CHANGE
HISTORY
CHANGE
HISTORY4/29/00
Control panel template
c0nsumer was kind enough to share with us this pdf file of a 2-player 8 buttons each control panel layout he designed. It was used both on his project, and Sithspawn's. Added to the downloads-miscellaneous section. Can't read pdf files? Get the reader. Thanks c0nsumer :) --- saintLots of positive comments on the I-PAC lately. Retrocactus is fairly impressed with it, and has posted a review on their web site. I've mirrored it here. Also correctly posted the I-PAC on the links page where it belongs. --- saintTheir web site is looking fairly sharp these days. Added a link on the message board to the Retrocactus message forum. --- saintWow, have you checked out Imagination Works? The URL I gave out a few days ago is having problems, but this one works. They sell a bunch of adapters for game console controllers that use either SNESKEY or DirectPadPro. These include:They plan to offer Genesis and Saturn adapters as well, and may customize a setup for you including a custom multi-adapter. They'll also soon have an emulator support section with config files for you to download. Too cool. --- saint
- The IOMAXNES - 2 NES control pads interfaced to the parallel port, complete $23.99
- The IOMAX-SNES - 2 SNES control pads interfaced to the parallel port, complete $42.00
- The IOMAXN64 - NES-64 two controller interface (controllers not included), $41.99. Presently out of stock and not for sale but will return.
- The IOMAXPSX - PSX two controller interface (controllers not included), $26.99
- The IOMAXPSXFORCE - PSX two controller interface with force feedback support (controllers not included), $37.
- The IOMAXXTREMEMOLEX - WOW. This product allows you to connect up to two Nintendo 64 Controllers and/or 2 Playstation controllers to your computer for use with games and Emulators. This Product supports all FORCE FEEDBACK enabled games that use the Windows Controllers/Input System. This Product gives you a special printer port for your existing printer and an Additional Parallel port for a scanner or another printer. Presently out of stock. $100.
- The PSXN64TOPCUSB - PSX and N64 to USB port (Windows support only). Allows connecting either a PSX or N64 pad to your USB port. $42.
- The PSXTOPCUSB - PSX to USB port (Windows support only). Allows connecting a PSX pad to your USB port. $45. No, I don't know why you'd buy this one instead of the one above.
ElvisP pointed us to Suzuki's Ultimate MAME Cabinet - a Japanese only site that apparently has a custom-compiled version of mame with a new 15 Khz driver with amongst other support for s3 cards. Thanks ElvisP :) This is project #130! --- saintAdded VideoMania to the projects page. This is a slick looking 4 joystick cabinet - be sure to check out the before and after pictures. Project #131 in the collection :) --- saintAdded Ivo's Arcade kasten project - a Dutch web site detailing how he converted an old arcade cabinet to a MAME machine. This makes project #132 in the collection - thanks Ivo! :) --- saintAdded MAME Cabaret UK to the projects page. It's a two player keyboard hack cabaret cabinet that will soon be installing Andy's I-PAC interface. This makes project #133 now! :)
4/28/00
Added a link to Chad's writeup of his custom-built spinner. --- saintChris wrote up an interesting technique he's created for his arcade spinner, similar to the TwistyGrip design... The Barrel Spinner!--- saintMCM Electronics has put there *full* catalog online, and they carry Happ products. Not sure if they still have a minimum, it used to be that they had a $20, but you could get around it by paying a $3 fee. When all you want is a button, would you whether pay $5 for a button, or $25 for a button and stuff you won't use? In their "Clearance Rack" tab in "gaming" they have 2-1/4" White Trackballs for $55. This site is still in its infancy, and the "Browse Catalog" isn't very user friendly, so type in Happ in the search box and hit enter. (note: Advanced Search doesn't work). --- Tom61Back In Time -- Voodoo3 3500TV Review. A pretty decent review, tests Mame and some other programs with it's TV-out. --- Tom61
4/23/00
Added 3 additional vendors that sell t-moulding to the links page: --- saintAdded a review Howard sent me for Video Connections - an arcade parts vendor that sells among other things Wico leaf joysticks and buttons. Alphabetized it while I was at it. --- saintAdded SNES Control Tester - a utility that will test your SNESpad-parallel port interface. Puts a graphical SNESpad on the screen, and as you press buttons they light up onscreen. Supports multiple parallel ports. --- saintRevamped the mouse section of the interfaces page. Added information (finally) on using two mouse devices at the same time. --- saintAdded VGA-TV driver to the downloads page - converts the video signal from your VGA card to the frequencies a TV uses. DOS app. --- saint--- saintAdded Joystick To Mouse (demo - 669kb) to the downloads page. Sorted downloads page alphabetically while I was at it. --- saint
Added Keyfront 1.3.8 (2.4 MB) to the downloads page. Keyfront is a frontend for SNESkey that lets you configure they keys via a slick gui. Supports both SNES pads and Sidewinder! --- saint
Added a tip about controlling jerky movement with keyboard interfaces to the emulator support page. --- saint
Added TNG Sales to the arcade parts vendors listing. They have NOS Wico leaf joysticks! --- saint
4/22/00
--- saint
4/20/00
April 29th, US Amusement Auction is having an auction in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.Meanwhile, Super Auctions is having an auction the same day in Fullerton, CA, 2116 E. Walnut Ave. Call 714.535.7000 for more information. --- saint
There's an interesting thread on rec.games.video.arcade.collecting about building the ideal home arcade room. --- saintMartin sent me his new project(s) - two cabinets collectively called Mamearcade - Martin's done a heck of a job with the how-to details and this is definitely worth a visit. Nice info on interfacing an arcade monitor. Project #124 added to the list! --- saintImagination Works Computer Technologies is another vendor selling PSX interfaces. Right now their web site is down, but as soon as it's up I'll post updated information. They will also be selling N64 interfaces as well! You can email them at their sales or interfaces mailboxes. --- saintThere is a new commercial spinner available! The Fultra Spinner is an arcade spinner designed to interface with the Happ Controls trackball/spinner standard interface. From their web page:What is the Fultra Spinner?There's more info on the page, including a teaser that there will be a kit available to make it a Discs Of Tron spinner. Price starts at $49.00 and up depending on options and shipping. They will be sending me a demo unit to put through it's paces when available, so look for a review when that happens! Added to the links, alternatives, and spinner page. --- saintThe Fultra Spinner is an arcade game spinner control. It can be used as a replacement in a dedicated arcade cabinet, or for home arcade emulators such as Mame. It was designed for my Mame cabinet as an alternative to the $170 (spinner + PS/2 converter) that it would cost if purchased from an arcade parts distributor.
How does it work with...?
Mame - You need to use a converter that translates the output of the spinner to a PS/2 mouse format. There are a couple of ways to do this. If you have a Hagstrom KE-72T encoder, you already have this capabillity. If not, Hagstrom Electronics will be selling a 'stand alone' encoder in the near future. Pricing has not been set to my knowledge. Lastly, you can use the spinner with a dedicated arcade machine, it is pin compatible with the Happs trackball/spinner.
Added Lindz' MameArcade cabinet project (unrelated to the project above) to the examples page. This is a networked PC2Jamma project that Steve updates across the network, never needing to open the cabinet. Very cool :) This makes project #125! --- saintAdded NEO-MAME to the examples page. This is a two joystick keyboard hack with some big plans for the future. This is project #126! --- saintAdded Second Chance Arcade to the examples page. This is a fairly deep web site with many projects to read about. This makes 127 projects! --- saintAdded Closet2MAME to the examples page. Phydeaux has several video game projects on his site in addition to the video game cabinet, and it's a great site to visit :) This makes project #128 now! --- saintSkygodd strikes again! He's got another project going (Ultimate Arcade Mark I, II) called ... the Ultimate Arcade Mark III - the Cocktail Files! Check it out - this is project #129! --- saintWell, I got partially caught up on my emails tonight :) More to come! (Did I mention I got my MCSE?) --- saint
4/19/00
Free Stargate in NJIt's not a secret that there have been some problems with some vendors selling arcade controls. There have been a few threads about it on the message board over the past couple of months.I don't want to get into the specifics, but I do want to say that I'm fairly certain all the vendors had and have best intentions. However, the average failure rate of new businesses is around 80%. Anyway, the vendors and and their customers will have to work things out, and I hope things do work out.
Because of this among other things however, BYOAC will no longer post a list of recommended vendors. This doesn't mean I do or don't personally feel comfortable doing business with a particular vendor - but the FAQ will no longer make any such statements.
Feel free to discuss these things on the message board, but please keep it civil.