Arcades are something of a relic of days gone by. You might occasionally catch one at your local mall, bowling alley, amusement parks, or other family attractions, but for the most part, they’ve gone the way of the dinosaurs. Not only that, but modern slot machines, as a rule, do not fit the familiar games of the past.
MAME, short for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator, saw fit to contribute to recreating the original gameplay in the form of a multi-purpose emulation environment. An emulator is software that simulates a specific hardware. There are many that will mimic an arcade machine (as well as other game consoles), but MAME is undoubtedly best suited for the job.
MAME‘s sole purpose was to preserve old arcade games. Most, but not all arcade games run on a similar processor hardware chip. But there are others, for example Dragon’s Lair, which worked on laser discs.
MAME will emulate the hardware that hosts the games, including machine memory, processors, or CPU (central processing unit). When you pair it with an arcade game ROM (read-only memory) and perfect sound, MAME will simulate the game for you. It serves as an excellent slot machine emulator.
ROM is essentially software for storing the game you intend to play. MAME supports thousands of different ROMs, so finding one for your nostalgic ride will be a fairly simple task.
How to turn an old computer into an arcade machine
Before we can start building an old arcade machine, there are a few things you need to know. First, creating an arcade machine emulator is not an easy project. This venture will require skills beyond games and technology. It will also require coding, soldering, wiring, and a little carpentry.
You can just enjoy playing games on your regular everyday computer, but that’s not what we’re going to talk about in this article.
Legality of it all
MAME is free and open to the public, but doesn’t come with a ROM. The reason for this is that arcade games, including games released by companies that may have since shut down, are still copyrighted.
This means that if you do not have a physical copy of the game itself, downloading and using the ROM will be against the law.
For this project, we will assume that you have legally acquired a physical copy of the game you plan to play. All you are missing is equipment to play on. In this case, the use of both MAME and ROM (s) is perfectly legal.
The Right Computer and Screen
The MAME website lists the minimum requirements to run MAME on a computer:
- Any AMD or Intel processor with MMX support.
- Windows 98 or later.
- DirectX 5.0 or newer.
- Graphics card with DirectDraw or Direct3D support.
- Any DirectSound compatible sound card.
Remember, the more powerful your computer, the better it can handle the processing requirements of MAME Remember that MAME is trying to mimic the behavior of the original hardware. This will require a lot of processing power.
The basic version of MAME for PC runs on a command line system, which means you have to enter commands to edit settings and play the ROM. You can find MAME ports that will work on machines with Mac or Linux operating systems. If you download the basic version of MAME for PC, you will see that it is a command line system.
A monitor will become a necessity and most MAME enthusiasts prefer a cathode ray tube (CRT) TV over a computer monitor. This is because older CRT models create a more realistic visual arcade experience. Just make sure whichever screen you choose can connect to your computer.
Selecting Controls
The controls you choose for your arcade machine emulator will depend on the games you want to play. A racing game? Use a combination of steering wheel and pedal. Games like Centipede? The trackball works best. Do you want to play Tempest? The original game used a rotary dial.
Next comes the standard combination of joysticks and buttons. However, MAME will most likely support it if you enable it with a line command.
Standard PC joysticks, steering wheels or gamepads are suitable for most games. You can install them via PC ports or connect via USB. However, they don’t necessarily reproduce the feel of a real arcade machine. You will need to go and buy a real deal from vendors who sell ready-made game control panels.
A prefabricated control panel will cost you more than buying the parts individually, but it will save you time when it comes to connecting and coding the controls. However, there are some MAME arcade makers who enjoy the freedom to do it all themselves. Some will even include multiple control devices on the same machine. In the end, the choice is yours.
Using arcade controls
To use the controls, you need to map them. MAME maps arcade controls to specific keyboard keys by default. Each key on the keyboard is just a switch. You need to replace the default radio buttons with the radio buttons of your controls.
The arcade joystick has switches that move in two, four or eight directions. By mapping each direction of the joystick to a different key on the PCB, you can program MAME to accept input.
There are two types of switches used in slot machines:
- Many arcade game enthusiasts consider leaf spring switches to be the best of the two. This is because the construction provides a better playing feel.
- Microswitches are generally stiffer, but easier to find and require much less maintenance than a leaf spring.
- a light source, some plexiglass and a tent for the top display of the slot machine. The canopy is a translucent material with images on it, which you can make yourself or buy ready-made.
- Fluorescent lights are a better choice than incandescent bulbs as they do not generate much heat. bulbs last longer and can be found in different lengths.
- To protect the work of art, the tent must be clamped between the sheets of plexiglass. Install a fluorescent light at the top of the cabinet and point the light source in the direction of the tent. Tune the device until everything is perfect as you see it.
- The sound will depend on the type of monitor you have selected. For TVs, standard speakers should work fine. Your computer monitor will require a sound card compatible with your version of MAME This is in addition to the multiple speakers installed that will go into the chassis.
- Fiberboard or similar to make the cabinet.
- Wood glue, screws, bolts and brackets to hold this together.
- drill, jigsaw, screwdriver and other similar tools for work. Door hinges, buckles, and power switch are all optional components.
- Enough room for your game control panel wiring. This is especially important if you are trying to combine multiple control system settings.
Installing controls
This is the hardest part of the whole arcade machine emulator project. You will crimp or solder the wires to the appropriate connectors corresponding to the controls. This can be done by connecting the grounding conductor connectors in series to a common ground. You will also need to connect a keyboard encoder to your computer.
The keyboard encoder is what is used to connect your computer to the arcade controls. Since MAME gives each arcade control a corresponding keyboard key, you’ll have to use it to test the controls and customize them the way you want.
You can run MAME to test your controls once they are connected. This is a slow process as you will determine which keystrokes are simulated by the controls and then map them to the correct control settings in MAME
This means that pushing the joystick to the right can correspond to pressing the B key. You will need to edit the settings in MAME to match what B should be displayed to the player pushing the joystick right. Repeat this process for each step.
An extension cable or junction box must be installed to connect the various components inside the machine. It is also good to have an external power switch to avoid having to open the cabinet to turn on the machine.
Arcade Go
The lights and sounds of the arcade machine are what really brings it to life. The project would be incomplete without an illuminated display and a reliable sound system. Graphics are important, but it’s the little things that make the project stand out.
What you need:
Build the Treasury
You can buy a wardrobe for a slot machine at various warehouses, auctions and websites. Cabinet parts can also be purchased separately, but the overall option will be expensive. Not only is it expensive, but there is no guarantee that your MAME rig will fit into a prefab arcade cabinet.
If you are going to build your own closet from scratch, you should consider the computer, the monitor you choose, the type of controls to install, besides where you plan to place them in your home.
The only design constraints are related to the equipment used, the available floor space, your budget, and your imagination. If you need help designing your closet, there are many DIY websites that can help you.
To build your own arcade cabinet, you will need:
First time go to the Internet for help building your control panel. This is to avoid complications and mistakes and to make the project less stressful.
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