| Project by GaryK | posted 89 days ago | 665 views | 4 times favorited | 30 comments | ![]() |
MAME? (acronym for Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator)
“What’s that?”, I asked myself after seeing the projects of fellow lumberjocks:
Greg Wurst and Tim Dorcas
It turns out that some people wrote computer emulators for all the various CPU’s (6502, Z80, 6800…)
and dumped the ROM’s from the original vintage arcade games and got the games to work on a regular PC.
I had never heard of it before so I want to thank both of them for their posts.
This is my version of a MAME cabinet. Actually it’s my second one (it was the same design as the Greg and Tim’s). I decided that the first one was just too big and heavy with a 26” color TV in it, so I broke it apart and used the wood to make this smaller version. I used 1/2” plywood instead of 3/4” MDF to keep the weight down. The entire thing weighs about 80 lbs. With 3” wheels it is real easy to move around.
The smaller version has a 17” LCD monitor. I did make the bezel removeable so that I can fit a bigger monitor in the future if I wanted to. This allowed me to decrease the depth and height. I think that it ended up the perfect size for inside the house.
After a little bargin hunting on ebay, I found a steering wheel, stick shift, and a spinner for about$50. If I were to buy them new it would have cost $431!
I left out the third picture because I am trying to work out how to make a sub-panel for the control panel to mount my “driving configuration”, and wanted to add a picture of that later.
I never knew how much I missed all those old games.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
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30 comments so far
Scott Bryan
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9893 posts in 359 days
posted 89 days ago
This is a really nice project. I wondered what you had been busy with. Now I can see that you have been playing “video games”. :)
The artwork is pretty cool as well. Enjoy it while you can. I am sure that you will have to schedule time on it when your daughter gets a little older.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
rikkor
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8574 posts in 412 days
posted 89 days ago
Holy cow! Have you ever done anything simple? As usual, very impressive.
-- Maplewood, MN
brunob
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1391 posts in 707 days
posted 89 days ago
Very Cool as usual. Thanks for the post Gary.
-- Bruce from Central New York
Dick, & Barb Cain
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5395 posts in 837 days
posted 89 days ago
Very nice Gary!
This would be up my Grandson’s alley, he’d love something like this.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Patrick Jaromin
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238 posts in 370 days
posted 89 days ago
Very cool….some day, when I actually have some time I gotta build me one of these! Thanks for the post.
-- Patrick, Chicago, IL www.TenonAndSpline.com
Karson
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13635 posts in 938 days
posted 89 days ago
Cool Gary.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
MsDebbieP
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12282 posts in 698 days
posted 89 days ago
ok Gary.. is there ANYTHING that stumps you???
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
john
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813 posts in 919 days
posted 89 days ago
Nice work ! Do you have any progress pictures ?
-- John in Cranbrook http://www.extremebirdhouse.com ....http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2
PurpLev
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355 posts in 186 days
posted 89 days ago
yeah, those ‘old games’ are the best… or maybe it’s just nostalgia. I liked the idea of building up an arcade looking box for it though – much cooler then playing those on my laptop… lol – but then again, you need to stand up for that…
in the future when I have the space for it – I’ll definitely adopt this idea – it just looks too cool!
Thanx for sharing, and thanx Greg and Tim for the design!
-- My Drinking Club has a Woodworking Problem...
robbi
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76 posts in 492 days
posted 89 days ago
This is crazy! I have never heard of this before, but very cool. You are very talented.
-- robbi
GaryK
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8558 posts in 526 days
posted 89 days ago
Scott – It’s happening already. Here she is at my first machine. She’s only 16 months old!

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John – No, no progress pictures. Greg and Tim did a good job covering that.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
NedB
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124 posts in 103 days
posted 89 days ago
that’s really cool. I could see one of those out in my shop… lol
-- Ned - 2B1ASK1 http://nedswoodshop.blogspot.com
Chardt
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124 posts in 139 days
posted 89 days ago
My first computer was a Commodore 64. And I have an emulator for it as well. So now I have all the old C64 games that I used to play as well. Forbidden Forrest, Summer games, Impossible mission, Lode Runner…Ah, memories of Jr. High.
-- When my wife ask's what I have to show for my wood working hobby, I just show her the splinters.
GaryK
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8558 posts in 526 days
posted 89 days ago
Chardt – The C-64 was my third computer. My first was a Timex Sinclair ZX81 I bought for $99 and had to build myself. My second was a Vic-20.
Lode Runner is my favorite all time game.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Greg Wurst
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431 posts in 370 days
posted 89 days ago
I’ve been meaning to build another panel for a steering wheel and light guns for some time now. The DOS emulation is weak to non-existent, so I’d have to boot into Windows and run a 32bit version of MAME to use them. Just haven’t gotten around to it yet, although I do have the force feedback steering wheel sitting inside the cabinet. I also need to figure-out a good way to integrate the foot pedal, although I may just have it sit on the floor. I look forward to seeing your sub-panel, and great work on the cabinet!
Kaytrim
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20 posts in 113 days
posted 89 days ago
If you don’t know about the site arcadecontrols.com spend some time on the forums there. Plenty of folks with information, ideas and controls.
-- Computer programmer by day, fine woodworker by night. Custom made joysticks for Console Systems and Personal Computers.
MsDebbieP
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12282 posts in 698 days
posted 89 days ago
I had a Timex!!! and our first “real” computer was an Apple IIc.
We used to play Lode Runner by the hour. Our favourite game.
The kids now have a “new version” but you just can’t replace the stick figures of the original.
My kids asked my brother how he can be so fast on the new computer games. His response: I’ve been playing computer games longer than you’ve been alive!
He grew up on Coleco and whatever else was “it” for the day.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Tim Dorcas
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80 posts in 396 days
posted 89 days ago
I love this! You are absolutely correct about looking for ways to reduce the weight. My cabinet weighs a ton!
We have too many things in common. The Timex Sinclair was my first computer as well. I got in the fifth grade so I could create DnD Random Charater Sheets. I remember being so incredibly mad when after typing for day and with 10 lines to go, I ran out of memory. Typing in programs…those were the days.
Now that my Mame Cabinet isn’t being used as a community computer, I have been playing a lot of 10 Yards. It’s incredibly simple but lots of fun.
Fantastic job on the cabinet!
Tim
-- www.responsetolight.com - A Woodworking & Renovation Blog & www.craftedbytim.com - I make. You buy.
Grumpy
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6717 posts in 388 days
posted 88 days ago
Very sharp looking kid there Gary, if she is anything like my grandaughter she could use the remote control before she could walk. Those old games will never die.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
clieb91
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407 posts in 472 days
posted 88 days ago
Gary, Excellant job on the cabinet. Hopefully I will get around to building one one of these days when the playroom is finished. Your daughter looks ready to play.
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
Davesfunwoodworking
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231 posts in 412 days
posted 88 days ago
Very cool Gary!!!!!! Now you will never get any projects done. My kids would love one. Great job as always.
-- Davesfunwoodworking
toyguy
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487 posts in 375 days
posted 88 days ago
You guys just amaze me….........
-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/
jockmike2
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4497 posts in 784 days
posted 88 days ago
Is there anything you can’t do Gary? Wow. You’re one amazing dude.
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Michael Brailsford
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193 posts in 131 days
posted 88 days ago
do you have Defender in there? I love that game.
-- Michael A. Brailsford
GaryK
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8558 posts in 526 days
posted 88 days ago
OK, here is the addition of a steering wheel and a shifter. I added some buttons just in case I’ll need them.
I still have some cleaning up to do.
I used 2 cat-5 connections for the wiring. I couldn’t think of a good way to make it a quick release so I just used 4 screws. I can take it off and store it below.
Here are some more pics. The first picture show how I allowed assecc to all the current controls like the trackball, since I use that for a mouse.
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Michael – Defender is there.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Greg Wurst
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431 posts in 370 days
posted 88 days ago
Interesting. I hadn’t really though about an add-on board, but a replacement panel for the original. You’ve given me something to look into. If I can avoid removing the main control panel all the better. Thanks for the update!
thetimberkid
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1684 posts in 241 days
posted 86 days ago
Very cool!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/
mcoyfrog
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236 posts in 132 days
posted 83 days ago
WOW i’m speechless just amazing….
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day all Dug
GaryK
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8558 posts in 526 days
posted 65 days ago
I have added one addition to my MAME machine.
I installed a Commodore 64 Emulator along with a switch to re-configure the control panel to use with it.
The C-64 has an amazing 20,000 games available for it.
What the switch does it set the “shift” key on all the time. That allows me to re-program the joystick to send the proper key commands.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
bhuddah
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25 posts in 248 days
posted 60 days ago
WOW Gary,
you have left some nice comments about my furniture and my shop before but I never looked at your projects until today, all I can say like some one earlier did. Do you do anything easy?
I’m not sure if all the complicated things you make will encourage me to do more or to quit, but wow you’re one talented dude. I’m going back to the drawing board.
-- some days are like driving in oncoming traffic