246085344493612004-09-15T03:59:00.000-07:002004-09-15T10:48:49.236-07:00Finished the new skins for the most part. There are a few things I'm going to change when the video card has been repaired/replaced and I can see how the skin looks on my TV. Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1095086263507988982004-09-13T07:35:00.000-07:002004-09-13T09:35:11.720-07:00Just can't win for losing: Video card needs repairs, sent in an RMA request to ATI.Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1095032557591725602004-09-12T16:37:00.000-07:002004-09-12T20:25:56.000-07:00Working on new MameWah skins. Background has been finished, cleaned up a few of the elements, and I've started batch processing the console screenshots with photoshop so that they integrate better with the layout. Before After (note: tv screen is now incorporated into every shot) End result, before and after (wrong console, but it's just a mockup): Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1094945043540391492004-09-11T16:23:00.000-07:002004-09-15T10:57:20.683-07:00Pictures of the glass, as promised. Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1094895951918679052004-09-11T02:43:00.000-07:002004-09-11T02:45:51.920-07:00Monitor glass has been installed, and really cleans up the cabinet's appearance. Will get pics up tomorrow and begin work on a new MameWah skin (but I doubt I'll be changing much). Layout, support files, and some source images will be available for download when it's finished. Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1094284987106073052004-09-04T01:50:00.000-07:002004-09-04T01:03:07.106-07:00Got my marquee proof back from Kinkos, and I'm pretty disappointed. There are a couple of Kinkos near me, and only one of them will actually do backlit material printing. The first one I visited had this really beautiful backlit material sample. It was a really thick plastic with one heavily textured side and one smooth side. The print itself was bright and sharp, and didn't wash out at all when Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1093897303475685662004-08-30T12:52:00.000-07:002004-08-30T13:21:43.476-07:00There's very little left to do, it's a bit sad. The monitor glass support piece is installed, I just ordered a piece of 3/16" smoked tempered glass from a local glass place. It should be ready in a few days. I need a $20 marquee print from kinkos, mounting plate for the n64 controller plugs, come up with a better speaker volume knob hack, and clean up some of the wiring. I'll be making a new Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1093127524212085852004-08-21T15:27:00.000-07:002004-08-21T15:32:04.213-07:00Created a batch file and a temporary emulator in mamewah to help keep track of the number of frames to skip for use with the -skip_startup_frames parameter. >> C:\mame\inizer.log echo --------------- >> C:\mame\inizer.log echo [[ %1 %2 ]] >> C:\mame\inizer.log C:\mame\mame.exe %1 Not really sure how to filter out the 'loading suchandsuch.file' bit, but it's a start, and I can load a bunch of Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1092524666590994002004-08-14T15:40:00.000-07:002004-08-14T16:04:26.590-07:00Successfully compiled a new mame for m'self (surprisingly) that's optimized for my processor, and using a few of these scripts. sw.scr - adds -skip_warnings (-sw) command. This will skip game warnings such as "video emulation is not 100% accurate", etc. fsf_ssf.scr - adds -fast_startup_frames (-fsf) and -skip_startup_frames (-ssf) command. This will allow you to specify the number of startup Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1092442427905781542004-08-13T17:10:00.000-07:002004-08-13T17:13:47.906-07:00I'm still as awful at Tempest as I remember being. Broke 10K hits to this website as of today, though. :) Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5776409.post-1092355141508327002004-08-12T15:48:00.000-07:002004-08-13T01:52:06.716-07:00Disconnected the extra USB ports from the motherboard, and lo and behold, the other ports are working. Played a few games of tempest and arkanoid. I really like this spinner. Billiamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17616739141462445757noreply@blogger.com