First, the backstory :

I've recently upgraded my computer to run better, faster, prettier. But I was thinking the old parts were way too good to just toss out, yet I already have 2 desktop computers (one gaming, one server) and a laptop (runs chats, IMs and what not). So I decided to turn them into a MAME arcade machine. This started about 3 weeks ago.

I ordered some parts, looked up projects, DIY links and what not. Through research I actually found an empty cabinet (Asteroid possibly) for cheap, so I won't need to actually build a cabinet. Yet I'm not anywhere done with the project.

Today I found the website 'Crapmame' (http://www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame), really interesting for 'do not do' tips, even if the guy is a big overboard. But that made me think about my own project in a way, so I wanted to ask people around what they thought about all of the ideas I had for it, and possibly tips for a newcomer to general woodworking/modding.

The project :
I want more or less a dedicated retro machine, which includes games outside of MAME. For that, I want 4 Players. I don't want to kick myself for not making it 4 players later, simple as that, plus some games are actually touchy about 'which player' you're using (like TMNT or Simpsons, for example Homer is locked to Player 1 no matter what). Not that it affects the gameplay that much either, but you know, since the project is only starting may as well plan it for that purpose from the start.

The next part is the more complicated one : I want the control panel to be taken off to hook up to the TV consoles. I have a big HD TV, I don't want to sacrifice the quality of it, but I'd like to be able to use the controller on it. I already have a basic idea on how to do it, which I'll explain below.

For the basic looks of the control panel, I wanted to use the Supercade cabinet as a base ( http://cosmicjive.net/arcade/super/ ). Basically, dual-layered. The controls would be at the bottom, but instead of spinner/flightstick/buttons on top, I'll simply have a keyboard 'stuck' into a cavity, just so it's there. The trackball on the bottom part will act as a mouse, I want to rewire a mouse for that purpose, so I'll add two buttons nearby (doubt I'll ever need 3).

MAME machine : I have the PC already running, adding new games and emulators as I go along. Right now, it has :
-Mame
-NES
-SNES
-Gameboy/Color/Advance
-N64
-Master System
-Genesis
-Gamegear
-Turbografx
-Playstation

The PC part of the project is already done. It's currently running off Mala, all's running fine.

I have a few games that I play on PS3 and Xbox. Instead of finding ways to hook those inside a smaller and of less quality screen, the control panel should slide out to be set on my lap, more or less. Using DB15 connectors, the wiring will hook up to an IPAC4 inside of the arcade cabinet. Once out of it, I'll be hooking through the same ports some rewired Xbox/PS controllers that will be trapped into boxes and set with the same DB15 connects. Those boxes are what I call 'matrixes'. The idea is that any kind of controller that I can rewire can be hooked up to the control panel, past and future, through simple hooking.

Of course that doesn't give Analog controls to those systems, but the idea is not to have a controller for ALL games either, but for specific games that would actually be improved by an arcade stick (Street Fighter 4, Soul Calibur...). Whenever I want to play those games, slide out of the cabinet, plug in 1-2 matrix (1-2 players), and play. I have 2 cheap Xbox360 controllers and some old PS2 controllers (plus some PS2 to PS3 USB adapters) for that purpose that I'll rewire later.

What mainly brought me to this website to ask around was this particular page on Crapmame : http://www.wickedretarded.com/~crapmame/17.html

He has a pretty wicked comment about having 8 buttons per player, which was actually my idea. I was going to use a 6 buttons layout Street Fighter style, and add 2 buttons to the bottom and left of them. Why so? Most arcade games will never use more than 6 buttons, I agree, but console games are another story. SNES used 4 + 2 shoulder. Playstation has 4 + 4 shoulder. Even if generally speaking you don't need all of them (Street Fighter 4, for example, can attach combo buttons to them, such as all Punches), I still wanted them available. Plus many designs have 7 buttons, so why not go the extra inch for 8?

Once I got my empty cabinet and start working on it, I'll be taking pictures of my project and putting them online. Until then, I just wanted to discuss if the ideas I have are crazy, if you have tips for this kind of work and what not. It's a personal project, no money involved outside of my own after all, I just want it to be right