The next big mod

A year later after my first mod project, I became enthusiastic about doing something big which I had always wanted to have. A nice arcade machine to call my own. It was also due to the fact that I had a spare 21' monitor and a spare PC lying around then. Thus, started planning on building a MAME machine reusing my unused parts.

Was pretty intimidated at first due to the lack of arcade parts I was able to find locally. Overcame this easily once I was determined to get it going along with the tons of useful information I was able to get from the Shoryuken forums.

Was already set on deploying a black and white style of the control panel then. The next important decision was on how many buttons/parts were required before I make my purchase.

Played around MAME somemore and decided on a total of 17 commonly used buttons (P1 start, 6 buttons, coin, etc). Ordered all these parts from akihabarashop.jp. Fantastic online shop with tons of authentic arcade parts available.

Having played mainly Japanese arcade machines throughout my gaming life, ordered the Sanwa branded parts as they are the norm in these machines.

Some of my parts as shown. Cost me about SG$200 in total but its all money well-spent. :D

After getting the above parts for the most important part of an arcade machine, went on to seek a coin mechanism. Reason for this part was mainly to add a sense of authentic feel to an arcade.

Haven't had much luck in finding a relatively cheap one around. The only one I was pretty fine with cost me about SG$67 to acquire. This was ordered from an online retailer from Austrialia.

My coin mechanism/slot. Requires voltage for use.

Ahhh.. and the above parts began my journey of no return as I cannot possibly give up after spending so much time and money on em...

First DIY mod

Have always been a fan of versus games such as the SF and KOF series. Started with SF's SF2 since ages ago, then moving on to AOF1 and KOF94. Just couldn't resist the charm of these games and started loitering in arcade centres during my younger days.

History aside, started collecting console systems as well as buying joysticks for some of my systems just so I can play versus games in the pleasure of my own room. Some of em as shown below though I had 1 or 2 more but lost em.

Had always loved SNK's joysticks as I found em to be some of the better ones around for VS games. So well, this became my first mod. To enable SNK joysticks for use on PS2 machines as alot of SNK VS games were released for it.

Its a relatively easy mod, using 2 PS1 controllers and soldering the contacts onto a DB15 connector which will be used to connect up to the SNK joysticks. They're depicted below:

The 2 controllers used. Original Sony PS1 and a HORI PS1 controller.

Solder job in progress. DB15 connector to controller PCB.

Finished job, PCBs placed in a plastic enclosure with PS2 cables protruding out at 1 end, the other for the connection of SNK's joysticks.

Tada~ the first simple mod I did. Didn't really work correctly though. Should due to the new SNK joystick requiring an input voltage which I did not have it supplied. At least it works flawlessly for the older version.

BTW, gained most of my knowledge from Shoryuken forums. Fantastic userbase of pro modders.

Overdue want-to-do

Had always wanted to create a site to show my DIY gaming stuff for the love of it. So well, thought its finally time to get down to it though its already somewhat overdue since the 'arcade machine' I made is already finished. Was just too lazy to do this when I was halfway through it.

Irregardless, shall still go ahead and list out whatever I did or at least whatever I remember I did to get my baby up.

First thing to note though, the machine built is entirely for personal entertainment purposes ya. Nothing commercial. ;)

Anyway, this has been a long time coming. Having since first started out on its initial planning phases to the final built, from May 2008 till September/October 2008. Could have been done in a shorter time frame, if not for some minor trouble during then.

Being new to all these blogging stuff, do pardon me if things appear messy. :)