A Few More Options

Revised Instruction Card

Just made a few revisions. I've added both the Dynamo and Capcom logo's.
I added the plus (+) symbol in each instruction line to indicate a combination of buttons/directions are required. Other then that I just changed the spacing ever so slightly. I'll send this off to Wal-Mart this week and see how the final printed instruction card looks.

About to play a lil Street Fighter II

Progress, progress, progress ! It feel's good to say that.
I need a little more time to fix some things I overlooked, but the end is near.
I can say that, most importantly I can mean it!
I hooked up the control panel to give this puppy a little test drive.

Up & Running

Some pictures I took during the testing process.
For now I've decided to keep the PC on the side of the cabinet.

It Works, It Works!

I think the s-video wire is the source of the problem. I'm getting a new one on Monday. Today I decided I would go downstairs and fiddle around again and see if I could make any progress. I made sure the s-video wire was as straight as possible, it seemed as if that did the trick because I got the image to display on the PVM.

As I make progress I noticed some mistakes I've made and things I've overlooked.
I love the flat black paint as its really easy to work with, but it marks easily.
Having certain elements (control panel & bezel) painted for as long as they have been, and left lying around it was no wonder they've picked up a few scratches along the way.
Looking back now I wish I had clear coated the items. Its no biggie, but something I will know for next time. I MIGHT clear coat the bezel, but I will not do the same for the control panel.

Working with what I have, specifically the X-Men vs. Street Fighter I decided to do an instruction card that would follow suit with the other elements. Having not played for a bit I forgot how to select the game. This is most certainly a good idea to have with this cabinet !

I'm so pissed off! Since getting these monitors every single time I've gone downstairs to mess around on MAME I've had no issues. I turn on the PC, I turn on the monitor and away I went. It's like the second the monitor was placed into the cabinet something decided not to work. But not only did not work on one of the monitors, its the same thing on all three. It just really upsets me that I have encountered yet another set back. The installation of the PC shouldn't be all that hard. Cutting the back of the cabinet to make room for the monitor shouldn't be all that hard. Wiring everything up should be relatively easy also. But this stupid monitor or video card or whatever it is such a pain in the ass. I've spent so much time trying different configurations and nothing. The last thing I'm going to try is to bring the PC upstairs again and try on the 32". But even if that works what does it tell me ?

Shocking.............. Still No Luck

So I brought the PC monitor downstairs. I powered up the PC and the PC monitor displayed the images with no problems. I shutdown the PC, started it up, only this time hooked up to the PVM monitor. But this time I got no image, I plugged the PC monitor back in and it was still working. I powered down and powered up the PC on a second PVM monitor but still no image. I tested the monitor via an X-Box playing a DVD and the monitor was working. The only thing I can think of is the s-video signal is not strong enough ? Oh I also got shocked trying to move the monitor, that was fun.
I've included images of MAME playing on the PC monitor and my newly damaged and shocked finger!

Some Oversights

As the project comes together I have noticed some oversights in the planning.
Some and easy fix, others not so much. I'll need to drill a hole in the monitor shelf that will allow the s-video cable to run down into the PC. The same hole will also allow me to run the speaker connections into the sub-woofer. The monitor depth isn't working well with the cabinet and I will need to cut a pass thru in the back of the cabinet. As is the monitor is sitting too far forward. I need to move it backwards and angle it into place. By cutting out a portion of the back cabinet I should be able to seat the monitor in the desired position. Lastly I miss measured my PC case, its about 1" to wide to fit into the cabinet now that the monitor is in place. I'm thinking that I will have to remove the components of the PC and mount them onto a board that I can fit inside. I'm thinking this could also help with the heat issue as it would have no case.

Anyway I'm off to "try" and solve my monitor issues.

Display Issues

So I get help and I get the monitor into place.
I began testing the computer on each of the three monitors.
For some reason no image was showing on ANY of the monitors.
I brought the PC upstairs and tested via the video card on a PC monitor, I had no issue. I also tested the s-video and hooked it up to my 32" TV, again no issue.
I took the PC downstairs and started to test it running MAME on the installed monitor and no image. I don't know what the problem could be.

To save myself from running up and down the stairs I'm going to bring the PC monitor downstairs and continue testing. I have no clue what the problem is, but its really bothering me.

Monitor Is In

Today I began the process of testing all three Sony monitors using MAME.
However (just my luck) it seems the video card has kicked the bucket. I can no longer get an image displayed on any of the three monitors. I tested the S-Video cable via DVD player and it worked. I also tested the three inputs on the monitors also via the DVD player and the monitors displayed the picture. It appears I'm having RAM issues in addition to the video card issue. It never rains, it pores ! Such is my luck.

Anyway with the help of my brother and friend Andrew the monitor has now been lifted into place. It will require me to cut a little off the back of the cabinet to slide it into its final resting place. Also as suspected I will need to shim it into place.
I would expect to do that in the next week or so.

I also plan on tackling my PC issues this week. I'm rather upset, yet another set back.

Monitor Repair

When I purchased the 3 Sony monitors one of the three had issues. The picture was very bad, and very green. I began tweaking it by lowering all the settings only to find out I was unable to increase the settings. All the "+" buttons didn't work.
When I removed the casing from one of the Sony's I noticed what I thought was the wiring for the adjustments. I needed to remove the casing from a working Sony to add it into the Dynamo cabinet. I decided I would unplug the connection from the working monitor and plug it into the non working monitor. PRESTO ! IT WORKED ! I was able to reset the monitor to the stock settings and do my adjustments. I'm really excited that I've now salvaged this monitor I thought was a complete write off. In fact I thought the monitor looked great, perhaps the one I will use in the MAME cabinet. However Friday I will try running MAME on each of the monitors selecting the best one for the cabinet.

So Now What's Really Left ? And When Will It Be Done ?

OK so the shelf is built and installed.
So what's left to FINALLY chalk this project up in the finished column ?

I need to build a small shelf to house the PC sub woofer. It contains the volume control for the computers audio speakers. I've purchased L brackets that I plan on using, and I will house this shelf just below where the cabinets original power supply was. That will allow me to reach behind the cabinet and adjust the volume if needed.

Ill need to house the PC inside the cabinet resting on its side. Ill keep one end of the tower case off to help with cooling. I might add one of my USB cooling stations to the inside of the cabinet for the time being. But I do plan on purchasing a fan to store inside the cabinet and provide additional cooling.

Once the speaker shelf is installed and the PC contained its a simple case of putting the cabinet back together. I would expect (and this is honest) to have the cabinet up and playable for Saturday. It feels good to say that and mean it.

Shelf Is Done & Installed

My brother is coming over Friday to help me move around some furniture in anticipation of my new sectional coming. I thought it would be a good opportunity to get the help required to complete the MAME project. I've had the shelf built for a few weeks now but did have some issues on just how to install it. Browsing some of the projects over on the BYOAC site I noticed that someone using the same SONY PVM monitor simply installed a shelf level to the control panel. He then used wood to shim it up into place. I thought that was a great idea and didn't require the math and problem solving on my end. No secret I've had a ton of issues on how to install this monitor and get it perfect. Anyway today I thought I would find the time to install the shelf and drill the holes. I cut a 2"x4" to about 26" so it would rest just under the 2"x4" support of my shelf. I checked to make sure the shelf was level on both ends and from the inside (and underside) I started to drill through the cabinet. Once I felt I had gone past the 2"x4" to the cabinet itself I stopped. Once all 6 holes were done I removed the shelf to complete the task. After that I simply put the 2"x4" support back into place and began adding the bolts. With the exception of one bolt that goes in cooked as a bitch I'm glad it's done. And like most things on this project the task wasn't that hard and again I regret waiting as long as I did. None the less the shelf is in and I'm just about finished.

Side Project : NEO GEO

While my MAME remains in the basement stalled screaming for attention I decided I would jazz up my NEO GEO cabinet. Possibly adding some Japanese Sanwa joysticks with red ball tops and painting the motherboard cover. While I havent changed out the joysticks yet I did paint the motherboard cover. I think it came out quite well.

As far as my MAME goes I decided to simply intall the shelf level, adding no angle. As I saw over on the Build Your Own Arcade Controls site I will simply shim the monitor into the correct viewing angle using wood. So simple yet I never thought of it.

Rant................and Shelf Is Built

I find myself saying the same things over and over and over again.
And all be it I set goals for myself I guess I just don't care enough to really follow through. As one can easily tell from this blog I began my MAME project long long ago.
And even though each element of the build was in reality easy finding the time to do these specific tasks was not so easy. Not really having a desire to go downstairs and play on the machine I think was a major thorn in the side. None the less I push though and really do want this project finished. I think one of the other big...scratch that.....MASSIVE problems was me second guessing myself. I'm not by any means a handy individual. I'm not a skilled craftsman, in fact I didn't get a single tool until last year when I got my house. Yet for all my shortcomings I have this really overactive imagination. Now the imagination is a great thing, but when you combined that with hesitation and constant second guessing with a pinch of over thinking you have a deadly cocktail. I constantly doubt that I have the means and skills to complete this project.
As my MAME project neared completion all that remain with the installation of the monitor. Now that onto itself wasn't or didn't seem overly difficult. But the monitor was 115lbs, and quite simply I was unable to life it and maneuver it on my own. Finding the time to get downstairs and complete this task became an issue, and when I had time did I have someone around to help ? Still I thought I will do what I can, but I started to obsess over the angle of the monitor and for some reason (even to this day) was unable to figure it out. It was the suggestion of my brother-in-law to simply lift it into place, eyeball it and go from there. I spoke to my father-in-law and had him cut my shelf for me. I installed 2"x4" supports and drilled out 3 holes on each 2"x4" to allow for the bolts I purchased to be fed through. This past weekend a friend came over to give me his two cents on the build. (Again an issue formed by my over thinking of things) I showed him the shelf, I held the shelf in place and we took the back casing from the Sony PVM monitor and did another ruff fitting. I know it might not be exact, and really I don't need it to be exact. I'm pretty sure the orientation will be fine and I will have little, if not no blockage of the screen. So with the ruff install done my friend suggested I cut some of my extra 2"x4" to 28". It was 28" from the bottom of the cabinet to the bottom support of the shelf. He suggested with the wood cut it would in fact act like a second set of hands. I could shimmy the wood up to the shelf, and reach in from underneath a mark my three holes. Then move the wood to the other side of the cabinet and repeat. This would provide my with a level surface and allow the shelf to remain in place as I drill out the holes.
As I have prior I "AGAIN" feel confident this is truly the last step. I plan on cutting the support tonight and perhaps asking my father-in-law (A jack of all trades) for his two cents this weekend. I believe I've cracked the code again, but my father-in-law will be able to tell me fore sure. With this help the shelf should be installed this weekend. I should be able to move the cabinet into place myself and I'll need to enlist the help of my friend to lift the monitor.

Another thing I did notice was that the Sony PVM monitor will no doubt have to have its casing removed to fit correctly into the cabinet. As is I have removed the casing from one of the three monitors. I had some issues with the monitor not displaying in color. However I have been unable to resolve the problem. The issue was that the adjustments on the front panel don't work. However I did locate the wires and see where the plug into the back of the Sony. I'll need to remove the case from one of the two working Sony monitors. Once I do so I'm going to try to plug in the connection from a working Sony into the broken Sony. I'm hoping that by doing so I can simply access the buttons and use the factory reset. That should restore the monitor to its factory default and in theory display in color again. Salvaging a monitor that as is was set to go into the trash.

Wood is Cut!

Saturday September 12th is the next local coin-op auction. I've been looking forward to this auction for awhile now. I'm picking up some parts and set (yet again!) a goal of having the cabinet completed by the time this auction rolled around. (Worst case scenario the day of!) No big secret my time and skills are extremely limited, yet I push through. Over the last few weekends I tried to piece together a monitor shelf that didn't exactly work out. But I did get my bezel painted in a nice flat black....and managed to do so without any drips.
My father-in-law was kind enough to cut a PROPER wood shelf for me. And this week I plan on going to the local home depot to get the screws and wood I need to make the supports. To re-cap earlier posts on this blog I had a ton of issues trying to figure out how to mount this monitor. For starters it's about 115lbs, so I require help to mount it into place. It fits tightly into the cabinet, and does not allow much room to make any corrections. When you combined the fact that the monitor is as heavy as it is, with the inability to move it once installed it was very difficult to figure out the angle it needed to be mounted at. My brother-in-law suggested that we just eye ball it and give it a shot! Which to be honest did make sense at the time. But again not having the materials and tools available the monitor just sat around for months after that. With frequent trips to the basement and perhaps an hour or two of staring and thinking I figured out what I thought would be the ideal method of installing the monitor. I removed all the wood from inside the cabinet. I had my father-in-law cut to size a shelf that would rest tightly inside the cabinet. Once installed I was able to move the wood up and down, and angle it as needed.I then placed the back casing of the Sony PVM monitor onto the shelf itself. From that point I reinstalled the wood that normally the monitor would bolt onto. This served as a guide to insure the monitor fell perfectly in the middle. It also served as a guide so I would know how much more forward the monitor would need to go. The back casing of the PVM monitor perfectly represents the width and height of the monitor, however the monitor still has about six or so inches that it protrudes forward. I think now I have "cracked the code" and should be able to finally complete this long overdue project. I'll need to stabilize the shelf using some 2"x4" supports. I'd like to mount the shelf to the cabinet from the outside. I purchased six 3" bolts that I plan on using. Each of the supports would have 3 holes drilled into them, then marked from the inside once I have the shelf leveled. I'll simply put the wood into place, drill through the cabinet and mount the shelf from the outside. I can honestly say that yes, perhaps I took on more then I should have with this project. And yes, if I had made this a priority perhaps it could have been finished in a month. But all in all I enjoyed this project. I've built something that all be it took a hell of along time I can say I am proud of. I look forward to having the guys over to catch a UFC PPV and fire up the MAME cabinet. It's also given me the confidence to take on other projects such as the three bartop machines I purchased. As always I will post the pics once I take them.

Almost there....again!

Not much has been done in the way of completing my MAME project.
As said many times on this blog I have limited time, no tools, and no help.
I'm basically at the same spot I was 30 days ago with my monitor waiting to be installed. All be it I did make some small progress.
I've painted the wooden bezel that surrounds my monitor in a flat black. Typically you would put your cardboard bezel over this, however I might just use it as is. When doing a dry fit it works out perfectly. In the future I might get a bezel cut from some matt board, but that remains to be seen.
I also purchased a 2"x4" that I cut down into 15" lengths. These will be doubled up and screwed together. On top of this I plan on mounting a shelf for the monitor to sit on. I did pick up the wood I need, however I haven't cut it into size.
I went to the local home depot and picked up some 3" bolts,washers,and nuts.
I partially uncased my Sony PVM monitor and began to loosely dry fit the shelf.
I'm having a hard time figuring out the angle to mount the monitor shelf. Its not easy working with a 110 lb monitor. However by using the back of the Sony PVM case I think I have a general idea as to where it should go. And to be honest, should it be slightly off I think i'll be able to live with it.
Again its just finding the time and the help to bang it out. I'm leaning now towards getting all the cuts done, the holes drilled, and everything else ready for the install. That way when I can find the help it should be a piece of cake.
The only thing that has me nervous is drilling through the side of the cabinet.
The idea is to use the 15" lengths of 2"x4" doubled up as support for the shelf. The shelf would be screwed into the supports. The 2"x4" supports would have three holes each drilled in them. The supports would rest on the inside of the cabinet and the 3" bolts used to keep them in place. I think this would be enough to hold the monitor, all be it might not be the best idea to move it around once assembled.

Excuses, excuses, excuses

Excuses, excuses, excuses........

I enjoy many things, I collect very few. I've never really had a hobby that I stick with to be honest. I tend to get "really" into things but the romance often ends with not really caring. I'm very motivated by things that play into my sense of style and general aesthetic appeal. Sometimes I think if my basement were finished and I was a space that I frequently visited that I would have many more projects and perhaps most important completed projects. But as is my basement is simply "that space" in the house that doesn't get used. I'm sure like it is for many people it becomes the burial ground for junk, and a wasteland of crap. Things we won't use, yet can't part with.
Right now my basement is home to a Tekken 3, a Neo Geo 2 slot, the MOSTLY finished MAME project (a.k.a the reason for this blog), and my Japanese style slot machine.
I also have a few more projects set to make the move from the garage into the basement.
I recently picked up a ton of Japanese parts that included 5 Sanwa joysticks, 40 or so Sanwa buttons, and 8 extra Sanwa ball tops. I was also able to get an awesome deal on some new Jamma harnesses and three 48-in-1 boards. The "future" project includes converting the bar tops into 48-in-1's. Two of which I'll sell,the other I'll keep.
In addition to the bar top project is my Jukebox build......known as the "BossBoxx."
The computer side of this project is complete, all be it the album list is ever expanding. A friend of a friend who is a carpenter has offered his services to help me this build. He was rather stoked on the whole idea, which is a huge bonus for myself. Concept wise the jukebox has taken on a few forms, but I'm not really going to sweat it at this time.
I get a lil flack for my blogs and the fact that I start one thing without completing another. And to be honest I understand, in fact it sort of bothers me that my MAME stays in the state it is. As mentioned many a time on this blog I truly feel its like %90 of the way there. In some respects I often question, is this hobby a good hobby with a guy that has no truck,no tools,really no ability to do required work needed for some of these projects. I haven't found an easy answer to that question because honestly stuff gets done.......it just takes long!
I guess if I were to look really hard into things I could say that I don't love the hobby, I enjoy it. I don't make it a priority, its just something I thought could be cool. It's something that when my basement gets completed I think I will use often, but like my other cabinets right now they are just taking up space. But for all my mixed views on these items one thing remains constant, they make me happy.
It gives me something to do when I choose, it keeps me out of trouble, for the items that interest me it really hasn't been expensive. My brother also recently began collecting and has got what I think to be some decent buys. He has his foosball table, his 48-in-1 contained in a nice simple all black showcase cabinet, his Tekken 3 in a showcase cabinet, his Street Fighter Alpha 3 showcase cabinet, and newly acquired Neo Geo 111-in-1 in a Dynamo cabinet. It was at his house that something became very clear to me, it isn't about how often you play that justifies this hobby or this waste of space as my wife would call it. It's about how much you enjoy it when you do. I've found that it brings my family together. It was an awesome experience to play a game of foosball against my father. Or have my wife join me in a heated battle against my brother and his wife. In reality how many things that we do are a waste of money ? How many things hold our interest for years to come ?