My four player build

thegreatiandi · July 9, 2018

So I'm finally " done " with the cabinet build. I did this entire thing with just one skill saw, one cheap corded drill and a cheap $23.00 nail gun from harbor freight ( two years ago I had already purchased a small 3gal pancake compressor for $49.00. it did the job perfectly ).

I used three 4'x 8' MDF boards from home Depot for $19.99 each.

A few misc peices of reinforcement wood purchased for $20.

One gallon of black Simi gloss paint for $27.00.

One can of black flat spray paint for $6.99.

I used thin trim for...well, the trim, instead of t-molding. Cost was $29.99 for those.

I bought a 48"x 30" plexiglass from home Depot...with a plexiglass blade to cut it to size all for $53.00.

I'm using a 42" LCD with high response time that I had laying around. The PC I built last year in anticipation of this build for about $200.

I have a 4 player HAPP arcade bundle I got off eBay for $69.00. Here is the link... although it's more now.

https://www.gameroomguys.com/Happ-Arcade-Control-Panel-Multi-Color-Kit-4-Player?dfw_tracker=20153-24865&matchtype=&network=g&device=m&adposition=1o2&keyword=&campaign=835173769&adtype=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyI3Oj_uS3AIVlMhkCh17sAhwEAQYAiABEgJONvD_BwE

Now I'm needing to get the ultramarc 4player ipac. I'm thinking I would like a gun or two as well...but not sure because of the horror stories I hear of the set-up and inability to work on a regular basis.

I'm needing to figure something out for the 2-player fighting games that will not allow you to map multiple players to one keyboard ( killer instinct, mortal Kombat, street fighter 4&5, marvel vs, etc. ). I hear v-joy is a pain and has to be started before playing. That sounds like it pulls you out of the emersion for sure.

So what do you guys think?

Any advice is welcome.

Thanks!

Rincewind · July 9, 2018

Awesome looks well built and it's almost the same size as your car ? please keep us up to date with pics/vid of it running

thegreatiandi · July 9, 2018

1 minute ago, Rincewind said:

Awesome looks well built and it's almost the same size as your car ? please keep us up to date with pics/vid of it running

Man...I know lol. It's not the smallest build for sure.

My wife was giving me the, " that shit's to big to go in the ? " look. So I made sure I built it in a modular fashion ?...took 5-10 minutes with the drill to take it apart...and 5-10 minutes to put back together.

I'm about to begin the journey into launchbox itself this weekend. I figure if I can sludge through hyperspin for the arcade you see on the right in the last pic....from what I hear, Launchbox should be a breath of fresh air ?.

Rincewind · July 9, 2018

Yes your be fine as you already understand the basics i.e. Frontend... Game.... Emulator.

There's plenty of videos that are worth watching first but you will be amazed at how easy it can be to get a system (platform) up and running

thegreatiandi · July 9, 2018

15 minutes ago, Rincewind said:

Yes your be fine as you already understand the basics i.e. Frontend... Game.... Emulator.

There's plenty of videos that are worth watching first but you will be amazed at how easy it can be to get a system (platform) up and running

That will be so welcome. Here's hoping!

Question for you: do you happen to know anything about a " 360 controller " emulator? I heard it's made to tell the PC that you have a 360 controller attached via USB...but it allows you to map your controller buttons to your keyboard? Here is a photo of them ( I can't actually find them on the net yet in case I hear there the way to go ).

Rincewind · July 10, 2018

I've never seen them before but they could exist... I just use these 2player arcade set

Klopjero · July 10, 2018

I did an image search on google and found this site. I had no idea this was a thing. very nice. A quick search, turns out that there are PCB's that do the same thing, but without the groovy xbox case

https://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-770476206-kit-arcade-fliperama-multijogos-pc-xbox-360-zero-delay-_JM

Edited July 10, 2018 by Klopjero

thegreatiandi · July 10, 2018

13 hours ago, Rincewind said:

I've never seen them before but they could exist... I just use these 2player arcade set

The only thing about that setup is, PC fighters like Street fighter 4/5 will not work with it. I have that same basic thing on my 1st gen arcade, and no go for any new fighters.

You can't map both players to one keyboard. The new games must have a keyboard and one USB controller. Tekken 7, Mortal Kombat X, Killer Instinct, Injustice...they all require that exact setup. Im trying to figure out a way to make this possible because the emulation PC can more than play these titles...but the damn games just won't allow it.

DOS76 · July 10, 2018

no that setup is joystick encoders not keyboard I have those and if you look in the picture you will see two encoders and two USB plugs so its like having two controllers.

DOS76 · July 10, 2018

these are the ones I purchased
https://www.amazon.com/Easyget-Encoder-Joystick-Illuminated-Buttons/dp/B00WAY9848/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1531253236&sr=8-14&keywords=zero+delay+usb+encoder

thegreatiandi · July 10, 2018

13 hours ago, Klopjero said:

I did an image search on google and found this site. I had no idea this was a thing. very nice. A quick search, turns out that there are PCB's that do the same thing, but without the groovy xbox case

https://produto.mercadolivre.com.br/MLB-770476206-kit-arcade-fliperama-multijogos-pc-xbox-360-zero-delay-_JM

So in my mind...these will allow you to plug the usb into the PC and have it think thwer is a X-box 360 controller plugged in...and then mapping buttons of games that require it...will let you map away.

I have wondered if i could just use one of the " no lag " pcb-usb interfaces and i'de be good to go...but the issue is, what will the PC recognize this as. If it sees it as a generic USB controller, maybe it's perfect....but i don't know anyone that has used this in the scenario that I'm proposing to verify.

thegreatiandi · July 10, 2018

13 minutes ago, DOS76 said:

these are the ones I purchased
https://www.amazon.com/Easyget-Encoder-Joystick-Illuminated-Buttons/dp/B00WAY9848/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1531253236&sr=8-14&keywords=zero+delay+usb+encoder

Ohhhh...so no need for the I-pac2 or 4 if i just pick up 4 of these ( I already have 4 Happ joysticks and a crap ton of buttons )?

DOS76 · July 10, 2018

Yeah I believe mine is seen as a generic USB controller

thegreatiandi · July 10, 2018

4 minutes ago, DOS76 said:

Yeah I believe mine is seen as a generic USB controller

So how is the lag with these?

I ask because it's almost taboo to not use Ipac2 or Ipac4.

This is what i have in my 1st gen arcade. It works great...no software, no fuss, no mess. Problem is, i can't do what i described though because it's seen as a keyboard.

DOS76 · July 10, 2018

I don't have any noticeable issues but I'm not the greatest judge of that anyway I feel like they work great and any issues are because I suck not the equipment is faulty.

thegreatiandi · July 11, 2018

1 hour ago, DOS76 said:

I don't have any noticeable issues but I'm not the greatest judge of that anyway I feel like they work great and any issues are because I suck not the equipment is faulty.

Interesting to say the least, man. This almost throws off my entire idea for the set-up for my four player can, lol.

I planned on getting the ipac-4 and just never be able to play ANY of the new fighters that the system can play.....just stick to whatever fighters MAME has available. If what you're describing works...I guess I could just get either the Ipac-2 and two of the joystick pcb boards to be seen as USB controls......or just told with 4 of these pcb-USB joystick interface and call it a day.

As far as lag....I always think a quick play of super Mario bros....on nes...trying to run and jump on the top of the flagpole...tells me if there's input lag or not. That or Mike Tyson's punch out. If you can dodge left/right when the punches from Tyson are coming...I would think you're good lol.

thegreatiandi · July 16, 2018

On 7/10/2018 at 2:37 PM, DOS76 said:

Yeah I believe mine is seen as a generic USB controller

I just got these in from Ebay today. I,m going to do a quick install and see how they pan out in the next few days. I just hope they are seen as USB controllers and literally have no lag. This would kill the fighting games if they do

Edited July 16, 2018 by thegreatiandi

SubRetro · December 4, 2018

Been debating on doing a 4 player cab over a 2 player. Your work so far is inspiring for a first time cabinet builder. Messed with HyperSpin so long and when I finally went to LB 9.0 that MAME importer makes it very easy.

Question for your four player setup. What is your width of control panel and cabinet itself? Also how did you make it modular so you can move it in different areas? That is what I am currently reviewing so I can be flexible with space.

thegreatiandi · December 15, 2018

On 12/4/2018 at 6:56 AM, SubRetro said:

Been debating on doing a 4 player cab over a 2 player. Your work so far is inspiring for a first time cabinet builder. Messed with HyperSpin so long and when I finally went to LB 9.0 that MAME importer makes it very easy.

Question for your four player setup. What is your width of control panel and cabinet itself? Also how did you make it modular so you can move it in different areas? That is what I am currently reviewing so I can be flexible with space.

Hey buddy.

Thanks for the kind words. I am actually done with the cab ( well...ya know...it is and it isn't ? ).

So you're a Hyperspin guy converted, ehh? Same here. I actually have a 2player build beside my new 4player cab...and that one is a Hyperspin cab. I will say LB is easier by leaps and bounds...but there has definitely been things that i struggled through...and I'm sure i will still be reaching out to the crew on Discord ( Lord Monkus, Neil, Dos, Zombeaver, etc ). I probably owe Monkus 3/4ths of my arcade at this point...he's been amazing.

I've been meaning to get back on here and post pics. I will in a few hours as it's 2:am here.

My CP is 57" wide. I know the real ones aren't that wide, but since it's mine, i wanted to avoid the literal shoulder to shoulder we used to get in the arcade.

Cab is 4' wide ( it has a 46" lcd inside ) and almost 7' tall.

It's modular in the sense that the CP comes off. And if need be, me with one drill and a Philips bit can take it completely apart in about 5:mins...and put it back together in about 10. How do i know? Because i built it in the garage and didn't really think about getting in the house until i needed to, lol.

I am no woodworker at all either...so this was my first ever solo project like this. Hardest most time consuming this i think was the CP. Since i did it all...no pre-drilled purchases, 100% of the design and all. Then decided to wired a few LEDs to it as well. Nothing overboard as i think crazy lights coming out of the CP from every button looks gaudy IMO.

In any case, i'll drop some pics on in a few hours....then start thinking about how im going to do these Wii light guns i want...already go the Dolphin bar.

thegreatiandi · December 15, 2018

On 12/4/2018 at 6:56 AM, SubRetro said:

Been debating on doing a 4 player cab over a 2 player. Your work so far is inspiring for a first time cabinet builder. Messed with HyperSpin so long and when I finally went to LB 9.0 that MAME importer makes it very easy.

Question for your four player setup. What is your width of control panel and cabinet itself? Also how did you make it modular so you can move it in different areas? That is what I am currently reviewing so I can be flexible with space.

So from the the last pics I posted of the build, I decided to scrap that control panel. It was just too narrow and not wide enough in my opinion for 4 players comfortably....and the controls went straight across instead of the angled flanking players. Here is what I did: