Monday, September 10, 2001
Sometime the other week while at work Peter L. and I got to talking about a mutual love for old-style arcade games, and the topic naturally mutated to talking about MAME software. Then one of us ran across a Slashdot story that referenced the fact that a Slashdot contributor had built himself an arcade cabinet – and more importantly, working arcade controls to play them with (try playing Stargate or 1942 using a keyboard and you'll know what I mean). Turns out that all that is needed is a clapped-out computer (such as a PII 300 or slightly better), some sort of video display, a source for arcade controls, and a cabinet. The bit that I found most daunting was the cabinetry part, but Peter has all of the necessary woodworking tools, and his father was a professional woodworker who taught Peter all he needed to know.
Thus an idea was hatched.
I was tasked with researching what was out there MAME-wise, and also to find out what plans were available. Turns out there is plenty of info online about both.
Then I remembered that there was some store in outer Oakville that sold arcade games. I found their Web site about a year ago when doing some research on places that have spare parts for pinball machines (I have an electromechanical game called Wild Card from the late 70s). Thinking that maybe we had a more local source for arcade controls practically next-door, I tracked down their Web site, and pointed it out to Peter. So we resolved to head there over lunchtime.
Boy, did we ever luck out! Turns out this firm has been in business since the mid-80s, and they bought out the stock from people who been in business since the 30s. So when we asked about parts and controllers for arcade games, we were ushered into the back. Arcade Nirvana! After entering a relatively clutter-free hallway filled with relatively recent pinball games (80s and early 90s vintage at a guess), we found that the rest of this sizable building was crammed to the gills with old arcade games. Everything from Space Invaders, to one-armed bandits, old 45RPM-playing jukeboxes, and bits and pieces of just about every other gaming device you can think of in between. A real trip down memory lane for the both of us -- along with visions of all of the Quarters lost to them over the years. ;-)
We were offered a deal on a set of old cabinets minus their game electronics. They come with a VGA-type display, a trackball (which by itself is worth almost the price of the cabinet) and a few sample buttons. We can buy new joysticks and buttons from them, link them up via more modern computer interface (Peter thinks it possible by taking apart a Gravis gamepad control) and then we just have to add the computer running the MAME software. Assuming the displays still work, obtaining these old cabinets will save us a lot of construction time. Our plan is to head back and bring along a notebook computer to check their video output, and bring a measuring tape to ensure we can easily get them into out respective homes!
Peter ended up buying a used joystick and a couple of new buttons in order to try out the electrical connections with a disassembled Gravis gamepad. I bought a replacement pinball for my game at home. When we piled into the car we were both struck by how we lucked out to find this place, and putting a MAME arcade cabinet within relatively easily reach. We still have some research to do, and we have to make a return visit to the store, but we both returned to the office excited about the project.
This first happened on Saturday. Now she seems filled with smiles for Mom, Vanessa and myself. ;-)
I never did go over my checklist I made prior to the long weekend. Ok, let's go over it (besides, it’s a good lead-in to other stuff):
Check. Picked 'em up from a variety store just after leaving Union Station on Friday.
Check. It was great! ;-)
Check. There actually wasn't too much to do, as Erika had done most of it prior to heading up north.
Check! Still haven't found the power adapter for the MP3 player though (or more like, haven't figured which AC adapter is the one meant for it).
Check. Erika isn't entirely sure she likes it, but says that it is better than just having a bare patch of earth.
Check. Feel bad for not having done it earlier, but at least I did it. It is also apparent to me that my Z32 printer really isn't up to printing photo-quality images. Must find something better...
This was accomplished the week after.
I only did this last night, between Annie's feeding times.
Not quite. How about 3.
Didn't even start. No big deal. I will get it done by and by.
Ah, the fun stuff. This ended up being the better part of the Saturday. Mike V. was available too, and it was great to see him as well. Mike picked me up mid-afternoon on the Saturday, and we headed down to Bill's. We hung out and chatted for a while, draining Bill's supply of Heineken, and watched as the Snowbirds tore up the sky during the Airshow, glimpsed at between the tall buildings of downtown. We then wandered to Playdium. Best part was me emerging triumphant as the air-hockey champ. ;-) Afterwards we visited Pages bookstore, then we went to Another Man's Poison bookstore, where Mike picked up a book on typography. Then we headed over to Le Biftheque, primarily to satisfy Bill's desire to seek out copious amounts red meet. Bill and Mike both had large chunks of beef, while I had the surf 'n' turf. Mike order a tasty Aussie shiraz to go with our meal. We all then pondered how distinctly un-sluggy this all was. I suggested that the reason probably had less to do with maturity than the desires of the two Dads (me and Mike) to simply relax since we were both sans kids and wives. Feeling incredibly stuffed, we all slouched and groaned our way back to Bill's, where we watched Evil Dead II (which Mike had never seen before). A fun day out, even if it wasn’t as “sluggy” as had thought.
Nope. I did have the opportunity, but there was really nothing I really wanted to see.
Nope. Still haven't really caught up.
Nope. Am still waiting to hear from the publisher with regard to the advance though.
Check.
Didn't do that until this past Friday. Discovered that empty triple cases are also available. May have to get some of those too.
Check.
Finally did this last Friday. I am now contracted to write my fifth book for Scarecrow Press -- due January 2003.
I actually sat down and cataloged one of my boxes of tubes. Nice to get back into the swing of things somewhat with the radio collecting hobby.
Nope.
Check. Also copied in more text info about what I know about my relatives.
Check. Created a new nav bar scheme in PHP, and threw in a few tricks here and there. Man this is a text-heavy site. Need to find better ways of presenting info only when needed.
Glad to get a lot of this stuff done!
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