Most of the stuff I wrote about is not very detailed in links and such. That's because there's already many guides on how to go about making your own machine. I mostly googled up all of my data, but there's a few good links that shone through :
MAMEworld : Latest news for releases of MAME, but also links to just about everything you need to run frontends, from screenshots to marquees to various artworks, not forgetting INI and DAT files to make everything even better.
CPViewer : For those that like the extra detail, this program is nifty. It allows you to have a visual 'control panel' while navigating or even playing games. What is it good for? Well, most emulators and roms don't come with instruction manuals for what buttons does what. This is basically the replacement of the reminders drawn on actual machines panels. It shows on screen the use of each buttons, and you can customize it so it looks like your control panel.
BYOAC @ Arcade Controls : The entire website is dedicated to projects like mine, wether it's modding a cabinet or building your own. It has instructions or links to instructions, tips and tricks, and other stuff that will help you making your own. Among others, articles about monitor choice and setup, interfaces, control panels, sound, wiring and much more. Plus it has links to other projects so you can see what other people made, it can help getting ideas for your own.
Ultimarc and Happs Controls : Two of the best to order up the various hardware needed, such as joysticks, buttons and controller boards (keyboard encoders). Buttons and joysticks are obvious, but what about linking those to the computer? Or to the monitor? Ultimarc has made such controllers. There's two main controllers to consider :
Keyboard Encoder : They have a line called the IPac, which are controllers that allow you to remap what would normally be keyboard keys to the joystick. Normally a keyboard will have a limit of 4 keys pressed at the same time, and ghosting (pressing certain keys will result in a completely different letter appearing). Encoders allow you to avoid those. IPac2 and IPac4, for 2 and 4 players, along with a program to draw and map out your control panel visually.
Monitor adapter : Depending on your project, you may end up using either a TV, a monitor, or the original screen that was in the arcade cabinet (for the more authentic feel). TVs can be hooked with S-Video or adapters from VGA/DVI. Computer monitors are the 'duh' choice, but have higher resolution, so some people feel it doesn't look authentic. The arcade monitor is the obvious choice for that purpose, but you need some special connectors to hook it to the TV. For that Ultimarc has a graphic card that can hook directly the arcade monitor, or other adapters if you want to keep your own card.
They also have adaptors to took up newer consoles (PS2/PS3/XBOX, Wii) to your arcade monitor, or controller setup depending (i.e. to an IPac).
CrapMAME : Quite literally the opposite of the other links, this website is a Hall of Shame of various cabinet designs. It's a good laugh, but also a good guide at 'what to NOT do' when building your own. Some of them I might not agree entirely with the author though, but some points are valid. And some button layouts are simply horrid. Symmetrical button layouts for left and right players? Random button layouts?
More to come!
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