ProtoMAME #1 (iBox)
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This MAME machine has, at its core, a Macintosh Powerbook. The display is therefore an LCD
display and the motherboard, power supply, and hard drive diminutive. For these reasons I
was able to keep an overall small machine. Sadly, I took these pictures early in the finishing stages and I do not have photos of the final machine with glass over the display, and "dominoe-style" buttons (black buttons with outer white rings or bezels). Construction is pretty sturdy. The legs are 2-inch square poplar and the sides and top are one half inch birch plywood. Several coats of a black spray laquer were applied to finish it. |
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In fact it's not as uncomfortable to play as it looks. If you play for extended periods I
think your back can get sore.
That is one of the speakers you see on the side. These came from a Mac as well (those Apple
ball speakers). Without an amp, the sound can be a little soft. Made worse by the placement
of the speakers (the sound is sent out the left and right instead of directed toward the
player).
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Access to the motherboard is via the bottom of the machine. All computer components (save
the display) are on the plexiglas "door". Notably missing from standard Powerbook are the battery, and optical drive. It has no need for either. |
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The hard drive sits large atop the motherboard in the rear. An arcade button (white) near the
right edge of the motherboard is the power switch.
The smaller circuit board along the left edge of the plexiglas is the I-PAC. This is the USB
interface between all the arcade controls and the computer. You can see clearly the multi-colored
bundle of wires running away from the I-PAC and up to where the arcade buttons and joysticks are
located.
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Booting up. I was trying to keep a sort of minimal control layout that would facilitate the most MAME games. Since I don't care for the various Mortal Kombat style games, buttons could be kept to a handful. The five buttons easily accomodate all the Asteroids-style games. Add a single joystick and all the maze games come online. Guantlet, Metal Slug and many of the joystick + buttons games are covered as well. In later MAME machines I would refine this layout somewhat, adding a second joystick and an additional button. |
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And speaking of maze games, here is Ms. Pacman.
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