The MAME game

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.

Holy cow! Have you ever done anything simple? As usual, very impressive.

Very Cool as usual. Thanks for the post Gary.

-- Bruce from Central New York

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

Very cool….some day, when I actually have some time I gotta build me one of these! Thanks for the post.

-- Patrick, Chicago, IL http://www.TenonAndSpline.com/blog

Cool Gary.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

ok Gary.. is there ANYTHING that stumps you???

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Nice work ! Do you have any progress pictures ?

-- John in Belgrave ,(Slideshow ) http://cid-69bce320c6d8b119.skydrive.live.com/play.aspx/Extreme%20Birdhouses/P1030026.JPG?ref=2 (Website) http://www.extremebirdhouse.com

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!

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

This is crazy! I have never heard of this before, but very cool. You are very talented.

-- robbi-Yadahooty!

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.

that’s really cool. I could see one of those out in my shop… lol

-- Ned - 2B1ASK1 http://nedswoodshop.blogspot.com

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.

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.

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!

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

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.

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.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

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.

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

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."

Very cool Gary!!!!!! Now you will never get any projects done. My kids would love one. Great job as always.

-- Davesfunwoodworking

You guys just amaze me….........

-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/

Is there anything you can’t do Gary? Wow. You’re one amazing dude.

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

do you have Defender in there? I love that game.

-- Michael A. Brailsford

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.

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!

-- You're a unique and special person, just like everyone else.

Very cool!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

WOW i’m speechless just amazing….

-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug

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.

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

Great mini-MAME cabinet! I really like the steering wheel sub pannel.

-- Brent (Table saws worry about kickback from Chuck Norris)