BETELGEUSE ARCADE CLASSICS GAMES CABINET
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BETELGEUSE ARCADE CLASSICS GAMES CABINET
27 inch Sony Professional Video Monitor!!! Over 7000 games!!!
Mame, Daphne, PC, Zinc, Pinball, Flight Sims, Virtua Tennis, Jukebox, Media Player
READY TO GO – PLUG IN AND PLAY ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT
NO COMPUTER EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet is definitely one of the greatest arcade, games and multimedia machines ever. Using a real arcade monitor*, it is capable of playing all of your usual favourite arcade classics, as well as many great PC games and arcade games that do not normally get included in “MAME” cabinets. Driven by a powerful Pentium 4 2.4Ghz computer and Windows XP Professional, this Games Cabinet is more than capable of playing everything from Galaga to recent 3D games like Soul Edge and Virtua Tennis.
The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Machine has been lovingly built from the ground up, into an original LAI two-player cabinet. A work of art, technical wonder and personal obsession, I have spent the past year creating the Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Machine. Unfortunately I will move overseas soon, so today has just become your lucky day You will probably never see a cabinet like this for sale again.
Built for fun and simplicity, The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet is designed with a plug, play and forget interface – just plug it in and press the On/Off Button for simple start up and shutdown when finished.
• Just plug it in to start playing - Press the On/Off and, within 20 seconds, the Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Machine will have booted into a simple, attractive and intuitive game menu controlled by joystick. Press it again to turn everything off.
• Quick shutdown - The entire Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet, and all of its subsystems, can also be completely shut down and turned off from the game menu.
Games Systems Supported
• Mame: uses a specially optimised and compiled version of the latest Mame version (119) that is up to 30% faster than normal Mame or Mame32. It also supports high scores and a few other really nice features not normally available in Mame (email me for details). Plays all the classics, including 1942, Galaga, City Connection, Burnin' Rubber, Dungeons and Dragons, Ghosts and Goblins, Elevator Action, Streetfighter, Mortal Kombat, Metal Slug series (all of them), The Simpsons, TMNT, Wonder Boy to name but a few ..... Supports over 6500 games.
• ZiNc: an emulator of many high-end Sony PSX-hardware based 3D games not properly emulated by MAME, including Soul Edge, Street Fighter EX, Rival Schools and Cool Boarders Arcade Jam. Supports over 70 games.
• Daphne: Play your favourite laserdisc games such as Dragon’s Lair I and II, Space Ace, Cliff Hanger and M.A.C.H.3 using the latest digitally remastered original laserdisc footage (please note that some of these titles are available from (http://www.digitalleisure.com). Supports over 20 games.
• Kawaks: Play your favourite Capcom/SNK/NEO GEO games, some not supported by Mame. Offers some flexibility (cheats) and hacks not normally available in Mame for games such as King of Fighters, Metal Slug, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs and 1944. Supports over 490 games.
• Flight Simulators: Get one more Japanese Zero in “Aces of the Pacific” and defeat that famous bright red triplane in “Red Baron”.
• DooM: Let rip with your chainsaw and shotgun in DooM, DooM II, TNT and The Plutonia Experiment. Includes award-winning levels designed by me over 10 years ago! Not for the faint-hearted. (http://www.idsoftware.com)
• Future Pinball: Fantastically realistic, your 3D view follows the ball as it bounces around smoothly rendered playfields from recreated originals and completely new pinball tables. Highly addictive, many different tables available. Developed locally.
• Virtua Tennis: Everyone who knows this game loves it, whether they like tennis or net. You enter the arena, the crowd is cheering, the atmosphere electric. So lifelike, it is almost the same as watching a game on TV! Players move their characters around realistically, watch them get happy when they win and lament their losses. Very easy to play but difficult to master. You can play in arcade mode, exhibition mode, and world circuit mode (with unique training games, different challenges and shops to buy clothing, equipment, stages and playing partners). Up to four players (doubles). (http://www.sega.com)
• Jukebox: Operates just like a Jukebox for parties to pump up the tempo, it also allows you to pick out individual favourite songs to listen to while you do things around the house. Your music is sorted into albums and the same interface as Windows Media Player to update album covers and other data for your music collection.
• Media Player: Designed to work for you like a fully-functioning home entertainment system, when you need more than a jukebox. The media player functions allow you to effortlessly select your favourite albums and playlists and play them in the background, even while looking at games and using windows applications, even while ripping more CDs. No more scrabbling around for CDs. Automatically creates new playlists as you rip new albums. DVDs, CDs and VCDs can be played directly from the DVD drive. Volume instantly adjustable by external volume control knob.
Controls
• Two joysticks (MCA, easily switchable from 8-way to 4-way).
• Six action buttons each for both players.
• Start buttons for each player.
• Credit button on the main control panel.
• Admin button allows you to discreetly change control panel functions and easily access hidden options.
• External volume control knob next to the hidden button allows you to easily adjust volume from a squeak to a roar in moments. This is in addition to a volume control inside the cabinet, allowing you to choose the maximum volume level.
• Headphone and microphone jacks mounted at the front allow you to use the Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Cabinet as a complete audio-visual solution for your home. This allows you to use your headphones and even Skype your friends while playing arcade games! Audio outputs also allow you to use your favourite livingroom stereo to really pump up the volume!
• USB ports (two) at the front of the cabinet allow you to quickly and easily attach a keyboard and mouse, spinner, trackball, steering wheel etc.
Left: Centre: Two joysticks, six buttons per player Right: It is so easy to attach a USB keyboard and trackball mouse. Any USB device or controller can be quickly attached.
Hardware
• Monitor: Ultra-high quality 27” Sony Professional Video monitor PVM-2730QM
• Video signal: Monitor is driven by a 15Khz RGB video signal feed from an ArcadeVGA (version 2) card (AGP)
Video signal is sent VGA -> JAMMA -> SCART via custom made interface.
• Computer: Pentium 4, 3.2Ghz with 512mb RAM, DVD drive, and a 160GB hard disc *bought new for project*
• Operating System: Genuine Windows XP Professional licence (SP2), with 100% valid COA sticker.
• Control Interface: JPAC2 from Ultimarc (http://www.ultimarc.com), simply the best for PC<->arcade interfaces
• Marquee: Professionally printed ‘Arcade Classics’ marquee is lit by 15w fluorescent lamp.
• Lock and Key: Cabinet is fitted with a NEW lock, so that only you can get into it.
• Power: Simply press the On/Off Button (in photo below right) to turn it on or off in seconds. Plugs into normal 240v household power.
• Sound: Harman-Kardon multimedia amplifier driving two high quality 15w stereo speakers (located behind control panel/under screen).
• Accessibility: Everything is easy to get to, and removal for if necessary. Power on/off located just inside the door, and all cables are right there too. DVD player is forward-mounted and instantly available. Harman-Kardon amplifier and JPAC keyboard interface are mounted onto a removable PCB board (in photo below, top right), making any maintenance tasks a breeze. Connection of USB keyboard & mouse for Windows is as simple as ABC via two built-in USB ports. Don't want to wake the kids? Plug in your stereo headphones and turn the volume up as much as you like!
Left Closeup of admin panel shows discreet black button to access special controls, red pause button, volume control and audio input/output jacks for your headset. Centre: Inside, a P4 3.2GHz PC drives the JAMMA video system and Harman-Kardon amplifier Right: Professional monitor inputs & outputs are easily accessible via panel at back
Software
• Windows XP Professional - The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet uses the Windows XP Pro operating system, the most popular and well supported OS in the world, but XP is normally completely hidden to the user. You can access the normal Windows XP desktop environment easily, by the press of a button.
• Simple Menus - The joystick driven games menu is intuitive to use, allowing the user to choose from a dazzling array of gaming and entertainment platforms, including a jukebox (for parties) and a media player (for you).
• Cool artwork and designs for the menu screens enhance your playing experience.
• Original video previews, snapshots, control panel designs and marquees are displayed for most games, and controls and buttons for most games are explained as they load.
Much dedication, professionalism and obsession(!) has gone into perfecting the Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet, and I believe this is reflected in the quality of the final product. It is with great sadness that I list it for sale. I hope it goes to a good home.
??? Frequently Asked Questions ???
Q. Why do you call this The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet? Isn’t this a “mame cabinet”?
A. The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet is so much more than a mame cabinet could ever be. Mame is just one games platform supported. The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet is also built to a much higher general standard, and includes many more features than the "Mame cabinets" advertised on ebay.
Q. Why is the monitor and video display on the Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet so much better than the usual “Mame cabinets” I see?
A. Because it uses an ultra-high-quality 27 inch Sony professional video monitor ("Broadcast" monitor or "cube" used in TV studios), and because the PC feeds a RGB 15Khz signal to that monitor through a built-for-purpose ArcadeVGA card. This allows you to play arcade games exactly as they were in the arcades, in pixel-perfect resolutions. VGA monitors can only pretend. Also, I have spent countless days and nights tweaking and optimising individual games to perfection.
Be aware that most “mame cabinets” on ebay use inferior and old 17” and 21” VGA monitors, which are frankly little better than crap for arcade games. Others output poor quality video signals. A proper arcade monitor with RGB video input looks 200% better - like it was meant to be. With a professional video monitor, this cabinet makes arcade games look even better again!
Q. The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet able to play so many more cool games than the “Mame cabinets” I see on ebay and other places ... and it is so fast! How?
A. Because i) it uses a specially complied version of Mame which is FASTER than normal; ii) it plays many other emulators which can play certain games BETTER than Mame; and iii) it uses a FAST Pentium 4 3.2 Ghz PC.
Q. The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet uses a special version of the latest Mame. Where did you download it?
A. Yes, it is up to 30% faster than normal Mame. I do minor edits and compile it from source. It is 100% authentic latest Mame 0.118u2, but it also supports saving your high scores, which normal Mame can’t do. There are a few other enhancements as well.....
Q. What games are capable of running on the Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet?
A. Over 7000 games from more than eight different games systems, everything from Pac Man, Galaga and Bubble Bobble to Metal Slug, Rampage World Tour, Cliff Hanger, M.A.C.H. 3, Tekken 3 and Virtua Tennis. The Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet has the CPU grunt to play almost all Mame games smoothly, including such great "3D" fighting classics as Killer Instinct, Streetfighter EX2 Plus, Dead or Alive ++ and Rival Schools (ZiNc).
Q. Does the Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet play newer 3D fighting and snowboarding games (like Soul Edge and Cool Boarders Arcade Jam) in addition to classic games such as Galaga, Moon Patrol, 1942, Pacman, Scrambler?
A. Yes, yes, yes, and many, many, many more.
Q. Can you add my own PC games and other emulators to the Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet?
A. Yes! Any game that runs on Windows XP (XP supports more games than any other platform), can be played on this Games Cabinet.
Q. Can it play games that require a trackball/spinner/steering wheel/pedals ....
A. Yes! You can attach your USB devices via two USB ports conveniently located at the front. You will need to install any drivers and required software, and you may need to configure individual games.
Q. Is the Betelgeuse Arcade Classics Games Cabinet wired to JAMMA standard?
A. Yes, and uses a JPAC, the most advanced arcade controls -> PC interface available (http://ultimarc.com).
