[Kong]

Originally Posted by stevencassidy13

that link to the controllers and track ball is super sweet, and its exactly the set up i want, if im reading correctly i wont need to buy an ipac or other keyboard encoder with it?

Yes. It is plug n play. Very easy.

im worried i might not be able to install the led buttons

They also sell kits for doing custom jobs. Not sure if their kits are the best or not.

easily replace the vinyl though.

To do that you would have to dismantle it with a screwdriver, easy. And then revinyl it (I don't see why it wouldn't work but not positive) or put it in a new wood cabinet that you created and vinyled (defeats part of the perk of buying it a ready made one). If you are not careful then reassembling it might become a pain. If looks are important and you are handy with wood and tools then you might want to go with a different option.

If you make it yourself include a keyboard tray What is this CRAP Trust me, a slide out keyboard is so much better than a doing everything with a joystick. There will be times when you just can't do something without the keyboard.

I don't know how much effort you are planning to put into this but you don't really want to end up with something like this What is this CRAP By that I mean do everything perfect and then through a generic control box on it.

Choose xarcade if easy, cheap and functional are you priorities. Custom if perfection is your main goal.

for the monitor, i might go with an old tv, i want it to be convex to add a little more retro to it.

I think a mistake. At least experiment with it before committing. If you use a TV make sure it supports S-Video or VGA. I think only LCD tvs support VGA and not all video cards support s-video. If you want a more authentic feel then this is probably good NEW: Wells Gardner 27" Flat-Screen VGA Arcade Monitor D9800

I suggest getting something like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824254026 It is more energy efficient, more heat efficient, can rotate, decent price, has a nice sharp image when you want that and you can add artificial scan lines for a retro feel.

usisng ru for the game menu system? im not sure i follow, would this require having it hooked up to the internet

Yes. Either use the RU webpage like you do on a PC or make your own special mean that links to games on RU. Three huge benefits of this, IMO, 1. if you install emulators on the cabinet you will probably either install every ROM known to man and have a horrible time sorting through them or install one at a time. RU has sorted through lots of the crap for you already. 2. Your favorites will be instantly transferred and since you are a game mod you can customize descriptions and such while you play. And 3...

if i would be able to submit scores to ru through it that would be freaking cool

Yes, of course.

i really want to hide the fact that this is a pc, i wanted to keep my menus entirely controllable by the joystick and buttons like: turn it on, mame loads and i select a game.

This is possible with RU, though it would take more work. One simple option, attach a button to tab and a button to enter. Second option you can find emulator front ends and you can program them to think a web page is a rom so that when you select a game from the front end it will load a web page. You use the front end to find and select a game. You use the front end to launch the RU page that will launch the game. Would take more effort but would have very nice result. Next time I build a cab this is what I will do. Although I would probably make the front end myself instead of using a ready made one.

Those King of Kade pics are great. Is that the quality you are envisioning for yourself? I think the led buttons are over kill.

Remember you don't need a button for every function. Example coin can one function button. 1p coin = 1p Up + Function. 1p start = 1p down + function. Menu = 1p left + function. Escape = 1p right + 1p function. Save = 1p button 1 + function. And so on.

Read all the way through all of the what is this crap link you posted. It is not just funny. Educational too.