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Laying out the MAME Game Controls Next I took the buttons and joystick I ordered and started
laying out and marking the new piece of sheet metal. This is
where I added more buttons. I had added a few more not knowing
what I'd need them for but I ended up using them. MAME can
re-map keys for each game so if you want to move buttons around,
it's a matter of re-mapping in the software for each game.
Usually the defaults are good enough.
The original buttons were
leaf switch type buttons. My new buttons were micro switch buttons.
The micro switch buttons are easier to work with but require a
little more clearance.
Original Control Panel
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The buttons I included on my panel are the following.
If you are designing a panel, get familiar with MAME first so you
know the buttons you need.
| P |
This is Pause in MAME |
| ESC |
To back out of a Game |
| ENTER |
To Enter into a game and
navigate the MAME menu within a game |
| Left Arrow |
Move left in games |
| Right Arrow |
Move Right in games |
| TAB |
Enter into the MAME menu
within a game |
| Z |
I used this as one of the
extra buttons to map a key to if I forgot about something. |
Joystick
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Moving (playing) within a game
using: Left arrow, Right Arrow, Up Arrow, Down Arrow The
left and right in the joystick are duplicated with the left
and right buttons. Some games re buttons, some are joystick. |
| Left CTRL |
Fire with many games |
| ALT |
Action in many games |
| SPACE |
Action in many games |
| 1 |
1 Player |
| 2 |
2 Player |
| 5 and 6 |
I wired these to the coin slot
switches to accept a coin drop and register a game. I
also hard wired a push button switch to the 6 next to the
coin slots so I don't need a quarter. |
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| Once I had my buttons laid out, I had someone punch holes in the
sheet metal. I could have used my drill press but I have
access to a hole punch machine and it was easier to ask the guy to
do it. Thanks John. I then transferred the holes to the
plywood and drilled those out with my drill press. For my
joystick, I did not order a mounting plate because it wasn't needed.
I marked and cut the square hole in the wood. The joystick
will be below the sheet metal and recessed in the plywood. The
stick will come out of a 1 inch hole, same as the buttons. |
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| Due to the differences in the buttons I had to remove a cross
brace from my cabinet so I could clear the longer micro switch
buttons (below). |
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| Below, all the buttons mounted, ready to be wired. |
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| To the right, I had to put a strip of wood in to hold the panel
in place. This is the same as the old one. I'm sure all
cabinets will vary. I also transferred the clamp catch to the
new panel, which holds the panel in place. |
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| So there's my panel. Sheet metal bolted to the plywood
with carrige bolts. I thought about graphics but decided a
coat of gloss black was good enough. It matches the cabinet
and I don't have to worry about fancy paint work which would have
taken too much time and effort. The colored buttons actually
look good and the colors mean something.
It's now ready for wiring. The PC is not in the cabinet yet
and neither is the monitor. I'll get the control panel wiring
done first then wire up the KeyWiz. |
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To the Control Panel Wiring and the
KeyWiz
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