Hi

Alex from Newbieville here!

I'd like to meet someone in Ottawa who could show me their MAME projects and give me an intro to this wondeful world. I'm looking more for info on building arcade-style consoles or cabs. I've gone through the lame MAME on PC exercise and it's now time to move on.

Thanks for your help!

Alex

If you don't find anyone right away, I'd suggest you take a look at

http://www.byoac.com

This is a good place to start. The members here are great people to deal with. They are very helpful and have some great ideas on how to do things. You may also want check CGCC.ca.

Mike.

While you're checking the main BYOAC site, be sure to check the wiki:

http://wiki.arcadecontrols.com/wiki/Main_Page

and the forums

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/board,1.0.html

Saint's book is also a good source of info:

http://www.projectarcade.com/

Cheers

I don't claim to be from "around here" or an authority, but I've built a cab and I can try and help you.  Be warned, I only check in very occasionally.  

BYOAC is the source.  If you search "game gauntlet" there you'll see my mame project.  I think I did a pretty good job of recording the process and trying to tip anyone off to things that I learned the hard way during the process.  I've also given out the AutoCAD versons of my plans to people who can use AutoCAD.

Follow the link in my signature

My advice is:
-take your time
-make lots of practice cuts
-get a hole saw
-build a sawboard
-get a router
-use tie wraps (cable ties or zip ties) for wiring
-colour code your wiring properly.
-build a smart strip, it's easy

search any of those at BYOAC and you'll find something.

I'll also reccomend GameEX the front end software.  I made a donation and run it on my cab.

-oh and have people over for poker or beer often. game cabinets are a community experience.  you just feel defeated when you play by yourself.

Get an old cab.  It'll be much cheaper (and easier) than building one from scratch..  I got my Sega Virtua Fighter cab for free by waiting and paying attention

I got my 1st regular cab with a 19" monitor, crappy generic game for 125$.

http://www.mikesgamesroom.com/Vids/mame.htm

My old cab is here : http://www.geocities.com/siliconvalley/garage/9000/arcade/index.htm

Keep in mind the cab is now empty with no control panel.

I'm in Gatineau.  You're more than welcome to come over and have a look.  You can also have my old cab for free but you have to pick it up.  See pics on my page.  You'd have to build your own control panel.

Mike