If you have just joined up I suggest you read the first part of this in depth tutorial on building your own arcade machine. You can read the first part here: Arcade Control Panel

Planning (cont…)

Last article we spoke about planning your arcade machine project ensuring you have all your parts, plans and everything is ready to go. The next thing you will need to think about is your arcade machines design. You can stick to a tradition Galaga replica or design a hybrid machine encorporating the best parts of your favourite machines. In our tutorial I have gone for a hybrid design based on free hand sketching and general arcade knowledge on measurements and scales.

Firstly we need to map out all the required pieces of MDF and other materials we will need for general construction. This is best done the old fashioned way with a pencil and some paper. I won’t give you the full measurements of the arcade we built because we winged it during construction, however the basis of our design was the 1980 arcade classic, Centipede.

Plans: http://jakobud.com/plan.php?id=5

After we had the measurements we needed to move onto figuring out how much MDF we needed. Just add up section which will then give you the final wood required. Contact your local provider to see what sheet sizes they can provide for you and simply map out the sections of the cabinet to ensure there is enough to play with. Think smart too, you don’t want to end up with half a sheet which cannot be used for anything.

Measuring & Cutting

After you have purchased your MDF simply map out the required section, you only have to do one side of the arcade, we will simply use the first one as a template for the second one.

As you can see on the right there was some slight modifications to the original centipede design instead working towards some round features on the cabinet. Under the control panel and on the top and bottom of the monitor. This rockets the arcade into the future, but still retaining the key features of the arcade.

If you choose to have a rounded look on your arcade machine you will need to router the sections to ensure you get a perfect semi circle. You can do this using a jig or if you don’t have one you can make one, this video will help you: http://www.ehow.com/video_4426187_make-circle-router.html

After you part has been completely cut out, you should end up with one side of your arcade. Stand it up and see how it is! Once you have had a little play, jumped around a bit and your excitement has worn down a bit, you can now move on to cutting out the other side. This is done by simply using the first side as a template.

You’ll need a very worthwhile router bit called a Down-Shear multi trimmer router bit, you can see it here: http://www.toolstoday.com/p-5888-down-shear-multi-trimmer-router-bit.aspx. You can do this without that bit, however I highly recommend using it as it will minimise imperfections by making the two side exactly the same.

Conclusion

Simply cut out of the remaining pieces of the arcade using a saw and have them ready for assembly. I normally work and cut as we go to ensure we get perfect measurements and no wasted materials.

Next part we will look over joining the arcade together using some cleaver joining methods, this will ensure your arcade is looking very professional and can handle being moved.

Thanks for reading and feel free to leave your comments below.

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There are a few things which could cause this issue: video-audio syncing issues and/or not enough CPU speed.

If you are running an LCD monitor set up then this could be happening to you. Video-audio sync problems can happen on all system however more often on LCD configured systems. The usual cause is that the original game ran video at another refresh rate than 60 Hz, while your monitor is running at 60 Hz. With Mame this can lead to skipping audio and some cheesy lines repeated over and over on some games. Luckily, there are some things you can do to help your system run perfectly.

1. Enable -refreshspeed. This will cause mame to slow down game speeds and try to adjust to your monitor. Careful though, can slow down your games a lot.
2. Disable -waitvsync, -triplebuffer, and -syncfresh.
3. se the correct -speed values in each game. This varies with each game and enabling -refreshspeed should help this set correctly, otherwise just hand set it in each game.
4. Invest in a monitor which can switch resolutions, an awesome video card that can switch refresh rates and enable -switchres.

So you tried everything but its just not fixing the issue, you may have to come to the realisation that the old PC you scavanged under the boxes in the garage just hasn’t got enough power to pump out your 8bit games… This is a last resort but you can find some really cheap second hand pc’s all over the place and these are perfect candidates for a mame arcade. Here are some other options to help you out.

1. Increase -audio_latency.
2. Decrease -samplerate.

Hope this helps solve the problem of audio on your mame arcade, if you have any questions feel free to comment below!

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We do have an exciting update, we are currently working on an awesome Maximus Arcade theme with a great intro video to help make your arcade awesome. If you guys have any recommendations or requests please comment them below.

More tutorials on our current build will be up shortly, including hooking up a coin slot to your Ultimarc encoder and MAME pc, painting your arcade, securing your screen and lighting and sound.

We highly recommend using Maximus Arcade as your front end software. You can download it here: http://maximusarcade.com

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Choosing the right materials is the most important part and since the control panel is the most used face on a machine, it needs to be durable and high quality.

I have just finished my control panel and I thought I would share the materials, steps and more on what I used to construct it.

Materials

• 3mm thick, 600 mm by 500mm plexi-glass (clear plastic)
• 28mm hole saw
• Powerful Drill
• Router with rounded bit.
• Circular saw
• Hot glue gun
• Wire Crimps
• Pack of 50 quick connectors (maybe more or less)
• Arcade buttons, Josticks, Encoder (ipac) or hacked.

Planning

Before you rush on in, you will need to think about layout. How will the buttons be positioned? How far apart and will it be comfortable?

You can find some great designs for controller layouts here are some sites to help you.

• http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/controlpanel%20full.pdf
• http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/cp.pdf
• http://www.koenigs.dk/mame/eng/draw.htm
• http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_controlpanels.shtml
• http://www.basementarcade.com/arcade/cpom/cpo.html

My design was based off Koenigs controls, with a bit of a twist. I decided to use only plexiglass to build my control panel, this gives a nice smooth finish and also allows me to use art work and a back light under the panel.

There are some pros and cons when it comes to using MDF, metal or plexi as your control panel. MDF can be bulky, time consuming to construct and doesn’t give that nice professional finish. Metal can be quiet expensive to use but still requires a solid backing to ensure that it is sturdy and doesn’t bend and plexi-glass has a great finish however requires support bars under the panel to ensure it also does not bend. Whatever you go with you need to ensure it is going to sit well on your arcade, I prefer the plexi-glass because it gives me the greatest flexibility in the future, it was relatively cost effective and has a nice smoooooooooth finish and it looks very sexy with a back light…

I divided my control panel in half and mapped out the controls on one side, after finishing the layout on that half, using my tape measure I mirrored it exactly on the other side. This gives a perfect control layout with equal space apart on each side. Positioning the buttons is up to the user, be sure to give enough space where the wrist sits so it does not hang off the edge. Allow 38mm for buttons and a standard button space of 38mm from the center of each button, anything bigger can give painful hand cramps when playing mortal kombat… trust me losing to cramps sucks..

Construction

I first divided my sheet of plexiglass accordingly to my arcade machine (width or 600mm and a depth of 240mm). Cutting them with a circular saw I was left with three bits, 2 x 600mm by 240mm sheets and a small left over bit. (I’ll use this for my coin slot!)

I started to counter-sink my joystick screws to ensure a flush finish on the first layer, this allows me to place another sheet of plexi on top and place some art in between the sheets. Clamping the two sheets together I started by drilling small pilot holes then moved on to drill my buttons out, making sure to go slow to ensure the friction would not melt the plastic. After all the hols have been cut out, use some fine sandpaper to clean the edges of the holes.

Place the two sheets together and slide the buttons into place to ensure a snug fit, there may be some movement but this shouldn’t be a concern. You may get some tight areas where the buttons are touching and some buttons touch, the extra space comes in handy to wiggle them around a tighten them on.

Some people have issues with a sharp edge, if you have a router handy you can bevel the edge to give a smooth finish. Be careful when using the router on plastic, it requires a slow setting and a steady hand.

Stay tuned for the next part where I will show you wiring and how to organize your wires.

You can check out more photos here

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Replica vs. Unique

In my opinion this is a very difficult decision, most enthusiast will want to re-create their child hood by re-building the famous Defender or Space Invaders at their local arcade. Some people prefer to create something unique and different with a more modern appeal to it. Either option is still a good one, as long as you put in 100% and create high quality work. My Advice is not to cut corners, take the time, effort and extra energy to create something which will last the hardcore playing.

Look into the Future!

“Sell your arcade machine?! Are you crazy?!” Well lets just say in 20 years time you got over arcade machines and wanted to sell it. An replica 1980’s arcade machine will definitely have more buying power compared to a modern, unique machine. Food for thought.

What Should It Look Like?

Upright, Cocktail or Bar top? These are also questions you need to ask yourself. Do you have space for an upright arcade machine? Do you have the time, the money? Maybe a cocktail arcade is better suited for you, somewhere to rest the beers? Or maybe you just want to start small? A Bar top arcade is an excellent choice for beginners and also very cost effective.

How much am I looking at ($$$)?

Here is some prices (please use these as guides and are no way the final cost of projects).

• DIY Upright Arcade Machine:  $300 – $800 USD
• DIY Cocktail Arcade Machine: $150 – $500 USD
• DIY Bar top Arcade Machine: $100 – $300 USD

These prices are just a guide, it can depend on where you get your parts, computers and more.

There are some great images on the internet about arcade machines. Here are some places I recommend you visit before making a decision.

1. www.jakobud.com – Popular Authentic Arcade Plans & Images!
2. www.webbpickersgill.com – Plans & Images.
3. www.arcadecontrols.com/arcade_cabinet_plans.shtml – Plans & Custom Cabinets
4. www.klov.com – The Killer List!
5. www.xgaming.com – Cut Corners & Buy a Cabinet!

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Well to kick off this series I will be taking you through a detailed step by step instruction manual on how to construct your very own, professional upright arcade machine. I will be working on this project with my old man, who has 25 years experience as a joiner and carpenter. Special thanks to him for his help with this.

So before we begin I must warn you that this is a lengthily and delicate project which can take up to 6 months or longer to complete. This project is still currently in development at the time of writing this but has so far taken 3 months to get to stage 5 (Painting & Artwork).

Planning Is Key

The most overlooked part of this scale of project is planning. Deciding to build an arcade machine can be a very difficult task and without proper preparation can be a costly project. You will need to weigh up the option of purchasing an existing built arcade or constructing your own. Without planning you could overlook important factors which must be taken in to consideration.

Budget

First thing is first, what is your budget? How much do you want to spend on your arcade and how much can you source through spare parts or scraps? These are the things you need to ask yourself before starting your project. A typical project can cost between $200 – $400 US.

The Style

So after considering your budget you will want to start thinking about what type of machine you want. Do you want to replicate an original machine from back in your childhood, or maybe create something unique and special to you? A great place to have a look at different styles of arcades is Jakobud.com, you can also find exact plans for original arcades and best of all its 100% free. Thanks Jakobud!

Materials

So after you have finally sorted your arcade plans out and the style you want to create you will need to sort your materials for construction. It is extremely important to have your materials prior to embarking on your “arcade journey” this will help you complete the project more efficiently and save you time and money.

Here is a typical list of materials for an arcade machine.

1. MDF
2. Laminated Glass
3. Screws
4. Bolts
5. Castors (Wheels)
6. Hinges
7. Locks
8. Perspex
9. Old PC (or Jamma Board)
10. Speakers
11. Arcade Controls (Joystick(s), Buttons, Trackball)
12. Coin Mechanism
13. Keyboard Encoder (or Keyboard Hack)
14. Florescent Light
15. Power Strip (Power Board)
16. MDF Sealer

Here is a typical list of tools you may need when constructing your arcade.

1. Router
2. Clamps
3. Cordless Screw Driver
4. Electric Saw
5. Right Angle Ruler
6. Measuring Tape
7. Chisels
8. Builders Bog/Putty
9. Router Bits
10. Hole Saw Bits

Electronics

So after having everything sorted you will need to think about what is really going to power your arcade machine. Most people go for an old PC dedicated to running MAME (you can read about it here). This is the easiest way and the best for a personal set up for your home. If you prefer a more authentic set-up you can run a Jamma Board inside your machine. Personally if this is your first arcade machine I would opt for a MAME set up, simply because this is low cost and easy to do.

Most people will have an old PC sitting around the house this is the best thing to use to get started. You will need something with a little grunt but nothing extreme. This is what I recommend;

• Pentium 3/AMD or higher with 1.5Ghz +
• 1 GB Ram or more
• 64mb graphics card or better
• Onboard sound card
• Windows XP

You can read more about the software in another article by me. Mame Installation & Configuration

You can experiment with these and find something that is good but not overly good. Remember you are playing mostly games from 1980 – 1996.

Controls

So the most asked question in the arcade community is how to build your controls. You have a few options when it comes to this, and simple it comes down to time and money.
You can opt for purchasing an X-Arcade TankStick which is costly but everything is there for you and they do offer a lifetime warranty or you can purchase parts and construct a control board yourself.
The TankStick is a much quicker and easier way to have a fully functional arcade controls, but if you want to learn more you can build your own. I highly recommend purchasing your parts from XGaming and constructing your own panel. They offer warranty on all their parts.

You can purchase all your parts from a few places online. Here are just a few;

• X-Gaming (The All in one solution) – We highly recommend them!
• Ebay
• Ultimarc (Keyboard Encoders)
• HappControls

Encoders

After sorting your controls you will need an encoder to connect them to your PC, thanks to bob he has also explained this for us.

Next you need to decide how you are going to hook your controls up to your computer. The easiest way is to get a keyboard encoder. Basically you hook the micro switches from the buttons or joysticks to your encoder and when the micro switch is pressed it sends a keystroke like a keyboard. Most encoders hook up with to your computer through ps-2 or usb. X-Arcade offers a great encoder that is used in their Tankstick Controller which is known for its reliability and ease of use. The only downfall is that it only has 28 inputs on it. Enough for 20 buttons and two joysticks. Another great keyboard encoder is the i-Pac from Ultimarc. They offer several different models to suit any arcade you think about building. After taking a look at the encoders at Ultimarc, I decided to use their i-Pac2. It is built for running MAME specifically and out of the box is programmed with the keys by default in MAME. All you have to do is hook the buttons up the appropriate connection on the board and your up and running. It has 32 inputs. Which only 28 are needed for the control panel I plan on running. But leaves 4 extra down the road for either 4 buttons or 1 joystick, like a true 4-way for games that were originally played that way.

You can purchase the TankStick from X-Arcade and that will have everything you need to get started (joysticks, buttons and encoder).

Screen

So another thing to consider is your screen, how you view your video games is everything. As Bob explains in another article (Building a Bartop Arcade: Planning) he discusses the pros and cons of screens.

Conclusion

So have you got everything planned? As Bob explains in his other article it is extremely important to carefully plan your project before starting it. You must have your parts ready prior to construction this can help you finish with flying colors. Before you know it you will have your arcade machine up and running.

Stay tuned for next week’s article on simple construction and design.

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We have this detailed instruction guide to help you get started with all the details on roms, bios’, CHD files and more. For these instructions we are working with MAMEUI (formally MAME32).

So what is MAME and MAMEUI (formally MAME32)?
This neat little application is an emulator, designed to recreate the hardware of arcade game systems in software. MAME is a clever acronym for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator.

MameDev States: MAME stands for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. When used in conjunction with images of the original arcade game’s ROM and disk data, MAME attempts to reproduce that game as faithfully as possible on a more modern general-purpose computer. MAME can currently emulate several thousand different classic arcade video games from the late 1970s through the modern era.

Where can I get a copy of MAME?
Getting the copy which is right for you can be a bit tricky, some games are unable to run in newer/older versions of MAME, I have been through a tonne of different versions of MAME and have finally found the perfect one which best suits my needs.

There are a few places on the net where you can gather the files. I recommend using MAMEUI 0.103 – I find this version best for MA (Maximus Arcade) and most Roms, you could say its my happy medium.

• http://mameui.classicgaming.gamespy.com/
• http://www.mameworld.info/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=84697&page=0&view=expanded&sb=5&o=&fpart=1&vc=1
• http://mamedev.org/
• http://www.romnation.net/srv/emulators/mame.html

Unzip/Extract MAMEUI
Depending on your set-up just extract the file into a location of your choice. On my system I chose the desktop as it is extremely easy to make any changes if needed.

Navigate to the MAMEUI directory
Navigate the the MAMEUI directory and start the MAMEUI(or MAME32) executable (.exe).

Using MAMEUI (MAME32)
If this is the first time you have started MAMEUI it could be a bit confusing. Before we begin we still need some more files to make sure everything works perfect.

Go to “Options” and click on “Directories”.

A nice dialogue box should appear by default should be showing directories from ROMS. In the meantime we will just be changing the ROMS directory, but if you are experiencing issues with artwork not showing check these settings.

Click insert while in the ROMS directory, navigate to the location of your ROMS folder inside your MAME directory.

After you have done this go back to the main MAME screen. Assuming you have a good selection of ROMS at your displosal, copy them into the ROMS folder located inside the MAME directory. DO NOT UNZIP THE ROM FILES, LEAVE THEM AS .ZIP FILES!

Back in MAME on the left hand side menu you will need to switch to “Available” to see your games. Press F5 to refresh rescan your directory, and voila you should have a list of games.

Double click on the game and enjoy.

You will no doubt come across a game which either does not show in the MAME list, has missing files, required a CHD file and more.

Here are some quick fixes to help if you get stuck.

Bios Files
Some games required other standard files to operate, these were included in bios files for some games. To installed them its exactly the same way as a game ROM, just copy the .ZIP into your ROMS directory and you’re done.

I have zipped them all up for you and you can download them on our downloads page.

CHD Files
A CHD file is a compressed image of the hard drive used in an arcade cabinet. Hard drives are used in arcade games because of the huge storage available on them (gigabytes!). Luckily for us the lovely Mame developers have found a way to support a compressed version of these hard drives although some can still be quite large.

At the moment there are now several games that use hard drives with sizes from 50MB up to over 2GB so make sure you have plenty of space left.

To install you will need to place the .CHD file into its own folder in the ROMS directory with the exact name as the games .ZIP file.

For example Killer Instinct uses a romfile called kinst.zip and a hard disk file called kinst.chd. First the rom file need to be put (Still zipped!) into the main Mame roms folder (Normally C:Mame/Roms). You then need to create a new folder in your roms folder called kinst and copy the kinst.chd (Not zipped!) file into it (C:Mame/Roms/kinst). If you are unsure how to create folders then have a look at the Windows Basics page as it has a description of what to do.

You can find most CHD files on this great website http://romkeeper.com (requires free registration)

Clone ROMS
A clone ROM is a different version or variant of an original game. For example, Street Fighter II Turbo is considered a variant of Street Fighter II Champion Edition.

In order to play these “Clones” you will need the “Parent” ROM, a quick Google search can help you find what you need.

I hope you enjoyed this free tutorial on setting up your MAMEUI (MAME32) on your PC, if you found something a bit confusing or can proof me better please contact me and I can correct it, with thanks to you of course

- Konvict

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