MAME with Ubuntu 11.10 in a JAMMA Arcade Cabinet

NOTE: My blog has now moved.  Please visit my new blog where I write about audio apps, diy synthesizers, and CNCs.


NOTE: After trying to get MAME running with Ubuntu 11.10 on an arcade monitor I actually ran into a ton of trouble with some X11 crashes that would not go away.  Since then, I've found Groovy Arcade Linux which is made for linux in arcade cabinets.  I will be writing a review/tutorial for installing Groovy soon as I move to it as a possible solution!


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This blog post describes the work necessary to get a PC running Ubuntu 11.10 running MAME and various other emulators inside a real JAMMA arcade cabinet with a real monitor.

For the interface between the PC and the arcade cabinet I chose a J-PAC adapter.  On the computer side it plugs accepts a VGA and PS/2 connection, and it plugs directly into the JAMMA connector inside the arcade cabinet.  I considered manually hacking the buttons of an xbox controller to the arcade buttons, but for $100 including shipping, this also includes an amplifier for the video signal which I did not want to build myself.

1. Parts needed

• JAMMA arcade cabinet.  The monitor and arcade controls should work and be connected to the JAMMA standard connector.
• Computer.  The faster, the better, if you want to emulate newer games.  Needs video card, sound card, some sort of network card.  I chose to install a wifi PCI adapter so that I could SSH/FTP to the computer while it's inside the arcade cabinet.
• J-PAC, as mentioned previously
• Another computer, networked to the MAME computer
• MAME ROMs.  Can't help ya.

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