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- 30-12-2000
Game2Play...
- I still have the old monitor. Couldn't find one that would fit into this cabinet without buying a new cabinet :( However, I also bought a Dreamcast, thus leaving me even less time to play with the Arcade-cabinet. I like it though, firing up an old PCB. I just can't to get the monitor-tweaking right, everytime ArcadeOS switches back and forth between itself and a game, I will have to tweak the settings again (esp. vertical hold). Maybe I need to update the software, as well as put some more time in it. Right now, I spend more time on the Dreamcast and on some other game-related stuff. And if you take into account I work at Gamegate.com, you might imagine that when I come home after work, I don't feel much like playing around :)
- 22-07-2000
Still alive...
- Due to other activities (Life was happening) I didn't have time to update this page, or do anything on my MAMA Cabinet. Just a quick overview of what has happened, more wil follow later on this week/month:
- I discovered that the monitor was in fact a rotating monitor. This is really nice, as I'll be able to play pacman the way it's ment to be :)
- A new videocard (ATI Xpert '98) solved a lot of problems, but I'm thinking about replacing the monitor, as it's a bit dark and I can not seem to get the brighness right. I'm currently looking into 'revised' monitors.
- I am really glad I did go the PC2Jamma way, as it turned out. I still can switch between PC (troubles) and PCB's.
More to come...
- 02-01-2000
Network up and running
- The network is up and
running. I now can access other pc's in the network under
pure DOS. I updated some other pages too and I also added
a software-page, with
a list of the software I'm using inside the cabinet.
I also did some extra rewiring (again) on the cabinet. I was
told on Saint's message-board
that the JammaX-connector uses the same ground as all the
other buttons. This make my live a lot easier :) I'm also
getting ready for the final move: putting the computer inside
the cabinet. I added an extra ground to the cabinet, using
the original jamma-connector. Ground 1 on the jamma-connector
(parts side) is now a standard ground in jamma-mode and is
used as the extra ground needed by the LP-24 in dos-mode.
It looks like I will not have to use extra switches in the
cabinet, but just have to plug in the modified fingerboard
and reconnect the DIN-9 connector for setting up the cabinet
in pc-mode. Me likes it !
- 05-12-99
Quick notice
- Updated almost every page. Added a linklist
and a network-page. Must
go now...
- 21-11-99
Bought the stuff
- Yesterday I bought the computer that will go inside the
cabinet, check out the money-spent
page to see what stuff I bought. I couldn't find a Xpert'98,
so I bought a Rage II instead. It should also work on a arcade-monitor,
according to various messages.
I overclocked the Celeron 400, it's now running stable at
500 MHz, and I put a network-card that I had lying around
into the computer, because I don't want to open the cabinet
for updating roms, ArcadeOS etc.
BTW: I've read the news about the new Hagstrom encoder, the
KE-72. If I could do it all over again, I would have bought
this baby, instead of my LP-24... :(
- 14-11-99
Revival on it's way
- Phew. Haven't updated this section a few weeks... (Hmms,
deja-vu). The project is still in a 'halting'-phase. I did
some more rewiring, connected the insert-coin to the appropriate
jamma-finger, but that's it. I'm planning to restart my project
in the next couple of weeks. Next week I'm going to the 'HCC-Beurs',
the biggest computer-fair in the Netherlands. I'm hoping to
return with a lot of goodies to put into the cabinet. It all
depends on the prices they ask.
I'm also having questions about which videocard I should use.
I've read a lot of good reviews of the ATI-cards at Saint's
messageboard, but I'm wondering which version I should get.
The Xpert'98 seems to be a good choise, but I can't seem to
find it here anymore. Maybe I'll user the Trident for the
moment, and try another card later on (although it IS the
most crucial part of the cabinet). I'm having my doubts...
There is also some good news: I'm now a master at SF-II! Although
I did say it before, I'm very, very glad I did go the
PC2Jamma way. The new control-panel plays very nice and smooth,
and I really like the idea of not breaking up the cabinet.
I now just swap the pcb's and play another game, while waiting
for computer-prices to drop :)
- 02-10-99
Long time no see, earthquakes suck...
- Phew. Haven't updated this section a few weeks. Not only
I'm busy with various other stuff, I also don't have much
to mention about the ongoing project:
Last week I went out to a fair for buying the new computer
that will go inside the cabinet, and I was stunned. Due to
the earthquake in Taiwan, prices have gone up 150% for memory.
So instead of spending $650 for a new computer (Celeron 500
/ 128 Mb / 8 Gb HDD), they thought I was going to spend $400
for the memory alone. NOT!
So I bought a $12 trackball instead. I'm now figuring out
how to mount this trackball on the panel...
I guess the project will have some delay. I'm very glad I
followed the PC2Jamma-way, because now I'm still able to use
the SFII-pcb, not to mention the fact that otherwise I would
be staring at a $750+ piece-a-sh*t
for two months :)
- 09-09-99 *grin*
Quick update
- Today I scanned the photos I took. Some were really messy,
only 12 of the 20 were usefull...
I added a picture-gallery,
and added some pictures to various pages. Due to my new job,
updates will mostly appear during the weekends.
- 04-09
Time to buy some more stuff...
- I updated the total-cost page.
I now have to buy the computer that will go inside the cabinet.
I guess it will be a Celeron 466 with 128 MB memory and a
8 Gb HDD. That should be enough until MAME .68b4 I hope :)
- 02-09
Rewired the cabinet
- I finished the cabinet, and put the SFII-board back in.
After checking the wires a couple of times, I turned the cabinet
on. And it worked!
- 30-08
Build the panel, rewire the cabinet
- The control-panel has
been finished.
In two days I start at my new job, so the first thing to do
in the time that's left is to rewire the cabinet. I'll need
some extra Molex-connectors as I'm following the PC2Jamma-way:
extra wires will be connected through an additional connector,
not used on the Jamma-pcb's. I'll have the photos I took develloped
today, they should be online in a few days.
- 27-08
Building the panel
- Added a page about building the control-panel.
Will have to buy some materials for drilling holes in the
metal.
Took some more pictures. I'll have them develloped soon.
- 26-08
The journey has started
- Yesss, just received the Happ-parts. S&H was not cheap,
but hell, those $40 won't break me. First thing to do is rebuilding
the control-panel, I'll be buying a motherboard etc. soon.
I guess I won't have it ready on september 1th, when I start
at my new job, but then I'll have something that keeps me
busy at night :)
- 25-08
Waiting
- Still waiting for the Happ-parts. They should arrive in
a few days.
Just cutted a new control-panel from an old computer-case.
It really looks like shit... I'll have to look around for
something else for making a new panel. Maybe an polycarbonate-one
?
- 18-08
Programming the LP-24
- It took 4 keyboards to get one working daisychained with
the LP-24, but I managed to programm the LP-24. However, I
suddenly noticed that the cabinet has all the buttons/switches
grounded to the same line. The setup I use, uses two grounds.
I currently figuring out the best way to get around this,
I probably will cut a line at the fingerboard and rewire the
buttons. Normal Jamma-pcb's shouldn't notice the difference
(assuming ground is everywhere the same), but the cutted fingerboard
will have two grounds for the buttons. I will wait for the
Happ Controls-parts to arrive, before starting the rewire-mess.
This could get ugly :)
- 17-08
One down, one to go
- Today I received my LP-24, with a free cable for connecting
it to my pc! Now I just have to wait for the Happ-parts.
Took some pictures today. However, they won't be online until
I have more pictures of the whole process.
Added a total cost-page.
- 16-08
Two weeks left
- In two weeks, my vacation is over and I'll start at a new
job. I really hope that my LP-24 and the Happ Controls-parts
are here soon, so I can start rebuilding this thingie. Until
they arrive, the only thing to do is cleaning the cabinet
up a bit and making plans for a new control-panel layout...
Will take some pictures later on today, don't know however
when they will be online.
- 07-08
JP, Phone Home
- A very quick update, I'm currently out of town for a week
or so, this update is made in an Internet Cafe (*hips*). Phoned
home, still no LP-24, but already received CreditCard-slip.
Got a mail from Happ Controls, if I could give them my home-address
to send the stuff to. Oops :)
I'm outta here, going to the solar
eclipse in France or Austria with a couple of friends.
Hope my eclipse-glasses are good, otherwise you won't see
many updates here anymore :)
Quick note to self: Take some pictures of cabinet
- 04-08
First In, Last Out
- I received the trident TVGA8900C today by mail. Also placed
my order at Happ Controls today, Suzo didn't have the things
I wanted :(
I also started the work on the cabinet. Cleaned it up a bit,
and replaced a few micro-switches that were bad. Also mounted
a microswitch beneeth the 'Coin return'-plunger.
- 01-08
A fresh start
- Just picked up 2 Jamma-harnasses for free today. The finger-boards
are soldered already, I just have to rewire the cables.
- 31-07
Gotcha !!!
- Picked up the cabinet today. It's a standard cabinet ('Royal
Video Special'), which houses a SFII-pcb. Monitor has very
little burn-in, on top of the cabinet are 2 speakers (stereo).
I'll take some pictures soon, and I can start rebuilding it.
- 27-07
Phone-call
- I was offered a Street Fighter II-cabinet today. This is
just what I was looking for... The guy will have it at his
house later on this week, I'm really anxious to see it.
- More orders
- I also did order a video-card for $5. It should work in
a PC2Jamma-project, according to the PC2Jamma
Video Cards-page.
- 22-07
Another supplier
- I received my SUZO-catalogue
today. They are cheaper than Happs Controls (like $40 vs.
$75 for the same trackball), and are located in the Netherlands.
- 20-07
No way back
- Ordered the LP-24, I'm going to an amusements-machine-firm
later on today, to see what they have in stock. I already
dealt with them a few years ago, when I bought my pinball-machine
(Bram Stoker's Dracula).
- An offer you can't refuse
- Just had an offer for a cabinet (cheap). It looks like I'm
going to get this one first, and build my cabinet later...
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