You can run the MAME program to test your controls once they’ve been wired. Since MAME gives each arcade control a corresponding keyboard key, you’ll have to use it to test out the controls and set them as you want them. You’ll also need to connect the keyboard encoder to your computer.Ī keyboard encoder is what is used to connect your computer with the arcade controls. You can do this by linking the ground wire connectors in series to a common ground. You’ll be crimping or soldering the wires to the appropriate connectors that correspond to the controls. This is the most difficult part of the entire arcade machine emulator project. Some will even include multiple control devices on a single machine. Though, there are some MAME arcade machine fabricators that like the freedom to do it all themselves. You’ll need to go out and buy the real deal from vendors who sell prefabricated game control panels.Ī prefabricated control panel will cost you more than buying the parts separately, but it will save you time when it comes to wiring and encoding your controls.

However, they don’t necessarily reproduce the feeling of a real arcade machine. You can install them via PC ports or connect them via USB. Standard computer joysticks, steering wheels or gamepads will work with most games. Regardless, MAME will likely support it so long as you turn it on using a line command. Then there is the standard combination of joysticks and buttons. You want to play Tempest? The original game used a dial-like rotary controller. Games like Centipede? A trackball works best. Racing game? Use a steering wheel and pedal combo.

The controls you choose for your arcade machine emulator will depend on the games you want to play. Just make sure that whichever screen you choose, it is capable of connecting to your computer. This is because the older CRT models create a more true to heart arcade visual experience. If you download the basic PC version of MAME, you’ll see that it’s a command-line system.Ī monitor will be a necessity and most MAME enthusiasts prefer a cathode ray tube (CRT) TV to a computer monitor. You can find ports of MAME that will run on machines with a Mac or Linux-based operating system.

The basic PC version of MAME runs a command-line system meaning you’ll need to type in commands to edit settings and play the ROMs. This will require a lot of processing power. Remember that MAME is attempting to emulate the behavior of the original hardware. Understand that the more powerful a computer is, the better it will be at handling the MAME processing requirements.

A DirectDraw or Direct3D capable graphics card.

Any MMX-capable AMD or Intel processor.

The MAME website lists the minimum requirements for running MAME on a computer as:

Use mame emulator mac