Re: I want to build the ultimate MAME cabinet - Lots of Questions and Opinions needed! (long)

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: : : : First, I'd like to mention that I just found out about MAME last week and just love it. : : I have been collecting arcade cabinets and PCBs for about a year now, and before MAME though that that was the only option to bring an arcade into my basement. : : I currently have 3 cabinets with a total of 8 PCBs and now want to convert 1 into an ultimate MAME unit. : : I have tons of questions: : : 1) I have 3 cabinets - 1 is a jamma unit with a 19 inch mon, 2 8way joysticks with 6 buttons per player; 1 is a non-jamma 4 player World Soccer Finals that has a 27 inch mon, 4 8way joysticks with 2 buttons per player; the last is a spare non-jamma with a 19 inch mon, 2 8way joysticks and 3 buttons per player. : : My question is which would you use to build the MAME out of. I kind of want to use the World Soccer Finals due to its 27 mon, it's cool cabinet shape (larger than a standard cabinet) and it's wicked built in speaker system / grill going all the way across the cabinet (plus volume adjustment knob) vs just 2 grills like on most cabinets. Though this is an original in pritty good shape (would it be a bad idea to totally modify the current cabinet and lose this game altogether since I would totally rewire it to only run off a PC - I could maybe even convert this unit to a jamma and build a PC2Jamma connector - though I'd still be permantly hacking the original cabinet). Or should I use my spare unit and convert it to jamma and then build a jamma connector? : : 2) I read somewhere that ArcadeOS needs to beep 3 times before turning on a arcade monitor connected to a PC - why?? It almost sounded like a arcade mon can only display DOS. Can it actually fry a monitor if I were to fire up Windows on the arcade mon?? : : 3) I am planning on buying a new PC to run this on - what would you suggest is the lowest I should settle for? Also, I plan on running AracdeOS with MAME DOS. If in fact a arcade mon can't handle non-DOS, I would not even plan on installing Windows95 - can AracdeOS and MAME DOS run without Windows?? I tried once closing my Windows, went to DOS and tried my MAME DOS - it didn't work?? : : 4) I want to use 8way joysticks, though heard that there is some type of "mask" or "plate" that can be built that temporarily converts it to a 4way. Does anyone have a jpg of this mask or a webpage that talks about it. : : 5) I want the ultimate control panel capable of playing almost every game, and thus want a 4 player setup. I want 6 buttons per player (can't think of any games that use more than that??), plus each player to have a start. My question is whether that will be all I need? I've seen other MAME cabinets where each player also had a ALT, ESC, ~ button - why???? All I think I'll need is a "O" and a "K" button on top of my description above - is there any other buttons that I'll need. Keep in mind that I plan on having easy access to the inside where I will have a mouse and keyboard to do the odd / unfrequent adjustments. In another words, I don't want buttons for absolutely every fucntion I'll every need if it will only needed on 1 or 2 games out of 3000+. : : 6) Do all ROMS run through MAME DOS / AracdeOS use the same button setup?? Is there anything I need to know to program a 4 player unit? I read somewhere it is a good idea to reprogram the default CTRL and ALT buttons normally set for player 1 button1 and button2 - why?? : : 7) I'd love to have sometype of steering wheel that I can quickly disconnect when not in use, along with pedals and shifter. Is this possible (can I use a joystick as a shifter)? Anyone got some jpg of current models that have this? : : 8) Lastly, is there any other things you'd suggest for my ultimate control panel. I know some would suggest a trackball and spinner, though I'm more into the late 80s and 90s games and can't think of any that use that. I also like some of the classic 80s, though other than Tron and Centipede, can't think of any need for these - am I wrong? : : Sorry for the length, though I am almost ready to start my project and want the most info to get it right the first time. : : Thanks : : In question 5 you say you want 2 keys to be defined as o and k. under mame32 just press left then right to bypass that screen. I just found this out and it has helped me out big time.

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